Eight

The game against the Tropical Giants started badly. Rovak knew it, he could feel it from the moment he stepped on the ice.

He was playing hard and rough. The moment the puck dropped, he charged forward aggressively.

One of the Giants players moved to block him. Rovak slammed into him.

The player crashed into the boards with a loud grunt. The referee immediately blew the whistle.

"Penalty!"

The crowd booed, Rovak didn't care, he skated toward the penalty box.

His coach looked furious but Rovak ignored him.

....

The game continued. The Giants scored first then the Eagles equalized.

Soon the Giants scored again.

Rovak was becoming increasingly reckless.

He started hitting and shoving harder.

The human players were beginning to notice. They started to avoid him.

At one point, a Giants defenseman attempted to take the puck from him.

Rovak shoved him away.

The player flew backward and landed hard on the ice.

A collective gasp spread through the arena.

The referee blew his whistle again.

"Perez!"

His coach yelled.

Rovak rolled his eyes.

....

By the second period, Frank had finally had enough.

He intercepted him near the boards.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he asked.

"Nothing." Rovak replied nonchalantly.

"Don't give me that."

Rovak tried to skate away.

Frank blocked his path again.

"You are using too much strength."

"So?"

"So?" Frank repeated.

"We have rules for a reason, you can't just use all your strength"

Rovak laughed coldly.

"What are the humans going to do? Figure out we're werewolves? Go to the press? Expose me on social media?"

Frank's expression darkened.

"Watch yourself kid."

"Or what?" Rovak squared up to him.

The referee skated over before Frank could answer.

The game resumed.

....

Late in the third period, Rovak stole the puck. A Giants player reached for him.

Rovak slammed his shoulder into him hard and with too much force.

The player hit the boards with a sickening crash.

He didn't get up.

The entire arena fell silent.

Rovak froze.

The referee blew the whistle repeatedly.

Medical staff rushed onto the ice.

Frank skated over immediately.

His face was thunderous.

"You idiot."

Rovak clenched his jaw.

"He got in my way." he muttered.

"He is human!" Frank snapped.

Players from both teams were staring now.

Frank lowered his voice.

"What is fucking wrong with you?"

Rovak bit his lip, he had nothing to say.

"Say something Perez" Frank insisted.

Instead of saying anything, Rovak laughed.

"You talk too much old man."

Frank stared at him in disbelief.Then he shook his head and skated away.

Rovak's anger had disappeared and was replaced with shame.

...

Tanner listened to the conversation around him in the dorm's common area. All everyone could talk about was Rovak knocking a tropical giants player unconscious today.

Tanner rolled his eyes. He refused to feel concern for Rovak.

"Yo! They are bashing Perez all over the internet" King, his teammate told him.

"hmmm" Tanner replied.

"you guys knew each other from childhood. Does he have anger issues?" King asked eagerly.

"go away King!" Tanner muttered.

"We are playing against them next. Do you think he will still have his anger issues?" King asked.

"King! What part of leaving me alone, don't you understand?" Tanner groaned.

"Well, he better curb those anger issues. If he tries, we will break those perfect teeth of his" King continued talking.

Tanner gave him a dirty look.

"OK, I am leaving" King raised his hand up in surrender.

...

Rovak looked at his coach. This was the first time he would be on the receiving end of a lecture.

"Perez, your behavior on the ice was unacceptable. You were too rough."

"i am sorry coach" he replied.

"Look, kid, you are an exceptional player but that doesn't mean you get to play rough. I see a bright future for you kid, endorsements, sponsorships. Brands won't want a player who has bad press."

"I understand coach, I will do better" he replied.

The coach looked at him with a worried look. "Is everything okay at home kid?"

Rovak looked up quickly. "what do you mean?"

"You changed after you went home. If there is anything going on, you can let me know"

"Nothing is going on sir. Everything is fine. I promise I will change"

"Good, we are playing against the Edo sparrows next. The media is already having a field day with the 'rivalry' between you and Tanner. We don't want to feed into it more, okay?"

"Okay sir, I understand"

The coach dismissed him and Rovak left.

As he left, he got a call, it was River.

He picked up the call, "hello River"

"My sweet bro, I need 50,000 dollars" River went straight to the point.

Rovak was shocked, "River, I gave you 50,000 dollars just the other day."

"And it's finished. I am planning my mating ceremony with Lucy. We need money so send it quickly"

"River...I..."

"Send the money soon or father will know about your dirty secret" River threatened.

"I will send it soon" Rovak promised.

"You have five minutes" River told him.

Rovak hung up the call, he opened his bank account and sent the money to River.

He leaned against the wall and slid down. Rovak tried so hard to stop the tears.

He had been saving the money to get an apartment and leave the dorm soon. And now his savings was depleted.

And River wouldn't stop, he knew his brother. River wouldn't stop asking for money. He had to figure out something as soon as possible.

He left the dorm and took a cab to the outskirts of the city. He went to the forest trail and stripped off his clothes.

And then his bones contorted, fur sprouted out from his skin. He shifted into his wolf form and ran through the forest.

Goddess! He was tired. It felt he was just running in a unending circle. Thoughts of Tanner flashed through his mind, he shook his head. That was a luxury he couldn't afford at all now.