Page 191 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
“More than ready,” I said. “Let’s go home.”
The nurse arrived shortly after with my discharge papers and instructions. I barely paid attention, too eager to go home with Noah and Ro.Home. The word had taken on a new meaning now. It wasn’t just a place, but a feeling of safety, love, and belonging.
Noah’s place.Ourplace. It filled me with a soft, glowing warmth.
Soon, I was dressed in the clean clothes Noah had brought me. Ro insisted on pushing the wheelchair—hospital policy didn’t allow me to walk out—and when we reached the door, Noah put his arm around my waist and walked me to the car.
Ro dozed off in the backseat, still clutching his teddy bear, as we drove. I reached over to take Noah’s free hand, interlacing our fingers as I watched the streets of Boldercrest pass by.
When we stopped at the house, Noah helped me inside, and Ro stumbled along sleepily.
“Why don’t you head on up to bed, buddy,” I said softly, smoothing Ro’s hair back from his forehead. “You look beat.”
Ro yawned in response and trudged up the stairs to his room. Poor kid. This had been a lot for him to deal with.
Then, it was just me and Noah. He pulled me into his arms, burying his face in my hair. Feeling the tension thrumming through him, I pulled back to look at him.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” I asked, putting my palm against his cheek.
Noah sighed and guided me over to the couch. He braced his elbows on his knees and clasped my hands.
“Zoey, we have eyes on George. He’s hiding out with an old associate in Craigsville. In the next forty-eight hours, I’ll be leading a team to bring him in. For good,” Noah said firmly. “It’s going to be a coordinated ambush. We’ll have him surrounded, outnumbered. This ends now.”
I swallowed hard, fear and adrenaline surging through my veins. I knew this had to happen, that George needed to be stopped once and for all. But the thought of Noah going up against him, putting himself at risk...
I gripped his fingers. “Noah...”
“I know, baby. I know.” He pulled me onto his lap and wrapped his arms around me securely. “But I have to do this. I need to keep you safe and make sure he can never hurt you again. I need to do this for Ro and our future.”
Pressing my face to his chest, I breathed in his scent, trying to memorize the way his arms felt around me and the steady beat of his heart under my cheek.
Noah had the ability to pull this off. I had to believe that. I had to trust him.
I met his eyes and saw nothing but love and steely determination burning brightly there. Slowly, I nodded.
“Okay,” I whispered. “Okay. Just promise me you’ll come back to me.”
“Always.” Noah sealed the promise with a searing kiss. “I will always come back to you. You’re my home.”
Drawing back slightly, Noah stared down at me, his expression fierce yet tender. “I want you to know that I’m not making this decision lightly. I was going to move on George last night, but that would’ve meant sending my men into a dangerous situation without proper preparation. As their alpha, I couldn’t put them at risk like that.” He brushed a stray lock of hair from my face. “My father and I came up with a plan. A carefully coordinated ambush to minimize the danger to our people. It won’t be easy, but we’re going in with a solid strategy.”
Knowing that Noah was approaching this with a level head, that he had a plan in place, helped ease some of the fear that gripped my heart.
But still, a part of me couldn’t shake the feeling that this was my battle to fight, my demon to slay. As if sensing my thoughts, Noah cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs stroking my cheekbones.
“Zoey, listen to me. You were finished with George the moment you chose to leave him. You were finished with him when you decided to go to therapy and heal from the wounds he inflicted. You were finished with him when you opened your heart to love again.”
His words washed over me, settling deep in my soul. The truth of what he was saying sank in.
“You don’t have to deal with him anymore, baby. He’s not your problem, not your responsibility. Let me do this for you. Let me protect you, as your mate, as the man who loves you more than life itself.”
A sob tore from my throat as I threw my arms around him, clinging to him with all my strength. “I love you,” I whispered fiercely. “I love you so much.”
Noah held me close, stroking my hair. “I love you, too. Always and forever. And I promise you, I’m going to make sure George never hurts you or anyone else ever again. You have my word.”
In his embrace, surrounded by his strength and his love, I allowed myself to believe—in him, in us, in the future we would build together. No matter what challenges lay ahead, with Noah by my side, I could face anything.
When my mother and Sam arrived later that day, I was surprised to find out my mom had decided to stay for a while. As she bustled around the kitchen, putting away the food they’d brought, I couldn’t help but wonder if her reasons had as much to do with Sam as they did with me.
