All Chapters of The Alpha’s Puck Bunny: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

AvaFor several seconds, I couldn’t breathe.Jace stood in front of me between the rows of empty bleachers, still holding my hand while I tried to make sense of the five words my wolf had managed to force through whatever had kept us apart for eighteen years.The one who did this to us.Not something.Someone.The distinction terrified me.“Ava.” Jace crouched in front of me, bringing himself level with my face. “Tell me exactly what she said.”“I did.”“Nothing else?”I closed my eyes and searched for her again, reaching toward the faint presence buried somewhere inside me. Yesterday, I hadn’t even known how to do that. Now I could feel the smallest thread connecting us, fragile enough that I was afraid pulling too hard might break it.Who hurt you?Nothing.Please. I need to understand.A faint pressure pushed against my chest.Then pain sliced behind my eyes.I gasped.Jace’s hand tightened around mine. “Stop.”“I need to—”“No. You’re hurting yourself.”“She’s trying to tell me so

AvaDear Moon Goddess,Today my wolf told me we aren’t weak.Do You have any idea how long I’ve needed to hear that?Probably. You’re the Moon Goddess. I assume knowing things is part of the job.I wish she’d said it years ago.I wish I’d heard her every time someone called me wolfless, every time I changed clothes in the bathroom because I didn’t want the other girls staring, every time I sat through Combat Training knowing everyone was waiting for me to fail.But maybe I wouldn’t have believed her then.Today I did.There’s something else I need to admit.Jace defended me.Not because I’m the Headmaster’s daughter. Not because Onyx made him. At least, I don’t think Onyx made him.He stood in front of everyone and admitted he’d been wrong about me.That mattered more than I want it to.Because Jace hurt me too.Maybe not like Lacey does. He wasn’t the worst person at Blackwood, but sometimes being laughed at by someone you secretly wished would notice you hurts worse than being laugh

Chapter 36AvaFinding out I had an uncle should not have been the strangest thing to happen to me this week.Considering I’d turned eighteen, discovered Jace Walker was my mate, started hearing his wolf inside my head, heard my own wolf for the first time, and learned someone had apparently poisoned my mother before I was born, a secret relative should have ranked somewhere near the bottom.It didn’t.Maybe because everyone else in the room already knew he existed.I stared at Dad across his desk while Jace’s hand remained wrapped around mine. “I have an uncle.”Dad’s face tightened. “Yes.”“Your brother.”“Yes.”“Who disappeared after I was born.”Another pause.“Yes.”I pulled my hand from Jace’s and stood. “Could everybody stop answering me like I’m asking questions on a game show?”“Ava—”“Who is Caleb?”Mom looked at Dad, and anger flared through me.“No. Don’t look at each other. Just tell me.”Dad slowly sat behind his desk. “Caleb is three years younger than me. We grew up to

AvaI should have been thinking about the silver bracelet.Instead, I was thinking about Jace Walker’s ass.In my defense, hockey pants were apparently designed by someone who wanted women to make terrible decisions.“You’re staring.”Sara’s voice made me jerk my attention away from the ice. “I am not.”“You absolutely are.”“I’m watching practice.”“You’re watching one very specific part of practice.”I shoved her shoulder, and she laughed loudly enough that Mr. Henderson glanced over from the penalty box.It had been two days since my wolf showed me the bracelet. Dad had security going through footage from my birthday, and I’d spent hours trying to remember exactly where I’d seen it. The harder I tried, the blurrier the memory became. Dad finally ordered me to stop pushing my wolf after another headache nearly put me on the floor.So when Sara suggested watching hockey practice, I’d agreed.I needed normal.Or whatever passed for normal when the hockey captain was my mate and I’d re

AvaAt five fifty-eight the next morning, I stood at the edge of the ice wondering if I’d temporarily lost my mind.This had seemed like an excellent idea yesterday.Yesterday, I had been skating with Jace, laughing with the team, and riding the high of Coach Daniels asking if I wanted a tryout. Today, there were twenty hockey players on the ice, Coach had a clipboard in his hand, and every insecurity I’d ever had decided to show up for moral support.“Peters.”I looked over.Coach pointed at the ice. “You’re late.”I checked the clock. “It’s five fifty-eight.”“Practice starts when I say it starts.”Someone snickered.Great.I stepped onto the ice.“Morning, Puck Bunny,” Aaron called.A few guys laughed.My stomach tightened automatically.Then Aaron grinned. “Try not to embarrass Walker too badly.”Different laughter.Not cruel.I could handle that.Jace skated past and tapped my stick with his. “You good?”“No.”“Perfect.”“You’re terrible at encouragement.”“Get used to it.”He sk