25. Noah
NOAH
T he dim morning light streaming in through the window of the alpha house cast a harsh glow on my parents’ faces. Mom sat, her arms wrapped around herself, while my father paced back and forth, his steps heavy with barely restrained anger, his wolf close to the surface.
I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, the bruise on my cheekbone throbbing.
“Unbelievable,” my father finally said, turning to face me.
The fury in his eyes had nothing to do with parental concern.
“George has crossed a line. He thinks he can challenge my authority? He’s proven he has no respect for our pack, our traditions.
We’ve always been a peaceful pack. We’ve never had a challenge on our records.
But George James has the nerve to do whatever he wants in my town, even after being warned. ”
My gut twisted. George’s actions were a slap in the face to our way of life. Centuries of peace threatened by one man’s arrogance. But something else nagged at me, a suspicion I couldn’t shake off.
“Are you angry on my behalf, or because he blatantly disregarded your rule?” I asked, watching his reaction closely.
He stopped pacing and fixed his gaze on me. “This is about the pack, Noah. About respect. Order.”
“Right.” I pushed away from the wall, frustration simmering beneath my skin. “Because that’s what this boils down to for you, right? His lack of respect? Not the fact that the bastard sent men here with a fucking gun to kill me and take my mate.”
Too late, I remembered my mom was in the room. I heard her whimper. She hadn’t taken the news of the attempt on my life well and insisted I stay at the alpha house under her roof. I’d agreed, too tired to argue.
Zoey’s haunted face never left my mind. That I’d caused even a moment of hurt to her was burning me up, fueling my anger.
Dad went to Mom and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Watch your tone,” he snapped at me. “You’re treading on dangerous ground. We need to fix this. If Zoey hadn’t?—”
“Don’t you dare blame Zoey. She didn’t ask for any of this.” I shook my head. “She didn’t come here on vacation; she came here for protection.”
“And she’s received it,” Dad said. “But if she hadn’t come to Boldercrest, George wouldn’t be an issue. I hate that protecting her has led us here.”
“Seriously?” White-hot rage flared within me. “You do regret it, then? Bringing her under the pack’s protection? You’re seriously going to blame her for that piece of shit hunting her down?”
My mother stood, eyes blazing as her worried gaze darted between my father and me. But when I shook my head, a silent plea for her not to intervene, the tempest stilled. She pressed her lips together in a tight line and huffed.
“Don’t you dare twist my words. I didn’t say I blamed Zoey.
” His voice rose to meet mine. “Integrity,” he barked.
“That’s what this is about. Be careful what you accuse me of, son.
You haven’t even got the spine to tell Zoey what she really is to you.
To claim her. If you claimed her, she’d be tainted goods to him. ”
“Claim her?” I repeated. “You make it sound like she’s some prize to be won!”
My father’s eyes were flinty, his jaw set in stone.
“Zoey’s safety is my priority,” I continued, feeling my unspoken oath pressing down on me. “Claiming her could be the spark that ignites George’s madness into a full-blown blaze. We can’t provoke him without thinking it through.”
“What has thinking done for us so far? We can’t just let this go!
George has threatened your mate. Sent men to kill you,” he seethed, his voice boiling over with anger.
“He was warned that any further attempts on Zoey or Roland wouldn’t be tolerated.
If we don’t respond, we’ll be seen as weak.
That will make us an easy target for other packs.
” He sighed, his shoulders slumping. “I know I said I’d challenge him, and his wolf didn’t feel that powerful. But…”
He stopped and searched my face for understanding.
“I know, I know. I can’t take on a challenge as your second.” I ran a hand through my hair, frustration coiling inside me like a spring.
My father wasn’t a young man. He’d called me back to Boldercrest because his alpha power was weakening. Pack laws dictated a challenge could only be fought by the alpha. Even though I was the heir, I couldn’t defend the pack and protect Zoey if I didn’t take the oath.
“Then do it!” Dad urged, stepping closer to me. “Take your place as the next alpha. It was always going to happen, Noah. This just moves everything forward.”
We were locked in a silent battle of wills, his expectations pressing down on me like a physical force. Silence stretched out, filled only by the sound of our ragged breaths.
George had proven he was a danger to not only Zoey and Roland, but to the entire pack. He needed to be dealt with, but legally I couldn’t kill George unless I issued a challenge. And to do that, I needed to be the alpha of Boldercrest.
“Without the oath, I’m powerless,” I muttered. It was the truth I’d been dancing around, the decision I’d hoped to delay.
“You’re not powerless, son.” There was a hardness in my father’s tone, one that brooked no argument. “But it’s time, Noah.”
“Time,” I echoed. My mouth dried as the heavy weight of the word settled in my stomach.
I roared in frustration, and my wolf stirred in agitation. I’d been backed into a corner, and whatever the logic, I hated it. But for Zoey, for her freedom, I’d do anything and everything.
I hung my head, a silent admission of defeat. Visions of a different life, one filled with the rhythmic cadence of gloves on bags and laughter echoing in my gym, faded into the reality of my birthright.
Through gritted teeth, I declared, “I’m ready to take my oath.” Bitter resignation coated every word.
“Good,” my father said. His heavy hand landed on my shoulder. “I’m proud of you.” For once, his words carried a warmth that should have thawed the chill in my bones.
But pride from a man who seemed more alpha than father didn’t warm me. It left a hollow echo where satisfaction should have been.
The afternoon flew by. Once I’d agreed to take the oath, my father had moved quickly with the preparations, and now I was standing in the middle of the garden at the alpha house, watching my father direct the others.
The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the bustling pack as they hurried to complete the preparations for tomorrow’s ceremony.
It felt like I was watching a movie of my own life playing out before my eyes. After tomorrow, it wouldn’t be my father who commanded the pack. It would be me. Was I truly ready to lead? The oath—my oath—was not merely a commitment to rule, but a tether that would bind me to the pack.
“Everything’s set,” my father said, pride flaring in his eyes.
“Thanks, Dad,” I mumbled, barely able to hide the tremor in my voice.
As I waited for Zoey to arrive, my anxiety ramped up. I hadn’t been sure whether to tell her before or to wait until after tomorrow’s pageantry. But my mother had pointed out that Heather and Sam would receive the news, so Zoey would find out either way.
I didn’t want her to hear about it from a third party—I needed to be the one to tell her—so I’d called her. It had been an awkward conversation with much left unsaid. Ro, with his shifter hearing, had overheard every word. It would be better to talk to her about what she’d seen in private.
I smiled as I thought about Ro. When he found out I was becoming alpha, he’d bombarded me with questions. It was easier to invite them both to the ceremony, and I promised him I’d answer all his questions. It was a lighthearted moment during a tough phone call.
First, I had to get Zoey to understand that what she’d seen last night wasn’t me. To my relief, she’d agreed to come to the alpha house to talk. I could hear she was still shaken, but she was willing to listen.
I’d explain the situation so she’d understand those bastards had come here to kill me and take her. It hadn’t been aggression on my part but protection. Last night, she hadn’t had all the information. All she’d seen was me, a trained fighter, beating the crap out of a guy who appeared defenseless.
And… I needed to tell her that she was my fated mate.
My wolf and I were united in our determination to keep her and Ro safe, to give them the peace they richly deserved.
The alpha oath came with the right to challenge George and put an end to his reign over her for good.
But that wasn’t all. The oath came with responsibilities—and the pack. Always the pack.
As my father had pointed out, I hadn’t even told her she was my fated mate.
If I claimed her, she’d be tied to the pack, to me, without a real choice to leave.
That wasn’t freedom. That wasn’t love. It would be another cage for her, and I cursed under my breath for not seeing it sooner. How could I have kept her in the dark?
But how could I tell her now, risk her running from me?
A tsunami of adrenaline washed through my veins, sending my heartbeat soaring. Each breath became harder than the last as my lungs constricted.
My father frowned at me. “Are you okay, son?”
I traced the raised, rough surface of my scar. I had to be reeking of panic, but if he was choosing to ignore it, so could I. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just thinking.”
“Good,” he said, clapping me on the shoulder before heading off to give some more orders.
I checked the time and realized Zoey would be arriving soon, so I went into the house to find my calm and wait for her arrival.
Just as I sank into a worn armchair in the lounge, the doorbell rang.
Zoey.
I rushed to the door and swung it open. Zoey stood on the porch, her purse clutched in her hands. Our eyes locked for a fleeting moment before she darted them away, her posture as jumpy as a cornered doe. I battled the temptation to pull her close, to give her comfort.
“Hey.” The word came out sounding more strained than I intended.
“Hi, Noah,” she said cautiously.
Inside, my wolf was in turmoil, pacing and snarling with impatience.
He didn’t understand hesitation or doubt.
To him, Zoey was ours—end of story. My human side, however, knew it wasn’t that simple.
She was more than a claim, more than an oath.
She was her own person with hopes and dreams. I couldn’t—wouldn’t—be the one to cage her like George had.
“Come in, please.”
I stepped aside to let her pass. The air between us was charged with tension. Gone were the comfortable exchanges, replaced by fleeting glances and overly polite gestures.
“Thanks,” she said, slipping by me with a wariness that made my chest tighten.
Once she was settled on the couch, I turned toward the kitchen. “Wine?” I called over my shoulder, hoping the normalcy would ease some of the tension between us.
“Sure.”
I took my time selecting a bottle, wanting to delay the inevitable conversation.
My hands were steady as I poured the dark red liquid into glasses, but inside, I was shaking.
I felt like I was unraveling. I was about to become alpha, and with that title came power and responsibility.
I couldn’t keep hiding the truth from her, not when it would change everything.
“Here we go,” I said, returning to the living room with the wine glasses.
“Thank you.” Zoey accepted the glass. Her fingers brushed against mine, sending a jolt of awareness through me.
I settled in next to her, close but not touching. Silence stretched between us, and I knew I had to break it. I took a deep breath, ready to lay bare the truths that could either bind us tighter or tear us apart.
“Are you okay?” she asked. Her concern surprised me. I hadn’t expected it after everything she’d seen behind the gym.
“Yesterday wasn’t the best day I’ve had,” I admitted. “No one was seriously hurt, and George’s idiots are with the police. Adds credence to your statement with Warman, and more evidence for your protection order.”
Her fingers twisted in her lap, a sure sign of her discomfort. “I’m sorry, Noah. I can’t help thinking that if you weren’t with me, George wouldn’t know anything about you. None of this would be happening to you.”
“George is the problem, not you.”
She shook her head. “Still, I’m causing issues for you and your pack. If you want to… to end this, I’d understand.”
“End this?” My pulse quickened as my frustration surged. “You think I want to end things with you?”
“Wouldn’t it be easier?” Her question carried a hint of defeat, as if she had already come to terms with the fact that I would abandon her because of the troubles her ex was causing. It fueled a growing anger inside me.
“Nothing about this is easy,” I snapped. “I’m sick of people assuming they know what’s best for me !”
My wolf let out a resounding roar, sparked by panic and the mounting pressure that had been building up throughout the day.
It had been a long time since I’d unleashed the full force of my power, but the locks that kept it contained shattered.
It carried the weight of resentment, desperation, and every other overwhelming emotion I had been grappling with.
Zoey flinched as the walls of the house shuddered under the force of my fury. I fought to regain control, but my wolf’s rage had been unleashed, clawing at the restraints I had so carefully put in place.
Above the sound of my own blood rushing in my ears, I heard a fearful whimper that had my anger dissipating in an instant.
“Fuck!” I gasped. My hands flew to my temples, pressing against them as if I could physically push the fierce energy back behind the walls I’d erected since my youth. The room was silent except for Zoey’s labored breathing.
“Zoey, I—” I faltered and went towards her.
She recoiled and scrambled backward on her hands, her reaction slicing through me like a sharp blade.
“Stay away,” she choked out, curling into herself.
“Zoey, please,” I begged, the desperation raw. I stopped in my tracks. She had every right to be horrified right now. I’d hoped she would never witness the true extent of my strength. God, I hated myself for giving her even an ounce of fear. “I didn’t mean to… you have to know I’d never hurt you.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks. “Whatever that was, that power... it’s terrifying.”
“Zoey, I’m so sorry,” I said, taking a hesitant step back. “You weren’t supposed to see that, or feel that.”
My heart clenched. The distance between us felt like miles now, a chasm widened by my lack of restraint. She’d seen all of me now, knew the danger I posed. Now I just had to hope she’d believe that I’d never use it against her.
I sat on the floor in front of her, yearning to touch her but restraining myself. “Take your time. I’m here, Zoey. Whenever you’re ready.”