The Healer

Chapter 31

Victor POV

“You do not have to worry about Corinne.” I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight. A moment later, I feel her tense up and I know she caught me. I didn’t answer her first question. Because I don’t know. I should tell her something, that she has nothing to worry about but I honestly have no idea. I’m hoping after ten years there would be no problem. I want us to be open and honest with each other. No secrets, no lies, no games. I never had a girlfriend, and I only had the mothers of my friends to learn how a mate should be treated. My own mother passed when I was young, so I only had my father to teach me. Most of it is common sense on how to treat a lady. Being in love with one? Is a whole nother can of worms. But with Tori, I’d be glad to open that can and figure it out. She’s a bit sensitive since her last boyfriend used her and lied and cheated on her. He never told her that he had found his mate. Not knowing she was a wolf herself; he couldn’t break that secret. Of course, Tori being a wolf, she couldn’t break her secret. Neither one knew the other was a wolf which just made it amazing that they were able to hide it from each other.

I would never do that to Tori. Firsthand, she is too innocent and caring to hurt someone like her. Second, she is my one and only girlfriend that I’ve ever had, so this is all new to me. I don’t want to lose her. I will spoil her to the ends of the earth to make her happy and keep her that way. I may be all hard and cold on the outside, but she makes me turn into a big teddy bear when she’s around. If she wants a huge wedding, then she will get one. If she wants twenty pups, then by all means, we’re having twenty pups. She will be my mate and the pack’s Beta Female. She is strong and courageous and smart. Her caring nature is perfect to help others in the pack. Maybe one day when we have pups, our son would take over as Alpha of the pack. Since Tori is the Alpha’s only heir, it would make sense that our son would become Alpha. That conversation has not happened yet, and I hope it doesn’t for a long time. Just as long as Tori stays with me for our lifetime. I know she cares deeply for me, might even love me, but she is having a hard time saying it. It is understandable and I will be patient and give her all the time she needs. I hope I am enough for her, and I can fulfill all her dreams.

“Victor?” I try to stay calm and hope she doesn’t call me out on it.

“Yes baby?” I continue to stroke her soft hair as I pull back to look at her.

“Is there anyone else?” She c***s her eyebrow and tilts her head. Damn, she caught on. I glanced at her and frowned. I sighed when she gave me an expectant look that was turning into a scowl.

“Tori… no nothing like that.” She huffed and tried to pull away from me. Ivan growled at me to keep her.

‘Do not upset mate! Tell her the truth!’ I nodded and let go of Tori. She sat up but didn’t move away from me.

“Is Ivan giving you an earful?”

“He certainly is. Definitely not happy with me.” I rolled my eyes at my wolf.

“I have a feeling Ivan is on my side” She quirks her eyebrows and waits for me to answer. I chuckle a bit.

“He is definitely Team Tori.” I nod and she smiles. “I did have a crush in high school. She was a pretty girl my age. She was popular and had many friends. One of the best track and field athletes the school has seen in a long time. Even for werewolves.” I zoned out thinking about my time in high school.

“Everyone either wanted her or wanted to be like her. Of course, she was an Alpha’s daughter but was friendly enough with most of the class.” Tori sat looking at me with a small unassumed smile as I told my heart’s secret from long ago. “There was a party one weekend and we were playing spin the bottle.” I saw Tori shake her head but didn’t interrupt me. “She spun the bottle and it landed on me. We went into the coat closet, and she just stared at me. She told me that she knew I had a crush on her and was happy that I was picked for the closet. I didn’t know what to say. She said she would kiss me only if I would be her friend and had her back. Well, of course, I thought I had just won the lottery and agreed. At the time, I didn’t know what she meant by have her back, but I didn’t care. I later came to regret it.” I closed my eyes as I remembered the day she played me and broke my heart. Tori took hold of my hand, knowing where this was probably going. I looked at her and frowned. “A few months had gone by, and I was on top of the world. The prettiest girl in the school was my friend. We’d hang out together, go to the movies, parties, and school sports and events. We were inseparable. I never knew someone so beautiful could be so cold and closed to feelings. I never saw it coming, the way she used me to get back at the other guys. She treated me like her boyfriend, but I felt anything but. She left me with a cold and broken heart. And the thing is, I never got that kiss from her.” I stared at her hand in mine and stroked it gently. I carefully brought it up to my mouth and kissed it gently. Closing my eyes, I concentrated on the softness and warmth of her skin. Smiling, I opened my eyes and found her looking at me with unshed tears in her eyes. “Baby? Why are you crying?” I held her cheek and frowned.

“I’m sorry, my heart is telling me this is not a happy ending and you are getting more sad as you tell me. I don’t need to hear it. You tell me when you are ready. I didn’t mean to push you. I was just afraid someone would come and…” She got quiet all of a sudden and I heard her gasp.

“Tori? What is it? What were you going to say?” I squeezed her hand and looked at her flushed face and nervous twitches. I tried not to smile at her nervousness, but it was so cute. “You can tell me, baby” She looked into my eyes with determination. “Would come and take you away from me.” I smiled at her and pulled her into my lap. I couldn’t help it, my heart raced, and my stomach fluttered. I placed my lips upon hers and kissed her softly. She responded immediately and wrapped an arm around my neck. Her taste was driving me wild and her scent overwhelmed me. I pulled back a moment later and heard a slight whimper from the separation.

“Victor. It makes me sad to know that you went through such a traumatic event in high school. It’s supposed to be a time of adventure, learning new things and making new friends. A time to find your wild side and go against the flow. New loves and experimenting. It makes me so mad that girls like her take advantage of a young man’s heart just for vanity and selfish reasons. You are a treasure, and she should’ve treated you as such. I know you would’ve treated her like a queen.” She cut herself off again. I think she was way out of her comfort zone and it scared her. She’s not used to having so much positive attention or so much love her way, she’s not sure how to handle it. She will have to get used to it, because I’m not stopping anytime soon.

“Baby, it’s okay. I know you would have. You are such a jewel; any man would be lucky to have you. Hopefully, you will allow me to prove to you that I can be that man.” Her cheeks flushed red again and I chuckled. “I will finish the story later, but she did end up hurting me beyond repair. I would never forgive her for what she did. Cost me a good friend that day.” I smiled sadly as I remembered the friend I lost. I felt a warm hand combing through my hair and I sighed.

“Think of only good things and good times.” Tori brought me out of my sad stupor and I could only feel the love radiating from her. I know she wanted to say more, but she kept quiet. I lifted her chin with the crook of my finger and looked deep into her eyes.

“Please know how much I love you Tori. It grows every day. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you. Your happiness is my happiness.” She had tears well up in her eyes and gave me the biggest toothy smile. Before I knew it, I was falling on my back as she tackled me with her own kisses. I felt her straddle me on the floor and she kissed me with all her heart. I thought mine was going to explode. I grabbed her waist with my hands and pulled her to me tightly. Her soft moans filtered into my ears, and I could feel myself getting quite hard. There was no way I could hide it from her, but she didn’t seem to mind. I could smell her sweet arousal as it twirled around my head. My God, I’m going insane with just her touch! I pulled tighter and flipped us over so I was laying on top of her, bearing my weight on my arms. I felt her hands glide under my shirt and caress my skin. Her touch left a trail of burning desire all over my body.

“My God Tori, if we don’t stop, I can’t promise I will continue being a gentleman.” I kissed down her neck and sucked lightly on the spot just above her collarbone, where one day hopefully my mark will be displayed.

“Victor?”

“Yes baby?”

“Please!”

“Please what, baby” I felt her hesitate a moment then I almost lost all my control with her breathless answer.

“Stay the night with me?”