Page 103 of Healing Fate

“No expense spared for this. We’re doing everything we can to help. Excuse me.”

We both watched him leave.

“Is he okay?” I asked her.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I feel like he’s trying to pay penance or something.”

“He should be mourning the loss of his wife still.”

Clara sighed. “Everyone mourns differently. Before this he was locked in his house refusing to see anyone, so maybe having a job to do is helping him in some weird way. Don’t worry. We’re all keeping an eye on him.”

“Hey Gage,” I said, shaking the man’s hand as Clara’s mate approached us.

“Micah? Man, they’ll take anyone for this mission, huh?” he teased. “It’s great to see you.”

“You guys as well. It’s been a while. But I’m not really here to socialize. So put me to work.”

Clara snorted. “So anxious. This one isn’t easy.”

“I’ve heard. And I wish they had briefed me before we left. I would have insisted on bringing my mate along.”

I scowled in frustration. Part of me was glad Lucy wasn’t here to see all of this, but there was also a big part of me that understood how much good she could have done here.

“Your mate? I hadn’t heard you’d taken one.”

Groaning, I rolled my eyes. “Not officially yet. We’re trying, but life keeps getting in the way.”

“Is she a doctor as well?”

“Healer,” I explained.

Clara groaned this time. “We definitely could have used her here.”

“I know. But you got me instead, so point me in a direction and put me to work.”

She did. The rest of my day was spent applying salves and trying to stop the bleeding on as many of the creatures as possible. They were in so much pain and I knew their cries would haunt me for a very long time.

After a while, I became immune to the stench of the place and popped in my headphones to crank up some music as loud as possible. It didn’t drown out all the noise, but enough to let me think straight.

The work was endless and tiring. Day turned to night, night into day, and still we pressed on until every last possible vicuna that could be saved was. Of the initial thirty-five we were able to stabilize twenty-two of them. Another dozen had come in as well, but it was too late for most of them, only four additional survived.

“Hey, take a break and get some sleep,” Gage finally told me.

I shook my head. “There’s still work to be done.”

“And you won’t be able to help them without nourishment and sleep. Everyone else has taken their turn. You’re the last man standing as it is, so please, go and sleep.”

I didn’t tell him that I didn’t think I could. I wasn’t trained in trauma such as this and I knew that when I closed my eyes, I’d still see them. I’d still hear them. I didn’t know how to just turn that off.

He was persistent though until I finally caved and walked away. My entire body was exhausted, but I forced myself to eat something before laying down on one of the cots in the corner.

Certain I wasn’t going to sleep, I cranked up my music once more and just closed my eyes allowing my body to at least rest.

Much to my surprise, some time later, Clara woke me up. I jumped, unaware that I had even fallen asleep.

"Westin Force is back.”

I nodded wiping my eyes and trying to get my bearings straight.