Page 181 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
“I am,” I said. “I truly believe Noah is the one for me. Fated mate or not, I trust him with my heart.”
She studied me. Finally, she said, “Then I support you completely. But please promise me you’ll keep being honest with yourself and with Noah, okay?”
“I promise.” I squeezed her hand gently. “Will you do something for me?”
She tensed. “What’s that?”
“Will you come with me to counseling? I asked Elaine, my therapist, if you could join us for a session. It’s not something she usually does, but she believes it will benefit both of us going forward.”
My heart hammered in my chest, and I watched her face intently, bracing myself for the rejection. She chewed on the inside of her cheek, but eventually she nodded.
“If she believes it’ll help you, I’ll come.”
I hugged her tightly. “Thank you,” I said softly in her ear.
As we watched Ro jump and laugh with carefree abandon, I made a silent vow. The next time I saw Noah, I would gather my courage and bring up the topic of fated mates. It was time to lay all the cards on the table and trust in the incredible bond we shared.
When we were getting ready to leave, Sam arrived to pick Ro up for the night.
“Hey, Zoey, Bridget.” Sam nodded at us, his gaze lingering on Mom. “You look nice.”
Mom smoothed down her hair self-consciously. “Thank you, Sam. It’s good to see you.”
There was some majorly awkward tension between them. Sam didn’t give Mom too much attention, but I caught her sneaking glances at him when she thought no one was looking.
Ro ran into Sam’s arms. “Grandpa! Ready for our guy’s night?”
“You bet, buddy. Say goodbye to your mom and grandma.”
After a round of hugs and kisses, Ro and Sam left. My mom tracked them with her gaze all the way outside, but Sam didn’t even glance back.
I raised an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued, and shot my mother a mischievous grin. “So, you and Sam, huh?”
Her face flushed. “What? No, it’s not like that. I just?—”
“Mom, I saw the way you were looking at him.” I nudged her playfully. “He has aged pretty well, hasn’t he?”
“Zoey.” She swatted my arm, but then the corners of her lips twitched. “Why didn’t you warn me that Sam had become such a silver fox?”
I burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the parking lot. “Silver fox? Oh my God, Mom, I can’t believe you just said that.”
Her eyes sparkled with a light I hadn’t seen in years. “Well, it’s true. The man is like a fine wine—better with age.”
We giggled together, the earlier tension temporarily forgotten. It felt good to share a light-hearted moment with her, to see a glimpse of the vibrant, carefree woman she could have been.
I linked my arm with hers. “Come on, let’s go grab a coffee. You can tell me all about your newfound appreciation for Sam’ssilver foxstatus.”
Mom shook her head, still grinning. “You’re incorrigible, you know that?”
“I learned from the best.” I winked, leading her toward the car.
With Mom’s support, Ro’s happiness, and the promise of a future with Noah, I finally allowed myself to believe that everything was going to be okay.
I returned hometo Noah’s later that night to find the house bathed in a soft, warm glow. Flickering candles dotted every surface, their gentle light dancing across the walls. Soft music played in the background, the melodic tune wrapping around me like a comforting embrace. The tantalizing aroma of seafood filled the air, making my mouth water.
My heart skipped when I stepped into the dining room. Noah stood beside the table set for two. He looked up as I entered, his blue eyes shining with love and a hint of nervousness.
“Noah, this is incredible. What’s the occasion?”
