Page 114 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
Emily’s gaze darted between us, her lips pressed into a thin line. For a moment, I thought she might continue her tirade, but she huffed out a breath and turned on her heel, stalking out of the room.
As the door clicked shut behind her, my shoulders sagged, the weight of her words pressing down on me.
Heather turned to me, her eyes softening with concern. “Zoey, you can’t let her get to you. None of this is your fault.”
I shook my head, tears burning behind my eyes.
Heather’s fierce green eyes held mine, unwavering in their conviction. “Zoey, you’re the strongest person I know. You’ve survived so much, and you’ve never let it break you. Don’t let Emily or anyone else make you doubt yourself now.”
I drew in a shaky breath. Heather was the one person who stood by me through everything. If she believed in me, maybe I could start believing in myself, too.
“I hate feeling like this,” I admitted. “Like I’m constantly putting the people I love in danger. Like I’m some kind of burden.”
Before Heather could respond, there was a knock on the door. A young, handsome doctor entered, his eyes immediately drawn to Heather. “Hey, Heather. Ready to get out of here?”
Heather grinned. “More than ready, Alex. Let’s do this.”
As the doctor began going over discharge instructions, I noticed the way he kept glancing at Heather, his attempts at flirting painfully obvious. If I hadn’t been so exhausted, I might have found it amusing.
“Hey, Heather?” I said. “Would you mind waiting here for a bit? I need to go see Noah before we leave.”
Heather smiled softly, understanding in her eyes. “Of course. Take all the time you need, Zo. I’ll be right here when you get back.”
With a deep breath, I stood and made my way out of the room, my heart pounding in my chest. It was time to face Noah and start mending the bridges I’d nearly burned.
I made my way through the hospital halls, the sterile scent and fluorescent lights all too familiar after this long night. As I approached Noah’s room, the sound of voices filtered out into the corridor. I paused just outside the open door, my heart sinking as I took in the scene before me.
Emily, the nurse from Heather’s room, stood beside Noah’s bed, checking his wound and vitals. She laughed at something he said, her hand lingering on his arm as she took his blood pressure.
“Looks like your heart rate’s a little elevated,” she teased. “Must be my presence, huh?”
Noah chuckled. “Must be.”
I fought a pang of jealousy. He seemed so relaxed, so at ease with her. A contrast to the tense, emotional conversations we’d been having lately.
Maybe Emily was right. Maybe I was nothing but trouble. A dark cloud that brought pain and suffering to those around me.
George’s voice echoed in my mind, his cruel accusations ringing in my ears.“Why do you have to upset me? It isn’t difficult, Zoey. If you would just behave properly, I wouldn’t have to correct you. It’s your own fault I get so angry.”
I shook my head, trying to dispel the memories. But the doubts lingered, eating away at my already fractured self-esteem.
I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t walk in there and face Noah, not when he seemed so much happier without me. I’d only bring him down, just like I always did.
With a heavy heart, I turned away from the door, making my way back to Heather’s room. Tears stung my eyes, blurring my vision as I walked.
Noah’s calm smile and Emily’s easy flirting played on repeat in my mind while my insecurities continued to torment me. I knew, logically, that Emily was just jealous. She was a shifter and wanted Noah for herself. She saw me as a threat to her pack, her people. In contrast, I was a human bringing danger into their lives, intruding into their once-safe existence.
But knowing something and believing it were two very different things. And right now, I was struggling to believe that I deserved Noah’s love, that I wasn’t just a burden. That he’d be better off without me.
I checked the time and realized it was office hours. Had so much time passed while we were here? It felt like a few hours while also feeling like a few days. With a deep breath, I pulled out my phone and dialed my lawyer’s number. She answered on the second ring.
“Zoey, how are you?” Margaret Cameron asked.
“I’ve been better,” I admitted. “A lot has happened since we last spoke.”
I gave her a rundown of everything that had transpired. By the time I finished, tears were streaming down my face again.
“Oh, Zoey,” Margaret said softly. “I’m so sorry you’re going through this. But I want you to know that George won’t get away with what he’s done. You’ve already got the protection order, and I’ll coordinate with Chief Warman to ensure you have a police escort at all times.”
