Chapter 8

Blake

Instead of going home for dinner straight after practice, I decide to take myself to the forest. I have so much pent-up frustration over Roxy being back home that I need to let off steam. Maybe I should let my wolf out. It’s been a hot while so yeah maybe that is a good idea.

Ford bangs shoulders with me in the locker room, both of us half naked before we head into the showers. “Hey, Man what’s in you tonight? You were off game in practice. You know we need to win tomorrow, right?” Fuck, more pressure. Coach, my father, now Ford and the team.

“Tell me something I don’t already know, Ford. Nothing is wrong, just have shit going on in my head that’s all.” I begin to slide my pants down to my boxers. Sweat is dripping off me since coach made us work like demons on the ice and I stink. I need a shower. An ice-cold shower and to take some of the tension out of my aching muscles.

“Wouldn’t have anything to do with that hot step-sister of yours now then, would it?” Okay, my best friend knows me too well. I snarl at him. He raises his hands up in the air defensively.

“Forget her, she has nothing to do with the shit on my mind. I’m not interested in Roxy. She would be the last person to gain my interest.” I’m obviously lying since images of Roxy underneath me seem to be dominating my mind of late. And she’s only been back a day. God help me. How am I going to keep my hands to myself and my mind out of the gutter with racy thoughts of my step-sister, whilst she is back home for her mother?

“Uh-huh, so you don’t mind if I ask her out on a date then?” he says as I turn and glare at him. He is sporting a shit-eating grin. Thank fuck I am still wearing my boxer shorts, because glaring my best friend down with my cock hanging out wouldn’t be the best thing to do.

“You leave her alone. I told you guys already; Roxy is off limits. That means all of you,” I growl at them.

“Thought so,” Ford says. “Man, it seems to me you have it bad for that hot little number.” He turns to strip off his hockey pants as I clench my hands into tight fists, resisting the urge to slam him in the jaw. Rule number one, do not swing a punch at your best friend. It’s not his fault I am totally confused about Roxy. Hell, I wish I wasn’t. Instead, I scrub my fuzzy jaw with my hand.

“Not the case, Bro. Like I said, I have shit on my mind.” There is a pause before I add for clarification, “and don’t refer to her as a hot thing. That’ll get you a punch in the face.” He makes an Oooo sound. Fucker.

For one, I want to go and see what Roxy found so darn interesting in the woods. And two, I need something to take my mind off the conflict that is pissing me right off. Constantly thinking about Roxy and the sway of her hips as she walks, that glint in her eye that says I dare you to make a move. And knowing she is my step-sibling, it’s all doing my head in.

An hour later and I am showered, dressed in my black joggers and a blue T-shirt over my body. My truck is parked at the perimeter of the woods. It smells crisp and fresh, the evening air already much cooler. The moon is a quarter and looks like it is teasing me by winking at me. Fucking moon!

My feet begin to run in my sneakers automatically, the moment I start, I cannot stop. My pace picks up, my heart rate nice and steady thanks to being a supreme athlete and an alpha. My wolf senses are heightened and soon pick up the scent of Roxy. Her floral, jasmine fragrance hits my senses. I follow the trail and soon come upon the clearing I found her at taking the photos. I stop and lift my head up to the sky and sniff some more for any other signs of wolf or human.

My nose leads me to the exact tree where she had taken the photograph from, her fragrance lingering on it. My heart races a tad more, not a good sign. Jeez-us the mere scent of her is making my stomach do somersaults. Like I’ve said before, not good. What is it with that damn woman?

I growl knowing she shouldn’t have been anywhere near this line. It’s rogue territory and God only knows what else. Here is where she was in danger.

She was here, way too damn close!

I mark the tree with my claws that are now out and extended having caused the pain in my hands and my wrist, the crunching of bones hitting my ears. This should make any other territorial wolves back off.

As I turn and head back so not to be late in, since my step-mother will grill me on my whereabouts. She is a stickler for people being on time for dinner. And since she is not too well right now, I don’t want to add further to her distress.

“Hey, Blake,” I turn and see my Omega Jace running towards me. He is panting slightly. “What the hell are you doing in here on your own? You know these woods are dangerous, we always move in a group. Man, stupid much.”

“What do you want, Jace?” I ask him dismissively.

“There’s movement near the ridge. I smelt rogue fur. I’m thinking it could be from the East Wolf pack. That snippet of news makes me pull my brows together. This is the first hint of rival wolves being this close to our turf. And Roxy’s safety.

“If they come near her, they die!”