Page 33 of Healer's Call

“Do you want my chicken salad croissant?” I ask. He looks at me like I just asked him to sacrifice his first-born child. I bite back a smile; I don’t know why it makes me smile, but it does. “Thank you,” I say softly. I would think he doesn’t hear me because he doesn’t acknowledge me, but I know he heard mebecause of his shifter hearing. I take a bite of the sandwich he gave me. It’s really good.

Wyatt’s in the middle of a story when Maverick abruptly shoves his chair back.

“Healer, you’re with me.” I stare up at him with a blank expression. “We’re leaving.” I look down at my food and then back at him.

“I...now?”

“Maverick, if you need to leave, we can take Rose back,” Wyatt says calmly.

“She needs to go with me.”

Sam and Ava both eye me uneasily. I don’t really know what his problem is, but I am not going to ruin everybody else’s meal. “Okay,” I say and grab my wallet.

Wyatt gives Maverick a look I’m glad I’m not on the receiving end of. “I’m not sure what the problem is, but just let Rose stay here with her friends and enjoy her meal. I’ll make sure she gets back safely. I give you my word.” He speaks in a low, quiet voice; but I can hear him clearly.

“Like your word means anything,” Maverick responds and I squeeze my hands and stand up quickly.

“It’s fine. I’ll see you guys when you get back.” I hurry around to the other side of the table. “Just let me know what I owe you for my meal,” I tell Sam. She gives me a concerned look that I don’t respond to. I start to walk past the table, but Wyatt stands and cuts me off.

“Rose, you don’t have to leave. Want me to deal with him?”

I feel Maverick come close behind me. “It’s fine.” I give Wyatt a pleading look; I really don’t want to make a scene.

“You have a problem, Pup?” Maverick asks. I squeeze my fists. I hate it when he does that. Wyatt is an alpha, and yet Maverick treats him like he’s a little kid.

“Yeah, I have a problem,” Wyatt says, stepping closer, sandwiching me in between the two men. “If you want to go, go; but let Rose stay with her friends and finish her meal.”

“Wyatt,” Sam says quietly from the table, and he glances over at her.

“I’m going to give you five seconds to get out of our way, or I’m going to make you get out of the way,” Maverick says in a low voice.

“Okay, okay,” I say desperately. “It’s fine. I’m fine, Wyatt. I’ll see you later.” He glances down at me, and I can see the anger in his eyes. I look away quickly because I don’t want to add any fuel to the fire. I reach blindly behind me and grab Maverick’s arm. “We’re leaving.” I tug, but he doesn’t move. I look up at Wyatt. “Please,” I whisper. His jaw tightens, but he steps aside. I walk past, praying Maverick will just follow me and not do anything stupid. I walk through the restaurant with my shoulders tense. We make it outside and to his car, and I sit in the passenger seat with nerves coiled tight.

“Do I manhandle you?” he asks, shattering the silence.

“What?” I ask in confusion.

“Do I manhandle you?” he repeats each word slowly and distinctly.

“Uh, no?”

“Then don’t do that to me. Don't touch me to try to get me to do something. That’s twice you’ve done that.”

I stare at him, open-mouthed. “Then don’t be a jerk.” I blink, shocked that I said that and then quickly look away.

It's quiet as we pull away. Maverick drives fast and aggressively, and I hang on for dear life. “Do you have to kill us on the way back?” I manage. He doesn’t bother responding. We make it back quickly, and I get out of the car as fast as I can. I just want to go to my room and try to forget this night.

“Healer.” His voice stops me, and I grind my teeth together. “This way.”

I spin around at the absolute end of my patience. “What, Maverick?”

“You’re needed. This way.” He cocks his head, and I stare at him.

“What are you talking about?”

I can see the change on his face as he steps towards me. He looks angry, and it scares me. I take a step back, and he shocks me by going still. His gaze meets mine a moment before he looks away, and I swear I saw a flicker of guilt. But when he looks back, there’s nothing there. “Amber’s sick.” Those two words reach out and grab my attention.

“Amber?” Panic claws at my chest. “And Paige?”

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