My Hockey Alpha

Chapter 0451Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

Matt's hand reached out, gripping the railing tighter. The mere mention of Tiffany's name elicited a deep sadness, a shared grief in all of us. She had left a hole behind that could never be filled.

I swallowed hard. "Then there's Selena," I continued, my long lost twin's name feeling heavy on my tongue. "In my dreams, I'm in that moment again. When she broke through the Luna's spell and killed her. We won because of her."

My vision blurred with unshed tears. "And sometimes, Matt, it's not even a dream. I could be sitting, reading, or just laughing with friends, and I'm suddenly right back there. Reliving it."

He chuckled softly, though the sound held no mirth. "I get that too. Though I imagine it's far worse for you, especially after Edward had you locked up and brainwashed.*

I winced, the memories of confinement and mind manipulation threatening to resurface.

Matt, noticing this, reached out to touch my arm. I instinctively flinched away, but not because of him. Because of the memories, "I'm sorry, Nina," he murmured. "I didn't mean to dredge that up."

I shook my head. "It's alright."

Edward, with his sinister intentions, had tried to break me, and for a while, he had succeeded. "I wonder what happened to him after he got away, I murmured, more to myself than to Matt. "And James, Lisa, and Ronan... But let's not go down that rabbit hole tonight."

He nodded, recognizing the dark path that our conversation was heading towards. "I get it. And you're right. This isn't the time or the place."

Wanting to steer the conversation away from painful memories, I punched Matt gently in the arm. "Hey, quit being all sentimental on me. We have a party to enjoy."

Matt laughed, the sound genuine this time. "Alright, alright! No more war talk, promise."

As the night wore on, I couldn't help but notice Enzo's absence. Every time I thought he might be gearing up for the big announcement, he'd divert the conversation or disappear into another room. I knew he was nervous about sharing his news, but the suspense was becoming palpable.

Determined, I followed the sound of clinking glasses to the kitchen, finding Enzo pouring himself another drink. The weight of his pending announcement was evident in the tense line of his shoulders and the distant look in his eyes.

"Hey," I began gently, reaching out to touch his arm, "I've noticed you've been avoiding something."

He took a deep breath, running a hand through his tousled hair. "I know, I know. I promised. It's just... I'm worried about how everyone will react."

I leaned against the counter, looking into his eyes. "If you don't make your announcement soon, I might just have to do it for you," I threatened playfully.

That drew a chuckle from him. "You always know how to call my bluff, don't you?"

I grinned. "Someone has to keep you on your toes."

Enzo sighed, placing his glass down on the counter. "You're right. It's now or never." He reached for my hand, entwining our fingers.

Hand in hand, we made our way back to the bustling living room. The chatter died down a bit as we moved to the center. Enzo took a deep breath and held up his glass, signaling for everyone's attention.

"Hey, everyone. First off, thank you all for being here tonight. It means a lot to both of us," he began, his voice

steady. "But there's something I need to share..."