Chapter 323

The clamor and excitement of the hockey rink surrounded me, but amidst the cacophony, I felt a million miles away. The brilliant white of the ice, the fast-paced movement of the players, the occasional brush of cold air that swept past—it was all so familiar and yet so foreign.

Lori and Jessica sat on either side of me, faces lit up with enthusiasm as they cheered for Enzo and the team. They would often turn to me, trying to engage me in their banter and laughter, but my heart wasn't fully in it.

“Come on, Nina!” Jessica teased, elbowing me lightly. “You’re the girlfriend—sorry, wife—of the star player. Show some spirit!”

I mustered a weak smile, my gaze instinctively searching for Enzo on the rink. There he was, maneuvering the puck with grace and precision, a force to be reckoned with. I remembered when I first met him, being shocked by how he moved around the rink with a supernatural speed.

Now I knew the truth, and almost felt a little bit bad for the opponents as they struggled to keep up. But Enzo was always fair about not using his werewolf abilities to win, and instead relied on his sheer skills. I admired that about him. And now that I had Claimed his entire team, he was strict with them about doing the same.

“I am,” I replied. “It’s just... I don’t know. I feel a bit out of it today.”

As we kept watching, the hockey game’s energy pulsed around me, but the wave of nausea that washed over was all-consuming. The loud cheers and the blare of the commentator’s voice seemed to fade into the background as a rush of dizziness took over.

I gripped the armrests of my seat, taking deep breaths and willing the sensation to pass. But the feeling intensified, and I knew I needed to get to a bathroom—fast.

“Be right back,” I said, without waiting for a response from Lori and Jessica.

Scrambling out of my seat, I pushed past fans, offering a rushed “Excuse me,” as I sprinted toward the restroom. I barely made it into the stall before the contents of my stomach emptied. Gasping for air and feeling utterly drained, I sat on the floor for a moment, collecting myself.

When I emerged from the stall, I was met with the concerned faces of Lori and Jessica.

“Are you okay?” Lori asked, reaching out to touch my arm.

Jessica handed me a bottle of water. “Here, drink this.”

I took a sip, then another, trying to rid my mouth of the bitter taste. “Thank you.”

Lori sighed, her eyes searching mine. “Nina, you really should take a pregnancy test. This isn’t normal.”

I hesitated, looking away. “I know morning sickness isn’t just in the morning. I’ve taken enough biology classes to know that.” My voice wavered, revealing the unease bubbling beneath my attempt at humor.

Jessica stepped forward, her tone softening. “Look, we’re just worried about you. You can’t keep living in denial.”

The weight of their words sank in. They were right, of course, but the thought of facing the potential reality was daunting. “I just... I’m not ready. Not today. I wanna let Enzo enjoy his last game in peace.”

Lori placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “You don’t have to do it alone. We’ll be with you every step of the way.”

Jessica nodded in agreement. “Promise us you’ll take a test tomorrow.”

I met their gaze, both sets of eyes filled with nothing but love and concern. “Okay,” I whispered, feeling a lump form in my throat. “I promise.”

Before I could say anything else, the restroom door swung open, and a pair of excited girls burst in. They stopped abruptly, eyes widening in recognition. I could tell from the brand new jerseys, fresh from the school store, and the vibrant paint in school colors on their faces that they were bright-eyed freshmen.

“Oh my gosh, you're Enzo Rivers’ wife!” one of them exclaimed.

The other girl’s gaze darted between Lori, Jessica, and me, her excitement morphing into mischief. “Wait, were you guys talking about a baby? Is there going to be a little hockey star on the way?”

My heart raced, panic setting in. The last thing I needed was wild rumors circulating throughout the stadium. I had to think fast.

Smiling with as much grace as I could muster, I replied, “It was just a joke between friends. You know, the kind of ‘what if’ conversations you have for fun.”

Lori chimed in, “Exactly. We were just teasing her since Enzo’s been so in the spotlight lately.”

Jessica laughed, giving me a playful nudge. “And you know, imagining a mini Enzo on skates. No truth to it!”

The girls exchanged glances, seemingly satisfied with our explanation. “Well, if it ever does happen, that would be the cutest thing ever!” the first girl gushed.

“Totally!” her friend agreed. “Anyway, we won't keep you. Good luck with everything!”

As they left, I let out a deep breath, relief washing over me. “Thank you,” I murmured to Lori and Jessica, grateful for their quick thinking.

Jessica rolled her eyes. “Girl, we’ve got your back. But seriously, you need to take that test. Rumors spread fast, especially juicy ones like this.”

The three of us returned to our seats, the roar of the crowd still echoing in my ears. I tried to shake off the earlier events and focused my attention on the game. Enzo was out there on the ice, gliding effortlessly. His precision and skill were unmatched, and even though my mind was a whirlwind of emotions, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride watching him.

Jessica leaned in, pointing to the rink. "Look at him go! Enzo’s really on fire tonight."

Lori nodded in agreement. "He always seems to have this natural flair when he's out there. Makes it look so easy."

I watched as Enzo weaved between opponents, the puck seemingly glued to his stick. With a swift maneuver, he took a shot, and the puck soared into the net. The crowd erupted in cheers, and I clapped along, momentarily forgetting my own turmoil.

It was always mesmerizing watching Enzo play, a reminder of his dedication and passion. For those brief moments, the world faded away, and it was just the ice, the game, and Enzo.

However, during a lull in the game, it seemed as though my friends still weren’t satisfied with their earlier scolding. Leaning toward me, Lori lowered her voice and nudged me with her elbow. “If you are pregnant, Nina, have you thought about how you’ll handle it? Will you tell Enzo?”

Jessica added, “What if it keeps him from going? His new career, the opportunity of a lifetime. Can you really drop that kind of news on him now?”

Their words hit hard, echoing the very fears that had consumed my thoughts. Enzo was on the brink of a new chapter in his life. I knew that this news would change everything. But tonight, I didn’t want to think about it.

“Of course I’d tell him,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. “He deserves to know. But... I’m terrified of what that means for us.”

Lori placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “You don’t have to decide everything right now. First, find out for sure.”

I nodded, taking solace in her words. “You’re right. I just... I never imagined this happening. Not now.”

A sudden roar from the crowd cut our conversation short. I looked up to see Enzo making a brilliant play, scoring the final goal of the game.

The rink erupted into cheers, the atmosphere electric with celebration.