Chapter 41: The Draft Decision

The Frostbite office was 8 hours away.

But the call came in 12 hours after graduation.

Kai’s phone rang at 7am. Unknown number. Area code from the Frostbite city.

He stared at it. Didn’t answer.

"Answer it," I said from the kitchen. Coffee in hand. Mark still tender.

"I will," Kai said. "Later."

"Later is now," I said. "Don’t run from it."

Kai looked at me. Tired. "I’m not running. I’m choosing."

He picked up on the third ring.

"Hello? This is Kai Morozov."

I couldn’t hear the other side. Just Kai. Nodding. "Yes sir." "Thank you." "I appreciate it."

Then silence.

He hung up.

"Well?" I asked.

"They want me at camp in 3 weeks," Kai said. "Rookie contract. Third round money."

My chest squeezed. "That’s... that’s your dream."

"Was," Kai said.

"Was?"

Kai stood. Paced to the window. "I’m Alpha, Lila. The pack just went through a war. Elder Torren quit. Marisol is 52. Mason is trying to run security and work. The council needs me."

"And hockey?" I asked.

"Hockey will be there," Kai said. "The pack might not be if I’m gone 8 months."

I set my coffee down. "So what are you going to do?"

Kai turned. "I’m calling them back. Deferring. One year."

The word hit me like ice water.

"One year?" I said. "That’s it?"

"That’s it," Kai said. "I play one more year with Ravens. Graduate. Help stabilize the pack. Then I go."

"And if they say no?" I asked.

"Then they say no," Kai said. "And I stay."

---

We drove to Black Ridge that afternoon.

Kai had to tell Coach first. Before the scouts.

Coach’s office smelled like old tape and coffee. Trophies on the wall.

Kai sat. I sat next to him.

Coach leaned back. "Heard from the Frostbite?"

"Yes," Kai said.

"And?"

"I’m deferring," Kai said. "One year. I want to finish here. Be Captain. Graduate. Help my family."

Coach was quiet. Then he smiled. Small. "Good."

Kai blinked. "Good?"

"Good," Coach said. "Kid, you’ve got the kind of loyalty NHL teams want. But they also want men who know what matters. Go tell them. Then come back and win us another championship."

Kai exhaled. Like he’d been holding his breath for days.

"Thank you," Kai said.

---

The second call was harder.

Kai put it on speaker. Me next to him on the couch.

"Mr. Morozov," the Frostbite GM said. "We’re excited to have you."

"Thank you," Kai said. "I’m honored. But I need to defer. One year."

Silence.

"Defer?" the GM said. "Third round picks don’t defer."

"I understand," Kai said. "But my family needs me. My pack needs me. I’ll be 22 next year. Still young. Still hungry."

More silence. I squeezed Kai’s hand.

"Look," the GM said finally. "We like you. A lot. But we can’t hold a roster spot for a year."

"I’m not asking you to," Kai said. "I’m asking for a chance to re-enter next year’s draft. Or a contract after I graduate."

The GM sighed. "We’ll see. Call us next spring. Don’t make us regret this, kid."

The call ended.

Kai dropped his phone. "That’s it."

"That’s it," I said.

He looked at me. "Are you disappointed?"

"Disappointed?" I said. "Kai, you just chose us. Over the NHL. I’m the luckiest girl alive."

Kai pulled me into his lap. "I chose me too. This version of me. The one with you."

We stayed like that. Until Mason knocked.

"Pack meeting," he said. "Now."

---

The meeting room was full.

Marisol at the head. Elder Torren to the side. Council members. And me.

Everyone looked at Kai.

"Word got out," Marisol said. "About the draft."

Kai stood. "Yes. I was drafted. Third round."

Murmurs.

"I deferred," Kai said. "One year. I’m staying. As Alpha. As Captain of Ravens. As your son."

The room went quiet.

Then Marisol stood. And clapped.

One by one, the pack stood. Clapping.

Mason whooped. "That’s my brother!"

Elder Torren nodded. "That is an Alpha’s decision."

Kai looked embarrassed. And proud.

After, people came up to him. Slapping his back. Thanking him.

I hung back. Watching him. My Alpha. My Captain. My everything.

When the room cleared, Kai found me.

"So?" he asked.

"So," I said. "You’re stuck with me."

"Best deal I’ve ever made," Kai said.

---

That night, we were home. Finally quiet.

No calls. No meetings. Just us.

Kai was behind me on the couch. My head on his chest. His arms around me.

"It feels right," he said into my hair.

"It does," I said.

The fire was low. The snow outside was soft.

For the first time in months, nothing was wrong.

My phone buzzed on the coffee table.

Unknown number.

I ignored it.

It buzzed again.

Kai reached over. Picked it up.

His face went still.

"What?" I asked.

Kai turned the screen to me.

No text.

Just a photo.

The Crimson Gate.

Cracked open.