Page 14 of Forced By the Alpha

Franco helped him to his feet and passed him off to be accompanied back to his cabin before reaching a hand down to me.

“I have them set up in a line over here,” he explained. “Starting on the left.”

I nodded and followed him to the next patient. For the next hour, I healed each person, one by one, until everyone was stable.

“That’s all I can do for them right now,” I told Franco as the last woman was helped back to her bed. “Their sped-up healing should have them right as rain by morning. Remind me tomorrow to make some protection amulets so there are fewer injuries next time.”

“Tomorrow?” he asked.

“I can’t do them today. I need some supplies,” I explained. “I’ll make a list.”

It was true, but it wasn’t the whole reason for not making them today. The truth was, I was completely exhausted.

As the few remaining pack members talked with Franco, I snuck out of the room. All I could think about was getting into bed and taking a few minutes—or hours—to recharge. The healing had pushed my body to its limit, and I felt my last reserves of strength begin to fail me.

I barely made it out the door before my legs gave out from under me and the ground came up to greet me. I closed my eyes, bracing for the impact, but it never came.

“Easy, I got you,” a deep voice said.

A pair of muscular arms had caught my fall. I opened my eyes and saw that it was Franco. He was looking at me, concern written all over his face as he held me tightly.

“I’m fine,” I said. I attempted to hold my own weight, but my legs buckled beneath me.

Franco held on to me tighter. His hands pressed into my torso, hot against the coldness that had permeated my body with each new person I healed.

“You’re not fine,” Franco argued.

With sure movements, he swung me up into his arms and carried me like a child to the cabin. I wanted to protest at the ridiculousness of him cradling me, as well as the physical closeness that I hadn’t agreed to, but I didn’t have the energy. Instead, I allowed my head to rest against his shoulder as I swayed in his arms. All too soon, we were back home, and he placed me gently on the bed.

“Explain,” he demanded.

The calm feeling that had washed over me moments ago dissipated, leaving behind a rage that had been buried.

“I told you already,” I hissed. “I don’t have the power you think I do. I’ve reached the limit of my abilities. All that healing has drained me—physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. You have no idea what kind of toll magic takes.”

“I know you have more power than you showed today,” Franco argued, though he sounded more encouraging than accusatory. He sat down on the bed next to me, further igniting my anger toward him.

“I don’t!” I shouted. “I have nothing more to give. Even if I did have the kind of magic you’re looking for, it’s lockedsomewhere deep inside me. It’s no good to either of us if I can’t access it.”

“You’re a witch. You’ve done magic like this before.”

“Not like this,” I said with a sigh, falling backwards onto the pillows. I couldn’t keep myself upright any longer.

“What kind of magic did you practice in Sparkle Hollow?” he asked.

“I’ve done spells before, of course, but I mostly relied on kitchen magic—herbs, potions, runes, amulets, those kinds of things,” I admitted.

“Is that easier?” Franco asked.

His question was genuine. I got the impression that he truly wanted to hear more about my life and the kind of magic I was used to using. It had been so long since I had the chance to have a real conversation with someone beyond day-to-day small talk. I felt myself relaxing in his presence, fueled by the kindness in his manner and the tiredness of my body.

“I’ve always done better magic when I have a physical object to focus on,” I explained.

My eyelids began to flutter closed. The weight on the bed shifted. I could tell that Franco had laid down beside me, but I was too tired to care.

“Did you learn magic from your mom or your dad?” he asked quietly.

“Both,” I explained. “My dad is a very powerful witch. He taught my siblings and me what he knew, but they took to spell work more than I did. He was always ready to help someone if they needed it, but he tried to keep a low profile in Sparkle Hollow.”

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