My Hockey Alpha



Chapter 0771

Enzo

I paced back and forth in my lavish bedroom once again, my mind racing. The image of that feral panther was seared into my brain, its wild eyes and foaming mouth a haunting reminder of what could become of me if I didn't turn out the way Mila had... hoped.

Or at least, that was what I assumed. It was more a feeling than anything; but I could sense it, somehow, when the panther looked into my eyes. It didn't look quite as feral and thoughtless as I suspected.

But rather, it looked as if it was warning me.

"This could be you," its eyes had seemed to say. "Tread carefully."

Even thinking about it now, hours later, I couldn't help but shudder. The ceremony was tomorrow, and Mila kept telling me that it was almost over.

But if I didn't provide her with the dragon-blooded baby she wanted, would I wind up in one of those cages?

I was in the middle of my reverie when the door creaked open and Mila walked in, wearing her signature green silk gown. She really was beautiful, tall and slender with soft, pale skin. It was her eyes, though, that always unsettled me just a little bit.

Those yellow slits.

"My love," she purred, practically gliding toward me. "You didn't eat your breakfast."

"I wasn't hungry," I said, waving my hand dismissively and sitting on the edge of the bed.

Mila stopped in the center of the room and regarded me for a moment before speaking. "You know you'll need your strength for tomorrow's fight."

"Yeah. I know," I said as I ran a hand through my hair. "Speaking of which..."

"What is it now?" she asked with a chuckle. "You don't wish to dine with your opponent this time, do you?"

I swallowed hard, squaring my shoulders to face her. "No, nothing like that," I said. "I just... I have a question, that's all."

"Ask away."

"What happens to your mates, if they... fail?" I asked.

She furrowed her brow and blinked at me in confusion. "Fail?" she laughed. "You mean in the arena? It's a fight to the death, my dear. I thought that was obvious."

"No, no, not the arena," I said, my voice somehow steadier than I felt. "I meant... after. Say, if a mate doesn't provide you with a dragon-born child."

"Explain," she commanded.

I drew in a deep breath. "That panther," I murmured. "It wasn't one of your past mates, was it?"

For a long moment, Mila was silent, regarding me with an unreadable expression. Then, she let out a tinkling laugh, lifting a hand to caress my cheek. "Oh Enzo, my sweet, beautiful mate. You have such a wild imagination."

Her fingers trailed down my jaw, her nails lightly scraping my skin in a way that should have made me tingle with warmth but the touch only made me shudder.

"That beast you saw was just that—a beast," she murmured, leaning in so her lips brushed my ear. "A mindless animal, a shifter who succumbed to his base desires and became lost in his creature form. Worthless, really."

I swallowed once more, and this time, my throat felt cracked and dry. "So, that... that wouldn't happen to me?" I found myself asking. "If I displeased you, or...?"noveldrama

Mila pulled back, holding my gaze intently. Not a flicker of expression crossed her flawless features as she spoke

her next words. "You are mine, Enzo. My mate, my partner, my equal in all things for all eternity. I would never dream of casting you aside."

She reached down and picked up my hand, raising it to press it against her cool breast. It was only now that I realized it: Mila wasn't warm, nor was she cold. She was cool to the touch, like a lizard that hadn't basked in the sun for some time.

And in a strange way, as she pressed my hand into the soft tissue of her exposed cleavage, it was comforting to feel that coolness.

"Do you feel this, my love?" she murmured. "My heart beats only for you. To cast you aside would be the death of

me."

I stood there mutely as her words washed over me, unable to respond. Part of me was thrilled at her proclamation, at the thought of being her one and only.

But another, darker part couldn't help but wonder if she was just telling me what I wanted to hear.

As though seeming to sense my trepidation, Mila leaned in and captured my lips in a searing kiss. Her hands roamed over my body as she pressed herself against me, her slender body fitting perfectly into the contours of mine.

"You're just pent up, my love," she whispered in my ear. "Let me give you a release, and you will feel better."

In a sudden and heavy daze, I nodded, allowing her to guide me towards the large bed. As she pushed me back onto the plush furs, I felt that familiar fog clouding my senses, dulling my thoughts.

All I could focus on was Mila's lithe form slithering over me, her wicked mouth trailing heat everywhere it touched.

I groaned, arching into her as the ache between my legs became unbearable. "Mila..." My voice was a strangled whisper.

"Yes, my darling?" She grabbed my wrists, pinning them over my head as she ground her core against my throbbing length. "Tell me what you need."

In that moment, with the scent of her body surrounding me, it was all too easy to lose myself in the haze of pleasure that was rapidly taking over me. I squeezed my eyes shut, just focusing entirely on the sensation of her skin against mine, coolness against my heat.

But then, a familiar face flickered behind my closed eyelids-soft brown eyes, a smattering of freckles across the bridge of a button nose, plump lips quirked upwards in the most beautiful smile, dark hair draped around us like a curtain.

"Enzo," Nina whispered, moving gracefully on top of me. "I love you, Enzo..."

"Nina..." I rasped without thinking.

The slap took me completely by surprise, whipping my head to the side with a resounding crack. I blinked dazedly, tasting metallic blood in my mouth as Mila's expression morphed into one of pure, unbridled fury.

"How dare you speak her name?!" She snarled, rearing back for another blow.

Instinctively, I flinched away, raising my now-free hand to shield myself. Instead of hitting me again, though, Mila simply watched me with those slitted eyes of hers, her chest heaving with rage.

For a wild moment, everything seemed to click into place the panther, the secrets, the inexplicable draw that I felt towards this woman. I was in danger, more danger than I could have ever realized.

I wasn't supposed to be here. I didn't want this, didn't want Mila. I needed to go home to Nina, back where I belonged...

But before I could so much as move, Mila's hand lowered-gently and slowly this time, not a slap. I flinched, but when she touched my cheek and cupped my face in her hand, everything else slipped away and was replaced with pure bliss.

"It's alright, my love," she murmured, leaning down to press her lips gently onto mine before she stood,

smoothing down her dress. "Soon, you won't even remember her name."