37. Zoey #2
I squeezed his hand again. “I think you should talk to your dad. Really talk to him about how you feel. He needs to know how much of an impact his actions have had on you.”
Noah’s brow furrowed. “I don’t know. We’ve never been good at talking about feelings.”
“I see good in your dad. I think he’ll listen if you’re honest with him. Noah, you were shot. You could have died. I fully believe your father would have carried so much guilt over the state of your relationship. There’s still time to mend things.”
He sighed, running his free hand through his hair. “I’m not so sure, but I’ll think about it. I promise.”
The waiter brought our meals, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics as we savored the delicious food. When the check arrived, Noah insisted on paying, dismissing my protests with a charming smile.
As we walked back to my car, Noah pulled me close, his arm wrapping around my waist. “I want you to come stay with me tomorrow night.”
My heart skipped a beat. “I don’t know if I’m ready to spend the night apart from Ro after everything that’s happened.”
“You’re more than welcome to bring him,” Noah said. “One of the pack members is hosting a dinner party. I think Ro would enjoy being around some of the other shifter kids.”
I grinned. It would be good for Ro to interact with children who understood his unique abilities. “That sounds like a great idea. Thank you.”
He captured my lips in a long, lingering kiss that left me breathless and tingling from head to toe. He growled—a low, possessive sound that ran right to my core.
Noah nuzzled my neck, his teeth grazing my sensitive skin. “One day,” he whispered, a promise and a prayer all in one.
I settled into the plush armchair, my fingers fidgeting with the hem of my shirt as I avoided meeting Elaine’s eyes.
“Zoey, in our last session, we talked about the importance of identifying the root of your trauma. Have you given any thought to where you believe it all began?” Elaine asked.
I swallowed hard as memories of my childhood flooded my mind. “I think it goes back to my mother and the things I witnessed as a kid. The way my father treated her. I never really dealt with it.”
Elaine nodded. “It’s not uncommon for childhood experiences to shape our emotional well-being as adults. Oftentimes, we carry that unresolved trauma with us, and it manifests in our relationships and the way we view ourselves.”
For the hundredth time in the last few days, tears burned my eyes. “I just... I never wanted to face it, you know? It was easier to pretend it didn’t happen.”
“That’s a natural response. But in order to heal, we need to confront those painful memories and work through them. It’s a difficult process, but it’s an essential step in your journey toward healing.”
I took a deep, shaky breath. “I know. It’s… it’s really difficult. I don’t even know where to begin.”
Elaine leaned forward slightly. “Have you ever considered having a conversation with your mother about your shared past? It could be an opportunity for both of you to gain closure and understanding.”
The thought of confronting my mother, of delving into the darkest corners of our history, sent a wave of anxiety coursing through my veins. “I... I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”
“It’s okay to take your time. This is your healing process, and you should move at a pace that is most comfortable for you. But I do believe that when you’re ready, having that conversation with your mother could be an important step in your journey.”
When we finished, I drove home from the therapy center, my mind heavy.
The thought of facing my mother, of delving into the pain of our shared past, drained all my energy.
As I pulled into the driveway, I considered calling Noah to cancel our plans for the evening.
All I wanted was to crawl into bed and shut out the world.
But then Ro came running out of the house, eyes bright with excitement. “Mom! Mom! Are we still going to Noah’s tonight? I can’t wait to meet the other shifter kids.”
His enthusiasm was contagious, and I found myself smiling despite my exhaustion. “Of course, sweetie. Let’s get you packed.”
As Ro raced to his room to gather his things, I pushed aside my own worries. I couldn’t let my son down, not when he was so looking forward to this.
Ro chattered my ears off on the drive to Noah’s place, and I sighed in relief when we arrived. I adored my son, but I was so emotionally exhausted that I barely heard a word he’d said. Noah’s warm smile also put me at ease.
“Hey, you two,” he greeted, pulling me into a gentle hug. “Come on in.”
Ro didn’t need to be told twice. He darted past Noah, heading straight for the guest room that Noah had transformed into a room just for Ro.
As I watched him go, I felt Noah’s gaze on me. I turned to him and saw the concern on his face. “Everything okay?” he asked softly, his hand finding mine.
I managed a small nod, but he saw right through me. “Just a tough therapy session.”
Noah pulled me against his chest and stroked my back. I sagged against him, listening to his heartbeat under my ear. He shuffled me to the couch, and I nestled against him. The words tumbled out as I told him about my therapy session and the realization that my trauma ran deeper than I’d thought.
“I think I need to talk to my mom.” I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt. “Really talk, you know? She said she has her own story, that it might help me understand and even help me heal.”
Noah covered my hand with his, stilling my restless movements. “Do you want to talk to her?”
I inhaled shakily. “I think I’m ready. I mean, I’ve been telling you to talk to your dad, right? I should probably take my own advice.”
“Actually,” he said, “why don’t I pay for your mom to come out here? That way, you two can talk in person, and I can be there for you.”
I shook my head, overwhelmed by his generosity. “Noah, you don’t have to do that. It’s too much.”
“I want to,” he said, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “Let me do this for you, please.”
I leaned in, capturing his lips in a soft, lingering kiss. “Thank you,” I whispered against his mouth. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
Noah sucked my lower lip between his teeth, his hands sliding into my hair as he pulled me closer. Heat bloomed between us, the air thick with want and need. I lost myself in his touch, in the way his body molded to mine, the rest of the world falling away.
A sudden giggle from down the hall had us springing apart, reality crashing back in. Ro. I’d almost forgotten he was here.
Noah groaned. “I’m sorry,” he said to me. “I didn’t mean to get carried away.”
I bit my lip, my skin still tingling from his touch. “It’s okay.” I put a hand to my chest, trying to calm my racing heart. “We’ll, uh, have to pick this up later.”
He grinned, a promise in his eyes. “Oh, I fully intend to make this up to you, Ms. Lester. You can count on that.”
We gathered Ro up and headed toward the alpha house.
When we got out of the car, Ro shifted his weight nervously from one foot to the other.
The excited chatter of children filled the air as we approached the pack gathering.
Ro’s hand clutched tightly in mine. I scanned the crowd, taking in the smiling faces and welcoming gestures directed our way.
“Zoey, Roland, I’m so glad you could make it,” Lola, one of the pack mothers, greeted us warmly, her hand resting on my arm. “The kids are going to love having a new playmate.”
I smiled, squeezing Ro’s hand. “Thank you for having us. It means a lot to be included.”
Ro pressed closer to my side, his green eyes wide as he took in the unfamiliar faces. I crouched down and rubbed his arms.
“Hey, buddy, why don’t you go play with the other kids? They look like they’re having a lot of fun.”
He hesitated, his gaze darting between me and the group of children running around the yard. “You’ll stay close?”
“I’ll be right here.” My heart clenched. “I promise.”
With a final glance back at me, Ro tentatively approached the other children. Within moments, they welcomed him into their game, laughing as they chased each other around the yard.
Noah slid his arm around my waist. “He’s going to be just fine,” he said. “They’ll look out for him.”
The tension slowly eased from my shoulders as I watched Ro’s face light up with joy. He looked so carefree, so unburdened from the trauma of our past. This was what I wanted for him—a chance to be a kid, to feel safe and loved.
As the evening wore on, I found myself drawn into conversations with various pack members. Their genuine interest in Ro’s and my well-being touched me deeply.
It struck me then, with startling clarity, that this was where we belonged.
This pack, this community, could be our home. A place where Ro could thrive, where I could heal and rebuild. It wouldn’t be easy, but now that I was surrounded by the warmth of these people, now that they seemed to accept me, I thought it would be worth the fight.
Noah’s hand found mine, our fingers intertwining. “You okay?” he asked softly, his blue eyes searching my face.
“Yeah,” I whispered, my gaze drifting back to Ro. His laughter echoed across the yard. “We’re going to be just fine.”