Page 1 of She Wolf

Prologue

Four years ago

Gunner

Ihate these formal dinners. My bow tie is too tight, and I feel too stuffy. The music is shit, the portions too small and I can’t even drink because camp starts tomorrow.

Which leads me to wonder why a professional sports organization like The Wolves plans an event of this magnitude, the night before the most arduous training we’ll do this season. Who knows? What I do know though; is I sure do look good in a tux.

Spotting my new teammate across the opulent ballroom, I battle with whether to go over and strike up a conversation.

I’ve spoken to him a few times over the years. We were drafted during the same year—me straight out of the juniors, him in his second year of college. He stayed on though to get his degree so has only been playing in the NHL for one season as opposed to my three.

He became Minnesota’s starting center towards the end of the last season, so to say I’m surprised he was traded at all, is an understatement.

I suppose I really should go make nice with him. Better to have him on side than not. It will make for an easier transition. Downing the last of my ginger ale—yep, no beer for me tonight—I head over to Casey Madden.

“I fucking hate these things,” he grumbles as I near him.

“Tell me about it. When do you think we can leave?” I ask.

“No idea,” he says turning and giving me a once over that I am absolutely positive I’m giving him in return.

He speaks first, snapping me out of my thoughts. “So how do you feel about your trade, you happy?”

I think on it a minute. Really no one ever asks what you want in hockey. You just go

where you’re told or wherever will have you and I had to accept that a long time ago. Loyalty is earned, but even then, you’re just dollar signs to the franchise.

“I am yeah. It’s weird that my old teammates will now become our opponents and there are a few boys I’ll miss. It stung being removed from all the group chats and things, but I guess we’ll just be added to the Wolves ones.”

Madden nods his agreement. “Yeah same, but we’ll do better here. We just need to settle in. Everyone seems cool so far.” I wouldn’t know yet, but I hope he’s right.

Considering we were opponents mere weeks ago, he seems to have a really mature attitude and that’s something I can get onboard with. I kind of expected him to give me shit about St Louis, but he’s right, we need to make the best of this, which is exactly why I came over in the first place.

You bring anyone tonight?” I ask wondering if he’s alone or bought a date.

“Nah, I mean, well sorta. Wanna meet my sister?” he says and then grabs the attention of a girl with her back to us, talking to an older lady.

She spins, but I swear, she does so in slow motion. Everyone in the room fades to nothing as if it’s only the two of us who exist. I can no longer hear the four-piece band playing and it’s like the lights dim and a spotlight appears over her head.

Her short, honey-brown hair barely grazes her shoulder and it’s so shiny and thick it swishes like she’s in a shampoo commercial as her head turns.

Yeah, I just said ‘swishes’.

That’s nothing though, compared to what happens once she’s facing me, and I lock eyes with the brightest set of ocean-blue sparklers I’ve ever seen in my life.

The breath I didn’t know I was holding onto leaves my lungs in a whoosh.

Hot. Damn.

My eyes sweep an involuntary path over her body. She’s all goddamn legs, with an ass that has my hands itching to grab a hold of it. Her lean shoulders are covered, and I can’t see any cleavage, but the mid-thigh slit that runs up the side of the sleek black dress she’s wearing, awakens my dick.

Holy shit.

“Coralie, meet Grey,” Madden says, and even without knowing him well, if he could hear my thoughts, he’d definitely kick my ass.

“Hey there.” Coralie’s voice is sure and smooth.

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