My Hockey Alpha Neighbor

In the wake of the attack, Aiden’s already protective nature has kicked into overdrive. I hardly spend a moment where Aiden isn’t by my side. He watches over me with a vigilant eye. It serves to settle my nerves somewhat.

Aidens protectiveness has bled over into her private life, as well. Anytime you’re near one another, he’s always touching me in someway. His hand is always on my shoulder in my back, my face Dash if not that, he has an arm around me. I can’t tell if this is to reassure me that I’m safe, or to reassure Aiden that I’m safe. It works for me either way.

Our physicality in the bedroom has also reflected his changes. Aiden, being an alpha, has always been a factor in our physical affection. Now, I feel like I’m really starting to understand what that means. As an alpha, your social role is to dominate and protect. I’ve come to understand that more and more recently.

Aiden is still as passionate and gentle in bed as ever. Somehow, though, he seems to tower over me more than ever during our lovemaking. He’s always holding me tightly and kissing me anywhere that he can as though he’s a starving man and I am his last meal on earth. I find myself waking up the next day with love marks and unexpected places more and more.

Unlike weeks prior, we only have a few moments apart. Now that I’ve quit my job, much more of my time is free. It’s been difficult to be on my own since I was attacked, so spending more time at the rink was an easy choice.

It feels like the most natural thing in the world to re- approach the team owner about his job offer. Never have I been more grateful for a career opening. I had an expected to lose my job so suddenly parentheses and so publicly), but it was too late to regret anything now.

I’ve always enjoyed working and chasing after my ambitions, so relaxing at the ring is not quite satisfying enough for me. I find myself itching to do work again. The bonus now is that I won’t have to work under Daniel, only spend a few days at the rink before I knock on Robert’s door,

“Come in.” 1 hear his voice call from inside the office. I take in a deep breath to brace myself for the conversation and step inside.

Mr. Whitlock looks just as dignified as the last time I saw him. His office has a simple, but sophisticated. Look to it. On the wall, hang photographs of the team, intermixed with clippings of newspaper articles put up in frames. I can see multiple levels of business degrees on his wall, as well – Which would explain how he’s gotten this far.

He sits at his desk, wearing a simple blue button down shirt, and jeans. His green hair is slicked back carefully, as always. I can see that he’s surrounded by stacks of papers. Just entering his office gives a clear image of just how influential and powerful he is.

Robert looks up from the papers on his desk. The moment he sees me, his sexpression softens. “Ms. Miller. I see you’ve decided to spend some more time here at the rink.

1

I nod politely. “Yes, Mr. Whitlock, Aiden has been a bit… protective.” Aiden had told me he had already shared that information with the teams administration. We both agreed that it was important for the entire team to know that ther a Target on me, potentially meeting there was a Target on Aiden and other team members as well. I also didn’t want start showing up to the rink with no reason, even though the flings and casual girlfriends of team members occasion allowed to sit in on practice

“Plus, I have departed from my previous employer.”“

A knowing smile plays at the corners of Robert’s lips. “So I’ve heard.”

I swallow hard Well That makes sense. He probably watched the interview. After my interview, the news had been flooded with headlines about my audacious exit on live television.

Most people, luckily, found my actions amusing or impressive. Since none of them had they had no reason to see my former boss as anything but a crooked fame-seeker. My public exit also resulted in some

any connection to my old company, clients severing their ties with my old company.

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I have to fight back a smile. It’s oddly satisfying my boss wanted to use Aiden’s publicity to get famous, and it worked. Now the public detests him.

“Yes. Well,” I clear my throat, “I was wondering if the position you mentioned was still open.”

Robert’s smile broadens. “Tim glad you asked.” He reaches into the first drawer of his desk and pulls out a name placard. I stare, dumbfounded.

Carol Miller

Assistant Coach and Administrator

My jaw drops. “Mr. Whitlock, you

*I had a hunch that inspiration might have struck you,” he chuckles. “Although there’s one rule you need to keep in mind.”

I nod quickly. “Yes, of course. What is it?”

“No more TV interviews.”

1 stifle a laugh. “Don’t worry, sir. I wasn’t planning on it.”!!!

Robert trains me on the job over the next few weeks. The coach, Henry, is less than pleased by the development. Still, he keeps his mouth shut as long as I do my work.

I throw myself into my new role, partially to impress my new bosses and partially to distract myself. I spend more and more hours at the rink. I learn a lot more about the difficulties of coaching. At the same time, I begin to immerse myself in the intricacies of the business side.

I tell my parents about the attack pretty early on. As a result, they call me almost nonstop throughout the next few weeks, Their worried voices hurt my heart, but I do feel some, relief in how much they care.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

They assure me over and over again that they’re doing perfectly fine, but I can hear the concern etched into their voices. On more than one occasion, they have a different reason why I should come home.

“Oh, your aunt’s going to be in town, come say hi!”

“There’s a popular musical coming to town. You should come home and we can go see it together!”

*Do you remember your childhood best friend? He just came by the other day. The two of you should meet up!”

They don’t want to admit it, but it’s clear that they’re nervous having me so far from home, especially when things like this are happening. My life has become surprisingly dangerous recently. It’s bizarre to think only months ago, I lived a humdrum life.

I always politely decline, I’ve been enjoying my new job and don’t want to flake so soon. Besides, I also want to s Aiden as much as possible. I continue to adjust to my new normal and we all pretend we’re doing just fine.

Still, I begin to find myself hesitating more and more. As I hang up the phone, doubts gnaw at the edges of my m

and more I’m unable to deny the dangers I sense lingering over the horizon. The reasons I give myself to stay beco and more weak by the day, Soon, I have only one reason left.

can’t let them get hurt, too.