Mag-log inTRENTON The deafening roar of fifteen thousand fans hit me like a physical wall the second I skated out of the dark concrete tunnel and onto the bright, glowing ice of the main arena. Bright television spotlights flashed overhead, illuminating the thick haze of cold mist floating above the rink. The entire stadium was screaming—some fans cheering wildly for the Winterridge Ice Wolves, while thousands of opposing fans booed, holding up bright signs mocking my personal life and pointing at my face.I took a long, deep breath of the freezing air, feeling the sharp scent of scraped ice fill my lungs. I ignored the screaming crowds, the flashing camera bulbs, and the cruel signs. I tightened my gloved hands around my hockey stick and focused entirely on the small, black rubber puck sitting at the center dot. My right shoulder was tightly bound beneath my jersey with layers of heavy athletic tape, aching with a dull, constant throb, but my mind was completely crystal clear."Stay sharp, bo
THIRD PERSON The sharp smell of rubbing alcohol and white athletic tape filled the quiet medical room beneath the Winterridge Ice Arena. Outside the closed door, the muffled sound of ice resurfacing machines hummed softly, but inside, the air was thick with tension.Trenton sat on the edge of the high padded examination table, his shirt off, exposing his broad, muscular torso. His right shoulder was swollen, dark purple bruises blooming across the skin where the muscle had been torn weeks before. Dr. Evans, the team’s head physician, carefully wrapped thick layers of white elastic bandage around the joint, pulling the tape tight until Trenton’s jaw clenched so hard a muscle jumped in his cheek."I am going to be direct with you, Trenton," Dr. Evans said, his voice grave as he secured the final clip of the bandage. He stepped back and crossed his arms, looking down at the future Alpha with deep concern. "Your right shoulder is severely damaged. If you take one hard, full-speed collisi
THIRD PERSONThe frozen air inside the Winterridge Ice Arena felt colder than usual, carrying the heavy, metallic scent of scraped ice and damp leather gear. Up in the high rafters, powerful stadium spotlights cast long, harsh shadows across the wide blue rink. Down below, the sharp, rhythmic crunch of metal skate blades cutting through the ice echoed like gunfire off the empty glass barriers.Trenton glided around the center circle, his heavy breathing forming thick clouds of white steam in the freezing air. His right shoulder throbbed with a dull, burning ache under his thick medical tape, but he kept his jaw locked tight, refusing to let his face show a single flicker of pain. He slapped the heavy black hockey puck across the ice toward his forward, Lucian, with flawless speed.Suddenly, a loud, shrill whistle blasted through the quiet arena, shattering the rhythm of the drill.The senior league referee, a tall man named Referee Miller, skated over with his arms crossed over his ch
BRADLEYThe fluorescent lights inside the press room buzzed softly, casting a stark, white glare over the wooden podium. Dozens of news reporters sat in rows before me, their camera lenses gleaming like cold eyes and their microphones pointed straight at my face. The room smelled of hot electronics, wet coats, and cheap coffee.I leaned forward on the podium, adjusting the black microphone stem with a slow, calculated touch. A subtle, dangerous smile played at the corners of my lips. My phone was sitting heavy in my track-jacket pocket, still carrying the lingering heat of the secret call I had taken from Tristan hours ago."Captain Bradley!" a reporter from the regional sports network called out, raising her pen high. "With the championship finals just days away, how is your team feeling about facing the Winterridge Ice Wolves? Especially given the massive public controversy currently surrounding their captain, Trenton Lockwood?"I took a slow, deliberate breath, letting the silence
TRISTANThe air inside the lower holding cells beneath the mansion was heavy, cold, and smelled faintly of damp stone and iron rust. A single dim bulb hung from the high concrete ceiling, casting long, sharp shadows across the dirt floor. I sat on the narrow wooden bench attached to the back wall, my back resting against the cold stone blocks.My arms were folded across my chest, and my legs were stretched out in front of me. I was wearing simple gray prison clothes, but in my mind, I was still sitting on a throne.A heavy set of footsteps echoed down the stone corridor outside my iron-barred cell door. The sound was slow and rhythmic, the heavy boots of the guard clicking sharply against the floorboards. A small metal slot near the bottom of my heavy iron door slid open with a loud, metallic screech.A small tray containing a bowl of cold vegetable soup and a dry piece of bread was pushed through the slot, followed by a tightly folded piece of paper."Your dinner, prisoner," the guar
TRENTON The heavy double doors of the executive conference room clicked shut behind me, sealing me inside a cold, silent room that smelled faintly of expensive leather, chemical carpet cleaner, and stale coffee. A long, polished mahogany table stretched down the center of the room, reflecting the harsh fluorescent lights humming overhead. Sitting along both sides of the table were seven men and women in dark, immaculate business suits—the board of directors, the league safety officials, and my team's top management. Not a single person smiled when I walked in. I kept my back straight, my shoulders squared, and my head held high as I pulled out the heavy leather chair at the foot of the table. I sat down, resting my hands flat on the smooth wood to hide the slight tremor running through my fingers. My wolf rumbled restlessly under my skin, sensing the hostile energy directed at me from every corner of the room. "Thank you for joining us on such short notice, Captain Lockwood," D
Aria“Not today, Tristan,” I muttered once I stepped out of the locker room. “Your brother will not die in my hands again.”Looking around to make sure that the coast was clear, I reached for the poison inside my bra, twisted the lid open, and stared at the dark liquid. The sharp smell of herbs—bur
AriaThe first thing I noticed once I stepped inside the locker room wasn't his fake smile or his scheming eyes that hinted that he thought he had me wrapped around his tiny fingers.No.The first thing I noticed… was the mate bond between us. It was no longer as strong as it used to be.In my prev
Aria's POVEven from where I stood, I still couldn’t understand why Trenton was staring at me with such suspicion. That look wasn’t just terrifying—it was horrifying. This was the first time he had ever looked at me that way.Even though the scene refused to leave my mind, I decided to brush it off
Trenton's POVCoach Damien raised his voice over the cheering. “Listen up, everyone!” The rink went silent before he continued. “For the championship qualifiers, the player representing Winterridge…” He paused. “Trenton Blackwood.”“Congratulations, man,” Lucien—my best friend—pulled me into a side







