My Hockey Alpha



Chapter 0498This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .

Nina

I hung up the phone with my mother, and a newfound revelation began to wash over me.

Maybe my mother was right; maybe I could do this after all. Maybe it would be difficult, and maybe there would be a lot of late nights spent awake, a lot of exhaustion, a lot of worries. But I think that I knew what I wanted now, what I had wanted for a long time.

I kept thinking back to that young mother in the park. She could have only been about my age, in her early twenties, but she looked so happy with her little toddler. Of course there were, without a doubt, plenty of struggles in her life when it came to being a young mother. But at the same time, the joy in her eyes was almost palpable.

I wasn't quite ready to admit that to myself, but I knew that I wanted that. Finding out that I was pregnant after all, after my disappointment, felt like a second chance.

And no, I wouldn't need to give up on my dreams. Neither would Enzo. I was certain that we could make it work no matter what.

In the span of that short conversation with my mother, the future became clear to me. Maybe it wasn't the most perfect decision that I could have made, but I made my decision about the pregnancy nonetheless.

I couldn't wait to tell Enzo. No more lingering doubts, no more internal debates; I knew what I wanted now.

Not even five minutes had passed before the low rumble of a motorcycle pulling into the driveway interrupted my thoughts. Enzo was home.

Eager, I swung open the front door even before he got a chance to turn the knob. But as soon as I saw his face, a serious mask that I couldn't quite decipher, my stomach dropped.

"You're back," I said, masking my emotions with a layer of tentative cheerfulness.

"Something like that," he said quietly, clearly not sharing my enthusiasm. I watched for a few moments as he brushed past me and into the kitchen, where he kicked off his boots and seemed to let out a weary sigh.

"Did something happen?" The concern escaped my lips before I could stop it. "You look like you've seen a ghost." "In a way, I guess I did." He took a deep breath, his eyes searching mine, as if debating how much to tell me. "I was at a gas station. Saw what looked like Edward in a pickup truck. I tried following him, but I lost his trail." My face blanched, and a wave of nausea threatened to overpower me. "E-Edward? Are you sure?" I murmured. Enzo raised an eyebrow, as if sensing my internal turmoil. "I could ask you the same question," he said, his voice taking on an even darker tone. "Did you know he might be around again, Nina?"

My first instinct was to play dumb, to protect him-and maybe myself-from the harsh reality. But then he continued before I could utter a word, as though sensing my hesitation..

"Don't bother lying. I talked to Luke already."

My shoulders slumped, the weight of my deception becoming too much to bear. "Yes," I admitted. "I knew."

Enzo's eyes narrowed slightly. "How long have you known? And why didn't you tell me?"

I sighed. "Luke told me the night of your last hockey game. I didn't want to ruin that night for you. And then-then this whole pregnancy thing happened, and I don't know. Time got away from me."

His eyes darkened, disappointment clouding his features. "Nina, we've been through this. Transparency, remember? Especially with threats like Edward lurking around.*

"I know, I know," I admitted, feeling the sting of his words. "I messed up. With this and the pregnancy, I've been... I've been lost, Enzo."

His face softened, but the disappointment remained. "But Nina, being lost doesn't mean you have to go it alone. You should have told me."

I sighed, my eyes welling up with tears that I refused to let fall. "You're right. I should have. I'm sorry."

His gaze softened further, but he didn't move to comfort me. The gap between us felt like a growing chasm, and I felt like it was all my fault; all thanks to my reluctance to be open, to share my fears with others.

"I just wish you would be more open with me about stuff," Enzo said quietly, leaning against the kitchen counter." It's been getting worse, Nina."

I nodded slowly. "I know. Ever since..."

My voice trailed off. We both knew what I was going to say: ever since... well, everything, I had been growing more and more reluctant to talk about things. It was as if I thought it was best to deal with everything internally, to not burden anyone else with my pain. Hell, I didn't even know my reasons for it. It just felt like second nature at this point.

But that wasn't the only thing on my mind tonight. My decision about the pregnancy still loomed large in my mind, and I was excited to share.

I paused as Enzo's eyes met mine, a mingling of curiosity and caution in his gaze. "You're looking at me like there's something else you need to say," he said quietly.

I bit my lip, glancing at the flickering flame of the nearby vanilla-scented candle, its soft glow casting shadows on the walls.

That was when I heard her-my wolf, a constant presence in the background of my thoughts, pushing her way to the forefront. "Are you absolutely sure about this, Nina?"

I closed my eyes for a split second, allowing my mind to open up to her. It had become a second nature of mine to feel her presence in recent months, something that I never thought I would say.

"I'm not completely sure how it will turn out," I admitted. "But I think I've made my decision. It feels like it's for the best-for everyone"

"You know the decision you're making will affect more than just you and Enzo. It affects the pack, too."

"I know," I acknowledged. "And I've thought of that. In the end, this will make all of us the happiest, at least in the long run."

"Nina, are you alright?" Enzo's voice broke through my reverie, snapping me back to reality.

Pulling my thoughts back to the here and now, I managed a smile, one that I hoped would reassure him. "Yes, I'm more than alright. Let's sit."

His hand felt warm and familiar in mine, a pleasant reminder that no matter what, we always had each other. Despite our occasional strife, our love never wavered, and that was what always kept me grounded.

I led him to the couch, its plush cushions seeming to beckon to us in the dimly lit living room.

We both sat down, turning to face each other, our knees almost touching. For a fleeting moment, I took in the details of him-the way his shirt clung to his frame, how his soft brown eyes held onto mine like I was the only thing anchoring him to the earth.

"In the spirit of being more open with each other," I began, watching his face intently as I spoke, "I've made my decision about the pregnancy."