My Hockey Alpha novel Chapter 74

Enzo

After I watched Nina somehow make Ronan spill the truth faster than I had managed in two hours, there was no doubt in my mind that she was a werewolf. If she was a hybrid, she was a powerful one -- but a huge part of me believed that she wasn’t a hybrid, but rather a full-blown werewolf.

If she was, though, where was her wolf? Why hadn’t it shown itself yet?

Before I had much time to think about it, I heard a familiar voice upstairs: my father. Shit, I thought to myself as I locked Ronan in the basement room once more and started to head upstairs. There was no doubt that my father had just unceremoniously met Nina, judging from the sounds of their voices mixing together.

When I emerged from the basement, Nina was standing in the living room. She glanced over at me with wide eyes before my father stepped into view.

“Ah, Enzo,” my father said, folding his arms. “Good to see you. I had thought for a moment that your girlfriend came here alone.”

“I can explain,” I began, to which my father interrupted me with a raise of his hand and a shake of his head.

“No need,” he said. “I’ve been watching you -- and I must say, you’ve done well with bringing Ronan here. He’ll be dealt with accordingly.” There was a long, uncomfortable pause before he turned to address Nina, and it was now that I finally noticed the dark circles under his eyes.

“Join me for dinner tonight,” he said. “Both of you.”

…

That night, much to my dismay, Nina and I got dressed and headed downstairs for dinner with my father. He had prepared steak and mushrooms, which was surprising considering the fact that he hadn’t cooked a single thing since my mother died. He had always been the cook of the household when I was growing up, but almost as soon as my mother died, I didn’t see him for a single meal ever again. It was strange to come downstairs and see him setting the table.

“Take a seat,” he said over his shoulder. “Dinner will be ready in a moment.”

Nina glanced at me before sheepishly pulling out a chair and sitting down. I sat next to her, feeling protective of her in case my father decided to start berating her or belittling her, and squeezed her hand gently.

My father finished preparing dinner and set the plates down in front of us, then poured red wine into each of our glasses before sitting down. I watched hesitantly as he raised his glass for a silent toast before he began to cut his steak.

“Do you know the story of the Crescents and the Fullmoons?” he asked as he cut into his steak.

That old wives’ tale?” I asked.

My father scoffed and took a sip of his wine.

“It’s not just an old wives tale,” he said, crossing his legs and leaning back in his chair with a serious expression on his face. “It’s history. A hundred years ago, the Crescents and the Fullmoons -- the two factions of werewolves -- fought for the place of Alpha King. It was a bloody and brutal battle, but the Fullmoons eventually came out on top. The new Alpha King of the Fullmoons beheaded the Crescent chief, and the war ended.”

“Why are you telling us this?” I interrupted, beginning to feel a little irritated at my father’s beating around the bush.

My father looked up at me with an annoyed glare. “She’s aware of our… heritage, correct?” he said.

Nina, before I could say anything, finally spoke. “Yes,” she said quietly. “I know that you’re werewolves.”

“Good,” my father said with a slight smile. “It’s important that you’re aware, if you’re going to be involved with my son… Because the war that may wage soon will wage in your very home.”