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 would survive this first round.

Kael’s pack team, The Ice lords , would face their first opponents tomorrow.

But today? Today was about recon. Observation. And the first match on the ice was between two packs I didn’t know. one of them was the Southern Claws, a team infamous for their overly aggressive style. They’d caused a fight in last year’s semi-finals that had almost disqualified them, this is according to the rumors I've heard. The other team was new—fresh blood.

“Let’s go inside,” Kael said, taking my hand. “I want you to see this up close.”

************************************

***Later, in the arena stands…***

The rink gleamed like glass, reflecting the overhead lights and the weight of tension between the teams was much. I sat sandwiched between Kael and Lucien, his Beta, who hadn’t spoken much since his attempt at flirting was shut down with bruises and dominance.

Kael was all business now, eyes scanning the players like a tactician. His hand rested possessively on my thigh, even as he barked commentary to Lucien under his breath.

“He’s too slow on defense. That goalie has poor reaction time. They’re leading with offense, but they’ll burn out by the second period.”

Lucien, however, was oddly quiet, watching the match but not really seeing it.

I noticed his jaw twitch and glanced his way.

“What do you think?” I asked him.

He blinked, turning to me with a smile too smooth to be real. “I think the game is only just beginning.”

Kael growled low enough for only us to hear. “Watch it.”

Lucien raised his hands in mock surrender, but his smile didn’t fade. If anything, it deepened.

“ What's wrong with him " I asked no one in particular.

And suddenly he left without a word. Strange.

********************************

Elsewhere…

In the shadowed edges of the city, far from the arena, the rogues had arrived.

Disguised in second-hand coats and dark sunglasses, they looked like lost tourists at first glance. But up close, there was nothing human about them. Their stares were empty, feral. Their movements too precise and careful.

Their leader tall, lean, with icy blue eyes and a jagged scar running down the side of his face, Cain, stood before a cracked map of the city inside a forgotten warehouse.

“This is the formation,” he growled. “Three of us in the arena zone. Three at the rink back exit. Two among the staff teams. One, watching Kael.”

A younger rogue shifted nervously. “Why not attack now?”

Cain's growl echoed in the rafters. “Because chaos is a dish best served on finals night. Let them get close. Let him feel safe. Then we destroy him in front of everyone.”

Another rogue chuckled darkly. “And the girl?”

The leader’s smile was cold. “She’ll be his undoing.”

“ And what's my role in all of this " A man with a hood asked. His face behind the hood but this voice was clearly familiar.

Cain turned and stepped towards him.

“You're our way into the pack.”

“ our ticket to victory ”

"It's easier when we have someone from within helping us " Cain said letting out a loud wicked laugh.

The man with the hood left and the younger rogue asked ....

“ Why is he betraying his pack for us ” Jace the younger rouge asked.

“ I really don't have an answer to your question Jace.. I guess it's only the alpha that knows what this man wants in return.

**"Back in the arena…***

By the second period, the Southern Claws were already up by two goals. Blood had been spilled literally. A jaw snapped. A shoulder dislocated. The crowd roared with glee, oblivious to how dangerous these men were off the ice.

Kael wrapped an arm around me, pulling me close, but his eyes were somewhere else. “Too reckless. They’ll lose in the second bracket.”

“You say that like you’ve already mapped every team.”

“I have.”

I smiled, nudging him. “So confident.”

He turned to me then, and for a second, the Alpha melted. “I’m confident about you too, you know.”

I blushed, leaning into him.

*** Night ***

The night ended with an uproar as the underdog team managed to push the match into overtime. I’d never seen anything like it, blood, strategy, and unspoken fury gliding across a field of ice.

As we left the arena, my heart pounded in my chest, not just from the game, but from the looming sense that something dark was unfolding. Like wolves in sheep’s clothing had slithered into the city.

And somewhere, someone was watching us.

Waiting.

I just feel so insecure and uncomfortable.

" What's wrong Sasha" Kael asked noticing my mood

" I just feel like someone is watching us from the dark " I said with fear written all over my face.

Thud!!!!!

I heard a loud sound that made I and kael turn immediately.

“ what the hell was that " the words slipped out of my mouth.

Kael held my hands tight as we walked towards the sound.