Chapter 354

Nina

The mansion was alive with laughter, clinking glasses, and lively chatter. I was immersed in it all by Enzo’s side, but my focus sharpened when Tyler walked in, a radiant smile on his face and a girl on his arm.

She was tall, slender, and had a vibe that screamed ‘effortlessly cool’.

“Hey, Nina,” Tyler said, guiding her over to me. “This is Angie. Angie, this is my sister, Nina.”

Angie grinned, revealing a perfect row of white teeth. “Hey. Nice to meet you.”

“So, you’re the mysterious Angie,” I said, offering them both a smile.

Her eyes seemed to twinkle. “That would be me. I’ve heard so much about you, Nina. The legendary sister.”

“Legendary? Tyler, what stories have you been telling her?” I joked, but my eyes were drawn to the unique pendant she wore. It looked like a wolf’s tooth, intricately set in silver.

“Oh, just that you basically saved the world,” Tyler said, giving me a wink.

I blushed. “I did no such thing. And besides, you weren’t even there.”

Angie’s laugh was genuine and contagious, and I found myself instantly liking her. “I will say one thing, though,” she said. “Tyler wasn’t lying about your looks. You’re really pretty!”

“Aw, thank you, Angie. I like you already.”

We continued to mingle, and Angie seamlessly blended into the family. It was easy to see that Tyler was smitten, and I was genuinely happy for him. But as the evening wore on, the excitement began to take its toll on me.

“I’ll be outside for a bit,” I whispered to Enzo, who was deep in conversation about hockey with a distant cousin of mine who I had never even heard of.

He nodded. “I’ll find you.”

The garden was cool and quiet, and I finally felt like I could breathe. I settled on a wrought-iron bench, surrounded by the aroma of roses and the sound of a distant water fountain. The atmosphere was soothing and tranquil, a complete contrast to the buzzing energy inside.

As I sat there quietly, my eyes closed, listening to the sounds of the garden and the music wafting from inside, I let my mind wander onto other things: the baby, Enzo, my parents.

I didn’t know how to feel about my father’s insistence that I come here and live with him. It was tempting, yes, but I loved my home in Mountainview. But then again, after today, I had been reminded of what it was like to be surrounded by family.

Was it possible that I could juggle both, somehow? Split my time between Mountainview and the werewolf realm? Or would that just add another layer of unnecessary complexity to it all?

“I believe that you can make it work at home, on your own,” my wolf’s voice chimed in, soft and gentle in the back of my mind. “It’s what you’ve always done, isn’t it?”

I shrugged, no longer started by her presence in my mind. “Maybe. Or maybe I should try to do something new for once. Open up a little.”

But my wolf, ever the pragmatist, growled softly with disagreement. “And what if no one understands when you do open up? What if they see you as a basket case?”

My eyes shot open. My wolf’s words gave me pause. It wasn’t unfamiliar territory for us to disagree; she was, after all, often speaking what was lingering in the back of my mind. But was that how I really felt? Did I really, deep down, refuse to open up about my trauma because I was worried that doing so would drive everyone else away?

How ridiculous was that?

Before I could come up with an answer for my wolf, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. I looked up to see Enzo headed my way, his hands in his pockets and a slightly concerned look on his face.

“Hey,” I murmured as I scooched over on the bench.

“Hey,” Enzo said, taking a seat next to me. “Everything okay?”

I leaned into him, absorbing his familiar, comforting scent. “Yeah. Just got a little introspective, is all.”

Enzo chuckled. “Nina, being introspective? That’s a new one. Kidding.”

The scent of roses filled the air, mingling with the earthy smell of damp soil. The sound of the music playing inside made its way to us, but it felt so far away right now.

Enzo’s arm tightened around my shoulders, pulling me closer into him. “So… What are you being introspective about? You and your dad seemed to be having an intense conversation earlier, after your dance.”

I leaned my head against his shoulder, the familiar scent of his body comforting me. “My dad’s just… being a dad, that’s all. He’s worried about me living in the house by myself while you’re gone. He wants me to move here for the pregnancy.”

Enzo looked at me, his eyes searching. “And why don’t you consider it? You can easily take portals to campus, you know. It wouldn’t disrupt your life too much.”

I let out a sigh. Portals were handy, magical shortcuts between places. Some people could open them, and some couldn’t. I had discovered last year that I was one of the lucky ones who could do it, making travel back and forth between the human realm and the werewolf realm much easier.

But opening a portal wasn’t without its consequences; I often felt a bit lightheaded and tired afterwards, and it was sure to get worse during the pregnancy.

Enzo seemed to read my mind. “A bit too much, maybe?” he quipped, raising an eyebrow.

I shrugged. “Maybe. Or…”

“Or,” Enzo continued for me, “you’re deliberately disagreeing with your parents.”

I sat upright, my eyes locking with his. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Enzo paused, choosing his words carefully. “I love you, but you’re stubborn, Nina. You never want to admit when you need help.”

I felt a pang of irritation. “I don’t need help, Enzo. I can manage my life just fine.”

He let out a sigh, his eyes softening. “I’m not saying you can’t. But is your pride worth worrying your parents?”

"”It’s not just pride, it’s my life, my choices. Why should I change my life just because it makes other people comfortable?”

“Because those ‘other people’ are your family who love and care about you? Family looks out for one another, Nina.”

I was quiet for a moment, contemplating his words. “I know they care, but I need them to trust me too, trust that I can take care of myself.”

“Sometimes caring involves worrying, you know that.”

“Yeah, but--”

Enzo interrupted me, placing a finger gently on my lips. “Just think about it, okay? You don’t have to make a decision right now. But consider your dad’s offer seriously. You might find it’s not as bad as you think.”

I leaned back on the bench, looking up at the night sky. The stars seemed so distant and small, like tiny pinpricks in the sky. I felt like that too, small and distant.

Enzo’s voice broke through my reverie. “I just want you to be happy, Nina. And safe. If living in our house in Mountainview gives you that, I’m all for it. But if there’s even a sliver of doubt in your mind, maybe it’s worth listening to your dad.”

Listening. I had always equated it with giving in, with sacrificing my own wishes for the sake of others. But as I looked at Enzo, his eyes filled with genuine concern, it dawned on me that perhaps listening was more about love than about giving up.

I turned towards him, my eyes meeting his. “I’ll think about it, okay? But whatever I choose, I need you to be okay with it.”

He leaned in, his lips brushing softly against my forehead. “I’ll support you, Nina, whatever you decide. You should know that by no—”

“Hey, Nina! Enzo!”