Knot me on ice, Captain(BL) Chapter 4: Ice burns

Kayden

The cold hit first. Even through the layers of gear, through the pads and jersey and sweat, there was still a sharp bite of Glacier Do ice that sank straight into my bones.

The Avalanche practiced like they were in a live ga, not a drill, and the pace today felt like it was designed to kill .

My lungs already burned as I skated hard into the next sprint drill, the edges of my blades slicing into the ice with clean bites.

"Again!" Coach Reddick’s voice thundered from the boards. "Move your feet, Vale! Faster!"

I pushed harder. My legs scread. I leaned forward anyway, driving my weight into each stride until the cold wind whipped against my face. I knew I was fast; I knew I could leave defenders choking on snow dust when I wanted. But every ti I stole a glance toward Rhys, he was watching like I was doing everything wrong.

My stomach did a nervous flip. Did he see it? The thought of that 2:00 AM Instagram notification haunted with every stride. I searched his eyes for a sign—a smirk, a judgntal glint, anything that proved he knew I’d been ogling his shirtless photos—but his gaze was as impenetrable as a frozen lake.

He skated beside during the next break, gliding effortlessly, not even breathing heavily. His gaze flicked to once before he looked at the rest of the team huddling at center ice.

I hated how his attention made sothing inside tighten. Even through my suppressants, the aggressive, dominant flare of his winter pine scent hit like a physical blow, demanding my body recognize him as the Alpha in the room.

"Next drill!" the coach barked.

We reset. The puck dropped and Rhys passed to , expecting to pick it up without fumbling, and I did.

I spun on my edges and tore up the left side of the rink, dropping low and cutting dangerously close to the barrier, accelerating into a tight turn that had two defensen scrambling after .

I slipped between them, knocked their sticks aside, and fired a shot dead center—right into the goalie’s glove.

Miller Reid caught it like it was nothing. "Do better next ti, newbie," he comnted.

Across the ice, I saw Luca Rossi smirk at , leaning on his stick with a look that said I told you so, while Theo Hartman bit his lip, looking genuinely worried for .

A ripple of disappointnt moved through the players, subtle but almost physical. Rhys didn’t say anything yet, but I could feel the weight of his judgnt pressing down on like a hand around my throat.

"Reset!" the coach shouted again.

We did another drill. Another sprint. Another pass I didn’t catch cleanly enough. Another shot that went too wide. Not by much, but enough. Rhys still hadn’t said anything, and his silence was louder than any insult.

We continued practicing and I tried to match everyone stride for stride, but every ti I thought I was gaining ground, Rhys flew past like the ice bent for him and him alone.

I didn’t understand how soone could move like that, or why his presence made my chest tighten the way it did.

We went through two more plays and then a final breakaway drill where Rhys was defending against . He read every one of my moves, cutting off before I could even react. By the ti the puck skittered into the corner, I was out of breath.

The whistle blew across the rink. Everyone started moving, but Rhys turned imdiately toward and this ti, he didn’t hold back.

He skated forward with controlled fury, his jaw tight, eyes blazing with the sa cold fire as the ice under us. "What the hell was that, Vale?" he said, his voice low enough not to echo, but sharp enough that it cut cleanly through the air. "Are you even taking this seriously?"

My chest tightened, my heart hamring against my ribs as I replied. "I am taking it seriously. I—"

"No," he snapped. "You are skating like soone who doesn’t belong here. Like soone who thinks he can take it easy and still make the roster because of his na or his hype or whatever the dia is screaming about you today."

I clenched my jaw. "I’m trying. I’m still getting used to the system. To the pace. To the team. I just—"

"You just what?" His voice rose, finally carrying across the rink. "You just didn’t bother to show up on ti this morning? You just didn’t bother to warm up properly? You just happened to miss half the drills because you couldn’t be bothered to leave your hotel earlier?"

Heat rushed up my spine. "I got caught in traffic. I’m not—"

"I don’t care," Rhys said, cutting off with the cold finality of soone who had no ti for excuses. "If you want to be on this team, you don’t get to be late. You don’t get to be comfortable. You don’t get to be anything less than perfect. The Avalanche spent a ridiculous amount of money and trust bringing you here, and what you’re showing is nowhere near worth it."

My throat tightened around sothing sharp and hot. I felt anger and sha, but I wasn’t going to let him look down on .

"I said I got caught in traffic," I repeated. "I’m staying far from the arena, and—"

"Then move," Rhys said. He leaned in closer, his scent flaring so thick and icy it made my knees weak. His eyes burned into mine, searching for the "Alpha" he thought I was. "Or skate like soone who actually wants to be here. Because right now, Vale, you’re not impressing . Not even close. You look like you are not ant for the ice."

"I..."

The whistle blew again before I could reply.

Coach Reddick stepped onto the ice, looking from to Rhys. "That’s enough! Both of you. My office. Now."

Rhys didn’t break eye contact with . Not until the coach said his na again. Then he finally turned and skated away, leaving alone with my racing thoughts.

I exhaled slowly, my breath fogging the air. For the first ti since joining the Avalanche, I wondered whether this team was going to devour alive or if I could survive through it.