My Hockey Alpha novel Chapter 479

Nina

The humidity hit me like a wall as soon as we stepped through the portal and into Mila’s overgrown jungle territory. Sweat instantly beaded on my brow, and I grimaced, already missing the cooler mountain air back home.

But there was no time to dwell on such trivial discomforts-not when Enzo’s life was at stake.

“Let’s move,” Matt commanded, his gruff voice cutting through the dense foliage. “Stay close and keep your eyes peeled.”

I nodded, falling into step beside Luke as our hodgepodge group ventured deeper into the verdant maze of twisted vines and towering trees. The others fanned out around us, their heads on a constant swivel in search of any movement.

Not that it would have mattered, of course. This jungle was teeming with life, and there was no knowing whether we would come face to face with a regular animal or a shifter.

But, with Daphne flitting up ahead in her bird form, her red feathers dipping up and down in the green canopy, at least we had a good lookout on our side.

For a while, the only sounds were the crunching of leaves underfoot and the distant calls of exotic birds. An oppressive silence clung to our group, broken only by the occasional flutter of wings or rustle in the canopy above.

Still, my shoulders remained tense, every nerve coiled tightly on high alert.

The plan was simple, or so it seemed: we would venture into Mila’s palace to extract Enzo before the fighting began, just so no harm could come to him. Then, my father’s forces would come in and take care of Mila herself.

But I knew by now, after all we had been through, that things were never that simple.

Then, without warning, a figure dropped from the treetops, landing in a crouch just meters ahead. In a blur of movement, more shapes materialized around us, seemingly melting out of the very jungle itself until we were surrounded on all sides.

Jessica let out a startled yelp, stumbling backwards. Matt’s muscles tensed, immediately dropping into a fighting stance at the front of the group, the leader of our pack with Enzo gone.

Even timid Lori put up her fists, pressing up alongside Jessica.

“Wait.” I put up my hand and took a step forward, indicating for my pack to stand down. “We come in peace,” I called out to the warriors. “We’re here to help.”

For a few long moments, the figures remained utterly still, their faces obscured by the shadows cast by the large leaves and fronds.

Then, one by one, they lowered their weapons. A collective murmur rippled through their ranks as they registered my words—and, more importantly, my scent.

“It’s you,” one of the warriors, a woman, said as she stepped forward. “You’re back.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t even realized I had been holding. The others shifted uncomfortably behind me, still unsure. “We know them,” I said, trying to assure them. “And they know us.”

The woman said something under her breath and stepped forward. “What do you want?” she asked. “You were told not to return.’ ”

“Mila took my mate again,” I explained. “We’ve come to retrieve him. Could I speak with your leader?”

The man’s eyes narrowed to slits at my words. “So you seek to challenge the Dragon Queen, once again, in her own kingdom?” He let out a wry snort. “You are a fool, wolf girl. Her fires will burn us all to ashes before you can so much as scratch her scales.”

Murmurs of assent rippled through the crowd, and I felt my heart sink a little. But I refused to be deterred, not after coming this far.

“That’s where you’re wrong,” I insisted, struggling to keep the desperation out of my voice. “Mila’s reign of terror is over. This time, we’ll stop her for good, and her fires will be extinguished. I promise you that.”

I turned slowly, meeting the gazes of each villager in turn as I tried to rally their support.

“For too long, you’ve all lived in fear while that monster hoards everything she can get her hands on. But it doesn’t have to be this way! We can take her down, together. All we need is for you to stand with us!”

For a few breathless heartbeats, there was only silence-the kind of heavy, loaded silence that presses down on your chest and makes it hard to breathe. And then the old man let out a mirthless chuckle, shaking his head slowly.

“You are not the first fool to come here preaching rebellion and false hope,” he said, his tone cool and even despite the anger bubbling just beneath the surface. “Nor will you be the last, I suspect. But I will not sacrifice what little remains of my people on a suicide mission against a force we cannot defeat.”

With a curt hand gesture, he summoned the warriors forward once again. Rough hands seized my arms, dragging me back to my feet despite my struggles. All around me, my friends were also hauled to their feet, snarling and protesting.

“Lock them up,” the chief ordered with a casual wave of his hand. “The little savior and her friends can await their inevitable demise together.”