Hockey Captain Alpha’s Secret Baby

Double lines. Positive.

I tried to crush the pregnancy test with my foot. I even threw it in the trash.

But it couldn’t erase the horrible fact that I was PREGNANT from my brain.

I looked at the picture of the 18th birthday I had just celebrated. My secret-boyfriend Ethan and I had taken sweet selfies, but those pictures now looked a little distorted.

Unlocking the screen, I checked once more for a reply from Ethan. But only my own message stared back at me. Just like every time I’d checked before.

The double checkmarks proved he had already read the message, but he hadn’t replied.

I tried again. And again. Eventually, he stopped reading them.

Outside the electricity was flashing and thundering. My hand began to shake as I gripped my cell phone, tension and anger began to spread through my brain. My throat felt like it was clogged with a lump.

But I needed to know what Ethan thought. Now!!!

I flew down the stairwell and out the side door into the rain.

I had no one else I could talk to. As werewolves, our inner wolf doesn’t show up until we’re 19.

I loved dancing. I practiced so hard, and I was good at it. That’s why I enrolled in Mooncliff Academy, the best private elite school in the kingdom, as a cheerleader.

Was I going to give it up? But what would happen to me then? Would I have to drop out from the Academy?

My family never spend time with me. My parents only wanted to hear from me when I achieved something.

I could never tell my oldest sister, the perfect and beautiful Luna, the family’s favorite. If I confided in her, she’d tell Mom in a second!

My older brother Aiden was the one I felt closest to, but he was overprotective. If he knew, he’d probably be on the first flight home from Lycanridge Academy, where he was spending a semester as an exchange student.

Ethan had to answer.

As a star soccer player, Ethan lived in one of the separate athlete’s dormitories. Rather than the single bed, shared bathroom dorms where I stayed, these were elaborate villas. Each room had their own kitchenette and personal bathroom.

Each athlete was seen as elite. They were popular on campus, even with the faculty and staff. With that popularity came privilege and preference. The fancy dorms were only the start of the gifts they received.

I had always been proud of Ethan for all that his soccer skills helped him achieve. He was someone Mom would adore.

Now I cursed it a little, if only because a superintendent stopped me just inside the front door. Nearby I heard the bass of loud music and distant laughter.

“Please,” I said. “Where is Ethan?”

The superintendent wasn’t much taller than me, but the way she sneered down at me made me feel small.

“Ethan is in his room,” the superintendent said. “He asked not to be disturbed.”

“It’s important –”

“It’s getting late, isn’t it?” The superintendent crossed her arms. “Shouldn’t you be returning to your own dorm?”

Movement shifted at the edge of my vision.. I glanced down the hall and saw a tall, handsome man striding toward me.

I would recognize that dark, windswept hair and piercing gaze anywhere.

Owen Howard. My brother’s best friend. One of the very last people I’d hoped to see.

If he discovered I was pregnant, undoubtedly he would tell Aiden. I was no way ready for that to happen. Especially not before I spoke to Ethan!

Owen’s intense eyes weighed heavy on me, taking in my full person, head to toe. When he looked back to my face, those eyes darkened further. This hint of anger was the only emotion on his perfect, blank slate of a face.

I knew Owen didn’t like me. I’d met him several times with Aiden, and each time he’d only given one-word responses to my attempts at friendly conversation.

He never once returned my smile. Actually, I’d never seen him smile at all.

Inching backwards, I told the superintendent, “Maybe I can come back tomorrow…”

Too slow.

Owen stopped at our side. His eyes fixed on me, he told the superintendent, “I can take care of this.”

With the superintendent gone, I did the only thing I could think of to do to protect my secret. I turned and ran.

I’d been to this dorm a few times, always under the cover of night. Ethan never wanted anyone to know I was visiting him. Because of the secrecy, I knew the way to the stairwell that led to his floor.

I only made it a few steps before Owen blocked my way. As captain of the hockey team, Owen daily trained for muscle mass and speed. Plus, as the son of an Alpha, he was naturally gifted.

I should have known I wouldn’t make it far, but my panic had overridden my judgement. Now I felt both panic and shame.

Owen continued to stare. Still clutching my phone, I instinctively wrapped my arms around my waist to hide my still-flat belly. Owen likely saw that too, but overwhelmed, I couldn’t bring myself to lower my arms.

With my downward gaze, I saw his hands formed fists. Then, he reached beside me and opened a door.

I blinked up at him.

“Come in,” he commanded, leaving no room for argument.

I slunk inside, stopping at the center of the spacious dorm room. Owen entered behind me and closed the door. He stayed there, just inside the doorway.

“Stella, why are you here?” Owen asked.

“It’s none of your business.”

“What could possibly be so important that you need to come here on a stormy day?” he asked.

Turning to face him, I lifted my chin, defiant. But inside my heart pounded. My hands would have shaken if I wasn’t clutching my waist so hard.

The silence stretched as he watched me. I felt like an ant under a microscope.

Suddenly he frowned, just a bit at the corners of his mouth, and turned toward the bathroom. He returned an instant later holding a towel. He moved closer to me and patted me on the back and I felt a twinge of warmth.

At that moment, I shivered. Adrenaline had gotten me this far, but now I realized how cold and wet I was.

Looking down, my white shirt had become translucent against me, hugging my cleavage like a second skin. I hadn’t even thought to put on a bra before I left my room, let alone a jacket. The curves of my breasts, including my nipples hardened from the cold, were on full display.

Owen had looked. He had seen!

I snatched the towel from Owen and held it protectively over myself. Heat flared in my cheeks. “W-Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Don’t worry,” he said with a tiny shrug. “You aren’t my type.”

“Y-you–!”

“I’ve already forgotten it.” His hooded gaze dropped to where the towel covered me, then away. In a deep voice, he said, “You won’t go unless you tell me why you’re here.”

Who was he to give me orders?!

His breath was hot on my ear. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on? Or do I need to guess?”

His gaze bore into mine like he could see straight through me.

Dread clawed at my chest, and that’s when vulnerability struck through me, and it took every ounce of strength I had to hold back the tears.

“I… I need to see Ethan.” I compromised.

“Uh…Stella…”

“What?” I frowned.