Page 16 of Healer's Call

He nods and steps back. “I’ll stay out of your way but call for me if you need me. I’ll hear you.” I nod and turn back to Maverick, but his words stop me. “Thank you, Rose.”

I don’t look at him or acknowledge him in any way, but I heard his words. It gives me the courage and strength to keep going and finish what I’ve started. I stare down at Maverick a moment. I wasn’t lying; I really don’t know if this is doing anything for Maverick. I can’t see any improvement. It’s so different from a normal healing; it’s hard to know if there’s any progress being made. I’m used to instant results in a healing—taking the pain away, healing a broken limb, healing a malfunctioning organ. I’ve never done something as tedious as trying to clean the blood of a person. I don’t think there are any markers to show if this is actually working, but I refuse to give up. I’m going to at least finish, so I can say I tried. That’s the best I can do. I may not heal him, but at least my conscience will be clear when I leave. I’ll know I did everything in my power to try and didn’t just leave him to his fate. With that in mind, I close my eyes and blow out a breath before reaching out and touching Maverick and isolating another artery. I begin the process again. I’m not sure how long I send power into him when somebody touches my shoulder again. I don’t react as strongly this time, and I try not to show my frustration. I must not be successful because Ava puts her hands up.

“Cade asked me to bring you something to eat.” She shoves a small plate into my hand and a cup of juice.

“Paul always made sure Sage had something to eat during a healing,” Cade says quietly, and I realize he’s still in the room. He’s standing in the furthest corner, giving me plenty of space. I swallow down my complaint. “Thank you.” I take a drink of the juice and take a few bites of bacon. Once the juice hits my system, I realize I really do need it. I'm feeling a little depleted. I throw back the rest of the juice, finish a piece of bacon, and eat a half a blueberry muffin. “Thank you,” I say honestly to Ava and to Cade.

“How’s it going?” Ava asks without looking at Maverick.

I look down at the man in question. Now that it’s lighter out, I can see again just how much weight he’s lost. Not wanting Cade to hear that I’m uncertain whether this is really helping or not, I keep it simple. “I’m still cleaning his arteries, sending my power there.”

Ava doesn’t say anything, not that I expected her to; and I turn back to Maverick. I’m feeling some extra energy from the juice and the muffin. I block out Ava and Cade and close my eyes. I say a silent prayer that this works and then send my power back into the artery I was working on before Ava interrupted me. After that artery is cleaned, I start on the next one and the next one after that. Just like before, time becomes obsolete. I have no idea how long I’ve been healing, whether it’s been a few minutes or a few hours. I just keep locating the next artery and sending my power into it. I take a few minutes to send healing power into his heart, just in case it’s been weakened from whatever has been in his blood. I do the same with his kidneys and lungs. I’ve just finished with his lungs when something suddenly grabs me. Before I can understand what’s happening, I’m pulled and rolled to the side, and there’s a massive weight on my chest. I hear shouting, but I can’t process it. I close my eyes, trying to pull myself back to reality since I was yanked from my healing so abruptly. My head is spinning, and I’m confused. When I open my eyes, I stare directly into dark ones. I freeze, and then I become aware of other voices.

“Maverick, get off her! She’s trying to heal you!”

Cade’s voice penetrates my brain from somewhere far away. Maverick stares down at me for a moment, and I can see the confusion in his eyes. He drops his head slightly and takes a deep breath, causing me to go still. Then suddenly, his weight is off me, and I can breathe again. Cade’s face is nearly right in front of my own. “Are you okay?” I nod because I’m not able to do more than that. I meet Ava’s wide eyes across the room, but shedoesn’t say anything. “Let me help you up,” Cade says, putting out his hand. A low growl sounds from behind me, startling me and I practically jump up off the bed. Cade’s eyes glow as he looks at the man behind me, and I’m sure he’s communicating in his head with Maverick. I stand to my feet and take a moment to compose myself before I turn around. Maverick stands to his feet and then immediately sits down on the side of the bed. I make a move to go towards him, but Cade puts a hand out, stopping my progress. “Give yourself a minute, Mav. You haven’t been vertical in a while.”

Maverick looks up at Cade, not me. “What happened?” His voice is gruff and hoarse, and I look around the room for water. I snag a water bottle from the dresser and bring it over to the nightstand and set it down, being careful to keep my distance from Maverick.

“You got sick and have been on death’s door for days now.” Cade points his chin at me. “She healed you. Saved your life.”

Chapter 10

Maverick

I blink and try to focus, but the room is spinning. I shake my head, but that only seems to make it worse. “Just take a minute,” Cade says, annoying me. He just needs to be quiet for one minute. I stand to my feet, cursing when the room spins again. Cade reaches out to touch me, and I shove his hand off me and curse again. “Maverick, just take a minute. Would you sit down before you fall down?”

I ignore him and try focus on the spinning room. I close my eyes and shake my head a minute. I turn my head and focus my eyes until I find the mousy healer standing in the corner. “What happened to me?” I demand of Cade.

“You went down.”

“With what?”

“With a disease or something that’s killing our pack.” Cade’s voice is solemn but steady. “Rose healed you.”

I snort. “Course she did.”

“Mav,” Cade starts, but I ignore him and start towards the door.

“You know, you could say thank you.” I notice the blonde healer near the door for the first time, the one with a chip on her shoulder.

“And you could leave,” I growl at her as I pass her.

“You are such a jerk,” she retorts.

“Tell me something I don’t know, Blondie,” I growl as I pass.

“Mav!” Cade’s voice leaks power, and though I could blow past his order, I turn around. I meet the eyes of the dark-haired healer standing behind him. Her eyes are wide, and I grind myteeth. I look away from her and meet Cade’s gaze head-on. “Stop being a jerk and tell us how you feel.”

“Fine.” I cross my arms over my chest.

Cade’s eyes rise skeptically. “You’ve been at death’s door for weeks, and you’refine.” His voice is laden with skepticism.

“I feel f—freakin' fine.” My jaw tightens, and I refuse to meet the innocent healer’s eyes. Why am I pandering to her? I’ve never had a problem cussing in front of any woman, ever. And I’m not going to start having a problem now. I jerk my head up in irritation. It’s a mistake. The room spins again, and I feel the ground beneath me wobble. I’m trying to get a bearing when I feel a hand on my arm. I look down and see a small white hand on my bronzed skin.

“Careful,” she says softly. The dark-haired healer looks up and meets my eyes, and it feels like a punch to my gut. “You’re going to be weak for a little while.”

I jerk my arm away, uncaring about the surprised and maybe hurt look in her eyes. “I’m going to shift and go for a run.” I turn away from the doe-eyed healer, ignoring the disappointing look from Cade, and walk past Blondie.

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