Page 16 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
Ky’s face slackened into an open-mouthed gape, then twisted into a broad grin. He let out a boisterous laugh. “Man, you’ve dodged relationships like they were sucker punches. You retire, and a fated mate drops in your lap. That’s rich!”
But his laughter tapered off as I told him more about Zoey’s skittishness, the way she flinched at sudden movements, the absolute fear that radiated from her.
“Wait, what?” Ky’s smile morphed into a grimace. “This isn’t funny anymore. Are you thinking domestic violence?”
I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. “Let’s just say I wouldn’t rule it out.”
“Fuck.” Ky’s posture went rigid, his usual easygoing nature folding into something darker. “Sounds like my mom... before I...”
“Before you stepped in,” I finished for him.
Ky had been a silent spectator to the relentless abuse his mother had endured at the hands of his father. One night, he’d reached his breaking point. It was a typical Friday evening, his dad’s drunk ass stumbling through the door and whaling on Ky’s mom. Ky had snapped, his rage overpowering him as he pulled his father off her and unleashed a torrent of blows. He’d stopped before killing him, but from what he’d told me, it had been close. Ky loathed any kind of bullying, but he especially despised domestic violence.
“Yeah,” Ky replied, the word short and final. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know yet,” I admitted, feeling the true gravity of the situation settle on my shoulders. “She’s scared, Ky. It wouldn’t be right to make a move.”
“Then take it slow,” he advised. “Be the guy she needs, not the one you want to be right now.”
I nodded, feeling a glimmer of resolve. “Just gotta let her see who I am. Maybe she’ll want to get to know me, too.”
“Good luck,” Ky said, clapping me on the back. “You’re gonna need it.”
After finishing up the paperwork,I packed away the remaining applications, intending to complete them later when I got home. I looked around the gym and realized I was the only one there. Ky had already left and closed up.
As I walked through the main area, I mulled over his words. I had to be the man Zoey needed. The prospect of offering her the level of patience and understanding she required made mequestion my own capabilities. I had never felt more powerless, and I hated it. Roaring, I pounded my fisting into the punching bag, the impact reverberating through the leather and into my unstrapped knuckles.
After a few more punches, I activated the alarm system and locked the back door behind me. I gunned the engine as I drove through the quiet streets towards home.
When I got home, I set down the folder filled with countless applications for trainers and clients that demanded my attention. Food first, then work. Nothing in my well-stocked fridge looked particularly appealing, but I didn’t want to go out, so I settled on making a sandwich.
As I ate, a whirlwind of concerns filled my brain, not at all related to the applications I was staring at. “Can’t do it,” I muttered to myself. “Not when she’s out there.”
I went outside and moved towards the forest that circled the town. The earthy scent of pine trees filled my nostrils as I took a deep breath and let the shift take hold. Bones reconfigured as my senses sharpened. Within moments, I stood on four paws, the night air whispering through my fur. The odors of the forest called to me, but one scent in particular pulled me toward the edge of town where Heather lived.
Just checking security, I reminded myself, letting instinct guide me as much as reason. I trotted silently through the trees until I reached the quiet street lined with modest homes nestled against the encroaching woods.
From my hidden vantage point, I watched Heather’s house, searching for any signs of life. A light flickered upstairs, and I caught the muffled sounds of a lullaby being hummed.
Is that her voice? I wondered, my ears perking up.
Then, a figure crossed the window, followed by a smaller one. My heart skipped a beat. A child’s laughter reached my ears, mingling with the melody. Zoey was singing to her child.
I shifted back to human, but stayed hidden in the tree line. “She’s a mother,” I whispered. My wolf’s protective instincts surged again, yet so did a torrent of doubts. Was I ready to be part of a family? To be a father figure?
“Complicated doesn’t begin to cover this.” I sighed, my breath visible in the cool night air.
Torn between the pull of my fated mate and the uncertainty of what lay ahead, I watched Zoey’s silhouette until it was etched into my mind.
Ky’s words echoed in my mind again.Take it slow. Be the guy she needs.
“Slow it is,” I murmured. With one last look at the window, I turned away, leaving the night to envelop the home where Zoey sang her child to sleep.
4
ZOEY
Isat at the kitchen table, drumming my fingers restlessly against the wood. I glanced at the clock again. It had been more than a week since I’d arrived in Boldercrest, a fortnight since I’d left George, yet his influence continued to loom over me. The constant pricking sensation at the back of my neck made me feel like someone was watching or following me. The cars passing outside made me jump, and every creak of the house heightened my unease.
