Chapter 007
1255 Words
Chapter 7
Wren
After practice, I headed to the locker rooms, took a quick shower, and changed into fresh clothes. By the time I finished, the sky outside had already begun turning orange and pink with the setting sun.
Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my bag and headed toward the ice hockey stadium. Because whether I wanted to deal with Axel or not, he was waiting for me. And unfortunately, avoiding one problem usually meant walking straight into another.
. . .
I had decided to end things with Axel today. No more waiting. No more pretending. No more acting like I didn't know what he and Poppy had done behind my back.
I would shame him for what he did, break up with him on my terms, and walk away with my dignity intact. After that, I would deal with the Knox situation.
Honestly, that was my best shot.
Maybe if I dumped Axel, Knox would lose interest. Maybe seeing me break things off would satisfy whatever twisted revenge fantasy he had against Axel. Maybe he'd realize how ridiculous his blackmail scheme was and finally leave me alone.
It wasn't a great plan. But it was the only one I had. So after practice, I found myself sitting in the spectator stands overlooking the ice rink, waiting for Axel to finish.
The arena was alive with noise. Skates scraped across the ice. Sticks clashed together. Players shouted instructions. The cold air bit at my skin despite the hoodie wrapped around me.
I sat near the middle row, my elbows resting on my knees as I watched the practice game unfold below.
The players moved fast. Faster than most people realized. From the stands, hockey always looked effortless. Elegant, even.
But being this close reminded me how brutal it actually was. Bodies slammed into the boards. Skates carved sharp lines into the ice.
The puck flew across the rink at terrifying speeds. My gaze automatically found Axel. He was easy to spot.
Number 11. The team's star forward.
For a moment, I felt the familiar ache in my chest. Not because I had any feelings for him. Not anymore. But because six months ago, I would've been cheering louder than anyone in this arena.
Now all I felt was disappointment. Then my attention shifted. And my heartbeat immediately betrayed me.
Callaway.
The name stretched across the back of a black jersey.
Number 07.
Knox.
I hated the fact that I recognized him instantly. The moment I saw him glide onto the ice, my eyes followed him automatically. The captain's "C" stitched onto his jersey stood out beneath the bright arena lights. And annoyingly enough...
He was good. Really good. No. Good wasn't the right word. He was fascinating to watch. Knox didn't seem to skate. He flowed.
Every movement looked effortless. Every turn calculated. Every pass precise. While the other players chased the game, Knox controlled it. The puck seemed to obey him. Whenever he touched it, the entire pace of the match shifted. Players adjusted around him. Moved with him. Followed his lead. The captaincy looked natural on him.
Which probably explained why Axel hated him so much.
The game intensified. One side attacked. The other defended. The puck bounced between sticks as players raced across the rink.
Axel was playing well. Very well. He was fast. Aggressive. Focused. Every bit the star forward everyone claimed he was. Twice he nearly scored. Once he set up a beautiful assist. The crowd watching from the stands applauded. But despite all of that...
The spotlight somehow kept returning to Knox.
He directed plays. Called formations. Positioned teammates. Even when he wasn't holding the puck, the game revolved around him.
And I could tell Axel hated every second of it. The tension between them became obvious. Whenever Knox scored, Axel pushed harder. Whenever Knox made a play, Axel tried to outdo it.
It wasn't just hockey anymore. It was a competition. A personal one. And Axel was losing.
The breaking point came midway through the scrimmage. Knox stole the puck near center ice and accelerated forward.
The move was smooth.
Clean. Efficient. His teammates immediately opened space for him. A perfect setup.
But before Knox could make his play, Axel cut across the rink. Not because it was the smart move. Because he wanted the spotlight.
I could see it now. Even from the stands. He wanted to prove something. Wanted everyone watching to see that Knox wasn't untouchable.
Axel pushed harder. Faster. Trying to intercept him. Trying to outshine him.
And then—
He messed up. His skate caught at the wrong angle. His balance shifted. The play fell apart.
A second later, he crashed directly into Knox.
The impact echoed through the arena. Players nearby immediately stopped. The puck slid away forgotten. For a brief moment, both of them remained tangled together against the boards.
Then Knox stood. And from where I sat, I noticed something. Something subtle. Something nobody else seemed to catch.
Knox looked annoyed. Not angry. Annoyed. Like Axel had become an inconvenience. Then Knox bumped into him. Not enough to start a fight. Not enough to draw attention. Just enough. Just enough to make Axel snap.
"What the hell is your problem?" Axel shouted.
The arena went silent. Knox merely stared at him. That infuriating calm expression never leaving his face.
And somehow, that only made Axel angrier.
Within seconds, the coach was skating across the ice. "Enough!" His voice thundered through the rink.
Everyone froze. Including Axel. The coach pointed directly at him. Then came several minutes of yelling.
A very loud earful.
Because from everyone else's perspective, Axel had started it.
Again.
By the time the lecture ended, Axel was visibly furious.
He ripped off his helmet. His face was red. His jaw clenched. And his glare was aimed entirely at Knox.
"f**k you," he spat.
Knox only smirked. That somehow made things worse.
With one final curse, Axel turned and stormed off the ice. The locker room door slammed behind him.
Silence settled over the arena. I sat frozen in my seat. I had watched countless games involving both of them. Countless practices. Countless arguments. But this was the first time I truly understood the hatred between them.
And for the first time... I saw it from Knox's perspective. The guy genuinely couldn't stand Axel. Not because of hockey. Not because of the captaincy. But because Axel never seemed capable of letting anything go.
Eventually, practice resumed. But my interest was gone. I sighed and stood from my seat.
Axel had called me here. Then left me sitting alone.
Typical.
Honestly, he probably hadn't even realized I was here. Whenever Axel got angry, the rest of the world stopped existing.
Shaking my head, I grabbed my bag and started toward the exit. Then I heard it.
The sharp scrape of skates against ice.
Followed by a loud—
Ding.
I turned.
And immediately froze.
Knox stood on the other side of the glass.
His helmet was gone.
Dark hair damp with sweat and sticking messily to his forehead. One hand rested on his hockey stick. The other had just tapped the glass to get my attention. And there, stretched across his face, was a wide grin. The same grin that had haunted me all night.
The same grin that belonged to someone who knew exactly how much trouble he was causing.
For one long second, our eyes locked. And my heart immediately decided to betray me.
Again.
- Writer
