Sounders Hockey Book 1: Forward Defense
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Jade Castle
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Andromeda, the only daughter in a family of seven, makes history as the first woman drafted into the NHL, joining the Sounders. Fierce and determined, she’s ready to prove herself on the ice. But when she meets Blake, the league's top defenseman, sparks fly both on and off the rink. Blake is captivated by Meda’s skill and strength, realizing she's the one woman who could change his life forever. In a world dominated by men, Meda must navigate her groundbreaking career and the intense connection she shares with Blake. Can she have it all?
Chapter 1
MEDA
FLASHBACK: MEDA, SIXTEEN YEARS OLD
~It was the final period of the Michigan State High School Hockey Championship, and they were trailing by one goal.
Meda was serving her second year as captain. The game had been a tough one. Both teams were exhausted. Some players were starting to get sloppy. But not on Meda’s watch. She was determined to lead her Wildcats to another state championship, even if it killed her.
The teams gathered at center ice for the puck drop. Meda glanced at her father in the crowd, who gave her a firm nod. She then looked at her twin, Apollo, who mirrored their father’s gesture. She shot a wicked grin at the brute in front of her and blew him a kiss. It was time to get down and dirty.
The referee dropped the puck, and the Wildcats immediately took possession of it, darting down the ice like bullets. Meda weaved in and out, circling her opponents while keeping an eye on the goon squad and her brother.
Their rivals, the Quinn Lakes Beavers, were ruthless and weren’t above playing dirty. For every shot she blocked, she was checked. For every puck she stole, she was checked.
She’d taken quite a few hits during the game, thanks to one player in particular—Blake Reinholdt. God, she hated that guy. He’d been after her since youth league. He complained to anyone who would listen that he had to play with a “little girl.”
She was a hurricane, and he wanted her out of the way. But he didn’t know who he was dealing with.
Roaring defiantly, Apollo passed the puck to her, and with a swift flick of her wrist, she rocketed it down the ice to Ethan Gray, the Wildcats’ center. With a powerful shot, Ethan slid the puck into the goal, setting off the buzzer.
After some quick high-fives, the teams squared off again. Time was running out, and the next goal would decide the champions.
This time, the Beavers took the puck and retreated deep into their territory. The pressure was on to retrieve it. The Wildcats had ramped up their defense, and it was a hard battle to regain possession. The Beavers were resorting to all their dirty tricks, but the Wildcats held their ground.
The Demolition Derby was in full swing. Players were blocking, stealing, and checking at every opportunity. The twins were causing chaos, giving their opponents a run for their money. Just before the buzzer signaled the end of the game, the lights in the Wildcats’ net went off.
GOAL!
The Wildcats had done it again!
Her team pounded each other on the backs and screamed with victory, and Meda glowed with pride.
The Beavers reluctantly lined up and shook hands.
”You don’t belong here, blondie.” Blake was livid.
Meda smiled and winked.
~”You’d think you would have learned your lesson after all these years, Blakey.”
~The look Blake gave her was pure hatred. “In a few years, when I’m playing in the big leagues, you’ll be somebody’s cock pocket popping out babies.”
Meda’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but she just smiled at him.
~”See you around, Blakey. I look forward to the next time I kick your ass.”
She found her brother, linked arms with him and headed for the team bus, determined to forget about Blake Reinholdt.
DAMON
Damon Dakiedes was on cloud nine. He’d just hung up with his lawyers, and the news was better than he’d dared to hope. The NHL had given the green light, and there was already an offer waiting. He was itching to share the news with his daughter, Andromeda. She was going to be thrilled. Ever since she was a little girl, she’d dreamed of playing hockey.
She was a natural on the ice, leading her high school team to the Michigan State championships twice and earning the title of captain alongside her twin brother, Apollo, at the University of Michigan Wolverines. She was a force to be reckoned with, swift and fierce, especially when she had a hockey stick in her hands.
Damon couldn’t help but grin, running his hands through his thick black hair. “We did it,” he murmured to himself. His little girl was going to play professional hockey!
“Hey, Baba, you okay? You were yelling.”
Andromeda’s soft voice floated in from the doorway of his study. Damon looked up and smiled at his daughter.
“Meda, sweetheart, we did it,” he whispered, his voice as gentle as a summer breeze.
“Don’t mess with me, Baba,” she warned, striding into the office to stand in front of his desk. But when she saw the joy in her father’s dark eyes and the smile on his usually serious face, she braced herself. “Did they…did they say yes?”
Damon came around his desk and pulled his daughter into a tight hug. “We did it, Meda! You’re going pro! They didn’t just say yes, they’ve already made an offer. My lawyers are going over it as we speak.”
He pulled back, and she placed her hands on his cheeks.
“Oh my God!”
Damon’s smile widened, and he hugged her again.
“Your mother would be so damn proud of you. I know I am.”
Meda was speechless. She’d never thought the league would let a woman play in a male-dominated sport. She’d never thought she’d be the first. But she was Damon’s daughter, and giving up wasn’t in her vocabulary. Damon had always pushed her to be the best she could be.
Tears of joy slipped down her cheeks as the news really sank in.
“I can’t believe it! I’M GOING PRO!”
“Yo, Baba! What’s with the yel…”
Apollo’s voice trailed off as he walked into the room. He saw his sister’s tears and immediately wrapped his arms around her.
“Tough break, baby sis. Those idiots can’t see your greatness just because you don’t have a dick. Morons…” He sighed deeply in frustration.
The twins had been playing together since they were four. As teenagers, they earned the nickname “Demolition Derby” for their seamless teamwork on the ice. They played like they could read each other’s minds, which gave them a formidable edge over their competition. They’d never been separated before. Apollo wasn’t sure how he’d play without her.
Reading her brother’s thoughts, Meda pulled away and slapped his arm. He was startled to see her radiant smile.
“They said yes, Pollo! THEY SAID YES!”
Apollo looked down at his sister, stunned.
“Baba! Are you serious?! They said yes?!”
Damon’s broad grin was enough to answer him.
Apollo planted a sloppy kiss on her forehead, then lifted her up and swung her around the room.
“HELL YEAH!” he shouted. “I can’t believe it! I’m so proud of you, baby sis. We’re going to kick ass!”
Meda just laughed and hugged her brother tightly.
“You bet we are!”
“So, aren’t you going to ask me who you’ll be playing for?” Damon asked, a proud smile on his face.
“Sorry, Baba.” She giggled. “Who will I be playing for?”
“The Sounders,” he said, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
The twins looked at each other in shock. They were going to play for the team their dad led to the Stanley Cup championships a record six times. The team that built the Dakiedes hockey dynasty. All of her brothers had played for them at some point in their careers.
The Michigan Sounders was in the Dakiedes’s blood, and it was only fitting that they be the team she started her career with.
“FUCK YEAH!” they shouted together.
MEDA
Meda and her twin brother Apollo sat among the crowd of players, their hands clasped together. She focused on her breathing, trying to calm her nerves and ignore the hostile or curious glances from the other players. She was a bundle of nerves!
One by one, players were called up to the front to sign their contracts. As Meda listened for her own name, her stomach was doing somersaults. She felt eyes on her. The press crammed into the room were eager to catch a glimpse of the woman who was about to make hockey history.
Her father stood behind the coaching staff, his face split into a wide grin. When Damon had been on the team, he had turned the Sounders into champions. Known as “The Destroyer,” he breathed new life into a struggling team and propelled them to their current greatness.
Apollo gave Meda’s hand a reassuring squeeze and flashed her a smile.
“Chill out, little sis. We got this!” he whispered.
Before she could respond, Apollo’s name was called by the head coach of the Michigan Sounders, Richard “Bogie” Lubeck. Meda gave him a tight hug and watched with pride as he made his way to the front.
Apollo had already signed his real contract weeks ago, the same day as Meda. But he still grinned broadly as he signed his name, and the cameras flashed.
Apollo was thrilled to be playing for the Sounders, hoping to live up to his father’s legacy and add his own touch. He was over the moon about sharing this journey with his sister.
“Andromeda Dakiedes.”
Meda froze when she heard her name. She slowly rose from her seat and walked up to the front. Coach Lubeck grinned broadly at her.
“I know you’ve already done this, Meda, so just flash that award-winning smile of yours for the cameras.”
He winked at her and slid the contract across the table.
“Welcome to the team, Meda.”
With a flourish, Meda signed her name, officially becoming the first female player in the National Hockey League.
And she was playing for her father’s old team, alongside her brother! Unable to contain her excitement, she shook the coach’s hand and let out a triumphant “Hell yeah!”
Amidst the flurry of fist bumps and hugs, Meda stood next to Apollo as the cameras went wild. She was now a Sounder.
“Andromeda, how does it feel to make history?” a reporter asked from the crowd.
“It’s indescribable. Absolutely euphoric,” she replied.
“How do you think your teammates will react to you joining the team?”
“I hope they’ll be happy about it. I’ve admired many of these guys for years. It’s an honor to play alongside them. I know it’ll be tough at first, but I plan to earn their respect just like any rookie.”
“What can we expect from you in the upcoming season?”
“Some damn good hockey!” She grinned, earning a round of laughter from the reporters.
The first step was over—she was now a Sounder. Now came the hard part: winning over her teammates.
There he stood in the back with the other veteran Sounders: Blake Reinholdt. His arms were folded over his broad chest, and he stared down the young woman he would soon be playing with, watching her every move.
When Andromeda Dakiedes finally spotted him, he held her gaze with a smirk. She answered him with a raised eyebrow and a smirk of her own.
Oh yes, he thought. He was going to make her life hell and thoroughly enjoy watching her quit.
