Page 112 of Healer's Call

“You okay, Mav?”

“Yeah, just...”

“What is it?” I ask in concern.

“My wolf and I are having a hard time going in there. Just do me a favor and stick close, okay? We haven’t exactly recovered from losing you yet.”

My heart softens. “I will.”

He leans down and kisses me tenderly. “Let’s go.” He takes my hand again, and we enter the gym. We take a few steps in, and the place goes absolutely silent. I stop where I’m at.

“Rose.” Amber says my name in a garbled voice, and I stare for a moment.

“You didn’t tell them I was alive?” I ask incredulously, looking up at Mav.

He doesn’t look fazed in the least. “I was a little preoccupied,” he says, meeting my eyes and giving me a pointed look. Knowing everyone in this room has wolf hearing, I feel my face heat up. He only grins and squeezes my hand. “Come on, let’s go tell everybody you’re alive.”

“Um, pretty sure we don’t have to tell them anything,” I say dryly.

“You mated!” Sara squeals, and then we’re ambushed. I think it’s Sara and Sabrina at first, but after that, I’m not really sure.All I know is there are lots of tears and hugging before it’s all over. Finally, Cade stands in front of us. He stares at the two of us, somber. Unsure what to say, I smile and try to lighten the situation. “So, I’m back.”

He doesn’t crack a smile, not even close. “I’m so sorry, Rose. I didn’t keep you safe.”

My heart tugs in my chest. “It’s okay, Cade—”

“It’s not. It’s my job to keep my pack safe, and I failed and it almost cost you and Mav everything.”

Mav puts his arm around me and pulls me into his side. “But it didn’t, Cade. I’m right here,” I tell him.

“I should have kept you safe.”

I swallow against the emotion in my throat. “The fact that you even think that means the world to me, Cade.”

His solemn eyes meet mine. “I won’t let it happen again. You’re pack, and what’s more, you’re family. And I protect my own.”

The tears come in earnest now. “I’ve never had a family before.” The words get stuck in my throat and only come out in a whisper. Mav pulls me closer, and Amber steps up next to Cade with Paige in her arms.

“Well, now you do,” she says softly.

“I consider you all my family, too,” I say with what’s left of my composure. I make sure to glance up at Mav as I say it. He squeezes my side and kisses my forehead. Cade wraps his one arm around Amber and one around Mav, bringing us all in together for a moment.

“Well, this certainly brightens things up today,” Amber says brightly, and I know she’s trying to lighten the mood. “We should celebrate.”

“Oh, um, I probably need to tell you a few things...all of you,” I say, glancing up at Maverick. Amber stills at my tone of voice. “So I, um, sort of met with the wolf creator.”

Cade and Amber’s eyes both widen, and I look up at Maverick. “How about we go talk?” he says in a low voice.

A little while later, we find ourselves seated around Cade and Amber’s table with cups of coffee for them and a cup of hot tea for me. After filling the three of them in on everything that happened, I sit back and take a drink of my now cooling tea.

“We’re going to have to let the other packs know,” Amber finally says, her face worried.

Cade nods. “Yeah. I’ll start with Garrett. They’ve got the largest pack. We'll meet and see what he says and go from there.”

Amber nods. “Okay.”

“What did you get from the rogue?” Maverick asks as he crosses his arms over his chest.

Cade levels a look at him. “I’m not sure if talking about it so soon is a good idea.”

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