Rivalry

Cole POV

By the time Monday morning arrived, I had developed a new routine and that was to ignore the whispers, ignore the stares and most importantly, ignore Aiden Cross.

The first two were manageable but the third one? Impossible.

Every hallway seemed too small whenever he was around. Every room felt like it shrank until there was nowhere to look except at him or more accurately, nowhere to avoid looking.

I adjusted the strap of my hockey bag as I walked toward the arena.

Today's practice wasn't ordinary. Both Black Fang and Crimson Claw had been ordered to share the ice before next week's match. Coach claimed it would "evaluate discipline under pressure."

I didn't want to see him but in this case I didn't have any choice. Seriously, sometimes I wonder what the moon goddess thought when she wrote my destiny. I mean I should have more encounters with my ex-fated Luna. I watched dramas and their fated alpha and luna met all the time. At that time, the mistress tried to humiliate the protagonist but her fated mate protected her and if that was not happening then the protagonist got another fated mate. Then why the hell am I only stuck with the mistress here? Where is my ex fated mate or new fated mate? Sarena hates me and always tries to humiliate me but I didn't get a new omega either. Instead, my ex-mate's boyfriend always irritated me. Seriously, he was always surrounding me instead of his girlfriend. Because of him, people always gossip about me.

When I entered the arena, I saw students crowded the viewing gallery long before practice began.  Apparently, watching two future Alpha heirs kill each other was better entertainment than attending lectures.

I snapped back from someone's voice "Morning, Cole."

I looked up and saw Coach Harrison standing by the entrance, clipboard tucked beneath his one arm.

He continued with a casual voice "You slept well, kiddo?"

I murmured "Enough to win today's match."

He studied my face for a second and said "You look exhausted."

I replied with a calming voice "I've had a busy weekend."

That was an understatement. Between the initiation, the rumors, my father's cold silence, and Aiden's constant interference, sleep had become a luxury.

Coach nodded toward the arena and said "Today isn't about scoring."

I frowned and before I said anything, he continued "It's about keeping your head."

I knew exactly what he meant. Today's match wasn't about me but about two popular alphas who will rule their pack in the future. And they were Aiden and Lucas. 

Because everyone knows my father will never give me the position of future alpha. I was just a useless son. Though I was first born but I was not lucky enough to get my father's approval.

I tightened my grip on my stick and murmured “I know, coach”.

…………………......……………

The locker room buzzed with nervous energy. My teammates were already changing.

Some talked excitedly. Others kept glancing at me before quickly looking away. The rumors hadn't died. They had just multiplied and I pretended not to notice it. 

Lucas entered a few minutes later and the conversations stopped immediately. He carried himself like someone who already owned the captain's locker.

His gaze landed on me and he said with a mocking tone "So, still famous, brother?”

I ignored him but someone snorted and another player awkwardly looked at the floor.

Seriously, didn't he understand that if he continuously insulted me in front of everyone. He would not only embarrass me but our family. People enjoy family drama the most.

Lucas leaned against the bench and said with a teasing voice "I heard that you still follow Cross. You really think that if you become his minion, you will get Serena’s attention? What a loser!"

I slammed my locker shut and said with an angry voice "Lucky for you, rumors aren't facts."

He narrowed his eyes and said with a mocking tone "Oh? Then why is everyone saying that you keep following the Hockey King around? Do you know how embarrassing it is? After all, you are the brother of the future alpha."

I really want to punch him but I'll not waste my energy on this jerk. I will hold my energy to beat another jerk on the ice.

I ignored him and instead, I grabbed my gloves and said "If you lose today, you will disappoint Father too."

Hearing it, Lucas’s smile faded and he said in a cold voice "I ask because Father is beginning to wonder."

That made me pause and I asked with a surprised voice "What?"

Did father know about it? Then why didn't he ask me? 

His smile widened and he continued "He doesn't like unnecessary attention."

Of course he didn't. As long as Lucas stood in the spotlight, Father was proud. If I attract attention, it becomes a problem.

Lucas walked past me, lowering his voice so only I could hear "Be careful, brother."

For a brief second, I thought he sounded almost sincere.

Then he whispered "Otherwise you'll embarrass us again."

Sometimes I wonder who irritates me the most, this guy or that jerk. Maybe both because they simply irritated me when both of them opened their mouths.

…………………………............................................

Cold air rushed across my face as I stepped onto the ice. The familiar sound of skates cutting through the frozen water settled something inside me.

This was the only place that brought excitement to my boring life.

Across the arena, the Crimson Claw team entered and everyone screamed like this was a screaming competition.

Someone shouted Aiden's name and he skated onto the ice without acknowledging anyone.

I looked at him. He wore a black practice jersey and black gloves and his stick rested lazily against one of his shoulders. His teammates spread behind him.

I must say he was a true-born leader. He didn't have to throw parties or give his teammates money or gifts to buy their loyalty. His teammates always followed him. Even if he scolded them, they were still loyal to him. He was different from my brother who always threw parties to make his minions.

I snapped back from my thoughts when Coach Harrison blew his whistle and said "Line up!"

The two teams faced each other across center ice and the atmosphere became tense.

The coach folded his arms and continued "Today's practice game allowed full contact but no fighting."

Hearing it, a few players grinned and several people looked directly at Lucas then at Aiden.

Coach sighed and said in a tired voice "I'm serious."

Looking at everyone’s faces, I could say that nobody looked convinced.

……………………………...................................

The puck dropped and chaos followed. All the bodies collided, and skates sprayed onto the ice.

I shifted my weight, slipped around Aiden and accelerated. I noticed the goal had opened, I raised my stick but a shadow appeared behind me. Before I even finished my shot,  he stole the puck.

When I looked at the culprit, anger appeared on my face.

I shouted with frustration "What the hell!"

He didn't even look at me, his one smooth turn and scored a goal. The crowd cheered.

I stared after him for a long time. He was really ruthless. No wonder everyone called him the Hockey King.

He skated backward, met my eyes and said with a mocking tone "Too slow, little wolf."

I clicked my tongue, stopping myself from cursing him in front of everyone. Because I didn't want another bad rumor about me to spread.

…………………………...........................................................................

The game continued. Every time I took the puck, Aiden appeared. He anticipated my movements and took that puck from me.

It was really infuriating. I really didn't know what was wrong with this jerk.

By the end of the second drill, sweat dripped into my eyes.

Coach shouted from the sidelines "Again!"

I charged forward and Aiden closed the distance. 

Instead of challenging immediately, he matched my speed.

Then I heard his infuriating teasing voice "You always grip your stick too tightly."

Anger appeared on my face and I asked with an angry voice "What?"

He continued with his teasing voice "It slows your wrists."

I narrowed my eyes and said “Mind your own business”.

He reached out with his own stick, tapping mine once and said with his teasing voice "Relax, little wolf."

The unexpected advice threw me off for half a second and that was a big mistake. He stole the puck again and scored a goal and the Crimson Claw bench burst into laughter.

I glared at him and said "You planned that."

He said with a lazy tone "I did."

Hearing it, I said with frustration "I hate you."

He said without any emotion, "I know."

He was really infuriating. I didn't know why I bothered to talk to him.

……………………...............................................

Practice ended with Crimson Claw leading by three goals and I hated every second of it. The arena finally became empty.

I stayed behind and practiced wrist shots. The sound of the puck hitting the boards echoed through the quiet arena.

I stopped when I heard a familiar voice "You're stubborn, little wolf."

I didn't turn around to know who it was because I knew this jerk very well.

I said without looking at him "I thought you left."

Aiden's skates scraped across the ice "I did, then I came back."

I asked with confusion "Why?"

He shrugged and said "I wanted to see if you'd quit."

Hearing it, anger appeared on my face and I said "I don't."

A small smile appeared on his face and he said "I noticed that."

The atmosphere became silent.

Then Aiden picked up a loose puck and tossed it lightly into the air before catching it.

He said with a teasing tone "You almost adapted."

What did that mean?

I blinked and asked with confusion "What?"

He pointed his stick toward me and said with a teasing voice "You stopped watching the puck."

My eyes widened and I asked with a shocked voice "You noticed? "

Hearing it, a smirk appeared on his lips and he said "I notice everything, little wolf."

I blinked several times and said “No doubt everyone calls you the hockey king in the academy. You notice everything.”

He looked at my eyes and said with a serious voice “I only noticed what is important to me, little wolf.”

For a moment, he didn't look like the academy's arrogant playboy. He looked like a normal college boy who just expressed his emotions. 

The expression disappeared before I could be sure it had ever been there.

………………………….......................................

As I left the arena, students hurried toward their dormitories.

Halfway across the courtyard, I noticed someone standing beneath the academy clock tower. I knew that person and he was Elias Thorn. His hands folded behind his back and he was staring at me. He didn't call my name or move. He simply smiled at me then turned and disappeared into the shadows.

This is really creepy. When we met before, he looked at me like that. I thought he was a creepy person. His image in my eyes was still a creepy person. Thinking of this, a chill crawled down my spine.

………………………….................................................................

I dropped my hockey bag beside the bed and reached for the history book. I looked at the other bed and shook my head. My roommate never stayed in the dormitory. I didn't know where he had gone. He never told me and I never asked about him either.

 I ignored it and opened my book but suddenly someone on my dorm door.

Who would come at night? I was sure my roommate would not come, if he came at this time, he would call me first. But when I opened it, the hallway was empty.

Except for a small wooden box resting on the floor.

Inside it, an old silver pendant engraved with a crescent moon. I saw the same pendant my mother had worn in the photograph I had of her.

And there was another note:

"She wanted you to find this before they did."