Chapter 3: Truth And Consequences

SIERRA

Dad's office felt smaller than usual with Asher, my mom, and me crammed inside.

Mom had rushed over from work the moment I had called, still wearing her scrubs from the hospital. She sat beside me, her hand gripping mine, while Dad paced behind his desk.

"Let me get this straight," Dad said. "You're not human. You're a wolf. A late bloomer and you're Asher's, true mate."

"Yes," I said quietly.

"And you found this out two days ago."

"Yes."

"And instead of telling us immediately, you decided to play hockey and make bets with Sebastian Crane?"

"That part wasn't planned," Asher interjected. "Sebastian forced my hand."

Dad rounded on him. "You brought my daughter into pack politics. You let her onto the ice knowing she's a target."

"She's safer with me than anywhere else."

"That's not your call to make!"

"Actually, it is." Asher's voice went hard, alpha command bleeding through. "She's my mate. My responsibility and my priority."

The air crackled with tension. Two alphas facing off, even if one was technically human.

"Stop it. Both of you." Mom's voice cut through the posturing. She turned to me, her blue eyes searching. "Sierra, when you say you had a vision, what exactly did you see?"

I described it. The ice, the blood, the violence beneath the surface of a hockey game.

Mom went pale.

"What?" I asked. "Mom, what is it?"

She was quiet for a long moment. When she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. "I need to tell you something. Something I should have told you years ago."

Dad stopped pacing. "Claire?"

"I'm not human either." Mom looked at me, tears in her eyes. "I'm a wolf. Blackpine pack, originally. I gave it up when I married your father, and denounced my wolf to be with him."

The room went silent.

"You what?" I stared at her. "You've been human this whole time? By choice?"

"I took suppressants. Strong ones. I haven't shifted in twenty-five years." Mom's hands trembled. "I wanted a normal life. A human life and I wanted the same for you."

"But it doesn't work that way," Asher said quietly. "The wolf doesn't disappear. It waits."

"I know that now." Mom wiped her eyes. "The visions you're having, they're hereditary. My grandmother had them. She could sense danger, see glimpses of the future when she touched other wolves."

"So I'm not just a wolf. I'm a wolf with psychic powers." I laughed, but it sounded hysterical. "Great. That's just great."

"It's a gift," Mom said. "It means you can protect yourself and protect your mate."

"I don't want a mate! I want to be normal!"

The words hung in the air. Asher flinched like I'd hit him.

"Sierra," he started.

"No. You don't get it." I stood, needing space. "I didn't ask for this. Any of this. The wolf, the visions, the bond. I had plans. College, a career, a life that didn't involve pack politics and territorial disputes."

"I know." Asher's voice was soft. "And I'm sorry. If I could change it—"

"But you can't. Neither can I." I looked at Mom. "The suppressants. Could I take them? Stop this before it goes any further?"

Mom shook her head. "Once the wolf manifests, suppressants don't work. And with a mate bond this strong..." She glanced at Asher. "Trying to suppress it would be agony for both of you."

"So I'm stuck."

"You're blessed," Dad said. He'd moved to stand beside Mom, his anger fading into something that looked like acceptance. "Do you know how rare true mates are? Most wolves spend their whole lives searching."

"I'm nineteen. I wasn't supposed to be searching at all."

"Life doesn't wait for you to be ready, kiddo." Dad managed a small smile. "Trust me, I know. Your mother wasn't part of my plan either but she's the best thing that ever happened to me."

Mom leaned into him, and the love between them was real.

"The game on Friday," Asher said, changing the subject. "Sebastian's going to play dirty. He knows Sierra's my weak point."

"Then we don't let her be a weak point," Dad said, slipping into coach mode. "We turn her into an advantage."

"How?"

"She plays."

"Absolutely not," Asher and I said in unison.

Dad held up a hand. "Hear me out. Sebastian expects Sierra to be a distraction, sitting in the stands, vulnerable. But if she's on the ice, part of the team, she's protected. The refs won't allow any illegal hits, and Sebastian can't touch her without drawing penalties."

"She's not trained," Asher argued. "One practice doesn't make her ready for a game against Silvermoon."

"She kept up with your line. Better than kept up—she excelled." Dad looked at me. "What do you think?"

"I think you're all insane." But even as I said it, part of me was intrigued. The wolf part, probably. The part that wanted to prove itself. "I'm a freshman. I'm not even officially on the team."

"You are now. I'll file the paperwork today." Dad's face turned serious. "But Sierra, if you do this, you need to understand what's at stake. This isn't just hockey. It's pack honor, territorial rights, and your relationship with Asher. Sebastian will target you specifically."

"Let him try." The words came out before I could stop them, laced with a growl that didn't sound entirely human.

Asher's eyes flashed gold. "Your wolf is showing."

"Good. Maybe it's time she did." I turned to Dad. "I'll play. But I need practice. Real practice. Every day until Friday."

"Done." Dad pulled out his phone. "I'll call an extra session for tonight. Team only. We'll run plays, get you integrated."

Mom stood, smoothing her scrubs. "I need to get back to the hospital. But Sierra, tonight. Come home. We'll talk more about the visions, about controlling them."

"Okay."

She kissed my forehead, whispered something to Dad, and left.

The moment she was gone, Dad's face hardened. "Kane. A word. Alone."

"Dad—"

"It's fine." Asher squeezed my shoulder. "Wait outside?"

I left reluctantly, closing the door but staying close enough to hear.

"You hurt her, and I don't care if you're an alpha. I will end you."

"I won't hurt her."

"You already are. Mate bond or not, she's nineteen years old. She should be worrying about exams and parties, not pack wars and death threats."

"I know. But I can't change what we are."

"No, but you can give her time. Space. Let her choose this instead of forcing it on her."

There was a long pause.

"She doesn't want the bond," Asher said quietly. "You heard her. She wants normal."

"What she wants and what she needs aren't always the same thing." Dad's voice softened. "But you push her too hard, too fast, and you'll lose her. Mate bond or not."

"Then what do I do?"

"You let her set the pace. You protect her without smothering her. And you win that damn game on Friday so Sebastian backs off long enough for her to figure this out."

"Yes, sir."

The door opened. Asher walked out, his face carefully neutral. But through the bond—the bond I was trying so hard to ignore, I felt his turmoil. His fear that he was ruining my life. His desperate need to keep me safe.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Are you?"

"Honestly? No. But I will be." I took a breath. "Extra practice tonight. Don't go easy on me."

"I wouldn't dream of it." He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Sierra, what you said in there. About not wanting this—"

"I was angry and scared."

"But you meant it."

I looked at him. Really looked. The way he held himself separate, like he was afraid one wrong move would drive me away. The gold in his eyes meant his wolf was close to the surface, protective and possessive.

"I don't know what I want," I admitted. "But I know I don't want you to get hurt because of me. So we win on Friday. We keep Sebastian away from both of us. And then…"

"Then we figure out the rest."

"Yeah."

He nodded and walked away, leaving me standing in the hallway.

My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number.

Unknown: Cute. The coach's daughter playing hero. See you Friday, little wolf.

Sebastian.

I deleted the message, but my hands were shaking.

Friday couldn't come fast enough.