Page 25 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
I helped Ro get dressed, then squeezed the swimming trunks out and rolled them into the towel. Ro’s shoulders slumped as we walked back to the car.
“Don’t worry, Ro. We’ll come back another time, I promise.”
He pumped his fist in the air and grinned.
I fumbledwith my keys at the front door, still a bit shaky from what had happened at the park. Roland stood beside me, gripping my hand.
“Mom, are we okay?” he asked quietly.
I pulled him into my arms. “Always, Ro. We’re home now. We’re safe,” I said, pushing the door open. The familiar scent of our little sanctuary wrapped around me, and I allowed myself a shallow breath of relief.
“Zoey? Ro? You guys back?” Sam called. He had a coffee stain on his tie, which made him look slightly disheveled in his work suit.
“Hey, Sam,” I said. “Thanks for coming by.”
“Of course.” His smile didn’t hide the concern etched in the lines on his face. “How’s my little champ?”
Roland shrugged, which said more than any words could.
“Something happened today, at the park,” I started, brushing a lock of hair behind my ear. “Kids were teasing him. He said they were saying things about me.” My hands tangled nervously at the hem of my shirt. “He tried to protect me and pushed a younger boy down.”
Sam was stoic, his face not betraying any emotion. He crouched in front of Roland. “Ro, could you get the unit we’re working on for the remote control car? My toolbox is in the living room.”
“Okay, Grandpa Sam.”
Sam waited until we heard Roland’s feet thundering up the stairs. “Zoey, you know what Ro is going through, right?” Sam spoke softly, but with an underlying firmness. “He’s not just any kid. He’s an alpha. And puberty is going to hit him hard. His emotions will be like a hurricane.”
“Is it supposed to be this intense? This early?” I asked, glancing at Roland, who was sitting on the floor in the living room and fidgeting with the toolbox.
“Normally, his father would guide him through this. Help him understand his strength, and his role.” He rubbed his jaw. “But given who his father is...”
“George would have broken him,” I said, the words sour on my tongue. “Or worse, turned him into a monster like himself.”
“Exactly. It’s a tough road ahead, for both of you. But you’re not alone in this.”
I met Sam’s gaze, finding comfort in his steady presence. Trusting him had never been a mistake. If he believed we could weather this storm, then maybe, just maybe, we could.
I chewed the inside of my cheek, and Sam leaned against the kitchen counter, watching as Ro opened the component with the screwdriver.
“Sam, what do you think about Noah Alexander?” I asked. “He... was at the park. Saw what happened and offered to help. He asked us to meet him at the gym later.”
“That’s a good idea,” Sam replied. “Noah’s a strong alpha, Zoey. Stronger than most realize. He had guidance. His father helped him control that strength. That makes a difference.”
“Guidance,” I echoed. “I suppose if you’re going to be the alpha, you would need a lot of that.”
“Noah was never supposed to be alpha.” He paused. “His twin brother was the one who was supposed to take over. He died in a car accident.”
A sharp, unexpected ache twisted inside me. “Died?” I gasped, my hand flying to my chest, where my heart thumped a frantic rhythm against my ribs. The thought of losing Heather, my vibrant and wild little sister, clawed at me with cold fingers.
“Two years ago,” Sam said. He understood loss, understood it in ways that made my own fears seem small.
“God, I can’t even imagine...” I trailed off, lost in the hollow space between my thoughts and the reality of such a tragedy.
Sam glanced toward Roland. “Noah’s dealing with a lot, but it speaks volumes about him, doesn’t it? To step in and offer to help Ro through this.”
“It does,” I said, though admitting it was like swallowing shards of glass.
“Look at him, Zoey.” Sam drew me back. He gestured subtly towards Roland, his expression somber. “There’s a strong power within that boy. It’s palpable.”
