My Hockey Alpha



Chapter 0777

The narrow path sloped downward at a steep incline, the rocky walls slowly closing in around us. I maneuvered carefully, trying to keep my breathing steady and calm as the hot, oppressive air grew thicker and harder to draw into my lungs.

We continued on like this for what felt like an eternity, the sounds of the entrance slowly fading to a dull murmur behind us. Before long, the path opened up into a sprawling network of tunnels crisscrossing ahead, their edges illuminated by the eerie glow of flickering torches that never should have existed.

Our footsteps rang out in the hollow stillness as we crept down the winding tunnels, peering around each corner with trepidation. At every turn, it seemned, lurking in wait was another thrall guard, soulless and vacant behind their dark helmets.

Thankfully, Luke's quick reflexes allowed him to subdue the first few sentries without incident before they could raise the alarm. Still, with every guard taken out of commission, the risks continued to multiply-it would only be a matter of time before they were discovered missing.

Finally, after disabling a handful more straggling patrols, we spied a narrow side passage-and seized our chance. Luke, Tyler and I swiftly traded our clothes for three of the fallen guard's uniforms, although they hung a bit loose on our much smaller frames.

After several tense minutes of tugging and adjusting, we checked our appearances and nodded at one another.

"Not half bad," Tyler murmured as we swapped helmets last, obscuring our faces. "As long as we don't have to talk to anyone, we should be able to pass well enough."

I gritted my teeth, ignoring the cloying sensation of sweat already pooling in my palms. Just stay calm, I told myself. You can do this.

And so, hand in hand, we ventured further into the impossible palace.

The tunnels grew wider and warmer as we progressed deeper, with occasional glimpses of guards, who didn't give us a second look in our uniforms thankfully.

More than once we had to stop and reorient ourselves, the network of passages becoming increasingly more maze- like with each turn. But finally, after what felt like an eternity skulking through the shadowed recesses, we came upon a broad, arched doorway.

The hairs on the back of my neck prickled as I realized that I knew this place. It was the inner chambers, where Mila kept her most favorite prisoners-where Enzo and I had escaped from last time.

And somewhere inside, no doubt, was Enzo.

Another empty stretch of corridor... a sharp right turn... and then there was what appeared to be a private antechamber. One adorned with a single oaken door, unguarded and slightly ajar.

My heart leapt into my throat as I felt my wolf bristle inside of me. Could this be it?

Before I could second-guess myself, I surged forward, pushing open the door and froze at the sight in front of

me.

There, not ten feet away, stood Enzo himself. His tall, muscular frame was dressed in simple linen clothing, his broad back muscles rippling beneath the fabric as he faced away from me, clearly absorbed in dressing for some impending ceremony.

My vision blurred, my throat constricting. He was here. Safe, seemingly unharmed-just as infuriatingly beautiful and whole as the day he had left, or rather, the day he had been taken from me.

Enzo stiffened, the muscles in his back going rigid as he turned to face me. "Could I have a few more minutes?" he asked, his eyes slightly wide with a fear that I could practically smell from here. "I'm not quite ready."

I said nothing, too frozen to speak. For a few long moments, we just stared at each other. Then, almost of their

own volition, my trembling hands lifted up to my helmet, slowly prying it off my head and letting it drop to the floor with a dull clang.

Like a tidal wave crashing over rocks, all the air rushed out of me at once. Because there, staring back at me with naked shock and wonder, was the gaze of the man I loved. Not the glazed, hollow stare of a mindless puppet, but eyes that were filled with warmth, recognition and love.

For a single, breathless heartbeat, we simply drank in the sight of each other, as if neither of us could comprehend that this was real. That we were both here, in the flesh, alive and whole.noveldrama

Then, without a word, Enzo closed the distance between us in three long strides and crushed me against him, his arms enveloping me in a breathless hug as his lips crashed into mine.