My Hockey Alpha by Eve Above Story PDF

Chapter 0669

Nina

"Do you think she's coming?"

Enzo's voice and the feeling of his strong, warm arm wrapping around my shoulders pulled me back to the present. I had been staring longingly off the front of the porch, hoping that she would come.

"I don't know," I said, checking the time on my phone. The party had started a couple of hours ago, and Daphne still hadn't shown up.

"She'll show," Enzo said after a moment. He wrapped his arm around me a little tighter, and I let myself lean into him. His scent was always a comfort.

I just hoped that he was right.

I remember that evening vividly, the warm glow of our living room lights spilling out onto the porch as music and laughter filled the air. Enzo and I had thrown together a last-minute party at our house, with plenty of food, drinks, and music.

All of our friends were there; my mother had gone out for the night to a local book club in an attempt to get out of the house and maybe even make some friends. Tyler was milling around and trying to sneak alcohol. I pretended I didn't notice when he snuck his first beer, but I slapped his hand away after that.

"Why?" Tyler whined when I wouldn't let him have another beer. "It's just beer."

"You're too young," I said. "Drink some soda or something instead. One is enough."

Tyler stuck his tongue out at me. "You're just full of yourself because you only just turned twenty-one. As if you didn't drink all through college."

I rolled my eyes at him. I let him drink another beer after that, so long as he didn't tell our mom.

As I sipped my soda out on the front porch, my gaze wandered over the crowd. I was looking for Daphne, the elusive bird shifter who I had invited earlier that day.

reassurances that it was just a friendly gesture,

party was in full swing, with people dancing, laughing, and chatting animatedly. Jessica was joking with Luke, her laughter ringing clear above the music, and Matt was sharing a story that

my head was

of quiet, the cool night air a welcome relief from the warmth of the crowded house. I leaned against Enzo's warmth, my eyes scanning the street, still holding onto a faint hope

show," Enzo repeated. "Don't

a smile. He smiled back and leaned down to kiss me, and then he slipped back inside, leaving

when I saw it-a little red bird materializing into a person in the shadows across the street. My heart skipped a beat as Daphne, now in human form, hesitantly walked up

from the shy, elusive

as she

at the compliment, a small smile playing

I'm not making any promises to

her into the house. "This is just a friendly invitation. You're not obligated to do

drink, which she accepted with a soft thank you". We mingled among the guests, and I watched as Daphne's eyes darted around

Jessica, and over there is Lori," I said, pointing. "That's Luke. Oh, and

blushed and sipped her drink.

slowly relaxing, her initial hesitation giving way to a more open demeanor. She even laughed at a joke Matt made, her face lighting up in a way that made me think she didn't often

the evening, I couldn't

certain loneliness about her, a sense of being perpetually on the outside looking in. It struck me then just how isolating the life of a

toward her and offered her a friendly smile. "Are you enjoying yourself?" I asked, handing her a glass of

brushing mine as she took the glass. "Yeah," she finally said. "I

there now." Daphne laughed a little. "You know, I've been watching you

head. "No, not

it's... well, it's made me a bit jealous of your friendship, if I'm

much before tonight. "It must be hard, always