The Healer

Chapter 25

Mystic/Tori POV

“No, I am Mystic.” I break out of my silent cage in Tori’s mind and push forward, sending her to the back seat. Tori can still see and hear what’s going on. Having never done this before, I wasn’t sure if Tori could handle it. She is strong, stronger than she knows, but she hasn’t quite come into all her healing powers yet and she blacks out. I look around the room admiring all the artwork on the walls of majestic wolves and what appeared to be their mates and pups. Beautiful mahogany wood furniture placed strategically around the office. Behind the Alpha were floor to ceiling bay windows where he could monitor activities of the pack. The training grounds were just outside the garden. Floor standing plants were in the corners and several bookshelves lined the front wall with hundreds of different sized books displayed.

Sitting across from me is Victor. I have sensed his wolf trying to communicate with me since we met a few days ago. I have not opened a link with him as of yet until I know Victor’s intentions. I remember him from Tori’s childhood, he was a good friend and protector, and Tori seems to care a lot for him. Many years later, I do not know if he is the same or if he has grown into an unacceptable mature male. On the outside, he seems shy, loyal, and has a yearning for Tori. I must protect her from outside enemies and threats. I still have not decided if Victor or his wolf fall into that category yet. I don’t feel like he is a threat, but I will wait and see.

I study the Alpha as he studies me. I also remember him from childhood. He is Tori’s father and a direct descendant of the Zahara family bloodline of healers. Although the family gene only passes onto females, the Alpha’s wolf will have incredible healing abilities on itself. Making him almost immortal. I have deemed him not a threat and authentic in his feelings toward Tori. His love and pride for her are real, and he wants to be in her life as a family.

“Mystic, I am Alpha Merrick Romanski of the Mystic Moon Pack. This is Beta Victor Koslov.”

“I know who you are, Alpha. You are Tori’s father.” I bow in respect, earning a warm smile from him, even though I am older and outrank him, I am in his home and territory, and it is vital he stay a part of Tori’s life. I turn towards the Beta and see him sit up straight and look upon me.

“Beta Victor, I remember you. You were Tori’s protector as a child. You were her friend. She has feelings for you.” I turn towards Alpha. “For both of you. She has such a pent-up ball of anger from being taken away from her father. Her mother did the best she could raising her. She could not help feeling a hole in her heart. I would see memories in her subconscious back to her childhood. Her love for her family and the pack. Even at four years old, she was very bright and knew more than she should have. I was with her then. I remember the night we left.” I look at the Alpha with eyes of sorrow. He returns his own face of sadness. “I hold no grudge or judgment. Mistakes were made, and now we are here in the present to move forward. How we do that is up to you two.” I glance between the two and find confusion on their faces. “Tori has only two people in her life that she trusts without thought. She wishes to become a family again and trust you both. She is afraid. Afraid that she will be taken away again once her heart takes hold. Do not suppress her, but give her motivation and support. She and I are as one when we heal, but we understand each other’s limitations and do not ask for more.”

“How is it that you are able to speak with Tori?” Alpha asks me slightly confused. “I have learned from my mother that Genesis wolves do not speak with their human hosts or the ones they are healing. How is this possible?” he asks out loud in more confusion. Victor stands their arms crossed, looking at me with no expression. I am a little uncomfortable with his aura.

“Beta Victor… either sit down and join the conversation or leave the office. I do not like the way of your aura. It can almost be construed as challenging. You are beginning to question me and my honesty. I assure you; I mean no harm to anyone. I will explain if you allow me to, but I do not like the wary judgment aura you are displaying.” He glances at Rick and then back to me, dropping his arms he slowly sits back down on the leather chair, not taking his eyes off me.

“It is my job to protect the Alpha foremost and then the pack. I do not distrust you, but all of this is something I’m not familiar with, and it puts me on alert.” I nod.

“I respect that. You have many questions. I will answer what I can, but my front and foremost job is to protect Tori. We have grown together with understanding and trust between us. It took her many years to learn to trust me, and I’m a part of her!” They both nod with understanding, but their eyes display wariness and curiosity.

“You are more than just a Genesis wolf” Rick states as he stares at me.

“I am” I sit back and cross my legs, folding my hands in my lap, awaiting the barrage of questions about to come forth.

“I don’t get it. A Genesis wolf is not a sentient being. They are a portal, for lack of a better term, from the Moon Goddess to heal the living.” Rick shakes his head in confusion, “Have you ever shifted into a wolf form?” Victor asks timidly.

“I have not.”

“Can you?” He asks more excitedly. I release a sigh and think whether or not I should divulge my secret or keep it hidden inside Tori. Tori does not even know this, and if I tell them first, she may see that as a betrayal. Then again, I may need to tell them before Tori so that they will be ready when the shifting does occur. It’s not a matter of if, but when.

“It’s complicated. I will when the time is right.” That confuses them even more. “Tori has not reached that level of life experience that allows me the energy to shift. When the time is right, it will happen.” Rick looks at me for several minutes. I’m hoping they do not push for more, as I do not want to explain too much without Tori present. Currently, she is still in a suspended state of awareness. In other words, she’s still passed out. She will not remember this conversation. Suddenly, Rick sits up straight and stares intently at me.

“She has to meet her mate first.” I just stare back at him. “Her mate will give you the energy you need to shift.” I close my eyes and take a deep breath. The human is smarter than he looks.

“Yes”

“Does Tori know this?” I shake my head.

“We do not converse often, and when we do, it is during a healing or if she specifically calls upon me to respond to a question or statement.” I look to Victor and see a defeated and sad expression crossing his face.

“Are you going to tell her? She doesn’t seem like the type of person who likes being left in the dark. Especially when it involves her.” Victor now comes to her defense when only minutes ago, he was questioning the whole situation.

“I will when the time is right. She is not able to recognize her mate yet, and I want her healing power controlled before throwing a mate into the mix. There is a mate out there for her, loving, smart, and loyal. They will find each other in time.” Rick studies me again. He stands up and walks around to stand in front of me. As he leans against his desk, he crosses his arms, and I get the feeling that he is about to dive into the forbidden realm of questioning the Goddess herself.

“You are hiding something. There’s more to it than you are saying.” I am pleading with my eyes not to go there, but his aura is strong and defensive. “She is my daughter! I will fire heaven and earth to keep her safe from danger, even if that means from the Goddess herself!” He stands up tall with arms at his sides glaring down at me. Victor is on alert now as well and stands behind his alpha. I can feel the power radiate from both of them, but it is covering feelings of confusion and mostly fear.

“Like I said before, I will never let anything hurt Tori. I will do everything within my capabilities to keep her safe from any harm. That includes her father.” I look at Victor, “… and loving friend.” I stand from the chair and walk over to the window. I gather my thoughts and my strength. If they only knew what she is capable of. “The only reason I am able to stand here now and talk to you both is I am able to feed off of her power.”

“What power?” The Alpha asks in a voice that sounds like the mixture of Apache and himself, fear for his daughter coating his words.

“Her love for you…and you.” I purposely look at each of them. “The power of love is the strongest bond next to a mother’s true love for her child. Her mother may not have done things the right way. She still loved Tori.” Both are taken aback by what I have said. I see them catching on to what I am trying not to say out loud.

“She loves us?” Rick mumbles absentmindedly. I nod.

“She has always loved her father. And I believe she showed you some of her love earlier, Victor” He looks down with a blush on his face. Rick looks at Victor and sees him turn red. A small grin on his face turns to a full-blown smile as Victor coughs away his embarrassment.

“I would be elated and honored my good friend!” He says as he slaps Victor on the back. He smiles up at his Alpha before shaking his head.

“She is not happy with me right now.” Still smiling, Rick tilts his head in question.

“Why?” Victor looks to me with apologetic eyes and answers, Rick.

“Whitney” Rick just shakes his head and grabs his shoulder. “It’s not just Whitney. Several of the she-wolves are making her uneasy. She is already distrustful of them and feels she needs to watch her back. Her feelings of being home are shifting.”

“That is easily rectified. I know you, Victor. It is not in your nature to play around or lie to anyone.”

“I do not feel the mate bond, but I do feel a slight pull to her. I already have deep feelings for her, and I do not want to lose her or scare her away. She does not believe me. She thinks I like the attention. I would be more than honored to have her as my mate. Even if it is a chosen one.” Rick smiles at him and squeezes his shoulder. Mystic watches from her seat, wondering if he truly feels this way or not.

“There is more. Something you need to understand with Tori and her healing abilities.” They both turn to look at me with apprehension. “When Tori heals someone, she has to create a link or bond with them to allow the healing energy to flow through their soul, if you will. Being in a hospital setting, she has control over the patient when she heals them. She needs to break the link or bond within a week, or they are linked forever. She does not use her abilities on everyone. She chooses the ones who need the boost and helps them. It’s not so imperative in humans, but it is for other weres. If the bond is not broken with the other werewolf, then she is bonded to them for life. There is no way to separate or break that bond. If it is broken, then she and the other will die. That’s why she is very careful with who she chooses to heal. That was the deal made when she paired my soul with Tori. I begged the Moon Goddess to give me another chance and send me back to a human. She agreed only if I became a Genesis wolf and heal those less fortunate. My penance if you will. A Genesis wolf does not speak with their host or patient. I am a Genesis wolf, but I am a child of the Moon Goddess who has been given a second chance at life and love.”

Rick stood there with his head up to the ceiling, taking in everything I said. Victor is pacing the room, trying to figure out how we all play into her life now.

“Penance for what?” Victor asks as he stops pacing.

“That is a tale for another time. One I think Tori should be conscious to hear.” Rick whipped his head at me.

“What? What is wrong with Tori? Is she okay?” Rick asks in fear as he comes before me.

“She is fine. She is in suspended awareness… asleep, so to speak. The energy I need to speak with you two right now is overwhelming, I can not hold both of us aware until Tori learns to do it herself.”

Victor sits next to me and takes my hand. He rubs it gently and then gives it a squeeze.

“Victor?”

“If I am to love Tori, then I am to love Mystic. You are both a part of each other, and I accept that. Just as she has accepted me and Ivan. We will all go through this together and learn from it.” I am quite impressed with this young man. I can sense his love for Tori, and it feels genuine. I feel his love for the Alpha as well. A role model and father figure with deep respect and loyalty. I am starting to feel more comfortable around him.

“Very good Beta, that was all I needed to hear…” My mind goes dark, and before I fade away, I give one last warning. “Nothing leaves this room! Not even to Tori.” I feel Tori coming to the forefront. I sit back in my cage, now left open, and listen.

“Rick? Victor? What happened?” I sit up in the chair and look around. I am still in Rick’s office, but I feel like I’ve just returned from a long journey.

“We spoke with Mystic” I whip my head around to Rick, and my mouth hits the floor.

“What?! You spoke with her? Like, a real conversation?”

“It was short, but yeah. She explained a few things to us.” I just sat there dumbfounded, shaking my head.

“She has never wanted to talk with me. She just ignored me or gave one-word answers. I don’t even know why she talks to me at all. I don’t think she likes me very much.” I huff in defeat.

“What do you mean?” Victor asks as he leans in from his chair.

“Genesis wolves keep to themselves. They don’t normally talk to the human. I do know that she is an ancient soul from a long line of healing wolves. She keeps telling me my time will come. Whatever that means!” I start to get a little frustrated at the fact that she spoke with them but never wanted to with me. “Glad you guys got some info out of her; she won’t give me any. Unless I’m healing someone.”

“She is a bit curt, but I don’t think she does it to be mean, Tori.”

“Well, I can’t make her, I just wish she would talk to me. It gets lonely sometimes.” I cover a yawn that slips out and rub my eyes. “I think I need to go home and get some sleep. I must be at Dr. MacDonald’s office is at nine tomorrow.” I stand and stretch my arms above my head.

“I’ll drive you home.” Victor stands and waits for me at the door. I walk over to Rick and give him a hug.

“I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know how the meeting went.” I smile as he squeezes me tight.

“Okay. Good night, sweetheart.” He releases me, and I follow Victor outside to his truck. He opens the passenger door and helps me in. He jumps in the driver’s side and starts the truck, puts it in gear, and heads down the driveway towards my home. I look behind me and watch the house get smaller and smaller. Only this time, I know I’ll be back.