THE HOCKEY ALPHA WANTS ME

Chapter 1MaxMy hands were shaking again. I wiped them on my shorts, but the sweat came right back. Eight seconds left on the clock. Eight seconds between me and everything I'd ever wanted."Max." Coach Dan grabbed my jersey, pulling me close during the timeout, his dark eyes boring into mine. "This is it, son. Everything we’ve bled for comes down to this play. You got this, this is your shot."I nodded because my throat was too tight to talk. The arena was so loud I could barely think—fifteen thousand people screaming, the band playing, air horns blasting. But all I could focus on was that scoreboard: Cardinals 78, Wolves 76.And my teammates’ faces that were a mix of hope and desperation, their trust in me a heavy mantle across my shoulders. The whistle blew, and we jogged back onto the court. My legs felt weird, like they might give out, but not from being tired. It was from nerves, from knowing this was my last college game ever.My last chance to leave a mark before the world

Chapter 3MaxThe ride back to my house was like I was floating in a wide sea. I knew I was too drunk to be on my bike, but the alcohol made everything seem like a brilliant idea. Each turn felt like I was fighting to stay upright, and by the time I pulled into our driveway, my hands were shaking from more than just the cold night air.I killed the engine and sat there for a moment, trying to get my bearings. The house was completely dark except for the porch light Mom always left on for me. Good. Everyone was asleep.I stumbled off the bike and nearly kissing the garage door. Real smooth, Rivera. I fumbled with my keys, dropping them twice before finally getting the right one into the lock.The house was dead silent as I crept through the back door, avoiding the creaky floorboard by the kitchen island that would wake up Dad faster than a fire alarm. I held my breath as I tiptoed past my parents' bedroom, then Sofia's room, finally making it to my door at the end of the hall.I tu

Chapter 5MaxI stood there staring at Ace for what felt like forever but was probably only a few seconds. My heart was pounding so hard I was sure he could hear it and my mouth went completely dry. This couldn't be happening. No"Well this is just perfect," Ace said, his voice cold and sharp. "As if my day couldn't get any worse. What the hell are you doing here, Beta?"I wanted to say something back but my brain wasn't working right. All I could do was stand there like an idiot while he looked at me like I was something disgusting he'd stepped in."What's wrong, Rivera? Cat got your tongue?" He crossed his arms over his chest and I couldn't help but notice how the movement made his muscles flex under his shirt. "Or are you just as thrilled as I am about this little reunion?"I finally managed to find my voice. "I didn't know this was your room.""Obviously." He rolled his eyes and pushed his door open wider. "Trust me, if I'd known you were ever going to be here, I would have pic

Chapter 7 I stayed quiet for a moment, phone pressed to my ear, until my Nathan's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Max? You still there?" "Yeah," I said softly. "I just don't know, man. I feel like I made a mistake coming here." There was a pause on the other end, like he was giving me space to get it all out. "It's only been a few days but it feels like everyone already decided who I am. I keep thinking about just leaving, just walking away from all of this. But then I tell myself I worked hard to get here. I didn't cheat my way in, I didn't pull strings. I deserve to be here just like everyone else. So why does it feel like I don't?" I heard my him sigh, not in frustration but in that way he does when he's about to say something important. "You do deserve to be there, Max," he said finally. "You earned this. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise. Look, you've been through worse and came out stronger. Don't let one guy, no matter how much he tries to get in your head,

Chapter 9MaxI couldn’t sleep. My brain wouldn’t shut off, stuck on a loop of Ace’s face, his sharp eyes cutting through me like he could see something I didn’t even know was there. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him in the hallway, leaning against the wall, watching me with that look. Like he was sizing me up, deciding if I was worth his time or a problem he needed to deal with. It wasn’t just his stare that got under my skin; it was the way my body reacted, heart speeding up, palms sweaty, like I was waiting for something to happen. I didn’t know what, and that was the worst part.After hours of tossing and turning, I gave up. The dorm room felt too small, the walls closing in, and I needed to move. I pulled on my sneakers, grabbed my hoodie, and headed out for a jog. The campus was quiet, the kind of late-night stillness that made every sound sharper, the hum of streetlights, the rustle of leaves, my own breathing. I figured the rhythm of running would clear my head, shak