Ice and Iron

The scent hit me before I even cleared the doorframe.

Cedar, pine, and the unmistakable, suffocating heat of an Alpha in rut, tangled sickeningly with citrus and lace.

My inner wolf clawed viciously at my ribcage, howling in agonizing realization.

No. It couldn't be.

My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird.

Is this really my fated mate?

The newly named college Alpha and hockey captain, Daniel Shaw?

And the scent in the air... my own pack sister, Elena?

The sacred mate bond flared like liquid silver burning through my veins, screaming at me to run.

I wanted to wake up.

I needed this to be a nightmare, but the heavy, primal heat vibrating through the floorboards was entirely too real.

Daniel was too far gone to notice me standing in the doorway.

His eyes glowed a dangerous, predatory gold in the dim lighting as he pinned her to the mattress, his large hands gripping her body with brutal urgency.

"Yes, Daniel... Ahh, just like that," Elena gasped, throwing her head back with a breathless cry. "Claim me harder! Show me how an Alpha does it!"

A low, rumbling growl vibrated out of Daniel’s chest, the raw power of his bloodline echoing through the bedroom.

He locked into a punishing rhythm, the sheer force of their weight shaking the bed frame.

Elena screamed in ecstasy, utterly intoxicated by his aura. "This feels so good! Keep taking me!"

With a low snap of dominance, Daniel barked, "On all fours. Now."

Elena complied instantly, turning around to present herself with a breathless, triumphant smirk.

Positioning himself behind her, Daniel drove forward with a devastating thrust.

"Ahh... fuck yeah!" Elena cried out, her nails digging into the sheets.

Daniel anchored one hand firmly on her waist, using his supernatural stamina to drive her over the edge.

He brought his other hand down with a sharp, echoing slap against her skin, sliding his fingers down to massage her slick center.

Elena’s entire body trembled violently until a screaming orgasm ripped through her. Driven past the brink, Daniel’s remaining control snapped,

My breath hitched. The sudden noise of my sharp gasp finally broke the spell.

Elena snapped her head toward the doorway, her eyes widening.

Panic flashed across her face for a split second before she tore past me, disappearing down the hallway without a word.

"Gina…" Daniel’s voice rasped out, deep and rough from the rut.

I stumbled back, a bitter, metallic taste rising in my throat. I turned and bolted.

"Gina, wait!"

I sprinted toward the main floor, but his speed closed the distance instantly. Strong fingers clamped around my wrist like a steel trap, spinning me back to face him.

"Let go of me!" I snapped, my voice shaking uncontrollably. "Don't touch me! Don't you dare touch me!"

"Baby, just shut up for a second and let's talk," Daniel demanded, his grip tightening as he tugged me back toward his private quarters. "It’s better if we go inside.

“The whole damn pack house can hear us out here."

"I said let go!" I shoved hard against his chest, but he barely budged.

Once inside, I hurled myself away from him, my chest heaving.

The room reeked of her. The rumpled sheets, the heavy musk of an Alpha, and the desperate, guilty look in his golden eyes made my stomach churn.

Daniel paced the floor, running a hand through his damp dark hair before stopping abruptly in front of me.

"I messed up, okay?" He dragged a palm over his face. "It was a mistake."

"A mistake?" I choked out.

"Yeah, Gina, a mistake," he said, his eyes darting away from mine. "Some of the guys from the team came over last night.

“We were celebrating the championship win. We drank too much moonshine."

"You drank too much..."

"I got so shit-faced I thought she was you!" he insisted, stepping closer. "I don't even remember half of it! My wolf was clouded!"

I stared at him, my mouth slightly open. "You... you thought she was me?" A bitter, hysterical laugh tore from my throat. "Are you actually serious right now?

“You expect me to believe your wolf couldn't recognize his own mate's bond?!"

"Yes, damn it, I'm serious! I didn't mean it!" Daniel snapped, crossing his arms. "And honestly? She came on to me first!

“How was I supposed to resist when my Alpha instincts were high and I was plastered? Come on, Gina, you know I love you."

"Cheating is one thing, Daniel," I hissed, taking a sharp step toward him. "But thinking I’m stupid enough to swallow your pathetic lies? That’s a whole other level!"

"Gina, you’re overreacting!" he growled, his voice turning icy. "Look at Jasper! He had the same problem with his mate last season, and they worked it out!

“Why can't you be more mature like her?"

"Overreacting?!" I yelled, rage flaring white-hot through my veins. "Fourteen months, Daniel! Fourteen months of promises, and you just threw our mate bond in the trash!

“And you have the absolute nerve to tell me I'm overreacting?!"

Daniel scoffed, his defensive mask slipping away to reveal a sneer. "Promises? You really want to bring up promises?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You want to talk about promises? Fine! Let's talk!" He jabbed a rigid finger in my face, his eyes darkening to a dangerous pitch. "You promised your schedule wouldn't affect us!

“How's that working out, huh? Every damn day, you're busy! Debate team, campus magazines, managing your little academic clubs!"

"That's…"

"I play Division 1 hockey, and I'm running this pack, and I still make time for you!" he roared, making me flinch. "You put everything else before me! You know what? This is your fault!"

He jabbed my shoulder hard.

"This happened because of you, Gina! Not me. You!"

I took a step back, the sheer disgust crawling up my spine.

"You are a coward, Daniel," I whispered, lifting my chin to meet his harsh glare. "That's what you are.

“A weak, pathetic coward. Blaming me, twisting the truth, trying to guilt-trip me into accepting your betrayal? We're done."

I spun around and dashed to his desk, shoving papers and hockey playbooks onto the floor as I searched for my textbook.

"You act like there's someone better out there for you!" Daniel sneered behind me, his heavy footsteps echoing on the hardwood. "There isn't! And there won't ever be!"

"Watch me," I growled, digging under a pile of folders.

"Nobody else will ever make you feel alive the way I do!" He stepped closer, his voice booming off the walls. "You were nobody before me, Gina! I made you relevant in this pack!

“You walk into the rink or the hall, and people know your name because of me! Because you're with Daniel Shaw!"

Something inside me snapped clean in half.

I whirled around, stepping straight into his personal space until my breath fanned across his face.

"You will never speak to me again," I hissed, every syllable laced with venom. "And mark my words, Daniel... I will replace you with someone hotter, smarter, and ten times the Alpha you could ever dream to be."

I reached behind my neck, ripped the couple's necklace off my skin, and threw it hard against his chest. It clattered uselessly to his feet.

Grabbing my textbook, I stormed out of the room without looking back.

I managed to hold the tears in as I sprinted down the stairs of the pack house, but the second I burst through the heavy front doors into the brisk afternoon air, the dam broke.

I collapsed against the brick side of the building, clutching my chest as ragged sobs tore out of me.

My phone buzzed violently in my jacket pocket. I fumbled to answer it, my hands trembling violently.

"Gina?" my brother’s voice floated through the speaker.

"Yeah?" I sniffled, desperately wiping my face with my sleeve.

"Don't forget you promised to tutor Andrew after off-ice training today," he said, sounding irritated. "He's already bugging me about it."

I bit my lip, every instinct screaming at me to hide in my room and cry until I went numb. But I had made a promise.

I took a deep, shuddering breath, forcing the lump in my throat down, and slowly pushed myself up against the cold wall.

"Okay," I managed to force out, my voice thick. "I'll be there.”