My Hockey Alpha by Eve Above Story PDF

Chapter 0772

Nina

I watched with bated breath as the weathered village leader, whose name I had learned was Kai, walked up to the hut where my friends and I were being held. As the others murmured amongst themselves, I kept my gaze fixed on the old leader.

"Sir, please, you have to listen," I said as soon as he opened the door. "We have to--"

"Let me show you what happens to those who venture into Mila's palace."

Kai's voice was low and steady, but his eyes were filled with the look of someone who had been through much in his life. I swallowed, pulling my shoulders back. "show me," I replied as calmly as I could muster."

"Follow me."

Kai didn't turn to face me as we wove our way through the small homes and cooking fires. The distrustful stares from the villagers seemed to burn into the back of my neck, but I kept following the weathered old leader. "Where are you taking me?" I asked, pushing aside some plant fronds on the pathway.

"There was only one who made it out of her palace alive," Kai explained, his voice nearly lost beneath the vibrant sounds of the forest. "We have had to hold him apart from the rest of the village, because he's too dangerous."

"Dangerous?" I murmured, quirking an eyebrow.

Kai merely grunted in response.

Finally, we reached the small hut on the outskirts of the village. Kai gestured for me to enter first, his expression unreadable. Steeling myself, I brushed past him and stepped inside.

The dim interior of the hut reeked of hot animal musk, nearly causing me to gag. In the corner, a large shape shifted restlessly, letting out a low, rumbling growl that set my nerves on edge.

out the unmistakable form of a massive panther, its lips curled

breathed, instinctively taking a step back. The beast's eyes snapped towards me at the sound of my voice, registering my presence. It became clear to me, then, as I looked into its cloudy, greenish eyes, that it couldn't see me; it could only smell

me. "The only known survivor to

flickered between the feral panther and the village leader, realization dawning. "Is he stuck like

crossing his weathered features. "But it is as

the panther, keeping my movements slow and steady. Up close, I could see the telltale signs of insanity written across its snarling features the wild, uncomprehending gaze, the constant twitching and pacing, the foamy

the Crescent rogues all over again. Well, almost like them. But close

think I can help," murmured,

do, wolf girl," Kai scoffed. "Trust me; we have

"We have seen a similar affliction like

furrowed his brow.

trust me?" I asked. "We really could

few moments, the weathered old man just stared at me, a million different emotions flickering through his eyes. Then, finally, he nodded and leaned on

towards the entrance, I called out, "Jessica! Lori! Matt! I need you

inside, their expressions a mixture of wariness and confusion. Jessica's eyes widened

the hell?" she hissed, taking a

held up my hand placatingly. "He's just... trapped, that's all. But

used to reverse the turning process in the Crescent rogues. We always kept it

watched me prep the syringe.

this works, he'll become human." A beat passed before I added, "He'll lose his animal form, but

a long moment, the village leader simply stared at me, his expression inscrutable. Then, finally, a muscle twitched in his lined

he rasped. "Do it.

steadying breath, I turned back towards the raging beast. Jessica and Matt moved to flank me, prepared to shift in case of necessity. Meanwhile, Lori stood