Page 77 of Healer's Call

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I am aware of the fact that she’s talking. But I can’t focus on it. I need to find and destroy Jacob.He’s trying to take what is mine. He touched what is mine. He won’t stay away from mine.

“Maverick, uh, your wolf...” I growl low. At this point I’m not really sure if it’s me or my wolf. “Please don’t, Mav.”

I can’t see anything through the haze. First my old pack disrespects our mate, now my packmate does. And then, my mind goes blank. It takes a moment for me to pull out of my anger-induced haze and recognize what’s happening. When it does, my body is sent into shock. The healer is kissing me! The moment is over way too fast. I blink and stare down at her.

Her eyes are wide, her pupils huge. “I’m sorry.” She says each word slowly. “I didn’t know what else to do. You were starting to wolf out, and I-I didn’t know what else to do.” She takes another step backwards and runs into the door. “You look like you’re calm now. Okay, um, bye.” The door closes, and she’s gone.

I stare at the closed door as my brain fires and misfires repeatedly. I take several shaky steps over to my bed and sit, dropping my face into my hands. Her kiss replays through my mind on repeat. Of all the things I thought would hit me if I ever kissed her, it was not this.Regret. It was over so fast, I barely had a chance to feel it. And the look on her face afterward. Nausea churns in my gut. She looked embarrassed. That’s not the look I want my mate to wear after she kisses me. I curse at the slip-up.Healer,I mentally correct myself; but I think it might be too late.

I look around my empty room and curse again. I can’t stay here; my room smells like her. I shake my head and stand. That healer has no idea what she’s doing to me. “I’m going for that run now,” I say to the empty room. I’ll let Cade deal with my old pack for now. My wolf agrees with me, and I slip out into the hall and out the back door. Within seconds, I surrender the lead to my wolf and let him run, after making sure he doesn’t go after Jacob to kill him. My thoughts take a backseat as his baser instincts take over, and I’m grateful for the reprieve for a little while. I let him run for over an hour before I force him to return to the packhouse. He goes back willingly, reminding me once again how much the healer has changed things. I used to have to force my wolf to head back to the lodge after a run. Now, he gladly heads back that way, knowing our mate is somewhere inside.

When we get back, I quickly take a shower and head next door to the healer’s room before I have a chance to think about what a bad idea this is. I knock on the door and breathe a sigh of relief when she opens the door. “Maverick.” There’s surprise in her voice and something else that looks a lot like shame or embarrassment, and I hate it.

“Want to eat dinner with me and maybe watch a movie?” I ask quickly.

She blinks. “I-uh...” Then a beautiful smile comes over her face, and my heart stutters in my chest. “I would love to.”

A feeling comes over me that I don’t know what to do with; it happens whenever she smiles. It’s like she’s the sun, and she just makes everybody in her orbit warm. “I’ll grab the food. You can head into my room and pick out something for us to watch.”

She bites her lip in hesitation, and I force my hands to stay at my sides. “Okay,” she says softly.

“I’ll be back in a few. It’s unlocked.” I don’t wait for her to say anything else. I don’t want her to talk herself out of it, and I don’t want my common sense to kick in and remind me what a badidea this is. I’ve kept my distance from the healer for a reason. But my wolf is still on edge with my old pack being here and what she said about Jacob. Speaking of...he’d really better hope I don’t run into him tonight. When I get to the dining hall, I see my old pack; and I’m suddenly really glad that neither the healer nor myself will be eating in the dining hall tonight. I slip into the kitchen quietly.

Pamella calls out with a big smile. “Where’ve you been? It’s been too long since you’ve been in my kitchen hassling me.”

I smile at the gray-haired woman. “Been busy,” I say with a shrug.

She puts her hands on her hips and frowns. “Avoiding your mate? Yes, I’ve heard all about it.” She shakes her spatula at me. “That girl is an angel. If you don’t scoop her up, somebody else will.” I growl as her words bring the exact image to mind I’m trying to avoid. “See? I can’t even talk about your mate without you growling.” She eyes me in concern. “Why don’t you just pursue her, Mav? Let yourself have this.”

I turn away from the soft look in her eyes. Pamella’s known me for years, ever since I used to sneak in here to steal food when I first came to this pack at fifteen. Back then, I was a scrawny kid that was growing like a weed and starving all the time. She took me under her wing, always making sure I had more than enough food. “I’m here to get food for the healer and myself for dinner.” I say that to get her off my back; it works like a charm.

Her entire face lights up. “Yes! Yes, yes, yes!”

Chapter 37

Rose

I carefully open the door to Mav’s room. When I’m convinced he’s not in here, I breathe a sigh of relief. I sit hesitantly in one of his chairs and wonder if I’m really supposed to find something for us to watch. After debating and losing precious time, I finally grab the controls and start searching. I scroll through endless options, wondering what in the world to choose. Then an idea hits me. I grin at myself as I search through the apps to find which one has it.Bingo.And just in time because the door opens a minute later. I jump to my feet when I see his hands are laden with food. “Goodness! How much did you think we were going to eat?”

“I just came back from a run. I could easily eat all this by myself.”

I glance up at him. “Does that mean I should go get my own food?” I ask, only halfway teasing.

“We’re fine, Healer,” he says and sets everything down on a table.

“Wow, how did you get all that? I always miss mealtime and can never find something to eat after hours.”

He stops what he’s doing and looks over at me. “You go hungry?”

I laugh at the expression on his face and wave him off. “It’s fine. It’s my own fault for missing mealtime.” He’s still staring at me. “Seriously, Mav. It’s fine.”

“Come with me real quick.” He strides over to the door.

“Mav, I’m fine.”

“Come on.” He opens the door. “It will be fast and then we can eat. I promise.”

I follow him more out of curiosity than anything else. “Um, where are we going?”

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