34. Noah
NOAH
I sat in the wheelchair as the nurse pushed me through the sliding doors of the hospital entrance. The sun hit my face, warm and welcoming after days confined in a sterile room. My mom stood by her car, a relieved smile on her face.
“Ready to get out of here?” she asked, opening the passenger door.
“More than ready,” I replied, easing myself out of the wheelchair and into the car with a wince. My stitches pulled with each movement.
Mom walked around and got into the driver’s seat. As she started the engine, I glanced in the side mirror. A nondescript sedan pulled in behind us, followed by a black SUV. I recognized a few of my pack’s shifters in the SUV.
“They’re not exactly subtle, are they?” I said wryly.
Mom looked in the mirror and chuckled. “I don’t care about subtlety. I want you safe. That’s all that matters to me right now.”
“I know. And I appreciate it, I do. But you have to admit, it’s a little much.”
I gestured out the back window at the caravan of vehicles trailing us. It felt like overkill for the ride home from the hospital.
Mom’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “After what happened, I don’t think any precaution is too much. You nearly died. Do you have any idea what that would have done to your father and me? To the pack?”
Her voice was thick with emotion, and I instantly regretted my glib attitude. l knew how much my parents worried, how heavy the mantle of leadership was. The last thing I wanted was to add to their stress.
“You’re right, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make light of the situation.”
Mom took a deep breath and gave her shoulders a little shake. “I know you didn’t, honey. It’s just... we love you so much. The thought of losing you...”
She blinked back tears. I put my hand on her shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
“Hey, come on now. No more of that kind of talk,” I said. “Besides, this is nothing compared to what you used to go through when I was in the ring, remember?”
Mom let out a shaky laugh. “Oh, God, don’t remind me. I swear I aged a decade every time you stepped into that ring.”
“And what did you do before every match?” I grinned. “Come on, you can say it.”
She shook her head, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. “I prayed. Harder than I’ve ever prayed in my life.”
“Exactly. So, think of this as payback for all those years of you worrying about me getting my face bashed in.”
Mom swatted at my arm, chuckling despite herself. “Very funny. But I seem to remember you promised me you’d retire before you lost your pretty face. Clearly, that was a lie.”
I put a hand to my chest in mock offense. “Excuse me, I’ll have you know this is the face of a champion. Battle scars and all.”
We both laughed, and the tension in the car eased somewhat. It felt good to joke around, to pretend for a moment that things were normal again.
But as my rental home came into view, reality set back in. What was coming would be more challenging than any opponent I’d ever faced in the ring.
I squeezed Mom’s hand one more time before releasing it, then straightened in my seat. It was time to step into the role I’d been thrust into, a responsibility I’d never anticipated but now had to embrace and lead.
My phone buzzed with an incoming text. I glanced down, my pulse quickening when I saw Zoey’s name on the screen.
Zoey: Glad to hear you’re out of the hospital. When you’re up for it, I’d like to see you.
A wave of emotions washed over me—relief that she’d reached out, anticipation at the thought of being near her again, and a twinge of nerves.
Me: I’d like that too. Let me know when and where.
Hitting send, I stared at the phone, wishing I could hear her voice. Smell her scent. Feel her heartbeat. My wolf was desperate to claim his mate, to mark her as ours.
But I had to be patient. Rushing Zoey would only push her away. She’d been through so much already, and I didn’t want to be another source of fear or stress in her life.
Zoey needed to know she could trust me, as a man and as a wolf. That I would never let any harm come to her, from George or anyone else.
Tucking the phone away, I let out a slow breath. One step at a time. For now, I needed to focus on strengthening the pack and tracking down that sadistic bastard. Then, when the dust settled, I would win my mate’s heart.
My father’s car was already in the driveway. I sighed, not looking forward to the inevitable confrontation. But it had to happen. I needed to establish my authority as alpha, even with my own father.
“Thanks for the ride.” I leaned over to give my mom a quick kiss on the cheek before opening the car door. “I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Remember what I said. Be firm but respectful. He’s still your father.”
“I know.” I shut the door and watched her drive off, the police escort trailing behind. Then, squaring my shoulders, I went into my home.
Inside, I found my father pacing the living room. He looked up as I entered, his expression unreadable. “Noah. We need to talk.”
“I agree. But there are a few things I need to make clear first.” I moved farther into the room, keeping my posture relaxed but assertive.
“I am the alpha now. That means my word is law. I appreciate your counsel, but ultimately, final decisions rest with me. Including how to handle the George situation and what to tell the pack.”
He frowned. “About that. I’ve called a pack meeting for this afternoon. We need to address their concerns and put an end to the gossip.”
Goddamn it. I knew he’d pull some shit like this. “And you didn’t think to run this by me first? I’m the one who should be calling pack meetings, not you.”
“I was only trying to help. The pack is unsettled. They need reassurance.”
“Which I will provide, on my terms.” I took a step closer. “You’re the one who called me back, remember? You made me give up my boxing career, a life I loved, because you said the pack needed me. That you couldn’t lead them anymore.”
He bristled. “I remember. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have a say?—”
“It means exactly that. You can’t have it both ways. Either I’m the alpha, or I’m not. There’s no in-between.” I softened my tone slightly. “Dad, I know you’re trying to help, but you need to trust that I can handle this. That I’ll do what’s best for the pack.”
His shoulders sagged, the fight draining out of him. “I do trust you. More than you realize. I’ve had a hard time stepping back… letting go.”
“I get that. But it’s time. Past time.” I gripped his shoulder. “I need you to step back and let me lead. The same way you would have done for Nate.”
He froze, staring at me.
I met my father’s gaze squarely. “You think the wrong son died, don’t you?” The words tasted bitter on my tongue. “That it should have been me instead of Nate.”
His brows shot up, eyes widening in shock and lips parting. I’d never seen him look so stunned. So hurt .
“Noah...” He shook his head. “I have never, not once , thought that. How could you even believe...?” He dragged a hand down his face.
I crossed my arms and waited.
“Nate and I were close, I won’t deny that.
We bonded over him being the future alpha.
But that doesn’t mean I loved you any less.
Or that I would ever wish...” He swallowed hard.
“I grieved for your brother. I still do. But if I lost you, too… Noah, I shouldn’t have ever lost either of you. I’d never wish you dead.”
He glanced away, blinking rapidly. When he looked back, his expression was raw, vulnerable in a way I’d never seen. “You and your brother... you’re everything to your mother and me. So don’t you dare think, even for a second, that we’d rather have you dead.”
My throat closed up. My chest ached. I wanted to believe him. Needed to believe him. “But you were pushing me to take the oath, only then to regret it and trying to orchestrate everything behind the scenes.”
“I was against it because it seemed every decision you were making put you further into the crosshairs of that crazy bastard. I didn’t want to lose you, too.
Not because I didn’t believe in you.” He stepped closer and clasped my shoulders.
“You’re my son. And I am so damn proud of the man you’ve become. The alpha you’ll be.”
I reined in my emotions and blew out a shuddering breath. “Thank you, Dad. That means a lot.”
“I mean it.” He squeezed my shoulders once more before letting go and stepping back. “And I promise, from now on, I’ll do my best to support you. No more second-guessing.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” I said with a half-smile.
He returned my smile, and the tension between us dissolved. “As for the pack meeting, that’s up to you now. You’re the alpha. I’ll follow your lead.”
After he left, I pulled out my phone and sent a mass text to the pack, confirming that there would indeed be a meeting at the alpha house this afternoon, where I would address them.
It wouldn’t be easy to tell them about George.
They’d have questions, concerns. Perhaps there would even be some anger and blame.
But hiding the truth was not an option. It was time to step up, come clean with my pack, and figure out our next move. Together.
My thumb hovered over Zoey’s name in my contacts. I wanted to talk to her, hear her voice, if only for a moment. It would soothe my nerves.
In the end, I resisted the urge. She had enough to worry about right now without me adding to it.
I checked the time. I still had a few hours before I needed to meet the pack at the alpha house.
Restless energy thrummed through my body, urging me to move, to run.
The tug in my stomach reminded me of the wound on my side.
Then I chuckled as I remembered the doctor’s exasperated expression when he’d fielded my mother’s questions.
He’d assured her that shifting would not only be safe but beneficial.