The Healer

Chapter 13

Victor POV

I stepped into the room and saw the bed empty. I immediately scanned the room to find Tori over by my bookshelves holding a frame. She was looking at a picture of me and her when we were little. Suddenly, she looked up at me with tears in her eyes.

“I know you… “ I nodded slowly to her as she turned pale and had a glazed look in her eyes. She whispered something as she passed out again. I stepped up quickly and caught her just before her legs gave out. I placed her back on my bed and stepped back for Tammy to sit beside her and brush her hair away from her face.

“She’s had quite an overwhelming day today. So much of her past coming back at her all at once, I’m surprised she’s holding up as good as she is. She’s definitely a fighter. Not much can bring her down, but I am hoping you guys will explain everything to her. If you have no intention of having her in your life, then don’t lead her on. Let her go back to her life. She’s been curious about her father since she was little, and recently decided to start looking for him. I’m sure she’ll be absolutely ecstatic that she found him, but like I said, be up front with her and don’t lead her on. She’s like a sister to me and I won’t stand here and watch her get hurt. Again!”

“Alpha has been looking for her since her mother took her away from him. He is not letting go of her ever again. I would do anything to keep her from getting hurt.” I mumbled out as I stared at her beautiful face. Her long dark hair cascading around my pillow. A pillow that now has her wonderful scent of lavender and birch embedded in it. I hear Ivan purring in my mind as I envisioned holding Tori in our bed. Although I couldn’t help but think of more intimate reasons for her being in my bed, hopefully some day with my arms wrapped around her and kissing her neck down to her shoulders where my mark would go.

I shook my head dispersing the images in my head as I came back to the real world. I glanced at Tammy to find her watching me with a ghost of a grin on her face.

“You care for her, don’t you?” I just stared at her a moment before giving a curt nod. “She needs a good strong man in her life. So much upheaval and negativity in her life, she deserves some happiness and joy for once.” She turned back to face her friend and sighed.

‘How is she?’ I could hear worry in the Alpha’s voice as he mind linked me about his daughter.

‘She found a picture of me and her when we were little. Unfortunately, she passed out again. She is now resting in my bed.’

‘Ok. I will be there shortly’ He said in relief and closed the link. I walked over to the shelves to pick up the frame she had dropped and placed it back on the bookshelf. I stared at the picture of us. She was laughing with her eyes closed as I looked at her from over her shoulder. I had a huge smile on my face as I was giving her a hug from behind. I remember this photo. It was her fourth birthday. We had so much fun that day. Lots of cake and ice cream and presents. The whole pack came out to celebrate. We had a large bouncy house, pony rides, and fun games throughout the day. Everyone had fun. It was only weeks later that she disappeared in the night. I was angry at her mom for taking her away from me. She was my friend whom I cared for deeply. I was still a child, but I couldn’t help how my heart felt for Tori. I had always vowed that someday she would be my mate. Whether it be fated or by choice, she would be mine. Hopefully, she felt the same way.

The door opened slowly, and I heard footsteps coming in behind me. I could sense the aura of the Alpha.

“Alpha” I said turning to look at him.

“Is she ok? Will she be alright?” He asked to nobody in particular as he stared at her.

“She’ll be fine Alpha.” Tammy offered. “She’s just a bit overwhelmed at the sensory overload from everything today.” Alpha Rick stepped up to the bed and sat down next to her. Wrapping some hair behind her ear, he rubbed her cheek with his thumb. A look of worry and sadness crossed his face as he lovingly gazed at his daughter.

“I know this was a lot for her and I am hoping she won’t be frightened away. I have longed for this day to finally meet her. She is so beautiful, isn’t she? Just like her mother.” His voice was low and pitiful. He just sat there gazing at her. For so long, he’d been waiting to hold her in his arms again. He may be a ruthless and vicious Alpha, but when it came to his one and only pup, he would move heaven and earth for her.

The Alpha took a deep breath and stood. Turning to face me. “Notify me as soon as she wakes up. Send up some food for her when she does. I want her to feel welcomed and safe.”

“Yes Alpha” I bowed my head as he started to walk away. At the last second he stopped and placed his hand on my shoulder. Without looking at me, he gave it a slight squeeze and nodded. He dropped his hand and left the room. He was a man of few words, but I knew how he felt just by a gesture or a look. Now that we have found her, he can breathe easier and move on to the next step of his life. I could tell he was overjoyed that she was here and would do anything for her. The last thing he wants is for her to go running for the hills without giving him a chance to talk and tell his side of the story. He wanted to get to know her, be a part of her life again. From what I understood from Tammy, Tori was looking for the same thing.

I felt a presence behind me and heard a shuffling at the doorway. Tammy turned to look, and I see a look of disgust wash over her face. Then I heard that voice, the one that reminds me of fingernails on a chalkboard.

“Alpha says we have a visitor. Who is she?” Corinne had meandered at the doorway leaning around me to see who was in the bed.

“Nobody you need to worry about. Just stay away from her.” I answered flatly.

“What’s all the big fuss over a simple human” I was really starting to get irritated with her. Even Ivan stood up and was growling low in his throat.

“Just stay away from her” I moved over to stand in front of her to block her view of Tori. She shrugged her shoulders and flipped her hair over her shoulder.

“I was just curious why she was here.”

“That’s none of your business. I’m sure there is something else you should be doing.” I quickly closed the door and heard her stomp her foot before walking back down the hallway.

“So annoying” I said under my breath, but loud enough that Tammy heard.

“Yes, she is. She better leave her alone or I won’t hold back on her.”

”She shouldn’t be a problem.” Tammy glanced at the door before turning back to Tori. Just then, there was a knock on the door.

“Come” I answered as I pulled up a chair beside the bed. The door opened and Eric walked in shutting it behind him.

“How is she?” He walked up behind Tammy and placed a kiss on her head.

“She’ll be fine. Too much excitement for one day. Just a bit of rest is all she needs.”

“Good. Alpha is pacing his office just waiting for her to wake up. He’s extremely worried.” I nodded. “He just doesn’t want to scare her off.” Eric nodded.

“Tammy, do you know if she spoke with Dr. McDonald yet?”

“I don’t think she has. She was supposed to call him back today.” Victor thought for a moment before heading towards his door.

“I’m going to go talk with the Alpha. Let me know when she wakes up.”

“Yes Beta” Tammy said as I left me room.

I walked down the hallway towards the Alpha’s office. As I passed by the kitchen, I heard whispering. I glanced in and saw Corinne with another omega. They were standing very close to each other talking quietly. I could hear bits and pieces of their conversation. Corinne was not happy about another female in the house. She has no idea who she is and that she’s the Alpha’s daughter, but that’s the way Rick wanted it. I shook my head and continued to his office.

I knock twice on the office door and waited for permission to enter before opening the door. As I enter, I see the Alpha sitting at his desk with a glass of amber liquid staring out the large bay window overlooking the training grounds.

“Alpha? Are you alright?” I gently ask as I come to stand in front of his desk. He slowly turns and I see a mountain of a man reduced to tears over his pup. “Alpha?” I ask again as I take a seat in front of him.

“I have no idea where my head is at. I’ve spent so long looking for her, I never thought about what I would say or do when I found her.” He gulped down the rest of the liquid and set the glass down.

“Just talk to her. Find out what she wants to know. Be patient with her as well. She wants the same things. To get to know you. It’ll work out just fine.” The Alpha gives his Beta a hopeful look and then nods.

“When she wakes up, she needs to call Dr. McDonald back with her answer. I believe she is set on helping this young Alpha heal. I’m not crazy about the idea, but apparently this is what she does best. From what I gather, she does have healing abilities.” Again, he nods in confirmation to my statement.

“Yes, my mother had the same abilities. The Genesis wolf gene is only passed down to the females of the family. Her mother was human. There has never been a human mate in my family. I have no idea how this will affect Tori. She’ll have the healing abilities just like her grandmother, but I have no idea if she can shift. When she wakes, we’ll have to ask her about it.” He takes a deep sigh like he is preparing for an unpleasant conversation. “But I don’t want to frighten her away.”

“She feels it is her calling to help others. Her aura is very comforting. Her heart is in the right place. She was meant to do this.”

“Yes. But with such responsibility, there comes a price.”

“Oh? What is that?” I ask with reservations.

“I have no idea. My mother could heal several wolves at once, but it took a toll on her body. It drains the body’s energy force quickly. If she’s not careful, she could use too much of her own energy that it interferes with her own life force, it could be deadly.” My eyes went wide as I stared at Rick with his revelation.

“So, in her quest to help and heal, she could end up dying herself?”

“Yes”

This bit of information does not sit well with me or my wolf. He’s huffing and whining in my head. He has come to care for her as much as I do.

‘We can’t lose her!’ Ivan growls in my mind.

‘I know! I don’t like it either, but we have no right to tell her what to do or not to do.’ Ivan huffs out at me and recedes in to the back of my mind.

“When she’s up for it, I’ll sit down with her and see how much she knows. For all we know, she has mastered her ability and knows how to safely use it.”

“Right. I’ll go check on her and see if she’s awake yet.” I leave his office and head back to Tori. As I pass the entrance to the main living room, I see Tammy and Eric wrapped up in each other’s arms. Eric was saying words to her as he kissed her head and rubbed her back gently.

“Tammy? Eric? Is something wrong?” I marched over to them quickly, thinking something had happened.

“No Victor, I’m just so worried about her.”

“We all are. She seems to have quite a positive affect on others. I’ve only known her for a few days, and I already feel like I need to protect her from everything.” Tammy gives a teary-eyed smile and nods. “I’m going to go sit with her until she wakes up.” I give a small smile and walk away towards my room.

I enter the room quietly so as not to wake her or startle her. I see she is still asleep. I sit in the chair beside the bed and watch her. I admire her profile as she sleeps. Her long dark hair splayed across my pillow; her mouth slightly open as she breaths slow with the sound of soft snores. Her arms at her sides. I grab her hand with both of mine, it dwarfs against mine, and yet it fits perfectly. I gently rub her hand as I enjoy the feel of her soft and warm skin. My heart goes out to her after all she’s been through. I feel guilty that I wasn’t there for her all those years. I swore to protect her since I was a child. Her mother taking her away left me crushed and hurt with out my friend. I loved her then, and I still love her now. I doubt she feels the same, but if she’s willing to let me into her life, I could live with that. Whether she has a wolf or not makes no difference to me. Her big heart and warm personality make it hard not to fall in love with her. I release her hand as I put my elbows on the bed holding my head up with my hands.

“Please wake up sweetheart. Your dad really wants to talk to you.” I rub my face with my hands as I try to rub away all the stress and anxiety. “I have been waiting for you for so long. I missed you little bumble bee. Whisper misses you.” I lay my forehead on the mattress and close my eyes. “Please” I whisper to myself.

Just as I am beginning to fall asleep, I feel a hand combing through my hair. I smile and open my eyes. I look up and see Tori looking down at me with a warm smile as she runs her fingers through my hair. I bite my tongue, so I don’t let out the moan of pleasure building in my throat. Her soft touch is making it difficult to keep my thoughts clean. I lift my head up and look at her. I grab her hand and give it a gentle squeeze.

“Hey, how do you feel?” She blinks at me and then stares at her hand. She returns the squeeze and gives me a wobbly grin.

“I’m okay. A little embarrassed, but I’m good.” I sit up in my chair and lean against the bed. “Please tell me there are no more surprises. I don’t think I could handle any more.” I chuckle a bit and shake my head.

“No, I think these were enough for now.” She rolls over and sits up leaning against the headboard.

“What time is it?’ Tori suddenly sits up. I glance down at my watch.

“It’s just past four” Tori pulls the blankets off her and swings her feet off the bed.

“I have to call Dr. McDonald.” I grab her hand and pull her back to sit.

“Tori, wait. The Alpha wants to talk to you first before you call him.” She lifts her gaze to me, and I see her brow dips in confusion.

“Why? I’m not changing my mind, Victor.” She tries to stand again, and I pull her back.

“Please, just talk to the Alpha first and then you can call. Send him a text and see if you can call him later this evening.” I plead with her. She sighs heavily and then nods. I sit back with a smile. I pull the blankets back for her and she puts her feet on the floor. Rubbing her temples, she groans a bit before attempting to stand. I stand up in front of her and grab her hands.

“Come on, I’ll help you balance.” She stands on her feet and wobbles a bit. She ends up leaning into me to catch herself. I put my arms around her to prevent her from falling and I can smell her scent of lavender and birch. I close my eyes and revel in the wonderful scent. Ivan lies on his back and purrs out his approval.

“Hey, you, okay?’ I bend down to look at her.

“Just a bit light-headed but I’m fine” She shakes her head a bit and stands up straight. She lifts her eyes up to meet mine. We spend a few moments just admiring each other. Her eyes were a gorgeous shade of violet, striking, and thoughtful. I can feel a slight pull towards her, a longing to wrap her up and never let her go. I don’t quite understand it but I’m not fighting it. It seems she may sense the same thing as she hasn’t pulled away yet.

“Victor…. “ She whispers to me as her grip becomes tighter and her face is just inches from mine.

“Tori… “ I lean into her, our eyes never leaving one another. Just as I can feel her warm breath across my cheek, I bring my hand up to her face and cup her chin. Slowly, she leans into my touch and gazes at me through her lashes. A ghost of a grin on her face that teases me, taunts me into giving her what she wants. She blinks and we are not a hairs width away from touching. The anticipation is making my heartbeat wildly in my chest, I’m sure she can hear it. Her breathing hitches as we close our eyes, waiting for the brush of our lips.

Suddenly, the door slams open and a loud growl echos through the room.