My Hockey Alpha

Nina

Out of nowhere, Enzo kissed me.

He kissed me hard and fast, and it was over as quickly as it began. I continued to crouch in front of him, blinking dazedly as I processed what just happened.

His hands, which he’d cupped on either side of my cheeks, dropped down to his side. He stood suddenly, pacing away from me as though he needed to get distance between us, and when I stood as well, I noticed that his eyes were red again.

“That scent,” he said, pointing his finger at me and burying his nose in his jersey. “I don’t know how you’re doing that, but you have to stop. I can’t control myself when you do it, and it’s only gonna hurt both of us even more.”

“Enzo…” I took a step toward him as my eyes began to fill with tears. “Why won’t you just let me in? Is all of this really because of a scarf? I know how you really feel about me–”

Enzo shook his head and backed away even more.

“Get out,” he said.

I furrowed my brow, both confused and hurt by his sudden order. “Why?”

“Just get out,” he demanded again. “I’m not allowed to get involved with you like this anymore, and clearly I can’t control myself around you… So please, just go. Be with Justin. Be with anyone except me.”

I took a step backwards, shaking my head. What did he mean about not being allowed to get involved with me anymore? Nothing was stopping him except for that stupid scarf. Time and time again, we had played this back and forth game. And now, I had experienced his scent, and he was clearly attracted to mine. Why, then, did we have to do this? Why couldn’t we just be together?

Before I could say anything, however, the rest of the team suddenly filed in. When they saw how Enzo and I were looking at each other, they all fell silent and stood by the door.

“Should we leave?” Matt asked.

look at him, I shook my head and turned on my heel. “No,” I muttered, keeping my head down so as to hide the tears in my eyes as I walked past the group.

out, some cleaners, and the food vendors closing up their booths.

it far before I

eyes and slowly looked over my shoulder. Standing in the shadows beside the locker room… Was Enzo’s father. He was leaning against the wall, dressed in his usual suit and tie, with his arms folded across his chest. As he looked at me, his cold eyes fixed

your mother is a Crescent traitor… And I know where she and your brother

giving me an immediate, pounding headache. I winced, touching

my eyes, he

from Enzo? Did that have something to do with why Enzo was so adamant about

my stomach. I briskly walked out of the arena and slipped my phone

I said when

Nina,” she said, sounding a

a sigh of relief. Thankfully, nothing had happened to her yet. “Yeah,” I lied. “I’m fine. How are you and

before answering. “We’re fine. Actually… I

my stomach returned. I picked up my pace as my building came into view and glanced over my shoulder,

visiting your aunt overseas. You have next week off of school, right? Would you like to come with us? We’ll be leaving in a couple

replied, letting out a sigh of relief. It was unexpected, but the thought of spending some time away from this town was tempting. “How

week,” she

the door open before walking inside. Now that I was safely inside with the bright amber

paused. I climbed the stairs to my suite. “That’s great, honey,” she finally said. “Make sure you pack enough for the week. I’ll buy you a train ticket to come down to meet

the image of Enzo’s father and the sinister things he’d said swirled around. He’d called her a Crescent traitor. I realized then that I had to see my mother and

“Yes?”

for tonight? I

…