*Zara*
Noah had been exhausted when he finally returned to our room the night that I visited Gray in his prison. I needed him to be as calm and open as possible when I brought it up, so decided it was best to wait until we had a sowhat peaceful mont alone together.
I was in luck since we were both at the mansion around lunchti the next day. I suggested we eat together, and Noah proposed a quick stroll through the surrounding gardens before we head back to complete our various duties.
“I apologize for how busy things have been lately,” Noah said as we walked through the rose garden. My arm looped through his as he led down a pretty cobblestone walkway. “I feel like I’ve been neglecting you a little bit.”
My heart constricted slightly at his apologetic tone. He could be so hard and temperantal at tis, but he really did have a kind heart. I was very lucky to have him. I squeezed his arm.
“You don’t have to apologize,” I told him. “I’ve been busy as well with my studies and with caring for Briella anyway.”
“I know,” he admitted and then he stopped and dropped his arm so he could squeeze my hand. “We should be making more of an effort to spend ti together though, even if it’s just briefly like we are now. I don’t want you to get the idea that I’ve lost interest in you.”
He smirked a bit toward the end, and I rolled my eyes.
“I’m not worried,” I told him playfully. I sucked in a breath then as I realized this was the perfect opening for bringing up Gray.
He noticed imdiately that sothing was on my mind. He turned to face fully. “What is it?” he asked at once, concern coloring his tone. “Is sothing wrong?”
“No,” I said quickly, not wanting him to worry. I bit my lip. “I want to talk about Gray.”
Noah had been so sweet and attentive just seconds earlier, but as soon as he heard Gray’s na, he beca hard, his blue eyes flashing dangerously. “I thought you agreed to keep that boy out of your thoughts.”
“I never agreed to that,” I said hotly, tilting my chin up. I took a deep breath, knowing I would need to be gentle and patient if I wanted a chance at getting through to this sweet but stubborn hothead. “Please, Noah. I don’t believe he’s dangerous. He deserves so rcy. He hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“I will not show rcy toward the enemy,” Noah spat harshly.
He gritted his teeth together for a mont before he took a deep breath in, trying to calm himself. He still looked angry when he opened his eyes and narrowed them down at .
“Look, Zara. I understand that you are kindhearted, and I truly do appreciate that about you, but I spoke with Gray directly and just don’t believe he has truly changed his ways.”
I hesitated again, knowing that he would be unhappy if he learned I had visited Gray in prison. Still, it was the best argunt I had. “I believe he has changed.”
Noah’s eyebrows rose, his lips tightening with suspicion. “And how could you possibly know that?”
I could tell by the way his blue eyes glinted that he already knew the answer, but I squared my shoulders and told him anyway, keeping my voice even. “I went to visit him the other night.”
Noah beca frighteningly still as he glowered at , a low growl forming in his throat at my admission. I forced myself to keep eye contact, knowing he would never hurt , despite how angry he could get at tis.
“There was a reason I told you not to think about him,” he intoned in a hard voice. “You should not be speaking to the enemy, especially without there to protect you.”
“Noah,” I moaned in exasperation, throwing my hands up in the air. “I was never in any danger. He was behind a thick, glass wall!”
“That is beside the point,” he snapped. “He could have tried to get information out of you, Zara.”
“I would never give him information that could be used against us,” I said flatly, but I could feel my own anger rising. I swallowed it back, my features softening as I reminded myself that Noah was doing what he thought was best for and our pack.
“I never said you would on purpose,” Noah said, exasperation leaking into his voice as well.
That didn’t make feel any better. I took Noah’s hands in mine, forcing him to et my gaze. “He deserves a second chance with Lorelei, Noah. Please think about allowing him to take that chance.”
“Is that what this is about?” Noah demanded, his voice rising. He closed the space between us, towering over in a way that actually caused to shrink back a little. ‘You are far too forgiving and naive!”
I reeled back as if he had struck , feeling a similar sting in my chest as if he had. It took a mont to recover enough to respond. “You know, Noah, it was my willingness to perceive nuance that has often balanced out your tenacious tendency to see things in purely black and white.”
Noah didn’t answer, just continued to glower down at , but I could see the wheels turning in his head as he digested what I had just said.
I waited but there was no change in his expression. I found little more I could do other than attempt once again to plead with him in a last-ditch effort to give Gray the second chance he deserved.
“Please, Noah,” I said, reaching for him since he had long since dropped my hands. “Please search your heart and show the boy so compassion.”
Noah actually hesitated for a brief second, but then he turned and stalked off without another word, leaving standing in the garden alone and wondering what I was supposed to do now.
The next several days following the one when I pleaded with Noah to give Gray a second chance were tense ones. Thankfully, Noah didn’t start ignoring , but our small talk was awkward and short.
We both buried ourselves in our work. The tis when we could act normally were only when we were caring for Briella together. I couldn’t be more grateful for her than I was in those monts. She kept us together, and she was the sweetest reminder of the love Noah and I had for one another.
While I was comforted by the reminder of our love, it also made Noah’s downward spiral even more prominent and hard to watch. He was growing increasingly hardened as he started to aggressively pursue vengeance against Alpha Daven. He seed to be spending more ti patrolling the Drogomor borders when he could spare the ti to do so.
It seed as if his own thirst for vengeance was rubbing off on Alpha Issac as well. Both n were putting in more effort to track down Gray’s father.
I debated briefly going to visit Gray again, but imdiately decided against it when I rembered the anger and slight betrayal that swam in Noah’s eyes when he found out I had gone to visit him. I was going to be Noah’s Luna one day, which ant I needed to learn how to work together with him for the good of our family and our pack.
Noah wasn’t unreasonable. He could be a bit harsh at tis, but I knew he had a good heart. I just needed to get through his hard exterior sohow and urge him to show so compassion.
He needed to be reminded of the importance of love and of the wonders it did for us.
I knew what I had to do.
Noah was working late again, as he had been most nights. I waited up for him, keeping the nightstand lamp on as I sat up against the headboard.
“Hey,” Noah said gruffly as he opened the door and let himself in.
“Hi,” I murmured softly.
Noah grunted, not even looking at as he started his nightti routine, dressing down to his boxer shorts and brushing his teeth. He climbed in beside , his body relaxing only slightly as he shut his eyes and prepared to go straight to sleep as we had been doing the last several nights.
I steeled myself before readjusting so I could slink my arm across his chest. Gently, hesitantly, I pressed my lips to his jaw. I dropped one light butterfly kiss, and then another, just a little lower on the side of his chin.
Noah stiffened, but then imdiately relaxed and turned his head to gaze at in the darkness.
“I love you,” I murmured, locking eyes with him, slightly breathless at the way the moonlight caused his blue eyes to glow like a gemstone.
When was the last ti I told him I loved him anyway? It felt like the last ti was ages ago.
His gaze softened imdiately, and he rolled over so he was on his side facing . “I love you too,” he said, his voice rough.
“I’m sorry that I went behind your back and visited Gray in prison,” I said because it was true, even though I wasn’t sorry for actually visiting him specifically.
He stiffened at the reminder, but I could tell by his eyes that he was no longer angry about it. “I forgive you,” he said. “But please consult whenever you even think about doing sothing like that again. I want us to be able to tell the other anything, Zara.”
“ too,” I admitted. I scooted closer to him so that our faces were just inches apart. “That’s why I’m telling you now that I think Gray deserves another chance.”
Noah didn’t get angry this ti, which I was relieved by, but he did groan with frustration. “Zara,” he sighed. “I really don’t think that is a good idea.”
“Redemption can inspire positive change,” I pointed out carefully. I stroked the side of his face with my fingertips. “And don’t you recall that we took a chance on one another despite outside skepticism? Don’t you think that Gray also deserves an opportunity to prove people wrong about him right now?”
Noah’s expression actually softened slightly at my appeal, but his eyes were still as hard as flint. “I don’t think the boy can be trusted just yet,” he said, but then put a hand up when I imdiately started to protest. “But I concede to contacting Lorelei in order to get her perspective.”
I blinked in surprise. “Truly?” I asked, unable to believe he was actually turning around considering the last several days we spent surrounded by awkward tension.
“I don’t see how reaching out to her could cause any harm,” he said, though his tone held so reluctance. “If she expresses openness at reconciliation, we will reevaluate.”
I couldn’t help but beam at him as I sat up in bed. He followed suit, seeming mildly alard by my sudden movent. He chuckled lightly though when I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him fiercely.
I was overwheld, buoyed that my mate’s rciful side shone through once I was able to hold it up to the light.
Noah hugged back and kissed the top of my head. When he pulled away though, his expression was dark. “Now, lay down. We are going to finish what you started.”
I blinked in confusion but then giggled when Noah tackled and held down before pressing several kisses all over my face.
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