KAI
My muscles ached in places I didn't even know existed. I have never been this humiliated in my entire life. This season is officially taking the crown and going down as the worst season in history.
Every step I took felt like torture, and by the time I dragged myself into the dining hall after warm-up practice, I was half-dead and fully miserable.
The dinning room was massive and loud as usual, packed with Alphas and Betas who were talking over their food. I kept my head down, clutching my tray like my life depended on it, while scanning the room for an empty seat. I was hoping to find one before the so called bullies would see me.
"Guys! Look who survived his first comeback round of today's training!"
My stomach dropped and I knew who it was that spoke, Jaxon, of course.
I didn't even have to turn around to know his smug face was right behind me.
"Barely," someone snickered. "I thought Cross was gonna snap him in half. He looked so angry on the court today. I've never seen him like that before."
"I wouldn't blame him though. Imagine being roomed with one of the runts of our team. Of course he'd be upset." Jaxon added, his voice was loud enough for the whole hall to hear. "Hey, Hayes, you sure you don't want to quit this year?"
I forced myself to keep walking, my pretend nonchalant face burning, but Jaxon wasn't done yet.
"Hey, Hayes!" His voice carried across the room, making heads turn. "Are you planning on making it through the week as Aiden's roommate? Or should we start placing bets on when you'll crack?"
Heat rose in my face, and my fingers tightened around my tray. My insides snarled in protest, but I kept it pushed down, ignoring them.
Fighting back was not an option but before I could respond, a voice boomed from behind me.
"If you're gonna stand there trembling, at least move out of the way."
Aiden's voice cut through the noise, and the room became silent.
He walked past me without so much as a glance as he located his seat amongst the other Alphas. His icy indifference like a slap in the face. The others parted for him instantly, and just like that, I was alone again, the laughter starting up behind me once more.
I didn't know what was worse, Jaxon's unchanged cruelty or Aiden's complete disinterest.
I hated both of them.
I wish that things could go back to last season when I was still with my old roommate and being the invisible one on the team but now, things were different and not in a good way.
I finally found a half-empty table at the back, far from the Alphas who dominated the room. I dropped into the seat, trying to make myself as small as possible.
When I finished with dinner, I headed back to the dorm. As soon as I arrived, my phone chimed inside my pockets and I pulled it out to see the name displayed on the screen. It was a call from home.
Just as I am about to answer as I made my way over to my bed, my feet bumped into Aiden's table and some of his stuff came crashing down.
"Come on, please not today." I muttered to myself as panic rose inside me.
I immediately bent down to pick up his things before he realizes that I had touched them. Just as I am about to pick up the last item, a notebook that has his name boldly written on the cover, I heard the door push open.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" His voice was a low growl, and I froze on the spot.
Slowly, I turned and immediately wished I hadn't.
Aiden stood in the doorway, his eyes dark with fury, his pheromones rippling just beneath the surface. His gaze moved to the drawer, where my hand still hovered, and his jaw tightened dangerously.
In my defense, it was an accident. I hadn't meant to knock down his stuff. My plan was to stay out of his way as much as possible, but I'm pretty sure that he must be thinking otherwise. Would he even believe me if I told him that it was an accident?
"It's not what it looks like," I blurted out, my hands clutching onto the item tightly.
"It looks like you're touching my stuff," he said, his voice ice-cold.
He stepped into the room, and I was shaking so bad, even my toes were curled up in my shoes. He snatched the notebook back and I scrambled away from his drawer, but the damage was already done and what's worse is that he had caught me.
"I told you to stay away, didn't I? Do you have a death wish?"
"I—my leg—"
I struggled to form words, my throat too tight to speak, but he didn't say another word. He just shoved the drawer close with a little too much force, his eyes burning into me.
"Remain on your side of the room," he cut me off with sharp voice enough to draw blood. "And stay out of mine."
"If only you'd take your own advice." The words escaped my lips before I could stop them.
"What did you just say?"
"At training, you hit me on purpose. You collided with me before I could pass the ball and knocked me over." I confronted him boldly, the anger rushing out of me even though I was practically shaking inside.
"Glad to know that's how a captain behaves with his teammate; like a pussy, all because he was asked to share a goddamn room."
He scoffed, leaning in closer, hands crossed over his buff chest as he stared down at me with contempt. "It's not my fault that you're not as light on your feet as you claim to be and If you have a problem with that then leave. Find your fucking way out of this room and maybe you won't have to deal with me any longer."
"You can intimidate me all you want but this room is as much mine as it's yours and I'm not going anywhere so deal with it." I challenged him fiercely, bridging the gap between us. "I dare you Cross, do your fucking worst."
Shoving past him, I went into the bathroom to change, my heart slamming against my ribcage. I keep provoking him and it's only a matter of time before he snaps. Hopefully, he doesn't. I really want to ignore him but he just keeps getting on my nerves and making life difficult for me.
When I got out of the shower, Aiden was no where to be found and when he got back, he didn't look at me again for the rest of the night.
Morning came far too fast. The sound of my alarm buzzing from under the covers. With a deep groan, I reached for my phone to turn it off.
My body still ached from yesterday's training, and every muscle protested with each movement but I didn't have time to feel sorry for myself. Today was the team's exercise and I had to be ready on time or Aiden will take it out on me, again.
He is literally my worst nightmare in human form.
When I arrived at the field, I stood at the sideline trying to psych myself up when a familiar voice came from behind.
"Hope you said your goodbyes, Hayes." I turned at those words and it was Jaxon. Figures!
"I placed a bet that you'd only last five days as Aiden's roommate before you leave or he eventually kicks you out."
The other Alphas around him laughed, and this time I was pissed off so badly but I still forced myself to keep my mouth shut.
"I'll advice that you leave now that you have the chance to survive." Jaxon taunted, stepping closer. His grin was sharp and mean. "Or are you waiting until Cross puts you in the dirt?"
The urge to snap back was strong, but I couldn't afford the attention. Instead, I ignored and tried to walk past him but his hand shot out, grabbing my arm.
"I'm talking to you, runt."
Before I could react, Aiden appeared again from behind.
"Let him go or you'll answer to coach on why you want to disrupt today's practice. I'm sure he'd love to hear about it."
His voice was calm, but the command in it was unmistakable. Why was he always hovering around?
Jaxon's hand dropped immediately, his shoulders stiffening and he walked away to join the others while I wondered why Aiden had stepped in to help me especially when he hates the mere sight of my presence.
Before I could properly process my thoughts, he walked past me without even looking my way and another thought came to mind, settling there.
What if he was only stepping in for me because we were on the field and he didn't want anyone else breaking his new favorite toy? Or was he plotting something against me?