All Chapters of BATTLE ON THE ICE: Chapter 11 - Chapter 18

SALOMEStepping onto the smooth, glassy sheet of ice, the freezing air hit my face instantly, but the warmth of Williams’s hand held tight in mine kept the chill away.Williams started so softly with me. He completely understood that I was a complete beginner, so he didn't rush me at all. Instead, he patiently introduced the tools first, showing me how to grip the wooden hockey stick properly, how to balance my weight on the thin blades of the skates, and explaining the basic rules of the game in his calm, deep voice.I actually did surprisingly well, gliding across the slippery surface with a natural balance I didn't know I possessed. But as he stood close behind me, guiding my arms and adjusting my hips, silly me couldn't keep my focus entirely on the game. My eyes kept darting down toward the outline of his massive penis beneath his fitted athletic pants, and my mind drifted right back to the wild passion we had shared in the shower. I caught myself biting my lip, my core aching wi

SALOMETen o'clock at night came and went, and the room remained dead silent. Alpha Williams still hadn't returned home.Sitting alone on the edge of the large bed, staring at the empty doorway, a cold clarity finally settled over my heart. Miriam was right. He didn't love me. He didn't care that I was hurt, and he didn't care that he had left me in the hands of a woman who hated my guts.I need to stop thinking about the sex, I told myself, biting my lip as a sharp sting of tears tried to form in my eyes. It was true—the intimacy we shared was the best feeling I had ever experienced in my life. The way he held me, the way his hands explored every inch of my body, and the raw passion that shook the room made me feel complete. But I needed to let it go. I had to stop letting a few hours of physical pleasure blind me to the reality of my pain. It was time to focus on my own life and protect what was left of my heart.I thought about my old life. Back when I was a simple maid scrubbing f

SALOMEThe victory on the ice had faded by the time the evening shadows stretched across our bedroom floor. Williams had been quiet during the drive home, his hands gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly, his mind clearly burdened by the news.As night fell, the tension in our room was thick enough to cut with a blade. Williams stood by the side of the bed, his dark eyes locked on me with a mixture of intense worry and frustration."Salome, please listen to me," he said, stepping closer and reaching for my hands. "Miriam has played this sport for years. She’s ruthless on the ice. You’ve had one good day of training, but an actual game is entirely different. I don’t want to see you get hurt out there.""I’m not backing down, Williams," I replied softly, stepping back so my spine hit the cool wall near our closet. "I’m playing."He let out a low growl of frustration, moving toward me until there was no space left between us. His large hands came up to frame my face, his thumb

SALOMEThe next morning, the sound of my alarm didn't ring to wake me up—it simply reminded me that the sun was rising. I hadn't slept anyway.If I wanted to earn back my pride, fix the disaster I caused for Williams’s team, and stand tall as a true Luna, crying in bed was not going to cut it. Ice hockey had broken me, so ice hockey was going to rebuild me.I threw on my heavy gear, laced my skates tightly, and stepped out onto the cold rink before the streetlights outside had even turned off.Practice began, and this time, it was non-stop.Day after day, I pushed my body past its absolute limits. I skated until my thighs felt like they were burning with lit matches, until the chilly air scraped against the back of my throat like sandpaper. My former failure played on a loop in my head every time I touched the puck. Twice, my legs completely gave out on me, sending me crashing hard onto the brutal ice, my lungs screaming for air as black spots danced across my vision.Twice I collapse