Page 70 of Healer's Call

“Healer,” he says, stopping me right before I open my door. I stare straight ahead, waiting for him to say whatever it is he’s going to say. “Are you going to look at me?” he asks.

“Wasn’t planning on it,” I mumble. I just want to get into my room and to bed. I’m suddenly exhausted.

He reaches out and turns me around. It surprises me so much, I lift my head automatically to look up at him. His eyes lock on my face and scan every inch of it. “Thank you for healing her. Again.” His voice is low and soft, so unlike him. “She’s...everything to them.”

“I know.” He doesn’t have to tell me; I get it.

“Did the guys get all your stuff moved in?” I nod. “You’re all settled?”

Is he trying to make small talk?I stare up at him because I can’t figure him out. His face blurs before me a moment, and I begin to realize just how depleted I really am. I need to get inside and crash before I literally crash. “Bye, Maverick,” I say and stepbackwards, hoping to find the handle to my door behind me. I stumble when it’s not there. His hands come out and grab my elbows to steady me.

“You good?” he asks.

I don’t answer because I’m having a hard time keeping myself up. Black dots form before my eyes, and I know my adrenaline is crashing. I did a lot of healings today, and it’s all catching up with me. “Healer,” he growls.

He takes me by the elbow and practically drags me inside and over to a chair before disappearing. He’s back a moment later. “Here.” He shoves a pack of peanut butter crackers at me. “Eat these.” I take them only because I know that the carbs and sugar will be the fastest thing to hit my system and help me get my equilibrium back. “Do you always do that when you heal?” He asks the question like it’s offensive to him.

“No.” My voice is soft. “I’m just depleted today with everything that happened last night and the healings I did today. I just overdid it. I feel better now, though. Thank you.” I didn’t think it was possible, but his scowl deepens. “Thanks for helping me.” I walk over to the bathroom, all but dismissing him.

“What are you doing?” he asks, his voice matching the scowl on his face.

“Getting ready for bed.” I’m just about to step into the bathroom when he speaks again.

“You need to be more careful.” I don’t turn around.

“Sure.”

“That was sarcasm,” he, for some reason, feels the need to point out. “I would think you would know how to heal by now without tapping yourself to the limits. Most sane people know when to stop whatever it is that taps them out, so they don’t crash.”

And just like that, I snap. “Well, I wouldn’t know about that because I’m obviously insane, right, Mav?”

His scowl deepens. “I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.” I throw up my arms in exasperation. “You are the most difficult person to get along with, and you know what?” I step towards him feeling my frustration rising to a tipping point. “I get along with everyone.Ev-er-y-one! But you are impossible to get along with! I’m sorry that I’m your mate. I’m sorry you got stuck with me. I’m sorry I’m not more powerful like Sage or Samantha. I’m sorry I’m not a fighter like Raechel or funny like Talya or strong like Emma or Ava. I’m not strong. I’m emotional. I can’t just get past things that other people can. I cry at the drop of a hat. I’m weak. I know!”

“I never said any of that,” he responds.

“You didn’t have to!” I nearly shout at him. “It’s all over your face. It’s all over your face every time you come near me. It’s in the fact that you don’t want anything to do with me. You avoid me every chance you get.” I give an emotionless laugh. “You slink away to a fight club most nights just to deal with your frustration, with the fact that you’re stuck with me.” He doesn’t say anything to refute any of what I’m saying, and I think that hurts worse than anything else. I feel tears form, and I blink like crazy because I amnotgoing to humiliate myself by crying in front of him. “What am I saying?” I say more to myself than him. “It’s always been like this. Nobody ever respects me.”

He stands up and steps in front of me, looming over me. “You want respect? You have to demand respect, Healer. You have to walk into a room and command it and hold your head high. Nobody’s going to give you respect just because you exist. You have to earn it.”

“I’ll get right on that,” I say dryly.

“If you had just an ounce of self-respect, people would respect you. But you walk around skittish and jumping at your own shadow. You’re fearful of everything and everybody. You don’t let anybody close, and you’re scared to death to live life.”

“No, I’m not!” But my voice isn’t as strong as I want it to be.

“You ever leave the Northwoods’ Pack territory while you were there?” He asks with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes!” I say emphatically.

“How many times?”

I swallow. “I don’t have to answer you.”

He laughs coldly. “You just did. How about here? How many times have you left here? Other than to spy on me?” he challenges.

I clench my teeth. “I went to that meeting.”

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