40. Noah
NOAH
T he shrill ring of my cell phone jolted me awake. I fumbled for it on the nightstand, peering at the bright screen through half-open eyes.
“Hello?” I rasped.
“Mr. Alexander? This is ADT Security. We’ve received an alarm at your gym on Main Street. The police are en route.”
I bolted upright. “What happened?”
“It appears there was a break-in, sir. The external door sensor was tripped.”
“Okay, thanks. I’ll be right there.” I hung up, already throwing the covers off.
My phone rang again as I pulled on my jeans. This time, it was Kyler.
“Bro, we got trouble at the gym,” he said as soon as I picked up. “Cops just called, said it was vandalized.”
“Fuck. The security company called me. I’m heading over now.”
Zoey stirred beside me, her dark hair fanned out on the pillow. “Noah? What’s going on?”
I put a hand on her shoulder. “There was a break-in at the gym. I have to go check it out. You and Ro stay here, okay? Keep the doors locked.”
Her hazel eyes went wide with fear, no doubt remembering George’s threat. “Are you sure? We can come with you.”
“No, you’ll be safer here. I’ll call Lance to come keep an eye on things.”
I could tell she wanted to argue, but finally she nodded. “Okay. Be careful.”
“I will. Try to get some more sleep.” I kissed her forehead before grabbing my keys and wallet.
In the hallway, I paused outside Ro’s room. The kid was sitting up in bed, rubbing his eyes. “Noah? What’s happening?”
“Nothing you need to worry about, buddy. Something came up at work that I have to go deal with. Your mom’s here, all right? I’ll be back soon.”
He mumbled a “’kay” before flopping back on the pillow. With a last glance at him, I pulled his door halfway shut.
Downstairs, I called Lance as I shrugged into my jacket. He picked up on the second ring, sounding completely alert despite the hour.
“Lance, hate to do this to you, but I need you at my place ASAP. The gym got hit, and I gotta go deal with it. Can you come keep an eye on Zoey and Ro for me?”
“On my way, boss. Be there in ten.”
No complaints, not even a sigh. Just immediate action. I wasn’t used to that kind of loyalty yet or having people at my beck and call. But man, was I grateful for it right now.
“Thanks, man. I owe you one.”
“Just doing my job, Alpha. See you in a few.”
I waited on the front porch until Lance’s SUV pulled up, engine purring. The sandy-haired shifter hopped out and jogged up the walk.
“Appreciate you coming so fast.” I clapped him on the shoulder. “Zoey and Ro are still pretty rattled after that asshole George’s threat yesterday.”
Lance’s eyes flashed amber in the porch light. “Don’t you worry, Alpha. No one’s getting past me. I’ll keep them safe.”
I looked him in the eye, seeing nothing but steadfast resolve there. “I know. Thanks.”
With a final nod, I jumped into my truck. A break-in at my new business, death threats against my mate and her kid... being alpha was turning out to be a real clusterfuck so far. I hoped to God it wouldn’t get any worse tonight.
When I pulled up to the gym, red and blue lights were flashing. Two cop cars and Kyler’s silver Range Rover sat in the parking lot. I slammed the truck into park and jumped out, blood boiling.
Shattered glass glittered on the sidewalk from the busted front window. Graffiti tags slashed across the brick facade. The stench of strange wolves hung heavy in the air.
“What the fuck,” I growled, fists clenching at my sides.
Kyler jogged over to meet me. “Thank God you’re here. It’s bad, man.”
I pushed past him and stalked into the gym, taking stock of the damage. Spray paint on the walls, cracked mirrors, boxing bags ripped open, and the stuffing spilling out. Months of hard work and investment trashed in minutes.
A snarl ripped from my throat before I could stop it. The cops glanced over warily.
“Noah Alexander?” A uniformed officer approached me, notepad in hand. “I’m Officer Briggs. Can you tell me anything about what happened here tonight?”
I scraped a hand over my face, trying to rein in my temper. “Not much to tell. I got a call from the security company around three a.m., saying the alarm was triggered. Came straight over and found... this.” I gestured at the wreckage.
“What about the security cameras? They catch anything?” Kyler cut in.
The cop flipped his notepad shut with a sigh. “We’ve reviewed the tapes, but we’ll look at them again if you give us copies and see if we can ID the suspects. Looks like they knew how to avoid the cameras for the most part, though.”
Of course they had. George was a smart bastard, I’d give him that much. He’d make sure his goons had left no trace.
As soon as the cops cleared out, I turned to Kyler, eyes flashing. “What I want to know is, how the hell did they get past our defenses? Past our men?” The question ate at my gut like acid. “You don’t think?—”
“No.” Kyler shook his head firmly. “None of your guys would turn. It’s gotta be an outsider.”
I barked out a harsh laugh. “Great. That’s fucking great.”
The bitter scent of my own fury mingled with the trash and piss stinking up my beautiful new gym. A gym now marred with the taunting marks of my enemies.
First, George had threatened my mate, now my business. He was trying to break me, destroy everything I’d built. And I’d be damned if I let him get away with it.
“All right. Let’s look at the security tapes,” I said through clenched teeth. “See what these fuckers’ faces look like. Someone in town has to know something.”
“On it.” Kyler strode toward the back office, all business now.
I stood alone in the wreckage, a wolf in the face of a coming storm. My instincts screamed at me to hunt down George, rip him apart, and protect what was mine.
But I had to be smart about this. I was the alpha now. My actions affected the whole pack. My pack.
I sucked in a long breath, held it, then let it out slowly. Patience. Control. I could do this.
George wanted a war, and he’d sure as fuck get one. But I’d be fighting it on my terms.
And God help anyone who got in my way.
I stalked into the office, my blood still boiling. Kyler was already pulling up the security footage on the monitors, his face a grim mask of concentration.
“There.” He jabbed a finger at the screen. “Three guys, it looks like. Fucking cowards, attacking when no one’s around.”
I leaned in, studying the grainy images. The vandals wore dark hoodies that obscured their faces. Nothing about them was familiar.
“I need to memorize these scents so I’ll know if I come across them again,” I said.
After the footage gave us nothing, we went back outside, where the cops were wrapping up. Their radios crackled to life. I froze, my shifter hearing picking up a familiar address. My address. Where Zoey and Ro were.
I whirled on the officer in front of me, my pulse hammering. “What’s going on? That’s my house.”
He blanched, taking a step back. “Sir, I... I can’t disclose?—”
“Bullshit,” I snarled, getting right in his face. “I fucking heard it. What happened? My mate and her kid are there.”
The cop swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. I could smell his fear, see my face reflected in his widened eyes. I looked barely human—more animal than man.
“I’m sorry, I truly can’t say more,” he said, but there was a telling tremor in his words.
Kyler grabbed my arm in a warning. I shook him off, a growl rumbling through my chest. The cop scrambled for his cruiser, tossing a terse “wait here” over his shoulder.
Like hell I would. I was already moving, long strides eating up the pavement. Kyler matched me step for step, not saying a word. He knew better than to get between a wolf and his imperiled mate.
My phone rang, the sound shrill and urgent. I had it to my ear in a heartbeat. “Zoey? What’s wrong?”
“Noah.” Her voice was high and thready with panic. “Someone tried to break in. The police are here, but Ro... God, Noah, something’s wrong with Ro!”
Ice flooded my veins even as my wolf surged closer to the surface, howling to protect what was ours.
“I’m on my way,” I said. “Just hold on, baby. I’m coming.”
I didn’t remember the drive, just the scream of tires and the red haze of fury and fear clouding my vision. I left the car door hanging open as I charged toward the house.
Cops swarmed the yard, the strobing lights painting the scene in nightmarish flashes of red and blue. It barely registered. All I could think was Zoey, Ro, danger, protect, defend...
I shouldered through the chaos, my sole focus the front door. I had to get to my family, had to keep them safe. Nothing else mattered. Not the guns trained on me, not the shouts ordering me to stop.
My wolf howled. My mate needed me. And God help anyone who stood in my way.
Warman intercepted me at the door, his face grim. “Noah, you need to calm down.”
I snarled, my wolf snapping at my fraying control. “Get out of my way.”
He grabbed my arm as I tried to push past. “Listen to me. Zoey’s scared enough without seeing you like this.”
His words penetrated the haze of rage and fear. Zoey. I had to hold it together for her, for Ro.
I sucked in a ragged breath, fighting for control. “What happened?”
“After you left for the gym, someone tried to break in. Lance got to him first, took him down with a stunner. He’s human, and he didn’t see the plainclothes watching the house.”
I glanced over to the man sitting in the back of a cruiser. I knew him—a low-level troublemaker from town. Fury ignited in my gut. He’d dared to threaten what was mine?
Warman’s grip on my arm tightened, pulling my focus back. “Noah, Zoey needs you calm and steady. For her sake, for the boy’s, you gotta keep your head.”
I closed my eyes, reaching for the place inside me where my human half and wolf existed in balance. I had to be the rock Zoey could lean on, the strength she could draw from.
Slowly, with effort, I reined in my rage and locked my wolf back in his cage.
I met Warman’s gaze. “I’m good. Take me to my family.”