My Hockey Alpha

Nina

Once we had the plan set in place, it was time to implement it. We had to do it while the sun was up, and we would have to do it that day before the Crescents came back to look for us again.

Lori and Jessica stayed behind to keep an eye on James, who was still locked up in Jessica’s room.

“Please be safe,” Jessica said quietly, pulling me in for a tight hug.

“I will,” I replied into her shoulder. I tried not to cry, but it was getting harder and harder. Lori didn’t say a word as I hugged her next, but just held me tight.

Once we said our goodbyes, Enzo and I left, led by Matt and the hockey team.

The air outside was cold and windy when we stepped out of the dorm building. A bit of snow was even beginning to fall; if it wasn’t for our unfortunate circumstances, it would have been an almost beautiful day. But all I could do was shudder and hold Enzo’s hand tightly.

Matt and the team shifted once we crossed the quad, then ran ahead toward the infirmary to get the Crescents’ attention. Meanwhile, Enzo and I stuck to the sides of buildings, meticulously making our way toward the arena.

“What if this doesn’t work?” I asked quietly as we darted from building to building, my voice shaking with nerves.

“Hey.” Enzo stopped suddenly, taking my hand and pulling me closer. From this close, I could smell the scent of sweat and leather mingling with his skin, and it instantly comforted me. He cupped a hand under my chin and tilted my face up so I was looking at him. His eyes were soft and caring, but also stern at the same time. “It’ll work,” he said gently. “I promise.”

I wanted to believe him. Even though there were doubts swimming around in my mind — whether we would have enough of the antidote to cure everyone, whether the antidote would work without being injected, even if the water tank that we talked around would actually feed those sprinklers — I knew I had to just swallow them and keep moving. The only thing I had to focus on was trying; if I didn’t try, then I would never know.

a weak smile to ease my nerves and bent down to my height, planting a soft, tender kiss on my lips before

We could see Matt and the others up ahead, slowly stalking toward the infirmary as they waited for our signal. Once we were in position behind the arena, ready to run in and through the front door of the

and the others charged forward. Enzo kept his arms wrapped firmly around me as

a chorus of sound. We could hear clanging coming from the infirmary as the hockey team ran up to

that the clanging came from them shifting in the infirmary. There were six of them, and as we watched

on.” Enzo and I sprinted as fast as we could to the front door of the infirmary, staying close to the building. When we arrived, we saw that it was destroyed, but empty; Enzo kept watch while I

at least a dozen vials of the antidote sat on a shelf, hidden behind paper towels. I almost wouldn’t have seen them if it weren’t for a sliver of one vial peeking out from behind the paper

between the infirmary and the hockey arena. It was too small for him to fit, so he kept watch once more as I squeezed through with the antidote and shimmied

in. Just in case

single nod, we ran back to the infirmary, shooting each other

doors had been smashed in by the rogues and now lay in a crumpled mess in the doorway. Thankfully, the door to the supply closet was still intact, so at least we had some barrier just in

you think they’re still down there?” I

as he covered his mouth with his hand. “Yup. They’re

to the supply closet, then gestured to the heavy lab table that sat behind

the table in front of the door as a barricade. Then, our eyes met as we realized

start,” he said. “If the sprinklers even go off at all…

speak. Earlier, we had planned on running back to the dorm to get Lori and Jessica if things went awry. Lori’s car was still parked in the parking lot, and she had the keys in our dorm, so the plan was to get in her car and drive, and not look back.

I walked over to the

“Together,” I whispered.

out, taking a deep breath. Then, at the same time, we pulled