My Hockey Alpha

Nina

“Okay,” I whispered. “I’ll go with you.”

My mom let out a relieved sigh. Without a word, she rushed over to me and pulled me into a tight hug. I felt myself tense under her touch for a moment before I relaxed and wrapped my arms around her. For a long time, we held each other, crying, and eventually I heard the sound of my brother quietly walking down the stairs.

When I turned around, he was standing in the doorway with his suitcase in one hand and mine in the other.

“You knew all along?” I asked as we waited for my mom to finish packing up some sentimental items and valuables around the house to bring with us.

He nodded, then paused and furrowed his brow. “Yes. Well, sort of. I found out a couple of years ago when mom had a witch come and try to break the curse. I thought she was crazy for a long time, though. Now, I realize that she was telling the truth.”

I nodded, staring at the floor with wide eyes as a million things raced through my mind. “I’ve learned a lot these past few months,” I said. “If you had asked me at the beginning of the semester if I thought werewolves were real, I would’ve laughed in your face and called you a maniac. Now…”

My voice trailed off as I looked up to see my mother standing by the door. Her face was twisted into a look of sadness, and as she gripped her suitcase in her hand, her knuckles were white. “Come on,” she said, opening the door. “We have to go quickly.”

I nodded solemnly and took my suitcase from Taylor. Then, we said goodbye to our childhood home and left.

…

As our mother drove us to the airport, the reality of the situation hadn’t fully hit me yet and I had a million questions. Thankfully, my mom was finally honest and open about everything, and I was able to get some answers.

“So… You knew Richard in college?” I asked. “And Tiffany, and all of the others? Even… Edward?”

My mother smiled a bit at the mention of Tiffany’s name, but her smile quickly faded as I mentioned Richard and Edward.

“Yes,” she said quietly, gripping the steering wheel tightly as she drove. “The Peacekeepers. How did you know about our club?”

“Tiffany told me,” I replied. “She misses you, by the way.”

with a soft sigh. “But it’s been too long. I’m afraid I’m not the same

a moment, looking out the window as the occasional streetlight cast the inside of the car in an amber glow. With each flash of light, mine and my brother’s intertwined hands were illuminated. “I think she’d still like you,” I

My mother didn’t answer.

out onto the

are you gonna do with the house? Will

sell it,” she replied. “We won’t be coming back.

me

will stop at nothing to get us out of the picture, especially now that the Crescents are making a return. He still

ridiculous,” I said. “He

leaving with them — permanently. But then again, what could I do? If Enzo’s father really was as ruthless as he seemed, then I didn’t want to put my brother and my mom at risk anymore. Was I really about to say goodbye to everything and everyone I had come to know and love over the past four years?

into view. My mom pulled into the long-term parking lot and got out of the car. We had left so quickly that she was still in her pajamas; not that it mattered,

coming?” Taylor asked as he got out. I snapped out of my thoughts and nodded soberly before climbing out. My hands shook as I closed the car door and retrieved my

the window? As I stood behind my mother and listened to her arguing with the receptionist while she tried to exchange our old plane tickets for newer, faster ones, I couldn’t stop myself from glancing periodically over

toward security, where we went through the motions of removing our shoes and electronics while the security guard, a tired-looking middle aged man, waved

we were through and on our way to our plane, which would apparently be leaving in twenty minutes, it all felt so solid now. I felt as though I was walking through a thick mud, and with every step, I sank a little deeper. I trailed behind Taylor and my mother as they walked briskly to the terminal, still looking over my shoulder with the feeble hope that Enzo would be running after me…

attendant, who waved us through the gate with a stiff smile

I felt my heart

floated to me across the air. It was faint at first, but it grew stronger with

I was

and looked over

called. “What are you

too thick now. I couldn’t go with her. Enzo’s scent was like a lifeline pulling me to safety, pulling

“Mom… I can’t.”

minutes,” the attendant said. “If you’re not going to get

She rushed toward me and grabbed me by my shoulders, her face pleading. “What are you doing, Nina?” she