My Hockey Alpha

Nina

“Nina… Taylor is in the hospital.”

I felt my heart drop as I registered what my mother just told me over the phone. Everything, from the Half- Moon Tournament to the Mad Wolf serum to Luke’s sudden transformation, seemed like nothing now.

“I’ll be there as soon as possible,” I said hastily, hanging up as a knot formed in my stomach.

“Nina? Is everything okay?” Enzo asked from behind. I turned around to see him still standing by the fire, looking at me with a concerned expression on his face. Luke was pulling on a pair of jeans behind him, but was also looking at me as he did so. It felt odd to see Luke with an actual expression on his face, and for there tobe meat and flesh on his bones, but right now it hardly registered to me.

“I-I have to go,” I said, taking a few steps backwards. “It’s my brother. He’s in the hospital.”

Both Enzo’s and Luke’s eyes widened. Enzo jogged toward me. “I’ll take you on the motorcycle,” he said.

“No,” I replied. “I’ll borrow Lori’s car I’ll keep you updated, though. Just focus on Edward and the Half-Moon tournament.”

Enzo nodded, and before either of them said anything else, I turned on my heel and ran back toward the campus. Lori was thankfully still awake when I got home, playing a video game on the TV

“Can I borrow your car for the night?” I asked breathlessly as I ran through to my room and began stuffing clothes and toiletries in my backpack.

Lori paused her game and turned around on the couch to face me. “Uh… Sure, I guess?” she responded. “Is everything okay?”

“It’s my brother,” I replied, running out of my room with my bag haphazardly packed already. “He’s in the hospital.”

drawn with worry.

my roommate a quick hug before

the morning when I arrived at the hospital where Taylor was staying. I was certain I had broken several traffic laws on the way, but thankfully there was no one on the roads with it being so late, so I managed

in the waiting room and jumped up when I

not getting Taylor the help he needed and for letting it get to this point. I was mad at myself, too, for not

he?” I

led us to the hospital room

I entered, my heart dropped into the pit of my

to so many machines. There was a breathing tube down his throat, his eyes were closed, and

over to the side of his bed. I gripped the bed rail with one hand

symptoms were so severe that the doctor

you know what’s wrong with

back inconclusive. As far as we’re aware, he doesn’t seem to have any sort of tumor or anything like that I furrowed my brow as I

of apology before leaving, shutting the sliding door behind her to give us privacy. Once we were alone, I felt my mother’s hand on my back. I shrugged her off

growled, feeling rage bubble up inside of me. “He’s been telling you for years that

could, Nina,” my mother responded, walking around the hospital bed and sitting in the folding chair across from it as the methodical beeping of the machines and the hum of the fluorescent lights filled the

tightening on Taylor’s wrist and I let go before

listen to me,” my mother whispered. There were tears in her own eyes

is it, then?” I asked. “What’s so difficult about getting your son the medical help he needs before it devolves

at her and I quickly looked away, back down at my brother. He was so much thinner than he had been the last time I saw him. His cheeks were

climbed trees and played cowboys and bandits and given me piggy back rides when we were little, now looked as though he wouldn’t even be able to