Chapter 47: The game

**Mateo**

Early on, I met with my team and we spent the day together preparing for tonight's challenge. We were all there for John, Max also for the reputation of our pack. We loved hockey, it was definitely a farewell for me from the games, as Alpha I would have to pass the team's command to someone else, but I would keep the team! It was conceived by me and financed by my father, so it was a family heirloom.

Sports have to be fun, but they are competitive. And we werewolves really like a challenge. I grew up admiring my cousins, I learned a lot from them, but they were being quite arrogant and, after all, why not, the disciple surpasses the master, even if only once in a while.

John was nervous, but he tried to hide it. However, the boys had gotten it into their heads that he didn't deserve to be treated this way, having four alphas on his tail, forbidden from going to a friend's birthday party, because he was a rising beta and Ian playing hard for him.

But I knew we were going to have to be technical to have a chance of winning. We were in shape, warmed up, and we spent the whole morning getting to know the court well.

Nat came to have lunch with us nearby. And having her there encouraging us and bringing harmony was very good and calming. A luna has that power. To top it off, my father and mother made a video call and talked to the whole team.

We went to the hotel to rest a little and would return in the late afternoon to warm up before the game.

Noah

We went to train in a rented gym, because we let the away team use the game site to get to know the field, it was a last courtesy before the game. Our coach went over a few points and let us go, asking us to do well, but not to go too hard, because it was a game of camaraderie.

He didn't know what was behind this charity game. But my father and brothers did! And Alpha Todd was there to remind us that it was time to make the rednecks go home early.

Bella was flirting with Mat's beta and none of us cared much about it, as long as it was only virtual. But in person, we were against any involvement of our younger sister with anyone other than her mate. My father intended to show her off at this party to some aloha son and make her a luna. James, Robert and Liam still hoped that her mate, chosen by the goddess, could be someone important to her to have a prosperous pack and happiness at the same time. I was more like my father, I thought that was nonsense.

And to marry my little sister, an American redneck beta was not enough for me. So, as the team captain, I encouraged my three brothers, my beta Philip and my gamma Tristan to be ruthless. If Bella was going to marry a beta, I would give my support to mine, Philip had a crush on her. And he was going to focus on Mat, my Alpha cousin, so that my brothers and I could personally summon John.

Besides, after this game, I would be leaving the team. My father was going to retire and travel with my mother. And I would take over as the new Alpha. James would be in charge of the team. Robert would take over the companies and Liam would go to college. Therefore, my father wanted to marry Bella to someone strong who would free me from the worry of taking care of her future.

…

Nat

At 7 pm, the stands were full. The entire Canadian Pack and fans of the teams, in addition to a hundred guests and the birthday girl who was gorgeous and came to welcome the two teams together with her parents. I still hadn't met Alpha Tod, nor Rose dia luna, but I believe that would happen at the party. He seemed a little serious to me, even serious. She was calmer and a very pretty redhead.

I felt Mat's gaze on me. I turned to him and sent him a wave of love and good luck. He told me through the mental link that he was going to block our call so he could focus on the game. I nodded. Belle waved at me and I could see her eyes trying to stop looking at John. Ah, the passion, I hoped these two would work out. Even though I wasn't very close to the goddess, I said a prayer and asked for them.

The referee started the game. But Noah, James, Robert, Liam and everyone on the field were lost, not knowing whether to look at the game or at the women who were now sitting in the front row of the Canadian field, causing the players to look back.

Alpha Tod was very angry. Bella laughed softly. And the stadium sound started the narration and the timeouts were called, the anthems of both countries were played. Bella gave a formal salute, after all, it was all for her. “May the ones who play better tonight win!”

And it all began. One of the players on the Canadian team was marking Mat directly. Not leaving him much space to attack. So John had to make it count with two. But four alphas blocked him, two on defense and two attackers.

The first 20 minutes flew by. And Canada was ahead, by five points. Halftime came, and I saw Mat very angry, gesticulating, with the coach. They fought on the field, and this time, John tagged their beta and managed to take him down. That was the last straw for each of the Canadian alphas to take John down, and even though Mat tried to help, the game seemed more like a ring than a hockey game.

The second half ended. Our fans were booing the opponent and the referee. Tempers were running high. Bela came to my side. Shoulder and hip bumps are cool, but they only do that to John, they want to take him out of the game. She whimpered. I saw a fight forming over John who was down. I looked at Bella, distressed. “Can’t the referee do anything?”, I asked.

“No. Fights don’t disqualify the athletes involved. But John should be replaced to spare him,” she said. I saw Bela, nervous until she blinked several times and made a call. Then she glowed and whispered to me. “Let’s see if my idea will help cool things down.”

Then, at the end of the break, the gym doors opened and ten gorgeous models entered the scene. Their leader was the owner of the fashion label, Rebeca Florença, an Alpha. Blonde, gorgeous with blue eyes, in a red body, with wine-colored suede shorts and long pink high-heeled boots. Her Alpha aura made everyone turn their heads to her. Whistles and applause. The player entered the field and, except for Mat and our goalie who was coupled up, everyone was glued to the models.

outline. “That was my secret weapon, I know my brothers, all single and crazy about women.”

Mat and John managed to tie the game. Noah was thrilled with Rebecca. He even became fixated on her, frozen. When I tried to put the advantage back in the game, Rebeca declared herself and started to leave the stadium. Noah made a play that called for James' support, but he gave up the game and went after Rebeca. Noah lost his balance and fell to the ground, hitting his head because he couldn't find support from James in the combined move they had.