Page 147 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
“I will.”
As they pulled apart, Heather glanced at me. “Oh. How’s Ky doing these days?”
I frowned a little. “Uh, he’s good. Busy with training and stuff.”
“Right, of course.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Well, tell him I said hi.”
“Will do.” I watched her go, a thought niggling at the back of my mind. There was something about the way she’d asked about Ky, a certain spark in her eye...
Was Heather interested in him?
I’d never really thought about playing matchmaker before, but the more I considered it, the more I liked the idea. Ky was a great guy—funny, loyal, kind. And Heather deserved someone who would treat her right.
Maybe I could talk to Zoey about it later, see what she thought. She’d know what Heather liked in a man.
But for now, I had more pressing matters to attend to. Namely, making sure Zoey and Ro were settled in and comfortable.
I turned to find them both looking at me expectantly. Ro’s face was a bit red, as though he were hot. Zoey picked him up again, and he rested his head on her shoulder.
“Why does Aunt Heather want you to say hi to Ky?” Ro asked.
Zoey chuckled. “Don’t worry about it, kiddo.” She met my gaze over his head, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Noah’s just playing Cupid, apparently.”
I grinned back at her. This was nice—the easy banter, the sense of family.
I could get used to it.
Zoey made to put Ro down, but he clung to her. “Mommy, I don’t feel well. I’m tired.”
“He’s been out of sorts all day,” Zoey told me. “Come on, baby. Let’s get you to bed for a nap, okay?”
I followed Zoey upstairs to Ro’s room and watched as she got him settled in bed. The curtains were drawn, casting shadows across the space even in the dim light.
The lingering odor in the room hit me like a freight train. I hadn’t caught it in the living room because Zoey’s scent overpowered it. But in here, that distinct aroma of an impending first shift—musky, wild, tinged with the sharpness of change—overwhelmed me. It set my nerves on edge, and my wolf rose to the surface in response.
I put a hand on Ro’s forehead. His skin was hot to the touch, slick with sweat. Definitely not a normal fever.
Zoey hovered next to me, her face pinched with anxiety. “Is something wrong?”
“No, not wrong.” I knew exactly what was happening here. “His body is just getting ready for his first shift.”
Her brows knitted together. “What? How do you know?”
Gently, I lifted Ro’s upper lip with my thumb, revealing the elongated canines underneath. Fangs. The undeniable proof of his shifting heritage.
“See? It’s normal for wolf-shifter kids. Their bodies go through changes as the shift approaches.” I tapped my nose. “Plus, there’s a certain scent. Any shifter parent would recognize it.”
Zoey stared at Ro’s face. I could practically see the gears turning in her head, the worry warring with relief.
She swallowed hard. “He’s going to be okay? This is all just part of the process?”
I pulled her into my arms. She melted against me, her breath shuddering out in a sigh.
“He’s going to be fine, Zoey,” I said into her hair. “I promise. We’ll get him through this.”
And I meant it with every fiber of my being. Ro was a part of my pack, my family. I’d be there for him, and for Zoey, every step of the way.
“He’ll probably shift within the next forty-eight hours.” I pulled back to look at Zoey. Her hazel eyes were wide, a mix of emotions swirling in their depths. “He’ll need an alpha to guide him through it.” I rubbed her back. “Why don’t you and Ro come stay at my place? That way, I’ll be there whenever it happens.”
