One Pucking Secret (One Pucking #1)

Epilogue

Wyatt

Six Months Later

I skate out onto the slick ice, the roar of the crowd vibrating through the stadium. It’s electric, the kind of atmosphere that pricks at your skin, raising goosebumps under the layers of my jersey and pads. My blades carve into the rink to the soundtrack of cheers that fill the air. The final game of the playoffs, our shot at the Stanley Cup—it’s not just a dream anymore; it’s right here, within reach.

I’ve never felt more alive, my muscles tensing with anticipation as I circle our half of the rink. This season has been my renaissance. Each play sharper, each decision quicker. I can see it in the banners, hear it in the chants—my name, echoed back in a thunderous hymn. They believe in me, and after everything, that feels like its own kind of victory. Since Alec’s departure from the team, it seems everything started falling into place for the Knights, and we excelled like it was nobody’s business.

Moving past the bench, I nod at my teammates, a silent pact among us. We’ve bled together, sweated through losses, and soared through wins. And now, we’re united for something greater than ourselves. The team initiative—our pledge against the snares of drugs and alcohol—it’s not just talk. It’s action, it’s commitment. It’s personal.

The puck drops, and I lunge forward, the rest of the world narrowing to a pinpoint. Every stride, every pass is measured and precise. There’s no room for error, not tonight. The LA Knights, my team, my family—we’re all in this together.

Muscles burn and breaths come in ragged gasps. The chill of the ice beneath contrasts the heat of battle above. The clock’s ticking down the final seconds of the third period, and it’s now or never. My stick feels like an extension of my own body as I weave through defenders, poised to strike.

The puck glides across the ice, a frozen comet that I’m chasing with every ounce of willpower left in me. The goal looms ahead, a gaping maw ready to swallow my attempt at glory. With a flick of my wrist, I send the puck hurtling toward destiny. But the goalie—a wall of pads and determination—snatches it from the air just as the buzzer sounds, a harsh blare that signals both relief and tension. Tie game. Overtime.

I peer up at the private box suite where Chloe, Jasper, and Lainey are standing together, watching, just as much on edge as we are. I wave at Chloe and blow her a quick kiss.

“Come on, Loverboy,” Zach jokes. “Let’s get this show on the road and bring home that trophy.”

Overtime is a blur of motion, a dance of desperation. We’re shadows on the ice, flickering between triumph and defeat. The minutes peel away, and with each passing second, the pressure mounts. It’s tangible, a weight pressing down on us all.

Then, like a break in the clouds, there’s a flash of opportunity. Zach gains possession, his green eyes locked on the prize. He breaks away, a streak of color against the white expanse. I push myself harder, skating ahead to be the open man. Our teammates form a barrier, holding back the tide of the opposing team .

Heart pounding, I find my spot just as Zach looks up. Our eyes meet, and without a word, the decision’s made. The puck sails across the ice, a perfect arc from his stick to mine. Time slows, the world hushes to a whisper. With a slap, the puck meets the net, and suddenly, everything erupts.

The roar of the crowd is deafening, overwhelming. It mingles with the shouts of my teammates as they pile on top of me. The weight of their bodies is nothing compared to the elation that fills my chest. We’ve done it. The LA Knights have claimed the Stanley Cup, a first in team history.

“Fuck, yes!” I call out. “Yes!”

“Champions!” Zach yells. His grin is wide enough to span the rink.

I look up, past the lights, past the stands, to the banner that will bear our names. We didn’t just win a trophy tonight. We won a fight for something greater, a victory not just for us, but for those who supported us. Tonight, the City of Angels has found new heroes, and I’ve found redemption on a sheet of ice.

Ice clings to my skates, a testament to the battle waged, as I glide amid a sea of Knights jerseys. The cheers from the stands cascade down like an avalanche of pure joy, but it’s the sound of blades cutting through the rink that anchors me to this moment.

“Jasper!” Zach’s voice cuts through the din as he hoists my son onto his shoulders.

Lainey stands at their side, a proud smile on her face.

“Where’s Chloe?” I ask.

“She’s headed down with Mark. Told her I’d run ahead with Jasper… just like you asked.”

I give her a single nod, a knowing smile creeping up on my face. “Thanks.”

“We won!” Jasper, clad in a jersey too big for his small frame, punches the air with his tiny fists, his cheer cutting through the noise—a pure, joyful shout that melts my heart. I can’t help but smile.

“We sure did, buddy,” I tell him, tugging playfully at his oversized jersey.

“Come on, Jasper, let’s do a victory lap around the rink,” Zach says, skating with ease despite Jasper still cheering on his shoulders.

“Hey, Wyatt.” Mark’s hand claps my shoulder, pulling me out of my reverie. His eyes are watery, but they hold the fierce pride of a man who has seen more than his share of losses and victories. “You did good, son.”

“Couldn’t have done any of it without you,” I say, the words rough in my throat. Mark’s been more than an agent—he’s been a steady anchor in the chaos of my life.

“Remember, it’s always about the next play, not the last one.” His voice wavers, revealing a softness he usually keeps locked away.

“Couldn’t agree more.”

We pull each other into a hug—a quick exchange of gratitude and respect—before Mark steps back, his hand lingering in mine for just a moment longer. When he pulls away, he leaves something cool and small in my palm. I close my fingers around it, the metal both foreign and familiar: the ring. A promise of what’s to come.

I look up, and there’s Chloe, her green eyes meeting mine, steady and bright, reflecting every storm we’ve weathered together.

“Hey,” I say, my heart swelling with joy as she makes her way over to me.

“Congratulations!” she cheers, throwing her arms around me, and I pull her in closer. “You killed it out there!”

With a shaky hand, I rest my palm on her back. “I’m so glad you and Jasper were here to see this.”

“Of course. We wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” Her voice is warm, and I follow her gaze to where Jasper is with Zach, laughing and chatting with Lainey.

I turn back to Chloe. “Babe, thank you for being here with me through one of the hardest times of my life. There’s no one else I’d rather have by my side than you and Jasper. You two are my entire world.”

Dropping to one knee, I see her hands fly to her cheeks, eyes wide with surprise.

“Wyatt…”

““I may not be able to stir up the same intense emotions you get from the Three Angry Ladies, but I’d love to spend the rest of my life trying.”

She laughs, wiping away tears already spilling down her cheeks.

“Chloe, will you marry me?” The words hang between us.

She freezes, her breath catching in a gasp that vibrates right through my pounding heart. Then, like a force of nature, she crashes into me, sending us both sprawling across the slick surface. Her laughter rings out, bright and clear, as she peppers my face with kisses, her warmth soaking into me.

“Yes, of course I will,” she whispers against my lips.

We clamber to our feet, a joyful tangle of limbs, only to find Jasper waiting with wide blue eyes, sparkling with unshed tears—or maybe it’s just the arena lights. His grin is so bright it could outshine the Stanley Cup itself.

“Mommy, Daddy… are you getting married?”

“We sure are, kiddo,” Chloe says, pulling him into our embrace.

“Does this mean we can get a house with a yard?”

“Looks like we’ll need the space, champ,” I tell him with a laugh.

“You know what goes great with a yard? A dog!” Jasper’s face lights up, hope and excitement sparkling in his eyes.

Chloe laughs, her joy bubbling up like a fresh spring, and she hugs him closer. “Yes, Jasper, I’d say a dog would fit right in.”

“Can we name him Stanley?” he asks, his voice innocent and full of promise.

“Stanley it is,” I agree, ruffling his hair, soft and familiar under my hand.

With one last kiss that promises forever, Chloe stands hand in hand with Jasper and me. Together, we walk off the ice, ready to write the next chapter of our lives—stronger, unbreakable, and all in .

Thanks for reading

ONE PUCKING SECRET!

Did you like this book?

Then you’ll LOVE Grumpy Billionaire Boss’s Secret Baby

I never expected my one-night stand to become my billionaire boss.

I moved to New York to start a new life after I lost my job.

And I ended up running into my past. Yikes!

He’s a grumpy, sexy, blue-eyed CEO… and my son’s father.

The crazier part is that he doesn’t know.

I haven’t seen him since our one-night stand six years ago.

Yet, he still has some crazy gravitational pull on me.

I can’t figure him out though.

He looks at me like he’s stripping me naked with his eyes.

Then he bosses me around the office like he’s having a bad day.

Boy, I’ll show him.

Well, that’s what I thought until I found myself on his desk.

He kisses my neck, and I bite my lower lip from begging for more.

I don’t know how long I can hide the truth if this continues.

I need to keep my distance and ignore my desires for him.

Until he’s ready to meet our son.