Chapter 76 The First Game
Chapter 76 The First Game
The stadium buzzed with raw energy on the day of the nationals opener. Everywhere was packed has people had come from different places to watch the game.
Zephyra stood on the sidelines in her cheer uniform to cheer for Kaleric with the Lunar Crown pendant safely tucked beneath the fabric, resting warm against her skin. The crowd was larger than usual. The same pack representatives, scouts, families, and students all packed into the stands. Banners waved up and down, drums pounded, and the air crackled with anticipation.
But Zephyra’s eyes were only on one person.
Kaelric stood at the center of the field with his team, wearing his black and silver jersey that fits his athletic frame perfectly. His gray eyes found hers across the distance, and even from here, the mate bond responded. A steady silver thread of connection that cut through the noise. He gave her a small, private nod. I’ve got this.
Victor and Cassian were present, seated in a VIP section with their delegation. Their presence was deliberate and not hidden, it was bold. A cleat warning to them. Zephyra could feel their eyes on her and Kaelric, they were heavy with calculation. Elias had already warned them about expecting subtle tests today, with the real strike possibly saved for the final.
When the first whistle blew, the game was brutal from the opening minutes. Kaelric played with focused ferocity and not reckless, but preciseness. Every tackle, every pass, every break through the defensive line carried the weight of everything they had survived. Thorne, on the opposing side, played hard but cleanly for once, as if the old personal rivalry had finally burned itself out.
Zephyra cheered louder than she ever had. No hesitation. No shame. Her voice carried across the field as she led routines with the squad, her movements sharp and confident. The wolf inside her stayed alert, senses heightened even without shifting, ready for any threat.
At halftime, Kaelric jogged over to the sidelines. Sweat glistened on his skin, but his eyes were bright. He pulled her close for a brief, fierce kiss , right there in front of the crowd, in front of Victor and Cassian, in front of everyone.
“You’re incredible,” he murmured against her lips. “Keep cheering like that and I’ll win this whole damn thing for you.”
“Win it for us,” she replied, pressing her forehead to his. “They’re watching. Be careful.”
“I know.”
By the time it was the second half, the game had gotten even more brutal. Twice, Kaelric narrowly avoided dirty plays that looked like accidents , a late tackle, a suspicious collision. Each time, his eyes flicked toward Zephyra, the mate bond flaring in reassurance. She stayed on the sidelines, heart in her throat, but never stopped cheering.
In the final minutes, with the score tied, Kaelric broke through the line in a play that seemed impossible. He powered forward, evading defenders, and scored the winning try just as the final whistle blew.
The stadium erupted.
Zephyra ran onto the field with the rest of the cheer squad, but she went straight to Kaelric. He swept her up in his arms, spinning her once before kissing her deeply in public, unashamed, and victoriously. The crowd cheered even louder. The mate bond blazed between them, visible for a brief, stunning moment to those sensitive enough to see it.
Victor and Cassian watched from their seats, faces cold and unreadable.
Later, in the locker room area, Kaelric pulled her aside into a quiet corner. He was still buzzing with adrenaline, jersey damp with sweat.
“We survived the first one,” he said, grinning. “They tested us. Tried to rattle me, but it didn’t work.”
Zephyra touched his face, thumb brushing a fresh bruise forming on his cheek. “They’re not done. Elias said the final will be worse.”
“Then we’ll be ready,” he replied, kissing her again. “Together.”
That night, back home, the celebration was quiet but deep. Seraphina had prepared a special dinner. Elowen came over, and the five of them (including a very proud Seraphina) laughed and talked late into the evening. Zephyra watched Kaelric across the table laughing, relaxed, victorious and felt overwhelming love.
Later, alone in their room, they came together with fierce passion. The mate bond burned brighter than ever, silver light filling the space as they reaffirmed their bond physically and emotionally. Every touch carried the knowledge that threats were circling, but so was their strength.
As they lay tangled together afterward, breathing slowing, Kaelric traced the pendant on her chest.
“We’re going to win this,” he whispered. “All of it.”
Zephyra believed him.
But in the early hours of the morning, another message arrived from Elias saying “The final is in five days. Cassian and Victor have secured a rogue enforcer unit. They plan to challenge the validity of your bond on the field publicly and violently. Be prepared for blood.”
The nationals final was no longer just a game.
It had become the battlefield where their future would be decided.