*** At the tournament ground ***

*** Sasha ***

The game had barely started when I noticed something.

Lucien wasn’t playing like himself.

He was fast, sure. Accurate, strategic and nothing technically wrong. But something about him felt… disconnected. Like he was just going through the motions.

His passes were tight, but his attention? Split.

Kael, on the other hand, was on fire. He moved like he has always moved…aggressive, confident, like the field was his territory and he was daring anyone to challenge him on it. He was in it, completely.

But Lucien? His eyes kept moving toward the woods on the far end of the field. More than once.

I leaned forward, arms on the rail of the VIP box, watching closely. I wasn’t even pretending to enjoy the game anymore.

What are you doing, Lucien?

Where is your mind ? I muttered under my breath.

I watched him miss a cue to pass the ball something he never did , not ever since I l knew him, and Kael shot him a quick look.

It wasn’t angry, just confused. Like he was silently asking, What’s going on with you?

Lucien didn’t respond. He didn’t even look back.

When the ref blew the whistle for a time-out, I straightened. Players jogged toward the sidelines. The crowd burst into chatter, but I kept my eyes locked on Lucien.

And then he just… slipped away.

He didn’t utter a word to the coach. No interaction with the team either. He walked toward the far end of the field, then veered off like he was going to the locker room, but didn’t take the right turn.

I stood up.

“Where are you going?” I muttered under my breath.

I leaned over the railing to keep him in sight, but the crowd was in the way. Too many bodies, too much noise, I just hate this feeling.

Just then

A hand touched my back.

I flenched, only to turn around to see Kael.

Kael stood there, hair damp with sweat, helmet in his hand. He wasn’t smiling. He looked at me like he already knew something was off.

“Who are you looking for?” he asked.

I blinked. “No one.”

He raised an eyebrow, then looked past me toward the crowd. “Try again.”

I sighed, rubbing my arms. “Lucien. He walked off during the break. I was just… making sure he was okay.”

Kael’s jaw tightened slightly. “You think he’s not?”

“I don’t know,” I said, frustration rising. “That’s the problem. I just know something’s wrong with him lately. He’s acting Weird. And today he kept looking toward the woods like he was expecting something or someone”.

Kael didn’t respond right away.

I took a breath, softer this time. “You really don’t notice anything off do you ?”

Kael’s gaze dropped to the ground for half a second. Then he looked back at me. “Lucien’s not easy to read, Sasha. But he’s my beta. He’d tell me if something was up.”

I crossed my arms. “Unless he knows you’d stop him.”

He looked at me sharply. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

I hesitated. “I don’t know. Maybe nothing. But he wasn’t himself today.

And I just…..I have a bad feeling, okay?”

Kael studied me, and for a moment, the shield he always wore cracked. His voice was lower when he spoke again.

“You’re scared.”

I looked away. “I don’t like being watched. Or followed. And I don’t like not knowing who to trust.”

A long silence…..

Then Kael stepped closer. His hand brushed mine, not quite holding it, just… there.

“You trust me?”

I met his eyes. “That’s not the question I’m struggling with.”

Another pause. Kael’s jaw worked for a second before he gave a small nod.

“I’ll talk to him,” he said. “After the game.”

I looked back toward the edge of the field. Lucien was still gone.

“I don’t think he wants to be talked to,” I murmured.

Kael didn’t answer that.

Instead, he reached out, thumb brushing against the corner of my mouth. “You’re frowning.”

“No kidding.”

His lips twitched, and then, like a switch flipped ,he backed up a step, his voice turning lighter. “Let me finish this. Then we figure the rest out. Together.”

“ And don’t forget how our night is gonna be “ he said while he winked at me.

My heart skipped a beat in a very funny manner but I nodded, barely and maybe shyly too.

He jogged back onto the field.

I watched him blend into the game again, taking control like nothing ever shook him. But all I could think about was Lucien’s expression before he vanished , that blank, faraway look.

Like his mind was already somewhere else, but where ?

And where could he possibly be now because from my observation he was replaced in the game….

The game ended and my eyes scanned for Lucien and I still couldn’t find him.

I waited for Kael who met me outside as we held hands together while moving towards the car.

“ wanna go on a long ride “ Kael said jerking my shoulder.

I simply nodded and I guess it was quite obvious to Kael that I wasn’t okey.

“ You still thinking of Lucien ? “ he asked looking at me fully this time.

“ No I wasn’t “ I lied because saying the truth at this moment would mean nothing.

“ I’m just feeling a bit tired that’s all but since you offered a ride I’m cool with it “ I added.

Kael gave me a weird look just before we zoomed off.

His mood was different now and I was most definitely uncomfortable with it.

“ what’s wrong with you now, why the long face, you definitely look like my great granddad he he’d be alive now “ I said and Kael just forced a smile which made me feel bad.

“ okey okey I get it now, I wanna go to the aquarium now “ I said with a bright face and Kael smiled at me.

We arrived at the aquarium in a few minutes and we held hands as we walked in.

“ isn’t that the ice lord himself “ I heard someone said from behind.

“ yeah it’s him, I really wonder why they select specific people to join them, I would have really loved to “ Another added and Kael turned to face them as some of them asked for his autograph.

While standing with Kael I noticed a figure on hood watching us.

I felt a sweat on my neck with the sight of this figure and just as I was trying to get Kael’s attention, it vanished.

“ Sasha I think we need to see the packs psychologist right now…. “