My Hockey Alpha novel Chapter 334

I leaned into him, absorbing his familiar, comforting scent. ” Yeah. Just got a little introspective, is all.”

Enzo chuckled. “Nina, being introspective? That’s a new one.

Kidding.”

The scent of roses filled the air, mingling with the earthy smell of damp soil. The sound of the music playing inside made its way to us, but it felt so far away right now.

Enzo’s arm tightened around my shoulders, pulling me closer into him. “So… What are you being intros pective about? You and your dad seemed to be having an intense conversation earlier, after your dance.” Some paragraphs are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Jobnib.com. Visit Jobnib.com to read the complete chapters for free.I leaned my head against his shoulder, the familiar scent of his body comforting me. “My dad’s just… being a dad, that’s all. He’s worried about me living in the house by myself while you’re gone. He wants me to move here for the pregnancy.” Enzo looked at me, his eyes searching. “And why don’t you consider it? You can easily take portals to campus, you know. It wouldn’t disrupt your life too much.”

I let out a sigh. Portals were handy, magical shortcuts between places. Some people could open them, and some couldn’t. I had discovered last year that I was one of the lucky ones who could do it, making travel back and forth between the human realm and the werewolf realm much easier.

But opening a portal wasn’t without its consequences; I oftenfelt a bit lightheaded and tired afterwards, and it was sure to get worse during the pregnancy.

Enzo seemed to read my mind. “A bit too much, maybe?” he quipped, raising an eyebrow.

I shrugged. “Maybe. Or…”

“Or,” Enzo continued for me, “you’re deliberately disagreeing with your parents.”

I sat upright, my eyes locking with his. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Enzo paused, choosing his words carefully. “I love you, but you’re stubborn, Nina. You never want to admit when you need help.”

I felt a pang of irritation. “I don’t need help, Enzo. I can manage my life just fine.”

He let out a sigh, his eyes softening. “I’m not saying you can’t.

But is your pride worth worrying your parents?”

“”It’s not just pride, it’s my life, my choices. Why should I change my life just because it makes other people comfortable?”

“Because those ‘other people’ are your family who love and care about you? Family looks out for one another, Nina.”

I was quiet for a moment, contemplating his words. “I know they care, but I need them to trust me too, trust that I can take care of myself.”

“Sometimes caring involves worrying, you know that.”

“Yeah, but–”

Enzo interrupted me, placing a finger gently on my lips. “Just think about it, okay? You don’t have to make a decision right now. But consider your dad’s offer seriously. You might find it’s not as bad as you think.”

I leaned back on the bench, looking up at the night sky. The stars seemed so distant and small, like tiny pinpricks in the sky. I felt like that too, small and distant.

Enzo’s voice broke through my reverie. “I just want you to be happy, Nina. And safe. If living in our house in Mountainview gives you that, I’m all for it. But if there’s even a sliver of doubt in your mind, maybe it’s worth listening to your dad.” Listening. I had always equated it with giving in, with sacrificing my own wishes for the sake of others. But as I looked at Enzo, his eyes filled with genuine concern, it dawned on me that perhaps listening was more about love than about giving up.

I turned towards him, my eyes meeting his. “I’ll think about it, okay? But whatever I choose, I need you to be okay with it.” He leaned in, his lips brushing softly against my forehead. “I’ll support you, Nina, whatever you decide. You should know that by no—”

“Hey, Nina! Enzo!”

Nina

“Nina! Enzo!”

My brother’s voice carried across the garden, breaking Enzo and I out of our reverie. We both lifted our heads and turned around to see Tyler standing in the doorway, waving excitedly with a grin on his face.

“What is it, Ty?” I called out, charmed by his enthusiasm.

“They’re starting the group dance!” he called back. “You have to get in here. We’re waiting for you!”

Exchanging wary glances, Enzo and I stood and headed back to the ballroom. Enzo’s hand lingered on the small of my back, filling my body with an electric tingle and filling my mind with fantasies about what would happen in our bedroom later. But for now, it was time to dance.

“There you are!” my mother said as we returned. “It’s time to dance. And cut cake!”

“Cake?” I said, glancing behind her, where a few servants were wheeling out a cart with a large, multi-tiered cake on it. “Geez, mom. Why didn’t you tell me?”

My mother grinned. “I wanted it to be a surprise. It’s vanilla, your favorite.”

Her words made me smile, and Enzo, too.

We shared a look, both amused and resigned after a long evening. “It sounds delicious,” I said, even though I was still full from snacking on hors d’oeuvres all evening. “Dance first, then cake.”

The band resumed, striking up a waltz. The room felt alive with a cacophony of sounds: string instruments, clinking glasses, excited laughter and chatter. I felt like we were at our wedding all over again, which wasn’t a bad feeling in the slightest.

Enzo offered me his hand, a wordless question lingering in his eyes. “Ready to waltz your heart out?” he asked, smirking playfully.

Within a moment, Enzo and my family had rushed to my side.

Their faces were a blur of concern and confusion.

“Nina, what happened? Are you okay?” Enzo’s voice was tinged with panic.

“Do you see him?” My voice was barely above a whisper, my eyes still locked onto where the entity was standing, grinning down at me.

Tyler, hearing my words, followed my gaze — but his expression betrayed nothing. “See what, Nina?”

“The shadow entity. It’s right there, can’t you see it?” Enzo and Tyler exchanged a glance, their expressions a mixture of concern and bewilderment. “Nina, there’s no one here but us,” Tyler whispered, his voice nearly lost amongst the ripples of murmurs making their way across the room.

I blinked, rubbed my eyes and looked up, my eyes searching desperately.

And then I saw him — a man, just an ordinary man, looking as confused and concerned as everyone else. No shadow entity. No faceless monster. Just a man.

My cheeks burned with embarrassment and shame. Had I imagined it all? Was it just in my head?

“Maybe you’re just tired,” Enzo suggested cautiously. His voice seemed almost lighthearted, but I knew that he knew that it was more than that. He was the only one who was privy to these strange hallucinations of mine.

The feelings that churned inside me were a sickening mix-humiliation, confusion, and an exhaustion that settled itself into my bones.

I felt my mom’s eyes on me, her gaze filled with a kind of maternal worry that I knew all too well. It was the same look she gave me whenever she thought I was overexerting myself, or not eating enough, or not sleeping enough.

It was the ‘I told you so’ look that only mothers seemed to have perfected. If only she really knew.

“Nina, honey, are you sure you’re alright?” she asked, her voice gentle but laced with tension.

“I-I just… I need to lie down,” I finally muttered, pushing myself to my feet. “I’m sorry, I just… need a moment.”

Without another word, I picked up my skirts and rushed away before anyone could stop me.

Their eyes followed me as I hurried away, my heels clicking against the marble floor, echoing loudly in the dead silent room.

I didn’t look back. I couldn’t. My face was hot, my heart pounding in my chest as 1 all but ran from the ballroom, fleeing from the eyes that I felt boring into my back, retreating from a reality that I was no longer certain I understood.