#Chapter 2: The Alpha Hockey Captain

“I think we should kick her out of here,” the tanned boy suggested as he passed Lucas, his words dripping with contempt. “She’s the wolfless girl. All of her bad luck is going to rub off on the team.”

 

His use of the term "wolfless" made it sound as if I had some kind of contagious disease.

 

It felt like I was being branded as an outcast, someone to be avoided at all costs.

 

And in some ways, I supposed I was.

 

Lucas, with a furrowed brow, looked at me, his deep blue eyes reminiscent of calm ocean waves after a storm.

 

It was evident he was torn, unsure of what to do.

 

Normally, I would have already left to avoid any further trouble, especially in front of such an intimidating audience. I didn't know if it was because of his familiarity or his hesitation, so I decided to say something for myself.

 

"You won't even know I'm here," I managed to say to Lucas.

 

There was a friendliness in his gaze that gave me the courage to continue.

 

"I'm only sitting here because it's too hot outside. And besides, this stadium is public school property, meaning anyone is free to visit.”

 

Lucas continued to stare at me in silence, his eyes locked onto mine.

 

“I promise I won't bother you or the team. Please…"

 

Without uttering a single word, he nodded and turned away, barking orders at his teammates to begin practice.

 

As I looked around, I could see that the other players on the hockey team didn't agree with Lucas's decision to let me stay on the bleachers.

 

Their glances in my direction were filled with concern and hesitation.

 

"Stop staring at her. Pretend she isn't here," Lucas commanded his teammates firmly. Then, his eyes returned to mine from across the room. "She promised she wouldn't disturb us, right?"

 

I nodded, my agreement absentminded.

 

With that, the hockey team started their practice, gradually forgetting my presence.

 

Perched at the top of the bleachers, I observed their synchronized movements on the ice.

 

Even with their helmets on, I could easily identify each player, recognizing their unique styles and skills.

 

Lucas, in particular, stood out as he led the team with precision and finesse.

 

He was the embodiment of speed and strength, weaving effortlessly through his burly teammates and gliding across the ice as if he were one with it.

 

The entire team worked in perfect harmony, their constant communication and seamless collaboration a testament to their dedication and skill.

 

Among them, there was one player who seemed to make more mistakes than the others. From my vantage point, he appeared shorter than his teammates, struggling to keep up.

 

Lucas, ever the leader, didn't hesitate to correct and encourage the shorter player, using a light smack on the back of his shoulder as a sign of support whenever he stumbled.

 

It was evident that Lucas commanded respect from the entire team, who looked to him for guidance.

 

My eyes remained fixated on Lucas throughout the practice, captivated by his energy and control on the ice.

 

I opened my diary and began to doodle. Every so often, looking up to watch him. Before I realized what I had done, I noticed I had sketched Lucas’s outline.

 

There was something about him—

 

a sense of familiarity that tugged at the corners of my memory.

 

He reminded me so much of a friend from my childhood, someone who shared the same name.

 

In a wave of nostalgia, I delved into the pages of my diary, seeking a concealed gem. And there it was—

 

a photograph capturing two children, locked in a tender embrace.

 

One, a girl beaming with a toothy grin, exuding boundless happiness in her vibrant pink sneakers and neatly tied pigtails.

 

The other, a boy donning a baseball cap, his cherubic cheeks full and his captivating blue eyes shining.

 

I once had a neighbor named Lucas, and we grew up together.

 

To me, he was Bear—

 

the boy who always greeted me with the warmest of hugs.

 

Unfortunately, other children bullied Bear.

 

They targeted him because he lived with his grandmother and his parents were never around. The kids also picked on him because he was much heavier than other kids our age.

 

I hated seeing people bully Bear because of his weight and his family situation.

 

It wasn’t fair, and anytime anyone tried to pick on Bear, I was the first person to make them regret their words.

 

Bear became my only best friend, and I became his.

 

When I was ten, my parents got divorced. I had to move away with my mother to live in a completely different city, leaving Bear.

 

It was one of the hardest things I had to do.

 

But then mom passed away three months ago, and I had to move back to my old city to live with my father…

 

But there was no way that my Lucas could be this charming Alpha skating on the ice in front of me.

 

They were too different from each other.

 

Plus, I had no idea if Lucas still lived in this city.

 

Maybe I could go to his grandmother’s house and see if he’s around.

 

But if Lucas still lived here and he happened to see me… what would he think of me now?

 

I looked down at my thin limbs and pale skin. I was so different from the strong, confident girl I used to be when I was a child.

 

Bear wouldn’t even recognize me.

 

But I felt as if I wouldn’t recognize Bear either.

 

After all, eight years had passed since I last saw him.

 

For both of us, change was inevitable.

 

I looked up from the picture in my hands and noticed that hockey practice was over.

 

Most of the boys had skated off the ice and were making their way toward the locker rooms.

 

Before I knew what my legs were doing, I started to climb down the bleachers, following the hockey team.

 

Something inside of me was pushing my feet forward. Maybe he was the only one who would like to—to some extent—respect me as an individual here.

 

“Lucas!” I called, trying to catch his attention.

 

A few other hockey players heard me calling after their captain and laughed at me. I ignored them as I skipped down the bleachers, two at a time.

 

But I didn’t miss the flashes of them taking pictures on their phones of the scene I was creating.

 

Lucas was the last player to leave the ice, and his head turned in my direction when he heard me shouting his name.

 

He held his helmet in one hand, and his dark hair was covered in sweat as it clung to his forehead.

 

He stared at me, his ocean blue eyes unreadable. But he blinked slowly, as if he had just remembered I was there all along.

 

“Thank you,” I blurted. “For letting me stay.”

 

Lucas gave me the smallest of smiles. “Don’t mention it.”

 

“You were amazing out there,” I said, breathlessly. I felt heat creep onto my cheeks, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed.

 

Lucas’s smile widened, and I couldn’t help but think it made him even more attractive.

 

It was a dangerous smile, one that would make you desperate to impress him.

 

I opened my mouth to say more, but another flash of a camera out of the corner of my eye had me stopping.

 

I clamped my mouth shut and turned away, feeling too nervous to even utter another word.

 

I collected my things and walked in the direction of the cafeteria.

 

It was finally lunchtime, and I was starving. Besides, food could always cheer up a bad mood.

 

“Look who it is!” a familiar voice sneered, making me freeze in my tracks.

 

I didn’t even have to turn around as Jessica and all her followers surrounded me with malicious smiles.

 

“We were just talking about you,” one of the followers giggled under her breath.

 

My heart raced.

 

Jessica plastered the fakest smile I had ever seen on her face. “Did you just confess your love to Lucas?”