Episode 18: The Night Attack
Jaden couldn't sleep.
His body ached from the match, his mind still replaying every moment of Vic's sabotage.
But more than that? Blaine was still watching him.
And Jaden knew—he wasn't done yet.
He sat up, rubbing his hands over his face. He needed to clear his head.
He grabbed a hoodie and stepped into the hallway, moving quietly through the dimly lit corridors of Iron Stride. The place felt different at night. Darker. More dangerous. Like a prison where the guards had left, and only the wolves remained.
Temptation in the Shadows
As Jaden passed the medical wing, he heard something.
A low whisper. A soft laugh.
Voices.
He slowed down, his senses sharpening.
Then—a giggle.
Jaden turned the corner and froze.
Ava Sinclair.
She was standing against the wall, lips barely parted, a smirk playing at the corner of her mouth.
And in front of her?
Luis Delgado.
A top player. Big. Strong. Dominant. His body pressed against hers, his hands gripping her hips.
Jaden's jaw tightened.
Luis leaned in, whispering something in Ava's ear—and she laughed softly, her fingers tracing down his arm.
Jaden should have walked away. It wasn't his business.
But then—Ava's eyes flicked up.
And she saw him.
The Game She Played
Ava's smirk widened. She liked this.
Jaden turned to leave, but her voice stopped him.
"Carter."
Luis glanced over his shoulder, frowning. "The fuck are you doing here?"
Jaden exhaled. "Nothing. Just passing through."
Ava pulled away from Luis, tilting her head. "Really?"
Her gaze flicked over him—slow, knowing.
Then she took a step forward.
Jaden didn't move. Didn't react.
But when she got close, he could smell the faint trace of perfume, light and teasing, mixing with the sweat of the long day.
Luis scoffed. "He's not worth your time."
Ava ignored him.
Her fingers lightly grazed Jaden's wrist.
A test.
Jaden's jaw tightened. "Not interested."
Ava raised an eyebrow. "Didn't say you were."
Her smirk deepened. She had already won.
Because she knew. She had gotten under his skin—just a little.
She stepped back, slipping past Luis, her fingers brushing against his chest as she walked away.
"See you around, Carter."
Jaden exhaled sharply, his body finally relaxing as she disappeared down the hall.
Luis chuckled. "You know she's just playing with you, right?"
Jaden's eyes darkened. "Yeah. And she's playing with you too."
Luis's smirk faltered.
Jaden walked past him.
This place was full of traps. And Ava?
She was one of the deadliest.
The Only One Who Mattered
Back in his dorm, Jaden grabbed his phone.
One unread message.
Abby.
Abby: You awake?
Jaden exhaled.
She was the only one who mattered.
Jaden: Yeah.
A pause. Then—
Abby: Tell me something good.
Jaden ran a hand through his hair. He wanted to tell her everything.
The fights. The sabotage. The way Ava had tried to get into his head.
Instead, he just typed—
Jaden: I miss you.
A long pause.
Then—
Abby: I miss you too.
Jaden leaned back against the bed, staring at the ceiling.
For now? That was enough.
But he knew.
Tomorrow, everything would get worse.