Page 28 of Noah

Noah looked up, his green eyes brightening as a smile spread across his face. “Jackson. Sure, take a seat,” he said.

I slid into the chair opposite him, and just like that, the tension from the summit melted away. Every second spent in his presence seemed to calm the storm inside me.

We started with small talk—how the summit was going, Cooper’s leadership, the food—but as the conversation flowed, it drifted into more personal territory.

“The other day, before Adrian butted into our conversation, we didn’t really get to talk,” I said, trying to steer the discussion toward something more meaningful.

“Yeah,” Noah agreed, a touch of disappointment in his voice.

“You’ve grown up a lot since the last time I saw you,” I said, immediately feeling awkward.

The words hung in the air, and I couldn’t help but second-guess myself.

Was that a strange comment? Too obvious? Too forward? Why did I always trip over my words around him?

It wasn’t like I was new to the relationship department. I’d been on dates, shared moments with others, and knew how to navigate conversations. But then again... none of them were Noah.

There was something about him, something that had always set him apart from everyone else. He wasn’t just another crush or fleeting interest.

He’d always had a special place in my heart, even when we were kids.

“So have you,” he replied softly, his voice steady. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”

I let out a small smile, relieved that we were both navigating the same awkwardness. There was a comfort in knowing neither of us had boiled over into nervous wrecks.

A comfortable silence settled between us before Noah broke it. “How’s your pack doing? Is your father stepping down soon?” Noah said.

“He is,” I confirmed. “But he’s grooming Hudson to take over eventually.”

Noah raised an eyebrow. “What about you?”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Hudson’s always been the one meant to be the next alpha. It’s a long story. Hudson’s... reckless at times. My father’s hoping I can balance him out.”

Noah nodded, a thoughtful look crossing his face. “I remember Hudson being a bit of a wild card.”

“That’s putting it lightly,” I admitted, shaking my head with a grin. “But enough about him. What about you? How’s life in Pecan Pines?”

“It’s good,” he said, his smile returning. “Busy, but good.”

I felt my wolf stir, its instincts pushing me to close the gap between us, to reach out and claim what rightfully belonged to us.

Calm down, I told my wolf, though it wasn’t just him that needed calming.

Moving too fast might scare Noah, and the last thing I wanted was to jeopardize this fragile connection we were rebuilding.

Noah deserved more than impulsiveness; he deserved care, patience, and someone who wouldn’t rush in and overwhelm him.

Who was I kidding? I was already in too deep.

Even as I’d promised my dad I’d be the level-headed one, the thought of staying away from Noah felt impossible.

There was something about him, something that called to a part of me that I couldn’t ignore.

I shifted slightly in my seat, trying to temper the heat rising within me. My wolf growled softly, dissatisfied with the restraint, but I held firm.

This wasn’t just about desire—it was about something deeper. Noah wasn’t just a fleeting attraction or a passing interest.

He was someone I’d thought about for years, someone who made me feel seen in a way few others ever had.

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