Chapter 42: Ice and Overtime

Morning light crept across the frozen lake outside the Thorne cabin near Vancouver. The battlefield from the night before looked almost peaceful now. Towering ridges of ice curved across the lake like frozen waves, glittering under the rising sun.

Jake stood on the porch with a mug of coffee, staring at the frozen landscape.

Brody joined him, rubbing his neck.

“I gotta admit,” Brody said, “most people’s kids throw tantrums.”

Jake nodded toward the lake.

“Ours accidentally create glaciers.”

Brody chuckled.

“Fair point.”

Behind them, the cabin door opened and Alex stepped outside.

He leaned against the railing, watching the frozen lake with quiet amazement.

Finn had done that.

A toddler.

Alex shook his head.

“We’re going to have to explain that to someone eventually.”

Jake sipped his coffee.

“Let’s not rush it.”

---

Breakfast with the Future

Inside the cabin, Finn and Liam were already awake.

Finn zoomed a toy hockey stick across the floor while Liam used his telekinesis to lift a puck and drop it repeatedly.

“Boom puck!” Liam shouted happily.

Finn pointed proudly toward the window.

“My ice castle.”

Lucien stood nearby observing the twins carefully.

He folded his arms.

“Their abilities are growing faster than expected.”

Brody glanced at him.

“That’s bad, right?”

Lucien considered the ice structures outside.

“Not bad.”

He paused.

“Just… significant.”

---

Back to Hockey

Later that afternoon, Alex returned to Rogers Arena for practice with the Vancouver Grizzlies.

The team was preparing for the next playoff game.

Inside the locker room, players were buzzing with excitement.

Brody dropped onto the bench beside Alex while pulling on his skates.

“So,” Brody said casually, “your kid started an ice apocalypse last night.”

Alex shrugged.

“Technically it was more of a defensive storm.”

Brody grinned.

“Right. Defensive.”

Coach entered the room and clapped his hands.

“Alright, listen up!”

The room quieted immediately.

“We’ve got Game Three tonight.”

The team straightened.

Coach pointed at Alex.

“Thorne’s line starts strong. We take control early.”

Alex nodded.

But his mind briefly drifted back to the cabin.

To Finn.

To Liam.

---

The Crowd Knows

By the time warmups began, Rogers Arena was roaring.

Fans waved green banners.

Signs filled the stands:

PUP POWER

THORNE FAMILY FOREVER

High above the ice in a luxury box, Finn and Liam sat bundled in tiny team jerseys.

Finn banged his toy stick excitedly against the railing.

“Papa skate!”

Liam lifted his foam puck into the air using his telekinesis.

Brody’s sister quickly grabbed it before anyone noticed.

“Inside voices, little wizard,” she whispered.

---

The Game Begins

The puck dropped.

Alex exploded off the line with incredible speed.

The opposing team barely kept up as the Grizzlies pushed aggressively through the neutral zone.

Jake watched from a private scouting seat high in the stands.

He folded his arms proudly.

“That’s my omega.”

Below, Alex cut past two defenders and fired a blistering shot.

The puck slammed into the net.

GOAL.

The arena erupted.

The scoreboard flashed:

GRIZZLIES 1 – VISITORS 0

Finn jumped up in his seat.

“Papa score!”

Liam clapped wildly.

“Boom goal!”

---

Trouble in the Crowd

But in the upper concourse of the arena, three unfamiliar figures moved quietly through the crowd.

They wore long coats despite the warm indoor arena.

Their eyes glowed faintly silver.

Crown Court scouts.

One of them whispered into a communicator.

“Target confirmed.”

The other two scanned the luxury boxes.

“We have visual on the heirs.”

The first scout nodded.

“Prepare retrieval.”

---

A Strange Feeling

Down on the ice, Alex suddenly slowed.

A strange chill ran down his spine.

His instincts screamed.

He looked up toward the luxury box.

Finn waved happily.

But something else moved in the shadows behind the seating area.

Alex’s eyes narrowed.

---

Jake Moves First

Jake had felt it too.

From his vantage point above the arena, he spotted the Crown Court scouts moving toward the box.

His expression darkened instantly.

“Not today.”

He stood up and disappeared into the concourse.

---

The First Confrontation

Jake turned the corner just as the scouts approached the box entrance.

They froze when they saw him.

The lead scout tilted his head.

“Alpha Thorne.”

Jake’s voice dropped to a dangerous growl.

“You guys never learn.”

The scouts drew silver blades.

Big mistake.

Jake moved like lightning.

Within seconds, two scouts slammed into the wall unconscious.

The third tried to run.

Jake grabbed him by the collar.

“Tell your boss something.”

The scout struggled.

Jake leaned closer.

“If the Crown Court comes near my kids again…”

His eyes flashed gold.

“…they won’t leave the arena.”

---

The Game-Winner

Back on the ice, the game had reached overtime.

Score tied.

The entire arena was on its feet.

Alex lined up for the faceoff.

The puck dropped.

Within seconds, Alex stole it cleanly and burst toward the net.

One defender chased him.

Then another.

Alex pulled the puck across his body—

—and fired.

The puck rocketed past the goalie.

GOAL.

The arena exploded with sound.

The scoreboard lit up:

GRIZZLIES WIN – OVERTIME

---

Family First

After the game, Alex rushed upstairs to the luxury box.

Finn ran straight into his arms.

“Papa win!”

Liam floated a puck excitedly beside them.

“Boom win!”

Jake walked in moments later.

Brody followed.

Alex looked at Jake.

“You felt it too.”

Jake nodded.

“They tried.”

Alex frowned.

“And?”

Jake smiled slightly.

“They left.”

---

A New Problem

Later that night, the family gathered back at the cabin.

Finn and Liam fell asleep quickly after the long day.

Outside, the frozen lake still glowed faintly.

Lucien stood by the window.

Jake joined him.

“You look worried.”

Lucien didn’t look away from the lake.

“I am.”

Jake crossed his arms.

“Why?”

Lucien finally turned.

“Because the Crown Court just confirmed something.”

Jake raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

Lucien spoke quietly.

“They now know exactly where the heirs are.”

The wind picked up across the frozen lake.

And far beyond the forests surrounding Vancouver, the Crown Court was already preparing their next move.