Crescent Rivals

One wrong word and his whole world would come crashing down.Dane wiped the sweat from his face as he stepped into the quiet locker room after morning practice. The team had already cleared out, their laughter fading toward the mess hall. He tossed his gear into his locker and reached for a clean shirt when the door clicked shut behind him. Heavy footsteps echoed on the tile.“Well, well. If it isn’t the big hero himself.”Dane turned fast. Ezra Kane leaned against the lockers, arms crossed, that smug grin fixed on his face. His green eyes locked onto Dane with predatory focus.“What do you want, Kane?” Dane asked, voice steady despite the spike in his pulse. “Practice is over. Go bother someone else.”Ezra pushed off the lockers and stepped closer. “Oh, I think you’ll want to hear this, Wilder. Or should I say, the guy who can’t even shift on a quiet night in the woods?”Dane’s stomach dropped. “What the hell are you talking about?”“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” Ezra sho

One slip during the trials and the questions would start.The academy field buzzed with energy as the major sports trials kicked off under the bright morning sun. Top athletes from every house gathered, stretching and throwing trash talk while coaches shouted orders across the grounds. Dane stood tall in the middle of the chaos, forcing his usual confident posture even though deep exhaustion tugged at every muscle from the secret sessions and his still sore ankle.Marcus bumped his shoulder hard. "Captain, you ready to dominate this thing? The whole academy is watching you. Which events are you hitting first? You look like you could take them all."Dane clapped him on the back with a firm hand. "All of them if they let me. We set the bar high today. You feeling strong on the relays? I need you sharp out there.""Hell yeah," Marcus said with a wide grin. "With you anchoring every leg, we are unstoppable. Scouts from the national team are already taking notes on the sidelines. Coach Har

One bad step in front of the crowd and the rumors would spread like wildfire.The stands packed with fans from across the region as the big team relay event kicked off under clear skies. Cheers rolled across the field while rival schools watched from the sidelines. Dane stood with his squad, forcing a strong smile even though exhaustion weighed heavy on him from the late night training and the constant worry about that anonymous note burning a hole in his mind.Marcus slapped his back hard. "Captain, this is our race. You ready to carry us to the win again? The whole region is watching today."Dane nodded and clapped him on the shoulder. "You bet. We set the pace early and I close it strong. You good on the middle legs, Marcus?""Hell yeah," Marcus said with a big grin. "But you look a little tired. Everything okay after those late nights? You sure you are not pushing too hard?""I'm fine," Dane replied quickly, keeping his voice steady. "Just focused on the win. Jake, you start us of