《only one crown》全部章節：第 1 章 - 第 10 章

The door to the locker room swung open.I didn’t look up at first. I was halfway through taping my stick, pulling the white strip tight, clean, controlled. The room smelled like cold air and sweat. Like every other game night.“Captain,” our assistant coach said, voice tight.I kept my tone calm. “Yeah?”“You might want to see this.”I lifted my head.And the world tilted.He stepped inside like he belonged there.Adrian Cruz.My ex.My biggest mistake.My biggest loss.He wore a Frost Giants practice jacket now. Our colors. My team’s logo over his heart.For a second, I forgot how to breathe.The guys went quiet. A few of them looked between us, confused. They knew the rivalry. They didn’t know the rest.Adrian’s eyes found mine.Three years vanished and hit me all at once.Same sharp jaw. Same dark eyes that used to look at me like I was the only thing that mattered. He looked stronger now. Harder.He also looked like he wanted to walk right back out.Good.Because I wanted to do th

Don’t hang up.”My agent’s voice cracked through the phone before I could say hello.I was halfway out of my gear, sweat still cooling on my back after practice. The locker room was loud, but not loud enough to block the edge in his tone.“What now?” I asked.Silence.Then, “We need to talk about your contract.”My stomach tightened.I stepped away from the noise, pushing through the locker room doors and into the empty hallway that led to the private offices. My skates clicked against the floor with each step.“I already know about the trade clause,” I said. “You missed that one.”“This isn’t about trade approval.”I stopped walking.“Then what is it about?”Another pause. Papers shuffled on his end.“It’s about the penalty clause attached to it.”Cold slid into my chest.“What penalty clause?”“You really don’t remember signing it?”My grip on the phone tightened. “Just say it.”He exhaled. “If you refuse to play for the Frost Giants, or if you request a release within two years of

The puck slammed against the boards and flew past my stick.“Dammit, Blake!” I shouted.Blake didn’t even look at me. He chased the puck like I didn’t exist.The crowd roared. Lights burned above us. The ice cut under my skates as I pushed hard and caught up, but it was too late. Their forward stole the puck, rushed down the center, and scored.The red light flashed.First game together. First goal against us.I ripped off my glove and slammed my stick against the ice. “You were supposed to pass.”Blake skated past me, jaw tight. “You were out of position.”“I was open.”“You were late.”The buzzer sounded for line change. We skated to the bench, not looking at each other.The coach leaned in. “You two want to fight or win?”I didn’t answer. Blake didn’t either.This was our first game as captain and alternate captain. The team owner had made it clear. We were the future of the Storm. Our speed, our skill, our names on every poster in the city.Too bad we couldn’t stand each other.Se

Move.”I didn’t.The boy across from me tightened his grip on his stick, brown eyes locked on mine like this was war and not a summer youth camp.The sun was too bright. The ice was too soft. Kids lined the boards, waiting for their turn in the drill.The coach blew his whistle. “First one to ten goals wins. Let’s go.”The boy smirked. “Hope you don’t cry when you lose.”I pushed off hard. “Hope you can keep up.”That was the first time I met Blake Turner.I didn’t know then that he would change my life. I only knew I wanted to beat him.We were twelve.Camp North Ridge. Two weeks of early mornings, cold rinks, and big dreams.I had worked all year to get there. Extra drills. Private lessons my mom could barely afford. I wasn’t just there for fun. I was there to be seen.Scouts watched this camp.So when they paired me with him for the one-on-one drill, I saw a problem.He was fast.Not just quick on his skates. Quick in his eyes. He watched everything.I charged first, cutting left.

“Tell me it’s not true.”The words tore out of me before I could stop them.Blake stood in the middle of my kitchen, still in his suit from the press event, tie loose, jaw tight.“Lower your voice,” he said.I let out a broken laugh. “You’re worried about the neighbors right now?”My phone was still in my hand.The screen is still lit.An email. Forwarded by mistake.Or maybe not a mistake at all.My name at the top of a trade discussion.My stats picked apart.A note at the bottom from the general manager.We’re moving forward with Blake as the face of the franchise. The cleanest path is removing internal competition.Internal competition.That was me.Goal at this moment?I needed him to deny it. To say it was politics. To say he had no idea.Instead, he just stood there.Silent.Conflict bloomed fast and ugly.“Say something,” I demanded.He dragged a hand down his face. “It’s not what you think.”“That’s your answer?” My chest felt tight. “Not what I think? Blake, they’re trading