Chapter 4: Breaking The Rules

ASHER

I was losing my mind.

Three days of practice with Sierra on the ice, and my wolf was ready to claim her in front of the entire team. It didn't help that she was a natural, moving like she'd been playing her whole life. Or that every time she scored, she lit up with this joy that made my chest ache.

"Kane! Focus!" Coach Bennett yelled from the boards.

Right. Practice. Not staring at my mate like a lovesick teenager.

I refocused on the drill, passing to Jace, who took the shot. It went wide.

"Your head's not in this," Jace said, skating over. "You've been off all week."

"I'm fine."

"You're distracted. And if you're distracted tomorrow against Silvermoon, we're screwed." He glanced toward Sierra, who was running plays with Tyler. "Is it her?"

"Drop it, Matthews."

"I'm just saying, she's good. Really good. But if she's messing with your game—"

"She's not." I skated away before I said something I would regret.

The truth was, Sierra wasn't messing with my game. She was consuming every thought I had. The bond pulled tighter every day, demanding completion, and I was trying to give her the space she clearly needed.

It was killing me.

Practice ended at eight. The team cleared out, but Sierra stayed, practicing shots on the empty net. I should have left, gone home, and put distance between us.

Instead, I found myself skating toward her.

"You're getting better," I said.

She startled, nearly losing her balance. I caught her elbow, steadying her, and the contact sent electricity through both of us.

She pulled away quickly. "Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Touch me. It makes everything harder." She focused on the puck at her feet. "We're supposed to be keeping distance, remember?"

"That was before your dad put you on my line. Kind of hard to keep distance when we're playing together."

"You know what I mean." She took a shot. It hit the post and bounced away. "Dammit."

"Your stance is off." I moved behind her, adjusting her shoulders. Big mistake. She fit perfectly against me, and my wolf howled with approval. "Like this. See?"

"Asher." Her voice was breathless. "This isn't helping."

"Try the shot."

She did. Perfect. Top corner.

"See?" I stepped back before I did something stupid. "You just needed a minor adjustment."

She turned to face me, her cheeks flushed. "Why are you still here? Everyone else left an hour ago."

"Making sure you're okay."

"I'm fine. I've been skating alone for days."

"Not alone. I've been watching from the office." The admission slipped out before I could stop it.

Her eyes widened. "You've been watching me?"

"Making sure you're safe. Sebastian's been spotted around town twice this week."

"So this is alpha responsibility. Not..." She trailed off.

"Not what?"

"Nothing. Forget it." She skated toward the bench. "I should go. Early game tomorrow."

I followed her off the ice. We sat on opposite ends of the bench, unlacing our skates in silence.

"Sierra."

"Don't. Please." She didn't look at me. "Don't make this harder than it already is."

"I'm trying to give you space. Trying to let you choose. But you have to know—"

"I know." Her voice cracked. "I feel it too. The bond. It's like this constant pull, and every time I try to ignore it, it gets stronger."

"Then stop ignoring it."

"I can't." She finally looked at me, and the vulnerability in her eyes nearly undid me. "Asher, a week ago I was normal. Now I'm a wolf with visions, playing college hockey, and apparently destined to be with you. That's not enough time to process."

"I know."

"And tomorrow, I have to play against a rival pack that wants to use me against you. I'm terrified I'm going to screw up, cost us the game, and lose you pack territory because I'm not ready for any of this."

The fear in her voice killed me. I moved closer, leaving one seat between us. "You're not going to screw up. You're one of the best players I've seen."

"I've had three days of practice."

"And you're already better than half the team. That's the wolf, yeah, but it's also you. Your instincts, your drive." I couldn't help myself, I reached over and took her hand. "Tomorrow, stay with me on the ice. Don't engage with Sebastian or his goons. You play your game, and I'll handle the rest."

Her fingers tightened around mine. "What if he targets you because of me?"

"Let him. I can take it."

"That's what I'm afraid of." She looked down at our joined hands. "The vision I had when I touched him—it was you, Asher. You were hurt. Bleeding. And I can't shake the feeling that it's going to come true."

My wolf stirred, protective and possessive. "Visions aren't set in stone. Your mom said they show possibilities, not certainties."

"But what if—"

I pulled her closer, eliminating the seat between us. "Sierra, I've been alpha for two years. I've fought challenges, territorial disputes, and rival packs. Sebastian doesn't scare me."

"He should. He's got something planned. I can feel it."

"Then we'll be ready." I lifted her hand, pressing it against my chest where my heart was racing. "Feel that? That's not fear. That's adrenaline. I live for this."

"Hockey or the fight?"

"Both." I smiled. "Though having you on the ice with me is a bonus I didn't expect."

She laughed, soft and surprised. "You're insane."

"Probably." I should have let go of her hand. Put distance between us. But I couldn't. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"If there were no bond, no mate pull, no pack politics, would you still hate this? Us?"

She was quiet for a long moment. "I don't hate it. That's the problem."

"How is that a problem?"

"Because I can't tell if what I feel is real or just the bond manipulating me. How do I know if I actually like you, or if it's just a biological setup?"

The question hit harder than I expected. "You think the bond is forcing you to feel something?"

"Isn't it? Mom said true mates are drawn together, that the pull is irresistible. That doesn't leave much room for choice."

"The bond doesn't create feelings. It amplifies what's already there." I shifted to face her fully. "Sierra, I've known you since you were eight years old. I've watched you grow up, become this incredible person. The bond didn't make me fall for you. It just made me stop lying to myself about it."

Her breath caught. "You've liked me? Before the bond?"

"Since you were seventeen and told off Brandon Pierce for checking me too hard in practice. You got in his face, this tiny human girl against a two-hundred-pound wolf and you didn't back down." I smiled at the memory. "That's when I knew you were dangerous."

"I thought you didn't notice me back then."

"I noticed. I just couldn't do anything about it. You were too young, and I was about to become alpha. But I noticed."

She stared at me, her green eyes wide. Then, before I could process what was happening, she kissed me.

It wasn't gentle. It was desperate and searching, like she was trying to find answers in the press of our lips. My wolf roared to life, demanding more, but I forced myself to stay still. Let her lead. Let her choose.

She pulled back, breathing hard. "I needed to know."

"Know what?"

"If it felt different. The kiss. If I could tell whether it was the bond or me." Her hand came up to touch her lips. "I still can't tell."

"Does it matter?"

"Yes. No. I don't know." She stood abruptly, grabbing her bag. "I should go. Game tomorrow. I need sleep."

"Sierra."

"Don't. Please. I just…I need to think." She headed for the door, then stopped. "Asher? For what it's worth? That vision I had, of you hurt. It terrified me. And I'm pretty sure that's not just the bond."

She left before I could respond.

I sat alone in the empty locker room, my lips still tingling from her kiss, my wolf pacing restlessly.

Tomorrow's game wasn't just about pack territory anymore. It was about proving to Sierra that we were worth the risk. That she could trust this thing between us.

My phone buzzed. Text from an unknown number.

Unknown: Hope your girl's ready. Ice can be slippery. Accidents happen.

Sebastian.

I deleted it, rage simmering beneath my skin.

He wanted to play dirty? Fine.

But he was about to learn that threatening my mate was the worst mistake he could make.