45. Zoey #2
“You’re right, Mom,” she said. “You should have been there. She needed you... we both did. When you left, it felt like my whole world was crumbling. Like I wasn’t enough to make you stay.
” Heather’s hands curled into fists on the tabletop, her knuckles white.
“Do you have any idea how much that hurt? How much it still hurts? I was just a kid. A kid who needed her mother. But you were so wrapped up in your own pain, your own issues, that you didn’t even stop to think about what it would do to us. ”
I wanted to wrap my sister in my arms.
“I... I’m so sorry, Heather,” Mom replied. “I never meant to hurt you like that. I thought I was doing what was best for everyone. I thought?—”
“You thought wrong,” Heather said. “And it wasn’t just us you hurt. What about Dad? He loved you so much. He would have done anything for you. But you just... you just left him. Left us , and you took my sister with you.”
Mom swallowed hard. “I know. I know I hurt your dad. I hurt you. And I’ll regret that for the rest of my life. But at the time, I felt like I was poisoning everything I touched. Like I was this broken, damaged thing that would only bring pain to the people I loved.”
Heather shook her head, a single tear slipping down her cheek. “That’s not an excuse. You don’t get to just... just abandon your family because you’re hurting. That’s not how it works.”
“You’re right,” Mom agreed. “It’s not an excuse.
And I’m not trying to make excuses. I just..
. I want you to understand where I was coming from.
I want you to know that I never stopped loving you—any of you.
Even when I was at my lowest, even when I couldn’t bear to face myself.
.. I always loved you.” Mom leaned forward, one hand hovering hesitantly over mine, the other over Heather’s.
“I know I’ve made mistakes. So many mistakes.
I should have been there for you, Heather, because a girl needs her mother.
At the very least, I shouldn’t have taken your sister with me.
But I did, because she’s not a shifter, and I saw what pack life was like.
To me, as a human, it was the same as being controlled by Anthony.
Deep inside me, I know it isn’t true, but back then…
I couldn’t let Zoey grow up like that. It was different with you, Heather.
You belong in a pack. It’s your nature.” She shook her head.
“And you, Zoey, I should have protected you from George. I saw the signs, but I didn’t.
.. I just didn’t want to believe it. I didn’t want to think that I’d let you walk into the same kind of nightmare I’d lived through. ”
I bit my lip, the old pain and betrayal rising up in my chest. “But you did. You let me leave with him. You let me think that... that what he was doing to me was normal. That it was my fault.”
Mom’s face crumpled, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I know. I know, and I’m so sorry. I thought... I thought maybe it would be different for you. But I should have known better. I should have warned you, should have fought for you. The way I never fought for myself.”
I squeezed her hand, my vision blurring. “I don’t blame you. Not really. I know... I know how hard it is to break that cycle. How hard it is to see it when you’re in the middle of it. I just wish things had been different. For both of us.”
Mom nodded, her grip tightening on my hand. “Me too, baby. Me too. But we can’t change the past. All we can do is try to do better now. To be there for each other, to support each other. I want to do that. I want to be the mother you deserve. If... if you’ll let me.”
I felt a small, fragile hope bloom in my chest, nestled among the scars and the pain. “I want that, too. I really do. But it’s going to take time. For both of us.”
Mom smiled through her tears, and I saw a glimmer of the strong, loving mother I’d always longed for. “I know. But we have time. We have all the time in the world.”
“I’d like to have you more involved in my life and Ro’s life. He needs a grandmother. And I... I think I need my mom.”
Mom’s smile widened, even as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. “Oh. I’ve missed so much. So much. I promise I’m going to do everything I can to make it up to you. To Ro. To you, Heather. I know I can’t erase the past, but I can try to build a better future. With all of you.”
Emotion clogged my throat. For so long, I’d carried this anger, this resentment toward my mother. But sitting here, seeing her own pain and regrets, I realized that holding onto those feelings was not only hurting me, but both of us.
“I’m sorry, too, Mom,” I whispered. “For pushing you away. For not trying harder to understand.” I shook my head. “I was so scared of becoming like you and letting history repeat itself.”
She cupped my face. “You got out. You’re doing everything I couldn’t. And I am so, so proud of you.”
More tears escaped, but they were cleansing rather than bitter. “Thank you. That... that means a lot.”
Mom pulled Heather and me in close, hugging us both tightly. “I promise, girls. I’m going to be a better mother from now on. I can see now how much you both still need me. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long.”
I squeezed her back, feeling Heather’s arms tighten around us, too.
“We need each other,” Mom said. “All of us. We’re stronger together.”
“Absolutely,” Heather said. “No more running. From now on, we face things as a family.”
We stayed like that for a long time, holding each other, basking in the warmth of this newfound connection and unity we’d never really had before. It was strange and wonderful and a little terrifying all at the same time.
Finally, reluctantly, we pulled apart.
Heather glanced at her watch. “I should probably get you back to Noah’s.”
I nodded, wiping at my damp cheeks. “Yeah, Ro will be wondering where I am.”
We said goodbye, then headed out to Heather’s car. The drive back was quiet, but it was a comfortable silence with none of the tension I’d expected.
As Heather pulled up in front of Noah’s house, she gave me a small smile. “I’m really glad we did this, Zo. Talked to Mom.”
“Me too,” I said softly. “It feels... I don’t know. Like a weight’s been lifted, you know?”
“Definitely. I feel lighter than I have in years.”
“Do you think Mom will talk to Sam before she heads back home?”
Heather let out a long breath. “I don’t know. I hope so. I think they both need some closure, you know? But I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”
I made a noise of agreement as I glanced toward the front door. Noah and Roland—this new family we were building together—were waiting for me inside.
I undid my seatbelt and hugged my sister tightly. “Love you, Heath. Thanks for today.”
“Love you, too, Zo. Always. Now go on. Your boys are waiting for you.”
Smiling, I got out of the car, my heart full and my spirit lighter than it had been in a very long time. Things weren’t magically fixed. There was still work to do, still healing to be done.
The door flew open before I could even reach for the handle. Ro bounced on the balls of his feet, grinning up at me.
“Guess what? I had the best morning with Noah. He took me to watch the pack training, and it was so cool!”
I smiled as I stepped inside. “Yeah? Tell me all about it.”
“Everyone listens to Noah and does what he says. I think it’s awesome that he’s the alpha.”
Noah came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a dishtowel. “I’m glad you had fun, buddy. I enjoy my role, but it’s a big responsibility.”
Ro nodded solemnly. “I know. I want to have my own pack someday. Wouldn’t that be cool?” He paused, scuffing his foot against the floor. “I still want to keep boxing, too, though. Could I do that, Noah? Be an alpha and still box?”
Noah put his hand on my son’s shoulder. “Ro, you can do anything you set your mind to. If you want to lead a pack and be a boxer, then that’s exactly what you’ll do. I’ll support you, no matter what.”
Ro’s face lit up, and he threw his arms around Noah’s waist in a quick hug. “Thanks, Noah. You’re the best.”
My heart melted as I watched the easy affection between them. Ro was already looking to the future and envisioning Noah in it. The bond that had formed between them went beyond the here and now.
Noah caught my gaze. The look that passed between us said more than words ever could. It was a silent promise. A shared dream.
Ro dashed off to his room, his footsteps echoing down the hall. Noah crossed over to me, searching my face.
“How did it go with your mom?” he asked, brushing my hair out of my face.
I let out a shaky breath. “It was intense. She told me things about her past I never knew. The abuse she suffered, the fear she lived with.”
Noah brushed his thumb lightly over my skin. “I’m sorry you had to hear that. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been.”
I shook my head, blinking back tears. “I needed to hear it. I needed to understand why she made the choices she did. And it helped me realize something.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m not my mother. I don’t have to repeat her mistakes or let my past define me. I deserve better than what George put me through.” I lifted my gaze to meet Noah’s. “And I’m not going to run from this—from us —anymore.”
Hope and joy flared in Noah’s wide eyes. “Zoey, I?—”
I crushed my lips against his. Noah responded instantly, his arms winding around my waist and pulling me flush against him. I poured everything I felt into the kiss—my gratitude, my trust, my love.
When we finally broke apart, panting, Noah rested his forehead against mine. “I promise you, Zoey, I will never let you or Ro down. I’m in this for the long haul, no matter what comes our way. You’re my mate, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure you’re both happy and safe.”
Tears spilled down my cheeks, but for once, they were tears of joy. I still had a lot of healing to do, but with Noah by my side, I could face anything.
“I love you.” The words fell from my lips like a prayer.
Noah’s answering smile was blinding. “I love you, too.”
And as he drew me in for another kiss, I knew this was just the beginning of our forever.