Page 110 of Healer's Call

“I know who he is,” Mav growls.

“Well, they were both there. We learned a lot, and we’re going to have to talk to Cade...and Garrett. Oh, and Wyatt, and...” I shake my head. “We’re going to have to talk to all the wolves, but we’ll get to that.”

“Rose,” he begins, but I cut him off.

“What is this?” I ask, pulling my shirt to the side and revealing the bite mark.

His face pales. “Rose, I didn’t mean...I didn’t know you would...I thought you were dead.”

I cock my head to the side. “Did you mean it?”

He scrunches up his face. “What?”

“Did you mean it?”

He frowns fiercely. “Of course I meant it.”

“So, it wasn’t some decision made out of guilt?”

He scowls even more. “What are you talking about?”

“I just want to make sure that you meant to do it, and it wasn’t out of misplaced guilt.” I try to shrug nonchalantly.

His eyes bounce back and forth between mine. “Are you trying to ask me if I regret it?”

“Uh, maybe. I mean I just want to—”

“Healer,” he growls and steps impossibly close to me. “The biggest regret of my life is not marking you sooner. You are mine, and I want the entire world to know. You are everything to me, and I’m sorry I didn’t see it sooner.”

His words soothe the fear inside me, and a huge smile breaks out on my face. “Okay, good because you’re stuck with me now. I’m going to be like white on rice when it comes to you.”

He frowns. “That doesn’t even make sense.”

I wave him off. “I know; just go with it.” I step closer and smile up at him. “You’re stuck with me now, Beta.”

“Not quite.”

His words give me pause and bring me out of my hazy bubble. “What?”

He smirks and steps impossibly closer. “You haven’t marked me yet, so I’m not technically yours yet.”

I stare at him. “Are you teasing?”

His eyebrows rise. “Does it look like I’m teasing?”

“Do the other humans mark their wolf mates?” I ask.

He growls low in his throat. “I neither know nor care about what anybody else does; this is about you and me, Healer.”

I bite my thumbnail before he gently pushes it down. “Okay, tell me what to do,” I say trying to be brave.

He studies me. “Never mind. Don't worry about it. It’s enough that I marked you.”

“No, wait.” I grab his hand. “I want to do it; tell me what to do.”

His eyes search mine again. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, Mav. Absolutely.”

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