Page 144 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
“Zoey, Roland, I’m so glad you could make it,” Lola, one of the pack mothers, greeted us warmly, her hand resting on my arm. “The kids are going to love having a new playmate.”
I smiled, squeezing Ro’s hand. “Thank you for having us. It means a lot to be included.”
Ro pressed closer to my side, his green eyes wide as he took in the unfamiliar faces. I crouched down and rubbed his arms.
“Hey, buddy, why don’t you go play with the other kids? They look like they’re having a lot of fun.”
He hesitated, his gaze darting between me and the group of children running around the yard. “You’ll stay close?”
“I’ll be right here.” My heart clenched. “I promise.”
With a final glance back at me, Ro tentatively approached the other children. Within moments, they welcomed him into their game, laughing as they chased each other around the yard.
Noah slid his arm around my waist. “He’s going to be just fine,” he said. “They’ll look out for him.”
The tension slowly eased from my shoulders as I watched Ro’s face light up with joy. He looked so carefree, so unburdened from the trauma of our past. This was what I wanted for him—a chance to be a kid, to feel safe and loved.
As the evening wore on, I found myself drawn into conversations with various pack members. Their genuine interest in Ro’s and my well-being touched me deeply.
It struck me then, with startling clarity, that this was where we belonged.
This pack, this community, could be our home. A place where Ro could thrive, where I could heal and rebuild. It wouldn’t be easy, but now that I was surrounded by the warmth of these people, now that they seemed to accept me, I thought it would be worth the fight.
Noah’s hand found mine, our fingers intertwining. “You okay?” he asked softly, his blue eyes searching my face.
“Yeah,” I whispered, my gaze drifting back to Ro. His laughter echoed across the yard. “We’re going to be just fine.”
38
NOAH
The next morning, I pulled up at Sam’s house. He was sitting on his porch steps, deep in thought.
“Sam, you have a minute?”
“Sure. What’s on your mind?”
I sat down beside him, trying to figure out the best way to broach the subject. “I wanted to talk to you about possibly having your ex-wife come visit.”
Sam’s shoulders stiffened. “Why would we do that?”
“I think it could be good for Zoey to make peace with her mother about her childhood,” I said gently. “She’s been through a lot and still has unresolved issues there. It might help her heal.”
Sam sighed heavily, rubbing a hand over his face. “I get what you’re saying. And maybe it wouldn’t hurt for both girls to see her. God knows it’s not just Zoey who was affected by the way she acted over the years.”
Heather. Of course. Their mother’s erratic behavior had impacted both daughters, even if Heather dealt with it differently than Zoey.
Biting back my curiosity, I simply said, “If you think it’s a good idea, could I get her number from you? I’ll call her and set it up.”
“Yeah, all right. I’ll text it to you.” Sam stared off into the distance. “Just... be careful with them, okay? Those girls have been through enough.”
“I know. I’ll do everything I can to support them both through this.” I meant it with every fiber of my being. Helping Zoey and Heather find peace was my priority.
Sam seemed to accept my sincerity. He pulled out his phone and typed in something. A second later, I got a ping on my cell with Zoey’s mother’s number.
“Thanks, Sam.”
Factoring in the five-hour time difference between Michigan and London, it would be four in the afternoon over there. No time like the present.
