14

T wo periods into this game and I'm borderline feral. We have to win this game and it's the last period.

I still haven't been able to spot her.

I can feel her.

I know her general area, but my eyes haven't met hers and it's driving me mad.

I'll have to run all night to burn through this anger.

Not only have I not been able to spot her yet, but the appropriately named Vultures, have locked in on my distraction and have been pummeling the shit out of me.

Boss, it would be so fucking helpful if you could pull your head out of your ass. Benny growls in my mind, followed by the team's grunts of agreement.

I'm trying. My wolf and body refuse to give a fuck about the game.

All right, look, if we can finish this game, and win it, we know we'll get to see her for the fucking interview. Could you fucking cooperate with me here, I scold my wolf. Using all my energy to focus on the game, I nod my head at Benny.

We're immediately barreling down the ice to get the puck back. After slapping down a Vultures pass, I pass the puck to Benny as he skates along the boards then cuts the middle. He shoots the puck towards the net, but their goalie makes the save. But I'm waiting on the edge of the crease and manage to snatch the rebound out of the air with my stick, lifting the puck over the goalie's mitt and into the net.

The entire arena erupts into madness as the buzzer goes off at the same time the puck hits the back of the net.

Just as I throw my arms up in the air in celebration, I'm hit from behind. My entire body is thrown backwards as another body barrels through my knees from behind me, then taking my legs out from under me. As my body falls to the ice, Khaos is there using his body to propel mine down harder, making sure this is more than just a hockey hit.

My head hits the ice first.

The impact is so strong that my vision blurs.

I know I'm going to black out.

I feel it coming.

I haven't been hit this hard in a long time.

Just as I'm about to allow myself to be pulled into the darkness, my little mate flies from wherever she was sitting.

She moves so fast that her snacks scatter everywhere as she sprints down the few steps and leans against the railing, screaming my name.

Hearing my name leave her lips is everything.

I want to reach out to her.

I want to tell her it's going to be okay.

I want to apologize.

I want to know her name.

But the darkness is too strong, and the worry etched into her face is the last thing I see as I'm enveloped by nothingness.