My Hockey Alpha by Eve Above Story PDF

Chapter 0669 Nina "Do you think she's coming?" Enzo's voice and the feeling of his strong, warm arm wrapping around my shoulders pulledback to the present. I had been staring longingly off the front of the porch, hoping that she would come.

"I don't know," I said, checking the ton my phone. The party had started a couple of hours ago, and Daphne still hadn't shown up.

"She'll show," Enzo said after a moment. He wrapped his arm arounda little tighter, and I let myself lean into him. His scent was always a comfort.

I just hoped that he was right.

I remember that evening vividly, the warm glow of our living room lights spilling out onto the porch as music and laughter filled the air. Enzo and I had thrown together a last-minute party at our house, with plenty of food, drinks, and music.

All of our friends were there; my mother had gone out for the night to a local book club in an attempt to get out of the house and maybe even make sfriends. Tyler was milling around and trying to sneak alcohol. I pretended I didn't notice when he snuck his first beer, but I slapped his hand away after that.

"Why?" Tyler whined when I wouldn't let him have another beer. "It's just beer." "You're too young," I said. "Drink ssoda or something instead. One is enough." Tyler stuck his tongue out at me. "You're just full of yourself because you only just turned twenty-one. As if you didn't drink all through college." I rolled my eyes at him. I let him drink another beer after that, so long as he didn't tell our mom.

As I sipped my soda out on the front porch, my gaze wandered over the crowd. I was looking for Daphne, the elusive bird shifter who I had invited earlier that day.

Despite her initial shock and my reassurances that it was just a friendly gesture, I couldn't shake the feeling that she might not show up after all.

The party was in full swing, with people dancing, laughing, and chatting animatedly. Jessica was joking with Luke, her laughter ringing clear above the music, and Matt was sharing a story that had a group of our friends doubled over in laughter.

But my head was elsewhere.

I had stepped out onto the porch for a moment of quiet, the cool night air a welcrelief from the warmth of the crowded house. I leaned against Enzo's warmth, my eyes scanning the street, still holding onto a faint hope that Daphne would appear.

"She'll show," Enzo repeated. "Don't worry." I nodded and offered Enzo a smile. He smiled back and leaned down to kiss me, and then he slipped back inside, leavingalone with my thoughts.

That was when I saw it-a little red bird materializing into a person in the shadows across the street. My heart skipped a beat as Daphne, now in human form, hesitantly walked up to the house.

She had put on a cute dress and done her hair, and the transformation from the shy, elusive bird to the young woman that was walking towardwas striking.

"Hey, Daphne," I called out softly as she approached. "You look really pretty," Daphne blushed a bit at the compliment, a small smile playing on her lips. "Oh, uh... Thanks," she mumbled, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear. "But remember, I'm not making any promises to help you just by being here." "Of course," I reassured her, leading her into the house. "This is just a friendly invitation. You're not obligated to do anything." I offered her a drink, which she accepted with a soft thank you". We mingled among the guests, and I watched as Daphne's eyes darted around the room, taking in the lively atmosphere.

"That's Jessica, and over there is Lori," I said, pointing. "That's Luke. Oh, and that's Matt." Daphne blushed and sipped her drink. "I know." As the night wore on, I noticed Daphne slowly relaxing, her initial hesitation giving way to a more open demeanor. She even laughed at a joke Matt made, her face lighting up in a way that madethink she didn't often have the chance to enjoy moments like this.

Throughout the evening, I couldn't help but observe Daphne.

There was a certain loneliness about her, a sense of being perpetually on the outside looking in. It struckthen just how isolating the life of a spy must be, always watching others from a distance, never really a part of anything.

At one point, as we refilled our drinks, I turned toward her and offered her a friendly smile. "Are you enjoying yourself?" I asked, handing her a glass of wine while I continued drinking only non-alcoholic beverages.

She paused for a moment, her fingers brushing mine as she took the glass. "Yeah," she finally said. "I am. Thanks for inviting me." I nodded. "You're always welcome, you know," I said. "You don't need to hide anymore. I know you're there now." Daphne laughed a little. "You know, I've been watching you and your friends for so long now," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper, "it kind of feels like I'm a part of the group sometimes. Is that weird?" I quickly shook my head. "No, not at all." She pauses for a moment, taking a deep breath before continuing. "And it's... well, it's madea bit jealous of your friendship, if I'm being honest." I was a bit taken aback. I guess I hadn't really considered that too much before tonight. "It must be hard, always watching and never really being a part of it." "Yeah," she said, her gaze drifting to where Matt was standing, talking animatedly with a group of friends. She blushed again, and I couldn't help but find it endearing.

"You know," I whispered, "he's single." She blushed even deeper. "Yeah. I know."

The party eventually wound down, and as people started to leave, Daphne lingered on looking out into the porch m night. I found her standing there all by herself, and I approached her tentatively. We stood next to each other for a few moments, just looking out into the darkness. "Did you have fun tonight?" I finally asked her.

Daphne nodded, a small smile on her face. "I did. Thanks again for inviting me." Then, after a pause, she turned to face me. "So, do you still want my services?"

I hesitated for a moment. Then, biting my lip, I cto a conclusion; I didn't want to take advantage of her She had seemed so happy, so content to E) finally just be a part of something and not just an observer. It didn't feel right to take advantage of her loneliness. I shook my head gently. "No, Daphne, it's okay." "Are you sure? I can-"

"Really, Daphne, it's fine." I shot her a soft smile. "I just hoped you'd have a good ttonight, And remember, you're always welcto hang out with us. You should cback sometime." Daphne's eyes softened, and for a moment, she looked like she might say something more.

But then she just nodded, shifting back into her little red bird form. I watched as she flew away into the night, disappearing into the dark sky.