Page 55 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
As we turned to leave, my eyes locked with his once more. His stare was a challenge, a dare for me to cross the line. If this was the battle he wanted, I was more than ready to bring the storm.
The four of us turned our backs on him and got into the truck. Our lack of fear probably pissed him off a little more. It was petty, perhaps, but it gave me a ton of satisfaction.
We were a few blocks away when I broke the silence. “Dad, there’s something about that threat...”
He raised an eyebrow inquisitively.
“I have to take the oath, officially become the next alpha, before I can step in for you in any challenge,” I said. “You know that.”
He nodded, his mouth set in a grim line. “I’m aware. But after what he felt back there”—he motioned vaguely towards the house we’d left behind—“you think he’s actually going to test those waters? George isn’t an idiot.”
“Isn’t he?” I replied skeptically. “He’s got no successor of fighting age. If he thinks his money and connections can get him out of anything?—”
“Then he’s sorely mistaken here,” Dad said with a note of finality. “It was a bluff, sure. But if it comes down to it, you’ll take your oath. I don’t suspect he’d be foolish enough to want a real fight with you. Not after sensing even a fraction of your strength.”
“Let’s hope he values his life more than his ego.” I looked back, half-expecting to see George following us. I wouldn’t put it past him.
“Smart or not, we’ll be ready,” Dad assured me, the confidence in his tone bolstering my own resolve. We both knew the kind of man George was, and we would do whatever it took to protect our pack and their family.
I paced my living room,the conversation with George replaying in my head. The anger bubbled up again, and I clenched my fists. I needed to see Zoey.
“Easy,” I muttered to myself, trying to calm the storm inside. My wolf prowled just beneath the surface, his fury zingingthrough my blood. He wanted blood for the threat against our mate.
I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face. He and I had a power most others couldn’t comprehend, and that made us a dangerous force.
“Control,” I whispered. That’s what mattered now. Keeping Zoey safe, even from the darkest parts of myself.
I grabbed my phone, the screen’s glow the only light in the dark room. My thumb hovered over the keypad, hesitation clawing at my insides. I had to tell her, didn’t I? Not only that George was here, but every fiber of my being screamed that Zoey should know who—what—I was.
Fear gripped me. Fear that she’d see me as a monster.
“Can’t hide forever,” I murmured, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. She deserved someone without claws and fangs lurking beneath the surface.
With a shaky breath, I tapped out a message. Not to Zoey, but to Heather.
Me:Will Zoey be home tonight?
Seconds ticked by before my phone buzzed with a reply.
Heather:Where else would she be! You thinking of maybe making your move?
Me:Something like that.
Plans formed in my head, a distraction from the gnawing anxiety. Keep it simple. No need to unleash the beast tonight.
Heather:I can take Ro to Sam’s. We haven’t had dinner. Bring Chinese food. It’s her favorite.
She followed it up with a string of encouraging emojis.
Me:Thanks.
I set the phone down. Zoey’s smile, the one that stretched across her face and illuminated her hazel eyes, had a magical way of making everything feel a little lighter. And I wanted to see it now that I was all twisted up inside.
I put in an order with the local Chinese restaurant Chop Chop. Wanting to cover all bases, I opted for a mix of starters, main dishes, and accompanying rice and noodles since I wasn’t sure of her taste. When they handed me four bags at the restaurant, I winced. I’d gone slightly overboard.
Balancing the takeout containers in both my hands, I rang the doorbell with my elbow and waited for Zoey to answer. The scent of spices and savory sauces wafted up to tease my senses.
Her footsteps approached, light and hesitant. The door swung open, revealing Zoey with a look of surprise that swiftly morphed into a tentative smile.
