Page 37 of Noah

“Noah,” I said, my voice tight with concern. “Are you okay?”

“It’s nothing,” he said, wincing slightly. “Just a scratch.”

It didn’t feel like nothing. The sight of his blood stirred something primal in me, my wolf urging me to protect, to retaliate.

My gaze snapped back to Karl, who was smirking, a growl building in my throat. He needed to pay for this, for daring to hurt Noah.

Beck grabbed my shoulder, pulling me back before I could act on the impulse. “Don’t, Jackson. This isn’t the place. We’ve got bigger things to deal with.”

I clenched my fists, every instinct screaming to make Karl regret laying a hand on Noah. But Beck was right.

This wasn’t the time or place. We couldn’t afford to let this spiral into something bigger. Noah, always the stubborn one, tried to brush me off.

“I’m fine. You don’t have to—” Noah began.

“I’m taking you to the clinic,” I said firmly, cutting him off. “End of discussion.”

He opened his mouth to protest but must’ve seen the look in my eyes. With a resigned sigh, he nodded.

I scooped him up without a second thought, cradling him against my chest.

He muttered something about being able to walk, but I ignored it. My wolf settled slightly, content to have Noah close, safe in my arms.

As I carried him out of the dining hall, the whispers of the onlookers followed us. But I didn’t care. My focus was solely on Noah, on making sure he was okay.

“We need to tell Dad what happened. He’s going to want to hear it from one of us before someone else fills him in,” Beck pointed out.

I knew he was right. Our father would want to know about the fight, about how things had escalated with Adrian’s wolves.

But the thought of leaving Noah, even for a moment, tightened my chest.

Beck must have seen it on my face. “I can stay with Noah, if you want,” he offered, his tone careful.

I bared my teeth, a low growl rumbling from deep in my throat.

The idea of anyone else being close to Noah, especially now when he was hurt, set my wolf on edge.

Beck took a step back, hands raised in a gesture of peace. He glanced between Noah, who was looking slightly embarrassed, and me.

Understanding filled his eyes, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“Alright,” Beck said, nodding slowly. “I get it.” He cast a quick, knowing look at Noah before turning back to me. “Mason and I will go talk to Dad.”

With that, Beck excused himself, leaving us alone. The tension in my shoulders eased slightly as I turned my attention back to Noah.

Without a word, I cradled him closer against my chest and resumed my journey to the pack clinic.

Noah sighed, exasperation clear in his voice. “Did you need to be all growly and… impossible?”

I glanced down at him, raising an eyebrow. “Impossible?”

He shifted in my arms, his cheeks tinged with a faint flush. “Everyone saw you carry me like that…”

“What… you’re embarrassed?” I asked, the last remnants of my anger dissolving into amusement.

“Who wouldn’t be?” Noah muttered as Devon, the pack’s healer, stepped forward to tend to his arm.

Devon gave the wound a quick examination.

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