Page 66 of My Shy Alpha

But Noah sits on his haunches, thumping his tail softly on the ground. When I said no one else is allowed in, I meant besides you and me, sweet Omega. This is yours now, too.

“Noah, this is...” My eyes water, although I can’t place why. As I take my first step inside, my spine alights with warmth despite the chilled, damp air. “It smells like you. I love it.”

Noah stands, his tail wagging harder. He does a few circles before slinking to the ground, leaving an obvious space for me against him.

But I can’t bring myself to sit. How am I going to tell him about my dad?

Noah whines, easing back to his feet. As he nudges my cheek, my fingers disappear into his fluffy head.

Talk to me. I can handle it, he mindlinks.

I swallow hard, wanting to believe him, but I know this will be a painful conversation, no matter what. For both of us.

But Noah nudges me again. His vibrant, golden irises are piercingly serious, and I know I have to share the truth eventually.

“I realized we’re not on the same page about our dads’ deaths, and I don’t even have all the information,” I say.

Delicately nuzzling me, Noah slinks around me with soft whines. His earnest cries make my eyes sting hot.

It sounds like you know more than I realized too, he mindlinks. How did your dad pass?

I shiver, terrified of this conversation. Noah misunderstands my quivering as being cold and huddles closer.

“Noah, I’m so sorry you understand this pain so well. Amy told me my dad was in your pack, which I had no idea existed. Not only that, but...” I grip my dress. “She explained they were more than just best friends. My dad was also Alpha Ritchie’s Beta, which is why they hunted together and passed away on the job. That a hunter mistook them as targets... supposedly.”

His huge wolf eyes gaze deep into mine.

“I don’t know how you and I never met. My dad was Takahiro Matsuoka.”

Our bond ripples and shifts, aching so badly that I wince. Noah tenses, pulling back from me, and my stomach flips. I jump to my feet as if he’s tearing my heart out with him.

“A-are you leaving me?”

He freezes, his snout puffing dirt around me with his heaving breath. N-no. Please don’t keep thinking that about me.

Guilt stabs my gut. He’s right; I keep assuming the worst based on past relationships. But I also get the feeling Noah runs away to cope.

I’m not leaving you, he mindlinks. But I don’t know how to live with the guilt.

“What do you mean? You’re not listening to your mom, are you?”

He slinks back, and I automatically chase him. He freezes again. She’s right. I should’ve been there. I’m so sorry. We never met because Takahiro never wanted you to live like us - fight for our lives like us, get shot like us... I should’ve seen it coming and protected you from having to lose him too. Goddess, I wasn’t there to protect you in so many ways now.

His massive wolf suddenly looks so small, curled into himself with one raised paw against his cheek - almost like he’s hiding from me.

I don’t know why, but I wanted to stay home that day on our usual perimeter check, and Takahiro went in my place. Fuck, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry...

I stumble forward, grasping Noah’s fur. It feels like if I don’t cling on, he could disappear. “You mean I could’ve lost my mate that day too? I would’ve truly been alone, forever?”

He whines even louder, bowing his head.

“I wasn’t there either, Noah. I took a pass on our weekly lunch date, so he left to see Ritchie early.”

Noah’s whine morphs into a soft howl that makes my entire body shiver. The second he does it, I burst into tears. He crawls on massive paws. One big black paw pad scoops me against his chest before Noah drapes his head over me.

I’m sorry. Even if I don’t deserve someone as sweet as you, I want to be your mate. Please don’t think otherwise. I don’t want to leave you.

“Please don’t, especially not because of this. I’d never blame you for someone else’s shot.”

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