My Hockey Alpha



Enzo

I had just arrived for practice at the hockey arena, and was waiting for the team to arrive. I was standing by the coffee machine in the breakroom, and the only sound was that of the coffee spurting out into the cup. This was already my third cup this moming, but I hardly slept last night.

After the run-in with the fortune teller, I couldn't help but lay awake all night worrying about Nina. I kept looking over at her as if she would suddenly just pop out of existence-but of course she was always there, sleeping beside me.

Or maybe she wasn't sleeping. She kept tossing and turning all night too, and this morning her eyes were ringed with two dark circles. Even as I said goodbye at the airport, she looked exhausted. I hoped that all of this stress and traveling wouldn't put her pregnancy at even more risk than it already was.

"God," I thought to my wolf, shaking my head slightly. "I can't believe I was actually doubting our new family the other day. I feel so stupid now..."

"It's natural," my wolf responded. "You were unsure. That's okay. But now you know what you want, which is-* "Which is for Nina and our baby to be happy and healthy," I cut in with a firm nod. "And I'll do everything in my power to make sure that happens."

Suddenly, a familiar voice snapped me out of my reverie, making me jump a little in the process. "Morning, Enzo." It was Tim. I whirled around to face him, noticing as he carried his laptop case over to the table and plopped it down.

"Morning."

He nodded his head toward the coffee maker. "I don't suppose you wouldn't mind making one for me."

I shook my head, handing him the now-filled cup of coffee that had been waiting for me. "Not at all. Here, take this one. I'll make another."

Tim took the coffee and thanked me, and there were a few moments of silence as I proceeded to fetch another cup and place it under the machine, followed by a new container of coffee grounds.

"So, have you had a chance to think about my offer?" Tim asked.

I ran a hand through my hair, my gaze fixed on the coffee cup in front of me. Of course I couldn't accept this offer now, no matter how tantalizing it was. I couldn't just leave Nina, not with so much up in the air about her pregnancy.

"Tim," I began, turning back to face him, "something's come up with Nina's pregnancy. I'm not sure if I can leave her so soon."

Tim's expression shifted from curiosity to genuine concern. "Oh," he said softly. "Is she okay?"

I nodded, though the worry in my heart was unwavering. "She's stable for now, but we're waiting for a... specialist."

Specialist. The word felt like a half-truth, because the 'specialist' I wanted Nina to see was nothing at all like one of the human realm doctors. Something told me that a regular doctor wouldn't be able to do anything about a generational curse. High blood pressure? Sure. Black magic? Not so much.

Tim leaned back in his chair, scratching his head. "Well, I hope she and the baby are okay," he said.

"Thank you, Tim," I replied. "I really wish I could say yes to this opportunity, but I'm just not so sure now. Even the thought of leaving her in August is terrifying. I hope you understand why I'm so hesitant."

Tim, always the understanding type, took in my words with a slow and thoughtful nod. But when he spoke, his voice was nothing short of determined. "Enzo, this could be the chance of a lifetime. If you help our team win the tournament this season, you'll be on your way to coaching bigger and more prestigious teams. You could become

a celebrity hockey coach. I just want you to keep that in mind."

His words resonated with the dreamer in me, the part of me that had always aspired to greatness in the world of hockey. But the weight of responsibility and my love for Nina tugged at my heartstrings, making the decision a lot more difficult than I would have expected.

"I know, Tim," I finally said with a sigh. "I'll still think about it. But I need some time before I can make any commitments. At least when it comes to moving my starting date so far forward."

Tim sighed, his disappointment evident but not empathetic. "Of course. Take your time, Enzo." He rose from his chair, still holding the coffee cup, and raised it slightly as he turned to leave. "Oh, and thanks for the coffee. It's much appreciated."

"No problem."

As Tim left the breakroom, I grabbed my coffee from the machine and sank down into one of the chairs around the round table.

I knew the weight that this decision carried; it wasn't just a huge step toward my dreams, but it was a huge step toward our future as well.

If Nina and I were going to start a family so young, I wanted to be able to support us-especially while she was in medical school, which would take years. Of course I wasn't going to let my wife and mother of my child wait tables for money while she was also juggling such a rigorous program.

But at the same time, I knew the implications that leaving her so early held. Yes, it was a relief that she was headed back to the werewolf realm to stay with her parents, but it still terrified me.

After what the fortune teller had said, I was even more determined to be by her side now. What if she needed me? What if something happened and I couldn't be there right away?

It wasn't as simple as opening a portal here in the city like it was in Mountainview, and that was what made Mountainview so special; it was a 'thin spot, a place where the veil between the realms was thin enough to create temporary rifts to travel through.

That, as far as I knew, was simply not possible here in the city. I was fairly certain that there weren't even any other werewolves in the city. For all I knew, there weren't many other supernaturals at all. It would be isolating here in more ways than one.

However, I knew that there was no use in trying to make a decision right this second. I needed to give it a little time, wait until Nina visited the witch before I started panicking. Only then could I decide whether it would be too dangerous to leave her or not.

So for now, all I could do was wait. Instinctively, I slipped my phone out of my pocket as I sipped my coffee. Of course there was no call or text from Nina; she was probably still high in the sky, hardly halfway to Mountainview.

With a sigh, I slipped my phone back into my pocket. I could hear the hockey team approaching, their boisterous voices echoing in the expansive arena.

"Okay," I murmured to myself, standing. "One thing at a time, Enzo."All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.