CLAIMED BY RIVAL HOCKEY ALPHAS

ALEX'S POV

It’s been five years since I left the Ragriz pack and my hometown altogether, that’s about long enough to forget the shame that had led to my decision to leave everything behind.

But the sound of my knee popping will forever haunt me.

One second I was spinning past the defense. The next, a solid wall of muscle named Reid Maddox rammed me so hard into the boards, the lights flickered.

I remember the silence in the rink being louder than the impact. And after that, the whispers started.

“She doesn’t even have a wolf.”

“Why’d they let her out there in the first place?”

“Replacement for Vicky Deveraux.”

“Russo’s daughter? Please. They just felt sorry for her.”

My pack members were monsters

They didn’t care that I had been rammed to shit by a rival team mate, they cared that a wolf-less girl had made it to the championship.

They never acknowledged my years of training, how hard my father made sure, even without my wolf, I could replace any of his team members if it was needed.

They scorned me.

Mocked me.

Reminded me—

kshhhhk.

A voice crackles in the airport speaker overhead, “Welcome to Crystal Falls. Please proceed to baggage claim two for all incoming flights from Atlanta.”

I blink.

Right.

I’m here.

Home, apparently.

This freezing, miserable town.

The cold hits harder than I remember as I toss my bag over my shoulder, grab my rolling suitcase, and force myself out of the double doors.

For minutes, I wait, shaking in my boots.

Father had told me a ride was coming. What I don’t expect is the ride to be forty minutes late.

I’m pacing near the curb, ready to scream, when I hear the rumble of an engine. It pulls up slow, tinted windows, black jeep and my stomach fucking drops.

Of course.

Two Deverauxs step out.

Not just anyone.

Valek Deveraux leads the way.

Alpha of the Razgriz Pack. Captain of the team. My team. The last time I saw him, he’d stood in front of the whole locker room, in full uniform, and dumped me like I was nothing. One missed shot, one loss to the Paxon Pack, and suddenly I’d humiliated his position. Made the Alpha look weak. So he reminded everyone who really wore the crown.

Now here he is, doing airport pick-up duty like a Uber driver. His twin, Valerie, walks behind him, rolling her eyes like this is the last place she wants to be.

I can’t even blame her.

Why him?

Why them?

Valek’s eyes connect to mine, and it’s like someone shoves a fist into my chest and twists.

I don’t have time to react when another car pulls up.

A blacked-out SUV this time.

My eyes widen.

No.

No, no, no, fuck no.

My head is shaking before he even fully steps out of the car, because I’d know that presence anywhere. It doesn't matter how many years pass.

Perpetrators have strong imprints on