Page 205 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
I tugged her closer, ignoring the stab of pain in my chest. She carefully curled up next to me on the narrow hospital bed, resting her head on my shoulder. I pressed a kiss to her hair.
“I love you,” I said. “We’re going to be okay now. I promise.”
She squeezed my hand. “I love you, too. So much.”
George was dead. Zoey and I had our whole lives ahead of us. And I planned to spend every moment showing her just how loved and cherished she truly was.
A knock sounded at the door before it swung open. Chief Warman strode in with a detective I didn’t recognize trailing behind him.
“Noah, how are you feeling?” Warman asked.
“Like I got shot.” That earned me a snort from Zoey. More seriously, I said, “I’ll be all right. Takes more than a bullet to keep me down.”
Warman smiled briefly before his expression turned grim. “I know you need to rest, but Detective Simmons has some questions about what happened.” He nodded to the man beside him.
I sighed. I’d expected this, but I wasn’t looking forward to reliving the evening. Still, cooperating was the quickest way to put this all behind us.
I steeled myself. “Go ahead, Detective. What do you need to know?”
Simmons flipped open a notepad. “Can you walk me through the events leading up to the shooting?”
Taking a deep breath, I recounted everything that had occurred before today—from George showing up at the house and threatening Zoey, to the violent struggle that followed, to the moment I pulled the trigger, so to speak, to save our lives.
The detective scribbled notes as I spoke. When I finished, he looked up. “It sounds like this stemmed from a territory dispute, would you agree?”
I chose my words carefully. “George refused to accept that I was the new alpha. He wanted to maintain control through fear and intimidation. This was his last desperate attempt to assert dominance.”
“But you stopped him,” Warman said with pride and respect. “You protected your mate and your pack.”
“I did what I had to do.” My gaze found Zoey’s, and I squeezed her hand. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
Simmons closed his notepad with a snap. “I think I have everything I need for now. We’ll be in touch if we require any further information.”
Zoey and I both watched as the detective made his exit. Once he was gone, Warman turned to us.
“Noah, I want you to know that we’ll handle all the necessary arrangements from here. The cleanup, George’s body, the paperwork—leave it to us. You two have been through enough.”
Gratitude washed over me. “Thank you. For everything.”
“I’m just glad it’s over,” Zoey said quietly.
Warman smiled at us both. “You’re free now. Free to live your lives without fear or manipulation.” He placed a hand on my shoulder. “I’m proud of you. You’ve proven yourself to be a strong and capable leader.”
His words meant more to me than I could express. For so long, I’d doubted myself, questioned my ability to be the alpha my pack needed. But hearing Warman’s praise, seeing the love and trust in Zoey’s eyes... I finally started to believe in myself.
“Thank you,” I managed. “I couldn’t have done it without the support of the pack, without Zoey.”
Warman nodded in understanding. “You two make a formidable team. The future of your pack is bright. Get some rest, both of you. You’ve earned it.”
As the door closed behind him, I pulled Zoey into my arms, mindful of my healing wound. She melted against me, her head finding the crook of my neck.
We stayed like that, holding each other, breathing each other in. There was still so much to do, so much to rebuild. But for now, in this quiet moment of peace and connection, I allowed myself to believe that everything really would be okay.
I squintedagainst the bright midday sun as Dad’s truck pulled up to the house, the backseat overflowing with colorful balloons, plush teddy bears, and “Get Well Soon” cards. My chest still ached with each breath, a constant reminder of how close I’d come to losing everything.
As I climbed out of the passenger seat, a soft gasp escaped my lips. There, gathered on the front lawn, was my entire pack, from the youngest pups to the most seasoned elders. My breath hitched at the sight of their smiling faces, their eyes shining with a mix of relief and joy.
Mom stepped forward, her arms outstretched. “They all wanted to be here to welcome their alpha back home,” she said softly.
