Aria
“I know this isn’t going to end well. Did you see Lucas’s face? He’s gonna fucking kill Mark.”
Lily practically screams this in my ear, vibrating with excitement. We’re up in the stands, waiting for the so-called captain showdown to start. The whole stadium is packed with students, all here to witness the bloodbath…I mean, competition.
“Don’t be too sure, Lil,” Mia argues, flipping her ponytail like she knows everything. “I heard Mark is really fucking good. Apparently, he plays both field and ice hockey.”
Lily scoffs. “Does it matter? Lucas is still gonna kick his ass.”
“All I’m saying is, don’t get too cocky.” Mia side-eyes her, then suddenly turns to me. “By the way, why the fuck are you so quiet, Aria? What’s going on in that little head of yours?”
Both of them stare at me, trying to read my mind like they’re FBI agents.
I shift uncomfortably. “Nothing. I’m just, you know… getting ready.”
Mia narrows her eyes. “Bullshit. You’re doing that thing where you pick at your fingers when you’re lying.”
Damn it. I hate that she knows me so well.
“Fine!” I groan. “Lucas doesn’t know he’s going up against Mark. He doesn’t even know Mark plays hockey.”
Their eyes bug out.
“Wait what?!” Mia gasps.
“Does it matter, though?” Lily shrugs. “Lucas is still gonna kick his ass.”
I hesitate. “Yeah… but do you guys know that Mark is a werewolf?”
Both of them freeze.
“What.”
“How the fuck do you know that?” Mia hisses, leaning in.
“He told me.” I shake my head. “I don’t even know how he figured out we were werewolves, but he did.”
Lily’s jaw drops. “And does Lucas know?”
“Yeah, I told him yesterday night. But how come every other guy who was competing for captain suddenly dropped out?”
“They realized they were no match for Mark,” Mia says smugly. “Damn. I can’t believe he’s a werewolf.”
I cross my arms and glare at her. “Whose side are you on, Mia?”
Lily smirks. “Yeah, Mia, whose side are you on?”
“Oh my Goddess, guys, I was just kidding! Of course, I’m on Lucas’s side. For fuck’s sake.”
“Uh-huh,” I mutter.
Just then, Lily grabs my arm and nearly yanks it out of its socket. “Look, they’re coming out!”
The players start filing out from the dugout, and I immediately lock eyes on my munchkin. Lucas.
Damn. He looks so fucking hot in that training gear.
But his expression? Not cheerful. At all.
Worry gnaws at my stomach. He hasn’t been himself since yesterday. I know the whole I-have-a-secret-brother thing is messing with his head. And now? Now, he has to deal with this.
“Why do I feel like Lucas looks… down?” Lily frowns.
“Yeah,” Mia nods. “He’s not his usual cocky self.”
I sigh. “Something happened. I’ll tell you guys after the game.”
They both look at each other, then at me, like I just grew a second head.
Down on the field, the coach…a middle-aged guy with way too much energy steps forward.
“Welcome, everyone, to the captain face-off for the Long Range University hockey team!” he announces. “Will the competitors step forward!”
Lucas steps up. So does Mark.
And that’s when it happens.
Lucas finally realizes who he’s up against.
His eyes widen in shock, then immediately darken with pure rage. His whole body tenses, like he’s ready to shift into his wolf right now and rip Mark’s throat out.
Mark just smirks. Fucking smirks. Like he planned this shit all along.
“So we’ve got Lucas Russo and Mark DeVine,” the coach continues. “You’re gonna be playing alongside some rookie players. The person who leads his team to victory will earn the highest score of 50 points. But before that, we’re going to assess your individual skills. Get ready.”
Lucas is still glaring at Mark like he wants to murder him with his bare hands.
Yeah. This is not going to be a friendly match.
I don’t even think anymore. My feet move on their own as I march straight over to where Lucas is standing with Damon and Theo.
“Hey, guys,” I greet, trying to sound casual.
Lucas barely acknowledges me before snapping, “Aria… did you know this Mark guy was a hockey player?” His voice is low, but sharp. “Because apparently, everyone knew…except me.”
Shit.
I don’t answer fast enough, and his cold gray eyes narrow on me like a wolf sensing a fucking betrayal.
“You did know,” he mutters, jaw clenching.
“Lucas, calm down,” I sigh, rubbing my temples. “You’re letting this get to you.”
“No, I’m not,” he growls. “What the fuck, why didn’t anyone say anything?”
“Because we didn’t think he was important,” Theo says with a shrug.
“If you hadn’t just told us he was a werewolf, we wouldn’t even fucking know,” Damon grumbles, rubbing his face in frustration.
“Okay, enough,” I cut in, already exhausted by their back-and-forth. “Lucas, why does it even matter if Mark is here? Since when do you get intimidated by some random guy?”
Lucas stiffens. Then, he nods slowly. “You’re right… you’re right, baby.”
“Yeah. Now go back out there and kick his ass.”
He smirks, grabs my chin, and presses a hard kiss to my lips. “I’ll do it for you. Just watch.”
I will all right. I also pray he doesn’t commit an actual murder on the rink.
Lucas strides back onto the ice, practically radiating energy, while Mark stands on the other side, calm as ever.
“Is it just me, or has Lucas been, like… extra aggressive since today?” Theo mutters.
“He seems unsettled,” Damon nods.
I press my lips together. Lucas hasn’t told them about his long-lost brother yet. Guess that’s my cue to keep my mouth shut.
Down on the rink, the coach clears his throat. “Alright! First test…puck control! You’re gonna skate through an obstacle course. Whoever finishes first gets 20 points. Ready?”
Lucas and Mark crouch into position, gripping their sticks tight. The second the whistle blows, they’re off.
“Come on, Lucas!” I shout at the top of my voice.
Lucas moves with deadly precision, aggressive as hell, while Mark’s movements are smoother, more calculated.
Shit.
Mia was right. Mark is good.
The finish line is so fucking close, my hands are sweating.
“YES!” Damon gasps as Lucas just barely beats Mark, smashing the puck into the net.
“Lucas, 20 points. Mark, 15 points,” the coach announces.
Mark mutters something to Lucas with a smirk, and Lucas…oh, Lucas looks like he’s debating whether to throw hands right here, right now.
The coach barely gives them a moment to breathe before barking, “Next…push-ups and laps around the rink!”
They both go hard, matching each other in every round, ending up tied in points.
Lucas is seething.
“Alright, before we move on to the mini-games, let’s hear from our competitors briefly.” The coach gestures to Lucas. “Lucas Russo, why do you want to be captain?”