Rejected by my team, Claimed by the Rival

(Athena's POV)“Ew. Girl! Stop staring at him like that before I throw up.”I laughed under my breath, gripping my hockey stick tighter as I turned to look at Tessa, my best friend.We were near the player's bench, the rink screaming loud around us as both schools packed the arena like tonight meant life or death. Well, maybe it did. The championship game always brought madness, but this? This was worse.Westbridge versus Westmore. Me versus Luca Ryder. Versus the two ‘west’Weird, isn't it?Tessa stood beside me in her jersey, sweat already shining at her temples from warm-ups. She followed my gaze across the ice and groaned. “God, you're down bad.”I smiled before I could stop myself. Across the rink, Luca was skating backward like he had no fear in his body, smooth and stupidly perfect, like the ice was made for him alone. The crowd was already screaming his name, and he wasn't even trying yet.Dark hair, sharp jaw that makes me tickle and that cocky grin that makes him look ev

(Athena's POV)Shame!That was all I felt before I could even open my eyes. It was heavy and ugly, like my body remembered before my mind could register. And when I finally blinked awake, the white ceiling above me swam into focus. I was at the College hospital. Great.I let out the smallest breath and immediately wished I hadn't because the second I moved, everything came rushing back into my head.The rink, the crowd, Luca, sienna, laughter, the lake, a hand grabbing me, water choking my lungs, a deep voice, rough and annoyed, right before everything went black.“You really picked the worst lake on campus to make a dramatic exit.”I shut my eyes again. God! If I stayed still long enough, maybe I'd disappear. “Don’t even think about pretending to be dead again.”Tessa.I cracked one eye open and there she was, sitting in the chair beside my bed with her arms crossed so tight she looked ready to snap in half. Her curls were a mess, her eyeliner smudged, and her expression?A murd

ATHENACrossing my arms over my chest, I shifted my weight and looked dead at Jeremiah Ashford. The air in the gritty hallway of the facility felt thick, smelling faintly of stale ice shavings and floor wax."I’m not doing this for revenge, Ashford," I said, my voice cutting through the quiet.His dark brows pulled together, creating a deep crease between them. He looked genuinely confused, tilting his head slightly. "You don't want to get back at the guy who just humiliated you in front of the entire campus?""He’s dead to me." The words tasted like ash, but I forced them out with conviction. "That’s the past. I’m doing this for my future. So, if we’re actually doing this, I want that national development camp spot guaranteed. In writing. Before I blow a single whistle."Jeremiah studied my face. His dark brown eyes tracked over my expression, searching for a bluff, a crack in my armor, or maybe just seeing if I would back down. I didn't blink. Slowly, he nodded, a quiet respect settl

AUTHOR’S POV.Stepping off the ice, the Westmore locker room was an absolute war zone of pure testosterone, flying athletic gear, and deafening noise. The heavy bass of a trap beat blasted from the corner speakers, vibrating up through the rubber floor mats and rattling the metal benches.Riding the massive high of the championship win, Luca Ryder unclipped his helmet with one hand. He tossed the protective shell carelessly into his open locker, letting out a sharp breath just as a spray of cheap champagne hit the back of his neck. The sticky liquid soaked into his jersey, but he didn't care."Yo! Let’s fucking go! Three to two!" Brody, his massive defensive lineman, shoved him hard in the shoulder. "Did you see her face, bro? Did you actually see Holloway’s face?"Running a hand through his damp, sweat-slicked hair, Luca grinned sharply. The memory of Athena standing frozen on the ice, her perfect composure completely shattered, sent a rush of pure power straight to his head."Like s

ATHENATracking their movements from the center circle, my brain immediately shifted into pure analytical mode. Watching how they carried the puck through the neutral zone told me everything I needed to know about Ashford’s current record.They were huge, powerful, and ridiculously fast. But their footwork was a complete, uncoordinated mess. Entering the offensive zone, they relied entirely on brute strength instead of actual strategy, trying to muscle past invisible defenders instead of outsmarting them. It was exactly why Luca Ryder always beat them—Luca was a strategic snake, while these guys were just chaotic brawlers.Spotting a massive gap in the defensive line as Davis attempted to carry the puck up the left side, I didn't let it slide.Blowing the whistle aggressively, I waved both my arms in the air to kill the play."Stop, stop, stop! Reset." I pointed back to the blue line.Groaning loudly, Davis threw his head back, letting his stick rest across his shoulders. "Coach, you'