40. Mock

The coach had devised a mock game for tomorrow's lineup against the main practice team, turning today's session into a real-time simulation.

It was a test of our skills and our ability to adapt on the fly. He kept Alec on the ice with me, assigning him to give me constant pointers.

As we started, I noticed a change in Alec. He seemed to genuinely enjoy coaching me, and his demeanor was a far cry from the tension at the beginning of this. Maybe he wasn't as bothered as I had thought, or perhaps this was just his way of asserting control in a different way.

Peter caught my eye from across the ice as we lined up for the mock opening face-off. He was grinning broadly, clearly thrilled to be out here playing, even if it was only on the practice team. However, that joy was overshadowed by the fresh bruise marring his face, dark and severe. It looked recent and painful.

The mock game started, and I held my own for the first few minutes. Alec skated close by, offering tips and correctio