Lahat ng Kabanata ng Rejected By My Hockey Alpha: Kabanata 71 - Kabanata 80

Penelope's POVThe third period starts and I can feel the shift in energy. Frostfang is pressing harder now, desperate to get back in the game. But desperation makes you sloppy, and I've been waiting for sloppy all night."Stay patient," I called to my linemates as we set up in the defensive zone. "Let them come to us."Timothy wins the faceoff but immediately loses the puck to Zoe's stick check. She fires it up ice to me, and suddenly I'm on a breakaway with nothing but open ice and their goalie between me and a hat trick.The crowd noise fades to nothing. My skates carve perfect lines in the ice as I build speed, the puck dancing on my stick blade like it's tied there with string. The goalie comes out to challenge, trying to cut down the angle.I fake the slap shot, watch him drop to his knees, then shelf it top corner at the glove side.The red light goes on. The horn blares. The small section of Bloodfang fans goes absolutely insane.Hat trick.The moment the red light goes on, Ly

Penelope's POVThe post-game interview room is packed. Cameras flash as reporters shout questions, their voices blending into excited chaos. I've never been in here before - Omega players don't usually get this kind of attention."Penelope, talk us through that first goal. Did you expect to score that quickly?"I lean forward toward the microphone, still buzzing with adrenaline. My hair is damp with sweat, pulled back in a messy ponytail that probably looks terrible on camera."I studied their faceoff tendencies," I say simply, keeping my voice steady despite the cameras flashing in my face. "Timothy favors his backhand in defensive situations. I was ready for it.""You called their captain by his first name. Is there history there?" A reporter in the front row asks, leaning forward with interest as if looking for gossip to display to the tabloids.Almost everyone has seen the videos of Timothy rejecting me and me watching him, so it's a stupid question to be asked. But I know these r

Penelope's POVThe Bloodfang locker room explodes with noise the second we step inside. My teammates swarm me, lifting me off my feet before I can protest."Three goals!" Isla shouts in my ear. "Three fucking goals against Frostfang!"Coach lets them celebrate for exactly two minutes before her whistle pierces through the chaos. Everyone freezes."Good game." She crosses her arms over her chest. "Hit the showers. Party at the pack house in an hour."She walks to his office, shaking her head but I catch the hint of a smile on her face. The second she's gone, someone cranks up the music and the celebration really starts."Hope they don't ask for a rematch," Zoe, one of our defenders, says with a laugh. "Though knowing Marcus Blackthorn, he probably can't handle the loss."The team laughs, but my stomach twists. She's right. Marcus Blackthorn doesn't accept defeat easily.I peel off my jersey and grab a towel. My body aches in that good way that comes after pushing yourself to the limit.

Timothy pov I stumble into my apartment, the room spinning slightly from all the alcohol. The silence is deafening after the chaos of the club. I don't bother turning on the lights, just kick off my shoes and collapse onto the bed fully clothed.Sleep comes fast. The sound of my apartment door opening pulls me from the edge of unconsciousness. I lift my head, squinting in the darkness."Ethan?" I call out, but it's not Ethan.Penelope steps into the moonlight streaming through my window. She's wearing a simple dress that hugs her curves, her blonde hair loose around her shoulders. Those hazel eyes find mine, and my breath catches."What are you doing here?" I sit up, my heart pounding."You know why I'm here." She closes the door behind her, leaning against it. "Very soon you marry someone else.""Penelope, I""Don't." She holds up a hand. "I didn't come here for apologies or explanations."She crosses the room with that new confidence I've seen in photos, the one that makes her seem

Timothy's POVThe morning of my mating ceremony dawns cold and clear. I wake up on the couch in my apartment, still wearing yesterday's clothes, with a hangover that feels like divine punishment.My phone shows three missed calls from my mother and a text from Ethan. "Church rehearsal in two hours. Don't be late."I drag myself to the shower and stand under water hot enough to burn. It doesn't help. Nothing helps. Kael has retreated so far into my consciousness that I feel partially dead, like half of me is already gone.The rehearsal is at the Frostfang Grand Hall, a massive venue that my father had decorated within an inch of its life. White roses everywhere, silver ribbons, ice sculptures.*******"There you are." Mom appears the second I walk in, her face tight with stress. "Where have you been? We've been calling.""Sorry." I don't have a better excuse. "I'm here now."She looks me over, taking in my rumpled appearance and bloodshot eyes. "You look terrible. Please tell me you'l