Mazikeen

Atlas’s words hung in the heavy, burning air of the dorm room. You don't feel like a boy.

Panic exploded in my chest. I shoved both of my hands against his scorching shoulders and pushed with every ounce of strength I had. His fever made him sloppy. He lost his balance and rolled off me with a loud, pained groan, hitting the carpeted floor hard.

I scrambled backward until my spine hit the cold wall. My chest heaved violently.

"Get away from me!" I yelled, my voice cracking.

Atlas gripped his head, his knuckles turning white. His breathing was rugged, completely out of control. His icy blue eyes flashed a bright, dangerous gold for a fraction of a second his wolf fighting to take over the rut.

"Get out," he snarled, his voice dropping into a terrifying, guttural pitch. "Get out of here before I lose my mind and mark you myself, Thorne. Run."

I didn't need to be told twice. I grabbed my oversized hoodie from the floor, threw open the heavy door, and bolted out into the freezing hallway. I didn't stop running until I reached the empty locker rooms at the ice arena.

I locked myself in a bathroom stall and curled my knees to my chest. I let out a deep, shaky sigh, burying my face in my hands. He knew. Atlas definitely suspected something. If I made one wrong move on the ice today, he would tear the jersey right off my back and expose me to the entire pack. And then my mother would be thrown into the streets.

I waited until the sun started to rise before I stepped out to prep my gear.

The locker room was empty, smelling faintly of wax and old sweat. I sat on the bench, silently wrapping black tape around the blade of my hockey stick. My hands were still trembling.

"Look who's here. The runt."

I froze. I slowly looked up.

Damon, the left-winger for our team, stood in the doorway with two of his massive friends. Damon hated Jace. He had hated him since we were kids. He had a cruel face and a reputation for deliberately injuring players during the regionals.

"What do you want, Damon?" I muttered, keeping my voice low. "Practice doesn't start for an hour."

"I want you off my line," Damon sneered. He walked over, his heavy boots echoing on the rubber mat. "You cost us the championship last year, Jace. You are weak. You are a complete joke to this pack."

"Take it up with Coach," I said, standing up. I tried to walk past him, but his friend shoved me hard in the chest. I stumbled back, hitting the metal lockers.

"We are taking it up with you," Damon growled. He snatched my freshly taped stick right out of my hands. He raised his knee and snapped the expensive carbon fiber stick perfectly in half.

"Hey!" I yelled. "Are you crazy?"

Damon dropped the broken pieces at my feet. He grabbed the front of my jersey, slamming me against the lockers again. The metal handle dug painfully into my spine.

"I loosened the bolts on your skate blades this morning," Damon whispered with an evil smile. "When Atlas checks you into the boards today, your skates are going to snap. You are going to break your ankles, Jace. And then Vanderbilt will finally kick your pathetic ass out of Northbridge for good."

My stomach turned completely upside down. He tampered with my skates? If I went on the ice at those speeds, I could be killed.

"You are a coward, Damon," I spat at him.

Damon’s eyes darkened. He raised his fist to punch me.

"Touch him, and I will break your arm in three places."

Damon froze. We all looked toward the door.

Eros was leaning casually against the doorframe, a bright green apple in his hand. He took a slow bite, his golden eyes completely cold and deadly as he stared at Damon.

"Eros," Damon stammered, instantly letting go of my jersey. "We were just talking."

"It didn't look like talking," Eros said. He threw the apple core into the trash can and walked over. The alpha energy rolling off him made Damon’s friends immediately step back in submission. "Get out of my locker room, Damon. If I catch you near Thorne again, I will personally strip you of your rank."

Damon swallowed hard, nodding quickly. He and his friends rushed out the door like terrified pups.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, sliding down slightly against the lockers. "Thank you. He broke my stick."

Eros looked down at the broken pieces. His expression softened, and that charming, kind smile returned to his face. "Don't worry about it. Come with me to the back equipment room. I have a spare stick you can use."

"Are you sure? Atlas might get mad if—"

"Atlas is locked in his room dealing with a nasty rut," Eros interrupted gently. "He won't be on the ice today. You are safe, Jace. Come on."

A wave of massive relief washed over me. No Atlas today. I could actually breathe.

I followed Eros out of the locker room and down the dark, narrow hallway that led to the equipment storage. It was a small room filled with spare pads, helmets, and a heavy scent of freshly sharpened steel.

I walked in to look at the rack of sticks.

Click.

I turned around. Eros had just shut the heavy metal door. He slid the deadbolt into place.

"Eros?" I asked, my voice suddenly very small. "Why did you lock the door?"

Eros didn't answer right away. He just stood there staring at me. His breathing was starting to get heavy. The kind, warm smile completely melted off his face, replaced by something dark, hungry, and entirely predatory.

The air in the small room suddenly changed. The smell of pine grew incredibly strong, mixing with a thick, musky scent that made my inner wolf whimper in pure panic.

He was in rut, too.

"Eros, open the door," I said, taking a step back until my hips hit the equipment table.

"Atlas is an idiot," Eros whispered. He took a slow step toward me. "He is so blinded by his own anger that he can't even see what is standing right in front of him."

"I don't know what you are talking about. I just need a stick."

"No, you don't." Eros took another step, trapping me between the table and his solid body. He reached out, his hot fingers lightly brushing against the side of my neck.

I slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me!"

Eros chuckled, a dark, vibrating sound. He grabbed both of my wrists with one hand and pinned them to the table behind my back. He leaned in so close his lips brushed my ear.

"You don't have an Adam's apple," Eros murmured softly. "Your waist is too soft under that bulky jersey. And you smell like sweet vanilla and pure, terrified female."

A tear slipped down my cheek. I was caught. It was all over.

"Please," I begged, my voice breaking. "Please don't tell Atlas. My mom is sick. If I lose this spot, they will throw us out. Please, Eros, I thought you were kind."

"I am kind," Eros said smoothly. His nose traced my jawline, inhaling deeply. His body was burning hot against mine. "I won't tell Atlas a single word. I will keep your little secret, Mazikeen."

I gasped. He knew my real name.

"But silence isn't free," Eros whispered darkly, his golden eyes dropping to my lips. "I am in rut. And you are going to help me through it."

"No," I choked out, trying to thrash against his grip, but he was too strong.

Eros smirked, entirely wicked and ruthless. "If you don't want the Alpha King to find out his favorite punching bag is a girl... you are going to sleep with me. Right here. Right now."

Mazikeen

“What am I going to do???" this can’t be over, I can’t let this man have his way with me, I can’t allow that.

“Please!!! Let me go!!!” I pleaded with him softly, but it was to no avail, I could feel his hands trying to lose the pants I had on.

"Please... let me go," I pleaded.

My voice was weak, I could feel myself trembling.

Eros didn't listen.

The look in his golden eyes scared me more than anything Atlas had ever done. Atlas was cruel and loud. Eros was calm. That somehow felt worse.

I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for whatever was about to happen.

Then suddenly…

"Who's there?!" a bright flashlight cut through the darkness, Eros immediately stepped away from me.

The equipment room door swung open.

One of the night captains stood there holding a flashlight.

"What are you two doing in there? Eros released me instantly.

I stumbled backward, breathing hard.

"To your rooms. Now!" The captain barked. I didn't wait for a second warning.

I rushed out of the room so fast I nearly tripped over my own feet.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! The words repeated endlessly inside my head.

I had never been so relieved in my life.

I hurried back to the dorm room and quietly pushed the door open.

Atlas was asleep. For once he looked peaceful, like he couldn’t hurt a fly.

The vein lines of his face that were hard while he shouted for me were softer.

His dark hair fell across his forehead, his breaths were slow and steady.

It was strange seeing him like that, almost human.

I quickly crawled into my tiny cot in the corner my entire body shook with the memory of Eros's eyes, making my stomach twist.

I wrapped my arms around myself and stared at the ceiling.

I missed Mom, I missed home, I missed being Mazikeen…

“Ooh this stupid bind on my chest!!!” I released it a bit before resting my self on the bed properly.

Eventually exhaustion pulled me under.

And for the first time in days, I slept, almost forgetting my worries

THudddd!!!! a sharp kick hit the side of my bed. "Get up!!!!"

My eyes refused to open, everything felt blurry and heavy. I needed to sleep.

"Get up, Thorne!!!"

Another kick, I groaned.

Slowly and painfully, I opened my eyes.

Atlas was standing over me. Wonderful. Just wonderful. His rut seemed to have calmed down, but unfortunately, his personality hadn't.

"Rise and shine, runt."

I rubbed my eyes.

"What time is it?"

"Practice starts in twenty minutes."

I immediately sat up. "What?!" Atlas smirked, "There he is." I glared at him.

He seemed way too happy about my panic.

"You're drooling on your pillow."

"I'm not."

"You were."

"I wasn't."

Atlas laughed.

The sound caught me off guard, It wasn't cruel this time, just amused.

Then his expression hardened again, almost like he was bipolar.

"There are five minutes left before I drag you out of this room myself."

"I heard you."

"Five minutes."

"Fine."

"Four minutes and fifty-nine seconds."

"Atlas!" He grinned, that annoying grin, and then he walked away.

I threw a pillow at his back. Unfortunately, I missed, he didn't even turn around.

"Nice throw, runt." I hated him, absolutely hated him.

The morning air outside was cold, in fact almost freezing, my lungs burned as I followed the team onto the training field.

Coach Miller stood with his clipboard.

His face already looked disappointed. I mean, the game hasn’t even started, why did he look so disappointed

That couldn't be a good sign.

"Ten laps around the academy grounds!" he shouted.

"Move!"

Everyone took off immediately. I pushed my legs as hard as I could, But it wasn't enough.

It never was. The others were wolves, strong, fast, and powerful. Worst of it, they were male.

I was fighting against my own body every single day. Within minutes I was falling behind, Again.

"Come on, Thorne!"

Someone laughed.

"Did your legs stop working?" More laughter followed, but I ignored it.

Just keep moving, keep moving, that was my strategy, the only thing I could use to survive.

Unfortunately, Atlas noticed. Of course he did, he always did. "Faster!" His voice boomed across the field.

"You run like an eighty-year-old grandmother!" the team erupted into laughter.

My cheeks burned, I pushed harder. My lungs were on fire. My legs felt like they weren't mine anymore, but it was still not enough.

I remained last, dead last. Exactly where everyone expected me to be.

By lap seven, my vision was blurry, sweat dripped down my neck, and my chest burned underneath the binder I was on.

Every breath hurt. "Pathetic!" Damon shouted.

"You call yourself a wolf?" "Leave him alone," another player laughed.

"At least puppies are cute. There was more laughter.

I clenched my teeth, just keep running. Don't react, don’t cry, and don’t give them what they want.

The final lap started, I was exhausted, every step felt heavier than the last.

Then my foot caught on a loose patch of dirt.

My balance fell off, I hit the ground hard, and I could feel the pain through my knees and palms.

For a second everything went silent, then came the laughter, it was louder than before.

"Typical Thorne!" What a loser! Stay down! That is where you belong!"

I closed my eyes, this was humiliating, perhaps they were right, I didn't belong here, maybe I was fooling myself.

"Hey!!!!"

The voice cut into my thoughts, surprising me. "Get up." I opened my eyes.

A hand was stretched toward me. For a second I simply stared. Nobody ever helped me, at least not here, Not at Northbridge. Nobody.

Slowly I looked up.

A guy from the reserve line stood there. He had dark hair with brown eyes, I hardly recognized him.

I didn't even know hisname., "Come on," he said.

"You'll catch a cold lying there. The joke was terrible, yet somehow it made me smile.

I hesitated before taking his hand, He pulled me up easily.

"Thank you."

"No problem," he shrugged like it wasn't a big deal, maybe to him it wasn't, but to me it felt like a big deal.

A tiny act of kindness in a place that seemed determined to destroy me.

"Move!" Atlas suddenly barked.

Everyone immediately scattered, and the moment was gone. He turned and jogged back toward the field.

But at least it happened, at least someone was nice to me.

Practice finally ended hours later, my entire body ached, I just wanted water to drink or maybe take a shower.

Maybe a few minutes without someone insulting me, I needed to feel the water running through my body while I enjoyed that moment of silence.

Apparently that was too much to ask. I walked toward the cooler and grabbed a paper cup.

The cold water felt amazing, I took one sip, then a hand suddenly grabbed my arm.

The cup fell. Water splashed across the floor, my heart nearly stopped.

Eros.

He shoved me backward.

My back slammed against the locker room door.

The impact from the hit nearly took me out.

"Eros!"

His golden eyes were dark, dangerously dark. "You can run from me all you want," he said quietly, "but you can't hide forever."

Fear crawled through my stomach.

"Eros, stop, no!!!" His hand slammed against the door beside my head.

"You owe me a conversation."

"I don't owe you anything."

His jaw tightened.

For a second I thought he might actually listen, instead he stepped closer, much closer, and my heart started racing.

"Eros."

"Do you know how hard it has been?" he asked.

"What?"

"Watching Atlas bully such a sweet vanilla like you every day."

I blinked, that wasn't what I expected.

"He doesn't deserve your loyalty."

"Eros…."

"He doesn't even know who you are."

His voice dropped lower. "But I do." I hated how trapped I felt.

How powerless, how alone, "Eros, please."

Something flashed across his face.

Frustration, Possession, more of an obsession, something I didn't know, and honestly, I didn't want to know.

His hand moved toward the collar of my shirt.

I immediately tried to push him away.

"Stop!"

The locker room door suddenly opened, both of us froze.

A deep voice echoed through the room.

"What is going on here?"

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