Page 38 of Noah

“Just a scratch,” he confirmed, placing his hands over Noah’s arm. A soft glow emanated from his palms as he healed the injury in moments. “Won’t even leave a scar.”

Once Devon was finished, he gave us both a nod and excused himself. As soon as he was gone, Noah shot me a pointed look, his lips curving into a slight smirk.

“See? Told you so,” he said, gesturing to his now-healed arm. “Don’t you think you overreacted a bit?”

I thought about it for a few seconds, letting the question settle. Finally, I shook my head.

“Even if it happened again, I wouldn’t change a thing. Hell, I’m going to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” I said.

Noah’s expression softened as he reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against my cheek. “You’re sweet, but… I’m not that weak, Jackson.”

“I know that,” I said, running a hand through my hair, frustration lacing my words. “I know you’re tough. It’s just… when it comes to you, I can’t help it. I tend to overreact.”

“Why do you think that is?” Noah asked quietly, his gaze steady, searching.

The answer was right there, on the tip of my tongue.

Because you’re mine to protect and cherish.My wolf echoed the sentiment, a low, contented growl reverberating in my chest.

But the words felt too heavy to say out loud, too soon to admit even to myself, let alone to Noah. I kept the comment to myself, instead offering him a small smile.

“Maybe I’m just a bit possessive,” I admitted.

Noah chuckled softly, the sound warm and reassuring. “A bit?”

“Okay, more than a bit,” I conceded.

Chapter 11

Jackson

I collapsedonto the bed in my assigned room, mentally drained.

The day had been a whirlwind of back-to-back meetings with my father, each one more taxing than the last.

In the end, he hadn’t been pleased about the incident in the dining hall with Adrian’s wolves, but surprisingly, he hadn’t chewed Beck and me out.

His disappointment had been clear, though, and the weight of his unspoken expectations hung heavily over me.

After a quick shower, I flopped back onto the bed, letting the day’s events wash over me. My thoughts drifted to Noah.

I had promised to attend another one of his band’s performances, but in the end, I never made it.

Responsibilities had tethered me, dragging me away from something I knew was important to him—and to me.

When I crossed paths with Noah earlier today, I brought it up, hoping to make amends. He had shrugged it off, brushing aside my apology with a polite smile.

But I could see right through him.

The hurt lingered just beneath the surface, his expression betraying more than he probably realized.

That polite smile hadn’t masked the disappointment in his eyes, and the guilt gnawed at me.

I hated myself for it. Balancing my duties as part of the pack and my personal desires had never felt more like a cruel joke.

My wolf stirred restlessly, agitated by the sense of failure.

He urged me to fix it, to make things right with Noah.

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