Page 61 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
“You look incredible.” My voice came out far rougher than I intended as I took her in. She wore a pretty sequined top and modest-length turquoise skirt that complemented her dark hair and hugged her in all the right places. She wasn’t as thin and scrawny as she had been that first day I met her. A good sign.
“Thank you, Noah.” Zoey’s cheeks flushed, and if I weren’t already captivated, that would’ve sealed my fate.
“Those are beautiful, Zoey. Here, let me.” Heather appeared at her side and took the flowers. “I’ll put these in water. You two should get going.”
Her tone brooked no argument, and I couldn’t help but appreciate Heather’s spirited ways. With a satisfied smirk grazing her lips, she ushered us toward the door.
“Have fun,” she called after us as she closed the door with a soft click, leaving Zoey and me alone on the porch.
“Shall we?” I extended my arm to Zoey.
The door to The Peak,a Brazilian restaurant, swung open, and the aroma of sizzling meats spilled out onto the sidewalk. I led Zoey into the cozy, inviting atmosphere. Exposed brick walls were adorned with antique farming tools, and the soft murmur of conversation and lively samba music filtered into my ears.
“Hope you like meat,” I said, glancing down at her. The warmth and depth in her hazel eyes made my heart skip a beat.
A delicate blush stained her cheeks as she nodded shyly. “I do, actually.”
“Good.”
The hostess led us to the secluded booth in the corner that I’d requested upon making the reservation. We ordered, and a glass of wine later, our meals arrived. I watched Zoey take a tentative bite of her steak, savoring the flavors with a look of appreciationon her face. It was moments like these that I wanted to freeze in time, to keep her safe and content forever.
“Everything to your liking?” I asked.
“Mm-hmm,” she hummed. “This is wonderful, Noah. Thank you.”
The conversation between us came naturally, like a symphony where each note seamlessly blended into the next. Every so often, I caught myself just watching her, admiring the way she’d tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear or how her laughter would ring out, pure and unguarded.
But beneath the casual banter, my mind raced. Zoey was my fated mate, yet fate didn’t dictate her feelings. She was human. She didn’t feel the instinctual pull that governed my species.
I wasn’t even sure how best to broach the subject. Heather had proven to be a reliable source of support. She’d known Zoey all her life and had seen the bonds of mates from both sides. I resolved to talk to her before broaching the subject again.
“Zoey,” I ventured cautiously, “I’ve been thinking...”
She tilted her head to the side. “About?”
“Us.” The word hung in the air, heavy with implications. “I just want to know... where you see this going.”
She hesitated, her fork pausing mid-air. “Noah, I’m not sure. I’m still healing, and everything feels so new.”
“I understand,” I said quickly, not wanting to press her. My wolf raged, impatient and possessive, but I restrained him. She needed time, something I had in abundance if it meant winning her trust. “Let’s just enjoy tonight,” I added, reaching across the table to take her hand.
Her smile returned, and with it, my hope for the future. Our future.
I leaned back in my chair, watching Zoey trace the rim of her wineglass with her finger. The restaurant’s low humof conversation swirled around us, a cocoon of normalcy that seemed almost surreal given all she’d been through.
“If you could paint your future without any fears, without George looming over it, what would that picture look like?” I asked.
Her eyes met mine with a clarity that took my breath away. It was as if she was seeing beyond the here and now, envisioning a life unfettered by shadows.
“Freedom,” she said, the word hanging between us like a promise. “To wake up without dread. To just... live.”
“Tell me more,” I said quietly, captivated by the hope flickering in her gaze.
She smiled, a wistful curve of her lips that made my chest tighten. “I’d love to travel. I want Ro to experience everything life has to offer. To see him laugh and run, maybe take him to Disney World. God, I want to give him the world.”
I nodded. I could see Roland at Disney World. See his delight and hear his laughter on the rides. “He deserves that. And you? What about your dreams?”
Zoey shrugged, a blush creeping across her cheeks. “This might sound silly, but I’ve always been terrible at baking. I’d love to take lessons, to actually surprise Ro with a cake that doesn’t look like a disaster.”
