Page 204 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
Christian reached out to steady me. “I was just about to call you. There’s no silver. They’re taking him up to his room now. The doctors say he’s going to be all right.”
My knees buckled, and I swayed, the room spinning around me. Christian’s strong arms caught me, holding me upright.
“Whoa, easy there.” He guided me to a nearby chair. “It’s been a hell of a night. You need to sit down.”
I sank into the seat, my head in my hands. “I can’t believe it’s finally over. That he’s really gone.”
Angela sat beside me, rubbing soothing circles on my back. “It’s okay, sweetie. You’re safe now. Noah’s safe. That’s all that matters.”
I couldn’t fall apart. Not yet. Not until I saw Noah with my own eyes.
“Can I see him?” I asked.
Christian glanced at Angela. “They’re only allowing two visitors at a time.”
Angela squeezed my hand. “Why don’t you let Christian and me go in first? Just for a few minutes. Then you can have some time alone with him.”
I wanted to protest, but his parents needed to see for themselves that their only living son was okay. So I swallowed past the lump in my throat and nodded.
As they disappeared down the hallway, I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes. The adrenaline was fading, leaving me drained and exhausted.
Images flashed through my mind. George’s lifeless body. Noah’s blood on my hands. Ro’s terrified face when I left him with Sam.
Another sob tore out of me, and I pressed my fist to my mouth, trying to muffle the sound. But the tears came anyway, hot and fast, spilling down my cheeks.
All those years of abuse and torment. The scars on my body and soul. The childhood that was stolen from Ro.
But most of all, I cried from sheer, overwhelming relief. It was over. George was dead. Noah was alive. We had survived.
I dared to hope for a future. A future with Noah by my side, loving me, protecting me. A future where I was free to be myself, without fear or shame.
I wiped my eyes, taking a shuddering breath. The tears had washed away the last of my doubts and fears. I was ready. Ready to face whatever lay ahead. Ready to fight for the life I wanted.
For the life I deserved.
56
NOAH
Igroaned as a sharp pain shot through my chest. Déjà vu, except this time, the bullet hadn’t been lodged in my body. They’d had to clean the area of silver residue, but I didn’t have to shift it out. Silver linings.
“Try not to move too much,” I heard Zoey murmur.
I opened my eyes, immediately wincing at the glaring fluorescent lights.
“Shit, sorry!” Zoey jumped up and quickly dimmed the lights. “Is that better?”
I nodded. Reaching up, I wiped away the tears that had started falling down her face. She leaned into my touch, her skin warm against my palm.
“It’s over now,” I said. “It’s all over.”
She nodded, more tears spilling down her face. “I was so scared. I thought... I really thought I was going to lose.”
“I know. I’m sorry for scaring you like that.” I brushed my thumb across her cheek. “But George is dead. He can’t hurt you anymore. Can’t hurt either of us.”
Zoey let out a shaky breath. “I still can’t believe it. After all this time living in fear...” She shook her head in disbelief.
I knew exactly how she felt. The constant looking over our shoulders, never knowing when he might show up to torment us again. But now, we were free.
