Lahat ng Kabanata ng Rejected and Claimed By The Alpha Hockey Stars : Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

Alex's POVCoach Margret is waiting for me in his office, pacing behind his desk like a caged animal. The moment I walk in, he gestures for me to close the door and take a seat. The serious expression on his face tells me this isn't going to be a casual conversation."We have a problem," he says without preamble. "Luna's pulling away, and we need to get her back on track. Fast."I frown, settling into the chair across from his desk. "What do you mean, pulling away? She's been excelling in everything she does.""That's exactly the problem," Coach says, finally stopping his pacing to fix me with an intense stare. "She's getting too confident, too independent. She's starting to ask questions, and that's dangerous for all of us."A chill runs down my spine. "What kind of questions?""The kind that could expose everything we've worked for," he says grimly. "I need you to get close to her, Alex. Closer than you've ever been. I need you to bring her back into the fold before she discovers th

Luna's POVI stand in front of the mirror in my bedroom, adjusting my sweater for the third time. I've chosen something casual but nice—I want to look put-together without seeming like I'm trying too hard. Today is important, and I need to make a good impression.The trip to St. Catherine's Home for Children takes longer than I remember, but then again, it's been years since I've been back. The familiar red brick building comes into view, and I feel a mix of nostalgia and nervousness wash over me. This place shaped so much of my early years, and returning here as an adult feels surreal.I grab the bags of gifts from the backseat—toys, books, art supplies, and treats that I carefully selected yesterday. Whatever answers I might find here today, I want to give back to the place that gave me a foundation when I had nothing.I pay the driver off.I step forward and hear the familiar sound of children's laughter echoing from somewhere inside. After a moment, the door opens to reveal the ma

Luna's POVI'm still trembling from my encounter with Coach Margaret when I finally make it to the café where I'm supposed to meet Cassie. My hands shake as I push through the glass doors, the familiar scent of coffee and pastries doing nothing to calm my nerves.Cassie waves at me from across the table, her bright smile faltering the moment she sees my face. I weave through the crowded café."You good?" Cassie says as I collapse into the chair across from her. "What happened? How did your meeting with Coach Margaret go?"I stare down at my hands, still processing everything that just transpired in his office. The way he knew about my search for my parents, the predatory look in his eyes, the bargain he offered—it all feels surreal, like something out of a nightmare."I'm going back to the Timber Wolves," I say quietly, the words feeling foreign on my tongue.Cassie's coffee cup freezes halfway to her lips. Her eyes widen in shock. "What? Luna, I don't understand. Just yesterday you w

Liam's POV I can see the exact moment something shifts in Luna's eyes when she turns around and sees me. There's a flicker of something—recognition, memory, desire maybe—before she quickly looks away. She licks her lips nervously, and I have to force myself to stay focused on her face instead of letting my gaze follow that unconscious gesture. God, she's beautiful. Standing there in the morning sunlight with her hair catching the light, even with that guarded expression she's wearing, she takes my breath away. Every instinct I have is screaming at me to close the distance between us, to pull her into my arms and kiss her again just like I did the other day. The memory of how she felt pressed against me, how she tasted, how she responded to my touch—it's been driving me crazy. But I made myself a promise after that night. I promised I wouldn't cross that line again, wouldn't put her in that position. And I definitely remember the sharp sting of her hand across my face afterward, the

Luna's POVThe clicking of heels grows louder until an absolutely stunning girl appears in the doorway of the locker room. She's the kind of beautiful that makes you stop and stare—tall and willowy with perfectly styled hair that catches attention.She scans the room with her eyes until she spots Dominic, then raises one manicured hand in a small wave. "Dominic, darling, there you are."The transformation in Dominic's face is immediate and striking. The easy smile he'd been wearing just moments ago vanishes completely, replaced by an expression of barely concealed displeasure. His jaw tightens, his shoulders stiffen, and I can see his hands clench into fists at his sides."What are you doing here, Lily?" he asks, his voice strained with the effort of staying polite.She glides across the room toward him, her heels clicking against the floor with each step. "I was looking for you, of course. When you didn't answer my calls, I thought I'd come find you myself."Before she can reach him,