Chapter 51: Chapter 51

EVIE

I holed up in my room for a few days. I’d already dialed up my student advisor and requested a leave of absence. I wasn’t sure when I’d be back at school, but I knew I wasn’t in any shape to be a student at the moment.

On the second day, I had a chat with Elijah and Molly. They were clueless about the whole situation. Elijah had felt something was off with me, but Noah had dodged his calls.

They’d made up a story about Noah and me having a spat.

~Well, that part was true now.~

Elijah was downright ~furious~ that Noah hadn’t informed him about his sister’s abduction. Molly wasn’t too pleased with her alpha either.

Things were smoothing out between them and my parents. My heart-to-heart with Mom had helped her warm up to Molly. Elijah and Molly were eager to return to the pack house, but I made them promise to take it slow.

I reassured them that I was fine and just needed some alone time to digest everything.

I hadn’t laid eyes on Noah since our argument. I could feel him lingering outside my room, but I didn’t want to talk to him. Sawyer was my meal courier, bringing me three meals a day, though I barely managed to eat two.

Lucy dropped by frequently. I wasn’t in the mood for chit-chat, so Lucy mostly just sat with me, offering her silent support.

After about a week of self-imposed isolation, I decided it was time to face the pack. Greyson and Jack had told me how the entire pack had rallied to find me. I knew I owed them a big thank you.

Noah was absent from the hallway, probably holed up in his office. Sawyer walked me down to the lobby, briefing me on the new security measures and the elevator codes.

“So, he can turn this place into a fortress but can’t talk to me?” I grumbled to Sawyer.

“He’s having a tough time, Ev,” Sawyer said, referring to Noah.

“~He’s~ having a tough time? What about me?” I retorted.

I wasn’t heartless. I knew Noah had been through hell while I was gone, but his reaction and his coldness toward me hurt. I needed Noah to recognize that and come back to me as the man I fell for.

“It’s a tough situation for everyone.” Sawyer sighed as we stepped into the lobby.

Greyson was the first person I saw. I tugged him aside for a private chat.

“Have you talked to Gena?” I asked him.

After I was safely back, I had told Greyson about Gena’s assistance. She had also helped Noah and the wolves track down her father. I had urged Greyson to give her another shot.

“I did, actually,” Greyson said, a hint of a smile on his face.

“And…,” I prodded, grinning.

“And that’s all you’re getting for now, Luna.” Greyson chuckled.

I rolled my eyes at him. “Fair enough.” I smirked.

Greyson and Sawyer showed me around the pack house.

I made my rounds, greeting the pack members who were trickling in. I thanked them for their sacrifices and dedication to my safety. I reassured them I was doing okay and hugged just about every single member of Blood Moon.

Eventually, Noah must have gotten wind that I was out and about. He joined us in the parlor, hovering just behind me as I chatted with the pack members.

“When are you going to be our official luna?” Lily, the she-wolf I met in the library, asked.

“Whenever she’s ready,” Noah answered, speaking for the first time.

I turned around, surprised to hear his voice.

“Oh, I hope it’s soon!” Lily beamed, seemingly oblivious to the tension between us.

I got up from the sofa and made my exit. I could feel Noah trailing behind me.

“How are you?” he asked when we were alone in the hallway.

“Not great,” I admitted.

Noah lowered his head. “What do you want me to do, Evie?” His voice was weary.

When he looked up, I noticed the dark circles under his eyes had deepened. He wasn’t sleeping.

“I just want ~my~ Noah back,” I pleaded.

I closed the gap between us and clung to his forearms, reigniting the spark between us.

“I’m prepared to be your luna—to be yours for eternity. All I need is for you to return to me,” I insisted, holding his gaze as I bared my soul to him.

Noah’s eyes widened in surprise, his body quivering under my touch.

“I was terrified I’d lost you,” he confessed, his body sagging against mine.

I guided him into his office, shutting the door behind us for some privacy.

“I’m here, Noah. I’m safe,” I implored him to see me, to believe in my reality.

“I can’t bear to lose you,” he murmured, burying his face in my shoulder.

I threaded my fingers through his hair, massaging the nape of his neck.

“I promise I’m not going anywhere. I love you,” I reassured him.

At last, Noah’s arms encircled me, and I surrendered to his touch.

“I love you, sweetheart,” I exhaled in relief as Noah’s tender voice filled the room.

He lifted his head to meet my gaze, cradling my face in his hands.

“I’m sorry I’ve been such a jerk recently. I’ve been so scared that you’d vanish; I’ve been too frightened to make any sudden moves,” Noah confessed.

“We need to navigate these hurdles together, Noah. This won’t be our last challenge,” I reminded him.

Noah nodded slowly, his thumb tracing circles on my cheek.

“I understand. I promise I won’t shut you out again,” he pledged, pressing his forehead against mine.

“That’s good, because there’s something else I need to tell you, and I need you to be calm when I do.” I chuckled nervously.

Noah looked at me with suspicion.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing’s wrong, exactly,” I mumbled. “I just had a realization while I was holed up in my room. Mack went shopping and brought me some supplies she thought I’d need, but it turns out I didn’t need them.”

Noah gave me a puzzled look. I sighed. I was not very good at this.

“She got me tampons, Noah, and I don’t need them. I missed my period,” I stated plainly.

Noah’s blank expression immediately transformed. His eyes widened in shock.

“You’re… you’re pregnant?” he stammered.

“I’m not sure; I might be. It could also just be stress. I need to take a test,” I explained.

“Holy shit, Evie!” Noah exclaimed, a huge grin spreading across his face.

“What if I am pregnant?” I asked, my voice lacking Noah’s enthusiasm.

“I think that would be wonderful, sweetheart. I want nothing more than to start a family with you.” He paused, noticing my expression. His eyes softened as he gently held my face. “But if you’re not ready yet, we’ll handle that, too.”

I could see his excitement at the prospect of having a baby, but I was filled with fear.

“It’s not exactly the slow pace I had in mind,” I murmured.

“That’s true,” he agreed, holding me close. “But I’m ready to face just about anything with you.”

I smiled, planting a quick kiss on his lips.

Noah had other ideas. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer, deepening the kiss.

I sighed into his mouth. This was our first kiss in seventeen days.