Contracted To The Beast novel Chapter 16

Chapter 16

I watched from the balcony as Beck and Nia walked side by side through the orchard. They looked natural together.

Easy. Like Beck knew how to exist beside her without hurting her. I hated how much that thought bothered me

1 had no right to feel this way. But the jealousy burned anyway.

I left the balcony and went down to meet Beck after he said goodbye to her.

“What do you plan to do with Nia?” I asked, stepping in front of him.

Beck slipped one hand into his pocket and chuckled. “What do you mean by that? You think I am like you?”

“Stay away from her.”

“I will not.” His voice turned serious. “I have always cared about her and you know it. I have her best interest at heart. You don’t protect people, Maddox. You destroy them and call it protection after.”

He stepped closer, raising his voice. “You sat there tonight and let Dad say all those things to her. You did not defend her. Not even once. How can I forget that you bullied her all through high school? You are still the same childish prick you were back then.”

He shook his head bitterly and walked away. I stood there, stunned. His words hit harder than I expected. I signaled the valet to bring my car. There was no way I was sleeping in that house tonight.

The next few days passed in a blur. I threw myself into practice. Playoffs were only four months away, and tonight’s game against the Cubs could decide our seeding. I needed a clear head. I could not afford to carry the mess from that dinner onto the ice.

I woke up early on game day. I did my usual morning routine and added an ice bath. The cold shocked my system awake. I arrived at Rogers Arena before eight. Nia’s car was already parked. She always came in early.

I changed and took a long run around the rink. I was on my eighth lap when Coach and the other players started showing up. I did not stop. Restlessness clawed beneath my skin. The anger from that dinner still sat heavy in my chest, looking for somewhere to go. I needed to get it out before the game.

Practice went hard. We ran formations and made last minute changes. The arena filled up fast. Even without playoffs, the energy tonight felt electric. The crowd was loud, hungry, ready for blood.

“Ready, boys?” I said to the team, voice strong. They answered with a loud cheer.

“That is the energy we need. We will crush those fucking Cubs.”

The crowd went wild as we stepped onto the ice. I locked eyes with Jimmy. He grinned behind his mask like he already knew something I did not.

“Fucking bastard,” I muttered.

The whistle blew.

The game started fast. We played hard. After the first two periods we were leading three to two. The coach looked happy on the bench. Everything felt good.

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Chapter 16

Then halfway through the third period Jimmy tackled Liam hard and sent him sliding across the ice.

“What the fuck is your problem, man?” I spat, skating up to him.

“Chill out, big boy,” Jimmy mocked with a grin. “You’re pissed because your little brother’s screwing your physio while you’re out here playing hero.”

Everything inside me snapped.

The next few seconds blurred.

I slammed into him hard enough to send us both crashing onto the ice. The crowd erupted. His helmet flew sideways as I grabbed his jersey and drove my fist straight into his face once.

Then again.

Blood splattered across the ice.

Players rushed toward us, shouting, grabbing, pulling me back before I could do worse.

The referee gave me a red card immediately. I did not argue. I skated off the ice calm on the outside. Inside I was burning.

The referee gave me a red card immediately. I did not argue. I skated off the ice calm on the outside. Inside I was burning.

Three-game suspension.

Gone.

One stupid moment of losing control and I had just screwed my team during one of the most important stretches of the

season.

I could not even look at Coach Riggs. I knew I had let the team down.

That bastard Jimmy had hit my weakest point. And it worked.

At least I broke his nose. That part felt good.

I had barely stepped into the locker room when my phone started vibrating.

Father.

I stared at the screen for a second before answering

“What?” I snapped.

“Interesting performance tonight.”

His voice was calm. Too calm.

I ripped off my gloves and threw them into my locker. “If you called to lecture me-”

“You embarrassed this family on national television.”

Silence stretched between us.

Of course he saw it.

Victor Kane never missed a game. Not because he loved hockey, but because the Kane name was attached to it.

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Chapter 16

KETA

“He provoked me,” I muttered.

Father gave a quiet scoff. “And you reacted exactly like an undisciplined child.”

My jaw tightened.

In the background, I could hear soft music and clinking glasses.

He wasn’t alone.

Probably watching the game from one of his luxury suites with investors and business partners while I made headlines for beating a bloody man on the ice.

“Three-game suspension before playoffs,” he continued smoothly. “Do you understand how pathetic that makes you look?”

Anger burned hot in my chest. “What do you want from me?”

“Control.”

One word. Flat. Cold.

“Your temper is becoming expensive, Maddox.” His voice lowered slightly. “And despite your recent behavior, your responsibilities to this family remain unchanged.”

I already knew where this was going.

Bella.

The engagement.

The future he planned for me.

“I’m not marrying her.”

A dangerous pause followed.

“You say that now,” Father replied calmly. “But eventually you’ll learn the same lesson every Kane man does.”

My grip tightened around the phone.

“And what lesson is that?”

“What you are feeling right now, Son, is irrelevant. Legacy isn’t.”

Then the line went dead.

I grabbed my bag and went to the physio suite. Nia was packing her things, ready to leave for the day.

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