My Hockey Alpha

Nina

A woman’s voice screamed for help from the forest. Enzo and I pulled away from each other, just as we were about to kiss for the second time that night. We looked at each other for a moment, the realization of the situation hitting us, before taking off toward the woods.

Could we not have one good night without people being injured or killed by werewolves?

“Stay here,” Enzo said just before we reached the woods. He stopped in his tracks and grabbed me by both shoulders, pushing me away from the entrance of the woods where students and locals often walked on the seemingly-safe nature trails.

I wrenched myself free and shook my head vigorously. Stay here? There was no way in hell I was letting Enzo go into the woods by himself. I would never forgive myself if something happened to him out there and I wasn’t there to help him. “No way!” I shouted, curling my hands up into fists. “I’m not letting you go alone.”

“Nina, it’s not safe–”

“I realize that, Enzo!” I said, stamping my foot angrily. “I’m going with you regardless!”

Enzo stared at me for a moment, a mixture of surprise and worry written across his face, before he sighed and nodded, straightening once more.” Alright,” he said, turning toward the trail that led into the forest and holding out his hand as the screams continued. “But stay close. Don’t let go of my hand.”

I took his hand and ran with him into the forest toward the source of the screams. It was frightening to run with such wild abandon in the forest, but I let Enzo lead the way; something in me told me to trust him to guide us as we ran, so I did.

“Help!” the woman screamed again, this time much closer. We took a sharp right turn, leaping over tree roots and rocks in the way, and soon found ourselves in a small clearing.

stepped forward while I stood paralyzed by the

ankle as she clawed desperately at the ground, sobbing

own. The rogue looked up at him, the woman’s leg

explain it, but there was also

other, preparing to attack. I ran up to the woman and grabbed her hand, quickly helping her up and pulling her away from

the rogue met my eyes, staring at me for a moment — as if it recognized me then turned on its

going?” I asked, my voice shaking as I held

and scooping her up, his eyes fixed on me.

said sternly over the woman’s sobs. “Get

“But I–”

low and serious. “Please Just this

louder, and in the blink of an eye, Enzo and the woman were just… gone. The forest was silent once more, as if nothing had ever happened

trying to stay as quiet as possible as I followed the rogue’s trail; it had crashed so haphazardly through the woods that

for nearly twenty minutes when I

haunches in the middle of a clearing, staring up at the moon with its head tilted back. As I approached through the bushes, it heard me and jumped up, snarling. I felt my heart quicken as I cursed myself for being so

Its eyes stayed focused on me, but for some reason, I no longer

expected the rogue to suddenly jump up and attack me, but it never did. Even when my hand touched. its massive muzzle,