Guarded by Two Alpha Knights

Chapter 2

Jack's POV

I sit on the bench, half-watching my teammates train. Harry, my forward is passing the ball to my midfielder. When Oliver, the red-haired Italian wonder, catches the ball, the girls in the rink squeal like they're at a boy band concert. Oliver, ever the charmer, grins and blows them a kiss.

"Focus, playboy," Harry jabs him with his stick.

"Not my fault," Oliver grins. "A gentleman must respond to his adoring fans."

"And does every gentleman change his partners like seasons?" Harry taunts.

Oliver blushes, not quite matching his fiery hair.

Their banter loosens my heavy mood a bit.

I'm not a moody person. But today is special, for I saw Ara Shadow, the girl I fell for in kindergarten, this morning.

Laugh if you will, but I insist childhood crushes are the purest kind of romance. Back then, there were no checklists about ranks in the pack or bank accounts.

Ara and I once attended the same school, the finest private aristocratic one in the city. Funny that she was so quiet that I didn't notice her, even though we were in the same class. Then there was a spring outing. We played a role-play game under a gigantic beech, and suddenly, bam, I was smitten.

I waited eagerly to see her again, my little heart pounding with anticipation. But she didn’t show up the next day, or the day after that. Finally, unable to wait any longer, I mustered all the courage my five-year-old self could, and asked Ms. White where Ara had gone.

"She transferred schools," Ms. White said gently.

“Which school?” I asked, feeling panic bubble up for the very first time.

Ms. White shook her head, unsure, and the dam broke. I burst into tears, my tiny chest heaving. Poor Ms. White looked startled. "Don't cry," she soothed, but I wailed about losing my 'one true love.'

She chuckled, not understanding the gravity of my heartbreak. Grown-ups always underestimate a kid's feelings, brushing them off like they're no big deal.

I never found out why Ara had to transfer. I only knew she was my princess. Over the years, I've kept an eye out, hoping to catch a glimpse of news about her. But my search was fruitless.

This summer, Mum gave me the glamorous job of emailing parents who still owed school fees. Apparently, she found it awkward to mind-link and ask for money

And guess what I found? Ara's dad, Josh Shadow, on the list.

Jackpot! I fired off an email, breaking my usual alphabetical order. Thrilling, I know. But my message was met with deafening silence. Not a peep, despite my follow-ups. Everyone else eventually paid up, but Mr. Josh remained a mystery.

Mum had no choice but to mind-link him. With all the grace of a sleepy sloth, he assured her with a slurred "No problem, ma’am," then vanished like a ghost. Mum kept reaching out. He finally ignored and even blocked Mum's mind-link attempts.

"Such a rude man,” Mum huffed.

"What if Mr. Josh doesn’t pay?" I asked, feeling Ara’s future slipping away.

"His daughter can't enroll," Mum sighed. "A real shame, given she's top of her class."

"Can I pay her tuition?" I blurted.

Mum looked at me with surprise.

"Why do you want to pay her tuition?"asked Mum, who raised her brows at me.

"I owed her," I explained. "She saved me once."

"When?" Nicole perked up her ears.

"Kindergarten," I replied.

"From whom?" Mum pressed.

"When I was surrounded by a group of bullies, the girl didn't abandon me."I said, shrugging my shoulders.

Mum and Nicole exchanged that silent sibling look.

"Well, in that case, I'm all for you repaying the favor, brother," Nicole declared with mock seriousness.

"Thanks," I said with a smirk.

"Gratitude is nice, but you should know it’s not a small amount," Mum said. "The Ivy Private High School is pricey."

"No board member discount?" I asked, feigning innocence.

"Nope," Mum said with a knowing glance. "It wouldn’t be fair."

"Alright, I’ll figure it out."

"Can you even afford it?" Mum challenged, eyebrows still in full arch.

"Not yet," I confessed. "I'll need you to front the cash. I'll pay back with interest by Christmas."

Mum leaned in. "And may I ask where this magical money will come from?"

“The Golden family always finds a way to make money," I said confidently.

Mum considered it and nodded, "Very well. I'll inform Ara her tuition's covered. But I want an IOU."

“Thanks, Mum,” I said, mentally starting my IOU draft.

"Sure thing, son. Remember, nothing in life is free," Mum added, half-joking.

You might find this amusing or strange, but that’s how my family works—always ready to help, but rarely without a playful catch.

After setting everything in motion, I dialed up Benedict. Of course, his trusty secretary, Ms. Mia, was the gatekeeper. "He’s in a meeting," she sang, a subtle reminder that my brother's social life was basically non-existent. Three hours later, he finally called back.

Having a workaholic brother is daunting. Still, I guess it proves Dad made the right choice for his successor.

"What's up, Jack?" Benedict fumbled out, his voice amused. "Oh, did I wake you?"

"You think? It’s 2 a.m." I grumbled.

He laughed. "What can I do for you?"

"Can I intern at your company?" I asked, hoping I didn’t sound too desperate.

"Sure. What's with the sudden interest?" he inquired.

"Need to expand my horizons," I said, stomach knotting a bit.

"No problem. Mia can set something up. Any particular department—tech, design, customer service, or sales?"

"Which one pays the best?"

"When did you become money-conscious, Jack?" Benedict teased. "Are you in some kind of bind?"

"No," I replied a little too quick for comfort.

"You in love?" he guessed.

"No!" I said, maybe just a tad too defensively. "Why would you think that?"

"Love burns through cash faster than gasoline," he wisely mused. "Focus on school now, Jack—a good university is your priority."

"Stop the lectures," I bemoaned. "You sound like Dad and Mum combined."

"Why the cash rush?" he persisted.

"Never mind," I deflected. "Forget I asked. Tomorrow dinner?"

"My schedule’s packed. Let me check. Next Tuesday’s earliest."

"Great, Tuesday then. Your choice or mine?"

"Your call, just text the details."

"You’re swamped. Need a stand-in for meetings? Bet I’d fool them all," I muttered,

"And I’ll sit in for your exams?" Benedict snickered. "Brilliant plan, but got another meeting. Goodnight, Jack."

"Goodnight—" He hung up mid-sentence. Classic Benedict.

The next day, I found Nicole at the pool, working on her tan.

"Want the latest scoop on Benedict?" I offered.

She rolled over, eyeing me over her sunglasses. "What are your terms?"she asked skeptically.

"I'll tell you our dinner details, but I want 50% of your cut from selling that info."

"50%? That’s highway robbery!" Nicole protested.

"50%, or I spill the beans about your little academic accident to Mum," I replied with mock severity.

She shot me a glare before waving her hand in irritation. "Fine!"

"One more thing. Keep my financial heroics for Ara under wraps."

"Why? Aspire to be a shadowy knight?"

"Or else she'll get shredded by the gossip sharks," I said, pulling a face.

"Ah, the curse of popularity," Nicole sighed sardonically.

I settled into waiting for Ara, heart thrumming. When we finally crossed paths, she barged right into me, spilling soda everywhere.

For a fleeting second, I hoped for a spark, a sign that she saw me, remembered me. But there was nothing.

Despite being the star hockey team captain, I've always lived in the shadows, overshadowed by my overachieving family. Dad carefully molds Benedict for leadership, Mum’s endlessly devoted to her students, and Nicole naturally draws attention like a magnet.

Ara was the one person I had hoped might see past it all, to see me for who I was. But she didn't seem to remember me, and the absence of recognition left a hollow ache, a reminder of how invisible I’ve become despite the cheers and applause on the ice.

"Jack!" Bianca's voice slices through my brooding, causing my teammates to smirk.

I suppress a grimace. I hate Bianca’s persistence. I’ve told her many times we won’t be a couple, but she’s stubborn.

Bianca is also the cheerleader for the hockey team. Her brother, Harry Brooks, is my forward, and for the team’s harmony, I must be as polite as possible to her.

Suppressing an eye-roll, I turn with a polite smile. "Hey," I say, while packing my gear and plotting my escape.

"Why vanish every time I show up, Captain?" she pout with well-practiced precision.

"Can’t slack off—not with the season looming," I reason, convincing myself more than her.

"Alright. Brother, come here!" Bianca command, her drama dialing up to max.

Harry, ever the doting brother, skates over with a curious look. "What's going on?"

"A girl dared to cross me today," Bianca declares dramatically. "I need you to avenge my honor!"

"Can't you handle it on your own?" Harry quips, throwing in a teasing wink.

"I’ve already given her a piece of my mind. But my dignity took a massive hit," she insists, arms sassily akimbo.

"So, what’s the plan, princess?" Harry asks, already resigned to whatever scheme Bianca is cooking up.

Bianca’s eyes gleam with mischief. She leans in to share her devious ideas with Harry. I seize the opportunity to skate off, content to remain blissfully ignorant of whatever scheme the Brooks siblings were hatching.

But little did I know, the girl in question was Ara.