34. Noah #2
I stepped out into the garden and let my human form melt away as fur rippled across my skin.
On four powerful legs, I sprinted into the forest, relishing the feel of the cool earth beneath my paws and the rush of the wind through my coat.
I rolled in the grass, my wolf desperate to rid us of the sterile hospital scent.
Without conscious thought, my paws carried me along the familiar path from my place to Heather’s.
I hadn’t planned to go there, but my wolf had his own ideas.
As I approached the house, I slowed my pace and melted into the shadows, my keen senses on alert for the police and shifter guards stationed nearby.
Annoyance prickled through me as I realized how close I’d managed to get without being noticed.
If a massive wolf like me could slip past their watch, then so could George.
I made a mental note to have a serious talk with the guards after the meeting.
This kind of lapse in vigilance was unacceptable.
I hid in the dense foliage and watched Heather’s house intently. Part of me hoped to catch a glimpse of Zoey or Roland to reassure myself that they were safe and sound. But as the minutes ticked by with no sign of them, disappointment seeped into my bones.
My wolf whined softly, yearning for their presence, for the comfort of their scent. But I couldn’t stay here forever. With a final, longing look at the house, I turned and began the trek back home, my mind already shifting to what awaited me at the pack meeting.
I ran through the forest, my paws pounding against the soft earth.
Once I reached my house, I shifted back to my human form, the familiar tingle of the change sweeping over my body.
The surgical incision had healed, thanks to the shift, but a dull ache still lingered in my abdominal muscles, a reminder of the damage George had inflicted.
Stepping into the bathroom, I turned on the shower.
As I waited for the water to heat up, I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror.
My gaze was drawn to the scar on my abdomen, a jagged line marring my skin.
I wasn’t a vain man, but the sight of it irritated me.
George had caught me off-guard, leaving his mark on my body.
But as much as I hated it, it was better that the scar was on me than on Zoey.
My thoughts drifted to Zoey, to the softness of her skin and the curves of her body. I imagined tracing my fingers along her smooth flesh, feeling her shiver beneath my touch. Heat stirred within me, and I stepped into the shower, letting the warm water cascade over my body.
As I washed off the scent of the hospital and the forest, I wrapped my hand around my hardening length. I stroked myself slowly, images of Zoey filling my mind. The way she looked at me with those big, trusting eyes. The gasps and moans she made when I touched her just right.
My hand moved faster, my breath coming in short pants as I chased my release. It didn’t take long before I came, Zoey’s name falling from my lips in a low groan.
As the last waves of pleasure ebbed away, I quickly finished my shower and glanced at the clock. I cursed under my breath. Fuck, I was going to be late for the pack meeting. Not exactly the impression I wanted to make as the new alpha.
I dressed in a hurry and rushed over to the alpha house. When I arrived, the pack members were already gathered and murmuring among themselves. My father stood off to the side and gave me an encouraging smile.
As I took my place at the front of the room, my father stared at me.
The words we’d exchanged earlier echoed in my mind, and l knew he was thinking about them as well.
But I couldn’t let that distract me now.
I had a pack to lead and a mate to protect.
With a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and began the meeting, determined to prove myself as the alpha my pack needed me to be.
I cleared my throat, ready to address the pack, when a voice called out from the crowd.
“Alpha Noah, we heard you got shot. Is that true?”
Silence fell as everyone trained their attention on me. I glanced at my father, catching the embarrassed look on his face. Yeah, gossip had spread.
I hesitated for a moment, deliberating whether to follow my father’s advice about keeping quiet. But as I looked out at the faces of my pack, I knew I couldn’t keep them in the dark.
“Yes, it’s true,” I said. “A shifter, George James, shot me. He is Zoey Lester’s ex-partner.”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, and I could see the concern etched on their faces.
“Zoey is?—”
I stopped myself. Blurting out our connection to the entire pack wouldn’t be right when I hadn’t told her yet. I’d already proven gossip spread faster than melted butter, and I didn’t want to risk it. I couldn’t let anyone else inform her she was my fated mate.
At my silence, pack members began to cast bewildered glances in my direction, then movement from the corner of my eye caught my attention, and I noticed my father moving forward. Determined not to derail my first official alpha meeting, I pushed aside thoughts of Zoey and changed course.
“Many of you know her as Samuel Crew’s stepdaughter, and that before my father retired, he gave Zoey the protection of our pack from her abusive ex-partner,” I said, my voice carrying over the murmuring crowd.
“George is a serious threat. His efforts to infiltrate the town and evade the police and shifter guards demonstrate a complete disregard for the lives of both humans and shifters. As your alpha, it’s my duty to protect not only her, but our entire pack from this threat. ”
I paused now, letting my words sink in. “I know some of you may have concerns about our involvement, but I strongly believe in honoring the vow my father made. His promise of safety to Zoey granted her the same protections as any member of our pack. We take care of our own.”
The room erupted, some expressing support, others voicing their doubts.
“Alpha Noah, shouldn’t we leave this to the human authorities?” one pack member asked.
I shook my head. “The human laws can only do so much. George is a shifter, which means he falls under our jurisdiction.”
More people chimed in, the majority expressing their agreement and appreciation for my honesty. Relief washed over me. My pack supported me, and I hadn’t been sure they would.
I raised my hands, signaling for quiet. They gradually settled, all eyes fixed on me.
“I understand your concerns. Believe me, I’ve considered them myself.
But we can’t forget that human laws, as important as they are, can only go so far in dealing with our kind.
” I chose my next words carefully. “Pack law exists for a reason. It gives us the flexibility to handle situations like this, to protect our own when the human world can’t.
By working alongside the police while also following our own traditions, we can ensure that justice is served and our pack remains safe. ”
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room, and the tension began to dissipate. I caught sight of a few skeptical faces, but the majority seemed to understand this was a pack matter.
“I promise you, I will do everything in my power to keep everyone safe,” I said.
“But I can’t do it alone. I need your support, your trust. I may be new to this position, but I am determined to earn the respect of each and every one of you to demonstrate that I am worthy of the alpha title.
George has evaded all my attempts to issue a challenge and has tried to circumvent shifter law by resorting to guns instead of tooth and claw.
I am no coward, and will face him alone if I have to, but if we confront this threat as a unified front, we will come out stronger and more resilient as a pack. ”
As I looked out at the sea of faces, I saw determination and loyalty reflected back at me. In that moment, I knew I’d made the right choice in being honest with my pack. They deserved the truth, and in return, they gave me their unwavering support.
With a final nod, I smiled. “Thank you all for coming today. Your presence and your words mean more to me than you know. Let’s move forward as one pack, united in our purpose.”
As the last of the pack members filed out of the room, my father approached me. He stood before me, his shoulders slightly hunched, and I could see his emotions pressing down on him.
“Noah, I owe you an apology. I was wrong to doubt your judgment and question your decision to be honest with the pack.”
I stood there, stunned. In all my years, I had never heard my father admit to being wrong, especially not to me. I could see the sadness in his eyes, a look that I wasn’t accustomed to seeing on his usually stoic face.
“I shouldn’t have tried to undermine your authority,” he said. “You are the alpha now, and it’s time for me to step back and trust in your leadership.”
A lump formed in my throat as I listened to his words. For so long, I had yearned for his approval, for him to believe in me. And now, here he was, offering it freely.
“Thank you, Dad,” I said. “That means a lot to me.”
A flicker of a smile crossed his face. “I want to be a help to you, Noah, not a hindrance. I want to support you as you navigate this new role and the challenges that come with it.”
I clasped his shoulder. “I appreciate that, more than you know. I’m going to need your guidance and your wisdom. But I also need you to trust me, to believe in my ability to lead this pack.”
“I do, son,” he said. “I have faith in you, and I promise to do better in showing that faith.”
I gave my father a solemn nod. As he walked away, his shoulders squared with a newfound sense of purpose, my mother came over and wrapped her arms around me.
“You did great, Noah,” she whispered. “l knew you had it in you.”
I returned her hug, drawing strength from her unwavering support. “Thanks. It means a lot to have you in my corner.”
She pulled back, her hands resting on my shoulders as she smiled at me. “Always, my son. Always.”
With a final squeeze, she released me and caught up with my father. Hand in hand, they walked to the kitchen. Warmth spread through me as I watched them. I wanted that. That enduring love and partnership.
As I turned to head out to my car, Mike and Lance walked up to me.
“Alpha Noah,” Lance said. “We wanted to speak with you about Zoey’s protection detail.”
“Go on.”
Mike stepped forward. “We want to volunteer our services and personally ensure her safety until George is found and dealt with. Taking me out the way he did, leaving me for dead... he’s a fucking lunatic, and that lass won’t be safe until he’s been dealt with.
I won’t let that bastard slip through again, Alpha. She’ll be safe with us.”
I considered their offer. Zoey’s safety was my top priority, and I knew Mike and Lance were two of the most trusted and capable pack members. George’s attack on Mike had apparently further fueled his commitment to keep Zoey protected.
“I appreciate your support and dedication,” I said. “I would be honored to have you both as Zoey’s personal guards.”
They nodded. “We won’t let you down, Alpha,” Mike said. “We’ll keep her safe, no matter what.”
As I shook their hands, sealing our agreement, I felt more relieved than I had in a long while. With Mike and Lance watching over Zoey, I could focus on the other pressing matters at hand. She’d be in good hands with them.
“Thank you, both of you,” I said. “Your loyalty and service to the pack, and to Zoey, will not be forgotten.”
As they departed, I allowed myself a moment to breathe. The pack meeting had gone better than I could have hoped.
I pulled out my phone, my fingers hovering over the screen for a moment before I typed out a message to Zoey.
Me: Hey, how are you?
Three dots appeared as she typed. The seconds seemed to stretch on, and I found myself holding my breath in anticipation.
Finally, her reply came through, though woefully short.
Zoey: Fine, you?
I grinned. It was so very Zoey, always keeping her cards close to her chest.
Me: I’m good. Would love to see you. Are you free?
Zoey: Unfortunately not. My babysitters have been called to some boring pack meeting by an overbearing alpha ;)
I laughed out loud, the tension in my shoulders easing. If she was joking with me, it meant she was feeling more at ease, more like herself.
Me: When are you free?
The three dots appeared again. I waited, my heart racing.
Zoey: If I work hard on my homework with no interruptions, I could fit you in after the self-defense class tomorrow night?
I leaned back in my chair, my mind wandering to the first time I’d met Zoey, when she’d come into the gym to sign up for the self-defense course. She’d been so nervous, so unsure of herself. But now she was standing tall, her confidence growing with each passing day.
I thought back to the night she’d stood in my kitchen, her eyes shining with excitement because she’d been accepted into a computer programming course. It was hard to believe that had only been a few weeks ago. So much had happened, so much had changed.
I typed out my response, a smile playing at the corners of my mouth.
Noah: Work hard. See you tomorrow.
Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.