My Hockey Alpha novel Chapter 356

Enzo

The chill of the ice rink was a welcome reprieve from the stuffy hotel. Although Nina and I had made up, I still couldn’t get past the fact that something was clearly on her mind this morning-whether it was our argument or something else, I wasn’t sure. I just remembered that she got up the night before, but what was really strange was that she had gotten up not once

But twice.

I was barely awake when it happened, but I knew she slipped out two times. Making a call, maybe? Or just couldn’t sleep?

Either way, if something was going on, I hoped that she would talk about it tonight. It hurt me to my core when she bottled things up, which was a trait she had picked up ever since the war on the Crescents.

And who could blame her? But the war was over, and she didn’t need to push her feelings down. Not anymore. Not with me here.

“Hey, Enzo!”

The sound of the team calling for me mixed with their skates slicing across the ice brought me back to reality, and I shook my head to dispel the thoughts. I was here to work; whatever else was going on could be dealt with later. And it would be dealt with. I was sure of it.

Several grueling hours later, the team made their way off the ice. It was a lot different training a human team, but they had the same fire as my team, which filled me with pride.

“Good work today, team,” I said as they tugged their skates off over on the bench. “I’d like to see more of that teamwork we talked about. Today was an improvement, but remember; you’re not just a team, you’re a family. That’s how you get an edge over your opponents.”

The players nodded, some making mental notes, others simply absorbing my words. As they dispersed towards the locker rooms, I grabbed my water bottle and towel, heading to the bench. Some paragraphs are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Jobnib.com. Visit Jobnib.com to read the complete chapters for free.My thoughts drifted to Nina, the look in her eyes this morning, and our conversation from last night. I looked forward to our date later. I think we needed it.

Suddenly, before I could dwell on it for too long, I was snapped out of my thoughts again when Tim approached with a clipboard in his hand. “Great job out there, Enzo,” he said, a smile warming his features.” The team respects you. You’re making a real difference already.”

I managed a smile, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

“Thanks, Tim. I’m just trying to get them ready for what lies ahead.”

Tim’s expression turned serious. “Speaking of which, I wanted to talk to you about something.”

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What’s up?”

“Well, we’re impressed with your performance. The higher-ups, the team, everyone thinks you’re a perfect fit,” Tim began, his tone earnest. “And so I was wondering if you would consider starting officially next month instead of in August. We’d offer a raise and a bonus for the trouble.”

The offer hit me like a wave. It was flattering, enticing, and frankly, a great opportunity. But it also meant a significant change in our plans-plans I had made with Nina. With a baby on the way, every decision had an impact. Could I really leave her when her pregnancy was still on the rocks?

“I appreciate the offer, Tim,” I replied, my mind racing.

“But I need to discuss it with my wife. This would change a lot for us.”

Tim nodded, an understanding look in his eyes. “Of course, family comes first. Just know that we would be thrilled to have you start sooner.”

As Tim walked away, I caught sight of Mila by the kitchen counter, her gaze lingering on me. She approached, her walk confident, a curious glint in her eye.

“Heard most of that, did you?” I asked, trying to keep the conversation light.

“I sure did. And it’s quite the opportunity, Enzo,” she said, her voice tinged with something I couldn’t quite place. “But you should follow your dreams, not always wait for permission from your wife.”

Her comment took me aback. “It’s not about seeking permission. Nina and I, we make decisions together.

We’re a team.”

Mila smiled, though it felt a bit forced. “Of course. I just meant it’s a significant opportunity for someone your age. It’s not a decision to be taken lightly.

Remember that.”

I furrowed my brow, confused by her nerve, but decided to chalk it up to misplaced helpfulness. ” Thanks, Mila,” I said, keeping my tone neutral. “TIl keep it in mind.”

I watched her walk away, feeling a twinge of discomfort. She was right about the opportunity, but it wasn’t a decision I could make on a whim. It needed careful consideration and, most importantly, a conversation with Nina.

The rest of the day was a blur of training, sweat, and maybe even a little blood and tears. The team put in their all, and maybe I pushed them a little too hard, but they took it well.

And yet, my mind kept drifting back to Nina. If I took this opportunity, then it would be a huge game-changer for us. I wöuld potentially miss out on most of Nina’s pregnancy. Was that really something that I wanted?

And what about her? How would she feel, going through a pregnancy all alone?

What really bothered me, too, was that I knew she would support it. I knew she would tell me to go, and that was the problem.

“She’s always putting you first,” my wolf said, breaking through my thoughts as I leaned on the rail and watched the team go through one last mock-scrimmage before the end of practice. “When will she put herself first?”

“Honestly, I wish I had the answer to that,” I replied, keeping my gaze on the puck as if it was a lifeline. “But it has to happen eventually. I can’t keep tiptoeing around, wondering if she’s going to put herself last again and wind up making herself sick.”

“Or getting herself hurt,” my wolf mused.

His words gave me pause. I hated thinking about that possibility, but there was no escaping it. Nina could be a little reckless sometimes, and although I knew that she always had the best of intentions, I often wondered if she would shift her mindset now that there was a baby in her belly.

And not to mention the sleepwalking. Oh, the sleepwalking. It terrified me. Although it hadn’t happened in ages, or so I thought, I couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to her while she was in a daze.

Suddenly, before I could continue my musing, the sound of someone calling my name brought my attention back to the ice.

“Coach Enzo!”

It was one of the team members, asking a question about his form. I skated over to him, deciding that for now, I would switch off Enzo the Husband, or Enzo the Alpha-and become Enzo the Coach for just a little while longer.

After all, what else could I do? I couldn’t be

everywhere and everyone at once, no matter how much I wished I could.

Nina

I stood in front of the full-length mirror, adjusting the straps of my red dress. The fabric hugged my body, accentuating the tiny bump on my belly. I was both nervous and excited about the evening ahead. Enzo and I had needed this, a night to reconnect, especially after the strain of the past few days.

“Tim came to me today,” he began, his eyes searching mine. “He was watching me work with the team and… he wants me to start next month instead of in August.”

I felt a jolt of surprise. “Next month?”

He nodded. “Yeah, they’re offering to raise my pay and even give me a bonus for the trouble.”

I was silent, processing the information. This was big, a significant change to our plans. I knew how important this job was to Enzo, but the thought of him leaving so soon, of being apart…

The weight of his words hung in the air between us, a cloud of unspoken fears and uncertainties. Enzo was watching me, waiting for my reaction, but I didn’t know what to say. How could I express my fears without hurting him, too?

“That’s… that’s great news, Enzo,” I finally managed, my voice a mixture of genuine happiness and secret apprehension. “You must be thrilled.”

Enzo’s expression was complex. “I am, but..” he trailed off, his gaze meeting mine, searching for something, perhaps reassurance or a sign of approval.

“But it’s sooner than we expected,” I finished his thought, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Exactly,” he said, his hand reaching across the table to grasp mine. “I know this changes things, especially with the baby…”

I squeezed his hand, offering a smile that I hoped was more convincing than it felt. “It’s a big opportunity, Enzo. I’m proud of you. Really.”

He nodded, but the furrow in his brow told me he was just as unsure of this as I was. “I told Tim I’d need to talk it over with you first. It’s not just my decision.”

“We should definitely talk about it,” I agreed, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on me. “But…

Maybe not tonight?”

Enzo’s face softened, and he gave my hand another reassuring squeeze. “You’re right. Tonight is about us.

We can talk about it another time.”

I smiled, grateful for his understanding. “So, tell me more about your day. How was training the team?”

Enzo’s eyes lit up, and he launched into a story about one of the players who had managed a particularly impressive play. His enthusiasm was infectious, and for a moment, it was easy to forget the looming decision that awaited us.

But as he spoke, my mind drifted back to the dream I’d had last night. For some reason, it felt even more threatening now with the thought of Enzo leaving early. The shadow entity, the vision of my baby dying…

It had felt so real, so terrifying. I almost told Enzo, wanting to share my fears, but I hesitated.

No, I thought. Not tonight.

Tonight was about us, about being together without shadows or fears hanging over us. I decided to push the memory of the dream to the back of my mind and save it for another time, focusing instead on Enzo’s animated recounting of the day’s events.The rest of the dinner passed in a blur of conversation and laughter. Enzo’s stories from the rink were a welcome distraction, and I found myself getting caught up in the excitement of his new job.

As we finished our meal, Enzo suggested we take a walk around the city. “There’s a beautiful park the overlooks the ocean nearby. I think you’d love it,” he said, his eyes sparkling with the promise of adventure.

“That sounds perfect,” I replied, nodding “Td like that.” With a warm smile, Enzo stood and held his hand out for me. I took it, and we walked out of the restaurant hand-in-hand, each of us pushing away our own shadows and our own demons for the sake of enjoying just one night together.