My Hockey Alpha
Chapter 212: Dusty Memories

Nina

When I opened the door of the supply closet to let Enzo see into the tunnels, I could tell just from the way that his body began to morph back into his normal appearance that he was starting to remember. It seemed that remembering his past made his disguise fade, as though Selena’s magic thrived on the fact that he was brainwashed by her. I knew for certain now that if I could only help him remember a little more, then he would eventually break through her spell entirely.

“Do you want to walk in a little further?" I asked, walking up to stand beside him. “I'll go with you.” Enzo peered into the tunnels with narrowed eyes. He glanced at me with apprehension, but upon seeing the genuine look on my face, he seemed to relax a bit and nodded.

I held out my hand. Enzo stared at it for a few moments before tentatively slipping his hand into mine. I felt myself overflow with happiness at that point; to feel Enzo’s hand in mine again gave me more hope than ever before.

And then, gently, I led him into the tunnels.

We walked in slowly at first, just taking one step at a time. I slipped my phone out of my pocket with my free hand and switched on the flashlight so we could see, and we walked in a little further.

Enzo was quiet, but not in a bad way. He seemed to be looking around curiously as we walked, and with each step further into the tunnels, I could see his appearance shifting even more. Now, his hair had returned to its original curly, dusty brown state. I couldn't see too well in the dark and I didn't want to stare, but I was also fairly certain that both of his eyes were back to his normal color now. “These tunnels,” he said quietly, his voice echoing around us, “they smell like rogues. What happened here, exactly?”

"When the Crescents came, they turned everyone into rogues,” I explained. “I guess the rogues decided to turn this place into their den. That was how we cured everyone; we infused the sprinkler system with the antidote and set off the fire alarms.”

Enzo chuckled. It sounded like his own voice, and not some strange, foreign voice caused by his disguise. Just hearing it made my heart leap up into my throat.

“That's really smart,” he said, glancing over at me for the briefest of moments before his face turned slightly red and he quickly looked away again. “I think I can sort of remember it. It's foggy, but it's there.”

We came to a stop then as the tunnel began to dip downwards. I didn’t want to go any further, and I could tell that Enzo didn't, either. Although I wanted his memories to return, I did secretly wish that his memories of what Edward did to us here would stay hidden forever. I didn’t want him to remember those traumatic moments.

“We should head back,” I said. “But I can show you more things if you want.”

Enzo paused. He seemed to be considering it, but only for a moment before he vehemently nodded and followed me out of the tunnels. I didn't realize it until we walked back into the infirmary, but we were still holding hands — and neither of us seemed very keen on letting go.

Next, I decided to lead him to the one place that I knew would elicit the most emotion: the hockey arena.

I led him over to the set of doors that led to the arena, then opened them and guided him in

“Do you remember this place?” I asked as we stepped into the cold arena. “Before you came back, I mean.”

Enzo furrowed his brow as we approached the rink. I knew that he remembered watching the most recent hockey game here and that he remembered skating on the ice with Selena, but I wasn't sure how much he remembered before that. As he looked at the ice, however, I could see brief flashes of recognition appearing across his face like lightning. They started to become closer and closer, like he was remembering things more rapidly and fluidly. I tightened my grip on his hand to help him focus, and he squeezed back involuntarily.

“Selena told me that I only played hockey in high school,” he said, leaning on the rink barrier and staring down at the ice. “But I remember now. I've been playing hockey here for years.”

I nodded, blinking my tears away. “You're really good at hockey,” I said. “The best. You're literally a celebrity around here.”

Once again, Enzo laughed. He seemed to not believe me at first, but then his laugh faltered, and his eyes widened. I felt my heart practically stop as I realized that he was remembering his time on the hockey team.

“I really miss hockey,” he said quietly in an almost dreamy voice. There was a slight smile twitching at the corners of his lips. “I love hockey. I love my team. And you're my team doctor... Right?”

I nodded tearfully, biting my lower lip to keep it from quivering. To think about how much I had hated being the team doctor at the beginning of the semester, and now I couldn't imagine doing anything else... It filled me with a strange feeling that I couldn't quite explain. I almost felt guilty now for all of the time I had spent hating my internship. Not just for Enzo, but for Tiffany. But even then, I knew that nothing made me happier now than being the team doctor, and I was proud to admit it. If only my voice wasn't too choked from my tears to speak.

“I want to see more,” he suddenly said, straightening. He was still holding my hand, and now he looked down at me with a new unwavering intensity — the same intensity that I had come to love. The same intensity that he showed me when we first met. At the time, I had thought of it as a predator and his prey, and it scared me; but now, I knew that it was something completely different. It was pure love and fascination. It was a look that I somehow knew only fated mates could give each other.

"Follow me, then,” I said, my voice shaking with a combination of fear of failure and excitement. Part of me was terrified that he would suddenly regress again, or that Selena would suddenly walk in here and snatch him away from me. But I pushed on and led him over to the locker rooms. However, when I pushed open the door of the locker rooms next, Enzo suddenly dropped my hand and stopped in the doorway.

I felt a lump rise in my throat; had I gone too far now? Was he regretting all of this?

"A-Are you okay?" I stuttered as I turned to look at him.

But he didn't answer. His eyes were fixed on the inside of the locker room.

And I knew from the way his eyes widened and his mouth hung open ever so slightly that he was right on the verge of breaking through Selena’s spell.

Chapter 213: In the Locker Rooms

Nina

As Enzo stood in the doorway looking into the locker rooms, his mouth hung open and his eyes widened. I knew, in that instant, that he was beginning to remember even more. I wanted to jump on him and hug him tightly, but I contained myself in order not to freak him out again and simply held the door open a little wider to let him in.

Slowly, Enzo walked into the locker rooms and began to look around. I stood off to the side and watched as he paced around through the rows of lockers, completely silent while he processed everything.

Eventually, he stopped in front of the locker that used to belong to him. It still had his things inside, and as though it was instinct, he lifted his hand and began to turn the dial on the lock.

My eyes widened as I watched him. He was completely focused on the combination lock as he turned it one way, then another, stopping at a number each time. And then... The lock popped open.

He swung the locker door open and reached inside. I felt my heart swell as I watched him retrieve his hockey jersey. It was a dark green color with burgundy piping — our school colors — and had a large number “1” on the back with his name above it: “Rivers”.

“Rivers...” he mumbled, holding the jersey up to the light. “Enzo Rivers.”

As he spoke, his voice shifted, returning to its natural cadence. I felt my stomach jolt as his hands changed, then his arms, his legs... His body slowly morphed back into its natural state as the spell that disguised him melted away. He stood there frozen for what felt like an eternity, just holding the jersey in his hand.

And then, he suddenly turned to look at me.

"Enzo?" I whispered, my voice shaking.

He didn't answer. He dropped the jersey to the floor and rushed at me so quickly it was almost as though he was flying. I felt tears begin to stream down my cheeks as he approached, and suddenly, his arms were around me, touching my waist, my shoulders, my neck and my hair, then he cupped my cheeks.

“Nina,” he whispered, gazing into my eyes as I sobbed in front of him, my entire body trembling with excitement that he had broken the spell, “I'm so sorry. I'm here now. I'm here.”

“Just kiss me,” I murmured.

Without a moment of hesitation, Enzo kissed me. He kissed me deeply and softly, and his lips sent a shock wave through my body. To think that just a few days earlier I had thought that I would never feel myself in his arms again, and now he was holding me once more, kissing me deeply. I could feel the faint presence of my wolf inside of me, growing ever so slightly stronger the more he kissed me. Enzo wrapped his arms around me and picked me up while we kissed. I wrapped my legs around him, feeling him press me between his body and the wall. His lips traveled across my jaw and down my neck, causing me to shiver all over.

I thought that I would never see him again, and yet here he was. Somehow, my scent drew him to me after everything, and he had broken through Selena's brainwashing. Even though there was still the threat of Selena finding out and brainwashing him again, I didn't care at that moment. I just wanted to feel Enzo all over, to touch him and kiss him in those locker rooms.

When he finished sucking on my neck, his lips met with mine again. He held me tightly, never releasing his lips from mine, as he carried me over to the showers. I felt my panties get wet as we entered, the simple thought of making love beneath the water causing my entire body to tingle. When he set me down I could feel his hard cock through his jeans, and without hesitation I began to fumble at his belt so I could take him in my mouth and taste him again after being apart for too long.

But before I could manage to unbuckle his belt, we both suddenly stopped as we heard the locker room door bang open.

“Enzo?!” Selena’s shrill voice echoed into the locker room. “I know you're in here.”

“Shit...” Enzo whispered, looking around frantically as Selena's footsteps began to approach. He then locked his eyes on the bathroom stalls and shoved me over to them. “Hide,” he said, so quietly I could barely hear him and could only see his lips moving.

I wanted to stay in the open and stay with Enzo, but I knew that he was right. If Selena found him here with me, there was no telling exactly what she would do; but if she thought that he just wandered in here by herself, maybe she wouldn't be so harsh on him. Enzo shut the bathroom stall door as I climbed up onto the toilet to hide my feet, just moments before Selena appeared in the doorway. Thankfully, I felt my wolf retract herself as though she was recoiling at Selena’s presence, thus hiding my scent. I knew she wouldn't be able to smell my scent as profoundly as Enzo could, but I was still frightened that she would pick my scent up just a little bit.

"Baby? What are you doing in here?” she asked suspiciously, glancing around. I could just barely see her through the crack in the stall door, which Enzo was standing in front of. “And why is your disguise off?”

“Sorry,” Enzo said. “I had to use the bathroom. I guess I got comfortable being by myself and the disguise wore off.”

Selena was silent for a moment; she didn't seem to believe him, but somehow I knew it didn't matter. Because in the next instant, she suddenly lunged forward and grabbed a fistful of his shirt, taking him by surprise and causing him to stagger forward.

“You don’t remember anything,” she said, her voice dreamy and manipulative. “You're mine. Got that?”

Enzo went quiet. I felt my heart leap into my throat as I saw his appearance begin to shift back through the crack in the stall door; she was dazing him. That was what this was all along. And although I wanted to jump out and get in the way, I couldn't be certain if Luke put a hex on her yet, and I didn’t want to risk her suddenly opening a portal and leaving with Enzo. So instead, I kept quiet with my hand clamped over my mouth, and watched with wide eyes.

“Tell me I'm your only girl,” she growled.

"You're... You're my only girl.” Enzo’s voice sounded flat, monotone. She had him in her grips again, and before I could do anything, it was too late. With a grin, Selena grabbed Enzo's wrist and yanked him out of the locker rooms.

A pit grew in my stomach as I realized where they were going: the woods.

I would have to follow them and stop them from leaving before it was too late. I couldn't lose Enzo again.

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