Page 56 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
“Hey,” I said, holding up the bags in explanation.
“Hi.” She stepped aside to let me in. “I wasn’t expecting you.”
As she closed the door behind us, my mind churned with thoughts of George. He was like a storm cloud on the horizon, threatening everything I cared about. I had come here with the intention of telling her everything, of warning her about the danger lurking just out of sight. But there she stood, the tension easing from her shoulders as she caught a whiff of the food. She seemed lighter, almost carefree, and I couldn’t bring myself to cast a shadow over it. Maybe ignorance, at least for now, could be her bliss.
“Chinese food?” Zoey’s eyebrows lifted as I held up the bags, genuine surprise flickering across her face. “I was about to order something myself. Heather took Ro to give me some me time.”
“If you’d prefer to be alone, I can leave,” I offered.
She hesitated, biting her lip in a way that had me silently pleading she’d tell me to stay. “No, it’s... it’s okay,” she said. “I wouldn’t mind the company.”
Balancing the bags and a hopeful heart, I followed her into the kitchen. As she started to pull out the chopsticks, I noticed her hands trembled. Was it from nerves? Fear?
“Thanks for this, Noah.” She offered a cautious smile, and I caught a hint of the warmth I hoped would grow.
“It was no trouble,” I said.
“How was your day? Was the gym busy?”
“It wasn’t bad.” I had to be careful. I didn’t want to lie to her about George, but I didn’t want to have him ruin our evening, either. “I wasn’t there all day. I spent some time with my dad, so that was interesting.”
“Oh, what were you doing?” she asked, turning to face me.
“Just dealing with some pack stuff,” I answered. “What about you? How are you finding Boldercrest?”
“It’s wonderful. It’s so nice to be near my sister—and Sam, of course. Ro is loving the attention. He and Sam seem to be getting on like the proverbial house on fire.” Her face lit up as she spoke about her son. It was obvious she loved the kid and would do just about anything for him.
We settled on the couch with our cartons of food. The TV played some sitcom I didn’t pay much attention to. I discreetly watched her, analyzing every subtle change in her expression to gauge whether she was comfortable or merely putting on a brave face.
“Have you seen this one before?” I asked casually, nudging the volume down with the remote.
“A few times.” A small laugh escaped her as a character on the screen slipped on a banana peel. “It’s ridiculous but funny.”
I loved her laugh. I could listen to it until the end of time. Zoey’s guard seemed to inch down more with every passing minute, her hazel eyes lighting up and making them look like molten gold.
“Wait for it...” she said, pointing at the screen. On cue, another character delivered a punchline that had her throwing her head back in laughter.
I joined in, and for a moment, it felt like we were just two people enjoying each other’s company, the shadows of our pasts temporarily forgotten. I wanted to capture this feeling, to hold on to it for as long as possible.
“Your laugh is probably the best sound I’ve heard all day,” I said.
“Flatterer,” she teased, though her cheeks flushed with a rosy color.
“Guilty,” I admitted, meeting her gaze with a warm smile. Maybe, just maybe, this could be the start of something wonderful.
Zoey’s laughter faded as our gazes locked, and something in the air shifted. The TV show faded into the background.
“Noah.” Her whisper contained a mix of curiosity and an unmistakable trace of fear.
The sound clawed at my insides, compelling my wolf closer to the surface. I fought the impulse, took a deep breath, and steadied myself. “I’d cut off my own hand before I’d ever hurt you,” I told her.
Her gaze didn’t waver as she searched mine for the truth. I reached out slowly, giving her time to pull away if she wanted to. But she stayed still as I cradled her cheek, my thumb softly tracing the freckles that danced across her nose.
It felt like my heart was trying to escape my chest. It pounded so loudly, I was sure she could hear it. I leaned closer, watching for any sign of retreat. There was none. When my lips finally met hers, the world around us vanished, leaving nothing but the warmth of her mouth on mine.
14
ZOEY
