Page 39 of Healer’s Reckoning (The Healer’s #3)

Bryce

I listen as her breathing starts to slow, and I can tell she’s about to drift off to sleep. “Sleep well, Mate. You and I will be talking seriously about mating in the morning.” I know she doesn’t hear me because her breathing deepens, and I know she’s asleep. I’m glad she’s finally sleeping, but I’m way too wired to sleep now. I’m furious that I didn’t know that she could be free from the threat of vampires just by mating me. I haven’t pushed her because I know what she’s been through. I’ve wanted to take our time, get to know each other, get her to trust me. But now? With that bombshell she dropped; this changes everything. I reach out to Hunter.

You still awake? I don’t have to wait long for his response.

Am now.

Can you meet me outside my room?

Yeah.

I get up off the floor, careful not to wake Ava. I stand over her bed for a moment and study her beautiful face. She looks younger when she’s asleep. A fierce ache forms in my chest. She’s been through so much. I just want to protect her, love on her, take care of her, and make her happy.

I’m here, Hunter sends me.

I will myself to walk away from my mate and slip quietly out the door, closing it carefully behind me. I’m not willing to step away from her door, not even for a minute. Hunter leans against the wall opposite me. I run a hand through my hair and try to calm my anger. I’m not angry at Ava, though I wish she would have told me sooner; I'm angry at the vampires who keep coming after my mate and keep destroying her life.

What’s wrong? Hunter asks through our pack link.

We’re both very aware that other shifters can hear us through these walls. Ava told me tonight that the vampires told her that the healers that are already mated are of no use to them. I can feel my anger building again, just at saying those words. Hunter doesn’t react in any way, not that I was expecting him to. She fell asleep before I could talk to her any more about it.

Want to go for a run? Hunter suggests. I can guard her door.

No. I'm good. I don’t want to leave her. I know he’s picking up on the agitation of my wolf, of me; but I’m not leaving her. Not when she’s asleep and the most vulnerable. I’m going to talk her into mating as soon as she wakes up tomorrow. It will keep her safe. I run a hand over my chest. I’m telling you because being freshly mated around all these shifters is probably going to make my wolf even more on edge.

He stares at me intensely. Not sure that’s such a great idea.

I force the growl down that rises from the back of my throat. Don’t think I asked your opinion.

You didn’t. Just taking a bet on the fact your mate isn’t going to want to have sex with you for the first time here with all these shifters around.

This time I can’t keep the snarl off my face. I take a step towards him, even as I try to calm myself. He doesn’t move a muscle. Don’t talk about my mate and sex in the same sentence.

I’m no threat to you or your mate. You know that. Just think it through, he sends back.

I am thinking that my mate will finally be protected. My words are fierce, even through the bond.

I know. Just think of it from her point of view too. They say the mating experience is very intimate and very--

I cut off whatever idiotic thing he’s about to say. I know.

Then you know what it will probably lead to as well, he pushes. Just thinking that your very human mate may not want everybody in this entire building to know what is happening between you two.

My claws come out, and I take a breath and try to remind myself that Hunter is my friend. That I don’t want to kill him.

Just think about it. You know I'll have your back no matter what.

I hear a muffled scream from behind me, and I throw the door open and race inside. I scan the room, looking for the threat, every nerve alert. There’s movement behind me, and I know Hunter’s doing the same thing. I hear the sound again, and my heart breaks. Ava is tangled up in her blankets and sheets in the midst of a nightmare. Out now, I growl at Hunter. She is far too exposed to have anyone in here beside me. Only me. Ever . I take a breath and try to settle my wolf who was moments from bursting out of my skin to defend his mate against the threat. I take a deep breath and then approach the bed. I know not to wake her. In the time I was apart from Ava over the last year, I read everything I could get my hands on about helping somebody who’s been through trauma. I sit on the floor next to her bed and slowly take her hand, being careful not to startle her awake. She cries out again, but this time it’s in pain; and my heart can’t take it. I stand up and walk to the other side of the bed. I slip into bed as gently as I can, being careful not to wake her and pull her carefully into my arms. She doesn’t wake up; she continues to dream, even pushing against my chest at one point. But I don’t let go. Eventually, she begins to settle. Her breathing evens out, and she turns towards me. My heart squeezes painfully when I see the tear tracks on her face. I pull her against my chest.

“I’m here, Love. You’re safe.” I run a hand up and down her back. “You’re safe.” I whisper the words over and over again, hoping somehow they slip into her subconscious. Her body eventually relaxes against me, and her heartbeat slows its frantic pace. I don’t move for a long while. When I know she’s safely asleep and not stuck in a nightmare, I finally begin to relax. I take her scent deep into my lungs, and my wolf that’s been pushing against me all night finally settles.

When I open my eyes, I blink at the sunlight blanketing the room . I’m shocked that I actually slept several hours. A quick glance at the clock shows it’s just about time for the meeting to start. I look down at my beautiful mate in my arms and fight the desire to just stay here and continue holding her until she opens those gorgeous eyes. But I know I need to be at that meeting. I let my eyes run over her face, committing every detail to memory once again. I’m going to keep you safe. I kiss her ever so softly on the forehead and then begin the process of disentangling myself from her. I climb out of the warm bed, cursing myself for needing to be at this meeting. I force myself into the bathroom for a cold shower.

A few minutes later, I head out. Cody meets me in the hall. He’s on security detail outside Ava’s room while Hunter and I are in the meeting. I put my hand on his shoulder. “Keep her safe.”

He nods. “Will do. You look good. Rested.”

I take in his words, pat him one more time on the shoulder, and then head to the meeting. The meeting’s already started when I enter the room, and I could care less. I wouldn’t change a thing about this morning. I take the open seat next to Hunter.

Nice of you to join us.

I don’t respond in any way to Hunter’s comment except to give him a finger gesture that lets him know exactly what I think of his comment. I can feel his humor through our bond.

I’m glad you finally slept.

I’m not sure when it was that everybody became so obsessed about my sleep patterns, but whatever. It’s not like Hunter has any grounds to stand on. The guy is basically a machine; I don’t think he ever sleeps. I make myself focus on what Garrett is saying. It’s not a surprise that Maverick has Garrett running this meeting, even though it’s on his turf. I would too. With Garrett leading what is now the largest pack in the country, it gives him a kind of leadership over the other packs. He doesn’t seem to mind, but I’m glad it’s not me. I find my mind drifting to my mate. Part of me wonders if I should have woken her up before I left so she didn’t wake up to an empty room. The other part of me wishes I was still in bed with her. I find myself reaching out to Cody, even though it hasn’t been all that long.

Everything good there?

Yeah, Boss. She’s up and moving around.

“Bryce, what’s your take?”

I lean back against my seat and assess Garrett.

You have no clue what he asked, do you? Hunter asks.

Nope.

I can feel his humor again. You are such a goner. He’s talking about the vampires attacking packs and going after weaker wolves.

Thanks.

“I think that they will continue to be a problem, and they’re going to grow. You saw their facility, and you’ve seen at least in a small part what they’re trying to do. They’re definitely not going anywhere.” I turn my chair slightly so that I can see Maverick and Wyatt. “I did learn something interesting last night. Ava told me that the vampires told her when she was there that the healers can’t help them once they’re mated.”

Wyatt leans back in his chair and crosses his arms. “Good to know.” Maverick only nods, but I know he has to be feeling relief. Garrett gives me a look, and I know he’s thinking the same thing I am. Ava is unprotected until she’s mated. But I'm not about to talk about the status of our mating in front of all these shifters, especially the ones I can’t stand.

“Speaking of the human healers,” Terrence begins. “Are you going to continue to allow humans to mate with our wolves?”

“Are you going to continue to ask stupid questions?” Liam, Garrett’s beta asks.

Terrence levels a look of disgust at him. I sit back in my chair and study the few shifters that I can’t stand. They’re from a different generation, a different world; I try to remember that and not launch across the table and kill them. But it’s tempting; so very tempting.

Uh, Boss.

I tune into Cody’s words but don’t respond outwardly in any way. What?

Ava said she’s heading to your meeting.

Stay with her.

Will do. She may or may not be gathering reinforcements.

I can’t keep the smile off my face. That’s my girl.

I tune back into the discussion slash argument Garrett is waging with the shifters that haven’t gotten on board with those of us who have or will be mating with humans. It’s an old argument, one that Garrett has dealt with many times now, as he was the first one to mate a human. I lean back in my chair and fight the urge to whistle. This is going to get a whole lot more fun in just a few minutes.

There’s a commotion at the door, and the conversation ceases at the table. Finally, the door opens, and a pack member of Maverick’s gives us an apologetic look. But my eyes don’t stay on him. My eyes are on the fierce blond who leads the way into the conference room like a champ. There are others behind her, but she’s all I see. It takes her a moment to find me, and when she does, a beautiful smile crosses her face. I know in that moment that I am totally smitten with this girl. I will do anything in my power to keep that smile on her face. She notices at the same time I do that there are no extra chairs. I turn towards her and pat my legs and then wait, wondering if she’ll go for it. She hesitates only for a second, and then she strides my way with her head held high. She sits on my lap, and I fight the urge to pull her close and drown in her scent. She’s freshly showered and smells like Heaven.

Terrence stands to his feet. “What is the meaning of this?”

Ava completely ignores him and faces Garrett. “Now, you can run your meeting.” I eye Garrett wondering if we’re about to have a problem, but he deals with it like a champ.

He stands and pulls the closest chair to him closer so that his mate can sit next to him. Without batting an eye, he says, “Let’s get started.”