Rhys

"What do you think should be done after this?’’ Anderson Park cleared his throat again, leaning forward as his sharp gaze shifted between the two of us. "Your partner needs you to be rock solid, Calder. And speaking as a father, I have to tell you that these early stages are absolutely terrifying. You can be expecting a child one moment, and in the next heartbeat, everything can be cruelly taken away from you. My partner and I... we lost a pregnancy two years ago due to unexpected complications. I know firsthand how fragile this window is."

"I am so sorry to hear that, sir," I murmured, a genuine wave of empathy cutting through my anxiety.

But beneath my sympathy, a sudden realization baffled me.

According to the medical files Leo had shared with us, Anderson Park was an Enigma—an incredibly rare, dominant dynamic—and his partner was an Alpha who had somehow managed to conceive and carry a child.

My mind briefly flashed to Miller and Leo.

Does that mean Miller could actually get pregnant too?

The thought sent a jarring thrill straight down my spine, but I forcefully shook it off. Whatever chaotic dynamic was brewing between Miller and Leo was their business to settle. It wasn’t my problem right now.

"I can see you both share an incredible, rare chemistry," Anderson continued, his expression softening into a genuine smile. "I truly hope you two last forever. Just make sure you don’t let the toxic opinions of the media get inside your heads, and protect each other. Since you want to keep the news quiet for now, my personal PR team will ensure the articles are suppressed and the headlines are aggressively taken down until you are both ready."

"Thank you, Mr. Park."

Anderson chuckled lightly, waving a dismissive hand. "Oh, please. I am only thirty-five years old. ’Mr. Park’ makes me feel ancient. Just call me Anderson, I’d prefer that."

Kayden and I offered a polite nod in return.

"That’s not all we need to discuss, by the way," Anderson continued, his tone shifting back to business as he slid a file across the desk. "The preseason is rapidly approaching, and we are actively looking to sign incredible talent to fill our gaps. You aren’t technically supposed to know about this trade yet since negotiations are strictly exclusive, but seeing as you’re the captain and you’re already sitting in this room, we’ve decided to sign Damian Fernandez from the Southbridge Bears."

The words hit the room like a physical blow.

Kayden and I both gasped in unison, the shock rendering us speechless for a second. That was the absolute last name we ever expected to hear.

"Damian Fernandez?" Kayden’s voice visibly shook as he spoke, his posture instantly rigid. "Why? I thought those trade headlines were just empty internet rumors. Why the hell is he joining the Avalanche?"

"You are officially benched for the upcoming season," Coach Reddick answered flatly. "We need an elite left defenseman to secure our back lines."

"But Fernandez isn’t even a defenseman! He played center for the Bears!" I practically shouted, my temper flaring before I forcefully caught myself and reined it in.

The absolute last person I wanted stepping foot inside the Northern Avalanche locker room was him.

Why on earth was Damian Fernandez being brought into our circle after the manipulative, toxic history he had put us through?

"Coach Reddick, you know exactly what happened in the past with Damian," I demanded, my hands clenching into tight fists against my thighs. "Why the hell are you letting him join this roster?"

Coach Reddick let out a heavy, defensive sigh and looked over at Anderson. "The final decision ultimately fell to the CEO. Damian Fernandez is an undeniably elite player, and with Kayden benched, management believes his versatility will stabilize the ice. Besides, the front office is well aware that you and Fernandez played side-by-side back in college."

The moment those words left the coach’s mouth, a violent wave of overwhelming distress slammed into me through our pack bond.

Kayden’s emotional walls were completely fracturing under the stress. It was all hitting him entirely at once—the media leak, the high-risk pregnancy, and now Damian fernadez felt too much.

I could feel his chest tightening, his mind spinning with a frantic overload of words he couldn’t say aloud in front of management.

I heaved a massive internal sigh, my brain working at a million miles an hour to find a loophole—any loophole—to ensure Damian Fernandez never took my mate’s spot on the ice.

Then, a desperate, brilliant alternative sparked in my mind.

"What about Raymond Calder?" I asked sharply.

Coach Reddick gave me a thoroughly questioning look, the corner of his mouth twitching upward in disbelief. "Raymond Calder? Your brother failed the initial tryouts miserably, Rhys. What makes you think he has any business playing on a championship-caliber roster?"

It was true. The humiliating news of Raymond completely botching the Avalanche tryouts had already spread like wildfire across the sports forums. Everyone knew he hadn’t made the cut. But the official preseason training camp hadn’t started yet, and the final season rosters wouldn’t be locked for weeks. There was still a microscopic window of time to force a change.

"What if he turns out to be significantly better than before?" I countered, leaning against the desk, my voice carrying the full weight of my authority as team captain. "If he trains directly under me off-season, shows massive improvement during the remaining camp evaluations, and proves he can play at our level... would the front office consider signing him over Fernandez then?"

Anderson Park leaned forward in his leather chair, a look of quiet intrigue flashing across his face as he took a deep breath. "Well, we haven’t officially finalized or signed Damian’s contract yet; we are waiting until the official preseason window opens. If your brother can genuinely show that level of dramatic improvement, and if he can prove to the coaching staff that he is a superior asset to this team... then yes, we would absolutely consider signing him instead."

I nodded firmly, a wave of relief washing over me as I looked down at Kayden.

The shock on his face had faded. At least for now.

"Great," I stated, my jaw setting with absolute determination. "I will personally make sure that happens."

I would do absolutely anything—even drag my own estranged brother to an elite level—to ensure an annoying pest like Damian Fernandez never got anywhere near the Northern Avalanche. Or kayden.