Page 4

CHAPTER 4

Raven

The rink is freezing. Like, breath-steaming, nose-freezing, toe-numbingly freezing. My breath puffs out in little clouds as I tug my coat tighter and shuffle toward the bleachers. Alex is practically bouncing with excitement beside me, his energy contagious, even though my fingers feel like ice pops.

“You’re going to love this,” he says, his grin splitting his face as he grabs my hand and pulls me forward. “The Titans are incredible. Wait until you see them skate.”

I smile, letting him drag me along. His enthusiasm is cute, and honestly, it’s nice to see him so animated after how distracted he’s been lately. If watching a bunch of dudes chase a puck around will make him happy, then who am I to complain?

The rink is huge, and the bleachers are already filling up with students and probably a few scouts. Although this is practice, it's just as important for selection, since the scouts are here to see how they prepare for a big game.

The ice gleams under the overhead lights, pristine and perfect, like it’s just waiting to be shattered by blades and chaos.

We find seats near the front and Alex pulls off his beanie, running a hand through his messy blond hair. He looks good today—relaxed, happy. This is the Alex I fell for—the one who used to make me laugh so hard I’d snort soda out of my nose.

“You excited?” he asks, nudging me with his elbow.

“Totally.” I grin. “I mean, what’s not to love about freezing my ass off while watching a bunch of guys whack a puck around?”

He rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling. “Just wait. You’ll see.”

The players start trickling onto the ice, their skates clicking against the boards as they step onto the slick surface. They’re fast, weaving through cones and firing pucks into the net with laser precision. It’s impressive, even to someone like me who doesn’t know much about hockey beyond what Alex has told me.

“They’re good,” I admit, leaning forward a little.

“They’re not just good—they’re the best,” Alex says, his voice full of pride. “The Titans have won the league championship five years in a row. If I can get a spot on the roster, it’ll open so many doors. Especially with The Pantheon backing me.”

There it is again—that name. The Pantheon. Alex seems to think it will turn his whole life around. But can it be that easy? I chew on my lip, watching as the players zip across the ice. “Alex, are you sure about this? About... them?”

He frowns, his gaze flicking to me for a second before returning to the ice. “Raven, we’ve talked about this. The Pantheon is the key to everything. They have connections, influence... they can make things happen.”

“Yeah, but at what cost?” The words slip out before I can stop them.

His jaw tightens, and for a moment, I think he’s going to snap at me. But then he sighs, running a hand through his hair again. “You don’t get it. This is how things work here. If I want to make it to the next level, I have to play the game.”

I want to argue, to tell him he doesn’t need some secret society to prove his worth. But he’s already looking back at the ice, his eyes lighting up as a new group of players skates out.

And that’s when I see him .

He’s taller than the rest, his broad shoulders and strong frame making him look like he was built for destruction. Dark, shaggy hair spills out from under his helmet, and when he skates closer, I catch a glimpse of green eyes sharp enough to cut glass. Tattoos snake down his arms, visible even under the sleeves of his jersey, and there’s an air of raw power about him that sends a shiver down my spine.

“Who’s that?” I ask in an almost inaudible voice.

Alex follows my gaze and scoffs. “That’s Malakai Vega. Team captain. The guy’s a legend around here. He’s already got scouts from the NHL circling like vultures.”

Malakai glides across the ice with an ease that borders on arrogance, his movements fluid and controlled. He’s fast—faster than anyone else out there—and when he slams the puck into the net, the sound echoes like a gunshot. He doesn’t celebrate or even smile, just turns and skates back to his position like it was nothing.

“Does he always look like he’s plotting someone’s demise?” I joke, trying to shake the weird tension that’s crept into my chest.

Alex laughs, but there’s a nervous edge to it. “Pretty much. Malakai’s... intense. But he’s the best, and if I can get on his good side, it’ll be huge for me.”

I glance at Malakai again, and this time, he looks in my direction. Our eyes meet for a fraction of a second—just long enough to make my stomach flip—before he turns away, like I'm not even worth a second glance.

Alex doesn’t seem to notice. He’s too busy watching the players and talking about strategies and drills and how he’s going to impress the coaches. I nod along, but my mind keeps drifting back to Malakai, to the way he moved, the way he felt .

Commanding. Dangerous. Like he could rip apart anyone who got in his way.

I shake my head, trying to focus. This is Alex’s world, his dream. I’m just here to support him.

Even if part of me is already questioning how far I’m willing to go.

I try to focus on what Alex is saying—something about practice schedules and team rankings—but my eyes have a mind of their own. They drift back to Malakai. He’s in the center of the ice now, barking orders at the other players. Even from here, I can see the sharp line of his jaw, the way his dark hair sticks to his forehead under his helmet. He exudes authority, like he owns the entire rink and everyone in it.

And then he looks up.

It’s like a shock to my system, his green eyes locking onto mine across the distance. My breath catches, and for a moment, everything else fades away—the noise of the rink, the chill in the air, even Alex’s voice. There’s something about the way he stares, unflinching and unapologetic, that makes my pulse race. Like he’s daring me to look away.

So I do.

I snap my gaze back to Alex, forcing a laugh to cover my unease. “Sorry, what were you saying?”

Alex doesn’t notice my flustered state. He’s too wrapped up in his own thoughts, gesturing wildly as he explains something about defense strategies. I nod along, even though I’m barely listening, my heart still pounding from that brief, electric moment with Malakai.

Just as I start to calm down, Alex’s phone buzzes. He pulls it out, his expression shifting from animated to... something else. I can’t quite read it, but there’s a mix of excitement and nervousness in his eyes as he taps out a quick reply.

“Who’s that?” I ask, attempting to keep the tone light.

“Malakai,” Alex says, and right then I notice Malakai with his phone, smirking at us. So that's the reason why he took a break from practice, huh?

Alex is trying to sound casual, but I notice signs of worry in his eyes. He shoves his phone back into his pocket and flashes me a grin. “He wants me to grab a bite with him and the team after practice. And... he said to bring you.”

I blink, caught off guard. “Me? Why?”

He shrugs, again making it seem like it’s no big deal, but the expression on his face says otherwise, no matter how he tries to hide it. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s a team thing. Or maybe he just wants to meet you.”

The idea of sitting across from Malakai Vega, of having those green eyes drilling into me for more than a split second, makes me tremble a little, and not altogether in bad way. “Alex, I don’t think?—”

“Raven.” He cuts me off, his tone softening. “This is important. If I’m going to get in with these guys, I need you there. You’re good at making people like you. Just... be yourself, okay?”

I hesitate, suddenly hyperaware of what this could mean. I want to support Alex, I really do, but something about this feels... off. Still, the hope in his eyes is hard to ignore.

“Okay,” I say finally. “I’ll go.”

Alex beams, leaning over to kiss my cheek. “You’re the best. I have to go catch up with Jason now. The team's defense could do with some changes, and Jason knows how that can happen."

I smile as if I agree, but I have no clue about how or why the defense needs fixes. All I know is Jason's probably Alex's best friend in the team. But the way he changes friends to get ahead and make connections, I don't really know who is his friend at what point.

As practice continues, I try to shake the uneasy feeling inside me. But no matter how hard I try, I can’t forget the way Malakai looked at me—like he already knew too much.