All Chapters of Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

"You know, I thought this was a single room," I stated, my confusion still evident. "The single rooms are usually reserved for the top three ranked students. That's typically the Head of Grade, the Hockey team Captain, and the top academic achiever. The rest of the single rooms? They're mostly off-limits, something about budget constraints or the like." Alec said. Noticing my hesitation, he said, "No worries if you're a private person. So am I. I hope the double room isn't too much of an issue... for either of us." His tone was friendly, but I couldn't shake off the unease settling in my stomach. "Uhh, I suppose..." I stuttered, my eyes veering to the two beds occupying the room. "I didn't catch your name, by the way." Startled, I turned to face him. "Oh, sorry, I'm James," I replied, sounding as casual as possible. He studied me for a moment, head tilted slightly. "You have quite a strong accent. Where are you from?" "Texas," I answered, thankful that was all he seemed to notic

I approached Alec, who stood like a sentinel by the chaotic mound of my hastily shed clothes. Seeing him so close to my personal belongings sent a wave of unease coursing through me. "Please, don't touch my stuff," I implored as I plucked my underwear from his hand. "I’ve respected your space. It's only fair you respect mine, okay?" There was a plea hidden beneath the surface of my words, a silent call for some semblance of privacy in this new, intrusive environment. If he didn't respect my personal space, I wouldn't be able to stay here for long.He mumbled a half-hearted apology before retreating to his bed. He fell back onto it with a thud, the mattress creaking under his weight. I pulled out my phone and showed him a picture of Riley. "This is my girlfriend back home," I explained, purposely looking a little gushy over her as I showed him. "She gave me these, told me to keep something to remind me of her. You know how it is." He chuckled and said, "Alright, man," then rolled ov

The moment Professor Sherman opened the file handed to him by the admin lady, his demeanor shifted noticeably. He skimmed through the contents with an intensity that made the atmosphere in the room grow tense. When he suddenly looked up at me, his gaze was piercing, almost unnerving. "Professor Marlen Cooper's personal recommendation, eh? That's... curious." The mention of this Professor Cooper's name seemed to electrify the air. Everyone in the room visibly tensed, their postures straightening.I found myself agreeing silently. It was curious. I had no clue who Professor Cooper was, yet his name seemed to command a weighty respect. Sitting across from me, the twins nodded in unison at this revelation. Nick, beside me, just grunted, shifting uncomfortably in his seat."Well, as good a time as any for a quick review," Professor Sherman announced, making everyone groan. His sharp gaze silenced them instantly.He moved to the bookcase, retrieved a thick old book, and handed it to me. His

As I sat across from Adrien, the chessboard forming a battleground between us, I couldn't shake my skepticism about his alleged lack of experience. The beads of sweat forming on my forehead were a testament to the unexpectedly intense challenge he posed. His gameplay bore the hallmarks of someone beyond a beginner. Far beyond. Adrien's opening move was my first hint that he was no amateur. I countered by developing my pieces, trying to control the center of the board, but he quickly evaded, moving his bishop into a strong position. It was clear that every move he made was calculated and informed, strategy you'd expect from a seasoned chess player. Each exchange was like a carefully choreographed dance, his moves leading the way. I found myself on the defensive, constantly reacting to his aggressive yet controlled play. The way he trapped my bishop, leaving me no choice but to sacrifice it, was a move of someone who had spent considerable time mastering the intricacies of the game.

The morning light filtered through the dorm room curtains as I stirred awake. Across the room, Alec was already up, immersed in a book with a cup of coffee in hand. He glanced up, offering a simple nod as he noticed me waking up. There was something about Alec that struck a balance between being present and giving space. His quiet respect for boundaries made sharing a room with him less daunting than I had initially feared.Living with a boy, a notion that once filled me with apprehension, now seemed surprisingly manageable. In fact, Alec's presence, far from being overwhelming, had quickly become a comforting constant. His meticulous nature, something I had pegged as potentially problematic, was turning out to be a trait I appreciated more each day.I realized I was adopting some of his cleanliness habits. Sharing a space with someone so orderly was positively influencing me – a side effect I hadn't anticipated.As I prepared for the day, I was thankful I remembered to wear a shirt