Chapter 6

Jules.

My eyes flutter open, and I’m greeted by a white ceiling. The faint scent of antiseptic hits my nose hard, and the distant noise hammers into my ears. Thanks to my advanced hearing abilities. Contrary to what you think, it’s not natural.

No human is born with advanced hearing ability or anything related to it. Although it’s all starting to seem natural to me. Years of having myself alternated, willingly, I might add, have changed me. Making me have animalistic instincts and abilities.

It molded me into a predator. I should abhor it as every sensible person should, but I don’t.

I love it. I embrace it.

Except on days it’s difficult to find willing prey. Because it’s not everyone that knows this teeny secret about the popular heir of the Islanders family.

Not even my sister, Marina, who I am, by all accounts, her best friend.

I had a deal with my father, Bjorn, and this is me fulfilling the end of my deal, becoming the weapon he’d long wanted.

He’s not exactly the kind of father who’d hug you on bad days or ask if you fed well. Bjorn isn’t built for that. Those are signs of weakness to him.

However, he’s the kind of man who’d keep to his word. I know because he gave me life when I almost lost it. That was years ago.

He didn’t just give me life. He made me live it to the brim. To do the one thing I’ve always wanted to do. Play hockey.

Well, I don’t just play it now; I’m a star in it.

Except, lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines isn’t my ideal way of starting a new season.

But I can’t complain because I know that sacrifices have to be made for the greater good. Although whoever hears this will call me crazy.

Maybe I am. Or not.

All that matters is that I help Bjorn achieve his aim, which by extension will keep me on the ice however long I’m meant to play.

The distant echo of footsteps in the hallway shakes my train of thought, and one sniff of the person’s scent, I know who’ll walk right into the room in…

One, two, and three…

The white door creaks open and my sister pops her head in.

Damn, her eyes are red and puffy. Ugh, don’t tell me Marina has been bawling her eyes out for three days.

Of course, I know how long I spent here. For now, I’ll keep the details of that knowledge to myself.

“Omigod! Jules!!” She yelps, and unlatching her hold on the doorknob, my sister whooshes through the room and crashes into me like a Shark.

She knocks the breath out of me, and I gasp.

“Christ, someone really did miss me.” I tease in between a groan.

“You’re awake. Alive!” She shrieks, pouting and planting her gorgeous green eyes on me. She assesses me like a mother hen. This girl. She can be caring whenever she wants to be.

And now is one of those times.

“Of course, I’m alive. You aren’t going to get rid of me that easily, princess.” I sputter, grinning smugly.

She always complains about my indulging in dangerous adventures like an adrenaline junkie, never failing to remind me that death is the closest thing to mankind.

She’s right, there’s no disputing that, but I can’t easily be killed. Hell no, I’m not boasting; it’s just a fact.

Only if certain someone(s) know that. And one of them is a sharp, blue-eyed girl with round goggles perched on the bridge of her pointed nose.

I knew Muse was an enemy the minute I set my eyes on her. She lied about being my fan. I know that.

But unlike how I treat every other enemy of mine, I’ll keep her close. I want to stick around and see how long she’ll play her game.

I want to know her motive. And when I’m done, I’ll get rid of her. Like I did the others.

“Hey, don’t even make jokes about this now.” Marina chides with a frown. I stop smirking and lock my eyes on hers again. Her face softens. “I was so scared, Jules. I thought something bad happened.”

Oh, something bad did happen, but I’ll spare her the details. Death scares Marina, but what scares her more is losing me. Just like she lost her mother.

She and father aren’t exactly close, well, because of her stubborn nature, but he loves her nonetheless. Even though Marina would argue that. She thinks father hates her because of her preferences in women.

“I’m sorry it happened. I can’t promise it won’t happen again, but I’ll try.” I assure her.

She smacks my arm playfully. “You’d better, or I’m hunting you down to hell.”

“Jeez, you truly lost faith in my making it to heaven?”

She scoffs. “After you screwed that insolent red-head, bitch, Pamela? Please, you probably have a shack waiting for you in hell as we speak.”

I laugh hard. To think she was once friends with the said red-haired. They both fell apart right after Pamela divulged Marina’s cute, little secret about being interested in women to our father.

“Trust me, it was just a kiss…”

Her lips curl lopsidedly, eyes narrowing accusingly.

“Okay, and a little bit of fingering, but it’s all in the past now. Promise.”

She snorts, giving me an eye-roll. I didn’t lie there, though. Pamela wasn’t a good fuck at all. Doesn’t quench the beast in me by an inch.

As I said, it’s difficult seeing a perfect prey.

“How did the game go?” I ask, and my sister indulges me.

Of course, Black Titans won as I expected. While we are catching up, the door opens, and father walks in with his wife, Freya.

“Oh, dear, Jules.” Freya whimpers with joy as she darts to my side and clutches my hand, rubbing it gently as she mutters a quiet prayer. “We were so worried about you, son.”

I take my hand from hers and beam forcefully. “I’m fine. Got better.”

“I can see that. You’re such a strong warrior, son.” She praises, looking at her husband. “Your father couldn’t sleep a wink. You know how much you mean to him.”

“I know.” I turn to father, who stares at me with an approving glint in his eyes.

“You’ll soon be discharged,” Bjorn says. As I said, he isn’t built for affection or anything related. “I’m proud of you.”

I nod with a smile. Because I understood the underlying meaning of his words.

“You can take a few days off if you want before getting back to work.”

His offer surprises me. Bjorn never believes in taking days off, especially when he has a target to hit.

“Nah, I’m not weak. I’d rather get back to work.”

“Jules. Don’t.” Marina scolds, glaring at me. “You need rest.”

“I think you should listen to your sister,” Bjorn says, surprising Marina. She cranes her head back, stealing a surprised look at Father. He only shrugs. “We’ll resume work later.”

And just like that, Bjorn leaves the ward with his wife. Marina’s startled eyes rest on me.

“Since when did he start taking my suggestion?”

“Since forever.” I shrug.

“You’re trying to make me like him again, aren’t you?”

“He’s your father, Marina.”

“Who hates that I’m a lesbian. Don’t tell me he doesn’t because I’ll be tempted to cut off your tongue. I know what I’m seeing. A man repulsed by his daughter.”

We don’t argue further because it won’t end if we start. I’m surprised Marina isn’t offering law. She has a knack for arguing.

A few minutes later, the doctor comes around, does his thing, and discharges me.

The rest of the day turns into a full-blown celebration the minute I walk into the mansion I share with my two closest buddies– Ivar and Knut. Ivar is on my team, my team’s toughest goalie, but Knut is a pit fighter. A champion, I might add.

Hours later, the mansion teems with girls and boys from school who occupy every inch of the house, making out, dancing, drinking and smoking.

Knut remains uptight as always, roving his eyes around as though another world war is imminent, completely ignoring the girls trying to get his attention, whereas Ivar…

Oh, I don’t know exactly where he is now. Maybe he’s in his red room or somewhere in the mansion experimenting as usual.

Pamela, to my surprise, makes it to the party.

And she’s putting on pink lingerie that leaves nothing to the imagination. I expect my cock to go commando like it always does every time he sees the girl passing by, but it doesn’t.

Truth is, I’ve had this fantasy about tasting her, especially when she was out of reach or playing hard to get. It doesn’t seem like that again, I guess.

“Hi,” She greets, inching close to where I’m sitting on the Island, knocking back a can of beer.

My brow quirks questioningly.

“You seem fine.”

I give a gruff reply.

She sees my response as an approval and leans close, stepping between my thighs to run her manicured fingers over my chest.

A growl rips from the back of my throat, and I arrest her hand, keeping her from touching me.

“What do you want?” My voice lacks interest, but I’m not sure she notices.

“What? This is a party, Jules, and last I checked, parties are meant for fun. So…let’s have some fun. I’d like to help you heal quicker.” She sputters with a smile I’m guessing is meant to be seductive. The sparks in her eyes make my irritation burn brighter.

I knock her hand back to her side and jump l down from the Island, wordlessly. Hope she takes the hint.

Some cheerleaders block my path on my way out of the mansion, but I deflect their advances, heading to the garage.

That’s when I breathe in enough air, filling up my lungs. I wasn’t aware that I was suffocating there until now. And what’s this about my dick acting like a depressed man?

I haven’t enjoyed sex like I want to, but that doesn’t mean I don’t indulge in it. And this big man here always complies; I mean, we learnt how to make do with what’s available.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like that tonight. Maybe I should just drive around the city, get some fresh air.

I mount my black Henley right before my phone pings, and I fish it out, checking the Instagram notification. Alex, one of my team’s defensemen, uploaded a picture of him and the team after the game.

I scroll through, examine it, and exit the app. Instinctively, I pull up the surveillance app on my phone and watch the feed.

I had a camera installed in my sister’s dorm room, not because I wanted to stalk her, but to keep an eye on her. For her safety. She’s an Islander, and Islanders are never truly safe.

That’s the only way I convinced father to let Marina live in the dorm like she’d wanted. My sister only wanted to escape the nerves she feels around father.

However, it’s not my sister that I looked out for when I pulled up the app; it’s her roommate.

The enemy I swore to keep close. Muse.

She’s doing some shits I can’t tell in the room, and she’s alone.

When I see her settle on the chair before her dresser, and soak a washcloth with something before wiping her neck, I know what she’s doing.

She’s getting rid of my mark. The one I specifically told her not to touch. So much for obeying an order.

I scoff, closing my phone and sliding it into my pocket. She’s being a brat, but I know exactly how to handle brats.

I put on my helmet, start the engine, and once it roars to life, I drive out of the garage.