Chapter 14: Avalanche of Shadows

Western Conference Finals

The flight to Dallas felt different.

The higher the Grizzlies climbed in the playoffs, the heavier everything became.

More cameras.

More security.

More hunters hiding somewhere in the shadows.

Alex stared out the plane window as the Texas landscape rolled beneath the clouds.

Across the aisle, Brody looked restless.

“Third bite still settling in,” he muttered. “Feels like my senses are on overdrive.”

Jake leaned back in his seat.

“That’s normal,” he said calmly. “First week as a full vampire is the hardest.”

Brody smirked.

“Well the Stars picked a bad time to face us.”

---

Dallas – Game Two

The American Airlines Center was loud enough to shake the glass panels around the rink.

Dallas fans waved green towels while chanting nonstop.

“Stars! Stars! Stars!”

The first game had already stung—a 5-4 overtime loss that reminded Vancouver the series wouldn’t be easy.

But Game Two looked different.

The vamp line jumped over the boards early.

Jake stole the puck along the boards and fired a quick pass through center.

Brody caught it clean.

One move around a defender.

Shot.

Goal.

The puck snapped into the top corner before the goalie even reacted.

The arena groaned.

Alex tapped Brody’s helmet as they skated past the bench.

“Not bad for a rookie vampire.”

Brody grinned.

“Getting the hang of it.”

---

Trouble in the Stands

Midway through the second period, security suddenly rushed toward a section behind the Vancouver bench.

Two men in Stars jerseys were dragged away while arguing loudly.

One of them dropped a small bag.

Inside was a wooden stake.

Jake noticed immediately.

So did Alex.

The hunters were getting closer.

---

Kane’s Shadow

Hundreds of miles away, Victor Kane watched the broadcast again.

Another failed attempt.

Another lost hunter.

But Kane didn’t look worried.

In fact, he smiled.

“They’re getting comfortable,” he said quietly.

A map of the Stanley Cup playoff arenas lay spread across his desk.

He tapped the final location.

“Let them reach the Finals,” he said.

“That’s where the real hunt begins.”

---

Cabin Between Games

Back in Vancouver between games, Alex returned to the mountain cabin.

The place had become their quiet refuge away from reporters and cameras.

Jake arrived later that night, brushing snow from his jacket as he stepped inside.

The fireplace lit the room in soft orange light.

For a moment neither of them spoke.

Then Jake walked over and pulled Alex into a tight embrace.

“Tough series,” Jake said quietly.

Alex rested his forehead against his.

“We’ll get through it.”

They sat together by the fire for a while, the storm outside rattling the windows.

No reporters.

No arenas.

Just silence.

Jake eventually looked up.

“The blood moon is three weeks away,” he said.

Alex nodded.

“The Stanley Cup Final.”

Jake’s eyes darkened slightly.

“That’s when Kane plans to strike.”

---

Back to the Ice

Game Three in Vancouver became a turning point.

The arena was deafening.

Fans held signs reading NIGHT LINE for Alex, Jake, and Brody.

Early in the third period, the score was tied 3-3.

Jake intercepted a pass near center ice.

He pushed the puck forward.

Alex accelerated instantly.

The defender barely had time to react.

Breakaway.

Shot.

Goal.

Rogers Arena exploded.

The Grizzlies won 4-3 and took control of the series.

---

The Warning

Later that night, Alex’s phone buzzed again.

A private message.

Unknown number.

Only one line.

Blood moon coming. Hope your team enjoys the ride.

Alex stared at the screen.

Jake read it over his shoulder.

“Kane,” Jake said quietly.

Alex locked the phone and slipped it into his pocket.

“Then we finish this series fast.”

Jake nodded.

“And after that…”

He glanced toward the dark mountains outside the window.

“…we end the hunt.”

---

The Western Conference Finals were far from over.

Dallas wasn’t backing down.

The hunters were closing in.

And above it all, the blood moon was slowly rising toward the Stanley Cup Final.