Page 57 of Healer's Call

I lift a brow. “It’s past midnight.”

“I won’t be going to sleep any time soon.” Once he has his coffee in hand, he sits at the table with me. “Is this about tonight?”

“In a way.”

He takes a sip of coffee. “I’m all ears.”

“The healers came to my fight tonight in downtown Orlando.”

He slowly puts his coffee down and pins me with a look. “You took Rose and Ava to the fight club?”

“No. I didn’t take them with me; but they were there. They followed me.” He smirks, but I ignore it. “I’m just letting you know in case anything comes of it or if somebody says something.”

“You’re covering yourself,” Cade says with an eyebrow raise.

“Exactly.”

Cade eyes me, and I don’t like the look in his eyes. “Your time at the fight ring has increased as of late.” I nod. “Why is that?”

“Just what I do.”

“You know there’s an easier way to deal with the stress you’re under, the stress your wolf is under,” he says, sitting back in his chair.

“If you’re talking about getting close to the healer, it’s not going to happen. She’s way too soft and has too many...emotions.” Cade is quiet, and it irritates me but I can wait him out.

“Where’s the guy that drove me crazy for months telling me every day that she needed to be here and not with the Northwoods Pack?”

I scowl at the mention of their pack. “She did need to be here...in our pack, where I can make sure she’s safe.”

Cade lifts an eyebrow. “But you’re not going to mate her.”

My voice hardens. “You know why I won’t.”

Cade stares at me. “You’re not the person you make yourself out to be, Mav.”

“You know me; you know my wolf. I won’t subject her to a life sentence of being stuck with me.”

“And you’re not going to let her decide what she wants?”

I snort. “The healer would never choose me.”

“Would you stop calling her the healer. She’s your mate. Why do you refuse to call her by name?”

I squeeze the table. “Because then she becomes real. If I just call her the healer, it’s not personal.”

“Newsflash, Mav. She’s already real.” I don’t say anything; there’s nothing to say. “You’ve got to let the past go. You were young; it’s not your fault what happened to your sister.”

“Don’t,” I say, locking my jaw. My muscles tense, and I’m ready for a fight.

“Julie’s not coming back even if—”

“Stop!” I thunder at him. My chair topples over. “Don’t say her name.”

Cade waits a beat and then gives me a nod. “If you won’t claim Rose, then is she open to somebody else in the pack to be able to claim?”

A fierce growl explodes from my chest, and he gives me a knowing look. I don’t say anything, because I can’t. My wolf won’t let me even think about not mating Rose, let alone some other shifter having her. But I won’t do that to her. I never planned on having a mate, and just because the little healer came into my life doesn’t mean that will change. She’s here now where I can make sure she’s safe, and that’s all it can ever be.

Cade stands to his feet and levels a look at me. “You can’t destroy her future, Mav. You can’t not claim her but not let anybody else either.”

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