CHAPTER ONE: MEETING MY WORST ENEMY

GRACE'S POV (POINT OF VIEW)

PROLOGUE

“You killed him”, I screamed in fear, my eyes teary and thoughts running wildly.

“Anyone who touches you deserves to die”, Hayden sneered, his eyes red as he walked closer to me.

I stepped backwards until my feet bumped against the dead body on the floor, causing me to stumble away in panic. “Stay back, Hayden. This is madness,” I said, holding my hands out between us as if to stop him from coming closer.

Hayden stepped close and placed his hands around my neck; the sudden touch of his cold fingers shocked me. He ran his fingertips along my skin like he owned me.

“You are mine, Grace! Mine!”

*********

FEW YEARS BACK

I sat on the podium with Madison beside me, my eyes on the rink as I watched East Dale score yet another goal.

“It feels so good to see you after the summer break”, Madison exclaimed, hugging me cheerfully.

“Yet, the first thing you did after arriving was to watch your boyfriend’s game.” She snorted. I smiled, my eyes on the rink.

“I’m really sorry, but I'm here to watch my boyfriend play” I giggled without remorse and looked up to see my boyfriend passing the puck to his teammate.

His school was playing against mine, and I had promised to cheer for him.

“I don’t even see what you like about him” Madison rolled her eyes.

I felt all eyes on us, and I wished to disappear from that very moment.

“We have been together since high school”, I said, getting annoyed.

“And…..” Madison folded her hands.

“Why are you here?” I questioned my friend, my eyes getting stern.

“I’m here for him” Madison pointed to the goalie of the East Dale hockey team. “Ryan Black, I have a crush on him”, she said in excitement, like she couldn’t wait for the world to know.

“Do you know who that is beside him?” She pointed to a tall man standing beside him, and I gasped when he turned.

Our eyes met, and I was captivated by the coldest grey eyes I have ever seen; my body seemed to come alive at that brief eye contact.

“Who is that?” I asked, my voice coming out breathy.

“That is the Captain of the team. Hayden Reid”

Throughout the game, my eyes followed the hockey player. No matter how I tried to divert my attention, my eyes strayed back to him.

Soon, the match was over, and my boyfriend's school lost. I knew he was going to be in a shitty mood for the rest of the evening.

“I’m going to meet Eric” I waved my phone to show her the text I got from my boyfriend.

I walked towards the locker room, skeptical about going any further, and I decided to wait for Eric outside. I was scared of seeing a shitload of naked men.

“Grace, the locker room is empty. Eric must be waiting for you inside.” Eric’s teammate said.

I walked towards the hallway and was relieved I couldn’t see anyone. I peered out of the stall, checking for any sign of my boyfriend.

I gasped as I watched someone walk into the locker room with a towel tied to his waist.

“Are you done looking?” The voice sneered.

I quickly raised my head to look at the face and was shocked.

I stood still, unable to move. Hayden Reid, Captain of the East Dale hockey team, stood in front of me, half naked.

“This area is off-limits to outsiders”, Hayden’s cold voice said.

“I’m sorry…..I’m looking for someone….”  

“I don’t care” He cut me short. “Get out” He didn’t let me finish. Hayden opened his locker as soon as he was done speaking, pulling out a jersey from it.

I fumed at the way he was speaking to me. At that moment, I should have left, but I was just too angry.

“Still here?” He asked, raising a brow.

I slammed the locker shut, getting closer to him. “I just lost my way and would be leaving in a minute. Who do you think you are to speak to me that way?” I shouted at him, my chest heaving.

For a moment, everything turned silent, just my heartbeat that was way too loud and the way his eyes deepened as he looked at me.

My body shivered in response, my nipple getting hard, and I felt like cursing my hormones.

“What are you doing?” I stuttered as Hayden drew me closer to him. I became aware of his hand on my waist, and my head was almost touching his cold chest.

“Are you a groupie?” Hayden smirked.

“What!” I gasped in shock.

“Looks like you want in. I told you to leave, but you refuse, Angel” He looked down at me. “I could kiss you right now, and you would do nothing” That annoying smirk remained on his perfect, handsome face.

I pushed him away from me, and he laughed.

“Do your fans know that you are this annoying?” I felt like pulling my hair. He was infuriating.

“Says the fan who sneaked in to watch me shower”

“You liar”, I swore. “You awful egotistical man” I was beyond angry.

“Don’t pretend like you don’t want the attention” He folded his hands across his chest, leaning on the locker.

I felt like slapping the smirk off his face.  How could I have thought he was handsome and perfect

He was infuriating

“Look here, whatever your name is” I folded my hands under my chest.

“Hayden Reid”, He offered. “And what is yours, Angel?”

“Don’t call me Angel, and you don’t need to know my name.”

I hated the way my heart skipped when he looked at me or called me Angel.

“Go on”

“I’m looking for someone, and he knows I’m going to be here”

“Would you mind telling me his name?” He raised a brow, not believing my words.

“Eric Son”, I said with a pointed look.

And he laughed and laughed.

I frowned.

“Eric Son? Really?” He stopped laughing and looked somewhat angry.

“Yes, he is my boyfriend”, I replied.

The room got a lot colder at my words.

“Why would you be a partner with someone as shitty as Eric Son?” Hayden sneered with disgust written all over his face.

How could I forget that they were rivals and did not like each other?

“You came the wrong way, Angel” He snickered. “Are you really here for your boyfriend? For someone who has a boyfriend, you have been talking with a half-naked stranger”

“Shut up! And I hope your side of the bed is cold at night,” I cursed, about to leave.

“Wait!” He called out.

I turned around. “What!”

“How can you leave without getting a show?”

I looked at him, confused, and the world slowed down.

Hayden freaking Reid just took off his towel.

I scrambled out of the boy’s locker room, his laughter following.