Floor 68.

XXXV. - Old Money.

Hello lovely people. Here is chapter 35, finally. I'm so sorry for the long wait. This chapter is dedicated to LooseTides because of her massive contribution to my story and I would very much like to thank her a lot.

Also, special thanks to my sisters, as usual, -Osorrow- and Trueliies for being such annoying and kickass duo. Special thanks to xXAuriSeraxX and also to the talented SparksOfMadness because I'm still fangirling about that cover.

As usual, read, comment and vote and mainly, tell me what you think in the comment; this chapter means so much to me.

Kisses and hugs, xoxo.

***

Chace glanced at his right, giving Arkady a reassuring smile as the whole team marched towards the WolvesArena. As they approached the entrance of the stadium, the screams and cheered got louder; whistles and cheers were all over the place as the Alpha Wolves' theme song played. Chace took few moments to warm up, jumping in his spot, soon imitated by his teammates. He could see, even from distance, Ezekiel's face turning as pale as the dead. The tunnel from which they emerged was now sinking in smoke, - a ritual carried by the wolves since the establishment of the team. It was during moments like these that Chace felt proud and thankful to be a part of such an extraordinary act, yet tonight he was rather nostalgic; it was the first game he would play without Duke.

"You're thinking about Hart?", Jeffrey demanded with a straightforward look and though it was more of a statement than a question, Chace nodded anyway.

"Don't worry buddy.", Jeffrey smiled with determination, tapping his friend's back, reassuringly. "We're gonna win this for him."

Chace silently agreed and he soon heard their theme song slowly playing and he knew that this was it.

"I don't believe anymore, I don't believe anymore.

Raised by wolves, stronger than fear, raised by wolves,

We were raised by wolves.

Raised by wolves, stronger than fear;

If I open my eyes, you disappear."

"You heard the call, gentlemen.", he started with a vehement voice, adjusting his helmet. "Run."

Soon enough, fifty-three men were running to the field under the shrieking screams and whistles that increased once the players were on sight. The little crowd of oxblood jerseys parted to let its quarterback run through the players as he carried the Alpha Wolves' flag and the stadium was now a mess of screeches and squeals or what Duke jokingly liked to call the 'DuCarter effect'.

As Principle Rhodes addressed the crowd, Duke made his way toward his teammates and Chace heartily smiled as he saw him dressed in his Alpha Wolves' jersey but that didn't extinguish the guilt he felt.

"How are you Hart?", one of the players asked with a smile as the team gather around their old friend, happy to have him, even for minutes. While Duke greeted his friends, Chace couldn't help to notice how purposely skipped Ezekiel and it made him wonder what was going on inside that mind of his.

"What is your name?", Duke finally said, closely looking at the new player.

"Ezekiel Sørensen.", the redhead answered, blinking while Chace just watched the two of them.

Duke lowered his steely blue gaze on Ezekiel's jersey that read "62", a blank expression took over his face and Chace knew that there was nothing more Duke wanted than to rip that shirt off Ezekiel.