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

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 and hear me.

gravelly voice startling me. "The only known survivor to

flickered between the feral panther and the village leader, realization dawning. "Is he stuck like this?" I asked. "In

back," he said, a flicker of sorrow crossing his weathered features. "But it is as if his human

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 drool

like the Crescent rogues all over again. Well, almost

can help," murmured,

do, wolf girl,"

attempt?" I asked, whirling around to face the old man. "We have seen a similar affliction like this before, in our... homeland,"

his brow.

you trust me?" I asked. "We

old man just stared at me, a million different emotions flickering through his eyes. Then, finally,

out, "Jessica! Lori! Matt! I need you in

expressions a mixture of wariness and confusion. Jessica's eyes widened at the sight

hissed, taking

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

I had used to reverse the turning process in the Crescent rogues. We always kept it on us, ever since everything that had happened. It had come in handy far too

as he watched me prep the syringe. "What are you

"He'll lose his animal form, but he would be cured of this state. Wouldn't that be preferable to this...

stared at me, his

"Do it.

steadying breath, I turned back towards the raging beast. Jessica and Matt moved to flank me, prepared to