Page 41 of Healer's Call

The next morning, I’m up early. I want to know what Cade has planned. After my shower, I braid my wet hair and slip into jeans and a casual shirt. I slip on my flip flops and make my way to Cade’s. He texted late last night that everybody from last night is meeting at eight. When I get to Cade and Amber’s apartment, a shifter points me in the direction of the meeting room. I enter the room and realize I’m the last person to make it besides Maverick. I take one of the last two open chairs. Mav comes through the door a minute or two later and sets down a large tray of food. Everybody gathers around, and I wait for an opening to be able to grab something. Maverick takes the open seat next to me and puts something in front of me. I look down at the bagel sandwich. “Oh, thanks.”

“That’s the only one without egg,” he says. It shocks me, and I stare at him. He gives me a wary look. “You’re not going to cry, right?”

I smile and bite my lip because I was considering it. “No, of course not,” I say, but we both know I’m full of baloney.

“Rose!” I jerk in surprise as Jacob leans over me and puts a plate in front of me. Or at least he starts to before he notices the sandwich already in front of me.

“Oh thanks, Jacob, but Maverick already got me a sandwich,” I tell him politely.

“No worries. Have a second one,” he says and places the plate in front of me.

“She’s not going to eat it; she doesn’t eat eggs,” Mav practically growls at him.

Jacob gives me a wide-eyed look. “Really?”

“Yes, sorry. Thank you though.”

He looks so dejected as he walks away, it makes me laugh. “Idiot,” Mav growls next to me.

“Hey, play nice,” I tell him, touching his arm again. I don’t keep it there but a second, but it seems to affect both of us.Or maybe, I’m just ultra-sensitive to him. I’m not really sure. “Thank you for the egg-free sandwich, Mav,” I say quietly as Cade starts the meeting. He doesn’t say anything, but he stays close to me the entire meeting. That counts as a win in my book.

Chapter 21

Rose

“Eli, Mav, and I came up with a plan,” Cade starts. I briefly wonder when they came up with the plan because it’s only been a few hours since we last met. They must have stayed up late. I glance briefly at Mav, but he doesn’t look pleased. He sits against his seat with his arms crossed over his chest. “Rose, if you’re still okay with it, you’re our best option,” Cade says. I nod, unsurprised. I figured it would probably come to this. I’m the only non-wolf they’ve got, well, besides Ava; and that’s not going to happen. “Our plan is to send you in as a potential customer. We’ll give you a fake business name and account. Stu is already on that.” I look across the table at the one guy I’ve never met and figure he’s Stu. Well, and the fact that he’s hunched over a laptop. “We’ll give you a list of questions to ask and how to direct the conversation. Obviously, none of us can go in with you, but we will be set up near the restaurant. If at any time you feel threatened, you just walk; and we’ll figure out another plan. We created a list of questions.” He slides a paper across the table to me. “We’d like to do this tonight.” His words surprise me, and yet they don’t. If these are the people trying to poison his pack, they need to be dealt with. The door to the room opens, and Amber slips inside.

“Sorry I’m late.” She walks over to Cade, and he stands and kisses her on the lips before giving her his seat.

“Amber’s in charge of getting you ready for tonight,” Cade says. “She’ll work all that out with you. We have an reservation at a local restaurant for five. Now, we obviously don’t want yougoing into the meeting by yourself. There’s a police officer we’ve worked with a few times over the years that’s familiar with our pack. He’s agreed to accompany you under the guise of being your husband.” My eyebrows rise at this, and I force myself not to look at Maverick.

“They won’t recognize a police officer?” I ask.

“No, he mostly does undercover work; so, he’s not super familiar. And he obviously won’t be wearing a uniform.”

I nod, trying to take it all in. “Everything’s legit online, just working on a few other things,” Stu says. He doesn’t look up as he speaks but continues working. Cade goes over a few more things, but my head is spinning. I study the questions in front of me, trying to memorize them. “Okay, we need to leave here at four to get in place. Rose, be back in this room at three, so we can get you mic'd up.

Amber stands. “Rose, let’s go get you an outfit for tonight; the guys will continue working here.”

I stand and pick up the sheet of paper. I glance down at Mav on my way past him, but he doesn’t acknowledge me. Out in the hall, Amber faces me. “Are you sure you’re willing to do this? You don’t have to.”

“I want to. If this is really who’s trying to kill this pack, they need to be stopped. And I’m the only one who’s not a wolf; so...” I take a deep breath and grin. “I choose to accept my mission.” Amber shakes her head and grins. “I will tell you—I didn’t bring anything even close to a professional business outfit with me.”

“That’s why we’re going shopping,” she says, flashing a wallet at me. We start down the hallway. “I’m actually excited. I haven’t been shopping in forever. I have a babysitter for Paige, so we are free!”

“Do you mind if I check with Ava and see if she wants to come?”

“Please do.”

After a quick text, though, Ava declines. It doesn’t surprise me, but I’m still sort of disappointed. We head outside to where the cars are parked and two enforcers are waiting. “Van and Carl are going with for security,” Amber explains. That doesn’t surprise me at all. Amber’s the alpha’s mate; her safety is a priority. “I’m kind of surprised Mav isn’t coming; I figured he wouldn’t let you out of his sight, you being an unmated female and all that.”

I shrug, even as her words tug at my heart. “We’re not really like that.” She hums but doesn’t say anything. A little while later, we pull into the parking lot of a cute boutique.

“This looks so cute,” I tell her as we walk inside.

“It’s a great place; you’re going to love it.”

We spend the next hour trying on clothes. I convince her to join in on the fun, and I help her find a few outfits. “You’re really good at this,” she tells me as she shows me another outfit. “I would have never put this together.”

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