My Hockey Alpha novel Chapter 383

Enzo

With the decision made for half of us to ge back to the supernatural realm to attend the Moon Goddess Festival, I was in the tunnels, preparing some things and going over plans with Luke and Matt.

We would never just leave Mountainview unprotected, not when we had taken on the role of the silent protectors of this place, and so plans had to be set in place before half of us could leave.

The tunnels had become our headquarters since we had become a pack—it was a private place that not many people knew about, and so it was the perfect place for us to hold meetings about keeping Mountainview space. And when I wasn’t playing hockey, it was where I spent a lot of my spare time.

Ever since that burglar escaped, we had doubled down on our security not just in the tunnels, but all around Mountainview. Matt and some of the others had set up a few trail came ras around town, which I was flipping through now.

Of course, there was nothing out of the ordinary; just trees and the occasional animal.

At one point, though, I heard the door to my office open.

“Hey, Enzo,” Luke’s voice said, catching my attention. “You have a minute?”

I glanced at him and nodded. “Yeah. What’s up?”

Luke crossed the room and sat down in the chair across from my desk before he spoke. “We’ve been having some troubling sightings around Mountainview lately,” he began. “There have been reports of a large yellow-eyed wolf roaming the area.”

I furrowed my brow, my concern growing. “Yellow-eyed wolf? Have there been any incidents? Any trouble caused?”

Luke shook his head. “No, not really,” he replied. “It’s been mostly sightings from a distance-on the roads, in the forests, that kind of thing. But the yellow eyes are distinctive, and it’s always alone.”

I thought for a moment, mulling over the information. “Could it be a werewolf?”

Luke shrugged. “It’s possible. We can’t say for sure at this point.

We’ve tried tracking it down, but it seems to be elusive, like it’s always staying one step ahead.”

I sighed, feeling a sense of unease settle in my chest. “I don’t like the sound of this,” I admitted. “After that burglar managed to escape and Edward’s possible return, I don’t want to take any risks.” Luke nodded in agreement. “That’s why I wanted to bring it to your attention. I think we need to stay vigilant, especially with so many of us leaving.”

I thought about it for a moment before making a decision. ”

Alright,” I said firmly. “While we’re gone, have your scouts keep an eye out for this wolf. When we get back in a couple of days, we’ll organize a thorough search of the local areas. We need to make sure our territory is secure.”

Luke looked relieved at my words. “Thanks, Enzo. I appreciate your understanding.”

I clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Of course, Luke. We’re a pack, and we look out for each other. Now, is there anything else you need to tell me?”

Luke hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Are you sure you want to go back to the werewolf realm for a party, knowing… this?”

“We’re not going just for fun, Luke,” I said. “We need to present ourselves in the werewolf realm as a real pack. It’s for our future.” Luke looked a bit perturbed, but he nodded. “Alright. I trust your judgment. Just… don’t lose sight of what’s really important here, alright?”

“I won’t, Luke. Trust me.”

Luke nodded again, then paused, biting his lip. “I was actually thinking I’d stay here because of this,” he said, his voice taking on a more somber tone. “I hope you don’t mind. I figure I should stay with my scouts, and besides… I’m just the talking skeleton, eh?” I furrowed my brow. “Luke, you’re one of us. What makes you say that?”

He shrugged. “Nothing, really. It’s just… Well, I’ve never really fit in in the supernatural realm. I… I like it better here.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah,” Luke replied, leaning back in his chair. “I spent way too long being an undead servant to some rich assholes there. Here, I’m my own person.”

Luke’s words gave me pause. Between the racism toward humans, our pack not being seen as legitimate, and now this, it made me wonder…

How much did our appearance in the werewolf realm really matter?

“Alright,” I found myself saying with a stiff nod. “You can stay, if you’d like. No one’s forcing you to go.”

“Thanks, Enzo.” Luke stood, his eyes landing on me one last time. ”

We’re good?”

“We’re good.”

I watched Luke leave, his words swirling around in my mind. It felt strange, learning things about the realm where I grew up that had never even occurred to me as long as I had lived there.

I felt as though my views on the two worlds were shifting and changing, and for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t sure how to feel about it.

I approached Lori with the small bottle of perfume in my hand, trying to hide the reluctance in my eyes. She glanced up at me, scrunching up her nose in a way that made it clear she was not thrilled about this.

“You’re not really making me wear that stuff, are you?” she asked, eyeing the bottle suspiciously.

I sighed, knowing that it was hard for her. “I’m not making you do anything,” I said. “But if you want to come to the werewolf realm, unfortunately it needs to be done.”

Lori frowned dee ply, her brows furrowing. “I hate that I have to do this,” she muttered under her breath.

I could empathize with her feelings, but there was little choice in the matter. “I know,” I replied softly, “and like I said, you don’t have to do it if you’re uncomfortable with it. We’ll all understand.”

Jessica, who had been standing nearby, suddenly chimed in. “Lori, I’m sure Nina is really looking forward to seeing both of us there,” she said with a gentle smile. “She’d be so disappointed if you didn’t come.”

Lori hesitated, glancing between us, and then finally nodded. ” Fine,” she said with a reluctant sigh. “I’ll do it. But only for Nina.” I felt a mix of relief and guilt as I uncapped the perfume bottle. I sprayed a fine mist over Lori, watching as it settled on her skin. We waited in tense silence, hoping for the best, but fearing the worst.

A few moments passed, and I couldn’t help but feel that the perfume might not work on Lori. The scent of her humanity still lingered in my nostrils, and I worried that we would have to come up with another plan—or that she wouldn’t be able to come at all.

“Sorry, Lori,” I said a few moments later when she still smelled distinctly human. “I don’t think it’s working.”

Lori cursed softly under her breath. “These racist werewolves are a bunch of jerks,” she muttered. “I shouldn’t have to wear fancy magic perfume to go to a party.”

But then, just as disappointment began to settle in, I noticed something. Lori’s human scent was fading, slowly but surely. I had to really concentrate to pick it up, and even then, it was faint.

“Wait,” I said with a mixture of surprise and relief. “The perfume did work, Lori.”

Lori glanced between me and Jessica, her expression a mixture of surprise and relief. “Really?” she asked, as if not quite believing it herself.

I nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “You don’t appear entirely human, but you don’t appear like a werewolf either.

It should be good enough for a party in the supernatural realm, where you’ll be able to blend in.”

Lori’s shoulders relaxed, and she let out a breath she had apparently been holding. “Cool,” she said, taking the vial of perfume from my hands and slipping it into her pocket. “I guess I can go now. I just hope it sticks.”

“Don’t worry, babe,” Jessica said, wrapping her arms around Lori’s shoulders. “I’ll protect you if anything happens.”

Lori rolled her eyes, but the three of us couldn’t help but chuckle.

And so, with everything prepared, we made our way to the portal, where Matt and a few other of the hockey team members waited.

Luke was standing off to the side, opening the portal already as we approached.

Next, my gaze fell on Matt, who was looking around curiously. I realized that they hadn’t been here since the wedding, and so this realm was still foreign to them.

“How about a tour?” I asked.

For the next few hours, Enzo and I showed our friends around the mansion, refamiliarizing them with the layout. We showed them to their rooms, as well as where the kitchen was, the rec room, and all of the gardens.

At some point, Enzo and Matt wandered off into the library. Jessica, Lori and I made our way back out into the gardens to talk alone; I needed to speak with them about Jessica’s new… state.

Since she was healed now, she could change back if she wanted to; all it would take was a good dose of the antidote, something that we kept in stock in our headquarters just in case we needed to use it. We had learned our lesson with the Crescent outbreak, and we wanted to always be prepared.

“So,” I said as we made our way out to the garden with a picnic blanket in hand, “Jessica-”

“I know what you’re going to ask,” Jessica said, “and my answer is no. I don’t want the antidote.”

I stopped, genuinely taken aback. “So soon?” I asked.

Jessica and Lori exchanged glances, their hands intertwined. ”

Listen,” Jessica said, “I… I like feeling this way. I’d ike to see where it goes for a while. With a history of werewolves in my farmily, it just feels.. right.”

My eyes widened, and I glanced over at Lori, who just nodded. ” She’s made up her mind,” she said. “And I support her.”

I was still a bit in shock, but not necessarily in a bad way. It was just unexpected. “Well, um…” I began, swallowing, “..go for it, Jessica. If that’s what you want, I have no qualms about it. Welcome to the life of a werewolf. Has your wolf emerged yet?”

Jessica sighed as we kept walking. “Not yet, I don’t think,” she said.

“I feel as if I can feel her presence there, though. I think it’ll be soon.”

“That makes sense,” I said with a nod as I laid the blanket out on the ground once we had found a sunny spot to lay. “It could take a while.”

The three of us sat down on the picnic blanket and sprawled out, books and various snacks in hand. I had prepared some fruits and cheeses earlier so the three of us could relax. Lori leaned forward, picking up a strawberry, but paused when she saw the amulet hanging around my neck.

“What’s that?” she asked, pointing, as she took a bite of her strawberry. “Is that new?”

I touched the amulet, my fingers trembling slightly as I did. For a moment, I almost considered not telling them what it really was, but I knew that I couldn’t keep a secret from my friends. They deserved to know what I was warding off.

“It’s… a long story,” I said quietly. “But I saw a witch last week about the pregnancy, and she gave me this amulet to ward off a dark spirit that has somehow attached itself to me.”

Lori raised an eyebrow. “A dark spirit? Seriously?”

I nodded. “Look, I know it sounds crazy, but she said it might be why I was having those visions,” I said. “And I feel better wearing it than not, so I figure what’s the harm?”

Jessica reached out and touched the amulet gently. “It’s really been helping you feel better?”

I nodded. “A little, yeah. I haven’t seen anything weird lately, and aside from some hormones and morning sickness, I actually feel… safe.”

“Well, that’s all that matters, then,” Lori said, flipping her book open. “As long as you two and the baby are happy and healthy, that’s all I care about.”

Jessica nodded in agreement. “Same,” she said. “And Nina, if you need anything, you know Lori and I are here for you. Always.”

“Always and forever,” Lori said with a grin

I couldn’t help but smile as I reached forward and took my friends’ hands. “Always and forever.”