My Hockey Alpha by Eve Above Story PDF

Chapter 0496

Nina

The chilly morning wound up turning into a warm and sunny afternoon, and Enzo and I were tired of being all alone in our big house on the cliff.

In a last ditch effort to inject some normalcy in our lives, Enzo and I had decided to drive into town to check out the shops, get some fresh air, and have some coffee.

The drive was almost therapeutic-the sound of the tires on the road, the hum of the truck's engine, and Enzo's casual drumming of his fingers on the steering wheel all seemed to ground me in an odd way, reminding me that the world still existed outside my little bubble of melancholy.

We parked along the side of the road on the main street, where all of the shops lay. The atmosphere was filled with the sweet notes of an early summer afternoon: children laughing, dogs barking, and the distant melody of a street musician strumming his guitar.

As we strolled hand in hand, I looked at the small businesses lining the square. There was Mrs. Thompson's flower shop, bursting with bouquets of every conceivable color; the bakery with its freshly baked bread aroma wafting through the air; and the charming little bookstore that always promised a good find.

But most of all, my eyes were drawn to a young mother seated at the edge of a stone fountain in the center of the park. She was playing peek-a-boo with her toddler, who giggled with uninhibited joy. A bubble of warmth expanded in my chest at the sight, and before I knew it, I was moving toward them.

"Hi," I greeted the mother with a smile as I approached. "Your little one is adorable."

"Thank you," she replied, her eyes lighting up. "Say hello, Max."

The toddler looked at me with a curious grin and waved a tiny hand. My heart melted. I couldn't resist; I waved back exaggeratedly, playing into his little world of innocence and wonder.

just learning how to wave,"

I responded, my voice filled

said our goodbyes, my heart a little lighter than before. As we walked away, I felt Enzo's eyes on me. When I looked up, there was a

smirk of his remained. "Oh, nothing," he said. "Just you

his words, my face flushed an even deeper shade of red. "So

he said gently, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. "It's just... I mean, don't tell me

eyes mist over. I glanced back at the fountain where the young mother sat, her joy evident on her face, and the toddler, so eager to explore the world. I

it was the best thing. But if not

that night, I found myself home alone. Enzo had decided to go on a motorcycle ride and visit some friends, seeing as how it was

a cup of warm chamomile tea cupped in my hands, I dialed my mom's number. She had been living in the werewolf realm still, having made a home

wasn't alone, and Tyler had access to the right medicine

to my frayed nerves. "Is everything alright?" The question was simple, almost mundane, but the weight behind it made me pause. Was everything alright? How could it

to talk, Mom," I finally replied, my voice trembling despite my best

sweetheart. I'm here

the conflicting emotions, fears, and hopes that had been crowding my mind for days. Every word seemed to lift a fraction of the heaviness that had been suffocating me,

and how a baby could derail everything for both Enzo and me, there was a pause on

perfect," she finally said. "There's always going to be something-some reason to

interjected, "medical school is going to be demanding. Enzo's job is going to be demanding. How can we possibly think about bringing a child

armchair by the fireplace, her eyes filled with that combination

my career. It was a challenge balancing it