My Hockey Alpha

Nina

“Are you ready for the game tonight?”

I hardly heard Tiffany’s question as I wistfully stared out the infirmary window. Ever since I came home, I couldn’t get Enzo and the feeling of his arms around me out of my mind. I wanted him to be with me so badly, but he became distant from me again all of a sudden. It almost made me wonder if I should have just gone with my mom and Tyler after all, but I was certain that he had a reason for it. Hopefully, we would have a chance to talk after the hockey match tonight — which was the second to last match. Soon, Ronan would be returning to town.

No one had heard from or seen Ronan around since he worked with Lisa to fake all of those rumors around sleeping with me. By now, most people had forgotten about it, and the account where the videos and pictures were posted mysteriously disappeared. There were still a few people here and there who would give me dirty looks as I passed, but most people were too preoccupied with the werewolf leak and the upcoming end of the Half-Moon Tournament to care.

We also had this entire week of no classes for the mid-semester break, which was much needed. However, I couldn’t bring myself to sit around and do nothing, so I agreed to keep helping Tiffany in the infirmary.

“Earth to Nina?” Tiffany asked, waving her hand in front of my face.

I jumped and blinked rapidly, broken from my deep thoughts. “S-Sorry,” I said, blushing. “I’ve been a little out of it.”

Tiffany’s smile was warm as ever. “That’s okay, so long as you’re not too distracted tonight during the game.”

I nodded, then returned to my work. Meanwhile, Tiffany puttered around the infirmary and cleaned since there were no students around.

looking up from my notebook again. “Can

“Hm?”

the supply closet, inside of which

went red and she shivered as

as evidence for the police,” I replied. “But… I don’t think I can go in there

lab table. “It most certainly does not,” she said softly. “What matters most is that you made it out, and you’re healing from

you,” I said, blinking back some of the tears that began to well up in my eyes.

…

I attended the second to last hockey match of the tournament with Tiffany, Lori, Jessica, and even Luke by my side. The arena was packed to the brim with excited students from both schools, and thankfully, there were no protesters

team. Beside him was Matt, who looked up at the crowd

scanned the ice with a hunger that made the hair on the back of

puck, and the game began in a flurry of movement. The rink was alive with the sound of skates slicing through the ice and the clatter of sticks colliding. Enzo and Matt worked together to create a fast break, passing the puck back and forth as

the sound echoing throughout the rink, but Enzo stayed silent and focused. The other team seemed undeterred, however, and soon they were pressing forward with renewed

to dominate, using their superior strength and agility to outmaneuver their opponents at every turn. Watching Matt like this continued to be a surprise, and for a brief moment, I could’ve sworn that I caught a glimpse of his eyes glowing, but I chalked it up to a trick of the

to score, but Enzo blocked their shots with ease, passing the puck to his teammates until we scored a goal against