My Hockey Alpha novel Chapter 62

Nina

A woman’s voice screamed for help from the forest. Enzo and I pulled away from each other, just as we were about to kiss for the second time that night. We looked at each other for a moment, the realization of the situation hitting us, before taking off toward the woods.

Could we not have one good night without people being injured or killed by werewolves?

“Stay here,” Enzo said just before we reached the woods. He stopped in his tracks and grabbed me by both shoulders, pushing me away from the entrance of the woods where students and locals often walked on the seemingly-safe nature trails.

I wrenched myself free and shook my head vigorously. Stay here? There was no way in hell I was letting Enzo go into the woods by himself. I would never forgive myself if something happened to him out there and I wasn’t there to help him. “No way!” I shouted, curling my hands up into fists. “I’m not letting you go alone.”

“Nina, it’s not safe--”

“I realize that, Enzo!” I said, stamping my foot angrily. “I’m going with you regardless!”

Enzo stared at me for a moment, a mixture of surprise and worry written across his face, before he sighed and nodded, straightening once more. “Alright,” he said, turning toward the trail that led into the forest and holding out his hand as the screams continued. “But stay close. Don’t let go of my hand.”

I took his hand and ran with him into the forest toward the source of the screams. It was frightening to run with such wild abandon in the forest, but I let Enzo lead the way; something in me told me to trust him to guide us as we ran, so I did.

“Help!” the woman screamed again, this time much closer. We took a sharp right turn, leaping over tree roots and rocks in the way, and soon found ourselves in a small clearing.

Enzo dropped my hand and stepped forward while I stood paralyzed by the scene before me.

A rogue was dragging a woman by her ankle as she clawed desperately at the ground, sobbing and screaming uncontrollably with all of the strength she had.

“Let go of her!” Enzo shouted, his voice almost sounding like a growl on its own. The rogue looked up at him, the woman’s leg still in its mouth, then dropped her upon seeing Enzo and I.

I couldn’t explain it, but there was also something oddly familiar about the rogue’s gaze.

Enzo and the rogue began to circle each other, preparing to attack. I ran up to the woman and grabbed her hand, quickly helping her up and pulling her away from the fray.

Before anything else could happen, however, the rogue met my eyes, staring at me for a moment -- as if it recognized me -- then turned on its heels and took off into the woods like a wraith in the night.

“Where is it going?” I asked, my voice shaking as I held the sobbing woman and rubbed her back.

Without a word, Enzo turned and stormed toward me, grabbing the woman from my arms and scooping her up, his eyes fixed on me. They were glowing red, brighter than I had ever seen them.

“Run home as fast as you can,” he said sternly over the woman’s sobs. “Get home and stay inside until I tell you it’s safe.”