All Chapters of Slapshot Awakening: Chapter 91 - Chapter 100

Ryker POVThe game ends and we win, but it doesn’t matter. Not to me. Not when I know what really happened out there. The hit on Jaxon was planned. Not by one guy. Not just a moment of frustration or a fight over the puck. It was calculated. I saw it too late, saw how the entire team waited until we let our guard down.The second I step into the changing room, I rip off my helmet and throw it onto the bench with a loud thud.“Don’t,” Quinn says quickly, stepping between me and the rest of the room. “If you go throwing punches now, it gets you disqualified. We’re not in the game anymore. If you start swinging now, it fucks up your chances of playing next week.”Is he serious right now?“They fucking planned it!” I snap. “That wasn’t a random check. That was an ambush. The whole team knew. They waited and then went after him. That wasn’t just hockey. That was personal.”“Leave it,” Jaxon cuts in from behind me. His voice is firm, but there’s something off in the way he says it. Resigned

Ryker POVWhat the fuck happened? Jaxon is passed out on the floor, his face barely recognizable. Blood is smeared across his cheek, swelling already darkening one of his eyes, and his lip is split so badly it looks like it was torn open.This is all my fault. If I hadn’t made a move on him, if I had just kept my feelings buried like I always planned to, none of this would have happened. He would still be with Erin, miserable maybe, treated like shit, but safe. Now he’s here, broken and bruised because of me. Because of what we did. Because I couldn’t keep my distance.It has to be the team we played together, the one we beat last night. There’s no other explanation that makes sense. They were quiet during the game, too quiet, like they were saving it for something else. It wasn’t just a grudge. It was personal.“He’s fine,” Quinn says, crouched beside me, his voice low but steady.My eyes snap to him. “Does that look fucking fine to you?”“I mean he’s breathing,” Quinn says quickly,

Jaxon POVI wake up in pain, more pain than I crashed my bike somehow. My eyes struggle to open, and I give up trying to open them fully. My hands move, as I go to push myself up but someones hand touches my shoulder and stops me."Don't move," Ryker whispers and I turn to see him beside me. My vision is blurry and I can barely see him."What happened?" I go to move again and he stops me."You can't remember?" His eyes widen."I remember everyone coming in, and getting hit, I remember you but nothing after." All I remember is him looking down at me."You passed out, so you didn't miss much. A trip to the hospital in ambulance, a few tests, nothing major." Sighing, he rubs his face. "I'm sorry.""This isn't your fault." It's on me, I shouldn't have let anything happen, or I should have ended things with Erin."Look, you need to know before the police come. Erin knew, she was there when Lauren, Dan and Paul spoke about it. So, if you want to cut out the hassle of them trying to figure i

Ryker POVI leave a message for Erin, asking her to meet me at the bar. I didn’t speak to Quinn, so I don’t know what was said when they attacked Jaxon, but my name was mentioned. That makes me think this isn’t all on Jaxon.They know getting to me or hurting me won’t be easy. I grew up doing martial arts, boxing, and other things. Everyone knows that outside of hockey, I did all that too. Because of that, they won’t come after me. Instead, they went for Jaxon because it was easier. That makes them all cowards.The moment I walk into the bar, it goes quiet. I don’t pay attention. I sit with Quinn and a few of the team.“How is he?” Quinn waits, and I shrug.“Being stubborn. Explain what was said. When they asked Jaxon he said nothing.”Quinn’s eyes widen. He sits and explains what was said, and the more he talks, the more it feels like the attack was for me just as much as it was for Jaxon.Quinn explains that he spoke to the police and told them everything. I know nothing will come f

Jaxon POVLast night was long and painful; I barely slept. The whiskey dulled the pain, but not enough. If the nurse hadn’t stopped us, sure, it could have.It’s midday and I’m dressed, ready to leave, but Ryker made them aware he was collecting me, so I’m under arrest until he arrives. I hate that. I could be at home by now if he had just let me get a cab.The door opens and he walks in.“Finally,” I mutter and stand.“I had to get you a present.” He grins and moves, and I see the balloon.What the actual fuck?“That’s your face,” I mutter. On a fucking balloon.“Yeah, I figured if I’m not in the room, you can fantasize about me.”Is that a joke? I laugh and he helps me out, and all my mind can focus on is the balloon and how he actually thinks that’s a valid get well soon gift.In the car I don’t speak. As he helps me into the house I still don’t speak. He sits me on the sofa and I remain silent.“Did my face break you? It feels like it did.” He laughs and places the balloon right i