Page 206 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
I swallowed hard, fighting back the lump in my throat as she hugged me. Over her shoulder, I caught Dad’s eye. He grinned proudly, his usually stern features softened.
“I... I don’t know what to say,” I managed, pulling back to face the crowd. “I’m so grateful to have all of you here, supporting me... supporting each other.”
A chorus of cheers and applause erupted from the pack, and love and pride surged through my chest. These were my people, my family. And though I still had moments of doubt, seeing them here now, united and strong, I would do whatever it took to lead them well.
Mom squeezed my hand, drawing my attention back to her. “Come on inside. You need to rest, and I’ve made all your favorites for dinner.”
I let her guide me toward the house as the pack began to disperse, their chatter and laughter filling the air. Each step felt a little lighter, my responsibilities eased by the knowledge that I wasn’t facing them alone.
As we stepped inside, the aroma of my mother’s cooking enveloped me like a warm hug. The familiar scents of roasted chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, and freshly baked bread mingled in the air, making my mouth water and my stomach growl.
“Smells amazing, Mom. You didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”
She waved off my comment with a smile. “Nonsense. It’s not every day my son comes home from the hospital. I wanted to make sure you had a proper welcome.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Well, I appreciate it. Really. That hospital food was terrible.”
The table in the kitchen was already set with our best dishes and a vase of fresh flowers. I sank into my usual chair. It was strange how something as simple as a family dinner could ground me and remind me what truly mattered.
As Mom busied herself with serving the food, I caught sight of Zoey and Roland hovering in the doorway. They looked uncertain, as if they weren’t sure of their place here.
I stood and crossed the room to meet them. “Hey,” I said softly, reaching for Zoey’s hand. “I’m glad you’re here.”
She offered a tentative smile, her fingers lacing with mine. “We didn’t want to intrude on your family time.”
“You’re not intruding. You and Roland are part of this family now.”
Roland’s face lit up, and he launched himself at me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Does that mean we get to stay here? With you?”
I laughed, hugging him back. “Yeah, buddy. For as long as you want. Forever, if I have my way.”
Zoey’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and she mouthed a silent “thank you” over Roland’s head. I pulled her into the embrace, holding them both close.
We had a lot of healing to do, a lot of trust to rebuild. But as I stood there, surrounded by the people I loved most in this world, I knew we would find our way. Together.
After we ate,I made my way to the living room and found Ro waiting for me.
I sighed. Kneeling in front of him, I searched his face for any signs of distress. “Are you okay?”
He nodded, looking at me with a mix of sadness and relief. “Yeah. I just...” He hesitated, his words coming out in a rush. “I would have been sadder if it was you that died. Is it bad that I’m not sad about my dad dying?”
My heart clenched, and I hugged him. “No. It’s not bad at all. What you’re feeling is okay. He didn’t treat you the way a father should. It’s normal to have complicated feelings about him.”
Ro clung to me, his hands fisting in my shirt. “I’m glad you’re okay. I don’t want to lose you, too.”
“You won’t, buddy. I’m not going anywhere. We’re going to get through this together, all right? You, me, and your mom. We’re a family now.”
Ro nodded and relaxed against me. It would take time for him to process everything that had happened, to come to terms with the loss of his father and the trauma he’d endured. But I would be there for him every step of the way. I’d give him the love and support he deserved.
Later that night,I lay in bed with Zoey curled up against my uninjured side. Her fingers traced patterns on my chest as we savored the tranquility of the moment. The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast a warm light over her features, and I found myself marveling at her strength and resilience.
Zoey let out a long sigh, her breath tickling my skin. “I can’t believe it’s finally over.”
“It is, Zo. We made it through. George can’t hurt you or Ro anymore.”
She shifted slightly, propping herself up on one elbow to look at me. Her hazel eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but there was a new light in them that I hadn’t seen before. “Thank you. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
I tucked her hair behind her ear, my fingers lingering on the soft skin of her cheek. “You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for. You’d have found a way. But I’m glad I could be there for you, for both of you.”
