Chapter 1

Rowan's POV 

Today was supposed to be the beginning of a new life.

After years of sleepless nights and countless internships, I was finally starting work as the senior physiotherapist for the Scarlet Wolves—the best hockey team in the country.

Unfortunately, fate had decided to ruin my weekend first.

Life had a twisted sense of humor.

After landing my dream job, I walked into my apartment expecting to celebrate with the man I'd dated for four years.

Instead, I found him celebrating with my best friend.

Pushing the thoughts back, I muttered. "Today wasn't about my cheating ex. Instead, it was about my future."

Just as I stepped through the entrance of the Scarlet Wolves' training facility, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

I glanced at the screen and frowned. Lucas Calling...

Seriously?

After everything that happened, he still had the nerve to call me? I let it ring for a few seconds before answering. "Hello, who is this?"

"Have you seriously deleted my number?"

I almost laughed. "No."

"Then why the hell are you asking who this is?"

"Because I don't remember saving cheaters in my contacts."

"I don't give a damn about your feelings," Lucas snapped. "Where's the house key?"

I let out a short laugh. "The house key?"

"Yes, the damn house key. Don't act stupid."

I adjusted the strap of my bag and kept walking toward the arena entrance.

"If I remember correctly," I said calmly, "I'm the one who worked overtime to buy that house. I'm the one paying the mortgage every month. Last time I checked, your name isn't anywhere on the paperwork."

"I don't care," Lucas scoffed. "I'm tired, Rowan. I just want to get inside and sleep. Stop wasting my time and tell me where the key is."

I stopped walking. A bitter smile tugged at my lips. "The audacity..."

"You cheat on me with my best friend in the house I'm paying for..."

I shook my head in disbelief before meeting his eyes. "...and you still think I'm going to hand you the key?"

"Rowan, don't push me," Lucas warned, his voice rising. "If you don't give me that key, I'll trash the entire house."

I couldn't help letting out a dry laugh. "Go ahead."

"What?"

"You heard me." I adjusted the strap of my bag and continued toward the entrance. "Break every piece of furniture if it makes you feel better. Just make sure you have enough money to replace everything... and don't forget to pay for the repairs."

"You heartless bastard!" Lucas practically shouted into the phone. "After everything I've done for you, this is how you treat me?"

I stopped walking and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Everything you've done for me?"

"Yes!"

I laughed again, this time louder. "Lucas, if I remember correctly, I was the one paying the rent before we bought the house."

"I was the one paying the mortgage."

"I was the one paying the electricity, the water bill, the internet, and even your phone bill."

I paused for a second before adding, "Oh, and let's not forget who bought the groceries every single week."

Silence.

"So tell me..." I said calmly. "Exactly what have you done for me?"

Lucas hesitated before scoffing. "I gave you company! You were lonely before you met me. If it wasn't for me, you'd still be spending every night by yourself."

The corner of my lips lifted into a bitter smile. "So that's what this is?"

"You think sleeping under my roof was some kind of favor?"

"I fed you. I clothed you. I paid your bills."

"And now you're telling me I owe you because you decided to date me?"

My voice remained calm, but every word came out colder than the last. "Lucas...you don't have a single right to anything I own."

"And after what you did, you'd better pray I don't change the bank pin before I get back."

Lucas let out an enraged scream. "You'll regret this, Rowan! I swear I'll show you exactly who you're messing with!"

Before he could say another word, I ended the call. The corner of my lips lifted into a mocking smile as I slipped my phone back into my pocket.

"I'd like to see a spineless coward try," I muttered.

With that, I pushed the incident to the back of my mind and continued toward the Scarlet Wolves' training facility, determined not to let my cheating ex ruin the first day of my dream job.

As I walked farther into the training facility, the sound of skates carving across the ice grew louder. The scrape of blades echoed through the indoor rink, mixed with the occasional thud of pucks slamming against the boards and the players shouting instructions to one another.

The arena was already alive with activity.

Some players were skating laps around the rink while others practiced passing drills, their movements swift and perfectly synchronized. 

Coaches stood near the benches, barking orders and correcting mistakes as the team trained.

My gaze wandered across the ice until one man caught my attention. He stood out effortlessly because everyone seemed to move around him instinctively, as though giving him space was second nature.

Wherever he skated, the other players parted without a word.

"Who's that?" I pointed in his direction to ask a staff member beside me.

The staff member walking beside me smiled.

"That's Drake Rucker," he replied, unable to hide the admiration in his voice. "Our captain... and the strongest Alpha on the team."

My eyes lingered on the man gliding effortlessly across the ice. Even from a distance, there was an unmistakable aura of authority surrounding him.

"Ooh..." I nodded slowly, my gaze still fixed on the man gliding across the ice. "I see."

The captain barked another order, and every player immediately straightened up before skating even faster.

I blinked. "Does he always have that... grumpy look on his face?"

The staff member's eyes widened.

"Shh!" He quickly glanced toward the ice before lowering his voice. "Keep your voice down. If Captain Drake hears you, you'll be running laps before your first day even starts."

I raised an eyebrow. "That bad?"

He let out a helpless sigh. "Our captain is famous around here."

"For what?"

He leaned in slightly and whispered, "Nagging."

I stared at him. "Nagging?"

He nodded with a straight face. "I swear, he's worse than an old married couple. If your locker isn't clean, he'll nag you. If you're late for practice, he'll nag you. If you skip training, he'll personally make your life miserable."

I couldn't help chuckling. "I didn't expect that."

"Neither did any of us."

The staff member laughed before shaking his head. "The funny part is that Captain Drake is thirty years old..."

"So?"

"...and he still hasn't found his mate."

I frowned. "What does that have to do with anything?"

He shrugged. "No one knows."

"Some say he's too picky, others think the Moon Goddess forgot about him."

He lowered his voice even further. "My theory?"

I looked at him curiously. "What?"

"He's secretly jealous every time another wolf finds their mate."

I couldn't stop myself from laughing. "So that's why he's always in such a bad mood?"

"Exactly."

Before he could continue, someone called his name from across the rink.

He turned, answered with a quick wave, then looked back at me. "By the way, we've been talking all this time and I never asked..."

He extended his hand with a friendly smile. "Who are you?"

"Oh." I shook his hand. "Sorry. I'm Rowan Vale."

His eyes widened."Wait. The Rowan Vale?"

I blinked. "I don't know if there's another one."

His smile grew even wider. "So you're the new senior physiotherapist Coach Henderson has been bragging about."

I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. "I guess that's me."

"You two over there." A deep voice called out. "There'll be no slacking during training. Come here."

The staff member beside me visibly stiffened. "He's talking to us."

I blinked before glancing behind me. There was no one else standing near the entrance.

I pointed a finger at myself. "Me?"

The staff member sighed under his breath. "Unfortunately... yes."

He straightened his uniform before lowering his voice. "Welcome to your first encounter with Captain Drake Rucker."

I swallowed nervously. "For some reason, I don't think this is going to end well."

The staff member gave me a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "It never does.”