Page 3 of Healer’s Reckoning (The Healer’s #3)

Bryce

I watch my gorgeous mate hightail it past me, and simultaneously smirk while also battling against the need to go after her. The need seems to grow more and more. I’ve had a hard time keeping my wolf settled these last few months. Honestly, the man has struggled as well. “Aren’t you going to tell her she’s riding with you tonight?” Hunter asks from his position next to me.

“Nope. She’ll find out soon enough.”

I can feel his eyes on me, but mine are glued to my mate. I watch to make sure she gets back to her room safely. Hunter told me about her run-in with Jackson. My wolf growls in my chest, and I push him down. He’s not sure why we left him breathing last night after he called our mate his. My vision blurs slightly as anger courses through me once again as I relive that moment. I hadn’t seen my mate in months. I’ve been barely keeping control of my wolf and feel like I’m losing it as an alpha. I’ve looked forward to last night every moment of every day since I got the invite from Maverick. I smelled her delicious scent long before I ever saw her. I was practically euphoric as I walked to the gathering area. My team and I were late because of an accident on the highway. And then I finally laid eyes on her; only she wasn’t alone. There was another man standing way too close to my mate. My anger rose instantly. And then when he called her mate , my wolf erupted, and I did nothing to stop the shift. Honestly, I haven’t lost control like that since I was a young teen. But seeing another man trying to claim my mate as his own—

“Bryce.” A hard elbow to my side brings me back to the present. “Reign it in.”

I take a deep breath and push my wolf that is riding very close to the surface back down. I take another calming breath. “Sorry.”

Hunter gives me a look but doesn’t say anything. I don’t bother entertaining his look. I know he doesn’t care for Ava, but I could care less. He’s spent exactly thirty seconds with her, but he made up his mind about her before he even met her. He sees her running from me as rejection. I’ve let her, but I plan on changing that very soon. I haven’t told her yet, but I plan on taking her back to my pack after this weekend. I’ve let her run from me and keep her distance because I know she’s scared. It doesn’t take but two minutes to be in Ava’s presence to know that she’s deeply troubled and terrified—something that makes my wolf and I nearly lose our minds. Our mate should never know fear, and yet she has. I know a little of what she’s been through, not from her of course. Wyatt told me that she’d been captured and held by vampires, and they’d nearly drained her dry. The only reason she survived was because of the healing power within her. “Bryce!” Hunter says again.

I don’t bother pushing my wolf down. “I’m going for a run.” I don’t wait for a response as I head towards the exit door and around to the back of the property. As soon as I’m a distance from the house, I shrug out of my shirt and pants. My shift is instantaneous, and I let my wolf run, hoping it will help both of us be somewhat calm tonight. I let him run until it’s time to head back and get ready. When I get back and shift, I get dressed again. Hunter does the same. We don’t say anything to each other as we head back to the house. I knew he was out there the entire time I was. Hunter is nothing but faithful. Hunter is not only my enforcer; he’s also my best friend. He has been since we were pups, and his dad was my father’s enforcer. When it was time for me to take over, Hunter’s dad stepped aside and Hunter took his place. We’ve always been in lock step about pretty much everything...until Ava. I know he’s just trying to protect me. He doesn’t understand why she won’t give me a chance; I get it. If he had a mate and she did to him what Ava’s doing to me, I would be mad too. But he doesn’t know Ava’s history, not enough to understand her. And I don’t want him to; she’s mine—mine to protect, mine to shelter, mine to figure out and help conquer her fear. I thought time would help, but it’s obvious she’s no better off than she was months ago. So, I’m stepping in. I can deal with her anger; what I can’t deal with is her fear and hurt and her inability to move forward. There is nothing about her that shows she gets any kind of joy out of life. I want to change that for her.

I head to my room, and Hunter veers off to his. We are close enough that we don’t need to communicate all the time. I know he’ll be ready when it’s time to go. After my shower, I dress for the night. I’m not really sure what the dress code is, but I figure it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed. After throwing on my dark jeans and a blue button up, I throw my navy sports jacket on. I grab my wallet and phone and head to the lobby where we’re supposed to meet. My wolf rises to the surface at the expectation of seeing our mate. My shadow joins me as we head into the waiting area. We’re the first ones, so I pick a wall to lean against and get caught up on email. The alpha of the Northwoods pack is the next to show. He and Emma arrive hand in hand, and she laughs at something he said. His face is relaxed and his smile genuine. It’s so different seeing him mated; he’s changed so much.

The others begin to arrive, and the noise level ratchets up. I don’t have to bother watching for my mate. I know the exact moment she arrives. Her scent hits me first. My wolf rises to the surface, and I wrestle him back down. My feet are already moving in her direction even before I see her. I stop about three feet from her as a growl rises in my throat that I keep contained. Or maybe I don’t, because her eyes shoot to mine. I take in the strip of enticing skin she’s showing off in her midriff and can’t seem to look away, but I don’t want the others seeing her this way.

“Uh, I think I missed the memo for how we’re supposed to dress,” she says.

My eyes travel down the rest of her body, taking in the same ripped jeans that nearly drove me distracted earlier. I want to say something, but no words form. I’m afraid if I try to say anything, it will come out as a growl.

“Ava,” a soft voice floats over us.

Maverick’s mate, Rose, joins us. “I didn’t get the memo that this was a dressy event,” Ava tells her.

“Nonsense,” Rose says, waving off her concern. “Raechel?” Rose waves over Max’s outspoken mate. “Ava’s worried she needs to change.”

“No. You look hot. Doesn’t she, Alpha?” Raechel asks, turning to me with a sly grin. “She doesn’t need to change, does she?”

I recognize this for the trap that it is. I don’t want Ava wearing what she’s wearing, because she’s got too much of her gorgeous skin exposed. But I wasn’t born yesterday; I know the right answer to this question. “You look beautiful, Ava. No need to change.”

She doesn’t even bother looking in my direction. “I’ll just go change real quick.” Without a backward glance, she takes off. I fight the urge to follow her but know the night will go a lot smoother if I don’t start it by being overbearing.

Raechel turns to me. “You ready for tonight?”

I meet her dancing eyes. “Yes.”

She studies me a moment. “You better do good by her, Alpha.”

My wolf rises at her challenge, but I push him down. Hunter steps close, and I can feel his aggression. Suddenly, Max is there.

Stand down, I warn Hunter. She didn’t mean it as a threat.

Sure sounded that way, comes his reply.

“ Is there a problem?” Max asks, coming to stand next to his mate.

“No,” I say easily. “Your mate was just reminding me to take care of her friend.” The words taste bitter in my mouth because she doesn’t need to tell me to take care of my mate. But I know Raechel is human; she didn’t grow up with wolves. She doesn’t understand that I’d rather kill myself than hurt Ava, and I will do everything in my power to make her happy and help her feel safe and protected and cherished.

“Angel, don’t push the alpha,” Max mutters in a low voice.

“I wasn’t pushing him,” Raechel says in exasperation, throwing her hands up at the same time.

I watch her carefully. While I would never ever hurt a woman, I’ve heard about her. She can take a full-grown male shifter to the ground in seconds. Wisdom says not to turn my back on the fighter. But I appreciate a strong female willing to go to bat for my female. Because of that, I give her a nod of respect.

“All right, everybody. Let’s head out,” Garrett calls out. The crowd begins to disperse until it’s just Hunter and me left.

Her scent hits me before she appears. Then when she does, my breath whooshes out. I’m suddenly wishing for the ripped jeans and crop top because the outfit she’s wearing now is worse. So much worse. My eyes slide over her body, taking in the red dress that forms to her every curve. The low neckline and the slit up her thigh are going to be my undoing. She's pulled her hair down, and it frames her face in gentle waves. She takes a step forward, giving me a full look at her toned leg and the strappy heels she’s wearing. I try to remember how to breathe.

Should have just let her wear the other outfit.

It takes everything in me not to bite Hunter’s head off for his comment. He shouldn’t even be looking at her. Nobody should be. A low growl bubbles up my chest and sounds before I can pull it back. A single eyebrow arches, and my mate stares me down. “Is there a problem?” I know in that instant that she did this on purpose.

I meet her gaze. Challenge accepted, Mate. “ No. You look beautiful.”

Surprise registers on her face for just a millisecond before she wipes it off. “Okay then. Let's go.” She strides towards the door, and it takes every single ounce of my control not to watch her walk away. Only because I know if she looks back and catches me staring at her backside, she will definitely let me have it. Of course, that might not be so bad. There’s nothing that heats my blood more than my mate getting that fire in her eye and directing it towards me. I quickly catch up to Ava and open the door for her as we step out into the parking lot. There’s a warm breeze, and I can smell the tang of the saltwater. She stops so suddenly in front of me, I would have plowed into her if not for my quick reflexes.

“Where is everybody?” she asks.

“Oh,” I say as nonchalantly as possible. “Did I not tell you? You’re riding with me.” I watch with rapt attention as her cheeks begin to heat. That fire enters her eyes, and I barely stop the smirk that threatens to take over.

“Is that so?” she asks.

“That’s so.”