My Hockey Alpha



Chapter 0586

Nina

Lori and I drove back to the hospital that night at midnight, the weight of the situation heavy on our shoulders. We had been there earlier in the day, but it was different now, under the cover of night when the nurses weren't making their rounds.

"You ready?" I asked once we parked in the parking lot.

Lori nodded, her body stiff but her eyes hopeful. We climbed out of the truck and made our way in, past the night receptionist who was too busy scrolling on his phone to notice us, and toward the ICU. The hospital was eerily silent compared to earlier that day, and it sent a shiver down my spine.

We reached Jessica's room, the soft glow of monitors illuminating the darkened space. She was still just as we had left her; the rhythmic beeping of machines was an odd sort of comfort, a reminder that despite her current state, she was still alive. And that, hopefully, was something that I could work with.

I approached Jessica's bed, my face etched with determination. I glanced at Lori briefly, her eyes filled with a mix of hope and worry. "I'm going to try to heal her now," I said softly. "Keep watch over the door, just like we talked about. Okay?"

Lori nodded, stepping back to give me room to work. She stood by the door, poised to let me know if a nurse was coming.

I placed my hands gently on Jessica's forehead, my brow furrowed in concentration. I could feel the power of my healing abilities surging inside of me, and I focused all my energy on Jessica, willing her body to mend itself. My wolf began to lend me her strength, and now all I needed to do was channel it.

But something was wrong. My hands trembled, and I stumbled back, my face pale. I looked at Lori, panic in my

eyes.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

I shook my head, swallowing. "Just... lightheaded," I said, stepping back up to the side of the bed to try again. I placed my hands on Jessica's forehead once more, shutting my eyes this time so I could focus entirely on the sensations.

All I needed was a little bit of energy. Just enough to heal her to the point where she wasn't on death's doorstep. It didn't need to be perfect, and I kept telling myself that.

But once again, nausea took over me. It hit me like a crashing wave, and I stumbled back once more, clapping my hand over my mouth. It was all I could do not to vomit right then and there, but I managed to quell it.

But now my head was pounding, and my vision was fading. I hadn't even been able to channel an ounce of my healing energy into Jessica, and yet my body felt like it was caving in. I stumbled over to the chair and sank down with my head in my hands, willing my vision to stay steady.

Lori, who was turned toward the door, noticed the shift in energy and whipped around to look at me. Her eyes landed on Jessica first, who was still motionless, before they settled on me.

"What's wrong?" she asked, although I knew that she already had an idea.

"It's not working, Lori," I whispered, my voice quivering. "I... I can't heal her. It's too much. I'm afraid it'll hurt the baby."

Lori cursed under her breath, her fists clenched at her sides. She turned away from Jessica, unable to bear the sight of her girlfriend in this state. "Damn it," she muttered, tears streaming down her face.

We sat there in silence for a long time, each of us at a loss for words. Finally, I heard Lori's footsteps approach, and she sat back down beside me, placing her hand on mine.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "I'll be okay," I replied, though my voice still trembled. "I just wish I could be more help, but..."

She shook her head. "It's okay, Nina. You have every right to worry about your baby. And besides, Jessica would never forgive either of us if she knew that you put yourself and your baby in danger for her sake."

"I just... I just want her to wake up," I muttered, and now I was the one who was crying. "I feel useless. If I wasn't pregnant, I know I could do it. But..."

Lori sighed, passing her hand over her exhausted face. "Maybe there's another way," she said. "Where's Enzo? Is he still in the city?"

I nodded. "Yeah. And he won't be home for another few days yet."

Both of our shoulders seemed to drop in unison, but I wasn't completely going to give up just yet. I leaned over to Lori, resting my head on her shoulder.

"We'll figure something out, Lori," I said gently as we both looked at our friend. "We have to."

The next morning, however, the phone call from the doctor shattered our hopes. We were trying to have breakfast when the phone rang, and Lori picked it up without a second's hesitation, a hopefulness in her eyes.

But her face grew ashen as she listened to the words on the other end of the line. She hung up and collapsed onto the couch, tears streaming down her face.

"They found more internal bleeding," she choked out, her voice filled with anguish. "And she's still not waking up." I paced back and forth, my brows furrowed in thought.

I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. My healing abilities weren't working, and I felt helpless.

But then, a thought began to form in my mind. A risky thought, a dangerous thought, but one that might be our only chance.

I had the power of Claiming. I could turn Jessica into a werewolf to save her.

The idea sent a shiver down my spine. It was a drastic step, one that would change Jessica's life forever. But it was also a chance at saving her, and I couldn't afford to let my best friend's life slip through my fingers.

I turned to Lori, my voice hesitant. "Lori, there's something I need to discuss with you," I said, my words carefully chosen.

Lori looked up at me, her eyes red-rimmed and swollen. "What is it?"

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. "I know it might sound crazy, but... I could Claim Jessica."

Lori's eyes widened, and she stared at me in shock. "But Nina, that's a big decision," she said, her voice filled with uncertainty. "And it should be Jessica's choice."

I nodded, my heart heavy with the weight of the decision. "I know, Lori," I replied. "But we don't have much time. I... I think I could do it. And it would save her, beyond all doubt."

Lori and I just stared at each other for a long time, neither of us sure what to say. Our best friend's life was hanging in the balance, and there was no telling whether the surgeries would save her.

But my power of Claiming? It would save her in an instant, so long as it worked.NôvelDrama.Org holds text © rights.