My Hockey Alpha

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Chapter 0589

Nina

That night, sleep eluded me. I found myself pacing around the kitchen, caught somewhere between a state of making tea and having a mental breakdown.

My mind kept wandering back to Jessica, back to whether I should Claim her or not. Lori had been right; it was a huge decision. Life changing, even. But ever since we got the updated news about Jessica's condition, it was feeling more and more like the only option.

I could do it, I thought to myself. I could claim her; it would be a faster process than healing, and the results would be more profound. If I successfully turned her into a werewolf, she would likely be awake and almost fully healed within one, maybe two days.

Or... I could claim her and it could be detrimental to my pregnancy.

At this point, I didn't know how to feel about that possibility. Would I rather save the life of my friend, or save the life of my unborn child-the child which, for all I knew, might very well end up stillborn?

In the dimly lit room, the hours seemed to stretch on endlessly. The weight of the situation hung heavy in the air, suffocating any attempt at rest. The silence was only broken by the soft sounds of Lori's fitful sleep from the sofa, punctuated by an occasional whimper or a restless movement.

And then, it happened.

Lori called out Jessica's name in her sleep, her voice filled with anguish. She bolted upright, her eyes wide with panic, and her breaths came in short, frantic bursts. "Jessica! Jessica, no!"

I rushed to her side, my heart aching for her. I placed a hand on her trembling shoulder, trying to ground her in the present. "Lori, it's okay," I whispered, my voice gentle but firm. "Jessica is still alive. She's in the hospital, and everything will be okay."

Lori's gaze was wild, tears glistening in her eyes. "I had a dream," she choked out. "A horrible dream. Jessica was... she was dying in the hospital, and I wasn't even beside her. I couldn't save her, Nina."

My heart constricted as I listened to Lori's words. I knew the feeling of helplessness all too well, and it was a heavy burden to bear.

But I held her gaze, my voice steady. "Lori, it was just a dream. Jessica is fighting for her life, and you're doing everything you can by being here for her. You're not alone in this."

Lori's shoulders trembled, and she looked away, a deep sense of guilt washing over her. "I should be with her," she whispered. "I should be there by her side, not here, sleeping."

I reached for Lori's hand, my touch gentle but reassuring. "Lori, neither of us will be any help to Jessica if we're both exhausted beyond all belief," I said softly. "We need to take care of ourselves too, so we can be strong for her when she needs us the most."

Lori hesitated for a moment, her gaze fixed on our intertwined hands. She nodded slowly, as if reluctantly accepting my words. "You're right," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just... I can't help but feel like I'm failing her, you know?"

I leaned in closer, placing a comforting arm around Lori's shoulders. "You're not failing her, Lori," I assured her." You're doing everything you can, and that's all anyone can ask for. We'll get through this together."

Tears welled up in Lori's eyes, and she turned to me, gratitude and exhaustion drawn on her face. "Thank you, Nina," she said, her voice breaking. "For being here, for understanding. I don't know what I would do without you."

I squeezed her shoulder gently, offering a reassuring smile. "We're in this together, Lori. Friends support each other, no matter what."

With a deep sigh, Lori leaned back against the couch, her eyes drifting closed. The weight of the world seemed to

momentarily lift from her shoulders, and she finally allowed herself to relax. "I'm so tired," she admitted.

I brushed a strand of hair away from her face, a sense of protectiveness washing over me. "Get some rest," I encouraged her. "I'll be right here if you need anything."

Lori managed a weak smile before closing her eyes, succumbing to the exhaustion that had plagued her. The room fell into silence once more, broken only by the soft sounds of Lori's steady breathing.

As the hours passed, I couldn't help but keep a watchful eye on her, my own worries gnawing at my thoughts. The images of Jessica's accident and Lori's nightmares haunted me, and I couldn't shake the feeling of helplessness that had settled over me.

However, at some point, I finally managed to sleep. It was a welcome feeling after everything that I had been through, and before I knew it, I was slipping off into my dreams with Lori softly snoring beside me.

And then, it happened. In the dead of night, I awoke with a start, a cold sweat clinging to my skin. My heart raced, and my breaths came in short, panicked gasps.

"Jessica..." I whispered.

I had dreamt of Jessica, of her fading away in a sterile hospital room, and the sense of impending loss had been overwhelming. It felt so real, so lifelike, as though it could happen at any moment. And in that instant, I knew; if I didn't act soon, something would happen to Jessica.

I was sure of it.

I looked over at Lori, who was still asleep, her features relaxed in the dim light of the room. I couldn't disturb her now, not when she finally found some semblance of peace. And if I did what I was thinking of doing, I wanted to do it alone, without her knowledge.

After all, I couldn't get Lori's hopes up if the Claiming ceremony didn't work. I couldn't bear to see the look in Lori's eyes if her fiancee didn't come out of this despite my repeated efforts.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair, the dread of my dream still lingering.

The weight of my thoughts pressed down on me, and I couldn't escape the realization that Jessica's life was hanging in the balance.

I knew that turning her into a werewolf was a drastic step, one that would change her life forever. But as I looked at Lori's sad face in her sleep, and as I saw how her brow was furrowed with worry, I couldn't help but wonder if it was the only way to save our friend.

The idea sent a shiver down my spine, and I knew it was a decision I couldn't make lightly.

I needed to talk to Enzo, to consult with him about the consequences and risks. I knew that he would be angry with me; maybe he would even try to stop me.

But I couldn't. I needed to do this, and I couldn't let anything get in the way of saving my friend. I knew that Enzo might be mad at me for now, but with time, he would understand that I only did what I had to do.

And so, I quietly slipped away from the couch and made my way toward the door, a newfound sense of determination taking root within my chest.