Axel

If I grip this glass any more tightly, I’m going to shatter it. Which, honestly, I wouldn’t mind, if I could use one of the shards of glass and stab it into Blake Devoe’s face. Maybe I could even cut out his tongue, so that he can never speak again. If his entire mouth is destroyed, he won’t be able to talk. Or do something worse, like kiss my mate.

Ex-mate, I mean. Obviously. She’s standing off to the side, next to the appetizers. Levi was standing next to her, but as soon as Blake started talking, he made his way over to me.

Blake flashes a dazzling smile at the crowd, and the wolf in me growls. Hatred courses through me, almost overpowering my human control. It’s taking everything in me to keep from shifting at this elegant party. Blake, of course, would love that. He’d find it entertaining. Because that’s all this whole thing is to Blake—gory, violent entertainment. The hockey games are the violence you can see, but in fancy rooms like this one, the violence is more subtle.

Levi must sense my fury, because he places his hand on my shoulder, reminding me to stay calm. Blake still has his glass raised, clearly about to continue his “toast,” and I grit my teeth. I fucking know he’s about to pull some shit. This wouldn’t be the first time Blake has antagonized me like this. The man seems to enjoy pushing me as far as he can, just to see where my limits are, see how far he can go before I break.

The last time I broke, Blake ended up with his leg broken in two places. I heard later that he had to get twenty-two stitches. If Levi hadn’t been there to stop me, I know it would have been worse. He’s been keeping me in check ever since. Thank the fucking moon goddess he’s around to keep me from ruining my life even more.

I met Levi during one of the worst times in my life, right after I rejected Evalyn. I’ve never told him about that part of my life, but he knows the rest—why I hate Blake so much, and why I’m in this damn league. I used to love hockey. Part of me still does. But it kills me that Blake has taken this sport that I love and turned it into a violent, rageful event that makes me want to kill everyone I see on the ice. Anytime I get into the arena, every player seems to have Blake’s face, and it makes my hockey stick feel like a weapon in my hands.

“I remember the first time I saw Axel play,” Blake says. I set my glass down so that I won’t shatter it. I try to keep my face neutral, or politely humble, or some shit that won’t make people suspicious. Blake continues. “It was a pickup game between a couple members from different teams. But I’m telling you people, it was no-holds-barred. Wolves showing their true strength, canines and claws out. And Axel…I’d never seen such vicious power. Like he didn’t give a fuck about anyone.” The crowd laughs appreciatively. “And I saw instantly that this was what hockey could be. A beautiful song of blood, guts, and rage. The second the game was over, I walked up to Axel and asked him if he’d like to be on my team. And lucky for all of us, this great man saw my vision and agreed to help bring this dream to life.”

Blake looks at me from across the room, a tiny glint in his eye that I’m sure only I notice. “I’ve never been more grateful to have him as my enforcer. I’m so glad he belongs to me and no one else.” A low growl erupts from my throat, and Levi squeezes my shoulder.

“We have gathered the best wolves in the country—no, in the world—to make this team the unstoppable force it is,” Blake says. “We are sharing this extreme sport with the world, and if ticket sales are any indication, the world wants to see it. These boys are tough as hell, and as these games get bloodier, gorier, and more glorious, we all get richer.” The crowd laughs, and I clench my fists. “Every single person in this room is a part of this success story. Soon, everyone in the world will wish they were in this room with us, here at the start of America’s next great sport. This time next year, we’ll be on ESPN, and the year after that, we’ll have our own channel.”

The room breaks out into cheers, a few extra enthusiastic people hooting and hollering as if we were all at a hockey game right now. Blake raises his glass even higher. “To this team, to our continued success, and to my enforcer Axel, who works so hard for me to make it all happen! Cheers!”

Everyone raises their glasses and drinks. I grab my bourbon, knock it back, and slam my glass down on the bar. Before Levi or anyone else can stop me, I storm toward the back of the restaurant and throw open a door that leads to an alley. My fists are still clenched, and I have to consciously unfurl them. A small part of me is aware that people in the restaurant are probably wondering why I left like I did, but I’m too keyed up to care. I take a deep breath, pacing farther down the alley, then reach into my suit pocket for a cigarette. I put it between my lips and my lighter flares in the dim alley. One long drag and I feel a little calmer.

“Don’t you know those things will kill you?” a voice behind me says.

I turn to see Evalyn standing in the alleyway, next to the door. I ignore the way my heart leaps at the sight of her.

I roll my eyes. “You mean, they’ll kill you, with your frail human body. Not me.”

This earns me a glare. “Do you always have to be such an asshole? Maybe we should change the name on your jersey. ‘Asshole Axel.’”

I smile wolfishly. “Sure, why not?” I watch her for a moment, taking another drag from my cigarette. I blow the smoke out of the side of my mouth and take a step toward her. “What are you doing outside? On a night like this, with a wolf like me?”

I see Evalyn’s breath hitch. “I…I’m not sure,” she says. “Because I hate you.”

I ignore the whimpering wolf inside of me, injured at her words. “Then you should leave me alone,” I growl. She just looks at me, so I add, “If you go inside, you won’t have to deal with the secondhand smoke that’ll kill you. Don’t worry about me, darlin’. I’m fine.”

But Evalyn doesn’t move. Instead, she just gazes at me for a long moment, and then says, “But I can tell you’re not.”

“Not what?” I ask.

“Fine. I can…feel that you’re not fine. Why is that? Why did I feel the need to come check on you?”

Her words startle me, making my blood leap. “You tell me,” I snarl. “You’re the one who said to leave you the fuck alone, and yet you’re out here checking on me.”

“I didn’t even do it on purpose,” Evalyn says, her brow furrowing. “I didn’t even know where you’d gone. But then my feet were walking and led me here. Why?”

As she speaks, she moves closer and closer to me. I can’t even tell if she means to… Something is drawing us together, pulling her toward me without her realizing it. She stops a few feet away from me, gazing up into my face.

Her golden-brown eyes move over my features, and I can sense her thrumming heartbeat again, feel the blood that rushes through her body a little faster when she’s close to me. And her scent…dear god, will I ever get used to this woman’s fucking scent? It’s like something swells inside of me whenever I smell it.

“I…don’t want to be here,” Evalyn whispers. “And you don’t want me here either. Right?”

I stare down at her. She’s breathing so heavily that her tits are straining under her silver dress, and I swear I can feel heat radiating from her skin.

Fuck it.

Fuck all the reasons I shouldn’t be with her, or near her. For the past seven years, I’ve just been running in place, grinding harder than I ever have in my life, only to end up in the same place where I started. Not once have I ever gotten a single thing that I wanted.

So fuck it. I’m going after what I want for once. I’m going after something I never should have had to give up in the first place.

I grab Evalyn’s arms and yank her to me. Then my lips crash against hers.