บททั้งหมดของ The Hockey Alpha's Second Mate : บทที่ 11 - บทที่ 20

Sasha*** Begining of the tournament ***The tournament had officially begun.I stood beside Kael just outside the arena gates, the early morning wind carrying the chill of winter on our skin. Around us, humans gathered in eager clusters, their voices buzzing with anticipation and coffee-fueled excitement. Vendors were already shouting prices, children holding up homemade signs for their favorite players, even though the names hadn’t become legends yet.Kael leaned down, brushing a kiss to my temple. “This is it,” he whispered. “Opening day.”I nodded, smiling up at him. He wasn’t playing today, but his nerves ran through him like electric currents. His team had drawn a later match in the bracket, giving them extra time to observe, analyze, and plan their moves, And knowing Kael, he’d use every second.The tournament format was as brutal as it was brilliant:A double elimination system, which meant teams had two chances before getting knocked out. Forty teams total. Only sixteen wou

*** At the tournament ground ****** Sasha ***The game had barely started when I noticed something.Lucien wasn’t playing like himself.He was fast, sure. Accurate, strategic and nothing technically wrong. But something about him felt… disconnected. Like he was just going through the motions. His passes were tight, but his attention? Split.Kael, on the other hand, was on fire. He moved like he has always moved…aggressive, confident, like the field was his territory and he was daring anyone to challenge him on it. He was in it, completely.But Lucien? His eyes kept moving toward the woods on the far end of the field. More than once.I leaned forward, arms on the rail of the VIP box, watching closely. I wasn’t even pretending to enjoy the game anymore.What are you doing, Lucien?Where is your mind ? I muttered under my breath.I watched him miss a cue to pass the ball something he never did , not ever since I l knew him, and Kael shot him a quick look. It wasn’t angry, just confuse

*** Rouges apartment *** ***Cain ***Vera couldn’t stop grinning as she talked. Just the way I liked my scouts when they had good news.“They’re cracking,” she said, pressing over the table. Her lips curled at the edges like she was savoring the words. “Sasha’s was touched. The entire match, she was tracking the field like she expected something to jump out at her. Girl’s got instincts. Sharp ones.”I chuckled under my breath. “And Kael?”“Controlled and focused, But distracted.” She tilted her head. “He couldn’t stop watching me watch *her*. She’s in his blind spot.”Good.That’s exactly where I wanted her.The rogues around us murmured, a few of them laughing. They didn’t get it, not really. They still thought this was about winning some game, clawing their way into a title match and just defeating Kael, but I’m slowly taking it personal.Idiots.This wasn’t a tournament. It was a war. Every step we took was a warning shot. And the fact that Kael didn’t see the full picture yet? Th

**Training Grounds **Late Evening****kael**Lucien stood at the edge of the ring, eyes scanning the environment as he stood silently. I didn’t like this, the way Lucien had been moving lately, like he had another motive more than training. Like he was waiting for something or someone. The silence broke.“You always did brood before a confrontation,” came Lucien like he knew I was watching him all along, then he suddenly faced me, revealing himself completely. His dark shirt stuck to his sweat damp body, with his sleeves rolled up.I didn’t move. “You were seen again. By her.”Lucien’s brow arched slightly. “Who?”Kael’s jaw ticked. “She saw someone. Same build. Watching from the lower decks. He spoke. He *vanished*. I don’t care if it was you or some ally of yours, it terrified her. And I don’t take that lightly.”Lucien tilted his head. “You think I’m toying with your mate? That I’m lurking in corners to spook her like some rogue pup?”“I think you’re crossing lines,” I snapped.

**Sasha**Where exactly are we going?" I asked as Kael’s arm wrapped around me in the backseat of his black SUV, his scent still warm with spice, strawberry and a hint of cinnamon from breakfast.He smirked. "You’ll see."I raised a brow. “That’s not ominous at all.”He chuckled, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Relax. You’ll love it. It’s somewhere I go when the world starts to make too much noise.”I wanted to believe him. I *almost* did. But after the dream, I couldn’t shake the chill that had settled beneath my skin.The vehicle came to a stop on a quiet dirt road. Towering pines flanked both sides, and birds singing loudly.Kael stepped out first, walking around to open my door like some overconfident prince from a fairytale. I rolled my eyes but let him help me out.As my boots hit the forest floor, I took a breath. The air here was different, maybe wilder.“Why here?” I asked.Kael tilted his head, smiling faintly. “Because this is where I first changed.”“Into y