Page 77 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
“Uh-huh,” I said, barely hearing myself.
“Let’s get Ro.”
My legs moved, but I wasn’t sure how. Noah’s hand was firm on my back, guiding me through the parking lot and to his car.
Heather was waiting with Ro at the corner of the park, her usual stern expression softening just for me. Ro perched on the edge of a bench, swinging his legs. At the sight of him, something inside me knit back together. A small stitch in a frayed tapestry.
“Zoey.” Heather grabbed me in a tight hug. “I’m so proud of you. You did the right thing, you know that, right?”
“Yeah.” It was all I could manage, but she nodded as if I’d given a grand speech.
“Everything will be okay now,” she continued, her assurance solid like a promise carved in stone.
“Hope so,” I said.
Noah took Ro’s hand as he waved goodbye to Heather with the other, and we walked to the car in a silence that felt heavy but not burdensome. Heather’s words echoed in my head, a mantra against the chaos threatening to spill over. Noah openedthe door for me, and I slid into the seat, the daze clinging like a second skin.
“Seatbelt,” he reminded me gently, and I fumbled with the latch until it clicked.
“Thanks.”
He gave me that steady look of his, like he was ready to take on the world for us. And after the events of the morning, I believed him.
“Where are we going?” Ro’s question cut through the quiet of the car, tentative but curious.
Noah glanced in the rearview mirror, catching Ro’s eye. “My place,” he said. “Your mom needs some rest, and I figured we could have some guy time, you know?”
“Is Mom okay?”
I turned to him, managing a soft smile despite the weight of my eyelids. “I’m just tired, Ro. That’s all,” I assured him, hoping I sounded more convincing than I felt.
Ro didn’t look away, scanning my face for any trace of deceit. Those days when I’d say “I’m fine” with a bruise blossoming under my makeup were behind us, but Ro remembered. He’d always remember.
“Okay,” he finally said, nodding slightly as if giving me permission to be tired. He leaned back, facing forward again, and started chatting with Noah about some video game they both liked, his words filling the space between us with normalcy, with life.
Noah’s place offered a cozy refuge, a welcome relief from the cold and sterile police station. The walls were painted a soft, buttery yellow. Worn, braided rugs in shades of burnt orange and olive green softened the dark, varnished floorboards. There was a small table in the entryway, and Noah tossed his keys into the small bowl set on top of it. In a daze, I removed my jacket,and he showed Ro where to hang his own jacket on a row of coat hooks.
His living room boasted the biggest TV I’d ever seen.
“Wow,” Ro said in a whisper. “Mom, it’s like a movie theater.”
A sofa covered in a darker green fabric and a matching armchair faced the television. But it was the sideboard filled with trophies and photographs showcasing Noah’s boxing triumphs that captivated Ro.
“Are these all yours?” Ro asked, standing on his tiptoes, eyes wide.
“They are,” said Noah. “I’ll show you my Olympic medal if you like, buddy. But let’s get your mom upstairs first so she can rest.”
The events of the day pressed down on me, and each step I took felt heavier than the last. When I swayed slightly, Noah’s arms were right there, sturdy and secure around me.
“Let’s get you upstairs,” he said. Before I could protest, he scooped me up in his arms with a smooth grace that belied his strength. His gaze met mine, a silent promise that he was there to catch me if I faltered.
“Okay,” I agreed, sounding as tired as I felt. The world seemed to tilt and spin gently as he carried me up the staircase.
“Hey, Ro, buddy,” Noah called over his shoulder. “You coming up?”
I turned my head enough to see Ro trailing behind us, a shy grin spreading across his face. He caught me watching him, and his smile widened. It felt like he understood that Noah was taking care of us, not just showing off.
“See this room here, Ro?” Noah said, nodding toward a room with an open door. “Whenever you’re here, this room is yours.”
