Lahat ng Kabanata ng A Nerd for the Hockey Alpha Captain : Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

The enchanted forest trembled.Darkness swallowed the silver moon.Every flower withered.The crystal river turned black.Standing between the ancient trees, the Shadow King smiled."I finally found you."Lila instinctively stepped backward.Kai moved first.Without a word...He placed himself in front of her.Shielding her.Again.Lila sighed softly."You always do that."Kai never looked away from the Shadow King."...Yes.""I can stand beside you.""I know.""Then why?"His answer came as naturally as breathing."If something attacks...""...it reaches me first."Lila stared at the back of his hockey jersey.For the first time...She didn't argue.The Shadow King laughed."So predictable.""Kai Hunter.""The Guardian reborn."Kai frowned."I don't know you.""No.""But your soul remembers mine."The Shadow King drew his obsidian sword."We've killed each other for centuries."The air exploded.Kai dodged just as the black blade carved through a massive oak tree.The ancient trunk c

The photograph trembled in Lila's hands.The faded image of the Moon Queen smiled peacefully beside her Guardian.On the back...The Guardian always dies before the Queen.Lila looked up."Kai..."His face had become unreadable.He quietly folded the photograph and slipped it into his pocket."It's late."She frowned."That's your response?""You should get some sleep.""Kai.""I'm walking you inside."She caught his wrist before he could turn away."No."His blue eyes met hers."We're talking about this."For a long moment...Neither of them spoke.Finally, Kai sighed."I've heard that prophecy before."Lila's heart skipped."You knew?""I thought it was only a legend.""You didn't think to tell me?""I didn't want you worrying."She stared at him in disbelief."So instead...""...you worried alone?"Kai had no answer.The next morning...Blackridge University buzzed with excitement.The Ravens' championship game had been postponed.Today's practice was mandatory.Coach Donovan stood

Silence swallowed the arena.Kai Hunter lay motionless on the ice. Blood spread beneath him in a dark stain that made no sense in the middle of a championship game.Lila dropped to her knees beside him, hands shaking as she pressed them to the wound on his back. "Kai. Stay with me. Please."No one cheered. No one moved. Even the other team stood frozen. Coach Donovan was the first to break it. "MEDICS!"Chaos erupted. Paramedics flooded the ice. Mason fell to his knees beside his captain. "Kai." Nothing.Only Lila saw the crimson veins around his mate mark pulse once beneath his jersey before vanishing. This wasn't just an injury. The curse was feeding.Blackridge University Medical CenterThe waiting room was too quiet. Lila sat with blood still dried on her hands, not realizing she was shaking until a blanket settled over her shoulders.It was Ava. "You'll get cold." Lila looked up, stunned. "You—" Ava's smile was tired, honest. "I wasn't kind to you. I thought

The explosion shattered every window in the library.Glass rained onto the courtyard.Students screamed, scattering in every direction.Kai pulled Lila firmly behind him."Stay close.""I'm not going anywhere."The ground trembled.Dark smoke curled upward, twisting into the shape of enormous wolves.The Shadow King's voice echoed across campus."Run if you wish...""...it changes nothing."Within moments...Campus security surrounded the main quad.Coach Donovan sprinted across the lawn, still wearing his practice jacket."What happened?"Mason pointed toward the burning library entrance."Shadow attack."Coach Donovan muttered under his breath,"I miss worrying about hockey."Kai's eyes glowed gold.His wolf strained against the mate bond.Protect her."I know."Lila noticed his shoulders stiffen."The curse?"He gave the smallest nod."It flares whenever he's close."She looked toward the smoke."So he's doing this on purpose."Selene appeared beside them."Not just to attack.""To

Lila stood in the center of the enormous chessboard.Black pieces surrounded her.Silver pieces stood opposite.And at the far end of the board sat the Shadow King.He rested his chin against one hand, studying her with amusement."You understand the rules?"Lila adjusted her glasses."I understand chess.""This isn't chess."She glanced at the board."Then why does it have sixty-four squares?"His smile vanished for half a second.Lila's confidence grew.Got you.The Shadow King slowly rose."Every piece represents a choice.""Every move has a consequence.""And every sacrifice brings you closer to your destiny."Lila looked at the black king.Then the queen.Then the knights.Something bothered her.She crouched beside the board.The pieces weren't arranged according to a normal chess opening.They formed a pattern.Lila's eyes narrowed."You're cheating."The Shadow King laughed."I wrote the rules.""Exactly."She pointed at the board."You've deliberately placed the pieces in a c