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35. Despite the Clichés
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 36. Curves
Cam laughed, realizing who he had just saved from face-planting into the frigid snow. With a smirk, he blocked my only path back to the dorm. Trapped, my options dwindled to scaling snow banks or retreating back to the infirmary in the dark. "Well, well, out past curfew? In this snow? That's bold for a newbie from the South," he taunted. "Bet you were counting on your height to hide you, eh?" Jules's warning echoed in my head, loud and clear. Give him an inch, and he'll take a mile. I had to shut this down. "Move," I snapped. "Not in the mood, Cam." His laughter rumbled through the cold air. "Funny you think I'd listen to you." I glanced past him, plotting my escape, and shot back, "Funny seeing you alone... Don't you need your minions flanking you to feel big?" That hit a nerve. In an instant, he shoved me against a snow wall, lifting me off my feet. His eyes locked onto mine. "I don't need anything but a reason, little man...and those pretty green eyes are reason enough." Hi
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 37. Beside Me
I jolted awake to Adrien's hushed voice talking to someone at the door. "Sorry, man, I should have mentioned," he whispered. "He's fine, just sleeping in here." I rolled over just in time to catch one of the twins poking his head through the doorway.Sitting up, I noticed the extra pillows on the bed weren't for me but for the space beside me. And Adrien's bed? It seemed untouched. The new pillows on my bed had clearly been moved over from his. His books were still open on the made bed, and notes were still piled where he'd left them last night.It sure as hell looked like Adrien had slept beside me.Why did he seem so damn lonely? For someone blessed with a private room, he seemed desperate for company.The door burst open, and Alec stormed in. "What the hell? What happened now?""He's okay, don't worry," Adrien reassured as Alec brushed past him aggressively. Adrien stumbled back, catching himself on the doorframe, and shot him a look. Which Alec missed entirely.Alec marched over
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 38. Hold On
We made our way to the dining hall, and just as the building came into view, my foot caught on a curb still hidden under the snow, sending me staggering forward. Adrien was quick, his arm shooting out to steady me. He wrapped his arm around me and didn't let go after that. Adrien was now doing it, too. This strange, protective closeness that was becoming all too familiar. His grip remained firm around my shoulders as we walked the rest of the way to the dining hall, despite my weak attempts to shrug him off a couple times. The dining hall was busy...too busy. The smell of boys, some freshly showered, others seemingly forgotten what a shower even is, hit me in the face. It seemed like the entire school was there, making it feel like we had walked into a chaotic storm about to explode. Students flocked around Adrien as if he was the gravitational center of the room. I tried to slip away, preferring the outskirts instead of being in the eye of the storm, but Adrien caught my arm.
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 39. Pushing the Pace
Coop descended the steps to the glass, where I could see him clearly. He had ditched the three-piece suit I'd seen him in last time for jeans and a dark hoodie. More like someone I might meet in a casual setting than the imposing figure I remembered. He gestured towards a secluded area by the wall where we could talk without being overheard. He did something unexpected as I approached. He leaned in and sniffed me. It was bizarre, to say the least. Drawing back, he locked eyes with me and said, "You have to use the stuff I sent you. You're only inviting trouble if you don't." "What are you talking about?" I asked, genuinely perplexed. He lowered his voice, glancing around before continuing. "A lot of the guys around you are starting to hit puberty, or already have, which can bring heightened senses. The shampoo will dull it." Heightened senses? Was he suggesting they could smell that I was a girl? That was all I needed...another source of constant anxiety. But how? They were
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 40. Mock
The coach had devised a mock game for tomorrow's lineup against the main practice team, turning today's session into a real-time simulation. It was a test of our skills and our ability to adapt on the fly. He kept Alec on the ice with me, assigning him to give me constant pointers. As we started, I noticed a change in Alec. He seemed to genuinely enjoy coaching me, and his demeanor was a far cry from the tension at the beginning of this. Maybe he wasn't as bothered as I had thought, or perhaps this was just his way of asserting control in a different way. Peter caught my eye from across the ice as we lined up for the mock opening face-off. He was grinning broadly, clearly thrilled to be out here playing, even if it was only on the practice team. However, that joy was overshadowed by the fresh bruise marring his face, dark and severe. It looked recent and painful. The mock game started, and I held my own for the first few minutes. Alec skated close by, offering tips and correctio
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 41. Orchestrated
"Just throw it over the one you already have on, James. You're going to need all the help you can get," Alec advised with a wry smile.Thankful for the solution's simplicity, I quickly layered Adrien's thicker shirt over my own. Within moments, Alec and Adrien were helping me suit up in goalie gear.As they adjusted straps and pads, they started to ease my nerves by diving into the details of the goalie position.Information I desperately needed.Alec began with the basics. "First thing, your stance is critical. Keep your knees slightly bent and your weight forward on the balls of your feet. This makes it easier to move side to side quickly," he demonstrated, his movements precise despite his bulky skates.Adrien chimed in, pointing at the leg pads. "These pads are your best friends. They'll absorb most of the impact, but you need to learn how to direct the puck safely away using them. It's about angling your legs at the right moment.""Puck control is key," Alec added, tightening a c
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 42. Change in Here
When the impromptu pizza party ended, the energy from the food and camaraderie seemed to inject new life into everyone as we returned to the mock game. I was now playing goalie, and Alec had returned to playing right wing. The perspective from the goal was fascinating and a bit mesmerizing. Now that I wasn't frantically trying to memorize the twin positions, I could appreciate the fluidity of their movements. Kris and Alec moved with a synchronized, almost hypnotic precision.I could see why they switched positions so frequently from my vantage point. It was Kris's way of managing Alec's playtime to prevent further strain on his knee. Their silent communication, a nod here, a slight gesture there, allowed them to swap effortlessly, ensuring Alec didn't overexert himself.With Peter absent, another practice squad member filled his spot. I had secretly hoped...really hoped...that Peter would join the lineup.As the practice progressed, I felt the toll on my body. I was exhausted, more
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 43. Slip Past
Lying down beside Alec felt awkward. He rolled over, turning his back to me almost immediately. I tried to relax, but my mind was spinning. Was this a test? Alec didn't seem the type to constantly test people like Adrien did, but maybe he was just more subtle about it. He was quick to offer to share his bed. Too quick. His reaction when other guys paid attention to me, first when I slept in Adrien's room and then with Jules increasingly showing me affection, was also telling. Could it be jealousy? As these thoughts seemed to chase each other around my mind, I heard Alec's breathing even out. He shifted, rolling onto his stomach, his face buried in his pillow with his arms buried under it. He was now lying much closer, his shoulder brushing mine as he shifted again. I could feel the heat radiating from his body. It was surprisingly comforting since I was already kicking myself for not grabbing my blanket before lying down. Before I knew it, the day's exhaustion took over, and
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Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 93. Playbook
I stood there frozen for what felt like forever, racing to catch up with what I was seeing. Cam and Jules weren't talking.They were wrapped up in each other. Cam had Jules pressed against the wall, their bodies close, lips locked in a kiss that made it clear this was about more than any argument over me.I took a step back, feeling the awkwardness settle into my bones. This wasn't what I'd expected when I followed them. I intended to walk away, to give them their moment. Then I glanced down and saw Cam's clothes in my hand. Of course, he was still in his boxers. I couldn't just walk away. He was already in trouble. Getting caught kissing a guy in the stairwell, barely dressed, would be his undoing. There is no doubt about that. He couldn't get in trouble and disappear without helping me fix whatever the hell was making random voices constantly whisper in my head. It was tolerable right now, but I had a sneaky suspicion that wouldn't be the case for long. I walked up the stairs a
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 92. Weirder
I woke up to the door flying open and crashing against the wall. I jerked upright, struggling to adjust to the dim light assaulted by the bright lights from the hallway. The voices were quieter, even though I could still feel them. Jules stood in the doorway, looking like he was seconds away from tearing the room apart. His chest rose and fell rapidly, and before I could even get a word out, he stormed inside, fury radiating off him.“Cam!” Jules barked, crossing the room in just a few long strides. His energy was wild, dangerous, and aimed directly at Cam.I blinked, trying to catch up. My mind was jumbled, especially when I glanced over and saw Cam. He was sitting on the edge of the desk. Shirtless.Just sitting there, like it was the most natural thing in the world to be in nothing but his boxers. The sight threw me off, but his bed made my head spin. Cam’s bed was perfectly made, neat and untouched. Mine wasn’t.Or rather, the bed I was in wasn’t.I barely had time to process an
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 91. Smelled Good
The cold air bit through my skin, chilling me to the bone, but I didn't care. I sat on the steps outside the dorm, legs pulled up, arms wrapped tight around them, trying to keep myself together. It was freezing, but it wasn't the cold that had me shaking. It was the voices.“Jamie… Jamie…”They whispered repeatedly, the name grating at me like nails on glass. My real name. A name that didn't feel like mine anymore. I hadn't been Jamie in a long time.But the voices wouldn't stop."You're not who you say you are."It kept going relentlessly, pushing against my skull. My thoughts tangled up in themselves, a knot I couldn't untie. They were loud, louder than anything I could handle. And they weren't just words.They were pulling at something deeper. My insecurities, my secrets, things I'd buried long ago.I wasn't Jamie anymore. I'd changed. I had to. I wasn't that scared girl hiding in the shadows, pretending to fit into a world that would never accept her. Not anymore. But the vo
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 90.
( CAM POV ) The night of the dance was still burned into my memory. It had started off innocent enough—awkward conversations, forced smiles, and that strange, tense feeling of being out of place. I'd gone with some girl from my class, though I can't even remember her name now. We barely spoke. I didn't care to impress her, didn't care to dance. I spent most of the night wondering why I was even there.Then Jules found me.I'd known him for a while, but we weren't exactly close. He was one of those guys who radiated confidence without trying. Everyone liked him. He was different, though. He wasn't pretending like everyone else at the dance. He didn't have to force anything.When he approached me, it was late, and most of the crowd had already left. We ended up outside, sitting by the field, where no one could see us. The stars were out, scattered across the sky like they had a purpose.Something I felt like I lacked.We didn't talk much, just sat there, staring out into the dark. Th
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 89. Boy-war?
Alec, Kris, Bear, and I sat near the back of french class, barely keeping it together. Kris was the only one who wasn’t struggling. He had this uncanny knack for getting every pronunciation right, even with the most tongue-twisting words. I slouched in my chair, staring at the chalkboard. The teacher had written a list of words, each more difficult than the last. “Oeil,” “Bouilloire,” “Rouge-gorge.” She was pacing in front of the class, listening to us mangle each one as we tried to sound them out. Kris, of course, had breezed through them. Bear and I? Not so much.“James, try again,” the teacher said, her voice soft but with that edge that made you feel like you were disappointing her. “It’s ‘oeil,’ not ‘oil.’ You have to use the back of your throat more.”I sighed. “Uh... Ool?”The teacher winced, like I’d just stepped on her favorite pet. Kris smirked from beside me, barely holding back a laugh, and Bear gave me an exaggerated shrug.“Close enough,” she said, though I could tell
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 88. Secrets
It had been a couple of days since everything about Cam came to light, but the shock hadn't worn off. The team was still uneasy around each other, and every conversation felt forced, like we were all walking on eggshells. Cam had been allowed to stay at the school and on the team under certain conditions.Strict ones. Dean Carrigan laid it out pretty clearly. Cam wasn't allowed to leave campus or go into the woods where we used to run drills. He had to move permanently into the dorms, too. No going home for breaks, no visiting family. It was like the school had put him under house arrest.I wasn't sure how I felt about it. On one hand, Cam deserved consequences for the deception, but something didn't sit right with me. It became obvious pretty quickly that he was struggling with more than just losing his powers. The necklace that had been the source of his magic wasn't just making him look perfect.It was doing something else, something deeper. At first, I thought it was just physi
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 87. Perfect
Wanda glanced between Bear and me. She must have noticed the exhaustion, the confusion on my face. She rubbed her eyes, then turned to Bear."You're fine," she said, motioning toward the door. "Go back to your dorm, rest up. No need to worry. If you need emotional support, let me know." Bear huffed, then nodded and left. He didn't like being a part of the drama, and he had somehow got sucked in. Wanda turned to me as the door closed behind him, her demeanor shifting instantly. This wasn't just a check-up anymore. She pulled up a chair and sat across from me."Jamie," she started. "We need to talk." I straightened up, bracing myself."You've been through a lot today," she continued. "But there's something we need to address. Cameron."The betrayal was still fresh. I nodded for her to continue."I've known Cam since he was about ten," Wanda said. "Back then, he was just a normal kid. Quiet, kept to himself. But after one break, he came back different. Perfect. Too perfect. It wasn't
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 86. Even
Dean Carrigan pulled the curtain aside with a sharp motion, grabbing the person tangled beneath it. I braced myself, fully expecting to see Whitaker. For him to team up with the Dean to expose my secret to the entire school of boys.But...It wasn't him. It wasn't Whitaker at all.Dark, messy hair covered a face dotted with acne.A face I knew all too well. The stained t-shirt and baggy khaki shorts were familiar. I'd seen them recently. My heart seemed to freeze as the realization sank in.It was Cameron. I struggled to piece it all together. How could it be Cam? This was the last thing I expected.Carrigan didn't pause, didn't hesitate for a second. He yanked Cam up by the front of his shirt, lifting him until they were eye to eye. "Cameron!" Carrigan barked. "You crossed a line with this nonsense, son! You, of all people, should understand how important today is, yet you choose to cause chaos. Just like last year."Cam didn't fight back. He didn't struggle or resist. He just sto
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 85. Blurring the Lines
The curtain that separated the regular gym from the rest had been pulled across to serve as a background for the stage they had set up to speak from.I was pinned against the wall, right beside where the curtain met the gym wall. Just on the other side was the entire student body of IronCrest. If Whitaker exposed me, it would be in front of the whole school. My heart pounded against my already constricted chest. This couldn't be happening.Not here, not now.Whitaker loomed over me, his fingers hovered over the top button of my jacket. "I've been watching you for a while, James," he said, slowly undoing the first button. "There's something about you… something I just can't quite put my finger on.""Funny," I shot back, trying to keep steady despite the panic. "I've only seen you once."He smirked, and it made my skin crawl. It was oddly familiar, but I was so panicked my mind was racing too fast to piece together where. "I'm always in the shadows, James. It's where I do my best work.
