“Listen up, Wardens. We know this entire situation is shit,” I said, not bothering to hold back the truth. “But it doesn’t have to cost us this game. We are going to fight clean and strong like we always do. They don’t get to turn our teammates into monsters, and we are not going to prove them right. We will win this because wearethat good, because we trained that hard, and because we fought for our place on this team.”
The guys were locked in now, nodding along. I had a feeling they needed to hear this.
“This game determines whether we stay in the playoff lineup. We’ve come too far to lose it all now. We are the Wardens, and we’re going to show the Narwhals that we don’t have to fight dirty to kick their asses.”
Several cheers rang out as I finished the pep talk. I never thought I was good at them, but this time I was motivated. EvenMason and Lennon, who had been fairly stoic until now, were amped up and joining the battle cry.
“It’s time,” Coach called, sending us through the tunnel and onto the ice.
Music was already blaring through the arena speakers, the announcers discussing the protests outside. Then our names were called. We skated a lap around the ice, letting the cheers build, adrenaline coursing through me as I realized the fans were still here for us despite everything going on.
Even though the gossip had tried to bring us down, we could still feel the support we’d worked hard to earn.
The Narwhals took the ice next. Of course, they earned the complementary boos you get from being the away team. It still felt satisfying, knowing how much I hated their first-line.
By the time the puck dropped, the crowd was deafening. We usually filled the rink during the final games of the season, but this was more than ever. I refused to believe they were here for the drama and not our team.
As the two starting lineups faced off at center ice, I snagged the puck off the drop and took off down the ice. This was my turf. I wasn’t about to be embarrassed here.
We worked as a unit. I fed off the energy of my pack through the bond, and soon we were burying the puck in the net.
The first goal of the game was always satisfying.
We kept that momentum until Coach called us for a line change.
Just as I was racing back across the ice, the crowd started spilling onto it, blocking the way.
They were sliding around like baby colts taking their first steps, falling on their asses and to their knees because they didn’t have skates.
The game came to a dead stop, announcers shouting as security streamed out in droves. It was pure chaos.
I didn’t know what the hell they were thinking or how things had gotten so out of control. How had they even gotten onto the ice? Arena security was supposed to be top-notch, but someone had failed.
Coach ushered us back through the tunnel, and the Narwhals’ coach did the same. Police were already on the way, and the game was officially postponed.
We were supposed to have some of the best security in the league, yet it didn’t seem to matter.
“What the fuck was that?” Murphy demanded.
Even Coach looked shaken. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. “Your guess is as good as mine. That never should’ve happened.”
There was nothing else to say. The game was already canceled.
Instead of heading for the showers like the rest of the team, I hurried after Lennon toward the kitchen. Lana was standing there. It looked like she’d tried to start cooking, but she was frozen in front of the TV. We moved to her side and watched with her. The footage showed the protesters spilling onto the ice, halting the game, then the police attempting to drag them out with the help of arena security.
“It escalated enough that the board has no choice but to make a statement. They’re calling for a press conference now,” she explained.
“Good. They need to defend us,” Lennon said.
I didn’t argue, but I also didn’t trust that they would.
Lana swallowed hard. “I need to go to my mom’s. I need to see what my dads have to say about this, make sure they’re going to speak up on our behalf.”
“I’m sure Conrad had the same thought,” I said gently. “Come on. You can clean up tomorrow. Tonight is not the night to linger. We’re already going to have to sneak out the back.”
She nodded without hesitation. I loved that she trusted us to take the lead when it mattered.
The others were already heading our way. I hurried into the locker room to shower and change, grabbing Conrad along the way. Security escorted us out back.
