My Hockey Alpha novel Chapter 366

Nina

That night, sleep eluded me. I found myself pacing around the kitchen, caught somewhere between a state of making tea and having a mental breakdown.

My mind kept wandering back to Jessica, back to whether I should Claim her or not. Lori had been right; it was a huge decision. Life changing, even. But ever since we got the updated news about Jessica’s condition, it was feeling more and more like the only option.

I could do it, I thought to myself. I could Claim her; it would be a faster process than healing, and the results would be more profound. If I successfully turned her into a werewolf, she would like ly be awake and almost fully healed within one, maybe two days.

Or… I could Claim her and it could be detrimental to my pregnancy.

At this point, I didn’t know how to feel about that possibility. Would I rather save the life of my friend, or save the life of my unborn child— the child which, for all I knew, might very well end up stillborn?

In the dimly lit room, the hours seemed to stretch on endlessly. The weight of the situation hung heavy in the air, suffocating any attempt at rest. The silence was only broken by the soft sounds of Lori’s fitful sleep from the sofa, punctuated by an occasional whimper or a restless movement.

And then, it happened.

Lori called out Jessica’s name in her sleep, her voice filled with anguish. She bolted upright, her eyes wide with panic, and her breaths came in short, frantic bursts. “Jessica! Jessica, no!”

I rushed to her side, my heart aching for her. I placed a hand on her trembling shoulder, trying to ground her in the present. “Lori, it’s okay,” I whispered, my voice gentle but firm. “Jessica is still alive.

She’s in the hospital, and everything will be okay.”

Lori’s gaze was wild, tears glistening in her eyes. “I had a dream,” she choked out. “A horrible dream. Jessica was… she was dying in the hospital, and I wasn’t even beside her. I couldn’t save her, Nina.” My heart constricted as I listened to Lori’s words. I knew the feeling of helplessness all too well, and it was a heavy burden to bear.

But I held her gaze, my voice steady. “Lori, it was just a dream.

Jessica is fighting for her life, and you’re doing everything you can by being here for her. You’re not alone in this.”

Lori’s shoulders trembled, and she looked away, a deep sense of guilt washing over her. “I should be with her,” she whispered. “I should be there by her side, not here, sleeping.”

I reached for Lori’s hand, my touch gentle but reassuring. “Lori, neither of us will be any help to Jessica if we’re both exhausted beyond all belief,” I said softly. “We need to take care of ourselves too, so we can be strong for her when she needs us the most.” Lori hesitated for a moment, her gaze fixed on our intertwined hands. She nodded slowly, as if reluctantly accepting my words. ” You’re right,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just… I can’t help but feel like I’m failing her, you know?” I leaned in closer, placing a comforting arm around Lori’s shoulders. “You’re not failing her, Lori,” I assured her. “You’re doing everything you can, and that’s all anyone can ask for. We’ll get through this together.”

Tears welled up in Lori’s eyes, and she turned to me, gratitude and exhaustion drawn on her face. “Thank you, Nina,” she said, her voice breaking. “For being here, for understanding. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

I squeezed her shoulder gently, offering a reassuring smile. “We’re in this together, Lori. Friends support each other, no matter what.” With a deep sigh, Lori leaned back against the couch, her eyes drifting closed. The weight of the world seemed to momentarily lift from her shoulders, and she finally allowed herself to relax. “I’m so tired,” she admitted.

I brushed a strand of hair away from her face, a sense of protectiveness washing over me. “Get some rest,” I encouraged her.

“I’ll be right here if you need anything.”

Lori managed a weak smile before closing her eyes, succumbing to the exhaustion that had plagued her. The room fell into silence once more, broken only by the soft sounds of Lori’s steady breathing.

As the hours passed, I couldn’t help but keep a watchful eye on her, my own worries gnawing at my thoughts. The images of Jessica’s accident and Lori’s nightmares haunted me, and I couldn’t shake the feeling of helplessness that had settled over me.

However, at some point, I finally managed to sleep. It was a welcome feeling after everything that I had been through, and before I knew it, I was slipping off into my dreams with Lori softly snoring beside me.

And then, it happened. In the dead of night, I awoke with a start, a cold sweat clinging to my skin. My heart raced, and my breaths came in short, panicked gasps.

“Jessica…” I whispered.

I had dreamt of Jessica, of her fading away in a sterile hospital room, and the sense of impending loss had been overwhelming. It felt so real, so lifelike, as though it could happen at any moment.

And in that instant, I knew, if I didn’t act soon, something would happen to Jessica.

I was sure of it.

I looked over at Lori, who was still asleep, her features relaxed in the dim light of the room. I couldn’t disturb her now, not when she finally found some semblance of peace. And if I did what I was thinking of doing, I wanted to do it alone, without her knowledge.

After all, I couldn’t get Lori’s hopes up if the Claiming ceremony didn’t work. I couldn’t bear to see the look in Lori’s eyes if her fiancee didn’t come out of this despite my repeated efforts.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair, the dread of my dream still lingering.

The weight of my thoughts pressed down on me, and I couldn’t escape the realization that Jessica’s life was hanging in the balance.

I knew that turning her into a werewolf was a drastic step, one that would change her life forever. But as I looked at Lori’s sad face in her sleep, and as I saw how her brow was furrowed with worry, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was the only way to save our friend.

The idea sent a shiver down my spine, and I knew it was a decision I couldn’t make lightly.

I reeded to talk to Enzo, to consult with him about the consequences and risks. I knew that he would be angry with me; maybe he would even try to stop me.

But I couldn’t. I needed to do this, and I couldn’t let anything get in the way of saving my friend. I knew that Enzo might be mad at me for now, but with time, he would understand that I only did what I had to do.

And so, I quietly slipped away from the couch and made my way toward the door, a newfound sense of determination taking root within my chest.

Nina

The night air was cool against my skin as I slipped out of the house, careful not to wake Lori.

The decision had been made; I was going to turn Jessica into a werewolf. It was a risk, a leap into the unknown, but I couldn’t bear the thought of losing my friend. I had to try, even if it was dangerous. After all, what else was I supposed to do? Just let Jessica die in the hospital?

The truck’s engine rumbled to life as I started it, and I drove in silence, the weight of my decision heavy on my shoulders.

I lit a candle on the bedside table, its flickering flame casting dancing shadows on the walls. With trembling hands, I reached out and took Jessica’s limp hand in mine. I closed my eyes, focusing all my energy on the task at hand.

The room seemed to fade away, and I could feel the power of the Claiming surge through me.

But it wasn’t as easy as I had hoped. Each time I tried to pour my energy into Jessica, I felt a wave of weakness wash over me, and I stumbled back, gasping for breath. It was like trying to fill a bottomless pit, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I was in over my head.

I wiped the sweat from my brow and took a deep breath, forcing myself to try again. The room grew hazy as I concentrated, my world narrowing down to Jessica and the candle’s flame. I poured every ounce of my strength into the Claiming, determined not to give up.

But the same weakness hit me, and I fell to my knees beside Jessica’s bed, panting heavily. Tears welled up in my eyes, frustration and fear gnawing at me.

I had to succeed; Jessica’s life depended on it.

After what felt like an eternity, I summoned the last reserves of my energy and tried one more time. I could feel the power surging through me, a fiery current that threatened to consume me. It was now or never.

“Come on, Jessica,” I murmured, scrunching my eyes tighter. ” Jessica, I Claim you… I Claim you to join the world of shifters…”Some paragraphs are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Jobnib.com. Visit Jobnib.com to read the complete chapters for free. Somehow, the energy seemed to surge stronger this time, as though my worry had tapped into a new store of power. I gripped Jessica’s hand even tighter, repeating the words like a mantra under my breath.

As I completed the ceremony, I sat there for a long time, just holding Jessica’s hand. After what felt like an eternity I finally opened my eyes, hoping to see some sign that it had worked.

But Jessica still lay motionless, her breathing steady but shallow, her eyes gently closed. Nothing had changed.

I felt a sense of defeat wash over me, and I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. I had failed. I had failed my friend when she needed me the most.

I stood, my legs shaky, then kissed Jessica’s forehead gently, my voice trembling as I whispered my apologies.

“I’m so sorry, Jessica,” I said. “I tried my best, but it wasn’t enough this time. I’m so, so sorry…”

Jessica remained unconscious, her face serene in repose. I knew I couldn’t stay any longer; I had to leave before anyone discovered me in the room.

With a heavy heart, I turned away and walked out of the hospital, feeling like a failure.

The night was still young, and the moon glowed in the distance. I couldn’t go back to the house, not yet. I needed time to process what had just happened, to come to terms with my failure.

As I climbed back into the truck and began to drive nowhere in particular, I couldn’t shake the feeling of despair that clung to me. I had risked everything to save Jessica, and it had all been in vain.

I had let down both my friends and myself.

The tears flowed freely now, and I couldn’t stop them. I pulled over to the side of the road and leaned on the steering wheel, my body shaking with sobs.

It was going to be a long, lonely night ahead, and I had no idea what the future held.