Before the Fire

Atlanta Firebirds #0.5

by Riley Bauer

A captain who was thrown away. A center who can't stop chasing a voice on the phone. Four rookies fighting to survive. And a stray cat who's already chosen his person.

Antero "Avi" Ikonen gave Philadelphia seven years of elite hockey, quiet leadership, and a closet he never let anyone open. They repaid him by leaving him unprotected in the expansion draft and letting him find out from a beat reporter at seven in the morning. Now he's in Atlanta, building a team from scratch in a facility that still smells like paint, performing control so well that even his new agent can't see through it. He doesn't need anyone. He doesn't trust anyone. And he's definitely not thinking about the too-warm center who keeps texting at midnight and making him almost smile.

Ryan "Ash" Asher left San Francisco, a divorce, and eleven years of being the easiest guy in every room. Atlanta is the fresh start he needs. New team, new city, new identity. He throws himself into everything the way he always full send, no hesitation, learning every name and filling every silence. But the silence in his apartment at night doesn't fill as easily, and the one voice he keeps reaching for belongs to a six-five Finnish defenseman who answers in two-word sentences and somehow says more than anyone.

Tyler Davis, Sam Mueller, Tomáš Novák, and Matěj Hájek are four rookies who arrived at training camp with no pedigree, no connections, and everything to prove. They find each other at a cafeteria table on day one and build something between the cuts and the a group chat, a bench in the hallway, and the kind of bond that forms when nobody else knows your name yet. They watch the veterans circle each other, the captains orbit each other, and a stray cat claim the equipment room. They're learning to read the room. And the room is becoming a team.

Before the Fire is a multi-POV prequel novella about the Atlanta Firebirds' first training camp told through the captains who are circling something neither can name, the rookies who are fighting to stay, and the locker room banter, group chats, and stray cat moments that turn strangers into family before the season even starts.

No romance on-page. Just the spark before the flame. Start here, then read Fresh Ice (Ash & Avi's story).

found family, teammates, forced proximity, slow burn setup, multi POV, MM hockey romance, expansion team, locker room banter, group chat fiction, stray cat, grumpy-sunshine, hurt/comfort, sports romance, rookies, ensemble cast
Heat Clean — no on-page romance or sexual content
Avi, Ash, Davis, Mueller, Novák, Hájek
Atlanta Firebirds, Prequel Novella Before the Fire — Meet the Firebirds before the first puck drops
Book 1: Fresh Ice — Ash & Avi's story (bi-awakening, teammates to lovers, slow burn)
Book 2: Face Off — Fontenot & Volkov's story (enemies to lovers, hate to love)
Book 3: Tape to Tape — Macrchetti's story (friends to lovers, hurt/comfort)
Book 4-5: Coming soon!
Themes of professional rejection, identity, displacement, and belonging. No explicit content. References to a closeted athlete's experience. Locker room language.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Hockey, Novella

111 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 18, 2026

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️0🌶️

Uma delícia de prequel, e olha que eu li depois do livro 2, mas de coloca dentro deste universo de forma perfeita

[Fernanda Duarte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the an incredibly perfect way to set the stage for this series. Getting to know this characters like this, this build up, has me dying to get to know them more. This prequel has me absolutely obsessed with a series I didn’t even start reading yet.
What an amazing way to start this series. I’m already hooked.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best prequels I’ve read. Sucked me right into this universe. I cannot wait to read more. The author did a great job letting us get to know characters and become invested in them. There’s humor, there’s emotion, and there’s the creation of a sense of belonging. A hockey team is being built here but also a family. And the reader is welcomed in to become a part of that family. I am so anxious to get to know the eleven players we’ve been introduced to thus far.

[sheila c. lowther · Rating 5 out of 5]

good start

This is the second book that I have read by this author, and I am impressed. Thoughtful, sweet, and well written, and the story lines are well plotted. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Before the Fire after Fresh Ice, and it gave me a much better understanding of the whole team — especially how Avi and Ash’s relationship started, since that isn’t really mentioned in the first book. It’s also the beginning of the group chats, and they are so much fun to read.

[Kri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A prequel novella that introduces an ensemble cast of characters for the series rather than trying to squeeze in a full romance. Haven’t seen that before but really like it. Took me a sec to decide but I also really likectte writing and character development. Looking forward to the series.

[Sheila Burgin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have loved to read the novella as book 1 to build up to the trade and learn Abt avi before ash came into the picture

[Amy Mc Dowall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Different take on POVs than im used to but once I got started I was quickly invested.

straight to book 1

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why was this not part of book one? Kinda excessive tbh

[Amie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great set up for a new series! I am looking forward to reading the books to come.

[Monikat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to everyone in the series and a setting of the stage for things to come.
I can't wait to dive into this series.

[Marina Contreras · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good setup

[Kobie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I'm stuck waiting like everyone else for June 25 and the final book.

[Jo Atkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before the Fire is the kind of prequel that sucks you in and refuses to let go. Instead of rushing into romance, it lingers in the tension—the unspoken moments, the almost-smiles, and the fragile beginnings of something bigger than hockey. Avi and Ash are magnetic in completely different ways: Avi, guarded and controlled after being cast aside, and Ash, warm and persistent, chasing connection even when it’s just a voice on the phone. Every small interaction between the two feels significant.

What makes this novella, though, is the secondary cast. The rookies bring heart and authenticity as they navigate uncertainty and carve out their place, forming a believable and deeply endearing found family. The locker room banter, group chats, and even the stray cat add layers of charm and realism that make the team feel alive.

This story is about the spark before it ignites. With strong multi-POV storytelling and emotional depth, Before the Fire sets the scene perfectly, leaving you invested and waiting for what comes next.

[Shelle Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great prequel..... Very strong start.