Page 59 of Healer's Call

I nod, still too embarrassed to look at him. “I’ll be right there,” I hear Maverick say. The chair across from me pulls out, and Maverick folds his large body into it.

What is he doing?Panic builds in my chest.Certainly he doesn’t want to chat.

“We need to talk.”

I look up at his ominous words; I can’t not. I force myself to look him in the eye. “What about?”

He crosses his arms over his chest and stares at me. “I’m not interested in a mate.” I keep myself from flinching. Barely. “So, if you want to be with one of the other males here, that’s fine.” His words are harsh, and I drop my head.

Don’t cry. Don’t cry.Maybe if I tell myself that enough times, I won’t. I just need to wait until he’s gone.

“Did you hear what I said?”

I nod. “Got it.” I’m proud of the fact that I can speak at all.

“If you’re going to be with one of the other males, just...don’t be obnoxious about it.”

My gaze lifts to his. “Excuse me?”

“If you’re going to be with another male, pick a male from this pack. Don’t go with a male from the Northwoods Pack.” He scowls as he says the words. “And don’t be all in everybody’s face with it. No public displays.”

Anger swiftly rises to the surface, quickly quelling whatever sadness I had. “Oh, soyoudon’t want to be with me, but you’re going to tell me who I can be with and what I can and can’t do?”I ask, raising an eyebrow. Any embarrassment I felt dissipates as my anger continues to rise. “Well, guess what, Maverick? That’s not how it works. If you decide you don’t want anything to do with me, that’s fine. You can reject me, reject the bond or whatever you have to do, but you don’t then get to tell me who I can date or what I can do.” I lean forward. “You lose that privilege if you don’t choose me. And you know what? There are some really good men in the Northwoods Pack.”

“Don’t,” he growls.

“There’s Blaine,” I tick off on my finger. “He’s got the whole broody thing going on, but I bet beneath all that muscle, he’s a real teddy bear. Then there’s Carl. He’s kind of quiet but really nice. Jamie is more out-going; he likes to flirt. Maybe he...”

“Stop,” he growls at me.

I ignore him. “Oh, there’s also Logan. Supposedly, he’s a really good tracker.”

“No,” he says.

My anger and hurt crest. “No, Maverick. You don’t get to say you don’t want me—” To my horror, my voice breaks. I shove my chair back and grab my plate. I need to get out of here before I have a full breakdown. I try to walk past, but he snags my wrist.

“Healer.” His voice is low. “Look at me.” I don’t. I just want to escape. “Please.” His voice is soft and earnest and so unlike him that I lift my gaze to his. “It has nothing to do with you.” I laugh.

“That’s what a guy always says. Everybody knows it’s absolutely not true.”

He frowns. “Well, in this case, it is.”

“Rooose,” somebody calls out. A heavy arm drops around my shoulders, and I stiffen in response. I don’t like it when people touch me, especially without my permission. And yes, I realize I’m being hypocritical because Iamenjoying Maverick’s hold on my hand...the hand he hasn’t dropped yet.

“How’s my favorite healer doing?” Jacob asks with his heavy arm still on my shoulders.

“I’m good, Jacob. How are you?” If he notices my voice is soft and uncertain, he doesn’t say anything.

“I’m better now. Want to eat breakfast with me?”

“She already ate,” Maverick growls out. “Get your arm off her shoulder; she doesn’t want it there.”

“You gonna make me?” Jacob asks, grinning from ear to ear. When Maverick stands up and shoves his chair back, Jacob finally drops his arm and backs away grinning like a fool. “Okay, okay. Next time, Cupcake.” He winks at me and walks away, joining a group of guys.

“Does he always bother you like that?” Maverick asks. I glance up at him and see his gaze still zeroed in on Jacob. I shrug, unwilling to get into it with him. At this point, I just want to escape to my room. He glances down at me, still frowning. “Want me to talk to him?”

“I’m up for grabs, remember?” Without another word, I walk over and drop off my dishes and then make my way up to my room. I’m halfway up the stairs when I remember I have a healing I’m supposed to do this morning. I take a deep breath and head back down the stairs. Thankfully, Maverick is no longer in sight. I make my way to the apartment number Amber sent me last night, giving myself a pep talk on the way.You’re a healer; this is what you do.

By the time I get to the apartment, my mind is back where it needs to be—far, far away from Maverick. The shifter in bed is much sicker than I had assumed based on the message Amber sent me. I stare down at the male shifter as my mind races. This will be the second time I’ve healed him, and if it’s as it seems, he’s much worse. And yet, Amber only texted me last night which means either nobody realized he was that sick, which would be unusual. Or the second time comes on muchfaster, and the shifter is much sicker. My stomach tightens at the thought, and I focus on healing him. It takes much longer than my other healings, but I finally finish. I’m kicking myself, though because I didn’t bring any juice with me. I haven’t for a while now because my healings have been happening faster after the person comes down with symptoms. This one is different in that it’s the second healing. I manage to get out the door and down the hallway before black dots start to cloud my vision. My stomach gets that sick feeling, and the world around me spins.

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