Coach Alex: Book 1 of the Alaska Aces Hockey Series

Sometimes the things you hate the most can turn into something you love the most.

***

>>Maya

I stood outside the university gate staring at the building in disbelief. I still don’t know how I got in. I mean I’ve been here for a year now and it might be weird that I still think about it but in my life rarely anything has gone my way.

Taking a deep breath I walk in. My pace slows down as I begin to look around in search of a certain person.

My eyes darted everywhere but I couldn’t spot him. 

Strange, he’s always here waiting around the benches.

I stop so that I could get a better view but exactly at that second someone wraps his arms around me from the back and twirls me around.

After getting me a single but powerful spin the person put me down and I glared at him.

“Ruda!”

He grinned, “Waiting for me?”

“Well duh!” I gently rubbed my sides. How is he so friggin strong? “We have almost all our classes together.”

“To be exact we have all our classes together except one because you betrayed me.” 

We both started walking towards our department.

“Excuse you! I did not betray you! You betrayed me. I told you I was going to pick up psychology and you should too but you didn’t listen.”

“No! I said you shouldn’t pick it up but you did! So, it’s the other way around, YOU didn’t listen.”

I elbowed his side but he didn’t even wince, instead he laughed. 

Does this guy not feel any pain?

I looked at him bewildered.

“Are you even human? You’re laughing?” He looked at me and flashed me a smile. I could clearly see those white teeth and sharp canines. 

Sharper than any other person’s.

“Of course!” He winked at me and I noticed his pretty brown eyes. A very light shade of brown really made the color stand out.

 Come to think of it. He has many unique things about him. He doesn’t really work out but still has quite a nice body.

I peeked at his arms, he was wearing a sleeveless shirt so his nicely toned biceps were out on display.

He’s really strong and very good-looking.

Compared to me, he really stands out a lot. Many girls have tried getting his number but he was never interested.

I wonder why?

I know he doesn’t like me that way.

We both are just good friends.

How we became friends is a common story.

Or is it?

He got lost as soon as he entered the city and had no idea where to go. Frankly, he looked like a lost pup.

 Lucky for him he found a kind soul like me to guide him.

I chuckled.

“Why are you laughing?” He asked as we both reached our department.

“Oh nothing. Just remembering how you got lost the first time you came to the city.”

He got embarrassed, “There’s no need for you to remember that!”

People, especially the girls, looked his way, “Why not!? It’s such a funny story!!” I raised my voice, “I actually found you in the abandoned puppy box!!”

“Ahh!!” He placed his hand on my mouth, “No you did not!”

I forced his hand down from my mouth, although it took me a lot of effort, “Yes! The box said, ‘please take me’” I finally managed to say it quickly before he blocked my mouth again.

 He looked around at the people, “It did not!!” He glared at me, “ You little!”

I laughed as he dragged me to class.

You know, I think. I was pretty lucky too.

I smiled.

I’m glad I was the one who found him.

I was able to make such a good friend.

***

“Ruda no! Go alone.” He stood outside my dorm pleading me to go to the party with him.

“Come on Maya! I need a partner!”

“You know I don’t go to frat parties.” I shooed him away with my hand.

“No darling, you don’t understand. This is no normal party. It’s a-” He wiggled his eyes at me, “dangerous one.”

I rolled my eyes, “All the more reason, not to go.”

“But,” He looked down and pouted, “You’re my only friend.” He looked back at me. I don’t know why but his eyes seemed a bit bigger and the way they stared at me was- strange, “Aren’t you my friend?” He asked so innocently, as if a little kid was asking me.

“Well- I am…” The more I looked into his eyes the more I got drawn in.

“Then you’ll come with me right?” He showed me his puppy eyes.

“I-” I shook my head, “Okay...”

***

Only when we reached there I realized what I had done.

How did I agree to this!?

I shot my head at Ruda. He looked back at me. His face was full of excitement so I couldn’t really say anything to him. 

I looked in front of me.

The party was at a huge house and there were all kinds of people there and I really mean all kinds of people. Every person on whom my eyes landed on was completely different than the previous one.

Ruda grabbed my hand and we both went in.

It was my first time at a party, and a crazy one at that but contrary to my expectations I started enjoying my time.

I had no plans of eating or drinking but I ended up doing both, especially drinking. I was never a heavy drinker, so it only took a few glasses to get me drunk and to start dancing on the floor with a few other complete strangers.

Ruda on the other hand drank a lot, but for some reason he was only a little tipsy unlike me.

The music blasted in the place and I heard some loud crash but didn’t bother to even look at it. I was too busy enjoying this strange bliss.

After a little while I smelled some smoke.

Smoke?

I looked around.

Why is the room getting a bit grey??

Hmmm? Just a few seconds later I heard some sirens.

Must be a part of the party!

I grinned. Then I suddenly felt like puking and ran to the bathroom.

It only took me ten seconds to vomit everything out and I started getting a headache but that was not the problem. As soon as I stepped out of the bathroom I saw all the people running out in a frenzy.

What?

I darted my eyes around and noticed two things. 

Fire and cops.

I turned on my heels and sprinted completely forgetting about the person I came here with and honestly it would have been best if I didn’t see him that whole night and had just ran away but nope.

As I managed to escape through the living room into the yard through the broken window which I have no idea how someone had managed to break because it was a wall sized window, I began to run towards the edge when someone called my name.

I turned my head, “Ruda?”

I stopped when he shook his head, “No! Run!”

“Huh?”

Just the next moment I heard a clicking sound.

The cold metal which pressed against my wrists made me look back at the officer who had just arrested me.

Shit.

***

“I hate you so much.” I sat on the bench with one of my wrists in a handcuff, tied to the metal bar window.

“Sorry…”

“You really are an idiot.” I glared at him. He was in the same position as me except both his wrists were in handcuffs tied to the metal bar window, “If they had already caught you why did you say my name and stop me!?”

He looked down in shame, “Sorry…”

“Now what?! Who's gonna get us out of here!?”

“I called my older brother.” He bit his lower lip in frustration.

“You have an older brother?”

He nodded, “He’ll bail us out of here but,” He looked at me, “He might kill me.” He genuinely looked worried, “Honestly he told me not to get in trouble while I was studying with humans…” He sighed, “I’m so dead!”

I looked at him in disgust, “At least he’ll get you out. Guess I’ll have to spend the night here.” I failed to hear Ruda’s words properly at that time.

“Listen!” I looked at him, “If you tell my brother not to kill me I’ll ask him to bail you out too.” He looked at me in desperation, “Please!’

“What do you want me to even say!? And from what you’re telling me he seems like a scary person.”

“He is!” He didn’t deny it, “But he doesn’t hurt people unless they try to harm him so please!! Paaallleeeeezzzeee! You’re my only hope.” He tried giving me his puppy eyes again.

“...” I sighed and looked away.

“Oh!! Oh shit!! He’s here!” He hid behind me.

“Who?”

“That guy with white hair!! Help me please!”

I clicked my tongue and stood up to look at the door to see the man who had just entered the police station and the moment my eyes landed on him my whole world stopped.

A beautiful person. 

That was my very first thought.

As he walked in looking around, most likely searching for his younger brother, I noticed his features.

He had white hair and Jade colored eyes. His physique was a bit larger than Ruda’s and he had a good build.

His jawline was sharp and so was the aura around him. He didn’t feel like a human at all.

My heart began to beat fast but when his eyes landed on me it skipped a beat.

 He stopped in his path and for some reason seemed a bit shocked, then he began walking towards me.

“Ah-uh-um!” I was at a loss for words. He drew closer and I couldn’t help but stutter even more, “Um-ah…” I gulped as he stopped in front of me.

“You-”

I closed my eyes and cut his words only to sputter something stupid, “Please don’t kill Ruda big brother!!!”

Wait.

Did I just call him big brother?