LOVING MR HOCKEY STAR

Maya's POV I didn’t remember choosing a direction. My feet just moved—one step after another—until I realized I’d walked ten miles. And still, the ache in my chest hadn’t dulled.As I wiped the last trail of tears that slid down my cheeks, I glanced up at the building in front of me and I noticed I was standing in front of a bar—Snarl & Smoke at the outskirts of town. I walked in. The red neon light flickered across the room. The loud music reverberated through my soul. The smell of smoke and alcohol lingered in the air. A sad smile tugged at the corners of my lips. Just the perfect distraction I needed. If there's something else I liked about this bar, it's for their service of selling alcohol that is strong enough to knock out even the strongest of wolves.“Your strongest drink,” I said to the bartender—a dark skinned lady with blonde hair—at the counter, sliding into the booth in front of her.She nodded and after a while, she handed me a glass of alcohol. I downed it, the liquid

Maya's POV “Bye, mom,” I said, waving to my mom, watching as the chauffeur drove off from the university gates. I turned towards the gates, sighing for up to the hundredth time today.How can this be happening to me?I was thinking that this university would be a new start for me, a getaway from all my problems, so how come that jerk Jaxon Cross is here too?I could still recollect the look mother and Alpha Damien had given me when I screamed yesterday.“Is there a problem between you and Jaxon?“ Mother asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. I forced a smile at her. “No. I was just too shocked that he goes there too.“They stared at me for a long while, clearly not believing me but they finally nodded.“Jaxon is in his second year and would be of help to you,” Alpha Damien said, his voice filled with concern. “I will call him to let him know his sister is attending the same school with him.“As his fingers hovered around his phone screen, my chest tightened.I could already imagin

Jaxon's POV The partial shift burned through my veins like liquid fire. My wolf was clawing at my insides, demanding I tear my uncle apart for even looking at Maya. Every instinct screamed at me to claim her, mark her, make it clear to everyone that she belonged to me. "Back off, Ronan," I snarled, my voice deeper than usual. "I'm not playing games." My uncle didn't even flinch. He stood there calm as death, like he was discussing the weather instead of facing down a partially shifted werewolf. It only made my rage burn hotter. "Neither am I," he said smoothly. "The mate bond isn't a game, Jaxon. It's sacred law." "Sacred law?" I laughed, but it came out as more of a growl. "You want to talk about sacred? She's my stepsister. She's under my protection." "Protection?" Ronan raised one perfect eyebrow. "Is that what you call the way you've been treating her? Calling her a gold digger? Threatening to kick her out of the pack?" My chest tightened. He was right, and I hated that he

Maya's POV Ronan's grip on my wrist burned like fire. His golden eyes blazed with a rage so intense I thought he might actually hurt me. The power rolling off him made the air thick and heavy, hard to breathe. "Let go of me," I whispered. "You gave yourself to him first," he repeated, his voice deadly quiet. "Before you even knew who I was. Before you could feel our bond." "I didn't know about any bonds!" The words exploded out of me. "I was drunk and heartbroken and stupid. I didn't know about mates or supernatural politics or any of this!" His grip tightened. "Heartbroken?" "My boyfriend cheated on me with my best friend. They told me I was worthless, that I was nothing but a hole to be used." Tears burned my eyes. "So yes, I was heartbroken. And yes, I made a mistake." Something shifted in Ronan's face. The rage flickered, replaced by something softer. But I was done. Done with both of them treating me like a prize to be won. "Get your hands off me," I snarled, yanking my w

Ronan's POVThe moment Maya collapsed, my training as both an Alpha and a healer kicked in. I caught her before she hit the floor, her body convulsing in my arms like she was being electrocuted from the inside."Move," I barked at Jaxon, who was frozen in the doorway. "We need to get her out of here. Now.""What's happening to her?" His voice cracked with panic."First shift. And it's not going to be pretty." I lifted Maya into my arms, her body burning hot against my chest. "If she shifts in this dorm, she'll destroy everything and expose us all."Jaxon's eyes went wide. "She's really shifting? But she's never shown any signs..""The signs were all there. Enhanced senses, increased appetite, restlessness." I pushed past him into the hallway. "I should have seen it sooner."Maya whimpered in my arms, her back arching as another wave of pain hit her. Her roommate stirred in her bed, mumbling something in her sleep."Where are we taking her?" Jaxon whispered, closing the door behind us.