Page 97 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
I’d barely slept the night before. Even after Zoey had whispered at me to go, I stayed, standing sentry until the next beta came to take over. I wouldn’t leave her alone. Not until her psychopath ex wasn’t a problem anymore. My hope lay with Margaret Cameron, the lawyer, and her reputation for getting women out of difficult situations.
I stood away from the gathered pack, my feet rooted to the ground, but my mind was miles away. The faces had blurred into a sea of concern and anticipation as they’d each come to offer me fealty. But all I could see was Zoey’s face, her eyes darting away from mine, her voice trembling as she pushed me away.
“Something’s not right,” I muttered, more to myself than anyone else. It took a moment before I realized Sam had sidled up beside me, his brow furrowed.
“You gonna be okay to do this?” he asked, nodding toward the expectant crowd.
“Zoey ended things between us to protect me,” I said, ignoring his question. “Either George got to her, or she’s trying to save me from her past.”
Sam’s eyes narrowed. “You think it’s that simple?”
“Doesn’t matter.” I shrugged. “It doesn’t change what I have to do.”
“What do you mean?” Sam asked. “Zoey may not be my blood, Noah, but she’s my daughter in every way that counts. If you think there’s a danger, you owe it to me to tell me.”
“George is a problem,” I grumbled. “That restraining order won’t hold him back. Not from Zoey, not from Ro.”
Sam’s jaw clenched. He knew the stakes as well as I did. “Then what’s your move?”
I could feel it, the power coursing through me, an affirmation from the wolf that he not only understood the gravity of our decision, but wanted it. “I take the oath,” I said. “Then I issue the challenge. After that, George is done.”
“Done?” Sam asked, but there was no need for elaboration. He saw the reality etched into my features. “Then you end this threat?” It wasn’t a question.
“Yes.” The rumble of my wolf vibrated against my rib cage, a primal agreement that echoed through my bones. “We kill George. And then… then I can make Zoey mine.”
The crowd hushed as my father raised his hand. Sam and a few others made their way to their seats.
Dad’s voice carried through the air. “We are gathered here on sacred ground to mark a momentous occasion,” he began, eyes sweeping across the sea of faces before locking on mine. The ceremony was as old as time, a rite that bound us all.
“Today,” he continued, “we embrace change. We honor the past and forge our future.”
He nodded to me, a silent beacon guiding me forward. I moved to stand beside him, the space around us empty save for the weight of expectation.
“Before we begin,” I said, “I want to speak of Nate.” Silence fell like a cloak. “My brother. My twin. This was his destiny. He should’ve been the one standing here.” I paused, gathering theshards of my composure. “His spirit lingers. He watches over us, and in his honor, I’ll take this role. For him, for us, I’ll be the alpha he would have been. I promise to uphold our traditions, protect our kin, and lead with the strength he showed in every aspect of his life.”
I could feel the presence of my wolf, supportive and fierce, lending me courage. “To Nate,” I finished. “Who guides us still.”
There were nods, murmurs of agreement, and the sensation of unity that always came when we remembered one of our own. When I looked at my mother, I saw her wiping at her cheeks with a tissue. She gave me a watery smile of approval.
“Let us proceed,” my father said, his voice softening as he gestured toward the ancient text from which I’d take my oath.
I hesitated for just a moment, glancing at the text before me, at the ancient words that would seal my commitment. The magnitude of my impending decision held me in place. There was no chance to change my mind.
Zoey’s face surfaced, her hazel eyes wide with fear. She deserved freedom, safety, and a life without looking over her shoulder. And our pack needed stability, a leader to guide them. For both their sakes, I couldn’t falter.
Drawing in a deep breath, I gazed at the people gathered before me. Their faces were expectant and anxious, all waiting for me to lead them into tomorrow.
Among the many familiar faces, I found Sam’s. He nodded solemnly, an unspoken understanding passing between us. But the space where Zoey, Ro, and Heather should have been was glaringly empty. A dull ache spread through my chest. The two most important people weren’t here to witness this moment.
Heather’s with her, I reminded myself and my wolf. Zoey wasn’t ready for the pack, for the raw emotions that clung to us like the ghost of a forgotten melody. Even though we’d only begun to scratch the surface of our feelings for each other, Iknew she was hurting. Distance was her refuge, and Heather would be her protector today.
Nonetheless, the absence of Zoey and Ro bothered me. It was a constant reminder of the void I longed to fill. I wasn’t Ro’s father, but somewhere deep down, I harbored the hope that one day I could fill that role. It fueled my next steps, solidifying the path I was about to take.
With determination steeling my spine, I turned back to the text, ready to embrace my fate as alpha. For them, for Zoey, for all of us.
The murmur of the pack hushed once more as I stood in front of the book and prepared to speak. My father’s eyes locked with mine, a silent transfer of responsibility before he stepped back, leaving me alone in the center.
“I vow to lead with strength and wisdom,” I intoned. “To protect our territory and our kind. To honor the legacy of those who came before me and pave the way for those who will follow.”
