Claimed by the Alpha

a

s, clutching my algebra textbook like a shield against the chaos above. The metal seats groaned and sho

BLACK!

alue of... The numbers blurred on the page as another thunderous cheer erupted overhead.

, where I could disappear and actually get something done. But tonight was the championship

ayers moved like lightning, their skates carving sharp lines across the frozen surfa

m B

e flowed over it like he was born there. His dark hair whipped behind him as he stole

Maya. Just because every other girl in school is obses

he boards. The crowd gasped, then exploded into cheers as someone hit

ng a hand up like the rulebook said players should, Liam's whole body seemed coiled, ready to strike

king our captain!" someone ye

uggled to his feet, his jersey torn and his face twisted with pain. He said somet

around his hockey stick. And for just a moment, I coul

started somewhere in the home s

ould have minded my own business like I always did. But something

est with his glove. It wasn't hard, b

m around and slamming him against the boards so hard the entire rink shook.

ap," I w

punches that Liam dodged easily. But when one lucky

features seemed sharper, more predatory. His movements became impossibly quick and precise. He grabbed his

the ice. Across the bo

y face, bright red against the clear surface. I j

when I

's e

lways. They were gold. Bright, molten gold that seemed to glow under the arena

th a loud thump. The sound shouldn't have been audible over the scream

ard

d into eternity, the rest of the world disappeared. There was no crowd, no arena, no championship game. Jus

d out everything else. In three years at Millfield High, Liam Black had never l

at me like he could see

penalties I couldn't hear. Other players crowded around, blocking my view,

o badly I could barely work the zipper. This was crazy. I was imagining things. Eyes d

ection. The referees had separated the fighters and were setting up for a face-off, but he wasn't

hing

ld arena air. Whatever I'd just witnessed, whatever had mad

, he knew I

back to the game. But as I crept out from under the bleachers on s

had been noticed. And I had the terrifying