“Coach Cyrus being our coach?” Marcus announces, which catches many of the other guys’ attention.

Leaning back against the lockers behind me, I casually shrug like it’s no big deal.

“Yeah, I figured it was pretty obvious,” I admit. “You guys forget that Wyatt is on the roster for Saskatchewan Pincer Blades, right?”

“Shit, really?” Liam Patton chimes in. He’s one of the quieter ones, but he’s really good at defense.

“I heard about that,” Sebastian Valentino admits and dips his voice like he’s about to reveal a secret. “Word going around was that Jayce almost lost his captain title to Wyatt.”

That’s new.

I’m not surprised by the news compared to my guys, who are howling like fucking animals.

“Don’t lie,” Knox Swarovskiorders, letting his thick Russian accent come out. I realize a lot of us are Russian on this team. “No way would they replace that Scottish beast. Winchester’s family revolves around hockey. He breathes it. You see it in his eyes. His gameplay is rough and brutal.”

“Like every game has his life at stake,” Wolfgang mutters as he comes and sits next to me.

His musky wood cologne hits me immediately. I try not to show how the scent makes me want to relax.

“He has anger issues.” Damien walks over to lean against the lockers opposite where Wolfgang and I are chilling. “He got in a fight in Moscow during a family trip or something. Not sure if it was a relative or random stranger.”

“Who told you that?” Ace is practically skipping around in a towel.

“Cover your junk, Harvey,” Garrett Chambers groans. “No one wants to see it.”

“I’d argue with you on that one, but I’m in too good of a mood to care,” Ace declares and is next to Damien. He puts an arm over Damien’s shoulder and brings him close. “Spill. Why would Jayce Winchester lose his shit in one of the richest countries in the world, knowing well he could fuck up his one opportunity to be captain of the new Saskatchewan Pincher Blades? Or whatever their name is going to be after next week.”

Everyone silently waits for Damien to reply, which is why he sighs and closes his eyes.

“Apparently, he has a brother.”

“Huh?” Wolfgang questions and looks at me as if I’d know about this obvious secret.

It was unheard-of news to me.

“You sure?” I ask so everyone knows I don’t know shit.

Sure, Jayce and I were close—too fucking close—but I didn’t know about his family drama.

I lost access five years ago.

I don’t regret it.

“Yup. I tried to screenshot the picture, but that shit got taken down so fast.”

“There were photos?” Sebastian crosses his arms over his chest. “We’re people stalking them or something?”

“Who knows?” Damien shrugs and opens his eyes again. “All I know is he apparently got a bro, and Jayce pissed off his Pops or some shit. A fight broke out, videos and photos got taken, and I guess Jayce’s Pops paid a hefty amount to get it all taken down before it blew it up on social media.”

“Close call,” Knox comments.

Damien bobs his head in agreement.

“Due to the fight, his Pops threatened to give his captain position away. Said he had two shots not to screw up. Fuck up again, and he’ll put Wyatt on the team. Fuck up a third time, Wyatt will be given the captain position.”

“What if Wyatt doesn’t wanna play?” Ethan ponders. “I heard Wyatt’s good, like really fucking good, but he doesn’t play on the ice for a reason.”

“I heard that, too,” Clayton admitted.