PUCKED BY MY BEST FRIEND’S HOCKEY ALPHA BROTHER

MELISSA’S POV

“What?” My voice cracked so loudly it turned a few heads around me.

“What the hell do you mean I need to find my way? You can’t pick me up? You freaking cancelled all my plans and dragged me over here!”

My grip tightened around my phone, knuckles whitening as I stood just outside the airport entrance.

People moved around me—laughing, hugging, taxis honking—but none of it mattered.

I was fuming. No… furious didn’t even begin to cover it.

Just a week ago, I had been in Paris, living my life, enjoying everything for once. Then my mother ruined it with just one call and a single command; “Come home immediately,” with no goddamn explanation attached.

“You’ve got some nerve raising your voice at me, Melissa,” her sharp voice snapped through the phone.

“It seems those two years in Paris erased whatever manners you had left.”

Of course. Of course she would twist this into my fault.

I swallowed hard, forcing the anger down even though it burned. “I’m… sorry.”

“I’m on vacation with my lover,” she said bluntly. “I’ve already made arrangements for you to stay at the Houstons’ until I return.”

"You’ll be enrolled in school immediately, and if you decide you don’t want to stay there, then you can rot on the streets until I get back. Do not call me. Do not fucking disturb my vacation again!”

“Mom, I…”

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The line went dead.

I slowly lowered the phone, staring at the screen as my reflection stared back at me—wide eyes, racing heart, anger bubbling underneath.

The Houston’s house.

A mix of relief and dread twisted inside me. I wasn’t afraid of staying with them—they were more of a family than my own—but there was one person I couldn’t face. Clinton Houston.

There were two things I hated most about my life:

One, being my mother’s puppet who she can bend to her will at any freaky time.

Two, the fact that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get my best friend's brother out of my head. Two years in Paris, and still… nothing changed.

A growl slipped past my lips as I kicked at the air, gripping my suitcase.

“Unbelievable…” I muttered. I had just landed, and now I was stranded.

Suddenly a sleek black car rolled to a stop in front of me. I frowned slightly, lifting my gaze…and my breath almost stopped.

Clinton. Fucking. Houston.

Time froze.

He looked… dangerously different. Broader shoulders stretching his shirt, a sharper jaw dusted with faint stubble, hair slightly longer in that careless way that only made him look better. And his eyes—those cold, piercing eyes—still the same, still capable of undoing me in seconds.

My lips parted slightly, my heart slamming hard against my ribs.

God… I wanted to kiss him.

“Are you going to keep staring,” his deep, cold voice cut through my thoughts, “or are you getting in the car?”

I blinked, snapping out of it, biting my lip hard. That was when I noticed my suitcase was gone. Right—I had been too busy staring like an idiot to notice he had already taken it and put it in the trunk.

I exhaled slowly and forced my legs to move, walking to the car and sliding into the back seat.

The moment I sat down, my eyes betrayed me, lifting straight to the mirror…straight to him, his reflection stared back.

Two minutes. Just two minutes after two years, and I was already losing it.

‘Lord, save me,’ I prayed silently. ‘Don't let me lose my sanity.’

I tore my gaze away, focusing on the road as we drove. The silence was suffocating, his scent filling every inch of space.

Immediately the car stopped, I stepped out quickly, inhaling deeply like I had escaped something.

My eyes lifted to the Houston’s villa, and warmth spread through my chest instantly.

“Mel!”

A blur rushed at me, and the next second, I was on the ground.

“Ow…!” I winced as Brittany crashed into me, wrapping her arms tightly around me.

“I missed the hell outta you!” she squealed.

Despite the pain, I found myself laughing. “Britt, you’re crushing me!”

“I don’t care! I’m never letting you go again!”

I rolled my eyes, still laughing. “We literally video call every day.”

She pulled back slightly, grinning. “Video call is the key word. Having you here is better.” She hugged me again. “You’re stuck with me now.”

“You’d crush her ribs if you keep holding her like that,” a voice drawled from behind. “Let her go, little bison.”

Brittany immediately pulled away. “I’m not a bison,” she mumbled.

I bit my lip, trying not to laugh as I looked up at Mr. and Mrs. Houston.

Without thinking, I ran into their arms, hugging them tightly and I felt that familiar warmth of safety spread across my heart— it felt like home.

“We missed you too, little pup,” Mrs. Houston, Luna Selene, said softly.

Pup. The word sent a tiny shiver down my spine.

I almost forgot! The Houstons weren't just a wealthy, powerful family in Michigan. They were werewolves.

​It sounded crazy, even to me. I was 100% human, yet my second family were shifters.

My mother had made a lot of terrible choices, but placing me under the protection of the Alpha and Luna of the Lockwood Pack was the one thing she’d gotten right.

The pack was hidden in plain sight, and while most people would be terrified, I felt safer here than anywhere else. To the pack, I wasn't an outsider; I was someone to be protected.

“You’ve grown,” Mr. Houston, Alpha Nathaniel, added. “Much bigger, little vixen.”

I laughed softly, the familiar nicknames wrapping around me like comfort.

For a moment, everything felt okay… until I felt that cold presence behind me. Clintons’. I didn’t dare turn.

Lunch was torture. I kept my eyes on my plate, avoiding his gaze, pretending he didn’t exist, but I could feel his eyes on me. Every single time.

The moment we were done, Brittany dragged me upstairs to my old room. The sight of it made my chest tighten. Nothing had changed.

“I missed this,” I whispered.

“So why did your mom suddenly drag you back?” Britt asked, nudging me, completely ignoring my fawning.

“I don’t know… and I don’t think I’m going back anytime soon.”

Her eyes lit up. “Good. Finally something she did right.” I shot her a look, and she laughed it off.

“Anyway, my dad already handled your school stuff. You… Nope, weee are to resume tomorrow. Together!”

“Tomorrow?” I groaned.

“Yes! And I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

I just stared at her, smiling faintly. I missed this. I missed her, always chattering, I missed her excitement. I missed her!

“Oh! There’s a hockey match tomorrow,” she added. “I’m going to support my mate—and yeah, we’ll have to see Clinton’s annoying face since he’s the hockey captain…”

“What? He’s the hockey captain?” I blurted before I could stop myself.

She blinked. “Yeah… he’s the captain.”

My stomach dropped. Even at school, there was no escaping him.

God… how was I supposed to survive this?

​“Mel,” Britt’s voice suddenly turned cold. I looked up to find her staring at me with narrowed eyes. “Do not tell me you still have a crush on my brother.”

​I felt my face heat up.

I’d forgotten how well she knew me— especially since she knew how much of a crush I had on her brother two years ago and most importantly, I’d forgotten she could read my tells like an open book.

​“Don't make me laugh, Britt,” I forced a chuckle, hoping I didn't sound as breathless as I felt. “That was years ago. It was just a childish crush. Of course I don't anymore.”

​I prayed to every god listening that I sounded convincing. But the way Britt’s eyebrows rose suggested I’d failed miserably. She stared at me like she didn’t believe a word.

“Good,” she finally said. “Because he has a girlfriend now. He found his mate… and trust me, she’s not someone you want to mess with.”

Everything inside me stilled.

“Clinton… has a girlfriend?” I whispered, my chest tightening painfully as something deep inside me cracked all over again.