1 Cold Alpha

**Quinn’s POV**

I put away my phone for a moment, took a breath, then looked back at the video playing. Now my heart was beating even faster, and I was more nervous than before. 

The reason was that after a long hiatus from my job as a massage therapist , today I would be treating a VVIP client, a 30-year-old man who was an Alpha werewolf and the highest-paid and most famous ice hockey player in the world, Grayson Wyatt Talon. 

My work system is, I will come when I am called. It wasn't a permanent job, just a temporary one, but at least it could add my income to ease my mortgage payments and pay for my brother’s medical expenses. Besides, this experience could also improve my resume, which had taken a nosedive after I resigned from the hospital.

And here I am now, standing in front of the S-T Arena, the home base of Frost Maple, Grayson’s team, with sweaty palms. 

Slowly, I entered after seeing a message from Frost Maple’s general manager telling me to meet him. 

All the players were training when I managed to get in. I immediately headed to the stands to meet the general manager, as he said he was there. 

But as soon as my foot touched the first step of the stairs, I heard a thunderous yet heavy sound, followed by the sound of something being thrown and hitting the glass behind me. 

“Who allowed a stranger to come in while we’re training!”

That shout made my body tremble instantly. My legs felt weak, like jelly. I could only hold onto the shoulder bag I was carrying and slowly turn around to look at the chaos behind me. 

It turned out that all the players had stopped what they were doing, and now they were all looking at me, including the coach. But among them, there was one person staring at me the most intensely, Grayson.

“I… I was asked…” I wanted to explain to them, especially Grayson, that I was his new therapist, but for some reason, the words couldn’t come out right. 

“Who are you? How dare you come in here!” Grayson shouted again. 

My courage shrunk. I felt more and more inferior. I began to doubt my abilities as just an ordinary human being who had to take care of an Alpha. Because it wasn't just his body I would have to deal with, but also his emotions, and that was even more frightening. But I couldn't step back or run away, I needed the money.

So I gathered my courage and lifted my head. “I’m Quinn, your new therapist.”

“New therapist? Who sent you? And where’s the general manager?” 

“Hey, I’m here!” a disembodied voice replied.

Shortly after, a man emerged from the breakroom and ran breathlessly toward us.  

"I told her to come, Grayson. Oh, welcome to the Frost Maple team, Quinn. I'm the general manager, the one who contacted you and asked you to be Grayson's new massage therapist. I hope we can work well together in the future."

I tried to smile, though my heart was still racing after being scolded by Grayson. “Quinn Blair Roux. You can call me Quinn.”

“Where’s my old therapist? Why didn’t he come?” Grayson asked in a cold, intimidating voice.

“Oh come on, Grayson, you’re the one who scared him away by hitting him. Don’t you remember?”

What? Hit? Grayson hit his therapist? Oh my God, am I going to end up the same way now? 

"Calm down, Quinn, he wouldn't hit a woman. Yesterday's therapist was a man, so he felt it was a fair fight, even though it wasn't because he's a werewolf and the therapist was just a normal human like you."

The general manager’s words only added to my anxiety. I held my breath as Grayson walked to the edge of the rink, took off his skates, and headed toward me.

Oh my gosh, Grayson, he’s so much bigger and taller than in the game replays I usually see on the team’s social media channel. He… makes me feel like a dwarf next to him. 

He looked me up and down. Not only that, he also leaned forward, then furrowed his brow. 

Wait, do I smell? But I showered and put on perfume before coming here. 

“He’s always like that with his therapists. He’s just making sure you’re not carrying anything dangerous,” the general manager whispered.

“Something dangerous?” I asked curiously.

“Yes, he fired his last therapist because during a treatment session, he gave him a spray that contains chloroform to make him unconscious and then have sex with him.”

I gasped at the news, immediately covering my mouth with both hands as Grayson’s gaze turned investigative. “But… you said the last therapist was a man, right?”

The general manager laughed and patted Grayson’s shoulder. “It doesn’t matter who it is, male or female, no one can resist the charm of our Grayson. That’s common knowledge, Quinn.”

Oh my gosh, this is a new fact I’ve never heard before. 

Okay, maybe ice hockey is my favorite sport. But my favorite team isn't the Frost Maple, it's another team. So I don't know much about Grayson. And also... I think it's possible that some people might resist his charm after seeing his bad temper. I'm one of them. 

“What are you waiting for? Come with me,” said Grayson, who was already standing in front of the recovery room. 

“Oh, right, sorry,” I said nervously. I immediately ran to follow him. Meanwhile, the general manager gave me a silent thumbs-up.

After I entered the recovery room, Grayson slammed the door behind him. He immediately took off his jersey and all his playing gear, leaving only his trunks on. 

“Do you mind if I take off my clothes? I’m boiling and my clothes are soaked with sweat.”

I nodded, though my heart was racing. “As long as you’re comfortable, Sir.”

“Sir?” he repeated. “Call me Grayson. I have a name.”

I nodded quickly again. “You can just wear your trunks if that makes you comfortable, Grayson.”

He finally positioned himself lying down on the mat, resting both hands behind his head. He also closed his eyes, looking more relaxed than before. But that was before he finally opened his mouth again.

"Are you just going to stand there? Hurry up and do something. I have other things to do. I don't have time to wait for you."

"Oh, sorry... I'll get started right away. Please lower both your hands and place them beside your body."

This is a mess, I'm too nervous to know what to do. Luckily Grayson didn't get angry when I gave him instructions.

To calm myself down, I took a deep breath. Then I poured some oil to start the massage. I started from the top of his body, his shoulders and arms. 

Honestly, this is the hardest body I’ve ever massaged. Maybe it’s because Grayson is an Alpha and also a werewolf, so it’s different from ordinary humans. 

His shoulders were broad and square, his biceps and triceps were very tight and hard. It was even quite difficult to squeeze them. 

Then my massage slowly moved down to his chest. I poured more oil because it was very broad. 

Now I think I understand why Grayson have a nicknamed Mr. Perfect in the news articles I read on my way here. Except for his temper, Grayson really does deserve to be called Mr. Perfect because he’s handsome, has an athletic body, and he’s the only ice hockey player who is an Alpha. 

The news articles I read also explained Grayson's origins, that he came from a prominent billionaire werewolf family who had never had a relationship with any woman. 

It is said that Grayson has never had a publicly announced partner because the woman he will introduce to the public will only be his fated mate when they meet. That is also the reason why, even though there are many women rumored to be involved with him, he has never clarified that any of them are his girlfriend. 

The point is, Grayson is truly like the perfect character described by the author but living in the real world.

“What are you doing!”

That deep, hoarse voice snapped me back to reality and made me stop massaging. I felt something big, long, and muscular under my palm. And when I looked down, I was utterly shocked because what I was touching was his penis!

Reflexively, I let go of it and step back. Then I bowed repeatedly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I really didn't mean to touch it. I'm sorry, sir."

I kept my head down, not daring to look at Grayson's face. I was terrified that he would slap or hit me because he might think I was like his last therapist who was a pervert. But I swear I’m not like any of them. 

“Since this is your first mistake, I’ll let it slide. But I won’t tolerate any further mistakes. Do you understand?”

I nodded quickly, “yes, sir.”

“What?”

“I mean, yes Grayson.”

“Now continue.”

***

It’s been five days since I treated Grayson, and his team still hasn’t contacted me again. Maybe it’s because of the mistake I made during the first day. Or maybe it’s because they’ve already replaced me with a new therapist.

I really wasted the opportunity they gave me, I messed it up. If my performance had been good, I might have become a permanent employee there and wouldn't have to work part-time at three places at once. 

Yes, before the job call at S-T Arena that day and even until now, I worked as a minimarket cashier, candy maker, and hostess. I did all that because I quit my job at the hospital after the president director there verbally abused me and almost physically assaulted me. And since then, I haven't been accepted at any hospital. 

Yeah, even though I wasn't the one who’s at fault, that's how cruel the workplace is, especially when you're up against someone in power. So, I had no choice but to look for other alternative jobs because I needed a lot of money every month to pay for my rent and my brother’s hospital bills.

As if my misfortune wasn't over yet, three burly men, who were the debt collectors' henchmen, were standing in front of my flat. 

Now it’s very late, almost midnight, but they’re still eagerly waiting for me to come home. 

I sighed heavily. It seemed I couldn’t go back to that simple but comfortable flat. So I turned around and went anywhere, as long as they couldn’t catch me.

***

And here I am now, sitting in the park eating the candy that didn’t pass inspection, given to me by my boss at work. I have no money for dinner tonight, it’s all gone because I haven’t been paid yet. And there are still a few more days before payday.

If I don’t…

I jumped in surprise when I heard the phone ringing in my jacket. When I saw the name, I was even more shocked. 

G-Stone. Grayson’s name in my contacts.

Without a second thought, I answered it. 

"Yes, sir... um, I mean Grayson. Did something happen to you during practice that you're calling me in the middle of the night?" I stammered. I never expected Grayson to call me directly instead of through a team representative like before. And I was so nervous that was all I could say.

“Are you busy?”

“No, I’m not busy,” I replied quickly.

“Come to my house. I have work for you.”

I glanced at the watch. It was almost midnight. “Tonight? Is it that urgent? But there are no buses anymore…”

“Take a taxi or whatever. I need your services because there’s a big game tomorrow. If you can come, I’ll give you 10,000 dollars as overtime compensation and for working late.”

10,000 dollars? That’s a huge amount for a one-time job. I might even have to work nonstop to earn that much in a month. 

“So, are you in or not?”

Wow, that’s a tempting amount. But it feels almost impossible for a therapist like me to be paid that much. Or maybe Grayson is drunk and making a drunken call?

“Um, I just want to make sure you’re sober right now, not drunk,” I said cautiously.

“I’m not drunk. I’m wide awake and calling you with full awareness.”

So Grayson was serious. For someone with unlimited wealth, 10,000 dollars might be a small amount for him, or perhaps it meant nothing if he had to pay a therapist to work for just a few hours.

But I suddenly remembered an anonymous comment under one of Grayson’s team’s game videos saying that Grayson had a superstition before the game. 

Argh, I’m confused. What should I do? I want to refuse, but I really need that money. This opportunity might not come twice.

“Quinn? I don’t have much time to wait for your answer.”

“Yes… I can,” I finally replied after debating it in my mind. 

“I’ll send the address via message.”

The call ended before I could say anything else. 

Oh shit! Only 10 minutes left for the last train. I have no choice. I have to run or my 10,000 dollars will be gone.