Enemies Until Dark

Chapter 3: Not The Game I Planned

ROWAN'S POV

For the next forty-five minutes, neither of us gave the other any room.

There were moments when I felt agitated and others when I felt nervous, but none of that stopped my eagerness to win.

Three minutes remained.

The score was tied.

Every muscle in my body was vibrating with anger, but anger wasn't going to stop me either.

Our team had possession of the puck.

I saw my opening and charged toward the scoring line, determined to finish the game.

But for some reason, that blockhead Adrian decided to grow a brain at the last possible moment.

I tried to cut through him.

He blocked me.

Not with the move I expected.

With a new strategy I'd never seen him use before.

For a split second, we were face-to-face.

Our eyes locked.

And for the first time in so many years, I felt intimidated.

I hated that feeling.

I shoved against him, and the puck came loose.

Adrian took advantage.

He stole it.

Then he scored.

The arena exploded with cheers and happiness.

I could only stare at the net.

That Callahan had just scored the winning goal.

The final whistle blew.

Our coach gave us an acknowledging nod before leaving the rink.

I remained still for a moment, staring at Adrian.

He had beaten me.

Again.

But that wasn't what bothered me most.

It was his eyes.

I couldn't understand why I'd felt intimidated when we were that close. They looked like they held something deeper than the usual resentment, something I couldn't quite read.

And thinking about it, I'd never actually looked at him that deeply before.

Not like that.

We eventually headed toward the locker room.

Everyone was already discussing the match, but surprisingly, they had smiles on their faces.

The moment they saw me, they crowded around me.

"You were incredible, Captain!"

"That was one hell of a game."

"Everyone scored tonight!"

Their words slowly softened something inside me.

Despite my obsession with winning, leaving my teammates behind was something I would never do. They had trusted me with the captaincy, and I wasn't going to let them down just because I had lost one game.

After what felt like forever, my teammates finally left the locker room for the after-party.

I wasn't in the mood to party.

I grabbed my bag, pulled on my face mask and oversized hoodie, and walked out of the locker room.

Paparazzi were one thing I desperately wanted to avoid.

Then I saw a familiar hoodie in the distance.

I knew that hoodie even with my eyes closed.

It was the hoodie Adrian had specially customized.

The words on the back were impossible to miss.

I WIN, YOU LOSE. TSK.

He always wore it whenever he beat me.

That was the icing on the cake.

I angrily walked toward my car, got inside, and drove home.

The moment I opened the door, I saw my babe, Axel.

A fine dinner had been set on the table, and roses were scattered everywhere.

It was supposed to be a surprise dinner from my boyfriend, but the expression on his face told me something was wrong.

"Hey, babe. What's going on?" I asked, looking at his worried expression.

"We need to talk."

My smile faded.

"What's the problem, Axel?"

"It's your dad," he said, trying to hold back his tears. "Babe, your family hates me. They keep looking for ways to get rid of me. Am I that much of a burden to them that they won't even consider our happiness and..."

"Shh."

I gently kissed his forehead, cutting him off.

"You are with me, not them, okay? They would never do anything as long as I'm here."

He nodded once before pressing a kiss to my cheek.

I instantly felt the anger and disappointment I'd been carrying all evening begin to disappear.

I pulled him into a deep embrace and buried my face in his shoulder.

For a while, I simply held him.

Whatever my family wanted, they weren't going to take him away from me.

After dinner, we showered and retired to bed.

Only after I confirmed Axel was asleep did I dare turn on my phone.

There were almost a hundred missed calls from my family, nearly twenty voicemails, and five messages waiting for me.

I couldn't bring myself to return the calls or listen to the voicemails.

I only opened the messages.

Leave that bastard boy alone. Do not disgrace this family. You are a twenty-eight-year-old man. I have a marriage alliance with the Montys.

—Dad

I clenched my jaw.

I opened the second message.

You are the wildest of all my sons, but this is my breaking point. Your choices are a disgrace to this family. Just listen to your dad. Leave this hockey thing as well as that boy. The company is waiting for you.

—Mom

I stared at the screen.

They wanted everything.

My career.

My relationship.

My future.

Everything except what I actually wanted.

Then the third.

I don't care much about why the hell you keep insisting on playing hockey, but I care about why you are falling in love with a man when there are beautiful heiresses to choose from. You know I always loved Axel, so why did you end up with him of all people? Axel is mine, and I'll get him back no matter what it takes.

—Cousin

My stomach tightened.

I read the message again.

The fourth message was from my brother.

Don't be reckless. The family reputation is at stake. We don't want any more mockery from the Callahans.

I stared at that one for longer.

Even my brother.

Then I opened the last message from my best friend.

Dude... your family's blowing up my phone. They're threatening my career, bro.

I dropped the phone onto the mattress.

I lay on my back and stared at the ceiling.

I didn't understand why they didn't value my happiness.

Why couldn't they simply ask me what I wanted?

I had never wished to be born into an elite family and live inside the golden cage they had built for me.

All I had ever wanted was the freedom to choose my own life.

My own career.

My own love.

My own future.

I was about to drift off when...

Ding.

My phone chimed.

A new message.

I reached for it and opened it.

It was from Dad.

You keep ignoring your mother and me, and we'll reach an indefinite decision without your voice being in it. By the way, there's a family gathering tomorrow. Be sure to attend.

I stared at the message.

Just who did they think they were, controlling my life choices?

If being free meant I was reckless, then so be it.