Faking It With The Hockey Alpha

LEAH's POV.Hardin drove me back to his apartment which was not far from the school campus. I was too weak and wounded to contest but I had a feeling that even if I did, he wasn't going to let me go that easily. "You're hurt, let me take you home." He offered and I only obliged because my other option was going back home to take care of my drunk father and I already had a rough night. He walked up his front porch and pulled the door open. A deep breath escaped my lips as I walked in. The room smelled unmistakably like him—clean, crisp, and undeniably masculine. Cedarwood and pine lingered in the air, grounded by the faint bite of expensive cologne and the cool scent of ice that clung to his hockey gear in the corner.I had only met Hardin once one of the days I snuck around with Ethan in their family house and we'd run into each other in the kitchen one night. It was a silent interaction, although with a few lingering glares which was why when I looked at him now, I knew he recogni

LEAH's POV.Something was wrong.I didn't realize it until the next morning as I walked through the doors of Ashwood High to the hundred eyes staring at me. I made my way towards my locker with my heart in my throat.There were people whispering, even a sophomore walking past me did a blatant double take before whispering something to her friend. Both of them looked at me, then burst into laughter.Something was definitely wrong, I frowned. Luckily, I heard my name from across the hallway just then. "Leah!" It was Hazel. The expression on her face showed she was relieved to see me and so was I. "Hazel!" I turned toward her."What the fuck is going on?" I asked as we weaved through the shoulders of gossiping students in the hallway and made our way towards art class. The class was empty and Hazel pushed the door open. When we got inside, I could finally heave a deep breath."Tell me it isn't you," Hazel said, pulling out her phone and I arched my brows. "What?" I had no idea what sh

LEAH's POV. A week was all it took for my whole life to completely change. Everything happened so fast since I turned eighteen, for one Hardin West had gone from being my ex-boyfriend's older brother—the annoyingly attractive and cocky hockey captain I'd barely spoken to before—to the boy everyone at Ashwood University believed was in love with me. This all came after I swore that my sophomore year would be anything but chaotic. It was a promise I made with Hazel and Julia, a promise to keep our heads down and just get through university as fast as we could. Our whole lives are still in front of us, we thought. But at least we'd have each other. It had been one week now. One week since I caught my best friend kissing my boyfriend and I hadn't spoken to Julia since then. Occasionally, we would walk past each other in the school hallway and share a glance for a second or I'd see her and Ethan at lunch at a distance from Hardin and I. The tension was electric in the air and the g

LEAH's POV.I hadn't seen or heard from Hardin over the weekend. After the hockey game and interview, he'd disappeared into the locker room with the rest of his team. Ever since then, I found myself unconsciously looking at my phone, waiting for his texts."This is only an arrangement!" I had to remind myself. "There is no camera." But after the kiss we shared that night, it was hard not to feel anything. But then this was someone who would give a girl the best night of her life only to never call her back. It was truly his reputation.The bell rang and I slipped my phone into my bag. I hated how much I reeked of desperation, waiting for him to text me so I decided that I was done mopping. This was all supposed to spite Ethan in the first place and after the stunt he pulled last night, I think he was suspended for a week. God I just needed to swear off men!When I got up from my chair, Professor Emmett called my attention however. "Ms Hart," I turned around to him while the rest of

LEAH's POV.Three days had passed now and I still hadn't heard from Hardin West. I shoved my phone into my bag before placing it in my locker but alas, when I closed it, there he was.With his dark glistening hair and a smirk across his lips."Where have you been?" I rolled my eyes. Surely, he didn't think he could merely charm his way out of ghosting me. But he did have a cup of coffee in his hand which I took."I've just been swamped with...stuff." Hardin shrugged, digging his hands into his pockets. There was something off about him, the way his eyes scanned the hall. Hardin was never this uneasy."Stuff?" I echoed with a scoff, walking away. He followed me behind, flashing a fake smile to the eyes of the scrutinizing students in the hallway. We had just fully hard-launched our relationship to the entire campus so best believe the stares had only grown more intense."Yes, Leah. You know I have a life outside all of this." He caught up with me from behind, pulling my hand to him. "