Chapter 3

KINGSTON'S POV

The ice was still cold under my skates by the time I stopped hearing the sauce dripping down my collar and started hearing everything else instead, my own pulse, too loud, and her voice underneath it: You're just standing there, letting them destroy me. She wasn't wrong, and that was the part I couldn't skate off.

I told myself the locker room would be quieter. It wasn't. My head was still splitting, my shirt was still ruined, and somewhere under both of those was the one thought I refused to let all the way in — that I'd rather take a plate to the face every night than watch her look at me like that again. I sat on the wooden bench in the locker room, both elbows resting on my knees as I stared at the floor The friendly match we just finished had been brutal, but that was not why my head felt like it was splitting open. The migraine throbbed behind my eyes and I knew exactly what caused it.

Or rather, who caused it.

The door to the showers opened and Malik walked out, towel around his neck and his shorts already on. He took one look at me and shook his head.

"What is the problem with you tonight?" he asked, dropping onto the bench across from me. "Still thinking about that plate of pasta she dumped on your head earlier?"

A sharp smile tugged at my lips even through the pain. "Something like that."

Malik laughed. "You should just talk to her, man. Tell her the truth. This mate bond shit is eating you alive."

I rolled my eyes and leaned back against the lockers. "What exactly am I supposed to say? Hey Journee, I am your mate. By the way, I have been tormenting you for two years because your father and mine hate each other. Oh, and I am pretty sure you are here to spy on us."

Malik pulled on his shirt, giving me a dry look. "Twice today you have called her a spy. We both know she is not. The girl is too naive and focused on her computer to play those games. You are just using that as an excuse to stay away from her.”

He was right, but I would not admit it out loud. For two years I had kept my distance.

Two years of watching her from afar, smelling her scent every time she passed by, fighting the urge to drag her close and claim what the moon had decided was mine.

Acting like an asshole had been the only way to keep her away. Her father would never allow it anyway. Our packs were not exactly on speaking terms.

"I can handle two more years," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "Just like the last two."

Malik snorted. "Sure you can. That's why you just threatened to kick Dominic off the team for a stupid prank."

"It wasn't a prank, Malik. It was harassment." It was frustrating that I had to explain.

"Yeah, because you care about her."

I didn't make a comment about that because if I did, it was going to be a lie. He noticed my silence and gave me a knowing smirk. I rolled my eyes and watched him finished dressing and begin inspection. He was the captain so this was the normal routine, I only stayed because he needed a ride after crashing his third car in less than a year.

"Come on," he waved at me, throwing on his jacket. "Let's go." Then, he paused and stared at his phone. "Ah men, I can't ride with you. I forgot something I'll just take the bus."

I just knew his girlfriend had texted him, and he was going to stay back in school with her. I picked up my bag, slinging it over one shoulder as we made our way out of the locker room.

"Cool," I muttered and we said our goodbyes, heading our separate ways. I took slow steps trying to ignore the pounding in my head when I noticed the lights in the rink were still on.

Strange. I headed that way, telling myself I was just making sure everything was shut down properly.

I had not even walked in when I noticed Journee standing near the bench. As usual, she had books in her arms, talking to two other guys who looked like computer nerds.

She gave them a small smile, waving goodbye and I couldn't help but feel a surge of jealousy. They walked away leaving just her and I couldn't help but watch her pack up the equipment.

Her light blonde hair, the palest shade I had ever seen, caught the overhead lights and it looked like she had a halo.

"Go to her. She's ours," my wolf, Onyx stirred but I ignored him not moving from the shadows. She moved efficiently, turning off lights one by one.

That should have been my clue to leave but instead, my feet slowly carried me forward.

She stepped out of the rink area and froze the moment her brown eyes met mine. The calm expression on her face crumbled instantly only to be replaced with hate.

That should have hurt but all I could think about was how ethereal she looked. My wolf practically purred at the fire in her eyes.

She tried to walk past me without a word but my legs followed wanting more of her presence.

"Leave me the hell alone, Kingston," she hissed and my lips stretched into a wide grin. I slowed down trying to match her pace and couldn't help but notice how small she was compared to me.

"I just want to talk."

"About what happened. With the posts. I didn't know about them until you showed me."

She stopped walking and turned to face me, her eyes blazing. "You expect me to believe that? Your friends have been tormenting me for days. You just stand there and let it happen."

"I told them to stop."

"After it already happened."

I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated. "I know. And I'm sorry. I can't-" I stopped myself.

"Can't what?"

"I can't always be ... " My voice faltered because even I wasn't making sense to myself. Her scent was calming my migraine, and the fierce look in her eyes made me want to touch her ... To hold her ... To have her close ... But I stopped myself immediately.

Her expression morphed between confusion and it softened slightly. "Why? Why do you even care?"

Because you're my mate. Because I've been in love with you for two years and I can't do anything about it. But I couldn't tell her. Hell, I wanted to say everything to her and how much I felt for her, but the words were always stuck in my throat.

"Just stay away from my father," I said instead. "If he asks about you, tell him nothing. Promise me."

"Why would your father ask about me?"

"Just promise me, Journee."

She stared at me for a long moment. "You're impossible."

"I know."

She tried to walk past me again. This time, I stepped into her path unconsciously. What was I doing? Why was my heart racing? Our eyes met in the dark hallway, and when I listened, I could hear her racing heart too.

"What are you doing?" she whispered slightly, her breath hitched.

"I'm not going to hurt you," I said quietly. "I need you to know that. Whatever you think of me, I would never hurt you."

Her throat moved as she swallowed. "Then why do you act like you hate me?"

Because if I act like I love you, my father will find out. And he'll destroy you ... But I still didn't say it.

"It's complicated."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one I have right now."

She looked up at me for a while, and for a second, I saw something soft in her expression. Something that made my chest ache.

"You should stay away from me," I said hoarsely.

"Then why are you following me?"

"Because I can't stop."

The words hung between us, and that was when her lips parted involuntarily ... and that was all I could think about right now. Then, my eyes dropped to her mouth. I shouldn't have done it. Every rational part of my brain was screaming at me to walk away.

But then she whispered my name like she yearned for me, "Kingston ... "

And that was what broke my self-control. I cupped her face in my hands and kissed her. She stiffened at first, froze completely. But I didn't push. I just held her there, my lips soft against hers, giving her every chance to pull away.

Then her hands fisted in my jacket, and she kissed me back.

That was when my heart stopped.

She made a small sound in her throat, and I groaned, deepening the kiss just slightly. Her taste flooded my senses- sakura blossoms and something sweet. I just couldn't get enough.

I walked her back until her shoulders touched the wall, but my hands stayed gentle on her face. My thumbs brushed her cheekbones.

"Journee," I breathed against her lips.

She kissed me harder, and I lost myself completely. That was when my phone buzzed and interrupted the only sweet moment I had for the first time in my life.

I ignored it, but she pulled back, breathless, her lips swollen and her cheeks flushed.

"You should get that," she whispered.

"I don't care."

"Kingston."

I cursed under my breath, took a step back and pulled out my phone. It was a string of text from my father.

Dad: You worthless bastard. Since you refused to pick up my calls, I'm coming over tomorrow. You have a lot of explaining to do.

The world crashed back down, and I was suddenly reminded of my reality. When I looked up, Journee was already gone.

"Fuck."