Page 43 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
“Thanks!” He beamed, and I reminded him about the rules—no boxing without the mitts in front of him—as a particularly enthusiastic swing nearly hit a large man working on a weight bench.
Noah glanced over once more, offering a nod of approval to Ro before shooting me a look. Was it expectation? Anticipation? I couldn’t tell. But the small smirk was gone, replaced by something softer, more genuine. It threw me off balance, and suddenly, the piece of paper in my pocket felt like a promise.
“Zoey, what’s up?” Heather nudged me, her eyebrows raised in silent inquiry.
“Nothing,” I said too quickly. “Just... thinking.”
“About dinner?” she teased, and I could feel my cheeks flaming. Traitorous body.
I tucked my hair behind my ear. “Maybe.”
“Looks like someone’s got a date. Zoey and Noah sitting in a tree,” Heather sang with a teasing laugh.
“I don’t know about that,” I said, but even to my ears, it sounded like wishful denial. “It’s just to discuss Ro.”
“Come on.” Heather looped her arm through mine. “Let’s get Ro cleaned up, then you can get ready for your date.”
“It’s not a date,” I hissed, trying to convince myself more than her.
“Sure,” Heather said with a wink.
As we walked away, I stole one last glance at Noah. Uncertainty swirled inside me, mixing with a hint of something new. Something frighteningly like anticipation.
Oh, boy…
11
NOAH
Ihad taken extra care with my appearance tonight, selecting a crisp shirt I hoped would make the right impression. I’d set this whole thing up under the guise of needing to talk about Roland—which we would do—but I also wanted to spend time with Zoey. My wolf stirred impatiently within me, his desire to be near her intensifying with each passing moment.
“Keep it together,” I said to him, checking my reflection in the window one last time. Patience was key. Zoey’s past was a minefield, and if I wanted to be part of her future, I couldn’t rush things. Tonight was an opportunity to show her the man I was outside of the gym.
As I paced the sidewalk and watched the parking lot, I felt a growing sense of uncertainty. What if she’d changed her mind? What if she didn’t feel safe enough to come?
But then, I felt that unmistakable pull in my chest, and my wolf perked up, sensing her proximity before I even saw her pull into the parking lot.
My breath hitched. As Zoey got out of her car, it was like the first glimpse of dawn after a long, dark night. She wore a darkgreen dress that complemented her fair complexion and ebony hair.
I wasn’t one to judge women on their bodies—although, having assessed opponents in the ring, it gave me an instinct for stature and height. Now that I was looking closely at Zoey, she appeared underweight, and that pissed me and my wolf off. I had no doubt it wasn’t her own doing, but something her bastard ex had demanded of her.
I had to tamp down the anger, but I’d fix that. Make her feel comfortable in her own skin.
If she’d let me.
“Hey,” I said as she approached, noting the shyness in her steps. I wanted to put her at ease and prove that she had no reason to be scared in my presence.
The air between us felt charged, a silent energy that hummed and buzzed like an impending storm. I fought to keep my composure as my wolf snarled, eager for the closeness we both craved. I inhaled subtly, catching a whiff of something sweet—a scent that was unmistakably hers. It was subtle, the kind of fragrance you had to be close to notice. My wolf stirred restlessly, urging me to close the distance, to bury my nose in the crook of her neck and inhale her scent. But I held back.
Patience.
“Hi,” she said, tucking a strand of her ebony dark hair behind her ear. “I wasn’t sure what to wear. Heather helped me pick out a dress.”
“Heather chose well,” I said, offering her a smile that I hoped was both warm and comforting. “You look stunning, Zoey.”
A faint blush bloomed across her cheeks, the soft pink contrasting with her pale skin. She glanced down, then looked back up at me through her long lashes. The gesture was so endearing, it almost made me step forward. But I didn’t move. I couldn’t rush this. She’d been through too much.
“Thanks.” She held my eyes for a heartbeat longer before looking away. It was a small victory, but one I cherished.
