The Healer

Chapter 28

Victor POV

I wasn’t comfortable leaving her alone. I’m not sure what it is. My mind is reeling, my heart is heavy, and my body has a sense of longing, as if I’m missing a piece of me. She’s only been here for a couple of days, but it feels like she’s been here all along. The entire pack, with an obvious exception of a few, thought she was very nice and was quite impressed with her healing of Tyler. I’m sure that would’ve been a lot different had they known she was the Alpha’s daughter, but Rick has his reasons for keeping it hidden, and Tori seems to be fine with it.

I return to the packhouse and head inside to my room. I get to the top of the stairs, and I immediately sense a presence, not dangerous, just annoying. I continue down the hall, and the figure steps into the light.

Corinne.

“Why are you up here, Corinne?” My voice was cold and exact. She steps out of the shadows and into the light. Mockingly coy, she ran her finger along her jaw as she captured my attention.

“Can’t I come up to visit you? To say hi and ask how you are?” She asks, attempting to sound seductive as she sachet’s her way to me. It’s really a shame. She really is a beautiful young lady, but her style of dress and her entitled attitude destroys any outward beauty.

“No. You have no business being up here on this floor. Go back downstairs where you belong” I turned to go into my room when she placed her hand on my forearm.

“Victor, why do you keep pushing me away? I think you and I would make a great couple.” She stares up at me with innocent and tender eyes, only to be met with my hardened angry ones.

As I stared back at her like she had just slapped me twice, she continued to look upon me with bright, welcoming eyes. Was she delusional? I have never given her any ounce of attention, let alone any idea that I wanted her. She already got me in hot water with Tori, I don’t want any more problems.

“Get your hands off me now!” I said each word in staccato between gritted teeth. I spun in an angry huff and squared off with her. I felt Ivan coming forward. “I will never be with you!” My voice mixing with Ivan’s and I’m sure my eyes were black and my face red with anger.

“And who would you be with, huh? Nobody here wants you. At least not like I do.” She batted her eyes and grinned. It took everything I had to hold Ivan back from strangling her. The pure disrespect was enough to send Ivan into a fit of rage. I brushed her hand off me and turned my back to her as I was about to open my door. She spit out one last comment.

“Is it that Tori b*tch? What’s so special about her? Why is the Alpha so taken with her? She can’t please him the way I can!” I was on her in an instant. “You can’t stand that the Alpha has his attention on someone else instead of you!” My grip tightened around her throat as I lift her off the floor. “You touch one hair on her head, and you will be in a world of pain! Do you understand me?” I growled inches from her face using my Beta voice, and she tried to fight it, but a lowly Omega is no match for a Beta.

“Yes, Beta. I understand” She bites out with malice. Her head still bowed, I released my grip, and she crashed to the floor, coughing and gasping for breath. I turned and walked into my room, shutting the door behind me, I sighed heavily. I could hear her coughing and growling in annoyance and heavy footsteps angrily pounding down the stairs. I need to keep an eye on her as I don’t trust her around Tori. This is more than just a dislike for the new girl. I think she is capable of harming Tori in some way. I know Tori is an intelligent woman and will stay clear from her, but I am confident that Tori could hold her own.

I walk into the bathroom and wash up as I get ready for my patrol shift. I change my shirt and grab my leather jacket, and head back down to the main foyer. I see two of my patrol guards waiting for me.

“Evan, Daniel, ready?” I ask as they both nod in greeting. “Let’s go” They nod once more and follow me out the front door. We head towards the forest to begin our perimeter check. I mind linking the Alpha to inform him of the perimeter check and a run down of my conversation with Corinne. After a deep sigh and apology, he said he would talk to her.

After reporting to the Alpha, I sent a short text to Tori asking if she’s okay and to call me if she needs anything. I slip the phone back in my pocket and continue through the forest.

We are walking the perimeter of the territory using our enhanced senses of smell and hearing as well as our excellent night vision. We find nothing of interest. We walk in silence on alert for any rogues that might try to cross the border. I hear my phone ping and pull it out to see a message from Tori. She sent some pictures of herself, and I smiled. I saved them to my phone and sent a quick reply.

“Got anymore pics I can have? Send me one of whatever you’re doing right now.” I chuckled and waited for her answer. I expected her to be sitting on the couch watching tv or reading. What I got was sooo much better. She took a nicely angled pic of her in the bathtub with plenty of bubbles. It left me staring with my mouth hanging open. I had no idea how to respond to that. I could feel the flutter in my belly thinking of what was beneath the waterline.

‘Damn! There is no way I’m gonna be able to concentrate on my patrol now! All I can think about now is you lying in the bathtub, naked and covered only in bubbles….’ I shake my head and continue my patrol. My mind is still on Tori, I attempt to focus on the border in front of us. I sense a disturbance and a scent, but I can’t quite place it.

My phone pings, alerting me to an incoming text. I stop and pull out my phone and read the message. My heart drops, and my imagination runs wild.

‘I think someone is in my house’ I read her words, and I immediately went into defense mode. My feet start running towards Tori’s house. Ivan comes forward, ready to fight whoever is threatening her.

‘Are you safe? Lock yourself in a room and don’t open the door. I’m coming!’ I put my phone in my back pocket, and I run as fast as I can. The trees and bushes whip by in a blur for all I can think about is getting to Tori in time. I pray to Goddess that she keeps her safe until we get there. My fellow guards are struggling to keep up with me, but I don’t give it a second thought. I am almost there when I hear pounding on a door inside her house. I can sense Tori, and she is terrified. Her heart is racing, and I can hear her ragged breath as she battles to stay awake. I race through the back door, which is hanging by its hinges. I jump over furniture and fly up the stairs. I can hear voices, and Tori is out of breath. I see her bedroom door on the floor and pounding on her bathroom door.

“Tori!” I roar as I enter her room, where I see a dark figure holding Tori by her arm. He turns to look at me, then spins back on Tori and back hands her across the face. She spits out blood, and he hits her again. I growl menacingly, and Ivan is ready to take over and shift just as the mysterious man, laughing maniacally, breaks the window with his hand and leaps into the night. I quickly mind linking my guards and tell them to find him.

I race into the bathroom to find Tori lying on the floor unconscious. I kneel next to her and gently lift her delicate body into my arms. I brush away the hair so I can see her face. It’s already turning black and blue with a trail of blood falling from the corner of her mouth and her nose.

“Tori! Tori baby, please wake up!” I rub my fingers against her cheek and lightly tap to wake her. She doesn’t even flinch. I lift her up and lay her on her bed. “Tori, honey, wake up. Please, wake up!” I’m almost panic stricken now, and I don’t know what to do. I link my guards, and they are still tracking the stranger. I must tell Alpha what happened, knowing he’s not going to like it.

“Alpha” I can feel his link open, and I wait impatiently for his reply. A moment later, he answers.

“What is it, Victor?” Although breathless, I can sense the fear in his voice.

“Tori has been attacked. There was a stranger in her home. I’m with her now. I have my guards tracking the man, but so far, they have found nothing.” I can feel his anger and urgency.

“How is she”

“She is unconscious now.”

“I’m on my way” He closes the link, and I stare down at Tori. Her chest rose and fell in a slow rhythm, and her heartbeat was relaxed. I close my eyes and take a cleansing breath. I’m calming myself down, but Ivan is still pacing and growling in my head.

‘She’s okay, Ivan. See, she is breathing fine now.’

‘Find that assh*le so I can tear him apart!” It will take him time to settle down. He stays up front so he can see Tori. I run my hands down my face and sit with my arms on my knees, head bowed as I wait for any word from my guards. Who the hell was trying to get to her? And why? I look back down at her, and she is still out. I stand up and pace the room. Not a moment later, Rick yells from downstairs.

“Victor!” I step to the bedroom door, my eyes still on Tori.

“Up here, Alpha!” He is before me with eyes of black, and the look on his face would send any enemy running. I step aside so he can enter and watch him sit beside Tori on the bed.

“Alpha…” I start, but he whips his head to me, and I see Apache instead of Rick. A flutter of fear runs through me before I rein it in.

“Alpha Apache…” I slowly bow to him. Rick and Apache may be my closest friend, but I know when to submit. I wait for him to say something but keep my distance. I see his hand holding hers as he stares at me. Alpha Apache is one Daddy wolf you don’t want to piss off.

“What happened to my pup?!” He was barely keeping it together.

“I received a text from Tori that someone was in her house. I told her to lock herself in a room, and I was coming. The guards are still out tracking him.” I quickly link my guards.

‘Have you found anything yet?’

‘We lost his trail, but we did find something. I’ll bring it to you.’

‘Make it quick. Alpha Apache is here with Tori’ I can feel their dread through the link, and they pick up their speed on returning to the house.

“Alpha, the guards are on their way back, They lost his trail but found something. They are bringing it with them’ He nods curtly and looks back at his daughter. He gently brushes his fingers across her cheek and through her hair.

“They will pay for this! They tried to hurt my pup!” Apache came forward again and swore to the room. I could see Rick trying to rein him in. He closed his eyes tight as he breathed in deeply. When he opened his eyes, they were a bright violet again, but Apache was just beneath the surface.

“Alpha, the guards have returned.” He took one last look at Tori before he stood and walked into he hallway. I followed him out of the room and down the stairs to the living room.

Evan and Daniel come in through the back door and through the kitchen where we are waiting.

“Report” Rick ordered as they bowed before him.

“Alpha…. We followed him for about two miles before the trail went dead. His scent just disappeared. We searched the area where we lost him and found this…” Daniel handed over a picture. It was a picture of Tori and Tammy having coffee at the local café. They were talking and laughing together. The paper was folded and a bit worn as if it was handled repeatedly. Rick stared down at the photo, and I could see his eyes flipping between violet and black.

“He had this?” He asked Daniel, still staring at the photo.

“Yes Alpha. He must have dropped it in his escape.” His jaw was set tight, and I could hear his teeth grinding.

“Keep an eye on the property. Link me if you see anything.” Evan and Daniel bow and run outside.

“Why would he have a picture of my daughter and my Gamma female?” Rick was pacing the room as he pondered on the situation.

“Someone gave it to him” I said absentmindedly. Rick nodded and looked right at me.

“Someone is after her.” I thought about it for a minute, and just as I opened my mouth to reply, I heard movement upstairs and panic breathing.

“Victor!” I ran up the stairs with Rick right behind me. I reached Tori’s room and stepped inside to see her sitting up in bed, looking around with wide eyes. I could hear her rapid heartbeat from here.

“It’s okay, Tori, you are safe” I softly cooed as I sat next to her on the bed. Rick came up to the other side of the bed and took her hand.

“He’s gone.” Rick said gently as Tori leaned into him and started crying. “It’s okay, sweetheart, nobody is going to hurt you” He put his arms around her and rubbed her shoulders. I frowned at the whole situation. Who would want to hurt Tori? She hasn’t done anything!

“Who was that man?” She sobbed out while gripping Rick tightly. I put my hand on her arm, and she twisted to look at me through red puffy eyes.

“I don’t know, honey, but I swear to you nobody will ever hurt you again. On my life, I will protect you.” I stared right at her eyes, so she knew I was dead serious. She blinked a few times and then slowly nodded, wincing from the pain I her cheek.

“I trust you Victor” My heart leaped at her words. I gave her a soft smile and squeezed her arm. She reached out and grabbed my hand with hers. She turned her head upwards and looked at Rick.

“I trust you too, Father.” Rick’s eyes went wide before a huge grin formed across his face. He wrapped her tighter and kissed her forehead.

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

I saw the joy and happiness on his face as she said those words to him. He’s been waiting to hear them for a very long time. I was happy for my friend and proud of my Alpha for being patient and staying true to his heart. He found his daughter and is now a part of her life. I was happy as well that I had my friend back. I was secretly hoping the Moon Goddess would bless me with a second chance with Tori, but she deemed fit not to. Although Tori has yet to find her mate, I will be here for her through everything and anything. I can only hope for more.

I let go of Tori’s hand and stood up. With a smile, I bow to Alpha and to Tori. I turn from the bed to leave, when I feel a hand grab my arm.

“Please, don’t go.” I hear Tori quietly beg. I shut my eyes and grimace to myself. I feel like this is a special moment between father and daughter. I don’t need to be here. “Victor, please.” I feel both hands on my arm now. I turn slowly to see her begging eyes and frown on her face.

“You should be with your father, your family.” I drop my eyes and turn to leave. As I reach for the doorknob, I feel arms wrap around my waist and hold tight.

“Victor..” I turn my head and look down at her. There is a look on her face I can’t quite figure out. I move to face her. My arms fell to my sides, and I was about to excuse myself once again when she cut me off.

“Victor…. I accept” She was fisting my shirt as I scrunched my face in confusion.

“What?” I look from her to Rick, who was sitting on the bed smiling at me. He nods and looks out the window. I turn back to Tori, and she suddenly grabs my face and pulls me down to her level.

“Mate” Before I realized what she had said, she crashed her lips on to mine.