Lahat ng Kabanata ng A Nerd for the Hockey Alpha Captain : Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

The chamber had gone silent.Not peaceful.Not calm.Silent in the way a forest becomes silent when a predator enters.Lila stood inside the glowing circle.Her hair lifted around her face despite the absence of wind.Silver light shimmered beneath her skin.Her eyes...They weren't normal anymore.One glowed gold.The other shone silver.And Kai couldn't move.His wolf had gone completely still.Mate.Kai swallowed."Lila?"She slowly turned toward him.For one terrifying second, he wasn't sure she recognized him.Then her expression softened."Kai."His entire body relaxed.He crossed the glowing circle immediately.The moment he touched her hand—BOOM.A wave of silver energy exploded outward.Kai was thrown backward."KAI!"He hit the stone floor and rolled.Lila's eyes widened."I didn't mean to..."Kai pushed himself up."I'm fine."She stared."You literally flew across the room.""Still fine.""That is not what fine means!"Despite the danger...Mason groaned from somewhere be

Chapter 23: The Fourth SealThe arena fell into complete silence.The warmth that had filled the rink moments earlier vanished.Kaelan's words echoed through the empty stands."The next attack won't be against your bodies.""...It will be against your hearts."Lila instinctively reached for Kai's hand.He squeezed it gently."What is the Fourth Seal?" she asked.Kaelan stepped onto the ice."The first seal tested your courage.""The second tested your loyalty.""The third awakened the Queen."He looked at the silver mate mark glowing faintly on Kai's chest."The fourth...""...tests love."A chill swept through the arena.Coach Donovan folded his arms."I don't understand any of this prophecy business."Kaelan nodded respectfully."You don't need to.""What do I need to know?""Protect your players."Coach Donovan didn't hesitate."Already doing that."For the first time...Kaelan smiled."Good.""You remind me of someone."That evening...Classes continued as if nothing had happened.

The moon was broken.Not literally.At least, that was what Lila kept telling herself.Yet as she stood in the middle of Blackridge University's courtyard, staring into the night sky, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.A thin dark line crossed the full moon.Like a crack in glass.Kai stood beside her.Neither spoke.Kaelan finally broke the silence."The Moon Crown is incomplete."Lila turned."What happens when part of it is missing?"Kaelan's expression was grim."The Queen becomes vulnerable."Lila swallowed."And the Shadow King becomes stronger.""Yes."Mason raised a hand."Quick question."Everyone looked at him."How bad is 'vulnerable'?"Kaelan looked toward the damaged moon."Bad enough that the Shadow King can now enter her dreams."Mason slowly lowered his hand."Never mind."The next morning...Blackridge University looked completely normal.Students rushed to lectures.Music played outside the cafeteria.The hockey team gathered for mornin

The crimson gate pulsed above us like a heartbeat.Students were gone. The courtyard was empty except for us, Coach, Mason, and Kaelan. The wind smelled like ozone and old snow.Kai hadn’t let go of my hand since we woke up. Not for one second."Inside," Kaelan ordered. "Now. Before it anchors to this world."Mason twirled his hockey stick. "So we’re doing the ‘jump into the death portal’ plan? Love that for us."Kai looked down at me. "Lila?"I adjusted my cracked glasses. My brain was still buffering from the memories. Snow. A rink. Kai in silver armor. Me with a crown. And him. The Shadow King. Crying."I’m tired of running from the past," I said quietly. "Let’s go finish it."Kai’s thumb brushed over my knuckles. "Then we finish it together."---The gate spat us out onto ice.Not the university rink. An older one. Wooden stands, moonlight, and the smell of pine. And there they were.Young Kai. Maybe 19. Silver armor, hair tied back, looking like he hadn’t slept in weeks.

The rink was empty. Practice had ended 2 hours ago. The Zamboni had come and gone. Now it was just the sound of ice cracking under our skates and Kai’s breathing. He hadn’t let go of my hand since Luna Marisol left. "So," I said. My voice echoed. "The talk?" Kai stopped skating. Turned to face me. Gold eyes dark in the dim lights. "The talk," he echoed. I pulled my hand from his and immediately missed it. "You’re scared." It wasn’t a question. Kai ran a hand through his hair. "The Council called an emergency session. Tonight. Stone Hall." He looked at me. "They want to decide if you’re a threat. Or if I am." My stomach dropped. "Because of the Gate?" "Because of you," he said quietly. "A Moon Blood on pack territory. Unbonded. Unclaimed. That’s illegal under Blood Law." "Illegal," I repeated. The word tasted bitter. "I’m not property, Kai." "I know," he said fast. He stepped closer. Close enough that I could smell snow and cedar on him. "That’s why I have to