Chapter 39 A Rival Academy

Chapter 39 A Rival Academy
Adrian’s POV

The sound of hockey sticks hitting metal lockers echoed through the locker room as I sat quietly on the bench, tightening the straps of my gloves.

Normally, practice helped clear my head.
Today? Not even close.
Because every single thought in my mind somehow circled back to Lena.

I leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on my knees as I exhaled slowly.
Her words kept replaying in my head like punishment. I deserved it.
That was the worst part.

“Wow,” Xavier said suddenly from beside me. “You look miserable.”

I didn’t even glance at him.
“Fuck off.”

Xavier laughed softly before sitting beside me.
“Still thinking about Lena?”

Silence.
Which was answer enough apparently.
“Damn,” he muttered dramatically. “Our fearless hockey captain has officially fallen.”

“I said fuck off.”

“You know,” Xavier continued casually, completely ignoring me, “you really screwed up with that kiss.”

My jaw tightened immediately.
“I didn’t kiss Diane.”

Xavier raised an eyebrow.
“Okay.”

“She kissed me,” I corrected flatly. “Out of nowhere.”

“And somehow the entire academy still got a perfect picture of it.”

“That’s exactly my point.”
I finally looked at him now.
“Who even took that picture?”

Xavier shrugged lazily.
“Adrian. This academy is filled with supernatural teenagers who thrive on drama.”
“Could’ve been literally anyone,” he added.

I leaned back against the locker hard enough to make it rattle slightly. Everything about the situation annoyed me.
Diane. The picture.
The rumors. And most of all… the look on Lena’s face when she pulled away from me. That coldness in her eyes. I hated it.

Xavier nudged my shoulder lightly.
“You need to fix it.”

“I tried.”

“No,” he said immediately. “You tried talking.”

I frowned slightly.
“What’s the difference?”

Xavier stared at me like I was hopeless.
“You’re an Alpha,” he said slowly. “You don’t solve emotional problems with awkward conversations.”

I narrowed my eyes.
“I’m listening.”

“You need something bigger.” He grinned slightly. “Maybe throw her a surprise.”

I blinked.
“A surprise?”

“Yeah.”

“That sounds terrible.”

“Only because you have no romantic instincts.”

“I have instincts.”

“Violent instincts don’t count.”

I rolled my eyes.
But annoyingly… The idea stayed in my head.

A surprise. What would Lena even like?

Before I could think too hard about it, the locker room door suddenly opened.
Coach stepped inside.
The room immediately quieted.

Even the younger players straightened instinctively. The coach had that effect on people.
“Wolfe,” he called.

I stood immediately.
“Coach.”

He jerked his head toward the hallway.
“Walk with me.”

Xavier immediately smirked behind me.
“You’re either getting promoted or murdered.”

I ignored him. The moment we stepped into the hallway, Coach Donovan crossed his arms.
“There’s been a schedule update.”

I frowned slightly.
“What kind of update?”

His expression hardened slightly.
“Blackwood Academy is participating in the Winter Dominion Tournament this year.”

My eyebrows lifted slightly. That tournament was a big deal. Huge.
Only the strongest supernatural academies competed in it.

“Who are we playing against?” I asked.

Coach Donovan’s mouth tightened.
“Shadowcrest Academy.”

Of course it had to be them.
Shadowcrest Academy was Blackwood’s biggest rival. Their hockey team was brutal.
And absolutely obsessed with beating us.

“Tournament starts in three weeks,” the coach continued. “Which means your team needs discipline.”
His eyes locked onto mine sharply.
“And I need my captain focused.”

I understood the warning immediately.
No distractions. No drama.
“Yes, Coach.”

“You’ve got talent, Adrian,” he continued firmly. “But talent means nothing if your head isn’t in the game.”

I nodded once.
“I understand.”

He studied me for another second before speaking again.
“Good.”

Then he turned and walked away. Leaving me alone in the hallway with even more pressure sitting on my shoulders.

By the time practice ended, night had already settled over the academy grounds.
I was exhausted. Physically, at least.
Mentally? Not even close.

As I headed back toward the dorms, I shoved my hands into my pockets and tried ignoring the constant noise in my head.

My thoughts stopped immediately.
Because Damian was standing near the west courtyard. And he wasn’t alone.

I slowed slightly, staying within the shadows of the hallway. Two unfamiliar figures stood beside him. Definitely not students. Their clothes were too formal.
Too polished.

One of them handed Damian something small while speaking quietly.
I narrowed my eyes.

What the hell?

Visitors weren’t allowed inside academy grounds without permission.
Especially not near student dormitories.

The conversation lasted less than a minute before the strangers finally walked away toward the front gates. Damian watched them leave calmly. Then turned.

And immediately noticed me standing there. Neither of us spoke at first.
I stepped out slowly.
“What was that?”

Damian didn’t even look surprised.
“That,” he said casually, “is called a conversation.”

I was already irritated. Now I was annoyed too.
“You know academy rules,” I said coldly. “Strangers aren’t allowed in student territory.”

Damian leaned casually against the stone wall.
“And yet somehow the world keeps spinning.”

I clenched my jaw slightly.
“What are you up to?”

His expression remained relaxed.
Too relaxed.
“Why do you care?”

“Because if you’re doing something shady inside Blackwood…”

He laughed softly.
“Please.”

I stepped closer.
“Who were they?”

Damian tilted his head slightly.
“You ask a lot of questions for someone whose relationship is currently falling apart.”

My expression darkened instantly.
Wrong topic. Very wrong topic.
Damian clearly noticed too. Which unfortunately seemed to amuse him.

“You should probably focus on Diane,” he continued casually.
“I mean… judging from the rumors, you two seem pretty close.”

My wolf stirred aggressively inside me.
“Watch your mouth.”

Damian smirked slightly.
“Or what?”

The air between us shifted immediately.
Dangerous. Tense.
“You don’t know what you’re involving yourself in,” I said coldly.

“And you don’t own the academy,” Damian replied just as coldly.

For a second, neither of us moved.
Then he straightened slightly.
“But don’t worry,” he added smoothly. “You focus on Diane.”
My jaw tightened harder.
“I’ll focus on Lena.”

That did it. Anger surged through me instantly.
Every protective instinct inside me reacted immediately at the thought of Damian anywhere near her.

I stepped forward sharply.
“Stay away from her.”

Damian’s eyes narrowed slightly now.
He wasn’t scared. Not even a little.

“If you touch her…”

“What?” he interrupted calmly.

My wolf pushed harder beneath my skin now. Dangerously close to the surface.
Damian noticed.
But instead of backing down… He smiled.
Coldly.

Then finally, he said the one thing guaranteed to make my control snap.
“She doesn’t belong to you.”