Page 95 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
“Zoey, you can’t…” I could hear the plea, but before he went any further, I raised my hand to stop him.
“I’m sorry, Noah, I’ve made up my mind. This is how it has to be.”
I could see the struggle in his face, the instinct to fight for what he wanted clashing with his respect for my choice. But deep down, we both knew that this was the only way.
With that, I turned away from him, from the possibility of what could have been, and braced myself for the battle ahead.
“Zoey.”
My name escaped his lips like a whip in the silence, and I stopped in my tracks. I couldn’t bring myself to turn around. I knew that if I saw his face, my resolve would shatter.
“I won’t let you or Roland down. I’ll be here when you’re ready. And my promise to you, to be there for Roland’s first shift... it stands. Regardless of what happens with us. Don’t let my lack of control get in the way of what he needs. If you’d prefer, I’ll have Ky take over his training. But he needs it. I wasn’t lying about that.”
I caught the faint sound of his feet shuffling, a quiet hint that he wanted to close the distance between us. A part of me screamed at him to do just that, to wrap me in those arms that promised safety. To never let me go. But I had to ignore that desperate yearning. I had to ignore it for Noah’s safety.
“Thank you for looking out for us,” I said. The words fell flat, a feeble attempt to express gratitude, an inadequate offering for all he’d done.
There was a tension-filled pause, and I could sense the internal battle, the struggle not to follow his protective instincts. I took a deep breath, steeling myself against the waves of doubt crashing over me.
“Goodbye,” I whispered.
Without looking back, I ventured out into the cool night, leaving behind the man who could be both my salvation and my undoing. My heart pounded in my chest, its painful rhythm serving as a constant, haunting reminder of the mistake I feared I had committed.
I walked home. The alpha house was only a few blocks from Heather’s, and I’d needed the time to gather my thoughts on the way here. Driving would have made the trip so much shorter, and I knew I had men shadowing me. The streetlights tossed long shadows on the pavement. I kept my head down, my jaw clenched so tight, I thought my teeth might crack. No tears spilled over, but it felt like I was trying to swallow a boulder.
It hurt. God, it hurt leaving Noah behind with nothing more than a whispered goodbye.
“Zoey, you okay?” someone called out as I passed by.
“Yeah,” I muttered without looking up and quickened my pace.
My hands were shaking by the time I reached Heather’s front door. I fumbled with the keys before I managed to get inside. The silence of the house wrapped around me, suffocating and heavy. Noah deserved a partner who was whole, not someone still picking up the shattered pieces of herself. He didn’t need my baggage, my fears, and my past clawing at his life.
I’d done the right thing. I had to believe that.
I leaned against the kitchen counter, my fingers tracing the cold marble as I thought about Ro. He was so excited about his first shift, and I didn’t want my mess to ruin that for him. Noah had promised to be there for him, to guide him through it, and even to keep training him at the gym. It was a relief, a small mercy amid the turmoil of our parting. Noah saw something in Ro, something worth nurturing, and he wouldn’t let our failed relationship interfere with that.
I thought of how Noah’s voice had cracked when we said goodbye. His pain had been audible, raw, and unexpected. I’d never meant to hurt him, but the sound of his distress echoed in my thoughts, a haunting reminder of what I’d done. If I didn’t know better, I’d think I’d shattered his heart.
The realization that I might have caused him such pain without fully explaining why made my own chest tighten. He hadn’t fought me, hadn’t pressed for answers or begged me to stay. Instead, he’d accepted my decision with a grace that now seemed laced with hidden agony.
I picked up a cloth and began wiping the counters. The familiar scent of the cleaner did nothing to ease the ache. The sense of loss was too fresh, too profound. Noah and I were unfinished, a story with its last chapters ripped away, leaving only questions and the ghostly remnants of what could have been.
Heather found me there, scanning my face as I scrubbed the counters vigorously. The weight of the day felt like a leaden cloak draped over my shoulders, and when I saw her, the tears spilled out.
“Zoey, what happened?” Her voice was soft, but I could hear the steel beneath it, like she was ready to go to war for me. “I was helping get things ready for tomorrow when Angela said I should come home, but she didn’t say why.”
“Heather,” I choked out on a sob. “It’s Noah. I told him it’s over, that we couldn’t…” I trailed off as the tears I’d been holding back finally broke free.
“Come here.” She ushered me into the living room. “Did he tell you everything?” Heather’s question caught me off-guard, her gaze sharp.
“Everything?” I repeated. “He said he’d still help Ro, and that...” I faltered, my mind a jumble of thoughts and emotions.
“That idiot,” she muttered under her breath before sighing. “Sit down, Zoey.”
I obeyed, sinking into the couch as she took the chair across from me.
“Have you ever heard of fated mates?” Heather’s tone was gentle, but the term sent a ripple through me.
