Page 92 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
I roared in frustration, and my wolf stirred in agitation. I’d been backed into a corner, and whatever the logic, I hated it. But for Zoey, for her freedom, I’d do anything and everything.
I hung my head, a silent admission of defeat. Visions of a different life, one filled with the rhythmic cadence of gloves on bags and laughter echoing in my gym, faded into the reality of my birthright.
Through gritted teeth, I declared, “I’m ready to take my oath.” Bitter resignation coated every word.
“Good,” my father said. His heavy hand landed on my shoulder. “I’m proud of you.” For once, his words carried a warmth that should have thawed the chill in my bones.
But pride from a man who seemed more alpha than father didn’t warm me. It left a hollow echo where satisfaction should have been.
The afternoon flew by.Once I’d agreed to take the oath, my father had moved quickly with the preparations, and now I was standing in the middle of the garden at the alpha house, watching my father direct the others. The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over thebustling pack as they hurried to complete the preparations for tomorrow’s ceremony.
It felt like I was watching a movie of my own life playing out before my eyes. After tomorrow, it wouldn’t be my father who commanded the pack. It would be me. Was I truly ready to lead? The oath—my oath—was not merely a commitment to rule, but a tether that would bind me to the pack.
“Everything’s set,” my father said, pride flaring in his eyes.
“Thanks, Dad,” I mumbled, barely able to hide the tremor in my voice.
As I waited for Zoey to arrive, my anxiety ramped up. I hadn’t been sure whether to tell her before or to wait until after tomorrow’s pageantry. But my mother had pointed out that Heather and Sam would receive the news, so Zoey would find out either way.
I didn’t want her to hear about it from a third party—I needed to be the one to tell her—so I’d called her. It had been an awkward conversation with much left unsaid. Ro, with his shifter hearing, had overheard every word. It would be better to talk to her about what she’d seen in private.
I smiled as I thought about Ro. When he found out I was becoming alpha, he’d bombarded me with questions. It was easier to invite them both to the ceremony, and I promised him I’d answer all his questions. It was a lighthearted moment during a tough phone call.
First, I had to get Zoey to understand that what she’d seen last night wasn’t me. To my relief, she’d agreed to come to the alpha house to talk. I could hear she was still shaken, but she was willing to listen.
I’d explain the situation so she’d understand those bastards had come here to kill me and take her. It hadn’t been aggression on my part but protection. Last night, she hadn’t had all theinformation. All she’d seen was me, a trained fighter, beating the crap out of a guy who appeared defenseless.
And… I needed to tell her that she was my fated mate.
My wolf and I were united in our determination to keep her and Ro safe, to give them the peace they richly deserved. The alpha oath came with the right to challenge George and put an end to his reign over her for good. But that wasn’t all. The oath came with responsibilities—and the pack. Always the pack.
As my father had pointed out, I hadn’t even told her she was my fated mate. If I claimed her, she’d be tied to the pack, to me, without a real choice to leave. That wasn’t freedom. That wasn’t love. It would be another cage for her, and I cursed under my breath for not seeing it sooner. How could I have kept her in the dark?
But how could I tell her now, risk her running from me?
A tsunami of adrenaline washed through my veins, sending my heartbeat soaring. Each breath became harder than the last as my lungs constricted.
My father frowned at me. “Are you okay, son?”
I traced the raised, rough surface of my scar. I had to be reeking of panic, but if he was choosing to ignore it, so could I. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just thinking.”
“Good,” he said, clapping me on the shoulder before heading off to give some more orders.
I checked the time and realized Zoey would be arriving soon, so I went into the house to find my calm and wait for her arrival.
Just as I sank into a worn armchair in the lounge, the doorbell rang.
Zoey.
I rushed to the door and swung it open. Zoey stood on the porch, her purse clutched in her hands. Our eyes locked for a fleeting moment before she darted them away, her posture asjumpy as a cornered doe. I battled the temptation to pull her close, to give her comfort.
“Hey.” The word came out sounding more strained than I intended.
“Hi, Noah,” she said cautiously.
Inside, my wolf was in turmoil, pacing and snarling with impatience. He didn’t understand hesitation or doubt. To him, Zoey was ours—end of story. My human side, however, knew it wasn’t that simple. She was more than a claim, more than an oath. She was her own person with hopes and dreams. I couldn’t—wouldn’t—be the one to cage her like George had.
“Come in, please.”
