?Chapter 0481


    "Either way," Matt said, taking another sip from his water bottle. "It sounds like you''re in the middle of some serious soul-searching. Just don''t go ripping your muscles apart in the process, okay?"


    I chuckled, standing up and gripping the barbell once again."No promises."


    I was wiping down the kitchen counter when my phone buzzed in my pocket. Pulling it out, I was met with a name that had be familiar to me over the past months: Tim Malone.


    *Hello?"


    "Enzo," his voice echoed on the other end. "It''s Tim. I hope this isn''t a bad time."


    "Not at all. What''s up?"


    Tim''s smile was audible as he spoke. "The team is participating in a local scrimmage this weekend," he said." Look, I know it''s short notice, but we''d like it if you coulde."


    I paused, my hand still clutching the rag I had been using to clean. The room seemed to fade around me-the stainless-steel sink, the coffee machine, the half-empty jar of peanut butter Nina always insisted we keep. Everything suddenly felt so far away, because all of a sudden, all of this felt too real.


    "This weekend?" I asked.


    *Yeah. We''ll cover your flight and lodging. It''ll be a great opportunity to meet the team, the coaches, our team doctor-you know, get the full experience before you''re officially here for six months in the fall."


    Six months. The thought hung in the air like a fog, obscuring everything else for a moment. Six months away from home, away from Nina. I had been pushing it to the back of my mind, deciding that it was a problem for ''future Enzo''. But now, it seemed so close I could touch it. I nced toward the living room, where Nina was lounging on the couch, absorbed in a book.


    *Alright," I finally said. "Sounds good. Just send me the details."Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    "Great!" Tim eximed in his usual cheery voice. "Keep an eye out for an email. Everyone''s looking forward to meeting you."


    *Same here, Tim."


    I hung up and returned the phone to my pocket, my emotions a swirling storm of excitement, trepidation, and- something else I couldn''t quite put my finger on.


    When I turned around, I found Nina standing in the doorway, her soft eyes searching my face. "Who was that?"


    *Tim Malone. They want me toe out this weekend. Meet the team, see how everything works-you know, that whole deal."


    Nina''s eyes lit up, her lips curving into a smile that sent a burst of warmth through me. "That''s fantastic, Enzo!"


    Her unwavering support never ceased to make me smile. I walked over to her, pulling her into a hug. She felt delicate in my arms, her body yielding but not fragile, like the petals of a flower. I pressed my lips to the top of her head and breathed in the scent of her shampoo-a blend of vani andvender that had long since be afort to me.


    But even then, as I held her, something stirred deep within me. My wolf, always there but often silent, spoke up in the recesses of my mind. "Something isn''t right."


    I tightened my grip on Nina slightly, my senses suddenly on high alert. "You sure you''re okay with me leaving?" I asked, my eyes searching her for any hint of upset or confusion.


    She pulled back, looking up at me with eyes that betrayed nothing but support and admiration, as always. "Of


    course," she said, smiling gently. "It''ll be good for you, I think. You can meet everyone before you have to officially start working with them."


    I searched her face for any sign, any hint that something was amiss. But Nina had always been an open book to me, and right now that book was telling me she was genuinely happy for me.


    *Alright," I said, pushing my wolf''s warning to the back of my mind-for now, at least. "I guess I''ve got a weekend trip to n, then."