My Hockey Alpha



The morning sun had finally risen high into the sky by the time my mom and I arrived back at the mansion. The morning felt jam-packed with activities, revelations, and emotions, but I was happy. As we made our way back to the mansion with our bags, the noise and hustle of my father's servants rushing around in preparation for the impromptu ball filled my ears.

But there was something else, too. I could hear Enzo's voice carrying across the back lawn, and along with it...

"Is that Enzo and Tyler?" I asked, narrowing my eyes to get a better look.

"Sure sounds like it," my mom said.

Curiosity piqued, I made my way around to the back of the mansion. And there they were, Enzo and Tyler, lost in a game of football. Tyler was running around with a youthful exuberance I hadn't seen in ages, his eyes lit up, completely engrossed in the game.

"Wow," I muttered, my eyes wide. "He looks so-"

"Healthy?" my mom finished, standing beside me.

"Yeah." I nodded, feeling a mix of amazement and relief. "I just can't believe it. When you first came here, he could hardly walk straight without getting winded."All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

My mom smiled, her eyes misty. "I told you, the witch and her treatments have been phenomenal," she said. "It's only been a couple of months, and yet he's like an entirely different person. After all this time, my boy can finally run and play. It's like a miracle."

"That's incredible," I murmured, the weight of my earlier worries dissipating as I watched Tyler and Enzo play. Enzo was still faster than him, but I could tell that he was going easy for my brother. It was a sweet scene, seeing them play together like this.

"It is," my mom agreed. "I'm so grateful we moved here. For Tyler, for you... and for me too."

I looked at her, intrigued. "For you?"

She hesitated, her eyes shifting towards the mansion for a moment before meeting mine. "I never thought I'd say this, but your father, he's... he's a good man, Nina."

A surprised laugh escaped me. "Wait, are you saying what I think you're saying?"

She shook her head, chuckling. "Oh, don't get ahead of yourself. But yes, there's a mutual respect and... perhaps some affection."

I nudged her playfully. "Affection, huh?"

My mom laughed, her cheeks flushing a soft pink. "You're impossible sometimes, you know that?"

I grinned, a teasing glint in my eyes. "I learned from the best."

"Okay, enough about me," she said, steering the conversation back as we continued to watch Enzo and my brother toss the ball, their laughter wafting across the air. "How do you feel about everything? About being here, about the baby, about Enzo?"

I paused, taking a deep breath as I absorbed her questions. "To be honest, mom, it's a lot. It's overwhelming. But like you said earlier today, it's a new chapter. And despite the uncertainty, despite the fears, I'm hopeful."

She nodded, taking a step closer to me. "And I'm here, Nina. Whatever the next chapters hold, we'll navigate them together."

"Yeah," I agreed, my eyes meeting hers. "Together."

We stood there, side by side, watching as Tyler made a triumphant catch, his laughter filling the air. Enzo, sweaty but handsome as ever, spotted us and waved, his smile widening as he met my gaze.

"Look at them," my mom whispered, her voice tinged with a sense of wonder and gratitude. "Just look at how far we've all come. Like a real family."

"But we've always been a family," I said gently, squeezing her arm. "Just... an unconventional one."

My mom nodded and wiped a tear from her eye with her index finger, pretending that it was just something in her eye. "You're right, Nina. We're just..."

"Stronger now?" I finished for her.

She met my gaze, and the tears in her eyes sparkled in the early afternoon sun. "Yes. Stronger."