Her Alpha's Claim; Hockey King's Curvy Mate

Bella's POV.

I stood in front of my bedroom mirror and ran my hands slowly down my sides. My fingers pressed into the soft curves of my hips and belly as I smiled at my reflection.

“You are beautiful,” I whispered to myself softly.

My voice sounded small but sure. I turned sideways and watched how my body moved. My thighs touched, my waist dipped in then flared out, and my breasts sat full and heavy. For once, the sight didn’t make me want to hide.

I could recall Elias looking at me the same way. His eyes would go dark and hungry. He would step close, breathe my name, and tell me how he couldn’t get enough of my curves.

I closed my eyes and let the daydream play. Elias pulling me against his chest after hockey practice in the locker room, his hands sliding over my waist, squeezing gently like he loved every inch.

I remembered winter break so clearly it made my cheeks warm. We had sneaked away to his family’s cabin for one afternoon as we sat by the fire.

Elias had begged me to show him what I looked like under my sweater. I felt shy, but his voice was so gentle. I finally slipped out of my clothes until I stood in just my bra and panties.

“You’re perfect, Bella,” he had said, voice rough. “I want you so bad right now… but I’m going to wait. I want you to still be a virgin after the mating ceremony. You deserve that.” He didn’t touch me that day, even though I could see how much he wanted to.

He only kissed my forehead and held me close.

I giggled softly and picked up the small silver keychain I had bought him. It was shaped like a tiny hockey puck with his initials carved on it. Elias was the best hockey player in our school.

Captain of the Northwood Pack team. Everyone called him the golden boy. Tall, strong, with an easy smile that made girls stare.

And he was one of the top choices to become the new Alpha’s Beta. Today was the day the Alpha heir would finally arrive. I just knew Elias would be picked. He was perfect for it.

And somehow, that perfect boy had chosen me, the curvy girl everyone else whispered about. I slipped the keychain into my bag, grabbed my jacket.

I walked out of my room with a big smile. Mom was in the kitchen pouring coffee. She glanced at me and raised an eyebrow.

“Morning, Bella. You’re smiling like you won the lottery. Thinking about Elias again?”

I shook my head quickly, but I couldn’t stop the grin. “Maybe a little.”

Mom’s face changed. She set the mug down and looked at me with worried eyes. “Baby, I need you to be careful around that boy. I’ve told you this before. Guys like him… they know when a girl feels insecure about her body. They use that.”

“Mom,” I said, rolling my eyes but keeping my voice soft.

I walked over and gave her a quick hug. “You don’t have to worry. Elias loves me. He tells me every day how much he likes my curves. He makes me feel beautiful. I love my body, and he does too.”

She sighed and touched my cheek. “I just want you to be safe. Promise me that.”

“I promise,” I said, even though I didn’t really mean it. I grabbed my lunch bag from the counter, kissed her on the cheek, and headed for the door. “Love you, Mom. See you later!”

I rushed out of the house. I was almost floating by the time I reached the school gates.

But the second I stepped through those iron gates, everything changed.

Eyes turned toward me. Dozens of them. The usual morning chatter went quiet. Then it started again, louder, meaner. Faces twisted with disgust.

Some girls covered their mouths like they might laugh or throw up. A group of hockey guys near the steps stared at me like I was something dirty.

My stomach tightened. I pulled my bag closer to my chest and kept walking, head down a little. What was going on? Did I spill something on my shirt? I checked quickly but everything looked normal.

Inside the main hallway it got worse. People didn’t even try to hide their whispers.

“Desperate…”

“Look at her. So disgusting.”

“The plump little thing thought she could trap him…”

“Fat ass…”

The words hit me one after another. My brows pulled together. My heart started beating too fast. I turned in a slow circle, confused. Why were they looking at me like that? What had I done?

A girl I barely knew smirked as she passed. “Guess the video finally came out. About time.”

Video? What video?

Suddenly, fast footsteps came from behind me. A hand grabbed my wrist.

“Bella!” Riley’s voice was sharp and scared. Her face looked pale. “We need to leave. Right now. Come on.”

She started pulling me toward the side exit, her grip tight on my arm. But I couldn't leave just yet.

I yanked my arm away from Riley’s tight grip and stood still in the middle of the hallway. “No, Riley. I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s happening. Why is everyone looking at me like that?”

Riley’s eyes darted around nervously. She grabbed my hand again, gentler this time, and tried to pull me toward the side door. “Bella, please. I’ll explain everything once we’re outside. It’s bad. We need to go now before it gets worse.”

I shook my head hard. My chest felt tight, like someone was squeezing it. “Tell me right here. I deserve to know.” My voice came out shaky but I held my ground.

Riley opened her mouth to argue again, but before she could say anything, my phone chimed loudly in my pocket. I reached down and pulled it out, my fingers trembling a little.

“Don’t!” Riley begged. She stepped forward and tried to grab my phone. “Bella, stop. Please don’t look at it.”

I shoved her hand away, harder than I meant to. My heart pounded in my ears as I tapped the screen. A message waited for me from an unknown number. I clicked it open.

The video started playing automatically.

There I was. In my room during winter break. Standing in front of the mirror in just my light pink bra and panties. The ones with the little lace edges.

I looked shy in the video, biting my lip, turning slowly the way Elias had asked me to. My soft belly, thick thighs, and full hips were all there, clear as day.

My whole body went cold. I couldn’t move. Tears welled up fast in my eyes, making everything blurry. That video… only Elias had it.

He was the only one I trusted enough to record me like that. He had begged so sweetly, promising it would stay between us. That he just wanted to look at it when we were apart.

Now the whole school had seen it. That’s why they were laughing. Calling me desperate. Disgusting. Fat. My life felt ruined at that moment.

I kept staring at the screen, frozen, as the video looped. My cheeks burned with shame. I wanted to sink into the floor and disappear.

But then, heavy footsteps echoed down the hall. I looked up slowly. Elias walked in with his two best friends, Jake and Marcus, laughing loudly like nothing was wrong.

He looked perfect as always, tall, broad shoulders under his hockey jacket, messy dark hair, that easy golden-boy smile. The same smile that made me feel special every day.

Tears spilled down my cheeks. I wiped them quickly and walked straight up to him, my legs feeling heavy. “Elias,” I said, my voice cracking. “Did you post that video? Please tell me it was a mistake.”

He stopped laughing. His friends smirked behind him. Elias looked me up and down, then scoffed.

I nodded fast, trying so hard to believe it wasn’t him. “You didn’t do it, right? I’m sure it wasn’t you. You promised you wouldn’t show anyone. Your phone must have been hacked or something. Tell me it’s not true.”

Elias tilted his head. His smile turned mean, nothing like the warm one I knew. “Wait a second,” he said loudly so everyone nearby could hear. “Did you really think I’d fall for a pumpkin like you? Do you even look in the mirror, Bella?”

The words hit me deep. Pain exploded in my chest. My heart shattered into tiny pieces right there. I felt my confidence, the little bit I had built while staring in my mirror this morning, break apart. Tears poured down my face now. I couldn’t stop them.

“You’re disgusting,” he continued, his voice cold and sharp. “Walking around like your fat ass is something to be proud of. I only dated you because it was a bet. My friends didn’t think I could get the chubby insecure girl to make a video like that. Guess what? I won.”

I gasped, the air hurting my lungs. “But… you said you loved my curves. You said I was beautiful. You wanted to wait until after the mating ceremony because you respected me.”

He laughed again, louder this time. His friends joined in. “Desperate. That’s what you are. Clinging to me like I was your only chance. Newsflash, I don’t need you. Tonight, when the Alpha heir arrives, I’ll become the pack’s new Beta. Do you really think I’d want someone like you standing next to me? You’d just embarrass me.”

Every word cut deeper. I had rooted for him for months. Cheered at his hockey games. Dreamed about our future together. Now it all felt like a cruel joke. My body shook with sobs.

I couldn’t stand there anymore. I turned away from him, tears blinding me, and ran toward the exit. My bag bounced against my side.

I pushed past people, not caring who I bumped into. I just needed to get away from the laughter and pain.

But right before I reached the exit, I crashed hard into something solid. A muscular build. My hands hit a wide, firm chest.

I could feel the hard muscles under his shirt, strong and athletic like someone who trained every day. Broad shoulders, thick arms, tall enough that I had to tilt my head way back to look up.

His body felt powerful, like it could block out the whole world.

He wore a black mask that covered the top half of his face. Only his sharp jaw and full lips showed. His eyes behind the mask were dark and intense.

I stepped back quickly, but his big hand caught my arm to steady me. His touch was firm, almost electric.

And just then, his voice came out low and cold, but there was something seductive in the way it rolled over me, smooth like dark honey.

“Watch where you’re running, little wolf."