Page 65 of The Enforcers: NOAH

She walked over and put her arms around him, resting her head on his chest. After a moment, he closed his arms around her and put his cheek on her hair. They stood there for a long time, until his wolf subsided, and he felt like the sun was maybe peeking out from behind the storm clouds inside him.

“You always make me feel better,” he said. “It’s like magic.”

“Isn’t it?” she said. “It’s like the sun coming out inside me.”

He leaned back and looked down at her. “It is?”

“Yeah,” she said.

He felt the smile spreading across his face. “Good,” he said.

She smiled back at him. “We’re going to be okay, Mr. Noah Gray Wolf,” she said. She put her head back on his chest and repeated, “We’re going to be okay.”

Later, back in his room at the Nashville compound, Noah wasn’t so sure. He’d reached Jace Monroe and explained the situation to him, and he’d agreed to come to Nashville with Emma and meet with Mina. If all went well he’d take her and Brock back to Silverlake.

Noah also explained, briefly, about finding Tristan Barnes. Jace had praised him for his good work, which he totally didn’t deserve, although finding the white wolf had been one of his primary missions.

He didn’t think it was necessary to point out that his mission had been fulfilled by a four-year-old.

Then he got to the part about wanting to join the pack, with Mina as his mate.

“Does she understand what that means?” Jace asked.

“Not completely,” Noah admitted.

“Then explain it to her,” Jace said. “All of it.”

“Yes sir. And if I do that, and she accepts me, you’ll consider my application?”

Jace gazed at him for several beats. Finally he said, “Reilly, I’m aware of what the healers said about your bonding mechanism. I’m also aware that you have a tendency to feel as though you’re bonding when you’re really not.”

“I love Mina.”

Jace grew silent, gazing into Noah’s eyes. Shit. He shouldn’t be able to feel the alpha mojo through the Skype connection, but Jace was one powerful alpha.

Jace said, “Noah, this woman is terrified, and desperate, and alone. I’m not going to accept you in this pack and sanction this mating until I’m sure she’s not just doing it because she’s scared and feels like she has nowhere else to turn. I will not have females in my pack that feel forced or coerced into mating. Am I making myself clear?”

Shit. Noah’s wolf started to growl, and he took deep breaths, the way they’d taught him in Special Forces. The growl receded.

He leaned forward on the desk. “When I stand next to Mina, I feel like I want to be the kind of man she can respect,” he said. “I would never do anything to make her unhappy. Hell, when she’s unhappy, I feel like I’m being torn in pieces.”

He took a another deep breath. “I’ve spent my entire adult life in service to my country, or serving the shifter community in the Enforcers. I loved my work.”

He tried to steady his voice. It still hurt that he’d lost that sense of purpose, that position of trust. “I know I’m no longer considered trustworthy in the field.” It killed him to say that. “But it feels damn good to be able to do something for someone again, and I know there must be some kind of contribution I can make to Silverlake. Intelligence gathering and analysis. Risk assessment. Hell, put me to work clearing trees or building cabins. Anything. Just give me a chance.”

Jace studied him. “This woman means a lot to you, doesn’t she.”

“She means everything,” Noah said simply.

Noah had almost made it out of the mansion and back to Flynn’s truck when he ran into Creston. Shit. It was like the fucker had some kind of Noah-seeking radar.

“I heard you were out all night again,” Creston said in his prissy way. “I hope you haven’t lost more time.”

“I was on a date,” Noah said. “It went exceptionally well. And yes, I remember all of it. Want details? Can you handle clinical terms, or should I use euphemisms? I’ve always been partial to ‘trouser snake.’”

Creston said, “We have another appointment this afternoon. Be sure you’re there on time. I have a busy schedule.”

“Well, we can free up some of your time then,” Noah said. “I can’t make it, but don’t worry. I’m applying to join the Silverlake pack, so with any luck, come tomorrow I’ll be Jace Monroe’s problem instead of yours. Out of respect for my feelings, please contain your happy dance until I’m out of sight.”