Chapter 7

Anaya's POV

“The principal and the vice chancellor have put in a request for the last team to come up next. Move it!” The coach's words dropped an anchor in my belly, it took a few moments for my legs to move towards where we were asked to go.

My eyes caught Seth's as I moved and he gave me a nod of encouragement that I really appreciated. 

To my utmost horror I was placed at the back of my team members. The position meant for goal keepers. Like, me, Anaya, was supposed to be a goal keeper because I reacted on instinct yesterday?!

My eyes went across the field and locked with that of Cade. A lock of hair fell across his forehead and the light bead of sweat that covered the same forehead had me mesmerized for far too long because when my eyes returned to Cade’s, he had an eyebrow lifted with a smug look in place.

It was times like these that made me wonder what exactly it was about him that drove me to write all that nonsense in my dairy which was now in Sierra’s custody!!

I shook myself and focused on breathing. Seth was right, I could do this. I could get this.

My eyes opened as soon as the whistle was blown to start the game.

Everything soon faded into the background as the game slowed down considerably for me. I felt a surge of power inside me that was oddly comforting. I had one mission, and that was to ensure that I got two balls through the opponents goal post before our ten minute try out session was over.

This time around when I locked eyes with Cade, I could suddenly see little tells on how I was going to achieve my goal.

One, he didn't have an exceptional turn on his left side, a chance that I could explore to the fullest.

Two, he was too relaxed for this game. Maybe he wanted to go easy on us, but that was going to be his downfall.

I didn't have much time to investigate where this skill was coming from before Cade caught the ball that was passed to him and then he threw it with all his might at me. Well, at the goal post. 

But I was standing in front of it so it meant the same thing. 

And just like yesterday, everything slowed down as the ball made its way towards me. The surge of power I felt yesterday intensified, and I spun just a few inches and caught the ball with both hands.

But unlike yesterday, I didn't study the ball. I placed one foot behind me to act as a propeller before I jumped off the ground and threw the ball right back at Cade, targeting his left side.

I nearly got my goal but Cade’s years of experience on the pitch came to play as he intercepted the ball before it crossed the goal line.

A hushed silence had fallen over the pitch and the crowd. Then everyone went wild with applause. Even Cade looked reluctantly impressed.

I turned towards the stands where the school principal who I recognized from our freshman pamphlet was giving a polite clap. I bowed in greeting as I didn't know how else to respond to the applause.

I turned around in time to see Seth barreling towards me with an exceptionally wide grin on his face.

He pulled me into his arms and spun me around.

“That was amazing! Oh my goodness!! I wish that was recorded! You were like, out of this world amazing! Are you certain you haven't been secretly training for this?!” Seth said to me with so much excitement that I had to laugh. 

He was being ridiculous.

I turned my head as the rest of my tryout team members approached with polite nods and handshakes. Like they didn't know what to make of the game that I just played. I shrugged it off as I also didn't know what to make of what I just did.

I caught Cade's eyes from across the pitch and he didn't look pleased.

I immediately felt uncomfortable because Seth still had his arms around me and that was what Cade's eyes were focused on. 

I didn't get much time to do anything else because the Coach blew the whistle.

“The game isn't over, let's see what the rest of the team is made up of. Nice catch kid,” the Coach said and laughed in delight before returning to my position earlier.

With this in tow, my life in this school doesn't have to be horrible.

I was still breathing hard when the Coach blew another whistle for the game to begin and we played a decent game.

By the end of the tryouts when the pitch had been lowered, I walked towards the locker room to change out of my sweaty clothes. I was in dire need of a shower. But Sierra and her crew had other plans as they were waiting in the hallway for me.

“Look at that, a little fame and she thinks she's all that!” Sierra hissed at me but I made no comment or gave any indication that I heard what she said. A bad move apparently as she seemed to get enraged at being ignored.

My hair was suddenly pulled back painfully but I bit my lips in order to not give her the satisfaction of screaming.

“Let go!” I hissed at her through gritted teeth but it only seemed to spur her on as she pulled harder.

“What? Did playing with boys give you a spine? Which has me thinking, is Cade an exclusive thought or do you generally fantasize about boys that way?! I mean I'm genuinely curious right now,” Sierra said to me and I felt the blood drain from my face at her words, the implications and the audience that was pretending to not listen in on the conversation.

“Let me go!” I suddenly yelled at her and moved to break her grip on my hair but she held on more firmly, this time I couldn't hold it in so I screamed out in pain.

“What the hell do you think you are doing?!” A voice boomed from somewhere in the hallway and Sierra pushed me off of her like she wasn't the one holding me against my will and backed away at a speed that I found to be quite impressive.

“Boo boo bear, it is definitely not what you think it is. I was just congratulating her for making the team! She's fine! Look at her!” Sierra frantically went on to explain to Cade who looked livid. It wasn't looking good for Sierra as he had other team members with him. 

One of the guys even came up to me to examine my face, though I didn't think he did it because he cared about me.

Cade's eyes glowed as his wolf came forward, forcing everyone around to bend their necks in submission.

He growled loudly at Sierra before he turned and walked away without a word. The other team members followed him immediately.

What the actual hell just happened?