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59. Metaphor for Life
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 60. Leverage Point
I stepped out into the stairwell, heading to the dining hall. I wanted to fuel up before hitting the library for serious research. I'd also decided it was time for Adrien to start educating me more about werewolves. After all, he'd been in the class long enough to serve as a guide, it was high time he lived up to that role.As I descended the stairs, Adrien was already there, waiting for me. He was sitting on the last step, head buried in his hands, looking like he was wrestling with more than just sleepwalking.As I approached, he looked up and managed a grin. This wasn't his usual suave smile designed to charm and disarm. There was genuine happiness in his expression from seeing me.He stood up quickly. "Dude, I'm sorry. I was in the shower, and I started... kind of... well, fuck, remembering making my way up to your room. I don't think I was controlling it... but I remember being upset that you left, and then...I swear I really thought I'd just gone to sleep after. But anyway, th
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 61. Hunting Next To Me
I couldn’t help but wonder about Thomas’s actual role in all this. The last thing I wanted was to blame someone for actions beyond their control.Leaning back, I turned to Adrien, who was still dissecting his breakfast with an absent-minded determination. “Am I the first person you’ve guided?” I asked.“Yeah, why?” Adrien replied, looking up with a hint of surprise.“Oh, nothing major. I’m just wondering when you’ll start teaching me things I can use in hunting class... Let’s be real, I don’t know shit about werewolves,” I said.Cam huffed, drawing my attention. I seized the opportunity to probe him, too. “Was Peter your first, too?”Cam chuckled. “No, second,” he said, his smirk wide and unapologetic.That is exactly what I figured. Thomas was his first. I didn't even have to ask. I stood up, pushing my chair back to make a big show of leaving. “I’m heading to the library for more research... Maybe you should come and actually teach me a thing or two, Adrien.”Adrien laughed with a
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 62. Werewolf 101
The library's secluded room was a treasure trove, and I was pacing its length in a daze, astounded by the volumes that contained secrets likely forgotten by most. Couches dotted the space, and Cam, with typical inappropriate yet totally characteristic swagger, flopped down on one, smirking as he watched me take in the surroundings."I'm surprised your boy Coop hasn't shown you this yet," he remarked.I snorted. "Yeah, well, I'm more worried that my supposed werewolf hunting guide didn't tell me about this…"Cam laughed and shrugged. "He knows it's here. He just doesn't like coming in here.""I wonder why," I pondered."Probably has something to do with his position on the team. He doesn't want to mess up being the perfect worshipped hockey team captain, you know, to do something important like increase his fucking knowledge or anything," Cam said with a snicker. Clearly, he thought he was far more intelligent than anyone else around him. I frowned, contemplating his words. "I doubt
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 63. Keep Him Distracted
We exited the secluded part of the library to find Adrien sprawled on a couch, teetering on the edge of sleep. I jostled his shoulder to wake him. His eyes fluttered open, and he managed a groggy, "Hey. Y'all took forever... Did you find anything cool?""Yeah, why don't you like going back there?" I asked, curious by his apparent aversion to the hidden room we had just explored.Adrien rubbed his eyes and yawned as he sat up. "I don't like the whole stolen key, hidden room deep in a shadowy library vibe. We're not supposed to be in there... Honestly, it sounds like the start of every horror movie I've ever heard of." His chuckle was light, but I detected an undercurrent of genuine concern.His response made me laugh. It was quintessentially Adrien, yet something about it seemed rehearsed, too smooth and polished for a casual conversation. It was a detail I filed away to investigate later.Cam, who had been quietly observing our exchange, stretched his arms above his head and announce
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 64. Fully Connected
As we trudged toward the backcountry area, I hesitated. "I didn't think we were allowed to just go back there like this," I said, unsure of the appropriateness of our little expedition. They all burst into laughter, and all eyes turned to Jules, who led our little procession with an air of authority I hadn't noticed before. Sliding his arm around my shoulders with familiar ease, he tightened his grip as I tried to shrug him off. "Dude, my family owns most of the backcountry land. It's fine," he chuckled. I was momentarily dumbfounded. "Uh, I didn't know that. Is that why we aren't allowed on it typically?" I asked. Jules shot me a look. "That, and other reasons. Now come on, I want to show you my house," he said, pulling me along as he plowed energetically through the snow. We barreled through the woods chasing Bear, who was gleefully chucking snowballs back at Adrien as they played. As we put a bit of distance between us and them, Jules leaned in close and whispered, "Hey man,
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 65. Just be James
Adrien was obsessing over sports gear, flipping through options on his phone with more focus than I'd ever seen him have in class. Rolling my eyes, I continued watching him, amused by his seriousness over something as mundane as hockey gear. Across the room, Bear and Jules were similarly glued to their phones. Seeing them like this, a world away from the phone-free zone at school, it was pretty clear why the school forbids them. It would be tough to keep their focus if their faces were always buried in screens. When his eyes lit up at the goalie gear, I knew I was about to be dragged into something.He flipped his phone toward me with a smirk. "We need to get you set up properly," he declared, loading the virtual cart as if money meant nothing. The total price soared, quickly surpassing my sparse savings left over from the Christmas card money.Which was supposed to last the whole semester and summer somehow."What? No, no, I'm not letting you spend money on me like that," I protes
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 66. At Least Midnight
The rest of the night followed the same chaotic rhythm. Was this their norm? It sure seemed like it.One of the staff, clearly aware of how much teenage boys can eat, brought in stacks of pizza. These guys devoured it, and I did my best to keep up. At this rate, I'd gain weight in more places than just my chest.Jules tossed me a thick pair of pajamas and an obviously old long-sleeve shirt, teasing, "You'll need these. It's gonna be freezing tonight." I snorted. "Does the house get that cold?" He smirked, "That and those cots aren't really made for sharing." Adrien shot him a look but kept silent.I headed to the bathroom to change, feeling odd about not putting my Knight hoodie back on. When I emerged, I told Jules I liked the PJs. "Keep them," he shrugged. "They don't fit me anymore."Was I going to end up with clothes from all of them? It was starting to seem that way. Glancing around at everyone still on their phones, I said, "Damn. I wish we had a chessboard or something. I'm k
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 67. Green Eyes
"You were outside, man," I said, relieved. "Do you remember anything?"Adrien shook his head, still shivering. "No... I just remember falling asleep."Jules looked at me, concern etched on his face. "We need to tell someone. This isn't normal.""Yeah," I agreed, my mind racing. The dream, Adrien's disappearance, felt somehow connected. But for now, getting him warm and safe was the priority.After pulling his cot right in front of the fire, we sat by it, watching Adrien slowly regain warmth and color. Bear handed him coffee, and he sipped it gratefully."You scare..d us, man," Bear said.Adrien managed a weak smile. "Sorry about that."Jules sighed, shaking his head. "Just... don't do it again, alright?"Adrien nodded, the seriousness of the situation sinking in. "I won't. Thanks, guys."We stayed by the fire until the early hours, watching Adrien and ensuring he stayed warm. The adrenaline slowly wore off, leaving us exhausted but alert. I couldn't stop thinking about the dream 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.
