Page 106 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
Ro buried his face against her shoulder, his words muffled. “But... but if I’d stayed put like you said...”
“Then your father might have taken you away or hurt you himself,” Zoey said firmly, running a hand over his rumpled hair. “You’re just a boy. A brave, smart boy, but still a child. George is a grown man, and he’s theonlyone responsible for his actions.” She pulled back slightly, tipping his chin up. “Noah did what he did because he wanted you to be safe. He would neverwant you to blame yourself for this. You did the right thing, running away and getting help. You hear me?”
Ro sniffled, giving a shaky nod. “I guess...”
“She’s right, bud,” I rasped.
They both swiveled their heads to me, faces full of surprise and relief.
“You did good,” I said. “Real good.”
“Noah!” Ro scrambled out of Zoey’s arms and rushed to my bedside, his hands hovering uncertainly over the bandages swathing my torso. “I’m sorry! I’m so, so sorry,”
“Hey, none of that now,” I said, mustering up a smile despite the throbbing pain. “You have got nothing to be sorry for. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
Fresh tears welled in Ro’s eyes, but he managed a wobbly smile in return. “I... I was really scared.”
“I know, bud. I was, too,” I said honestly. “But you were so brave out there. I’m proud of you.”
Zoey moved to stand behind Ro, resting her hands on his thin shoulders. She looked at me over his head, eyes shining with gratitude and something deeper. Something that made my heart stumble in my chest.
“We’re both proud of you, Ro,” she said softly. “And we’re going to make sure that your father can never hurt you again. I promise.”
Roland’s brows scrunched together. “I hate him,” he said with the vehemence only an eight-year-old could muster. “I hate that I have his stupid name. I don’t want to be Roland James anymore.”
Zoey made a choked sound and smoothed Ro’s hair back. “Baby, I’m so sorry...”
“It’s not fair.” Ro’s bottom lip trembled. “Dads are supposed to be nice and do fun stuff with their kids. My dad’s mean and scary. I don’t want him to be my dad.” He turned to me with big,pleading eyes. “Noah, can kids get divorced from their dads? I want to be divorced from George. I don’t want him anymore.”
My heart cracked at the pain and confusion on his face. Damn George James to the deepest pits of hell. I took Ro’s hand between mine.
“I know it doesn’t seem fair that you got stuck with him as a father,” I said carefully. “You deserve so much better. And I promise, just like your mom said, we’re going to do everything we can to make sure he can’t ever hurt you again.”
Looking at the two of them—the woman I loved and the boy who’d become like a son to me—a fierce surge of protectiveness swelled inside me. George James had messed with the wrong family, and I’d be damned if I let him get away with it.
But for now, all that mattered was that Ro was safe and Zoey was here. The rest could wait until I was back on my feet and ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
I cleared my throat, trying to summon some strength into my voice. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been asleep. “Where’s, uh... where’s George now? Did they catch up with him?”
Zoey’s eyes clouded over. “He’s still on the run. Warman had to choose between going after him or staying with you until the ambulance arrived. He chose to stay.”
That wasn’t surprising. George was a slippery bastard. It would take more than a few cops to bring him down.
Sam stepped forward then, catching Ro’s attention with a gentle hand on his arm. “Hey, bud, your Aunt Heather’s been real worried about you. What do you say we go let her know you’re all right while your mom and Noah talk for a bit?”
Roland hesitated, glancing anxiously between me and Zoey. I could see the reluctance on his features. He was afraid of leaving us again so soon after everything that had happened.
“It’s okay, Ro,” I said. “I’m not going anywhere. And your mom will be right here with me. We’ll see you again real soon, I promise.”
He bit his lip. “Okay. But I’m coming back later, all right? To check on you.”
“You got it, bud. Now, go give your aunt a big hug from me, okay?”
That brought a small smile to his face. With one last long look at me and Zoey, he let Sam guide him out of the room, and the door clicked shut softly behind them.
Now it was just me and Zoey. The air between us was thick with all the things we hadn’t said, all the emotions we’d been holding back in Ro’s presence.
I was the first to break the silence. “Zoey, I... God, I don’t even know where to start.”
