Page 88 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
“Because it’s not just about today or this fight. It’s about where you’re heading. You’re on the right path. Stick with it.”
She breathed out slowly, and I could tell she wasn’t going to let this setback keep her down.
“Marco, Lily, come here,” I called to two more who were standing off to the side. “Your sparring sessions are some of the best we’ve seen. You guys push each other to new heights. That’s what this is all about.” I smiled at them. “Keep that partnership strong. Next time, it could be both of you getting your names called.”
They had an entire conversation with each other in a single glance, then bumped fists. They were in it together, no matter what.
“This isn’t the end,” I stated, raising my voice so everyone could hear me. “It’s just a step. All of you are part of this team, and we need you to be ready when your time comes. So, we train harder, we learn, and we grow. Understood?”
“Understood!” came the chorus of replies.
“Good. Now, get back to work. We’ve got a title to win, and I want everyone in this gym to be part of that victory.”
As the kids dispersed, Ky leaned in and murmured, “You’ve got a real knack for this, Noah. They believe in you.”
“Thanks, man,” I said, watching as the future of the gym, our pack, got back to their grind. “But more importantly, they’re starting to believe in themselves.”
As I closedthe gym door behind me, a prickle danced up my spine. I paused, acutely aware of being watched by unseen eyes.
I sniffed the air, catching the scent of sweat and leather—not unusual for a gym, but this was different. It was mingled with something else, something wicked.
I heard the footsteps a fraction too late. I barely had time to react before a person dressed in all black materialized from the gym wall, followed swiftly by another figure emerging from behind a parked vehicle, their shoulders hunched and fists clenched.
“Really?” I muttered, stepping back into a defensive stance. “You’re trying this?”
The men didn’t speak, just advanced with the confidence of those who thought they had the upper hand. They didn’t know who I was, what I was capable of, or they wouldn’t have tried it. Not here. Not against me.
“Got your number now,” I said, slamming my fist into the first guy’s face. A quick jab to the gut, a cross to the cheek, my every move honed from years in the ring. My opponents swung wildly, desperately, but I was a storm they hadn’t prepared for.
“Ugh!” The impact knocked the wind out of the first guy, leaving him wheezing and doubled over. The other tried to recover, aiming for my head, but I sidestepped, driving my elbow into his ribs.
“Stay down,“ I growled, my chest heaving, anger boiling in my veins like a tempest. But they didn’t listen, or couldn’t, or were too stupid or too stubborn. I couldn’t decide.
I grabbed them by their collars, hoisting them up. “Who sent you?” I already knew the answer, but I wanted to hear them say it.
One coughed, struggling to find his voice. The other reached behind his back and pulled out a gun. Instinct took over, andI grabbed his arm. With a twist and a sharp yank, the weapon clattered to the ground, sliding away under a bench.
I was fucking seething. Releasing a fraction of my control, I showed them a glimpse of my power. “Nice try.” My grip tightened, bones creaking under my fingers. “Do you want to tell me who sent you, or am I supposed to guess?” I snarled, my wolf bleeding through as pure rage twisted my features. The man in my grasp squirmed, a pathetic attempt to escape the inevitable.
“George,” he gasped out. “George James.”
I fucking knew it. “What did he want?”
“Shoot you... then get the woman,” the other one croaked, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the concrete.
My wolf surged forth at the mention of Zoey, a primal growl rumbling in my chest. Unclaimed, she was vulnerable, and that made me dangerous—unpredictable. I fought for control, not willing to let the beast loose. Not yet.
“Zoey?” I barked, each syllable laced with venom.
The bloodied man sneered, spitting again. “No woman is worth this much fucking trouble, that weak bi?—”
I tightened my grip, my knuckles turning white. George had crossed a line by sending these goons after her, after us. It was a declaration of war, one I intended to finish.
“Who are you calling weak?” I roared, the fury boiling inside me blurring the lines between man and beast. My fist connected with his jaw, and I felt the bones in his face shatter.
A noise, barely a squeak, broke through the haze of red. But it was too late. The damage was done.
I turned to see Zoey standing in the parking lot, a container clutched in her hands, her face so white she could have been a ghost.
