The Captain's Rules

Rei lasted exactly forty-three minutes before she decided she hated the hockey team.

Not the players.

Not the sport.

The team.

There was a difference.

The players were mostly tolerable.

The team, however, was apparently a living organism designed specifically to make her life difficult.

She stood in the middle of the equipment room surrounded by helmets, sticks, gloves, jerseys, skates, medical supplies, and enough dirty laundry to bury a small village.

She stared at the clipboard in her hand.

Then at the mountain of equipment.

Then back at the clipboard.

"Inventory everything."

That was what Coach Reed had told her.

Everything.

Rei looked toward the clock.

Four twenty-seven.

She had been working for twenty-seven minutes.

She was already reconsidering every decision that had led her to Blackthorn Academy.

She picked up the first helmet.

"One."

Another.

"Two."

Another.

"Three."

A voice came from behind her.

"Those aren't in numerical order."

Rei closed her eyes.

Not again.

She turned around.

Dominic stood in the doorway.

He had changed out of his practice gear and was wearing black athletic pants and a gray Blackthorn shirt.

His hair was still damp.

He looked irritatingly perfect.

Rei looked back at the helmets.

"Congratulations."

Dominic frowned.

"On what?"

"You found something else to complain about."

"I'm telling you they're supposed to be organized by player number."

"I'm counting them."

"You can count them and organize them."

"I can."

"So do it."

Rei slowly turned.

"Are you my supervisor?"

"No."

"Then why are you giving me orders?"

"Because this is my team."

"Then tell your team to organize their own equipment."

Dominic stared at her.

"They don't."

"Why?"

"Because that's your job."

Rei looked at the clipboard.

"Interesting."

"What?"

"The job description said equipment assistant."

"It is."

"Not personal servant."

His jaw tightened.

"I didn't say you were."

"You implied it."

Dominic stepped into the room.

"You're extremely defensive."

"I'm extremely tired."

"You've been here less than an hour."

"Exactly."

For some reason, he almost smiled.

Almost.

Instead, he pointed toward a row of shelves.

"Numbers one through ten go there."

Rei stared at him.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

He turned.

Rei waited until he reached the door.

"Dominic?"

He stopped.

She held up a pair of gloves.

"These are number forty-two."

He looked back.

"So?"

"There's no player forty-two."

Dominic stared at the gloves.

Then at her.

Then back at the gloves.

Rei smiled.

"Have a good day."

She turned away.

Behind her, Dominic muttered something under his breath.

Rei smiled wider.

Maybe working for the hockey team wouldn't be so bad after all.

---

It was nearly six when the last player left.

Rei was exhausted.

She had learned everyone's names, player numbers, equipment preferences, and which players were incapable of putting anything back where it belonged.

She had also learned one important fact.

Dominic Vale was worse when he was tired.

He had spent the last hour barking instructions at everyone.

Faster.

Again.

Move.

Focus.

Again.

When one player missed a pass, Dominic slammed his stick against the boards.

"Wake up!"

The player immediately apologized.

Rei had watched from the equipment room.

Dominic wasn't simply competitive.

He was obsessed.

Everything had to be perfect.

Every movement.

Every pass.

Every shot.

Every second.

She understood that kind of pressure.

Maybe more than she wanted to admit.

When everyone finally left, Rei grabbed her backpack.

She was ready to go.

Then she heard a noise.

A crash.

She turned.

Dominic was still on the ice.

Alone.

He had apparently decided that practice wasn't over simply because everyone else had gone home.

He took another shot.

The puck slammed into the net.

He skated after it.

Another shot.

Another goal.

Again.

Again.

Again.

Rei watched from the doorway.

"Don't you ever stop?"

Dominic didn't turn.

"No."

"That's healthy."

He shot again.

"You don't know anything about me."

"Neither do you."

He stopped.

Finally looking at her.

Rei leaned against the doorway.

"You've been acting like you know exactly who I am since I arrived."

Dominic's expression hardened.

"You make yourself easy to read."

"Do I?"

"You're stubborn."

"True."

"Defensive."

"Also true."

"Angry."

Rei shrugged.

"Sometimes."

"Suspicious."

"Definitely."

His eyes narrowed.

"And you don't trust anyone."

That one hit differently.

Rei's smile disappeared.

Dominic noticed.

Something shifted in his expression.

"Was I wrong?"

Rei picked up her backpack.

"Goodnight, Captain."

She walked away.

Dominic watched her disappear.

He knew immediately that he'd touched something he shouldn't have.

He didn't know what.

But he knew it mattered.

---

Rei stepped outside.

The sun had disappeared behind the trees.

The temperature had dropped.

She pulled her jacket tighter.

Her dorm was across campus.

She started walking.

Halfway there, she noticed footsteps.

Behind her.

Rei kept walking.

The footsteps continued.

She slowed.

They slowed.

She stopped.

They stopped.

Every muscle in her body tightened.

She turned.

The path was empty.

Nothing.

Rei stared into the darkness.

"Very funny."

Silence.

She continued walking.

A branch snapped behind her.

Rei spun around.

Nothing.

Her hand went into her jacket pocket.

Her fingers wrapped around the suppressant bottle.

She didn't know why, but suddenly she wished she had something stronger.

She reached the dorm.

The moment she stepped inside, the tension eased.

She locked the door behind her.

Then checked it twice.

Her roommate hadn't arrived yet.

Good.

Rei set her backpack down.

She looked at herself in the mirror.

"You're fine."

Her reflection stared back.

She didn't believe herself.

---

Across campus, Dominic sat alone in the locker room.

He stared at his phone.

Then at the door.

Then back at his phone.

He wasn't waiting for anyone.

He told himself that.

He had no reason to care whether Rei had reached her dorm.

She was an employee.

A difficult employee.

An irritating employee.

An infuriatingly beautiful employee.

He stopped that thought immediately.

Beautiful wasn't relevant.

He had dated beautiful women before.

That wasn't the problem.

The problem was his wolf.

It had been restless since the moment he'd smelled her.

Dominic leaned back.

"She's an Omega."

His wolf didn't care.

"She's trouble."

Nothing.

"She hates me."

Still nothing.

Dominic sighed.

His wolf's answer was simple.

Mine.

He slammed his locker shut.

"No."

The word echoed through the empty room.

He wasn't claiming anyone.

Not now.

Not ever.

His father had spent his entire childhood telling him what he should want.

What he should become.

Who he should associate with.

Who he should eventually mate.

Dominic had spent the last year escaping that control.

He wasn't going to trade his father's control for his wolf's.

He stood.

Then stopped.

Something smelled wrong.

He sniffed the air.

Faint.

Sweet.

Omega.

Dominic's expression changed.

Rei.

He walked toward the hallway.

The scent disappeared.

Someone else had been here.

Dominic's instincts sharpened.

He followed the scent toward the rear entrance.

Nothing.

Only darkness.

But on the floor near the door was a small object.

A glass bottle.

Dominic picked it up.

His eyes narrowed.

Scent suppressant.

The bottle was empty.

He turned it over.

No label.

No name.

His wolf growled.

Dominic looked toward the dark campus.

Something was wrong.

And he had a feeling it involved Rei.

---

The next morning, Rei woke to screaming.

She sat upright.

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

For several seconds she didn't know where she was.

Then reality returned.

Dorm.

Blackthorn.

New school.

New life.

The screaming came again.

She threw on a sweatshirt and rushed outside.

A crowd had gathered in the hallway.

A student was shouting.

"Someone stole my bracelet!"

Another voice answered.

"Search the rooms!"

Rei froze.

The crowd began moving.

Her first instinct was to leave.

Her second was to stay.

She chose neither.

She simply watched.

A professor arrived.

"Everyone back to your rooms."

The crowd slowly dispersed.

Rei turned.

Selena Hart stood at the opposite end of the hallway.

Their eyes met.

Selena smiled.

It wasn't friendly.

Not even close.

Rei walked toward her.

"What?"

Selena tilted her head.

"Nothing."

"Then stop staring."

"I was just wondering how long you're going to pretend you belong here."

Rei laughed.

"Longer than you want."

Selena's smile disappeared.

"You think being pretty makes you special."

"No."

Rei stepped closer.

"I think surviving does."

Selena's eyes flashed.

"Careful, Omega."

Rei's body went still.

Selena smiled again.

"Some people here don't like outsiders."

Rei leaned forward.

"Then they should learn to cope."

She walked away.

But she didn't notice the small black envelope tucked beneath her dorm-room door.

She wouldn't discover it until later.

And when she did, she would wish she hadn't.

---

By noon, the entire academy knew about Rei.

Not because of the scholarship.

Not because she was the only Omega.

Because of Dominic.

Someone had seen them arguing outside the arena.

Someone else claimed Dominic had followed her.

By lunch, the rumor had become:

Dominic Vale has claimed the new Omega.

Rei nearly choked on her drink.

"What?"

Mia sat across from her.

"I told you."

"You told me everyone knew Dominic."

"I didn't tell you everyone was obsessed with his personal life."

"I don't have a personal life with him."

Mia laughed.

"Apparently the academy disagrees."

Rei looked around.

People were staring.

Whispering.

Some girls looked angry.

Some boys looked interested.

Rei felt her stomach twist.

This was exactly what she had been trying to avoid.

Attention.

She didn't want to be anyone's Omega.

She didn't want a relationship.

She didn't want a mate.

She wanted to graduate.

Get a job.

Build a life.

And never again depend on another person for her survival.

Mia leaned closer.

"Don't worry."

"About what?"

"Selena."

Rei looked toward the other side of the cafeteria.

Selena was sitting with several Alpha girls.

And she was watching Rei.

"Why?"

Mia lowered her voice.

"Because Selena wanted Dominic."

Rei sighed.

"That's not my problem."

"It will be."

"Why?"

Mia hesitated.

"Because Selena doesn't lose."

Rei looked back at Selena.

Then smiled.

"Neither do I."

Across the cafeteria, Dominic walked in.

The room changed instantly.

Heads turned.

Conversations stopped.

Dominic didn't care.

His eyes searched the room.

Then found Rei.

He walked directly toward her.

Mia whispered, "Oh, no."

Rei frowned.

"What?"

Dominic stopped beside the table.

"You're coming with me."

Rei stared up at him.

"No."

His eyebrows lifted.

"No?"

"No."

"I need you at practice."

"Practice starts in three hours."

"I need you now."

"Then you should have asked."

Dominic leaned down.

"Rei."

She stood.

"Dominic."

They stared at each other.

Neither backed down.

Finally, Dominic said quietly:

"Someone has been following you."

The smile disappeared from Rei's face.

"What?"

"I found your suppressant bottle last night."

Her stomach dropped.

"Where?"

"Outside the arena."

Rei's fingers curled.

"That wasn't mine."

Dominic's expression changed.

"What?"

"I didn't lose it."

The two stared at each other.

For the first time, neither was thinking about hockey.

Neither was thinking about rumors.

Neither was thinking about their growing attraction.

They were thinking about the same thing.

Someone had taken Rei's suppressant.

And someone had wanted Dominic to find it.

Dominic straightened.

"You're coming with me."

Rei hesitated.

Then nodded.

For once, she didn't argue.

Because deep down, she already knew something was wrong.

And whoever was behind it had just made one very serious mistake.

They had gotten Dominic Vale's attention.

And Dominic Vale did not let go of something once he decided it was his responsibility.

Even if Rei wasn't his.

Not yet.