Chapter 320

Warm water cascaded over me as I took a deep breath, inhaling the lavender scent from the bath oils. The warmth of the tub worked its magic, slowly melting away the tension and fatigue from the evening. With every passing moment, I felt my muscles relax, sinking deeper into the comforting embrace of the water.

“Hey,” Enzo called from the other room, “which scent do you want tonight in the diffuser? Lavender or eucalyptus?”

“Hmm… Eucalyptus,” I called out.

This was our new routine, and it was one that I had grown fond of. Living in our own home suited us well as opposed to the more rugged life of living in the dorms.

Enzo always made me promise that I wouldn’t tell his friends that he secretly liked putting oils in the diffuser and reading novels before bed. I always teased him and said that I would, but I never did. It was like our little ritual, one of the things that kept us feeling whole in the wake of everything that had happened.

When I eventually stepped out, toweling off and wrapping myself in a soft, plush robe, I was met with the comforting sight of the dimly lit bedroom. Enzo was propped up on the bed, flipping through a book, his focused expression making me smile.

Slipping into bed beside him, I felt the warmth of his body pull me in. He set aside his book, turning to me with that heartwarming smile of his—the one that never failed to set my heart aflutter.

“Feeling better?” he asked, his fingers gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

“Mmm,” I murmured, snuggling closer. “I didn’t realize how much I needed that bath.”

His arm wrapped around me, pulling me into a tight embrace. “The party was a hit,” he whispered against my hair. “Thanks to you.”

I chuckled softly. “All I did was set up some decorations and put out snacks. It was your friends that made it fun.”

“Our friends,” Enzo corrected, planting a kiss on the top of my head. “Our pack.”

I smirked, realizing that I never thought that I would be here now, in Enzo Rivers’ arms, talking about our… werewolf pack. Which also happened to contain several humans and a talking skeleton—an Undead, as Luke preferred to be called these days—wearing a human disguise. It was certainly an interesting friend group dynamic, to say the least.

“Right,” I murmured. “Our pack.”

We lay there for a few moments, just reveling in the comfort of each other's presence. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, Enzo pulled back slightly, looking me in the eyes. “You know, when I’m gone, I don’t want you to be alone in this big house.”

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his sudden seriousness. “What are you getting at?”

He hesitated for a beat, choosing his words carefully. “Maybe someone could move in with you. A friend, perhaps? Lori or Jessica? Maybe Luke?”

My eyes widened. “Enzo, you’re not suggesting—”

“Luke was your bodyguard once,” he cut in. “It might not be a bad idea to have him back in that capacity. At least until I return.”

I shook my head in disbelief, smothering a laugh. “You seriously think I need a bodyguard now? Enzo, the Crescents are gone. They won’t dare come back, especially not after what happened.”

His expression turned somber. “Nina, I love you. And it's because I love you that I worry about you. The Crescents are unpredictable. You never know when they might decide to come back and try something.”

I sighed, running a hand through my damp hair. “I get it, I really do. And I appreciate your concern. But having Luke here, acting as my bodyguard these days... It just seems a bit over-the-top, don’t you think?”

Enzo studied me for a moment, his gaze unwavering. “I just want you to be safe. Even if it’s over-the-top, even if it’s unnecessary, I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

His earnestness took me by surprise. I leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead. “I’ll think about it,” I promised softly.

Satisfied, Enzo pulled me back into his embrace. “That’s all I ask.”

Wrapped in his arms, the world outside faded away, and all that mattered was the two of us, nestled together, lost in a world of our own.

…

The soft shuffle of movement roused me from a peaceful slumber. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, I turned to find Enzo moving about the room, gathering his hockey gear. His face was set in that familiar determined look, signaling the importance of the day.

“Last day, huh?” I murmured, my voice still thick with sleep.

He turned, a smile lighting up his features. “Yeah. Last practice this morning, then the final game tonight.”

I pushed myself up, the covers pooling around my waist. “How about a big breakfast to start the day right?”

Enzo grinned, bending down to press a quick kiss on my forehead. “Sounds perfect.”

I shuffled out of bed, donning a cozy robe before making my way to the kitchen. I could already envision the hearty meal I planned to whip up. Bacon, toast, fresh fruits, and, of course, scrambled eggs.

As the delicious aroma of cooking filled the air, Enzo wandered into the kitchen, dressed in his hockey attire. He sidled up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and nuzzling into my neck.

“Smells heavenly,” he whispered.

I chuckled, turning to press a peck on his cheek. “Bacon, toast, and eggs. All for my star player.”

Enzo smirked. “I was talking about you,” he murmured. “But the food smells good, too, I guess.”

With a laugh, I landed a smack on Enzo’s chest.

We soon settled down at the dining table, plates heaped with food. The morning light streamed in, casting a warm glow over everything. We dove into the meal, the atmosphere light and carefree.

“So, you think you guys will win tonight?” I asked, taking a sip of my orange juice.

Enzo grinned confidently. “With you cheering me on? Absolutely.”

We continued our banter, talking about the other players, potential strategies, and the excitement surrounding the upcoming match. However, as I forked some scrambled eggs into my mouth, I paused. The taste, the smell—it was just...off. I subtly pushed the eggs to the side of my plate, trying to hide my distaste.

Enzo, too engrossed in his story about a recent scrimmage, didn’t notice my lack of appetite.

“You sure you’re not going to eat your eggs?” he asked eventually, eying my plate.

“Oh,” I hesitated, searching for an excuse. “I realized I’m not too hungry. You can have them if you want.”

Without a second thought, Enzo happily scooped them onto his plate, devouring them with gusto.

After finishing our meal, we stood, Enzo pulling me into a tight embrace. “Thank you for breakfast,” he murmured. “I promise to score a goal just for you tonight.”

I smiled, reaching up to cup his cheek. “Just don’t get injured, alright? I wanna watch the game, not be on team doctor duty. Just for tonight.”

He nodded, pressing a lingering kiss on my lips. “Always. See you at the game, love.”

As I watched him leave, a warm feeling bubbled up within me. I was so incredibly lucky to have him in my life.

However, as I began scraping the leftover bits from our plates, that same off-putting scent from the eggs hit me again. This time, it was much stronger, causing my stomach to churn violently. Abandoning the dishes, I sprinted to the bathroom, just barely making it in time.

As I knelt there, gasping for breath and trying to pull myself together, my thoughts raced. I quickly did the mental math—the dates, the timing.

Could it be? No, it was probably just something I ate or... Or maybe…

My heart thudded wildly as the realization set in. I rested a hand against my belly, the implications of my sudden illness becoming all too clear.

“Oh, no,” I murmured to myself, the possibilities dawning on me. “Should I take a pregnancy test?”