My Hockey Alpha



Chapter 0716

"Where are we?"

My sudden voice caused both Enzo and Daphne to jump. Realizing that I had just awoken, Enzo gently set me down. My legs were shaking, and the pain was still almost unbearable, but at least I could stand on my own two feet.

"Looks like there's a village up there," Enzo explained. He pulled aside some thick fronds to reveal what looked like a bonfire flickering in the distance. The music sounded soothing, and the sounds of laughter and singing carried through the forest.

I furrowed my brow, leaning in. A village... Luke and I had encountered one before we were taken by Mila. Could it be?noveldrama

Suddenly, another cramp overtook me. This time, I really did fall to my knees before Enzo could catch me. A yelp of pain escaped my lips no matter how hard I tried to quell it, and both Daphne and Enzo cursed.

I felt strong arms loop around me, and then weightlessness as Enzo scooped me up.

"That's it," he said, marching through the ferns. "I'm taking her to that village. We can't keep going on, not with her like this."

"But Enzo-"Daphne cried out, only to be silenced by him once more.

"If you want to stay here and hide, then fine. But I'm not traipsing my pregnant wife through the forest when she's sick, exhausted, and in pain."

"Very well. But it'll be your funeral, not mine."

With that, Daphne fluttered up into the branches in a flurry of red feathers. Out of sight, but always watching. The last thing I saw before another intense cramp stole my consciousness from me was a single red feather floating down to the ground.

"Show me the girl."

I was awoken by the sound of a somewhat familiar voice and warm hands on my belly. When I cracked my eyes open, I could just barely make out three faces in the flickering candlelight: Daphne, Enzo, and...

"You!"

I suddenly shot up, my eyes widening as I took in the face of the older man who sat in front of me. But no sooner was I up than I was back down, pressed into the soft mattress by his firm hands.

"You must lay still," he said. "Let the medicine work."

I writhed beneath his grip, a growl escaping my lips. Off to the side, Daphne stood biting her nails while Enzo curled his hands into fists, prepared to attack if need be.

"You know this man?" Enzo asked.

"He's the one who took Luke and I straight to Mila and then left us there," I growled. "Jerk! You almost got us killed."

The man narrowed his eyes at me, but his hands never left my belly. I suddenly became acutely aware of a strange taste on my tongue; something sweet yet bitter at the same time. Some sort of medicine, maybe.

"I am sorry," he said after a beat of silence. "But I did what had to be done."

"You led us to the slaughter."

The man paused. His eyes seemed to flash in the candlelight as he glared at me. "Why should I protect two strangers?" he snarled. "It was either you, or let my entire village be burned to the ground."

His words made my throat knot up. I glanced over at Enzo, who seemed just as baffled as I was. Daphne, however, took a step forward.

"The Dragon Queen," she murmured, "is a fearsome tyrant, Nina. It's not as simple as you would think. She's not at all like the Alpha King."

"It's still no excuse to lead us to a fate like that," I muttered. "We barely made it out alive. Our friend is still in there-"

"You think I would have left you in there knowing that you would die?" the man hissed. "I know who you are. All of you. I know the prophecies. But I cannot meddle in fate."

My eyes widened. "You"

"I will tell you no more." The man returned his attention to my belly, which was now devoid of any pain at all. "I will heal you, and you will leave my village at the break of dawn."

He paused then, and his eyes seemed to flash once more as he looked up at me.

"And if you return to my village, I will have no choice but to kill you."