Page 2 of Icebound Hearts

“Is this Weblley House?” The stranger nods, his expression now matching my confusion.

“I was assigned a room here,” I explain. “My name is Katerina Hart.” I dig into my backpack, pull out my admissions email, and hand it to him. His brows shoot up.

“Holy shit. The school assigned you here?” He exhales a laugh, shaking his head. “Oh, sweetheart, they fucked up. This is the hockey players’ house. We have an empty room, but it’s meant for a hockey player—not a figure skater. Not a girl.” I groan, pressing my fingers against my forehead.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Crap. I have my first training session in two hours. “Fuck,” I mutter. “Okay, um… Can I leave my bags here while I talk to the admissions office? I have no idea where else to put them. It’s my first day in America, and this shit happens to me. I have training soon, and—oh my god—I think I’m gonna pass out.”

“Yeah, of course you can. I’m sorry about this.” He steps aside. “Come on in.”

“I’m William Knight, by the way. But you can call me Will,” he says, extending a hand. “Pleasure to meet you, even though the circumstances are… not ideal.” I shake his hand.

“Katerina Petrova.” His brow lifts.

“I thought your last name was Hart?” I sigh. I hate using my fathers last name.

“It’s a new addition. It’ll take me a while to get used to it.” He nods, sensing it’s not a topic I want to discuss. Will lifts my bags effortlessly, carrying them up two flights of stairs as I follow suit.

“This would’ve been your room, I guess.” I step inside. It’s spacious and modern, with a huge window overlooking the campus. A plush chaise sits in front of it, next to a sleek desk. There’s a full bed, my bathroom, and—thank God—a walk-in closet. I take it all in, exhaling slowly.

“So pretty,” I whisper. I hope the school will figure this out and the figure skating house has just as nice rooms.

“I’ll leave you to it.” Will whispers before disappearing down the hall. I unzip my suitcase, pulling out my gear. Twenty minutes later, I have on my black leggings, a fitted long-sleeve shirt, and a white puffer vest. I grab my skates, leg warmers, and water bottle before stuffing my wallet and paperwork into my gym bag. I head downstairs and nearly collide with another handsome stranger. Jesus. What is it with this house? This one is taller than Will, broader, with sharp green eyes and a serious expression. His damp hair is dark brown, curling slightly at the ends like he just stepped out of the shower. His gaze flicks over me briefly before he steps aside, letting me pass.

I mumble a quick “Sorry,” but he didn’t reply. He just gave me a curt nod before disappearing into the kitchen. Alright, then. Noted. I wave goodbye to Will who is laying in this huge bean bag, watching TV. “I’ll let you know what they say.”

“Good luck, Kat.” I smile as he yells it out, raising his hand up to wave at me.

I step outside, gripping my bag tightly. It's my first day in America, and I’m already fighting an uphill battle.

Welcome to hell, Katerina. Or maybe—

Welcome to my second chance.

Chapter Two

KATERINA

“What do you mean there are no other rooms available?” My voice rises in frustration as I stare at the admissions lady, my grip tightening around the strap of my bag. She gives me a tight-lipped smile that tells me she’s been dealing with complaints all day and has zero patience left. “As I said, Miss Hart, someone was supposed to assign you to the Figure Skating House, but there was a clerical error. Unfortunately, that house is at full capacity. The best we can do is have you stay in the Hockey House until the semester ends.”

A headache pulses behind my temples. I pinch the bridge of my nose, inhaling slowly.

“This can’t be happening.”

“That’s six months,” I say, voice tight. “You want me to live with four hockey playersfor six months?” She nods, her expression full of forced sympathy. “I’m sorry, but it’s either that or you defer until spring.” Defer? After everything I went through to get here? After leaving Russia, uprooting my entire life, and pushing past the emotional wreckage my last coach left behind? No. That’s not an option. I exhale sharply.

“Fine.” She slides a key across the desk. “I truly apologise for the mix-up. Here’s your key and all the information you’ll need.” I grab it, muttering a half-hearted “Thanks” before turning on my heel and heading for the exit. The cold air bites at my cheeks as soon as I step outside. I glance at my watch and groan. The Pleasant Oaks University Ice Arena is a ten-minute walk from the admissions office, and I make the journey with quick, determined strides. Each step feels heavier than the last, and my mind is clouded with too many thoughts.

I shouldn’t be this nervous; I should be excited. Instead, my stomach is in knots. Camilla Trusova is expecting me. A legend in the figure skating world. A three-time Olympic gold medalist.She doesn’t take on just anyone. And yet here I am. Because ofhim. Jake Hart. My father. The thought alone sends a bitter taste to my tongue.

After all these years, the birthdays missed, the competitions he never attended—he suddenly decides to play hero. Suddenly, my dad cares about my career. I should’ve told him to go to hell. But Alexei convinced me otherwise.

“This is our second chance, Katerina. We’ll never get another one.”

So here I am, gripping my gym bag, heading toward an arena I’ve never skated in, about to train under a woman I worshiped my entire childhood. And if I fail? What if I let the past creep back in? What if the ghosts of my old life resurface? No. I won’t fail. Ican’t.

The moment I step inside the arena, the tension in my body loosens slightly. Bright lights cast a cool glow over the Olympic-sized rink, illuminating the pristine ice. The faint scent of minty coolant lingers in the air, mixed with the crisp sharpness of the Ice itself.

This… this is home. The distant sound of blades carving into ice echoes in the vast space. A few skaters glide across the rink, lost in their routines. Some of them landing jumps effortlessly. Others stumbling. I watch one girl attempt a triple axel, her expression fierce with concentration before she crashes onto the ice with a sharp thud. My heart clenches.

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