Chapter 104 The proposal

Chapter 104 The proposal
Chapter 104

DARIUS 

I was coming out from the locker room after changing into my practice gear when I heard someone whistling. The sound was deliberately loud and obnoxious, clearly designed to irritate everyone within earshot.

Caleb Nightshade walked in like he owned the entire damn place, his expression smug and his body language radiating confidence that bordered on arrogance.

I hissed under my breath and turned to Dorian. "What the hell is he doing here?"

Dorian shrugged whilst tying his skates. "We will find out soon enough when Bonn arrives and explains everything."

Before I could respond, Theodore came running into the locker room looking slightly panicked about being late. I called out to him immediately. "Theodore, over here."

He stopped and stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable.

The silence stretched on until my patience snapped. "Stop staring at me like that and come over here now."

Dorian hit my arm hard enough to hurt. "He is just a kid, Darius. Stop being so mean to him all the time."

Theodore must have heard that because his jaw tightened. 

He cursed quietly under his breath but walked towards us anyway, his movements stiff with obvious reluctance.

"What do you want?" he demanded when he reached us. "Why are you calling me over here?"

"You are being rude," I pointed out sharply. "Do you not know that I am the team captain? You need to show some respect."

Theodore raised both hands in mock surrender. "I know you are the captain. I am not trying to offend you, especially since you are clearly in a terrible mood today. But I would appreciate knowing why I was called over here."

I studied his face carefully before asking the question that had been bothering me since Ravenna's outburst. "Are you somehow related to Ravenna?"

Confusion flickered across Theodore's features. "What do you mean?"

"The last time Ravenna saw you, she asked if your father sent you here specifically to take her spot on the team," I explained, watching his reaction closely. "That suggests some kind of family connection. So I am asking directly. Are you related to her?"

Theodore looked at me like I was speaking complete nonsense. "I have no idea what you are talking about. I am not related to Ravenna in any way. I know her from her old life before she came to this academy, but we are not family."

I did not believe him. Not entirely. I had heard what I heard, and there was definitely a resemblance between them that was hard to ignore. The red hair. The similar facial structure. Something was there even if I could not prove it yet.

"Fine," I finally responded, waving him off dismissively. "You can go warm up."

Theodore did not waste any time leaving, clearly relieved to get away from me.

I made a mental note to investigate him more closely. To watch Theodore's every movement and interaction. To find proof of whatever connection existed between him and Ravenna.

A few minutes later, Coach Bonn entered the locker room with Caleb following behind him. The entire team gathered around to hear whatever announcement was coming.

"Listen up, everyone," Bonn called out, getting our attention. "I want to introduce our newest team member. This is Caleb Nightshade. He was accepted onto our roster because of his excellent performance record at his previous school. I expect all of you to welcome him and help him integrate into our team dynamics."

Several players murmured greetings whilst I just glared silently. Having Caleb on the team was going to be a nightmare.

Bonn continued. "Also, the female hockey team will be joining us for practice today. Their coach is unavailable, so I will be overseeing both teams. They should be arriving any moment now."

Right on cue, the sound of female voices filled the corridor outside. The door opened and the entire female team streamed in, their chatter loud and energetic.

I immediately spotted Ravenna, Selene, and Samantha entering together. They were clearly locked into whatever conversation they were having, completely absorbed and oblivious to everyone else.

The sight of Ravenna laughing at something Selene said made my chest tighten uncomfortably. When had they become so friendly? What were they talking about?

Bonn organised us all onto the ice and began leading practice drills. He alternated between working with the male and female teams, pushing everyone hard through various exercises.

I tried to approach Ravenna during a water break. She was standing near the boards, wiping sweat from her forehead whilst talking to Samantha.

"Ravenna, can we—"

She turned away mid-sentence, cutting me off completely. "Sam, let us go practice that drill again. I need to get the footwork right."

They skated off towards the centre of the rink before I could finish speaking.

I gritted my teeth and waited for another opportunity. A few minutes later, I spotted her alone adjusting her skate laces near the bench.

"Ravenna, I need to talk to you about—"

"Oh, I left my water bottle in the locker room," she announced to no one in particular, standing up quickly. "I should go get that right now."

She moved past me like I was invisible, her shoulder deliberately angled away to avoid any contact.

Atlas snarled in frustration. "She is avoiding us. Try make her listen."

"I noticed," I muttered back.

I tried again during the next drill rotation. I skated directly into her path, forcing her to acknowledge my presence.

"We need to talk," I stated firmly, blocking her route.

Ravenna stopped but did not meet my eyes. She looked past my shoulder instead, her expression completely blank. "I cannot talk right now. Coach Bonn is watching."

"After practice then—"

"I have plans after practice," she interrupted coolly. "Now please move. You are in my way."

She skated around me without waiting for permission, joining the female team's formation like I had never been there at all.

The rejection stung worse than any physical blow could have. She was not just avoiding me. She was erasing me completely, treating me like I meant nothing.

Like I had never meant anything at all.

Then I watched Caleb skate over to her not long after. He leaned close and said something I could not hear from where I stood. 

Ravenna threw her head back and burst out laughing, the sound carrying across the ice and stabbing straight through me.

So she could talk to him? And not spare me a second without giving excuses? 

Atlas growled possessively inside my head, demanding I do something to stop whatever was happening. 

But I pushed him down forcefully, not wanting to create a scene in front of both teams and Coach Bonn.

"Control yourself," I muttered internally. "It means nothing."

"It means everything," Atlas snarled back. "That is our mate. Ours. Not his."

I forced myself to focus on my own drills, trying to ignore what was happening across the rink. But my gaze kept drifting back to them against my will.

Caleb leaned even closer to Ravenna whilst they talked. Then he reached out and brushed a strand of red hair away from her face in a gesture that was far too intimate. 

She blushed slightly at the contact, smiling up at him in a way she had not smiled at anyone in weeks.

Something inside me cracked. I should be the one standing that close to her. I should be the one making her laugh and smile like that. I should be the one touching her hair and making her blush.

"This is wrong," Atlas insisted furiously. "We need to stop this right now. Go over there and claim what is ours."

"It means nothing," I repeated stubbornly, though the words felt hollow even to myself. "She is just being friendly. It does not matter."

"It means everything and you know it," Atlas countered. "Stop lying to yourself."

I gritted my teeth and turned away, forcing myself to skate to the other end of the rink where I could not see them as clearly. 

But even with distance, I could still hear Ravenna's laughter ringing out every few minutes.

Practice dragged on endlessly. Every minute felt like an hour whilst I watched Caleb continue to monopolise Ravenna's attention. 

He stayed close to her throughout all the drills, finding excuses to partner with her, making her laugh constantly.

Finally, mercifully, Bonn called for a break. Everyone skated towards the boards to grab water bottles and catch their breath.

That was when Caleb's voice rang out across the rink, loud and clear and deliberately projected so everyone could hear.

"Ravenna, would you like to go out with me this weekend? Maybe dinner and a film? Just the two of us?"