Page 22 of Healer's Call

“You should let me do some of the healings.”

“No.”

“I don’t know why you’re being so stubborn about this whole thing. Just let me help.”

I sigh. “No, because if we both get it, we’re going to be in a world of hurt with nobody to save us.”

Ava rolls her eyes. “We can have Sage come.”

It’s my turn to shake my head. “Paul’s not going to let her near this illness. Besides, she has Stana. She can’t take the chance of getting this...whatever it is.”

“Fine. Then Sam can come.”

I shake my head again. “No. She's in her own pack now. She and Wyatt can’t just leave whenever they want; he’s the alpha there.”

Ava adds. “She’s probably pregnant, anyway. I’m sure Wyatt’s been actively trying to put a baby in her.”

My face scrunches up. “Ewww. TMI.”

“You know I speak the truth,” she says, and I don’t argue with her.

The next two weeks pass in a blur of healing, healing, and more healing. I’m starting to feel like there’s an end in sight, and it feels really good. Cade has been singing my praises, and I’ve been getting to know more people in the pack as I heal their loved ones. It gives me a sense of satisfaction and belonging, not that I’ll stay in this pack forever. But for now, it feels really good. And then, of course, because something is actually going right in my life, it all comes crashing down.

Chapter 13

Rose

I pace outside Maverick’s door, trying to get up the courage to knock. I’ve just decided this is a terrible idea, beyond terrible. I start to walk away when the door opens suddenly. “Did you lose your nerve before you even knocked?” I spin around, startled, and see Maverick leaning against the doorframe watching me. “Do you want to come in since you came all this way?” he asks dryly and motions inside.

I dig deep for courage and walk past him. He doesn’t move out of the doorway, causing me to brush up against him as I walk past. The smell of him makes me lightheaded and not because he smells so good. He does, but that’s not why it’s making me dizzy. I pace the room, trying to calm my nerves. I notice absently that his room is larger than mine, and I wonder about that. Is it because he’s the beta? “Why are you here, Healer?” he asks, interrupting my train of thought.

“Cade told me to come here,” I say as I turn to face him. He scowls—typical. When I don’t say anything, he crosses his arms and leans against the wall, looking so very relaxed while I’m feeling the furthest thing from relaxed. I catch the smirk on his face and finally bring myself to say why I’m here. “What were your first symptoms?”

He loses the smirk and straightens. He watches me a moment with that intense look. “Why are you asking?”

“Just answer the question, Maverick,” I say with a bravery I don’t normally feel around him. Just then, an involuntary shiver runs through me.

He curses swiftly and closes the distance between us. “When did you start having muscle spasms?” he asks in a low voice. I don’t answer. “When?” he demands.

“A few days ago,” I finally offer.

He curses again. “You should have told me.”

This makes me laugh, and I do. “So you could do what?” I ask. “Ignore me? Oh wait, you’ve already been doing that.” I clench my teeth together when I feel another shudder ripple through me.

“Don’t do that,” he orders.

“What?” I ask, totally not in the mood for this guy. In fact, I’m not even sure why I came here, other than the fact that Cade made me promise to talk to Maverick about my symptoms.

“Don’t grind your teeth and try to stop the shudders. Just let them come.” He reaches out and puts his hand on my arm before cursing yet a third time, this time with my name. “You’re hot.”

“Thank you,” I tell him, feeling oddly invincible in this state.

“You’re burning up,” he says, either not hearing my comment or deciding to ignore it.Probably the latter. “Why didn’t you stop?”

“Stop?” I ask in confusion. I’m not trying to play games; I’m really having a hard time keeping track of the conversation. “Is your room spinning?” I ask. Another shudder wracks my body, and this one hurts. Suddenly, I’m pulled up into Maverick’s arms. I want to ask what he’s doing, why he’s doing it, but everything hurts, and I’m just so tired. I drop my head against his chest. I absolutely can’t hold it up anymore; it feels like it weighs a thousand pounds. I hear him rumble something; I can feel it in his chest, but I miss what he said.

“Healer.” I manage to pry my eyes open. “Have you been eating?” His face is near mine, but it’s blurred around the edges. No, not the edges. His whole face is blurred. Or no. I cock my head. There’s two faces. He says something again because I canfeel the rumble in his chest again, but I can’t make out his words. Only moments later, I’m laid down on something soft. It feels really good. I roll over and curl into a ball, but before I can close my eyes, somebody rolls me back over. I want to snap at them, but I’m just too tired. “Healer.” I manage to open my eyes, even though they feel so heavy. “How many days...” His words trail off, and I close my eyes. I’m not sure what he wants, but I can answer it after I’ve had a nap. The sound of the door opening somehow pulls me out of my sub-conscious state.

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