Chapter 16

Shea trailed behind Achilles as they wove through the bustling crowd. The energy on the field was palpable, with students chattering excitedly and the smell of freshly cut grass filling the air. They approached the players' area where members of the Science team stretched and jogged in place.

As they reached the bench, a stocky man with a clipboard - presumably the coach - intercepted Achilles. His face was set in a stern expression as he addressed the tall student.

"Achilles Von Lunar, I need you on the field today. No excuses this time, or you'll be failing my class."

Achilles' jaw clenched, a flicker of annoyance passing over his features. After a moment of tense silence, he gave a curt nod.

"Fine," he muttered, reaching for the hem of his hoodie.

As Achilles peeled off the garment, Shea's breath caught in her throat. His torso was a masterpiece of lean muscle and smooth skin. She found her eyes tracing the contours of his abs, the defined lines of his shoulders.

Achilles tossed the hoodie to her, snapping Shea out of her daze. She caught it reflexively, the fabric still warm from his body heat. The gesture transported her back to the previous night - the werewolf, the fight, Achilles' transformation. A flood of questions she'd been holding back surged to the forefront of her mind.

Shea realized she'd been so caught up in the day's events that she'd neglected to press him about what had transpired yesterday.

Shea watched as Achilles changed into his jersey, her cheeks warming as he stripped down. She made a half-hearted attempt to avert her eyes when he removed his pants, but found herself peeking through her fingers. The memory of his naked form from the previous night flashed unbidden through her mind, along with certain... impressive details. Her face burned hotter.

Achilles seemed oblivious to her flustered state as he tossed his pants her way.

"Hold these too," he said, his deep voice brooking no argument. "And stay where I can see you. Don't wander off."

Shea nodded, annoyed at herself for complying so readily. There was something in his tone, in the commanding aura he exuded, that made her want to listen despite her irritation. She clutched his clothes to her chest, inhaling the faint scent of pine and something distinctly masculine.

"I'm not a child," she muttered under her breath, but made no move to disobey.

Achilles shot her a pointed look before jogging onto the field to join his teammates. Shea settled onto the bench, his clothes bundled in her lap, resigned to her role as glorified coat rack for the mysterious werewolf.

The ground buzzed with energy as students packed the stands, their excited chatter filling the air. Shea marveled at the unexpected enthusiasm for a simple college soccer match. Despite Lockewood's remote location, nestled deep in the woods, the turnout rivaled that of any big city university game she'd seen.

Cheerleaders in vibrant uniforms bounced and twirled at the sidelines, their pom-poms a blur of color. The science and arts teams took their positions on the field, cleats digging into the well-manicured grass. Shea's eyes were drawn to Achilles as he stretched, his lean muscles rippling beneath his jersey. She shook her head, trying to focus on the bigger picture.

The referee's whistle pierced the air, silencing the crowd as Achilles and Ryder faced off at the center of the field. They stood eye to eye, nearly identical in height, but worlds apart in demeanor. Ryder's cocky smirk contrasted sharply with Achilles' cold, stoic expression.

Ryder leaned in, his voice low and taunting. "Nice of you to bring your new pet to watch, Von. She's quite the looker."

Achilles' jaw clenched, his blue eyes flashing with barely contained rage. "Keep Shea out of your mouth, Hawkins. Focus on the game - you'll need it."

"Oh, I'm focused alright," Ryder chuckled, his gaze flicking to where Shea sat on the sidelines. "On all sorts of things."

Achilles took a menacing step forward. "I'm warning you-"

The referee's whistle blew again, cutting off their exchange. Both players retreated to their positions, tension crackling between them like electricity.

As the ball was placed at the center, Achilles crouched slightly, muscles coiled and ready to spring. Ryder mirrored his stance, that infuriating grin still plastered on his face.

The whistle sounded one final time, and the match exploded into action. Achilles lunged forward, his foot connecting with the ball a split second before Ryder could reach it. He sent it flying towards his teammates, immediately darting past Ryder to get into position.

The crowd roared as the two teams clashed, bodies colliding and cleats tearing up chunks of grass. Shea leaned forward in her seat, her eyes glued to Achilles as he wove through the opposition with surprising grace for someone his size.

The match unfolded with breathtaking intensity, players from both sides darting across the field in a blur of motion. Shea found herself leaning forward, her eyes wide as she tracked the action. Despite her limited knowledge of soccer, she couldn't help but be drawn into the electric atmosphere.

Whenever Achilles gained possession of the ball, the entire dynamic of the game shifted. He moved with a fluid grace that belied his powerful frame, effortlessly weaving through defenders as if they were standing still. His passes were laser-precise, finding teammates with unerring accuracy. When he took a shot on goal, the ball rocketed towards the net with such force that the goalkeeper barely had time to react.

But Ryder was no slouch either. When the Arts team regained control, he became a force of nature on the field. His speed was blinding, leaving Science defenders in his wake as he charged towards their goal. Ryder's footwork was dazzling, the ball seemingly glued to his feet as he danced around opponents. His shots, while not as powerful as Achilles', were cunningly placed, finding the corners of the net with deadly precision.

The scoreboard ticked upward in a steady rhythm, neither team able to gain a significant advantage. For every goal Achilles and his Science teammates scored, Ryder and the Arts squad would answer in kind. The crowd's cheers grew louder with each point, the excitement building to a fever pitch as the game remained deadlocked.

Shea found herself caught up in the fervor, her heart racing as she watched Achilles dominate the field. There was something mesmerizing about the way he played, a raw power tempered by surprising finesse. Yet she couldn't help but notice Ryder's skill as well, begrudgingly impressed by his abilities despite her wariness of him.

As the match wore on, it became clear that this was more than just a game between two rival teams. There was an underlying current of tension between Achilles and Ryder, evident in every clash, every stolen glance, every near-miss tackle. It was as if they were engaged in a private battle within the larger contest, each determined to prove their superiority over the other.

The clock was ticking, the match soon entered it's dying minutes.