32. Noah #3
“If you’re willing to work with me, I’d like to keep teaching at the gym part-time. I haven’t figured out all the details yet, but I’m sure we can find a way to bring the pack paperwork into the twenty-first century. Kicking and screaming, if necessary.”
A grin spread across Kyler’s face. “You know I’m always down to kick and scream with you, man.”
I chuckled. “I may not be able to work full-time, but I’m not giving up on the gym. It’s too important to me. To us.”
“We’ll make it work. Whatever it takes.” A look of confusion crossed his face. “Wait. I thought as alpha, you couldn’t have another job outside the pack. Isn’t that against the rules or something?”
I leaned back against the pillows and smiled smugly. “I’ve been checking into the pack charters and paperwork, and from what I can tell, there isn’t anything that explicitly says I can’t.”
Kyler cocked an eyebrow. “Really? So, you’re saying you can still run the gym while being alpha?”
I smiled. “I wouldn’t be able to leave town often. It wouldn’t be safe to leave the pack without an alpha for long periods. That could leave us open to takeover challenges from other alphas.”
“But there’s nothing stopping you from owning the gym and working with your clients part-time?” Kyler asked.
“Exactly. And because you’d be taking on so much more responsibility, I want you to come in as a partner rather than just my employee.”
Kyler’s eyes widened, a grin spreading across his face. “Partner? You serious?”
“Absolutely. You’ve been by my side through everything, Ky. I couldn’t do this without you, and I want you to have a stake in the gym’s success.”
As the words left my mouth, I realized just how much I meant them. Kyler had been more than just a friend and manager. He had been a constant source of support. A pillar of strength when I’d needed it most.
Before Kyler could reply, I held up a hand.
“But before we make anything official, I need to speak with the accountants and attorneys first. And it’s important that you consult with someone you trust before making any decisions.
I’ll get a contract drawn up, and if you’re still happy, then we can talk. ”
Kyler’s grin widened as he punched me in the shoulder. I instinctively brought my hands up, pulling on the stitches in my side and groaning in pain.
“Just because you’ve got a decent southpaw,” I said through gritted teeth, “doesn’t mean your kids will be better in the bout. Mine will wipe the floor with them.”
Kyler laughed. “Sorry, man. Got a bit carried away there. But seriously, I think we’ll make great partners. I’ve got some ideas for the gym, but I’ll wait until I see the paperwork. Wouldn’t want to be cheated by a sore loser.” He chuckled. “Pun intended.”
His laughter faded. “Listen, Noah, I meant what I said. If you ever need to talk, or if you think it would be helpful for Ro to speak to someone who’s been in a similar situation, I’m here for you. I’ve always got your back, and I’d be happy to talk to the kid.”
Kyler’s words struck a chord within me, and gratitude surged up inside me. He understood the challenges I faced. Not just as an alpha, but as a man trying to protect those he loved.
“Watching your mom getting knocked around isn’t easy,” he said. “It’s not something men talk about. We tend to stuff it down with the rest of our emotions—at least, that’s the way it is with humans. Maybe shifters are different, but either way, if you or Ro need me, I’m just a phone call away.”
“Thanks, Ky. That means a lot.”
We performed our signature handshake—a complex series of moves that had evolved over our years of friendship. As Kyler left the room, I leaned back against the pillows, the exhaustion of the day seeping into the very marrow of my bones.
The sterile scents of the hospital permeated my nostrils, making my head throb and my stomach churn.
I longed for the comfort of my own bed, the familiar smells of home, but I had to endure this a little longer.
The pain in my stomach flared, but I resisted the urge to call for more medication.
I didn’t like the way the drugs clouded my mind and dulled my senses.
It left me feeling disconnected from my own body.
As I closed my eyes, my thoughts drifted to Zoey and Roland.
I had been so focused on protecting them that I’d failed to consider the impact of their trauma from Roland’s perspective.
The idea of a father raising a hand against the mother of his child was so foreign to me, so utterly unthinkable, that I struggled to wrap my mind around it.
Zoey had her therapist to help her work through the emotional scars George’s abuse had inflicted on her, but as far as l knew, Roland had yet to speak to anyone about what he had witnessed over the years. A sharp pang of guilt speared my heart for not addressing it sooner.
I made a mental note to continue mentoring Roland in the boxing ring.
The kid had a natural talent, his footwork quick and his form impressive.
Perhaps I could use our training sessions as a form of therapy, make the ring a safe space for him to process his emotions and build his confidence.
And if he needed more support, I would talk to Zoey about finding him a professional to speak with.
Just as I was beginning to drift off, the sound of footsteps approached my bed. I cracked open an eye to see Chief Warman standing before me. Jesus, I was popular today.
“Noah,” he said, “I have all the statements I need. As a courtesy to you, being the pack’s alpha and all, I wanted to let you know that I’ll have a cop on Heather and Zoey at all times. They’ll be in plain clothes, keeping a low profile, but they’ll be there.”
“Thank you, Pete. I appreciate you looking out for them.”
Warman’s gaze held mine, a flicker of understanding passing between us. We both knew the lengths to which George might go to exact his revenge.
“I’m going to be blunt,” Peter said. “As the alpha, you need to step up your game in protecting your mate. She’s supposed to be under pack protection, isn’t she?”
His words were like a punch to the gut. I’d been getting shit from all sides lately, but he was right. I met his gaze, my resolve unwavering. “I can and will protect her. You have my word on that.”
His face brightened. “Glad to hear it. Make sure you do. That girl and her kid have been through the wringer. I’ve advised her to call that high-priced attorney you’re paying for, not that George James will pay a blind bit of notice.
People like him always think they’re above the law.
Still, it’s good to have it in black and white.
The more information we have on him, the better.
” Warman’s expression grew grim. “Since Zoey came in for the restraining order, I’ve been digging into George James.
I don’t like what I’ve found. Business competitors vanishing without a trace, a woman before Zoey who’s still alive but scared shitless at the mention of his name.
She said he has cops, government officials, and judges in his pocket.
I looked into her claims, and I’m certain she’s not lying. ”
My heart sank. The depth of George’s corruption and influence was staggering. But Warman wasn’t finished.
“I have a friend, a US marshal. He’s a good cop.
A clean cop. He knows of at least two dirty cops the IAB is investigating.
It seems when Zoey left George, it triggered the insanity he kept under wraps.
Now it’s all come to the surface. Business associates and people who feared him are coming out of the woodwork.
Apparently, he doesn’t have the money or the sanity to follow through on his threats.
Some of his former loyal men have left and are in hiding. They’re helping the police.”
I leaned forward, my interest piqued. “What else have you found out?”
Warman’s voice lowered. “George is all in on Zoey. Word is, he thinks she’s taken a file with names, dates, and information on where the bodies are buried.
Zoey is all he thinks about. He doesn’t give a shit about Roland.
He knows that targeting him, taking him, will get Zoey riled up.
My friend warned me that Zoey is at serious risk.
If we can’t protect her, he can get her into the witness protection program.
She probably knows more than she thinks and would be useful to them and the Feds for the case they’re building. ”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to protect them,” I said. “I won’t let George near them, even if it means putting myself in the line of fire.”
“I know you will. Keep me posted on any developments.”
When he left the room, I sank back against the pillows.
The doubts crept in slowly, insidiously, as I lay there in the hospital bed.
Was I really up for this? Could I truly protect Zoey and Roland from a man as dangerous and unhinged as George?
The thought of them being whisked away into witness protection, starting new somewhere far from here—far from me—made my chest ache.
I couldn’t help but be a little selfish. I wanted to keep them close, to be the one to look after them, to ensure their safety with my own two hands. But what if I couldn’t? What if, despite my best efforts, George still managed to get to them?
I shook my head, trying to clear the doubts. No, I couldn’t think like that. I was the alpha now, and it was my duty to protect my pack and my mate. I would find a way to take George down and make sure he never posed a threat to Zoey or Roland again.
My thoughts drifted to Zoey. Whenever George’s name was mentioned, her hazel eyes sparked with a mix of fear and determination.
She had been through so much already, had survived horrors I could barely imagine.
The thought of her being forced to uproot her life, to leave behind the tentative sense of safety she had found here, made my heart clench.
As a human, she wouldn’t feel the same soul-deep connection to me that I did to her. If she had to leave, she would move on, find happiness elsewhere. But for me, the thought of being separated from my fated mate was a physical ache. A wound that would never fully heal.
I clenched my fists, my resolve hardening. No, I wouldn’t let it come to that.
I closed my eyes, exhaustion tugging at the edges of my consciousness. Tomorrow, I would start putting plans in motion. I would reach out to my contacts, gather intel, do whatever it took to bring George to justice. But for now, I needed to rest and gather my strength for the battles ahead.
As I drifted off to sleep, my last thought was of Zoey and that smile that lit up her entire face.