Kayden
"And that’s the period! An unbelievable short-handed goal by Kayden Vale to put the Avalanche ahead! If this is how Ga 1 is starting, we are in for a hell of a series," the announcer’s voice bood throughout the arena.
My teammates let down, and I skated toward the screaming fans, waving at them.
"The Northern Avalanche are proving they don’t need a full roster to dominate the ice! They won the second point while their driving forces were not even on the ice. Kayden is truly a rare talent, and we’re looking forward to seeing if they can carry this montum into their next ga!"
I leaned on my stick, my ribs throbbing with every ragged breath. I cursed the Stallions player under my breath for hitting so hard. "Son of..."
As I skated toward the bench to join the rest of the team, the fans in the front rows leaned over the glass, screaming my na.
"Vale! Vale! Vale!"
I waved at so, blew a kiss to others, and winked at a few. The sound felt surreal. For months, I had been the ’quiet trade,’ the ’roommate,’ and the ’Oga-sized shadow’ following Rhys around. Hearing my own na echo through the rafters without his attached to it felt like finally breaking through the surface of cold water.
It wasn’t that I hated our ship na, but it felt like a breath of fresh air to hear my na alone.
"Here cos our talented defenseman," Coach Reddick smiled as I skated toward him. He didn’t look like he was on the verge of a stroke anymore, though his face was still flushed. He reached out as I stepped off the ice, rubbing a heavy hand over my head and ruffling my hair.
"Good, son," he grunted, his voice hoarse. "You did well out there. You held that line when everything was falling apart. I am proud you are on this team." He ruffled my hair again. "Get inside and get patched up. We need that sa fire for the second round."
"Thanks, Coach," I offered him a tired smile.
He walked over to the rest of the team to speak to them, and soon we started heading toward the locker room.
I joined the pack, but suddenly a familiar, irritating shadow blocked my path. Leon was leaning against the boards, his face still twisted from the humiliation of my goal.
"Don’t get cocky, pretty boy," Leon sneered, his voice dripping with spite. "It’s just one period. We still have three gas to play to see if you can actually keep your head above water."
"Don’t be a sore loser," Jaxson chid in.
Leon scoffed. "You’re celebrating like you’ve won the cup, but rember—Rhys has a Ga Misconduct. He’s done for the rest of the season."
At the ntion of Rhys, I felt sothing hit hard in the chest. Was he truly going to sit out the rest of the season?
Leon struck his stick against the ground to regain my attention and then pointed toward Jaxson and Theo, who were by my side.
"Everyone knows that without him, the Avalanche is going to fall apart. I’m going to be the one who pushes you down the stairs."
"You..." Theo lunged at him, but I stopped him, standing firmly in front of them. I didn’t want another incident that would cost us another player.
"I got this, Theo. Just watch," I assured him. I stepped closer to Leon, looking him dead in the eye. "You really don’t get it, do you? I won today without Rhys. I stood my ground while you tried to play dirty, and I still put the puck in the net. The team did well without him. Whether he is here or not, we will rely on his guidance as our Captain and win every single ga against the Stallions without him if we have to!"
Jaxson clapped his hands as if he were impressed by the speech. "Exactly what he said."
I let out a soft chuckle as I saw the vein in Leon’s forehead start to throb. "Maybe you should spend less ti worrying about Rhys and more ti focusing on yourself, Stupid Leon," I said, patting him mockingly on the shoulder pad before skating toward the tunnel.
"Stupid Leon," Jaxson and Theo said in unison, laughing.
I laughed with them, but then my eyes drifted toward Suite 4. The glass was tinted, but I could see them clearly. The Calders were still there, watching. Rami stood like a stone statue while Richard and Raymond looked down at with detached expressions. Linda just stared at ; she smiled and waved, but I pretended I didn’t see it and skated away.
They didn’t look like a family; they looked like board mbers watching a failing investnt.
A cold realization settled in my gut. Rhys didn’t just snap because of the enforcer. He snapped because they were here. I wondered if their presence alone was what pushed him over the edge, and I hated how he had let them affect him.
When I reached the locker room, it was dead silent. So of the teammates were already in the shower, which was strange because the room was never silent, especially in situations like this. Then I heard the coach’s voice.
I slowed my pace, my skates clicking against the rubber flooring as I caught the tail end of a heated conversation. Coach Reddick was standing over Rhys in a narrow corner between the lockers. I stayed back, eavesdropping on them.
"...The CEO is furious, Rhys!" Reddick’s voice was low but audible. "A five-minute major? A ga misconduct? You’re the Captain, for God’s sake. Miller is in the clinic because you couldn’t keep your head, and now I’m down my best center and my lead defenseman in the second round of the series."
Rhys sat on the bench, his head bowed and his jersey half-unzipped. He didn’t argue. He just stared at the floor.
"I hope you find a way to fix this ss, Rhys, because we can’t lose when we have already co this far," Coach Reddick told him before whispering words I couldn’t hear.
When the coach finished, he let out a frustrated huff and stord past without a word. I hesitated for a mont, deliberating, then walked toward Rhys.
"How are you feeling?" I asked softly, stopping in front of him.
Rhys looked up. His eyes were bloodshot, rimd with exhaustion and sadness. Despite the hell he had just been put through, a small, genuine spark of pride flickered in his gaze.
"I watched the ga on the monitor," he said, his voice raspy. "I’m proud of you, Kayden. That goal... it was exactly what the team needed." He smiled and reached out to touch my left ribs, his eyes narrowing as he assessed . "But I saw that fall you took. Are you alright?"
I winced when I felt his palm press against my ribs. Just as I opened my mouth to tell him that my ribs felt like they were on fire, I didn’t get the chance. The locker room door opened with a sharp clack.
A man dressed in a crisp black suit, looking more like an undertaker than a hockey official, stepped inside. He held a high-level security pass in one hand, his expression completely void of emotion.
"Mister Rhys," the man said, his voice cold and formal. "Sir Rami wants to see you. Imdiately."
Rhys let out a groan, but he didn’t look surprised. He released a long, weary sigh and stood up, the tal of his skates scraping harshly against the floor. I reached out and caught his arm.
"Rhys? Are you going to be fine?"
He looked down at , and for a split second, I saw the mask slip. He looked terrified, but he quickly covered it up, forcing a stiff nod and trying to regain his composure.
"I’ll be fine," he said, though his voice lacked conviction. He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Listen to . If I’m not back in five minutes, don’t wait for . Go back to the Glacier Do with the team, check on Miller at the clinic, and then go straight ho."
Before I could argue, he turned and followed the man in the black suit out of the room. I stood there alone in the silence, watching him leave.
Sothing was very wrong.
And I had a feeling that whatever Rami had called him for wasn’t good.
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