Page 27 of Noah

The way his green eyes sparkled when he smiled, the subtle curve of his lips, the warmth that seemed to radiate from him—it all drew me in, captivating my attention like nothing else.

My wolf growled low in agreement, urging me to follow the pull, to pursue him.

Every fiber of my being yearned to be near him, to feel the connection that had been simmering beneath the surface since our paths crossed again.

But I couldn’t let desire cloud my judgment. Not yet.

I took a deep breath, forcing my wolf to calm down, to wait. As much as I wanted to indulge in the pull toward Noah, I knew I had to tread carefully.

“Jackson.”

My father’s voice cut through the noise in my head, pulling me from the tangled thoughts swirling around Noah.

He stepped up beside me, his expression a mix of frustration and concern, his shoulders tense.

“Walk with me,” he said, a command disguised as a request.

I followed him out of the dining hall. The hum of activity faded as we entered the quiet hallway, the distant murmur of voices replaced by the steady echo of our footsteps.

My father stopped near the windows, turning to face me.

“I need you to focus,” he began. “Hudson’s already caused enough trouble. Sleeping with a wolf from another pack—during a summit, no less. We can’t afford any more slip-ups.”

His words hit like a punch to the gut, and I clenched my jaw, guilt twisting inside me.

I hadn’t been present when he needed me the most, lost in my own world, consumed by thoughts of Noah.

The summit wasn’t just a meeting; it was a place to build alliances and attempt to reach some kind of agreement with hostile packs—one pack in particular: Adrian’s pack.

“I understand,” I said, the words thick on my tongue, heavy with regret.

“I need you to be the level-headed one, Jackson,” my father continued, his gaze steady, almost pleading. “Hudson might be reckless, but you…” He paused, his shoulders dropping slightly as he sighed. “I know I can count on you.”

“I won’t let you down,” I promised.

The weight of responsibility pressed down on me, a familiar burden. But even as I spoke, my thoughts began to drift, slipping back toward the dining hall. Back to Noah.

The pull was undeniable, a constant hum beneath my skin, urging me toward him.

My father studied me for a moment longer, his eyes searching for any sign of doubt, any crack in my resolve.

Satisfied, he gave me a curt nod and turned on his heel, heading back toward another part of the pack house, presumably to mingle with other alphas.

I watched him go, a mix of emotions swirling inside me—guilt, determination, and the undeniable ache of wanting something, someone, I wasn’t sure I could have.

Taking a deep breath, I leaned against the cool wall, closing my eyes briefly. I tried to push down the conflict brewing inside me.

Duty versus desire. Responsibility versus the pull I felt toward Noah.

It was a dangerous balance to maintain, and I wasn’t sure how long I could keep walking the line.

I knew what was expected of me. I was supposed to be the steady one, the dependable son who could be trusted to lead if something happened to Hudson.

But the more time I spent around Noah—even if they were stolen moments, the harder it became to ignore the growing feelings, the longing to be near him, to know him more intimately.

As I returned to the dining hall, my eyes immediately sought out Noah. He was sitting alone at a table near the window, the soft evening light casting a warm glow over his features.

This time, Adrian wasn’t around to ruin the moment, and my wolf stirred, sensing the opportunity. “Hey, may I join you?” I asked, my heart pounding in anticipation.

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