My Hockey Alpha



Chapter 0590

Nina

The night air was cool against my skin as I slipped out of the house, careful not to wake Lori.

The decision had been made; I was going to turn Jessica into a werewolf. It was a risk, a leap into the unknown, but I couldn't bear the thought of losing my friend. I had to try, even if it was dangerous. After all, what else was supposed to do? Just let Jessica die in the hospital?

The truck's engine rumbled to life as I started it, and I drove in silence, the weight of my decision heavy on my shoulders.

My phone lay in the passenger seat, its blinking notification light a constant reminder of all the missed calls from Enzo.

"You should talk to him," my wolf said, always the voice of reason. "He's worried about you."

My wolf was right; Enzo was probably freaking out right now. But at the same time, I shook my head.

"I can't," I said out loud as I guided the truck around the gentle curves in the road, the pine trees towering over either side in the pitch blackness of the night. "He'll be angry. He'll try to stop me. And I can't let him do that." My wolf huffed in annoyance, but I could tell that she knew I was right. I couldn't bring myself to call him back now. I knew he would try to stop me, to talk me out of it, to try to get me to see the risks here.

But I had made up my mind, and I couldn't let anything stand in the way of protecting the people I loved, even if it meant putting myself in danger.

After a while, the hospital finally came into view.

Its stark white structure loomed up ahead, its bright lights cutting through the darkness of the night. I took a deep breath as I pulled into the parking lot, my hands trembling slightly around the steering wheel.

"Are you sure about this, Nina?" my wolf's voice echoed in my mind again. "The risks-"

"Screw the risks," I said, a little more harshly than I intended. "Don't tell me. I don't want to hear them. I just want to help my friend."

"Alright. If that's what you want, I'll support you."

I parked the truck and made my way inside, my heart pounding in my chest as I casually walked past the night receptionist and toward the elevators. Jessica's room was on the fourth floor, and the elevator ride felt like an eternity.

As I approached the ICU, I could hear the soft beeping of machines and the distant murmurs of nurses. The lights were dimmed, a soft hum of nighttime activity.

No one paid any mind to me.

As long as I kept my eyes forward, I was just another worried family member to them; and besides, those nurses were all too exhausted to care.

When I pushed open the door to her room, the sight that greeted me was heart-wrenching.

Jessica lay in the hospital bed, multiple casts encasing her broken limbs, and tubes and wires connected to various machines.

She looked so small and fragile, a stark contrast to the vibrant and strong woman I had known. Even though I had seen her like this already twice since I got the news, it was still as jarring as ever.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

"Oh, Jess," I whispered, taking a few shaky steps toward the hospital bed. I stopped beside her, looking down at her sleeping body. It was funny; even in this state, she looked beautiful. She was always beautiful, like a ray of sunshine peeking through on a cloudy day.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. This was it. I couldn't afford to hesitate any longer. I had to go through with the Claiming ceremony.

I lit a candle on the bedside table, its flickering flame casting dancing shadows on the walls. With trembling hands, I reached out and took Jessica's limp hand in mine. I closed my eyes, focusing all my energy on the task at hand.

The room seemed to fade away, and I could feel the power of the Claiming surge through me.

But it wasn't as easy as I had hoped. Each time I tried to pour my energy into Jessica, I felt a wave of weakness wash over me, and I stumbled back, gasping for breath. It was like trying to fill a bottomless pit, and I couldn't help but wonder if I was in over my head.

I wiped the sweat from my brow and took a deep breath, forcing myself to try again. The room grew hazy as I concentrated, my world narrowing down to Jessica and the candle's flame. I poured every ounce of my strength into the Claiming, determined not to give up.

But the same weakness hit me, and I fell to my knees beside Jessica's bed, panting heavily. Tears welled up in my eyes, frustration and fear gnawing at me.

I had to succeed; Jessica's life depended on it.

After what felt like an eternity, I summoned the last reserves of my energy and tried one more time. I could feel the power surging through me, a fiery current that threatened to consume me. It was now or never.

"Come on, Jessica," I murmured, scrunching my eyes tighter. "Jessica, I Claim you... I Claim you to join the world of shifters..."

Somehow, the energy seemed to surge stronger this time, as though my worry had tapped into a new store of power. I gripped Jessica's hand even tighter, repeating the words like a mantra under my breath.

As I completed the ceremony, I sat there for a long time, just holding Jessica's hand. After what felt like an eternity I finally opened my eyes, hoping to see some sign that it had worked.

But Jessica still lay motionless, her breathing steady but shallow, her eyes gently closed. Nothing had changed.

I felt a sense of defeat wash over me, and I couldn't hold back the tears any longer. I had failed. I had failed my friend when she needed me the most.

I stood, my legs shaky, then kissed Jessica's forehead gently, my voice trembling as I whispered my apologies. "I'm so sorry, Jessica," I said. "I tried my best, but it wasn't enough this time. I'm so, so sorry.."

Jessica remained unconscious, her face serene in repose. I knew I couldn't stay any longer; I had to leave before anyone discovered me in the room.

With a heavy heart, I turned away and walked out of the hospital, feeling like a failure.

The night was still young, and the moon glowed in the distance. I couldn't go back to the house, not yet. I needed time to process what had just happened, to come to terms with my failure.

As I climbed back into the truck and began to drive nowhere in particular, I couldn't shake the feeling of despair that clung to me. I had risked everything to save Jessica, and it had all been in vain.

I had let down both my friends and myself.

The tears flowed freely now, and I couldn't stop them. I pulled over to the side of the road and leaned on the steering wheel, my body shaking with sobs.

It was going to be a long, lonely night ahead, and I had no idea what the future held.