Page 137 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
Dad growled, his brow furrowing. “Nate tried to show me how to use those dang computers, but I prefer good old-fashioned paper and pen. It never runs out of battery or needs a power supply. Never trusted those machines. What if the computer crashes and we lose everything?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “l knew things were stuck in the past, but I didn’t realize you were still in the Stone Age.”
He fell silent for a moment, his eyes distant. “Nate used to say the exact same thing. It’s funny… I sometimes forget how alike you two were.”
I snorted and shook my head. “We were nothing alike. Nate was all about the pack, and I was all about getting out of this town as fast as I could.”
“You know, Nate was jealous of you. He envied your ability to leave, to see the world beyond our borders.”
My chest tightened. I’d always thought Nate was solely focused on the pack and the town. It never occurred to me that he might have wanted something different.
“I didn’t know that,” I said.
A wave of sadness washed over me. Maybe I hadn’t known my brother as well as I thought I did. We’d grown up together, but somehow, we’d never really talked about our dreams and aspirations. I should have taken the time to understand him better, to see beyond the surface of our different personalities.
Dad sighed, his broad shoulders slumping slightly. “There’s a lot we didn’t know about each other, son. But we can’t change the past. We can only move forward and do our best for the pack.”
I braced myself for what I needed to say next. “Dad, I have to ask. If it were Nate making these changes, would you be so against them?”
Dad sat forward in the chair and cracked his knuckles one by one. “Noah, it’s not about you or Nate. I’ve never been good with change. You know that.”
I clenched my jaw to keep my frustration in check. “I get that. But sometimes change is necessary. The world is evolving, and if we don’t adapt, we’ll be left behind.”
Dad ran a hand through his graying hair, looking out the window. “I know, son. And I trust that you have a handle on things. It’s going to take some time for me to adjust, that’s all.”
I felt a twinge of guilt. The decision to stand down had been his, but actually stepping back and letting me take the reins wasn’t easy on him. “I understand,” I said. “And I appreciate your support, even if it’s not always easy to give.”
He gave me a sad smile. “I’m proud of you. I know I haven’t always shown it, but I am. And I know you’ll do right by this pack.”
He pushed out of the chair and walked toward the door, his footsteps heavy on the hardwood floor. My father paused and looked back at me. “If you need anything, you know where to find me.”
“Thanks,” I said, my voice thick with emotion.
With that, he was gone, the door closing softly behind him. I leaned my head back against my chair. Too much had happened between us, too many harsh words exchanged, too many years of resentment and bitterness. We were both too damn stubborn to move past it. In time, I hoped that would change.
I pushedmyself up from the chair, my muscles aching from the long day of being inactive. It was later than I thought, though I’d managed to get through the work in record time, thanks to the changes I’d implemented.
Grabbing my jacket from the back of my chair, I headed out. The cool evening air hit my face as I stepped outside, refreshing after the stuffy office. I made my way to my car, my mind already shifting gears to my next task.
The gym was only a short drive away. I pulled into the parking lot, the familiar sight of the old brick building bringing a smile to my face. This was my sanctuary, the place where I could leave all my troubles at the door and focus on the one thing that had always brought me peace: boxing.
I walked inside, the smell of sweat and leather hitting me like a comforting embrace. As I headed toward my office, a familiar voice called my name. I turned to see Chief Warman walking toward me, his face grim.
“Noah, got a minute?” he asked, his hand resting on his holster.
I stepped away from the ring. “What’s up, Pete?”
“It’s about George,” he said. “There’s been no sign of him. He’s gone ghost.”
Damn that bastard. “How long?”
“Since the night he tried to take off with the kid and shot you.” Warman shook his head. “You and I both know it’s not for long. He’s obsessed with Zoey. He’s not going to leave her alone.”
“What’s the plan?”
“I’m working with the investigator and the DA, and keeping Zoey’s lawyer in the loop. We have an APB issued, and we’re monitoring his accounts. But Noah, I need you to leave the investigation to me. Zoey won’t be safe until we have him in custody. We know he’s going to return to Boldercrest. If you focus on working with my men to keep Zoey and Roland protected, I’ll find George.”
I understood where he was coming from. The chief wanted to keep Zoey safe, and I definitely appreciated that. But there was no chance in hell that I’d just sit back and do nothing.
