005

Reese's POV

The moment I step into the room, I don’t even bother looking around as my knees give out and I drop onto the bed like a rock.

“God…” I breathe out, staring up at the ceiling. The soft sheets swallow me whole. Every bone in my body aches.

“Thank you,” I mumble to Lana, who’s about to leave after helping with my bags.

She stops at the door. “You’re welcome, Miss Reese.”

“Wait,” I say quickly, pushing myself up on my elbows. “I want to ask something. Don’t be offended.”

Her polite smile doesn’t fade. “Of course, Miss Reese.”

I hesitate. “Am I… am I going to be living here permanently?”

Lana nods. “According to Mrs. Rosabelle, you’ll live wherever her sons live. Which means anywhere they go, you go too—as their coach.”

“Ah.” The sound slips out before I can stop it.

Her brows lift slightly. “Is something wrong, Miss?”

“Oh, no. No, I’m fine,” I lie immediately. “Thank you.”

She bows slightly. “Dinner will be served in a few hours. Please call if you need anything.”

When the door closes, I finally let the breath out of my lungs.

So those men… those are the mysterious hockey players everyone keeps talking about. The ones the entire country is obsessed with. The Hyacinth brothers—four of the most talented, untouchable athletes in the world and the most private. No interviews. No photos. Just wins and rumors.

If I had known this was what I’d be walking into, I would’ve thought twice before signing that deal.

It already took every bit of my self-control not to look intimidated in front of them. Their presence alone is overwhelming. The way they move. The confidence in their stance. And their looks—God, their looks.

Too handsome. Too composed. Too dangerous.

Just thinking about it makes my stomach twist.

“Get a grip, Serenya,” I whisper to myself, then correct it, “Reese.”

I can’t afford to slip. That name Serenya belongs to a woman who’s dead. I’m Reese now. And Reese doesn’t get flustered over men, no matter how good they look with their exposed shirtless chest with tattoos crawling up their arms and necks.

Still, I feel my face heat up at the memory.

I shake it off and rub my temples. I need to be smart. Rosabelle had warned me before I came.

They’re not easy men, Reese. They’re cruel when they want to be. I’ve hired twenty-nine coaches before you. None lasted more than a week.

Those words echo in my mind and a chill runs through me.

Twenty-nine people before me failed. I’m number thirty.

I don’t know when sleep pulls me under, but exhaustion wins before fear can.

When I open my eyes again, the room is dim and the sky outside is painted with evening light. I must’ve slept for hours because my head feels clearer but my body’s still heavy.

I drag myself up, yawning and start unpacking my bag. The clothes inside look wrinkled but right now I don’t care.

A knock at the door interrupts me.

“Miss Reese?” It’s Lana’s voice again. “Dinner is ready. Mrs. Rosabelle just arrived and is asking for you.”

“Damn,” I mutter under my breath.

I glance at the clock. I haven’t even showered.

“Tell her I’ll be down in five minutes!” I shout, already running for the bathroom.

The bathtub looks like heaven but I don’t have time to admire it. I twist the tap, let the water run warm, and pour it over my head. The heat relaxes me instantly, but I force myself to move fast. Soap. Rinse. Dry. Done then I came out.

I pull on a simple black dress—nothing fancy but clean and run a brush through my hair. One last look in the mirror. I still look tired but it’ll have to do for now.

When I step out into the hallway, the faint sound of voices drifts up from downstairs. My heart beats faster with every step.

At the bottom, I see them—Rosabelle at the head of the long dining table, her sons seated across from her. The picture looks like something out of a magazine: expensive, cold, perfect.

Rosabelle turns as she notices me and smiles. “Come, honey,” she says, gesturing to the seat beside her.

I walk over quietly and sit down. My palms feel sweaty.

“It’s good to finally have a girl in the family,” Rosabelle says warmly. “Four boys and now a girl. A perfect family picture, don’t you think?”

No one answers.

Her sons just keep eating or pretending to.

“Let’s eat then,” she says lightly, reaching for her glass.

The smell of food makes my stomach growl. I realize how hungry I am and start eating quickly, maybe a little too quickly and in few minutes, I finished my food.

By the time I look up, I feel their eyes on me. All four of them.

I freeze, my spoon halfway to my mouth.

Nolan, the one who looked the most relaxed earlier, raises a brow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “You haven’t eaten in a month or something?”

The teasing tone hits my nerves, but I keep my voice steady. “You should mind your plate instead of counting my bites.”

Finn laughs. “Interesting, she’s got a mouth.”

“Good,” Rosabelle says without missing a beat. “She’ll need it if she’s going to keep you boys in line.”

Knox, doesn’t say a word. He just cuts through his steak, his eyes flicking toward me once before returning to his food. Even that single glance feels like pressure on my chest.

Cole—the one sitting closest—leans back in his chair, his expression unreadable.

“You’re quiet for someone who’s supposed to whip us into shape.”

I meet his gaze. “I speak when it matters.”

His lips twitch slightly, but he doesn’t push it.

“Interesting,” Nolan mutters, still watching me.

I keep eating. Slowly this time. Carefully.

Rosabelle takes a sip of wine, clearly amused. “You’ll all get along soon enough.”

“I doubt that,” Finn says under his breath, but Rosabelle hears it anyway.

“Try,” she says sharply. Her tone drops the warmth for just a second and all four men fall silent.

That tells me everything I need to know about her authority in this house.

Dinner goes on quietly after that. The food is good—too good and the silence between us feels louder than any conversation.

Every so often, I feel one of them watching me. When I glance up, they look away like nothing happened.

After dessert, Rosabelle wipes her lips and stands. “Training starts at eight tomorrow morning. Don’t be late, Reese.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I reply quickly.

“Good.” She turns to her sons. “And you four—don’t make this difficult for her. She’s here because I trust her.”

They don’t respond.

She gives them a long look before leaving the table. Her heels click against the floor until the sound fades down the hall.

As soon as she’s gone, the atmosphere changes. The silence turns heavier, thicker.

Nolan leans back, resting his arm on his chair. “So, Coach, you really think you can handle us for real?”

I push my plate aside. “I don’t think. I know.”

Finn lets out a short laugh. “Confidence. That’s new.”

“Maybe that’s why the last twenty-nine didn’t last,” I say quietly.

His smirk passes just a little.

Cole studies me from across the table. His eyes are twisty. “You want to do your homework quite pretty good”

“Yes, I would really appreciate it.”

“Good luck with that,” Nolan says. “We’re not easy to figure out just so you know.”

I smile faintly. “I’ve heard.”

Knox gets up suddenly, chair scraping against the floor. “This conversation’s over,” he says flatly, walking out.

Finn whistles low. “That’s Knox for welcome to the team.”

I stand too. “Good to know. See you at training.”

Cole’s eyes follow me as I walk away. I feel it, but I don’t turn back.

When I reach my room again, I close the door and lean against it. My heart won’t stop racing.

What did I just get myself into?

Four men who clearly don’t want me here. A boss who sees me as a pawn in her own game. And a secret I can’t afford to let anyone discover.

I press my hand over my stomach for a second…memory, maybe guilt and then drop it.

No more looking back.

I came here to survive. To rebuild. And if these men think they can break me, they’re in for a surprise. Just then my wolf stirred with an unfamiliar scent—someone was close. I could feel it but what surprised me was the next word that growled through me… MATE