LOGINLucian POVThe weight of the world did not disappear; it shifted.I sat on the soft rug beside the huge bed, the sun now shining warm, golden light across the floor. The panic that had bothered me was gone, replaced by a quiet feeling. Orion remained on his knees in front of me, a huge Alpha who had just promised to tear down a huge sports empire to protect our future.My green eyes looked at the lines of his face. He was not looking at the league rules or the traditional critics. He was looking at me.A sudden, strong burst of emotion flooded my chest, completely wild. It was a natural love for the father of my child, a feeling so pure it made my breath catch. I did not want to think about executives, medical testers, or the upcoming Game 5 anymore.I wanted my mate.I reached out my fingers, tangling into the thick hair at the back of his neck. I pulled him down.Our lips met with a strong crash. It was not a kiss of comfort; it was a strong, passionate reclamation. Orion let out a
Lucian POVThe tears soaking through my cotton shirt felt like hot needles against my chest. I was shaking in Orion’s arms, my slender frame completely spent from the weight of the medical discovery. The pale blue morning light was gaining ground across the hardwood floor, stripping away the shadows but leaving the cold reality of our trap completely exposed.I did not let go.I slid off the edge of the leather cushion, dropping onto my knees on the floor directly in front of him. My massive frame still towered over his sitting form. I reached out, my large hands sliding under the hem of his oversized gray sweatshirt. My palms flattened against the bare skin of his waist, my long fingers wrapping completely around the narrow span of his hips to anchor him to the spot."Look at me, playmaker," I said, my voice low, gravelly, and firm, brooking no argument.Lucian sniffled, his dark green eyes lifting slowly from his lap. His eyelashes were wet, clumping together as he stared down at me
Lucian POV The narrow strip of white thermal paper rested flat on the marble coffee table, the black printed numbers staring back at me like an execution order.Four weeks.The master suite felt ice-cold, the silent air freezing the breath inside my lungs. Dr. Vance was already packing his digital testing kit back into his black leather case across the room, his movements fast and completely silent under the dim pre-dawn light. He did not look at me. His gaze was fixed entirely on his equipment, bound by the multi-million-dollar non-disclosure contract he had signed before dawn.I sank deep into the leather sofa cushions, my entire body going completely numb.I had broken every single rule in the professional hockey league to survive. I had bound my chest with custom steel plates, injected toxic synthetic suppressors into my veins every week, and hidden my sweet vanilla honey aroma behind a wall of fake Beta blockers. I’d taken heavy body checks from giant enforcers, skated through
Orion POV The grandfather clock in the corner of the penthouse living room ticked away with a heavy sound. It was 4:30 AM. Outside, the city was still dark, like a grid of cold steel and tiny yellow lights frozen under the frost before sunrise.Inside, the silence was thick enough to choke on.I was sitting on the edge of the leather sofa, my big body hunched forward. My chest rose and fell with tight breaths as I stared at the closed door of the master bathroom. My hands were shoved into the pockets of my sweatpants to hide the sudden shake in my fingers.I had never been afraid. I was the captain of the Wolves, the guy who could smash through anything and take the hardest hits in the league without flinching.Right now, my throat is completely dry.The bathroom door opened with a click. Dr Vance walked out into the living room, taking off a pair of sterile rubber gloves. He was our family’s doctor, a man bound by a secret agreement worth millions of dollars. I had called him to the
Lucian POV The digital clock on the mahogany nightstand glowed a sharp, steady red. 2:00 AM.The penthouse was dead silent, dark except for the thin beams of city moonlight cutting through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Beside me, Orion was a massive, warm weight under the heavy duvet. His breathing was slow and deep, the steady rise and fall of his chest a familiar rhythm that usually brought instant sleep.Instead, a sudden, violent spark of friction ignited deep inside my pelvis.The air in my lungs turned to ash. My eyes snapped open, my pupils dilating in the pitch blackness as a massive wave of heat rushed up my spine. It was not the slow, dull ache of a standard post-game muscle cramp. This was a sharp, sour knot that tightened in the exact center of my abdomen, twisting my insides into a hard lump of pure ice.I bolted up.I threw the heavy duvet off my legs, my bare feet hitting the cold hardwood floor before my brain could even process the movement. The room tilted violently
Lucian POVThe concrete corridor outside the ice rink spun in a slow, sickening circle. I gripped the cold metal door handle, my knuckles turning white as I tried to anchor my feet to the floor. The roar of the stadium crowd was still echoing through the walls, but it felt miles away."You look pale, playmaker," Orion said. His voice was a deep rumble that vibrated straight through my chest.He stepped into my space, his huge frame blocking the bright hallway lights. I could smell his scent—thick, heavy cedar wood. It usually grounded me, but right now, it made my head spin even faster."I am fine," I muttered, forcing my eyes to stay open. "The heat cycle suppressors always mess with my system. I just need water.""We are calling the team doctor," he said. His jaw tightened. He reached for his phone.Panic flared in my chest, sharp and cold. If the team doctor examined me, the game was over. The synthetic blockers could hide my vanilla honey Omega scent from the team, but a blood tes







