Cole's POV

The cold from the rink hits the back of my neck as I skate across the ice, the sound of blades cutting sharp against the surface. Practice has been Cole's POV

The cold from the rink hits the back of my neck as I skate across the ice, the sound of blades cutting sharp against the surface. Practice has been going for an hour, and we’re already drenched in sweat.

Knox is at the goal, calm and cold as usual, blocking shot after shot like a machine. Nolan keeps circling, trying to distract him with that smug grin he never loses while Finn is beside me, too loud, too competitive, the same as always.

I pull back, line up and send the puck flying. It hits the top corner, just brushing Knox’s glove. He doesn’t react and just stares at me with those gray eyes like I barely exist.

“Still emotionless, huh?” I call out, skating closer. “You’d think one goal would piss you off.”

Knox doesn’t answer. He never does. He just leans down, grabs the puck, and sends it back my way with a flick that makes my wrist sting when I catch it.

Finn laughs behind me. “He’s waiting for you to actually *score*, Cole.”

I roll my eyes. “I did score. He just doesn’t like acknowledging talent.”

“Right,” Nolan mutters as he glides past, spinning the stick in his hand. “Talent, arrogance—same thing with you.”

I grin. “At least I have both.”

We’ve been like this since we could walk. Competing, arguing, pushing each other until something breaks. It’s what makes us the best. People talk about us like we’re a rumor and ghosts on the ice. The Hyacinth Brothers. No one ever sees our faces, no one ever interviews us. They just see the records we break and the trophies we collect.

And that’s how we like it.

I slow down, circling to the side of the rink where Finn’s adjusting his gloves. “So,” I start, wiping sweat off my face with my sleeve, “I heard something interesting this morning.”

Finn looks up. “What?”

“The new coach Rosabelle is bringing.”

Nolan skates over, already curious. “Rose is really hiring again?”

“Yeah.” I shrug. “Heard it’s a woman this time.”

Finn snorts. “A woman? You’re kidding right?”

“Nope. Straight from the staff meeting,” I say. “Rose really knows how to gamble with us”

Finn smirks, leaning on his stick. “She wouldn’t last a week. You’d think Rose would learn we don’t need anyone bossing us around.”

Nolan chuckles under his breath. “She probably just wants to prove we can take orders. Which we can’t.”

I tilt my head. “Maybe she just wants to see if anyone can survive us more than the ones we've drove out.”

Finn grins wide. “Or maybe she’s hoping she’ll find one of us interesting.”

“Not happening,” Knox says quietly from the goal, voice deep and steady.

We all turn to him. He’s standing there, expression blank like the conversation bores him.

I skate closer. “Come on, little brother. You’re not curious who she is?”

“No,” he says flatly, sending the puck flying toward the wall.

Finn sighs. “Godd, you're so....always so cold.”

Nolan laughs. “He’s not cold, just focused.”

I raise a brow. “Focused on what? Glowering the rest of his life?”

Knox ignores me. He’s already back in position.

Finn shakes his head. “I’m giving her three days before she quits.”

“Bo Two,” Nolan laughs.

“One,” I counter it.

“Bet?”

I grin. “Always.”

We keep skating, pushing harder, moving faster. Every pass is perfect. Every shot has precision. This is what we were built for. No one outside this rink knows the truth, but every move we make carries the control we learned from hiding what we are.

We are werewolves. Four of us. Brothers bound by blood and that one secret.

To the world, we’re just players that are untouchable, unbeatable. But under the skin, there’s more. Every hit of the puck, every shift of our bodies, hides the strength that no human should have. We’ve learned to hold back, to make it look human enough not to raise questions.

I love the sound of the ice under me. It’s clean, sharp, real. The only place that quiets the noise in my head.

Finn crashes into Nolan, trying to steal the puck. Nolan pushes back, their sticks clashing. Knox catches the rebound and passes it cleanly toward me, and I take the shot. Straight through the gap.

Goal!

Finn groans. “You’re lucky, Cole.”

I laugh. “I’m always lucky.”

We’re still laughing when the air changes. It’s not something normal people would notice, but we’re not normal. The connection hums under my skin before it happens.

A voice slips through the mindlink that ties us to Rosabelle.

[ *You all should come pick her up at the airport. She’ll begin training soon.*]

Then she cuts off. No emotion, no explanation. Just orders.

Finn sighs. “She’s serious about this coach thing, really serious.”

Nolan skates to the edge, grabs his bag. “Guess we’re chauffeurs now.”

I shrug, grabbing my jacket from the bench. “Perhaps, it could be fun.”

Knox’s voice is calm but firm. “We’re wasting time.”

We leave the rink immediately , the cold replaced by the dry air of the arena hallway. Our assistant nods as we pass, but no one dares stop us. Outside, the cars are waiting—black SUVs lined up like soldiers.

I take the driver’s seat. Finn claims shotgun beside me, Nolan slides into the back and Knox takes the far corner, silent as usual.

The drive is quiet at first, the hum of the road filling the space.

Finn scrolls through his phone. “So, any guesses who this mystery coach is?”

“No idea,” I say. “But if Rose picked her, she’s either brave or stupid.”

Nolan chuckles. “Probably both.”

“Maybe she’s one of those motivational types,” Finn says. “You know, the ones that talk too much and think yelling fixes everything.”

“Won’t last,” Knox mutters, staring out of the window.

“You keep saying that,” I reply. “One of these days, you’ll have to give someone a chance.” I say

But he doesn’t answer.

We reach the airport within minutes. The city looks the same as always busy, bright and too loud. We pull up to the private terminal, step out, and wait near the entrance. The cold air bites, but it feels good against my skin.

Then something shifts inside me It’s subtle at first, a scent, warm and unfamiliar, drifting on the wind and then stronger.

My chest tightens as I glance at my brothers. Nolan’s posture changes instantly. Finn freezes mid-step. Knox’s hand burls into a fist.

We all look at each other at the same time.

“MATE,” we say together.

The word vibrates in the air, raw and instinctive.

Finn’s eyes flash briefly gold before he blinks it away. Nolan looks like he’s trying not to grin.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter.

Knox’s voice is low. “She’s close, I can feel it.”

We turn toward the terminal just as the automatic doors slide open.

A woman steps out, slow and unsure, her hair pulled back, dressed simple but sharp. She doesn’t look like a coach. She looks like someone who’s been through hell and came back colder.

For a moment, none of us move.

Finn whistles under his breath. “Well, damn.”

Nolan’s tone drops lower. “Didn’t expect that.”

Knox says nothing. His eyes are fixed on her blankly.

I can’t stop staring. There’s something in her face that's familiar, something that pulls me in. I don’t know her, but I feel her.

Rosabelle steps out behind her, phone in hand. She spots us and nods once. “Boys,” she says. “Meet your new coach.”

for an hour, and we’re already drenched in sweat.

Knox is at the goal, calm and cold as usual, blocking shot after shot like a machine. Nolan keeps circling, trying to distract him with that smug grin he never loses while Finn is beside me, too loud, too competitive, the same as always.

I pull back, line up and send the puck flying. It hits the top corner, just brushing Knox’s glove. He doesn’t react and just stares at me with those gray eyes like I barely exist.

“Still emotionless, huh?” I call out, skating closer. “You’d think one goal would piss you off.”

Knox doesn’t answer. He never does. He just leans down, grabs the puck, and sends it back my way with a flick that makes my wrist sting when I catch it.

Finn laughs behind me. “He’s waiting for you to actually *score*, Cole.”

I roll my eyes. “I did score. He just doesn’t like acknowledging talent.”

“Right,” Nolan mutters as he glides past, spinning the stick in his hand. “Talent, arrogance—same thing with you.”

I grin. “At least I have both.”

We’ve been like this since we could walk. Competing, arguing, pushing each other until something breaks. It’s what makes us the best. People talk about us like we’re a rumor and ghosts on the ice. The Hyacinth Brothers. No one ever sees our faces, no one ever interviews us. They just see the records we break and the trophies we collect.

And that’s how we like it.

I slow down, circling to the side of the rink where Finn’s adjusting his gloves. “So,” I start, wiping sweat off my face with my sleeve, “I heard something interesting this morning.”

Finn looks up. “What?”

“The new coach Rosabelle is bringing.”

Nolan skates over, already curious. “Rose is really hiring again?”

“Yeah.” I shrug. “Heard it’s a woman this time.”

Finn snorts. “A woman? You’re kidding right?”

“Nope. Straight from the staff meeting,” I say. “Rose really knows how to gamble with us”

Finn smirks, leaning on his stick. “She wouldn’t last a week. You’d think Rose would learn we don’t need anyone bossing us around.”

Nolan chuckles under his breath. “She probably just wants to prove we can take orders. Which we can’t.”

I tilt my head. “Maybe she just wants to see if anyone can survive us more than the ones we've drove out.”

Finn grins wide. “Or maybe she’s hoping she’ll find one of us interesting.”

“Not happening,” Knox says quietly from the goal, voice deep and steady.

We all turn to him. He’s standing there, expression blank like the conversation bores him.

I skate closer. “Come on, little brother. You’re not curious who she is?”

“No,” he says flatly, sending the puck flying toward the wall.

Finn sighs. “Godd, you're so....always so cold.”

Nolan laughs. “He’s not cold, just focused.”

I raise a brow. “Focused on what? Glowering the rest of his life?”

Knox ignores me. He’s already back in position.

Finn shakes his head. “I’m giving her three days before she quits.”

“Bo Two,” Nolan laughs.

“One,” I counter it.

“Bet?”

I grin. “Always.”

We keep skating, pushing harder, moving faster. Every pass is perfect. Every shot has precision. This is what we were built for. No one outside this rink knows the truth, but every move we make carries the control we learned from hiding what we are.

We are werewolves. Four of us. Brothers bound by blood and that one secret.

To the world, we’re just players that are untouchable, unbeatable. But under the skin, there’s more. Every hit of the puck, every shift of our bodies, hides the strength that no human should have. We’ve learned to hold back, to make it look human enough not to raise questions.

I love the sound of the ice under me. It’s clean, sharp, real. The only place that quiets the noise in my head.

Finn crashes into Nolan, trying to steal the puck. Nolan pushes back, their sticks clashing. Knox catches the rebound and passes it cleanly toward me, and I take the shot. Straight through the gap.

Goal!

Finn groans. “You’re lucky, Cole.”

I laugh. “I’m always lucky.”

We’re still laughing when the air changes. It’s not something normal people would notice, but we’re not normal. The connection hums under my skin before it happens.

A voice slips through the mindlink that ties us to Rosabelle.

[ *You all should come pick her up at the airport. She’ll begin training soon.*]

Then she cuts off. No emotion, no explanation. Just orders.

Finn sighs. “She’s serious about this coach thing, really serious.”

Nolan skates to the edge, grabs his bag. “Guess we’re chauffeurs now.”

I shrug, grabbing my jacket from the bench. “Perhaps, it could be fun.”

Knox’s voice is calm but firm. “We’re wasting time.”

We leave the rink immediately , the cold replaced by the dry air of the arena hallway. Our assistant nods as we pass, but no one dares stop us. Outside, the cars are waiting—black SUVs lined up like soldiers.

I take the driver’s seat. Finn claims shotgun beside me, Nolan slides into the back and Knox takes the far corner, silent as usual.

The drive is quiet at first, the hum of the road filling the space.

Finn scrolls through his phone. “So, any guesses who this mystery coach is?”

“No idea,” I say. “But if Rose picked her, she’s either brave or stupid.”

Nolan chuckles. “Probably both.”

“Maybe she’s one of those motivational types,” Finn says. “You know, the ones that talk too much and think yelling fixes everything.”

“Won’t last,” Knox mutters, staring out of the window.

“You keep saying that,” I reply. “One of these days, you’ll have to give someone a chance.” I say

But he doesn’t answer.

We reach the airport within minutes. The city looks the same as always busy, bright and too loud. We pull up to the private terminal, step out, and wait near the entrance. The cold air bites, but it feels good against my skin.

Then something shifts inside me It’s subtle at first, a scent, warm and unfamiliar, drifting on the wind and then stronger.

My chest tightens as I glance at my brothers. Nolan’s posture changes instantly. Finn freezes mid-step. Knox’s hand burls into a fist.

We all look at each other at the same time.

“MATE,” we say together.

The word vibrates in the air, raw and instinctive.

Finn’s eyes flash briefly gold before he blinks it away. Nolan looks like he’s trying not to grin.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter.

Knox’s voice is low. “She’s close, I can feel it.”

We turn toward the terminal just as the automatic doors slide open.

A woman steps out, slow and unsure, her hair pulled back, dressed simple but sharp. She doesn’t look like a coach. She looks like someone who’s been through hell and came back colder.

For a moment, none of us move.

Finn whistles under his breath. “Well, damn.”

Nolan’s tone drops lower. “Didn’t expect that.”

Knox says nothing. His eyes are fixed on her blankly.

I can’t stop staring. There’s something in her face that's familiar, something that pulls me in. I don’t know her, but I feel her.

Rosabelle steps out behind her, phone in hand. She spots us and nods once. “Boys,” she says. “Meet your new coach.”

Cole's POV

Rosabelle steps forward, phone in hand, her tone calm but commanding.

“Boys,” she says, her eyes moving across the four of us. “Meet your new coach. Reese Hyacinth. She’s family now. Training begins tomorrow.”

We all look at her, then at each other.

Family?

Coach?

Tomorrow?

No one speaks, not even Knox, who usually says something sharp when he’s annoyed.

Rosabelle’s gaze doesn’t waver. “Play nice,” she adds, then turns, her heels clicking on the pavement as she gets into her car. The engine starts, and she’s gone—just like that.

For a few seconds, no one says a word.

Then Nolan laughs first, hands in his pockets. “You really don’t look like a coach,” he says, staring straight at her. “Maybe you should rethink this whole thing now. There’s no way you can handle four grown men. Especially four who happen to be hot as hell.”

Finn smirks. “You should know better, sweetheart. Why accept a job that’s going to eat you alive? Did you think you could actually deal with four men who don’t like rules?”

Reese turns to us then slowly. Her expression doesn’t change. Her voice is firm. “I’ll simply make you follow them.”

That shuts Finn up for a moment.

Knox walks forward without a word and pulls the car door open. “Get in,” he says flatly.

She nods once and steps inside. No hesitation. We all follow, sliding in after her.

I take the passenger seat beside Knox while Finn and Nolan sit in the back with her.

The air in the car feels stranger and tight.

My wolf stirs beneath my skin, restless and alert. I know my brothers feel it too. Their eyes glint faintly glowing gold for a second before fading. We don’t need to speak to know what we’re all thinking.

Why now?

Why her?

Why at the height of everything we’ve built?

Our team is on top of the world—undefeated, untouchable, and feared by everyone in the league.

And now, this… this human woman is supposed to coach us?

Worse, our wolves are reacting to her like—

No.

I refuse to finish that thought.

I glance at my brothers. Finn’s pretending to be relaxed, one arm thrown over the back seat, but his eyes are fixed on her reflection in the window.

Nolan’s quiet too, which isn’t like him. His jaw tightens, and that’s how I know he feels it too.

Even Knox, who rarely shows anything, grips the steering wheel tighter.

The silence stretches all the way to the mansion.

When we pull up into the estate, the gates slide open automatically. The lights of the driveway cast long shadows on the pavement as we roll to a stop.

Miss Lana, our assistant, is already waiting near the door. She bows slightly as we step out.

“Welcome back,” she says, her voice calm as always. Then she turns to Reese. “Miss Hyacinth, it’s an honor. I’ll take your luggage.”

Reese doesn’t say much but just a nod. She looks around, her eyes scanning the huge glass windows, the stone columns, the wide steps leading to the front doors. No awe, no fear, just quiet focus.

She walks inside behind Lana, her posture straight, her movements careful but confident.

We follow her in. The place is silent except for our footsteps echoing across the tiled floor. The air smells faintly of oil..

In the living room, Reese stands by the couch, watching as Lana drags her luggage toward the stairs. This woman doesn’t smile, doesn’t even fidget, she just waits and watches everything.

And damn, she’s hot.

Too hot for a coach.

Too hot to be standing here in our space.

Her dark hair’s tied back, strands falling loose at the sides of her face. Her lips are pale but full, her eyes sharp enough to cut through anyone’s bullshit. She looks small next to us, but there’s something in her that screams she’s not someone to underestimate.

I released a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. So do my brother because the tension in the room feels alive.

There’s no way she’s our mate. No way the Moon Goddess would pull something like that.

But the scent is there. Subtle but impossible to ignore. It hitches to her skin like warmth. It’s real.

Nolan glances at me, his expression uneasy as he opened the mindlink “You feel that too?”

“Yeah,” I mutter back in my head. My throat’s dry. “It’s real.”

Finn runs a hand through his hair, pacing. “No. No way. The Goddess must be losing her mind this time.”

Knox stands near the window, silent. His reflection looks like a shadow but I knew better what was going through his head.

I turn to them. “You know what this means. Second chance mates can’t be rejected.”

The words hang there.

Finn lets out a sharp laugh, bitter. “Can’t be rejected? Don’t even remind me. Do you remember what happened last time with our last mate, no one knew she was a hunter”

We all go quiet. Of course he was right.

Remembering her name alone is enough to make the air heavy.

Finn swears under his breath. “She nearly ruined us. Nearly exposed us.”

Nolan nods slowly. “She used all of us, and we didn’t even see it coming.”

“If not for Rosabelle,” I say quietly, “we’d have been dead.”

Knox turns from the window finally, eyes dark. “And now the Goddess throws this human into our path again? Another risk?”

Finn’s jaw tightens. “What if she finds out what we are? What happens then?”

I shake my head. “We keep our distance. Keep control. That’s what happens.”

Nolan lets out a dry laugh. “You sure about that? Because from where I’m standing, that control’s already slipping.”

He’s right. My wolf hasn’t settled once since she stepped into that car.

Lana appears again at the top of the stairs. “Your room is ready,” she says softly.

Reese nods, grabs her bag, and follows her up. She doesn’t even look back.

We stand there in silence, watching her disappear down the hallway.

Her steps are soft as the door shuts behind her.

Finn drops onto the couch, hands in his hair. “I can’t believe this.”

Nolan leans against the wall, arms crossed. “You’d better. Because it’s happening whether we like it or not.”

Knox doesn’t move. He just stares up the stairs like he’s trying to figure something out that doesn’t make sense.

I look between them. “We stay calm. We figure out what she’s doing here. And we don’t let her get close.”

Finn scoffs. “You’re saying that like it's going to be easy.”

“Then make it easy,” I snap back.

He raises a brow. “Getting defensive already, huh?”

“Shut up, Finn.”

Nolan steps between us before it can escalate.“Enough. We’re not going to lose our heads over a coach.”

Knox finally turns. “You mean over a mate.”

No one responds to that.

The word floats in the air between us, raw and unwanted but the brutal truth.

Finn looks away, muttering under his breath. “The Moon Goddess must really be playing with us this time.”

I don’t disagree.

Because as much as I want to deny it, every instinct inside me screams the same thing:

Reese Hyacinth isn’t just our new coach. She’s the destruction we didn’t see coming and I must never let that happen, not until every single hunter in this city goes down

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Reese's POV

The moment I step into the room, I don’t even bother looking around as my knees give out and I drop onto the bed like a rock.

“God…” I breathe out, staring up at the ceiling. The soft sheets swallow me whole. Every bone in my body aches.

“Thank you,” I mumble to Lana, who’s about to leave after helping with my bags.

She stops at the door. “You’re welcome, Miss Reese.”

“Wait,” I say quickly, pushing myself up on my elbows. “I want to ask something. Don’t be offended.”

Her polite smile doesn’t fade. “Of course, Miss Reese.”

I hesitate. “Am I… am I going to be living here permanently?”

Lana nods. “According to Mrs. Rosabelle, you’ll live wherever her sons live. Which means anywhere they go, you go too—as their coach.”

“Ah.” The sound slips out before I can stop it.

Her brows lift slightly. “Is something wrong, Miss?”

“Oh, no. No, I’m fine,” I lie immediately. “Thank you.”

She bows slightly. “Dinner will be served in a few hours. Please call if you need anything.”

When the door closes, I finally let the breath out of my lungs.

So those men… those are the mysterious hockey players everyone keeps talking about. The ones the entire country is obsessed with. The Hyacinth brothers—four of the most talented, untouchable athletes in the world and the most private. No interviews. No photos. Just wins and rumors.

If I had known this was what I’d be walking into, I would’ve thought twice before signing that deal.

It already took every bit of my self-control not to look intimidated in front of them. Their presence alone is overwhelming. The way they move. The confidence in their stance. And their looks—God, their looks.

Too handsome. Too composed. Too dangerous.

Just thinking about it makes my stomach twist.

“Get a grip, Serenya,” I whisper to myself, then correct it, “Reese.”

I can’t afford to slip. That name Serenya belongs to a woman who’s dead. I’m Reese now. And Reese doesn’t get flustered over men, no matter how good they look with their exposed shirtless chest with tattoos crawling up their arms and necks.

Still, I feel my face heat up at the memory.

I shake it off and rub my temples. I need to be smart. Rosabelle had warned me before I came.

They’re not easy men, Reese. They’re cruel when they want to be. I’ve hired twenty-nine coaches before you. None lasted more than a week.

Those words echo in my mind and a chill runs through me.

Twenty-nine people before me failed. I’m number thirty.

I don’t know when sleep pulls me under, but exhaustion wins before fear can.

When I open my eyes again, the room is dim and the sky outside is painted with evening light. I must’ve slept for hours because my head feels clearer but my body’s still heavy.

I drag myself up, yawning and start unpacking my bag. The clothes inside look wrinkled but right now I don’t care.

A knock at the door interrupts me.

“Miss Reese?” It’s Lana’s voice again. “Dinner is ready. Mrs. Rosabelle just arrived and is asking for you.”

“Damn,” I mutter under my breath.

I glance at the clock. I haven’t even showered.

“Tell her I’ll be down in five minutes!” I shout, already running for the bathroom.

The bathtub looks like heaven but I don’t have time to admire it. I twist the tap, let the water run warm, and pour it over my head. The heat relaxes me instantly, but I force myself to move fast. Soap. Rinse. Dry. Done then I came out.

I pull on a simple black dress—nothing fancy but clean and run a brush through my hair. One last look in the mirror. I still look tired but it’ll have to do for now.

When I step out into the hallway, the faint sound of voices drifts up from downstairs. My heart beats faster with every step.

At the bottom, I see them—Rosabelle at the head of the long dining table, her sons seated across from her. The picture looks like something out of a magazine: expensive, cold, perfect.

Rosabelle turns as she notices me and smiles. “Come, honey,” she says, gesturing to the seat beside her.

I walk over quietly and sit down. My palms feel sweaty.

“It’s good to finally have a girl in the family,” Rosabelle says warmly. “Four boys and now a girl. A perfect family picture, don’t you think?”

No one answers.

Her sons just keep eating or pretending to.

“Let’s eat then,” she says lightly, reaching for her glass.

The smell of food makes my stomach growl. I realize how hungry I am and start eating quickly, maybe a little too quickly and in few minutes, I finished my food.

By the time I look up, I feel their eyes on me. All four of them.

I freeze, my spoon halfway to my mouth.

Nolan, the one who looked the most relaxed earlier, raises a brow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “You haven’t eaten in a month or something?”

The teasing tone hits my nerves, but I keep my voice steady. “You should mind your plate instead of counting my bites.”

Finn laughs. “Interesting, she’s got a mouth.”

“Good,” Rosabelle says without missing a beat. “She’ll need it if she’s going to keep you boys in line.”

Knox, doesn’t say a word. He just cuts through his steak, his eyes flicking toward me once before returning to his food. Even that single glance feels like pressure on my chest.

Cole—the one sitting closest—leans back in his chair, his expression unreadable.

“You’re quiet for someone who’s supposed to whip us into shape.”

I meet his gaze. “I speak when it matters.”

His lips twitch slightly, but he doesn’t push it.

“Interesting,” Nolan mutters, still watching me.

I keep eating. Slowly this time. Carefully.

Rosabelle takes a sip of wine, clearly amused. “You’ll all get along soon enough.”

“I doubt that,” Finn says under his breath, but Rosabelle hears it anyway.

“Try,” she says sharply. Her tone drops the warmth for just a second and all four men fall silent.

That tells me everything I need to know about her authority in this house.

Dinner goes on quietly after that. The food is good—too good and the silence between us feels louder than any conversation.

Every so often, I feel one of them watching me. When I glance up, they look away like nothing happened.

After dessert, Rosabelle wipes her lips and stands. “Training starts at eight tomorrow morning. Don’t be late, Reese.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I reply quickly.

“Good.” She turns to her sons. “And you four—don’t make this difficult for her. She’s here because I trust her.”

They don’t respond.

She gives them a long look before leaving the table. Her heels click against the floor until the sound fades down the hall.

As soon as she’s gone, the atmosphere changes. The silence turns heavier, thicker.

Nolan leans back, resting his arm on his chair. “So, Coach, you really think you can handle us for real?”

I push my plate aside. “I don’t think. I know.”

Finn lets out a short laugh. “Confidence. That’s new.”

“Maybe that’s why the last twenty-nine didn’t last,” I say quietly.

His smirk passes just a little.

Cole studies me from across the table. His eyes are twisty. “You want to do your homework quite pretty good”

“Yes, I would really appreciate it.”

“Good luck with that,” Nolan says. “We’re not easy to figure out just so you know.”

I smile faintly. “I’ve heard.”

Knox gets up suddenly, chair scraping against the floor. “This conversation’s over,” he says flatly, walking out.

Finn whistles low. “That’s Knox for welcome to the team.”

I stand too. “Good to know. See you at training.”

Cole’s eyes follow me as I walk away. I feel it, but I don’t turn back.

When I reach my room again, I close the door and lean against it. My heart won’t stop racing.

What did I just get myself into?

Four men who clearly don’t want me here. A boss who sees me as a pawn in her own game. And a secret I can’t afford to let anyone discover.

I press my hand over my stomach for a second…memory, maybe guilt and then drop it.

No more looking back.

I came here to survive. To rebuild. And if these men think they can break me, they’re in for a surprise. Just then my wolf stirred with an unfamiliar scent—someone was close. I could feel it but what surprised me was the next word that growled through me… MATE

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