20 He's A Paradox

**Quinn's POV**

I'm so proud to see Grayson win.

Despite his belief in superstitions, I'm sure he's a truly great player. Well he's proved that by performing superbly.

To be honest this time he held his temper better than any other game. Especially when a Beta from the opposing team made him fall on purpose. Grayson handled it without fighting back with violence.

I developed a smile as I caught a glimpse of him.

Now seeing Grayson surrounded by people who were proud of him made me realize that he was a big star. He's a crowd favorite, inspires a lot of kids who want to be ice hockey players, and he's humble enough to represent his hard work.

No wonder Grayson's character, who is rough on the rink and friendly off it, earned him so many fans from all over the world.

And somehow when he looked at me like that, I felt like an important person to him. I felt like he was looking for me in this crowd of people.

Maybe he's trying to find me because I work for him or maybe because now I'm his only hope to fulfill his superstition.

I don't know, I can't tell if it's an honor or a misfortune to be stuck with him.

One thing is for sure, today my job is done. Either as a therapist or as his sex partner. So there's no reason to be here anymore.

Besides, I needed a shower because my bottom was wet and quite sticky. That was pretty uncomfortable.

So I turned around after breaking eye contact with Grayson.

I was walking towards the exit when the Frost Maple team-anthem was playing.

Subconsciously hearing the music caused me to smile again. Even though I'm not a player, I feel proud to leave here as part of the Frost Maple team.

"Uhm, Quinnderella looks happy."

My steps stopped instantly when I saw Owen standing in front of his car. He was carrying a briefcase in his right hand and a paperbag in his left.

I gave him a flat look. "I do not appreciate you calling me that."

"Why? Are you afraid Grayson will hear it?"

"Owen please, my life isn't just about Grayson. I'm just his therapist besides," I said with emphasis.

I then take another direction to avoid him.

But that didn't make Owen stop following me. He ran instead and now matched his pace with mine.

"I'm just kidding, Quinn."

I tried to ignore him by putting on my earphones. Unfortunately, the battery died so I still heard Owen's voice instead of my favorite music.

Owen is seriously ruining my afternoon.

"You must be hungry, right? You always eat three times a day. But since you rushed here, maybe you skipped lunch. Here I bought some bread and hot chocolate for you."

The paperbag passed in front of me in an instant. "It's all good. There's no poison, for real."

I rolled my eyes lazily. Although he couldn't see it, I think he heard my sigh. "I'm gonna cut to dinner."

Owen stopped and lingered back there. But then he ran again and stopped in front of me. "Even so, keep taking these home. You can eat it as a snack."

Owen slipped the paperbag handle into my hand. "It's yours now."

I honestly suddenly forgot the reason for accepting Owen as my boyfriend other than I thought he could protect me as an Alpha werewolf. Because really, he's so chatty. The kind of man I now despise.

"Do you want me to take you home?"

I immediately searched for the payment app on my phone. "How much?"

"Jeez Quinn, no need. Just count it as a treat–"

"I don't want to owe you," I said quickly.

"I won't tell you the price," he sighed.

I then looked into the paperbag to see which brand of food he bought me. "Okay, tomorrow I'll bring it back exactly like this for your lunch."

"It's only sold here. Are you planning to come to this place again tomorrow? Quinn, it's so far from S-T Arena."

"Then if you know it's too far, let me pay for it now," I said firmly. I then looked at his phone in his coat pocket and grabbed it.

"You know I'm very pigheaded, huh? So unlock your phone and let me pay for it."

Owen shook his head. But my methods worked because he then let me access his payment code so now I have paid for the food and beverage. Well even though it made my balance decrease, but at least I didn't owe him anything.

After I finished paying, I returned the phone to its original place.

Now I looked at him probingly. "Why are you here? You're not a coach or a player or a medic like me. You deal with paperwork, not games. So why are you here?"

He moved the briefcase he was carrying. "I'm meeting a client nearby."

"Client?"

"Yes, still related to the Frost Maple team."

So, Owen really wasn't stalking me. I had my head up my ass that he came here on purpose because he was following me. Luckily that wasn't true, so I could get rid of my notion that he might want me back.

"Take it easy Quinnderella, I'm not as insane as you think."

I held up my hand and lifted my chin. "You don't know what I'm thinking. You can't read my mind."

"True, but I can read your past, Quinnderella."

"I told you not to call me that. Why are you so bloody persistent huh?" This time I really meant it. I was annoyed.

Owen raised both hands. "Okay, okay, I won't call you like that again if you hate it. But at least tell me why you hate that special nickname from me."

It's precisely because of that, because that special nickname is no longer special since our relationship ended. Besides, every time he calls me that, I'm reminded of a tragic Cinderella story. And I don't want to end up like Cinderella.

"The reason I hate that nickname is because we broke up. Oops, I mean because you broke up with me for some ridiculous reason." I stuck out my tongue to mock him.

"But she's truly my fated mate," he said more quietly.

I smiled wryly and raised one eyebrow. "Oh yeah? Then where is she now?" I glanced behind his back. "I never saw her around you."

"Because she left me. She cheated on me with another man, a human."

I first intended to laugh at Owen if he made such a dumb excuse, but after hearing his reason, I somehow felt sorry for him.

"Maybe it's karma because I left you back then. Turns out you're much better, in everything."

I pinched my own hand, trying to stay sober. However I didn't know the truth, I didn't want to just believe Owen's one-sided confession.

"You can believe it or not, but that's the truth. Also, don't feel sorry for me because it's embarrassing."

"I just-"

"Quinn!"

I hung my words in the air after hearing Grayson's voice. He had left the venue and was now standing stiffly facing us like a statue.

Then I looked at Owen once more. "I gotta go. And maybe you're right, maybe it's karma."