Chapter 2: The Forbidden Gaze

Rhys.

I can feel someone's gaze on me as I skate across the ice. I pass the puck hard into the opponent’s net, my breath turning to vapor in the cold.

Goal!

The crowd roars and chants my name like a demigod. The sound barely reaches my ears, as my eyes are fixed on her—Hailey. She lowers her eyes when our gazes meet, and a dull ache tugs in my chest.

What the hell is that?

The coach barks out some orders to us after the game ends. My eyes remain on her for some damn reason I can't fathom.

My wolf keeps growling in my head, demanding to break free. I can't let that happen. Not in the midst of humans who think that I am human too.

To them, I am the golden boy, a wonder kid chasing an NHL dream. But behind closed doors, I am something else—a creature that would probably scare every human here off.

As Hailey leaves the ice, I follow behind her. She doesn't notice what I am doing. And I don't mean to stalk her. I just want to confirm whatever that is that I felt earlier.

“Hey, Hailey!” I call out and she stops in her tracks.

Slowly, she turns around. Her green siren-shaped eyes go wide as she stares at me. She’s the coach’s daughter—and worse, she’s human. However, I can’t shake off the irresistible pull I’m feeling towards her right now.

I am not supposed to feel whatever I'm feeling right now.

What's happening to me?

For a fleeting second, my wolf surges forward and my eyes glow red.

‘What the hell? Are you planning to scare her and reveal our identity here in school?’ I snap at Darko through the mindlink.

He goes silent, like he always does when he's guilty.

I move my eyes back to Hailey. A flicker of fear and shock passes her features. My lips part to speak before she starts to think about what just happened.

“Good game,” she says, too quickly.

I watch her closely. Her chest rises and falls.

“You were watching,” I say and I hear her breath catch in her throat.

She steps back and swallows hard as if her throat has gone dry.

She blinks. “I'm not watching. I'm the sports editor and I always watch.”

I know what I'm saying. She wasn't just watching the sport. She was watching me. I felt her eyes on me before I saw her. And that intensity and pull? I can't explain it.

“No,” my voice is quieter now. “You were watching me, Hailey.”

Maybe I need to remind her of who she is. She's the coach's daughter. She's off-limits to every hockey player in the school. I've heard her father a couple of times warning her to stay away from jocks like us.

She swallows hard as if her throat has gone dry. Her lips part to speak, but no words come out. It feels like she is short of words.

Then, she does one thing that makes my eyebrows shoot up. She bolts.

She slips past me, practically running down the corridor towards the exit as if I am nothing but trouble to her.

A sly smirk tugs at the corners of my lips as I watch her run. I shouldn't be amused, but I am.

And why do I find her attractive?

“Hey, Rhys,” Rowan’s voice reaches my ears from behind. “What are you watching?”

I can already picture the sly grin dancing on his features already.

He gets closer. “Really?” His eyebrows shoot up when he sees Hailey’s retreating figure.

“She's human, Alpha. Off-limits.” He points out the obvious as if that will stop how my wolf is stirring inside of me right now.

As the future Alpha of the Red Claw Pack, Rowan makes sure I have nothing to do with humans—my father's order—especially the females, since he's my future beta and best friend.

“I know she is,” I snap at him and then shrug my shoulders. “Did I say otherwise?”

A sigh slips from his lips as he stares at me, before bowing slightly. “I'm sorry, Alpha,” his voice drops to a whisper.

“Your father wants you in the pack. He sent a message,” he informs me in a sad tone.

My eyes go wide slightly at his words. We both know the implications of leaving the college in the middle of a championship qualifiers game.

My father doesn't just see hockey as my passion or career. He sees it as a training to rule and a way to show the werewolves dominance while disguising as humans. He rules the pack with an iron fist and wants me to do the same when I take over, which is why he demands my submission every damn time.

He doesn't think of the outcomes of his actions. He believes I can face it just because I'm the future Alpha of his pack.

An exasperated sigh slips from my lips. “I'm not going,” I growl at Rowan. “Tell that to his messenger.”

Fear widens Rowan’s eyes. “That's dangerous, Rhys. You know what Alpha Marcus is capable of doing.”

“Then are you asking me to leave in the middle of the championship qualifiers game? Are you asking me to give up this championship again this year?” I spit, my eyes burning with rage.

His face falls. He knows how I gave up the championship game last year just because I submitted to my father.

And he's doing the same this year again. If I give up again, my dream shatters and Alpha Marcus doesn't give a fuck about it other than becoming a strong Alpha for his pack.

“I'm sorry, Alpha. I will let his messenger know that you are busy and can't return home now,” Rowan nods his head.

Although I can still see the uncertainty in his eyes, suddenly, a cold voice roars in my head through the mindlink. ‘You dare not reject my order, Rhys.’

Rowan flinches beside me. He hears it too.