LOGINNeylan“Fuck it,” I growl as frustration tighten in my guts.That asshole isn’t responding.I stare at my phone a little longer than I should, thumb hovering over the screen like maybe it will light up if I give it enough time. It doesn’t. The message just sits there, delivered, no response, read, but nothing.My jaw tightens.I know what I saw. I’m not imagining shit. That mark reacted to me.So why the hell is he acting like I don’t exist?I exhale sharply through my nose, leaning back against the driver’s seat for a second before straightening again. This doesn’t make sense. My fingers tap once against the steering wheel. Then again.“Fine,” I mutter under my breath. “Don’t reply.”I start the engine.If he won’t answer, then I’ll find him. Simple.I already know where they’ll be. Ice Reapers don’t just win finals and go home quietly. They’ll be out, loud, probably already drunk, celebrating like they didn’t just snatch that win at the last second.My grip tightens slightly on the
Aurel“Aurel.” Coach Jace says my first name for the first time in years. I already know things have gone completely fucked at the moment. We stand there in my dorm, my hands trembling even though they’re clenched tight in the pockets of my sweatpants.“At least you should have told me…” he says, his voice a little on the edge at the end. “I understand your passion for this, but keeping me in the dark is what I am disappointed in.”I grit my teeth, but don’t say a single word. I couldn’t, there was nothing to say… no, the lump I’m keeping down my throat might choke me if I do.“Right now, in your condition, you can’t be in the team… I’ll be losing my best player but…”The words shatter every armor I have built around me. “I’ll fund your account…”I listen as he concludes and leaves. I stagger backward till my back hits the wall, my body dragging along the wall till I’m squatting on the floor. My head buries between my knees. My eyes blur until tears slip from my eyes and drop to the
NeylanI can’t get that image out of my head. But I shut it down immediately.The game ends with Ice Reapers taking the win, the crowd loud, the energy high, but I barely pay attention to any of it. My body already feels off, and the longer I stay on the ice, the worse it gets.I skate off without waiting, ignoring the usual post match nonsense. I hear Desmond call after me, but I don’t bother turning back.I need to get out of here.The locker room is already filling up when I get in. Voices overlap, some of the guys still arguing about plays, others already laughing it off like it wasn’t a final. I drop onto the bench, dragging a hand over my face, trying to shake everything off.It’s just in your head.Has to be.I lean forward, elbows resting on my knees, taking a slow breath.Then the door opens again.At first, I don’t pay attention, but the moment she steps in, her scent hits the air, soft but strong enough.An Omega, how the heck doesn't she know she is releasing so many phero
AurelEverything feels distant.Voices blur together around me as they carry me off the ice, the noise from the crowd fading into something dull and far away. I can still hear it, the shouting, the whistles, my name being called, but it all sounds like it’s coming from underwater. My body won’t respond no matter how hard I try to move, and the only thing my mind keeps circling back to is one stupid detail.Neylan touched me.Even through the haze, I remember it clearly. His arm around me. The way my body reacted before I could even think about it.Shit.I try to open my eyes properly, but everything swims. The ceiling lights pass above me in a blur as they wheel me down the hallway, voices overlapping.“What happened?”“He just collapsed.”“Get the doctor—”“I’m fine,” I try to say, but it comes out weak, barely even a sound.Nobody listens.By the time we get into the medical room, they’re already moving around me, hands checking, voices asking questions I don’t answer. My body feels
NeylanThe game is about to begin, but it’s almost five minutes to start and Aurel is nowhere on the ice.I lean back slightly where I stand, rolling my shoulders as my eyes sweep across the rink again. The Ice Reapers are restless.One of them keeps tapping his stick against the ice edge like the sound can bring time forward. Another one keeps leaning forward, looking at the tunnel, then pulling back like he is trying not to look too desperate. Their coach is standing instead of sitting, arms tight across his chest, eyes fixed on the entrance.Their captain isn’t on the ice.I scoff under my breath, tapping my stick lightly against the ice. “What’s going on with your golden boy?” I mutter, more to myself than anyone.Desmond skates closer, following my line of sight. “He’s not out yet?” he asks.“You’re seeing the same thing I’m seeing.”He lets out a low whistle. “Damn. That’s not a good look right before finals.”It isn’t.Even from here, I can tell they’re trying to hold it toget
NeylanTraining ends with everyone still pushing like the game is already on. Nobody wants to slack today. Finals are at 8pm, and even though it’s hours away, the energy is already there. Loud, restless, aggressive.We’re up against Ice Reapers.That alone is enough to keep everyone on edge.I roll my shoulders, grabbing a bottle of water and pouring half of it over my head before taking a long drink. My body feels off, but I ignore it. Not today, please.“Captain, we’re crushing them tonight,” one of the guys says, grinning.“We better,” I mutter, tossing the bottle aside. “I’m not in the mood to lose.”They laugh, but there’s tension under it. Everyone knows this isn’t just any match.Aurel.The thought of seeing him again crosses my mind, and I scoff under my breath. That idiot didn’t even get the chance to say shit after I saved his ass.I left before he woke up.Good.Now he’s going to see me on the ice and remember exactly who kept him from kissing the floor.I’ll make him bow f







