Terms and Conditions

Luke

The Wolves had been winning every game until… she came along.

I had led my team through a winning streak, and we were about to play our final game of last season against the Knights. My players were in excellent spirits. We had beaten them before, and I intended to do it again.

But the moment I entered the arena, the scent of warm honey and butter hit me so hard that I stopped walking. It was so potent that I felt like I was punched in the gut. 

I turned my head, searching for its source. Players skated past me during warmups, sticks tapped against the ice, and the crowd shouted from the stands. All I could focus on was that fucking smell. Every time I was about to hit a goal the smell became stronger. Like a noose around my throat. 

It followed me through the game. Every time I got close to the Knights’ bench, it grew stronger. Twice, I missed shots I should have buried in the net. My teammates kept looking at me, wondering what the hell was wrong with their captain.

I wanted to know that myself.

Late in the game, Andy scored, and a loud cheer rose behind the benches. That was when I saw her.

Viola. 

I nearly snapped my stick. 

My breath caught. Her golden brown hair fell over her shoulders, her cheeks flushed as she cheered, those blue eyes shining. Beautiful didn’t come close. My chest ached with the need to reach her, touch her, make her look at me. Onyx surged forward, desperate to get closer. What the fuck was wrong with us? She was human. So why did seeing Andy’s jersey on her make me want to tear it off? 

She was standing beside Sandra, hugging her and cheering for Andy while wearing his jersey. Andy had proposed to her already. And I had no intentions of following her. 

It wasn’t like she was my mate.

Humans and wolves didn’t become mates. They couldn’t fit each other. Our cocks were too massive for them. It could cleave them. Humans could never have our pups. The moon goddess never paired the two species. I had never heard of it happening, and I certainly wasn’t going to accept a human as mine. Even the thought was outrageous and ridiculous. 

Yes, her scent was mouthwatering and had haunted me ever since that game. She was gorgeous. She also had a body that had ruined several nights of sleep.

That didn’t mean anything.

My reaction was attraction. An itch that would go away once I scratched it.

Unfortunately, the itch kept wearing another man’s jersey, and I was this close to burning it. Controlling my anger had become an issue. I dedicated more time to practice and gym. Once I resorted to an illegal boxing match in a caged ring. Though I beat the opponent easily, I welcomed the pain. 

I already had someone in mind to choose as my mate once my contract with the Boston Wolves ended in a year. My father, Graham Colston, was the Alpha of the North Valley pack, the largest pack in the region, far from human settlements. 

All our packs were under the Lycan King, Victor Lambart. 

We mostly kept to ourselves, but Mom had wanted me to experience life outside the pack. She had pushed me to attend college here, among humans to become a wholesome leader like my father. 

The rest was history.

Now, at twenty-eight, I had a hockey career, a team to lead, and a father who wanted me home ASAP to take over as Alpha of the pack, choose a mate and give them an heir. Preferably in less than a year. 

I had enough to deal with without adding a human woman to my existing problems. In fact, after seeing Viola, I was looking forward to returning to my pack. 

Last night, I had been sitting at the bar, thinking about our upcoming games and… her, when that familiar scent reached me.

Before I knew it, I was beside her, listening to her threaten Andy and Sandra while Onyx practically purred inside me.

My wolf. Purring. It was obnoxious. Onyx was an Alpha wolf who could tear apart his enemy in seconds. 

But when she told us what those bastards had done, he whined. Wouldn’t let me leave her there. Wanted to kill them for making her cry. 

For a year, he had been restless. Extra practice, alcohol, sex—nothing had settled him. Yet last night, with Viola asleep down the hall, he had finally shut up.

I had slept better than I had in months.

“Excuse me?”

Viola’s voice brought me back to the living room. Her eyes were wide, fixed on the ring between my fingers.

“Marry me,” I repeated as coldly as possible so that she didn’t have any misunderstandings. I didn’t want her thinking I was in love with her.

Which I wasn’t. Mind you. 

I was offering her because she was a great physiotherapist. That’s all. And my team needed one. 

“I know how far Horace will go to ruin your career and your reputation,” I continued. “He will make sure nobody hires you in the industry. Andy will throw a tantrum to keep you near him. Marrying me would make it much harder for them to come after you.”

Her mouth opened, then closed. She looked at the ring again, thinking hard, before turning back to me.

In a cautious voice she asked, “What’s the catch?”

“My team needs a good physical therapist. You’re the best. I know you graduated at the top of your class, and I’ve seen what you’ve done for injured players.” I looked into her eyes. “Join us.”

A faint blush rose in her cheeks, and her scent became even more delicious. My eyes dropped to her neck. 

I clenched my teeth at my stupid, untoward reaction. 

“I can join the team,” she said, biting her bottom lip. “But marriage…”

I explained, “Look, if you only switch teams, Horace will drag out your contract dispute and make your life miserable. If you’re my wife, he’ll have to think twice before trying anything. Besides, the mid-season trade off is perfectly fine. We will buy your contract.”

Viola studied me. “And what happens after that?”

“Our marriage lasts one year. That’s when my contract with the Wolves ends. We both go our own ways.” I needed to keep this strictly professional. 

“One year,” she repeated.

“Yes,” I replied nonchalantly. 

Onyx sat inside me with his ears up, waiting for her answer as though his entire future depended on it.

‘She is not our mate,’ I hissed at him. ‘She is a human. She is a physiotherapist my team needs!’

‘Yeah, so why hasn’t that mark on your neck faded yet?’ he asked. 

My hand went to the place where she had bitten me. ‘It will. It’s a human bite.’

It should have gone in less than an hour. The skin had healed, but the fucking mark remained. Two angry red marks, sitting there like a trophy. Maybe her bite had irritated my skin.

Onyx made a disgusted sound.

I ignored him and lowered my hand before Viola could notice.

Several moments later, which were irritating, making me clench my fists, finally, she lifted her head.

“Okay,” she said quietly. “Let’s get married. For a year.”

I froze. Not because she accepted. But because Onyx back-flipped and yelped inside me like a puppy. 

‘Calm the fuck down!’ I hissed at him. ‘This is just a professional arrangement.’ 

I placed the ring back in its box and stood, keeping my expression as neutral as possible. Then I went to my office and retrieved the contract I had drawn up last night. 

“What is this?” Viola asked. 

“Terms and conditions for our marriage.”