Chapter 002

Nathan

"It's …you ?"I said between clenched teeth. My voice was almost a whisper. Lexi froze her eyes widening at the realization that I already knew his son even before she could introduce him to me.

Her eyes darted between us, confusion flashing across her face.

Of course she hadn’t expected this. Of all the people in the world, of all the wolves, all the humans, all the irrelevant strangers, this had to be the son she’d brought into my life.

Leo Adams.

Campus royalty, hockey captain.

Professional pain in my ass.

Who wouldn’t recognize those infamous green eyes? They’d been burned into my memory for two solid years, every match, every hallway encounter, every time he skated past me like I didn’t exist.

Now his green eyes made sense, he'd inherited them from his mother.He stood there like he owned the air around him, staring at me lazily, his jet-black hair messy as always, some locks falling over his forehead, it felt infuriatingly intentional ,his shoulders relaxed. Too relaxed. Like nothing in this house or this pack could touch him.

Our eyes locked, for a split second, something sharp twisted in my chest, a feeling of hostility embodying me, I crushed it immediately. Not today, at least for dads sake.

“Wait,” Lexi said, blinking. “Do you two… know each other?”

I nodded once.

Leo didn’t bother.

He just lifted a brow, his lips twitching in that familiar half-smirk, like he was already bored. Like I was just another inconvenience he hadn’t planned on.

“We go to the same campus,” I said flatly.

“Hockey.” I added.

That was enough.

Recognition flickered briefly in my father’s eyes. Leo’s expression didn’t change at all. He was already assessing me while his eyes darted around the space, he was like a predator dropped into new territory.

But this was my territory, my pack, not some hockey court where he ruled. I hoped he wasn't getting any funny ideas because I'd gladly banish him.

“Mom, this bag’s heavy,” Leo muttered, shifting his luggage.

I scoffed internally.

Heavy? With that build? I’d seen him take hits on the ice that would’ve flattened most players. I’d seen him shove defenders twice his size like they were nothing.

I looked away before my stare lingered too long.

“Welcome in, sorry for keeping you waiting,” Dad said, stepping aside, allowing them in the mansion.

Leo looked around the house keenly and I saw satisfaction in his eyes even though he didn't say it out loud. I could smell it from the door…

“Nate,” my father said, “show Leo to his room.”

Of course.

I turned to Leo. “Follow me.”my voice colder than I intended.

He studied me for a second longer than necessary before nodding once and moving.

We walked down the hall without a word.

Good.

Talking to him had always been pointless anyway.

“This is your room,” I said, opening the door.

“If something doesn’t suit you, say it."I blurted.

He stepped in, scanning the space with cold efficiency. His heartbeat remained calm, I could feel it, what the fuck is wrong with this guy, he held no reaction, which felt infuriating, I couldn't help but clench my fists.

Asshole.

“Need help unpacking?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“I’ll handle it,” he replied without looking at me.

“Right,” I said. “If you need anything, my room’s nearby.”

Still nothing.

I left before my patience snapped.

Closing the door behind me with a soft click, but the tension followed. It always did with him. Campus. Ice rink. Now my own damn house.

Rivalries weren’t supposed to move in with you.

I headed to my balcony, breathing in the night air. My wolf paced beneath my skin, unsettled.

Definitely annoyed.

Luca stood on the Beta house balcony across from mine, he was my best friend and we had basically grown up together, and honestly at that point I needed to vent.

"Are you okay?"He asked me through mind-link and I waved him off with a fake calm I didn’t feel.

"Are you free?"I asked and he nodded immediately. "I’m coming over…"I said and turned around then walked out of my room hurriedly.

“ Nathan, where are you going right now?”

Lexi stopped me at the door.

“I hope Leo isn’t being difficult,” she added gently.

I gave her a smile that didn't reach my eyes.

“No ... .not at all."I said triumphantly.

We are absolutely not fine, but I can't tell her that, can I.

She squeezed my hands warmly. “You’re a good young man, Nathan. Leo can be… rough at first.”

Rough? That was one word for it.

I nodded instead.

Dad joined her, holding her by the waist and kissing her hair,his concerned face easing when he saw me composed. I was a leader an Alpha at that and Alpha composure wasn’t optional, it was survival.

"You don't need to worry about Nathan. He will come back safe. Nothing is going to happen to him while in the pack the security is tight, and he's a grown man.” My father explained to Lexi and she nodded hesitantly. He pulled her into his side embrace and planted a gentle kiss on her dark hair and she relaxed.

"It's okay, Nate. Call me in case of anything, or inform Beta Michael or Gamma Austin if you can't reach me."My father told me and I nodded then left the house.

I breathed fresh air deep in my lungs when I stepped out of the mansion because it was suffocating inside the mansion with Leo around.

The walk to Luca’s place helped clear my head.

“Finally,” Luca said. “What took you so long?”

“Family drama,” I muttered.

We sat on our usual rock beneath the rising moon.

After a moment, I exhaled. “Lexi’s son moved in.”

Luca perked up. “And?”

I looked at him.

“It’s Leo Adams.”

His eyes widened. “That Leo?”

“That one.”

Silence followed.

Then Luca cursed under his breath.

“Your rival?”

“My nemesis,” I corrected. “Captain of the opposing Eagle hockey team. Campus heartthrob. Professional menace.”

“And now?” Luca asked carefully.

“My stepbrother.”

The words tasted like ash in my tongue.

Unacceptable.

I stared at the moon, clenching my jaw tightly.

I’d watched Leo for years, more often than not too often. I've seen him kiss girls in hallways on my way to class, like the world was his stage. I've seen him smile like nothing touched him, it made something twist in my chest every single time.

I hated that.

I hated him.

And now the Moon Goddess, in her twisted sense of humor, had decided to shove him straight into my life.

Not just my pack.

My family.

I clenched my fists.

I knew I had better things to take care of after campus, so these stupid rivalries due to a game were soon going to be over, and I could focus on more important stuff.

He'd called me a loser several times during games, calling himself better, I didn't really want to engage with him that much because I knew what I was capable of, eight months and I’d be done with campus. Done with this childish rivalry, my wolf growled the truth I didn’t want to face.

Rivalries don’t fade when you’re forced into the same territory.

They ignite.

I knew for a fact that this was going to be a wild ride.