Page 43 of Healer's Call

I pause. “You don’t have to.”

“I know; I want to.” His eyes are sincere.

“Okay.”

He picks up both our plates and puts them away. “Who do you need to check on?”

I check my text messages. “William and Joyce.”

He nods. “Follow me.”

When he knocks and nobody opens the door, I turn the handle and enter the room. “I’m coming in. My name is Rose; I’m a healer.” I say the words quietly in case they’re sleeping. When my eyes adjust to the dim light, I see a man sitting ina chair dozing and a woman on the bed doing the same thing. I take in the gray hair and know that they’re definitely old. Shifters age slowly, so for them to have graying hair, they have to be old. When I get close, I put my hand on the man’s knee, and his eyes flash open. “I’m a healer,” I say putting my hands up. “Cade sent me to check on you.”

He relaxes, and I see a tremor run through his body. He stands to his feet and wakes the woman. “Joyce, the healer is here.” The woman turns over, blinking sleepy eyes at me.

“Hi, I’m Rose,” I tell her. “Cade sent me to check on both of you. I’d like to send some healing power into you both if you’re okay with that.” I explain what it entails, and they both agree. A little while later, I head out the door, feeling good. Both of them needed healing, but it wasn’t too strenuous.

“That was amazing,” Jacob says, startling me. I’d forgotten about him.

“Thanks. I forgot you were here.”

“Wow, thanks. I'm glad I’m so forgettable.”

I grimace. “I didn’t mean it like that; I—”

He grins. “It’s fine. Where are you off to next?”

“I have to get to Amber’s to get ready for tonight.”

“I’ll walk you there.” I don’t really know how to turn him down without being mean, so I simply nod. We stop at my room to get everything I need and then head to Amber’s.

“Hey, come on in. Thanks for bringing her, Jacob,” she says, effectively dismissing him when she shuts the door. “All right.” She rubs her hands together. “Let’s get you ready. You go get changed, and I’ll help you with hair and makeup.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I know, but I haven’t gotten to do anything like this in a while. It will be fun!”

Not wanting to take away her joy, I head to the bathroom. A few minutes later, I emerge in the black pencil skirt and whiteblouse we bought for tonight’s meeting. I slip the black heels on and the gold hoops. “You look great,” she says with a smile. “You were hiding some curves under those baggy clothes you wear.”

I blush. “That’s because I’m short. All my weight goes to my backside, thighs, and my chest.”

Amber rolls her eyes. “All that weight,” she says dramatically. “And I sure don’t hear Mav complaining.”

I shake my head. “I’m pretty sure Mav has never even noticed that I have curves.”

“Well, if he hasn’t noticed yet, he will tonight,” she says with a big smile. She helps me straighten my long dark hair and then does my makeup. Honestly, it’s kind of fun. I haven’t spent time on myself like this in a long time, since before I came to the Northwoods Pack. Staring at myself in the mirror, I see a little bit of the person I used to be—confident, ready to take on the world, a person who refused to let her past rule her.I wonder what happened to that girl?Sadly, I know exactly what happened to her.

Chapter 22

Rose

“You look amazing,” Amber says for at least the third time. “I can’t wait for Mav to take you somewhere really fancy that you have to get a formal for. That would be really fun.”

“If we do, you and Cade will have to go with us; so we can both dress up.”

Her eyes light up. “Yes! That would be so fun.” She looks so excited, I make a mental note to ask Cade if we can do that soon. “Are you ready?”

I look in the mirror one last time. I have to admit—I look good. I look professional. The heels add a few good inches, and I feel powerful. “Yes. Thank you for all your help.”

---