Chapter 33: Shadows on Game Night

Snow drifted softly across the city of Vancouver as evening settled in, but inside the glowing bowl of Rogers Arena the atmosphere was electric.

The Vancouver Grizzlies were playing their biggest game of the month, and every seat in the arena was filled. Green jerseys covered the stands, and signs waved everywhere:

PUP POWER

THORNE FAMILY FOREVER

FUTURE CAPTAINS: FINN & LIAM

Up in the familiar luxury box, Finn and Liam watched the ice with wide-eyed excitement.

Finn had his toy hockey stick balanced proudly across his lap.

Liam gripped a foam puck in both hands like it was the most important object in the world.

Every time the crowd roared, they laughed and clapped along.

---

The Warning

Down on the ice, Alex glided through warmups, the cold air biting through his gear.

But his instincts were buzzing again.

Something felt… off.

He circled past the bench where Jake stood talking quietly with Brody.

“You feel that?” Alex asked.

Jake nodded immediately.

“Yeah.”

Brody frowned.

“Feel what?”

Jake’s eyes scanned the upper levels of the arena.

“Eyes,” he said quietly. “Too many eyes.”

Brody followed his gaze.

Thousands of fans filled the stands.

But Jake wasn’t looking at the crowd.

He was looking at the shadows between the sections.

---

The Crown Court Arrives

High above the rink, in a private viewing suite no one had rented, three figures stood perfectly still.

They wore long black coats and watched the arena like hunters studying prey.

One of them spoke softly.

“So this is the place.”

Another figure nodded.

“And the children?”

A small handheld scanner lit up.

“Confirmed. Luxury box level three.”

The tallest of the three figures smiled faintly.

“Then the stories were true.”

He looked down at the ice where Alex was skating.

“Interesting family.”

---

Trouble in the Box

Back in the Thorne family suite, Mara sat quietly near the door while Finn and Liam played on the carpet.

Mara had agreed to stay behind during the game.

She didn’t trust the quiet either.

Finn rolled a toy puck across the floor.

Liam stared at it intensely.

The puck lifted slightly.

Hovered.

Then dropped again.

Mara watched carefully.

“Your control is improving,” she murmured.

Liam giggled proudly.

Then suddenly—

Mara froze.

She felt it too.

The same pressure Jake had sensed earlier.

Someone powerful had just entered the building.

---

The First Move

The game began normally.

The puck dropped.

The crowd roared.

Alex exploded forward across the ice.

But halfway through the first period, the arena lights flickered.

Just once.

Most people didn’t notice.

But Jake did.

Brody did too.

Jake leaned toward him.

“They’re here.”

Brody muttered under his breath.

“Figures.”

Jake was already moving toward the exit tunnel.

---

The Hunters

Up in the luxury levels, the three members of the Crown Court moved quietly through the hallway.

They didn’t rush.

They didn’t need to.

The tallest one glanced toward the suite doors.

“Security?”

Another figure checked the scanner again.

“Minimal.”

“Good.”

They stopped outside the Thorne family suite.

Inside, Finn was stacking pucks into a wobbly tower.

Liam watched proudly.

Mara slowly stood.

She had sensed them seconds earlier.

And now they were right outside the door.

---

On the Ice

Down below, Alex stole the puck near center ice and raced toward the goal.

The crowd rose to its feet.

But Alex’s attention drifted upward.

Toward the luxury suites.

Toward the place where Finn and Liam were watching.

A strange chill ran down his spine.

Then he saw Jake sprinting along the tunnel toward the elevators.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

Alex fired the puck toward the net almost automatically.

It slammed into the corner of the goal.

The horn blared.

The crowd erupted.

But Alex wasn’t celebrating.

He was already skating toward the bench.

---

The Door Opens

Back upstairs, the suite door clicked.

Slowly.

Mara stepped forward.

The three strangers stood calmly in the hallway.

The tallest one spoke politely.

“Good evening.”

Mara didn’t smile.

“You’re trespassing.”

The man shrugged slightly.

“We prefer the term… retrieval.”

Finn looked up.

“Hi.”

The man glanced down at him with curiosity.

“Hello.”

Then Liam lifted both hands.

The foam puck beside him rose into the air.

And flew straight into the man’s chest.

Not hard.

But enough to surprise him.

The Crown Court member blinked.

“Well,” he said softly.

“That confirms it.”

---

Jake Arrives

At that moment the elevator doors burst open.

Jake stepped out.

Behind him came Brody and two arena security guards.

Jake’s voice was cold.

“Step away from my kids.”

The hallway suddenly felt very small.

The Crown Court hunters turned slowly.

The tallest one studied Jake calmly.

“So this is the famous alpha.”

Jake didn’t respond.

His eyes had turned pitch black.

The air in the corridor seemed to drop ten degrees.

“Last warning,” Jake said.

“Leave.”

The hunter tilted his head thoughtfully.

“We didn’t come to fight.”

Brody cracked his knuckles.

“That’s good.”

“Because you’re about to lose.”

---

A Glimpse of Power

Inside the suite, Finn watched the standoff with intense interest.

He pointed his toy stick toward the hallway.

Suddenly the overhead lights flickered violently.

Glass rattled in the suite windows.

Everyone turned.

Finn looked surprised.

“Oops.”

Mara stared at him.

“Definitely a power.”

---

A Temporary Retreat

The Crown Court leader raised a hand calmly.

“We will leave.”

Jake didn’t move.

The hunter’s eyes flicked toward the twins one more time.

“Consider this… an introduction.”

Then the three figures turned and walked down the hallway.

Within seconds they were gone.

Jake slowly exhaled.

Brody muttered under his breath.

“Yeah. That’s not the last we see of them.”

Mara nodded.

“No.”

Jake stepped into the suite and scooped Finn into his arms.

Alex arrived seconds later, still in full gear.

“What happened?”

Jake met his eyes.

“The next problem.”

Alex looked down at Liam, who was now happily tossing the foam puck into the air with his mind.

“Great,” Alex sighed.

“Just what we needed.”

---

Somewhere in the Dark

Across the city, the Crown Court hunters stood on a rooftop overlooking the glowing skyline of Vancouver.

The tallest one smiled faintly.

“Fascinating children.”

Another asked quietly.

“Next step?”

The leader looked toward the arena lights.

“We prepare.”

Snow began to fall again.

And far below, the Thorne family was realizing something important.

The elders had been enemies.

But the Crown Court? They were something else entirely.