The Alphaletes

My best friend is in love with his girl, his ex girl. He's determined to win her back at any cost and at first, I was happy for him. I just didn't know that I'd want her for myself, but I do. Keeping my distance gets harder each time. She's the one thing I can't have, yet I can't stop reaching for her.

I'm the "Mike". The middle linebacker for the Seattle Crusaders. It's my job to break through anything in my path and make it out the other side and I'm damn good at it too. Until I meet Vi Nielson. A strong, hardworking, drop dead sexy single mom to an adorable little boy. I fell hard, fast. The problem? She has the most indestructible walls that I've ever encountered with no interest in dropping them.

Heart. The most important organ in your body, one of the most fragile too. I've always worn mine on my sleeve. I put my heart into everything I've ever done and for the most part it's worked out for me. I'm the best running back in the league, I have a great family and a smoking hot wife. That is until a nasty hit takes me down in a big way. Everyone told me I was done. They turned their backs on me, except for my best friend, Scarlett Hayes.

Rules. Some people say they are meant to be broken, but not these ones. These are designed to protect me, to make sure I never feel the pain I did almost ten years ago. The dull but present pain I still feel every time my past taunts me. From the loyalties that have remained broken, I built my walls high and tall, creating these rules to make sure all hearts, most of all mine, will stay guarded. That was the plan at least, until she came along.