Page 61 of Noah

Just the steady presence of my alpha, running beside me without rushing, without interrupting.

It should’ve been strange to have someone else running with me, but with Cooper, it felt natural. It felt right.

His presence grounded me, steadying me when my thoughts were spiraling.

He never said anything, just kept pace with me, his movements smooth and controlled. We ran together, side by side, like we’d done it a thousand times before.

I didn’t know how long we ran for, but eventually, I started to slow down. My thoughts started to clear, the panic that had clouded my mind beginning to lift.

I felt… calmer. Less afraid. And somewhere in the quiet of the woods, in the stillness of the night, I realized something.

I didn’t regret it. I didn’t regret the mark.

I had asked for it. I had asked Jackson for it, and my wolf had wanted it, needed it.

We’re mates, my wolf reminded me again, its voice calm and knowing.Cooper’s here. You’re safe. Jackson’s the one. Always has been.

And in that moment, I knew my wolf was right. Jackson was the one. Always had been. I glanced over at Cooper, who was still running beside me, his expression serene.

He was the kind of alpha who knew when to push and when to pull back. And right now, he was letting me find my own way, giving me the space to figure this out.

I let out a deep breath, slowing to a walk, and finally came to a stop. The woods were quiet around me, the sound of my breath heavy in the stillness.

I looked down at the ground, my wolf still inside me, still calm, still sure.

Maybe I wasn’t as lost as I thought I was.

Maybe Jackson and I were exactly where we were meant to be.

Cooper and me eventually made our way back to the pack house. My thoughts kept spinning, too fast, too loud.

I was aware of Cooper’s presence beside me, his steady pace, the way he moved with the kind of confidence that came with knowing who he was and where he belonged.

I wasn’t sure where I belonged anymore.

We shifted back into human form before we reached the pack house. The air was colder now, the night settling in, but the warmth of the run still hummed through my veins.

I dressed quickly, not really paying attention to what I was doing, just going through the motions.

When I looked up, Cooper was already waiting for me, his expression thoughtful but calm.

“You want some coffee?” Cooper asked, the quiet offer hanging in the air.

I nodded without thinking. “Yeah. That sounds good.”

We walked inside, and I followed him to his office. The space was warm, inviting in its own way, and I sank into the chair across from his desk without a word.

Cooper made coffee for both of us, his movements steady, almost like a ritual, and then he sat down, leaning back in his chair and giving me that long, knowing look.

“So,” he said, his voice low. “What’s really going on?”

I felt my stomach tighten. I hadn’t meant to spill everything to him, but I knew Cooper.

He wasn’t the kind of alpha who would push me or make me feel uncomfortable. He was patient, waiting for me to open up on my own terms.

And I did. Slowly, carefully, I started talking.

I told him everything—how Jackson had marked me, how I had panicked afterward, how everything had spiraled out of control.

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