Puck’s Secret: Claimed by the Ruthless Captain

Mazikeen

Every muscle in my body locked up, I knew that voice. It was Michael.

Slowly, painfully, Eros turned around. Michael stood in the doorway, his hockey bag hung over one shoulder.

His eyes moved from Eros, then to me, to Eros's hand, then back at me again, he seemed confused as to what he was seeing.

The temperature inside the locker room seemed to drop, and it felt cold and hot at the same time.

“Just right in time," I thought to myself as Eros looked at me with a deadly look before leaving. I mean where is the man I thought just wanted to protect me????

All these thoughts flooding through my head. "Hi, I’m Micheal," his voice cutting through whatever I had going on in my little small head.

"Hey, I’m Mazi for short," I said, almost forgetting that I had to appear masculine. “You seem to be quite the pick here, and why’s that???" he said softly….

“Nothing , it’s nothing, it’s just how they are , I can’t say why”.

"Have you ever thought about standing up for yourself???" He said, and those words instantly got my attention…

"Who's there?!"

The question caught me completely off guard.

I stared at Michael for a long second, unsure how to answer. Nobody had ever asked me something like that before. Most people at North bridge either hated me, ignored me, or used me as their personal punching bag.

Standing up for myself? the thought almost sounded ridiculous, a weak female like me doing that amongst males??? ….

Before I could even form the words to reply, a familiar voice echoed across the hallway.

"Thorne! "Get over here!" My stomach immediately sank. atlas, Of course it was Atlas.

I quickly pushed myself away from the locker and hurried toward him before he decided to come drag me there himself.

When I reached him, Atlas was standing with his arms crossed over his broad chest. His pale blue eyes narrowed the second they landed on me.

"What took you so long?"

"I was just talking to someone."

"I don't care." That answer shouldn't have annoyed me anymore, Unfortunately, it still did.

Atlas looked me up and down with obvious disgust.

"You spend more time talking than training. Maybe that's why you're the worst player on this team."

I clenched my jaw, there was no point arguing, he always had to win.

Before he could say anything else, another voice interrupted.

"Well, if it isn't the academy's biggest embarrassment."

I didn't even have to turn around.

Claudia.

I let out a quiet sigh.

She was standing a few feet away, dressed in the academy uniform with her blonde hair perfectly styled. Everything about her looked expensive.

Everything except her personality. "Leave me alone, Claudia."

She laughed, the sound was sharp and cruel. "In less than no time, you'll be kicked out of here anyway."

I rolled my eyes, i was honestly too tired to deal with her.

Training had already drained every ounce of energy from my body.

"Whatever you say."

The smile immediately vanished from Claudia's face.

She hated being ignored. "You really don't belong here."

I didn't answer.

"You hear me?" Still nothing. Her eyes flashed with anger.

Then suddenly she shoved me.

Hard.

Much harder than I expected, the strength of her wolf hit me like a truck. I lost my balance instantly and crashed onto the concrete floor.

Pain shot through my elbow, several students nearby started laughing. I squeezed my eyes shut for a second before forcing myself back onto my feet.

I refused to stay down, not in front of her, not in front of anyone.

Claudia looked disappointed that I had gotten up so quickly.

"In less than no time, you'll be out of this academy," she sneered. "You miserable weakling."

The words hurt, more than I wanted to admit.

Because a small part of me wondered if she was right.

Maybe I didn't belong here. I never had. I wasn't a real hockey recruit, I wasn't even supposed to be here.

Every day was another lie, another risk, another chance for everything to fall apart.

My chest tightened.

Atlas suddenly stepped forward. For one ridiculous second, I thought he was going to tell Claudia to stop.

Instead, he looked directly at me.

"Get moving, Thorne." His voice was cold.

"You are already behind everyone else."

The words stung, I lowered my eyes.

"Yes, Captain."

Neither of them noticed the way my hands were shaking, Or maybe they did, maybe They just didn't care.

I turned and walked away before either of them could say anything else.

The academy hallways felt unusually quiet, my boots made sounds softly against the floor as I headed back toward the dormitories.

The farther I walked, the heavier everything felt.

Atlas's words, Claudia's insults, Eros's threats, The constant fear of identities being exposed.

It was all becoming too much, I pushed open the dorm room door and sat heavily in my corner.

The room was empty. For once, I leaned forward and buried my face in my hands.

"Just keep going," I whispered to myself.

"You would survive."

That was all I had to do.

Survive.

Grrr, Grrr, Grrr, suddenly my phone started ringing, the sound immediately filled me with fear, hoping nothing had happened.

Only one person ever called this number. Slowly, I pulled the burner phone from my pocket.

My stomach twisted, Aunt Sarah, my hands started trembling before I even answered.

I already knew this wasn't going to be good. I quickly went out of the room to answer the call, forgetting that atlas wasn’t even there

I pressed accept.

"What?" I asked quietly.

Sarah didn't bother greeting me. "It's either you pay the money today or your mother will be sleeping on the streets."

The words hit me like a physical blow.

"What?"

"You heard me."

My breathing stopped.

"No, please…."

"I am done taking care of her."

My vision blurred. "Please, Aunt Sarah. Just give me more time."

"Time?" she snapped. "You said that last week."

"Mom is sick."

"Not my problem." My fingers tightened around the phone.

Panic surged through every part of my body.

"You can't do this."

"I can." The coldness in her voice terrified me.

"If the money isn't transferred by tonight, I am throwing her out."

"Aunt Sarah...." The line went dead, I could feel the silence.

I slowly lowered the phone. My hands were shaking so badly I nearly dropped it.

The walls suddenly felt like they were closing in around me.

I couldn't breathe or think, Mom….

The image of her coughing blood flashed through my mind, she was alone, sick, and helpless.

And now she might lose the only roof over her head, a tear slipped down my cheek, Then another. I wiped them away angrily.

Crying wouldn't solve anything. I needed money, Fast.

But I had nothing left to sell, nothing left to borrow, nothing left at all.

Clicks of boots suddenly echoed from the dorm room hallway.

The steps continued persistently, my wolf immediately stirred uneasily.

Who could possibly be here by this time and now?

With my heart hammering against my ribs, I slowly walked down, and that is when I met him.

Eros was standing there.

And the look in his golden eyes promised nothing good.

“I can help with your situation if you don’t mind," he said with his face unreadable