Chapter 3: Axel the New Coach

Raven’s POV

My throat locked tight. “What are you doing here?”

“What do you think?” Axel pushed off the wall. “You left me, and I came to remind you that it was a mistake.”

“Stay away from me,” I snapped, though my voice didn’t sound as strong as I wanted.

“You’re mine, Raven. Running doesn’t change that.”

My fingers curled into fists. “I’m not yours. Not anymore.”

He leaned closer, “We’ll see about that. Ridgeway needed a new assistant coach. And I got the job. Which means…” His smile was cold and victorious like he had won a trophy. “You’ll be seeing a lot of me.”

“How did you even get in? You’re not from the Ridgeway clan.” I felt sick to my stomach.

Axel only gave a dangerous smile, but before he could answer, another voice cut in.

“Is there a problem here?”

I turned to see a tall man with a whistle around his neck.

Axel straightened instantly, “No problem at all, Coach Martin. Just catching up with an old friend. She’s quite the athlete, you know.”

My eyes widened. “No, I—”

“Don’t be modest,” Axel cut me off smoothly, “She’s got speed, balance, and power. Exactly what Ridgeway needs.”

Coach Martin frowned. “She’s not on my roster. And girls usually go for other sports.”

“But she should be.” Axel tilted his head. 

“What’s wrong, Coach? Ridgeway doesn’t discriminate, does it? Let me work with her and I’ll prove it.”

My throat locked. “I’m not interested.”

Coach Martin had a skeptical look. “She doesn’t seem very willing.”

Axel’s smile sharpened, his hand brushed mine out of the coach’s sight, fingers clamping around my wrist so tight. “She just needs encouragement. Trust me, you won’t regret it.”

Coach Martin exhaled, clearly tired of the back-and-forth. “Fine. Tryouts are light tomorrow anyway. If she’s half as good as you say, we’ll see.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but Axel squeezed tighter, silencing me.

“Perfect,” Axel said smoothly, eyes locked on mine. “She’ll be ready.”

***

By morning, I was full of nerves.

I hadn’t slept well, because every smell of old wood in the dorm and traces of pine cleaner in the air, only reminded me of Axel. 

The thought of being trapped on the ice with him formed a hard knot in my stomach.

Still, I pulled on the practice uniform someone had folded neatly on my chair, tied my hair into a bun, shoved the helmet under my arm, and headed to the rink.

It wasn’t about proving myself as a girl on a team full of boys. It was about surviving Axel.

The rink smelled of ice, and sweat. Coach Martin stood at center ice, clapping his hands. 

“Listen up! Ridgeway’s got a new assistant coach. He’s got years of pro experience, so you give him respect. Welcome, Axel Morell.”

My throat closed. I already knew it was him, but hearing his name announced like a badge of honor made my fingers curl inside the gloves.

Axel strode out in a crisp tracksuit, every step casual confidence. He looked clean, and professional, like he was innocent. Only I knew the truth.

“It’s nice to meet you all,” he said, with a commanding voice. 

“I’m here to push you hard, but fair. Play smart, and we’ll win. And on that note…” He clapped his hands together. “There’s a new member of the team. She’s here for tryouts.”

“She?” one of the boys echoed.

I pulled off my helmet. Gasps and mutters rippled across the rink. Everyone staring at me, then I put it back on.

“She’s… a girl?” someone whispered.

“Man looks like he walked out of a sports ad,” another muttered, nodding toward Axel.

Before I could retort, a voice at my side murmured, low and teasing. “You can take the helmet off now, we all know you’re a girl.”

“Shut it,” I muttered, elbowing Dante. My stick pressed against the ice to keep me steady.

Axel’s gaze found me through the crowd, and smirked wickedly at me.

***

The world tilted as I hit the ice. My lungs locked tight, and pain speared through my ribs. 

For a second, all I could hear was the scrape of skates and the echo of my own ragged breaths.

“Raven!” Ethan’s voice cut through the ringing in my ears.

I blinked, my vision unfocused, and saw him dropping to his knees beside me. His hand brushed my shoulder, steady and protective. “Are you okay? Breathe… just breathe.”

I tried, but every inhale was painful. Luca hovered a few feet away, helmet shadowing his eyes. 

He didn’t feel guilty, he looked like he was silently telling me I should have braced, should have seen him coming.

Axel’s whistle shrieked, too loud. “Get up, Raven. This is hockey, not ballet. No one’s going to hand you a free pass.”

The boys around us shifted uneasily, no one moved closer not even Dante, who had joked with me minutes ago. 

It was like Axel’s voice carried authority that forced them to obey, leaving me on the ice with Ethan as the only one who dared to stay.

“Don’t you care that she might be injured?” Ethan asked with anger, looking up at Axel. His whole body was tense, like a wolf ready to bare teeth.

Axel’s eyes flicked from Ethan to me, calculating and gave a short, cruel laugh. “She’ll survive. If she can’t handle a hit, she doesn’t belong here. Ridgeway doesn’t need weak players.”

I felt heat under my skin, I was angry and defiant. I pushed up on my elbow, refusing to let Axel be the one who decides what I could endure. 

My ribs screamed in protest, but I forced myself onto my knees. “I’m fine,” I rasped, even though I wasn’t.

Ethan didn’t look convinced, hand on my shoulder. “You don’t have to prove anything to him.”

But I did. Not to Axel, but to myself. If I crumbled here, he’d win.

Axel’s smirk curved, like he could read the anger in my face. He stepped closer, his voice dropping low, for me alone. “That’s my girl. Always stubborn.” 

His fingers brushed the air near mine, not quite touching, but close enough that my skin prickled. “Don’t forget who taught you to get back up.”

I stiffened because his words weren’t encouragement, they were a chain, dragging me back to the past I’d tried to escape.

Ethan caught the exchange, his jaw tightened and eyes narrowed at Axel. He didn’t understand the whole story, but I could see the promise in his look, like he wasn’t going to let Axel have the last word.

“Scrimmage continues!” Axel barked, blowing the whistle again.

Inside, my pulse spiked, wild and uneven. I wasn’t fine but I’d rather bleed on the ice than let Axel see me break.

And I swore to myself that I wouldn’t let him control me again. Never again.

I got back up and my stick trembled against the ice, my lungs still burning from the hit. And just as I steadied myself, I caught Axel watching me from afar. 

Then he leaned in to whisper something to Coach Martin.

And the moment I saw Coach Martin’s face pale, my stomach dropped.

“What… what did he just tell you?” I breathed.