Chapter 18 A Meeting Of Fate
Rafe’s POV
“Ladies and gentlemen, players, staff, and members of the press…you’re all welcome.” The director’s voice cut through the room, sharp enough to snap me out of my own head.
I blinked once, my grip tightening slightly around the glass in my hand as the sound of quiet conversations began to fade slowly in the room.
But I had barely heard any of it.
Not while my attention was still on Shawn the entire time after our argument this morning.
He stood at the far end of the room, that controlled expression on his face as usual, like nothing had just happened between us.
Fucking piece of shit!
My jaw clenched tightly as I looked across the room, our eyes locked on each other instantly.
And just like that—
He looked away.
Again.
I let out a quiet breath, something caught in between rage and frustration settling in my chest.
Of course!
That was his sick twisted move now—act like nothing is clearly wrong, like everything that I said this morning didn’t get under his skin.
But it did.
I could see it no matter how much he tried to hide it, and the fact that he’s been avoiding me since morning only made it much worse.
“…tonight is not just about celebrating excellence,” the director’s voice snaps me back to reality as he continues on stage, his voice echoing through the room, “but also about looking ahead.”
Focus, Rafe!
I shift my gaze away from Shawn, forcing myself to focus on the director’s speech now. Meanwhile, around me, players and media were turning toward the stage, some curious, some already expecting a shocking announcement.
“As you all know,” the director went on, “Storm Ridge Academy has built a legacy of discipline, resilience, and dominance. But even the strongest programs need to be tested.”
That got everyone's attention.
A few nods ripple through the players, followed by a few whispers of agreement.
What exactly did he mean by tested?
I straightened slightly, forcing myself not to think of the worst right now as the director paused, letting the silence stretch just enough.
Then—
“I’m proud to announce that in two weeks, Storm Ridge will face off against one of the most dominant hockey teams in the country in a special exhibition match.”
What the—
Players began to glance at each other immediately, some already whispering guesses under their breath.
“Who?” someone muttered behind me.
“Has to be Easton Prep,” another guessed.
“No way, they wouldn’t—”
“The Seattle Krakens.”
The words landed like a shockwave.
“Holy shit!” Torres cursed behind me.
The sound of voices filled the entire room in seconds, sharp and loud, disbelief mixing with excitement as the name spread through the room. Even the media was in shock, their cameras flashing faster now.
The Seattle Krakens?
For a moment, I thought I’d misheard the director’s words. My lips pressed together lightly, something much like fear twisting inside my chest now.
The Seattle Krakens weren't just any team.
They have been Storm Ridge’s biggest rivals for years. They didn’t just play hard…they dominated.
“We believe this match will not only challenge our players,” the director continued, not caring one bit about the commotion his announcement had just caused. “But also this is an opportunity to showcase the level of talent being developed here at Storm Ridge.”
I barely heard the rest.
My mind was already racing with different strategies.
Matchups.
Pressure.
This was exactly the kind of game that could change everything for me—
CREAK!
The sound of the hall room doors drifting open completely shatters my focus. It wasn’t loud, or dramatic…but it was enough to pull everyone’s attention as all eyes immediately turned to the door.
I didn’t think much of it at first, probably some teammates arriving late. More media with their cameras, maybe.
Until I saw him.
And everything in me went still.
No.
No. Fucking. Way!
He stepped into the room as if he belonged there, like he owned every inch of space in the entire hall. Tall, confident, dressed in a black suit that clung to his physique perfectly.
The conversations in the entire room began to die almost immediately, their voices dropping to a low, whisper as their eyes flickered to him. Then back to me.
“Kai…” the word rolled out of me before I could stop myself. Something snaps inside me, something dark and unfamiliar settling deep in my chest. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!”
My stepbrother.
He hadn’t changed much, that same calm, annoying presence that made it feel like he was always ten steps ahead of everyone else in the room.
What the actual fuck is he doing here?
His eyes begin to scan the room carefully, taking everything in.
Then—
They landed on me.
And stopped.
Just like that.
The rest of the room disappeared instantly, and the only thing that mattered now was his gaze on me. A sly smirk curves on his lips as he begins to move toward me.
Around us, people were starting to notice the tension, whispers spreading quietly among themselves, while others just stood there, reacting to the sudden tension that had settled in the room.
“Holy shit! That’s Kai freakin Navarro…” someone murmured.
“What’s he doing here?”
“He wasn’t announced—”
“Ah…” the director clears his throat slightly, regaining control of the room. “It seems we have a very special guest joining us this evening.”
But Kai didn’t acknowledge the attention, nor did he look at anyone else as he was still walking straight toward me. Each step slowly, measured, like he had all the time in the world to do this.
My fingers curl slightly at my sides as fear slams into my entire body without warning, but I don’t move. Neither did I look away.
I wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction…and certainly not in front of everyone watching right now. Before I can realize anything, he stops a few feet in front of me and steps close.
Close enough until there was no inch of space between us. “Didn’t think I’d see you here,” I began, forcing my voice to sound steady.
Kai doesn’t utter a word in response, instead, he tilts his head slightly, studying me like I was something familiar but different at the same time.
“Well…say hello to the captain of the Seattle Krakens,” he replies calmly. “Because you’re staring at him right now.”