The Healer

Chapter 9

Tori POV

“I will speak with the Alpha and let you know.”

“Thank you, Eric”

“I’ll call you later, sweety. Bye!” I waved goodbye as they drove away.

Closing the front door and locking it, I dropped my bag and keys off on the counter and sat down on the couch. Lunch was nice. A relaxing time with my best friend and her mate, friendly conversation, and I even learned a thing or two about Eric. He seems like a really great guy. Very attentive and caring towards Tammy. He only gazes at her with love and affection. They’ve been together just about a year, but anyone can see they were madly in love. Not that I’m jealous, I’m really happy for them both, but I too hope one day to have a love like that. Whether it be a fated mate or someone of my own choosing.

Immediately, my thoughts drifted off to Victor. The tall, rough yet handsome man that I’ve only known for a couple of days now but can’t seem to get him off my mind. I wondered what it would feel like to have him gaze upon me with love, his arms wrapped around me while leaving soft kisses down my neck…. Stop stop. I can’t think like that. I’ll drive myself crazy. I don’t even know if he feels the same or if he even has a mate of his own. Although Eric never said anything about it, I get the feeling that he is single and speaking to a woman is not one of his strong suits.

I pick up my phone and see that I have a message from Dr. MacDonald.

‘Hello Tori, I was just wondering if you could give me a call’

I opened the message to respond, but then I remembered Eric asking me not to call him yet until he spoke with his Alpha and Victor. During our conversation at lunch, I learned that since Tammy is mated to Eric, who is Gamma of his pack, which makes her Gamma female, Tammy is automatically a pack member. Or will be once she completes the ceremony where she pledges her loyalty and allegiance to the Alpha and being a pack member puts her under pack protection as well. I have no ties to anyone in any pack, except for my father, but I have no idea where he is or how to contact him or that he even wants anything to do with me. That’s a project for another time. So, I am basically on my own when I go to the Hidden Valley Pack. So, I asked Eric if I could join his pack. He was a little startled at that request but said he would talk with Victor and his Alpha and let me know. I’m sure that Tammy won’t let anything happen to me, but she is just a human. And it will just be the two of us… But….it doesn’t have to be, does it?” I grabbed my phone and pulled up Victor’s number but hesitated before dialing.

“Should I ask him? He’ll think I’m nuts! This is the last thing he’ll want to do is follow some weakling human around. He’s a beta, for god’s sake. He probably has more important things to worry about.” I argue with myself as if I’m trying to talk myself out of calling him even though I really want to.

“Just call him Tori. What’s the worst he can say, no?” I hype myself up and hover over the dial button, and before I realized, the line was ringing.

Victor

“What do you mean she wants to join the pack?” I asked cautiously.

“Tammy was explaining how she will become a member once she completes her ceremony for Gamma female. Tori got to thinking and asked if anyone could join. I wasn’t sure what to say to her. I didn’t want to say no and crush her, but I couldn’t promise her anything either. So, I said I would speak with you first and let her know.” I sat there stunned for a moment when I looked up at Alpha and saw him doing the same thing. Although I could see the corners of his mouth turning up just slightly, he tried to hide it. Just as he was about to answer, my phone dings as another call is coming in. I glanced at the number, and my eyes went wide.

“Who is it?” Alpha asked curiously.

“It’s Tori”

“Well, answer it!” Alpha stated a little too excitedly.

“Eric, I’ll call you back, Tori is ringing in”

“Yes Beta” I disconnected the call with Eric and clicked over to Tori.

“Hello Tori” I answered with a racing heart, trying to sound calm

“...Umm. H-hello Victor. I’m sorry... Beta Victor.” Her voice sounded so soft and angelic; I could listen to it all day. She hesitated a bit, apparently nervous about something. She already knew that Eric was going to talk to us about joining the pack, so this was another issue.

“Tori, you can call me Victor.” My hands were starting to sweat, and my breathing hastened. Alpha was now standing at his desk, staring at the phone with a soft expression. He hasn’t heard his daughter’s voice in over seventeen years. If I wasn’t here, he’d probably have tears in his eyes. I could tell he wanted to say something, but I'm not sure what, so I kept the conversation going so he could listen to her.

“Oh, umm, Victor, it is then. I h-had a question for you. I’m not sure how to…” She was starting to stumble over her words and sounded upset. I needed to put her at ease. Right now, I would do anything she asked of me. Even if she told me to lay down and bark, I would without question.

“It’s okay, Tori, you can ask me.”

“Yes, well, umm…this is so silly really… Of course, you know about my offer to go to help the Hidden Valley Pack and that Tammy was going with me…. “I saw the Alpha clench his fists out of the corner of my eye. “… I haven’t called Dr. MacDonald back yet, but I was thinking that maybe… “She took a deep breath and released it. “.. maybe we don’t have to go alone?” I was stunned again. Not sure where she was going with this. My mouth was open, ready for an answer, but I had nothing. I looked up at the Alpha and saw that he was just as confused as I was.

“I’m not sure what you mean, Tori.”

“Well, Tammy and I can have someone with us?” I was like a fish out of water, I had no idea what to say. Apparently, neither did the Alpha. I think he was too busy reveling in the sound of her voice to pay attention.

“Tori, I don’t know what you’re…”

“Will you come with me, Victor?” Her voice was so low and soft, I barely heard her. It sounded like she was almost embarrassed to ask such a thing. Did she not want anyone to go with her? Did she think herself so low and unimportant that I wouldn’t accept? I could hear her breathing pick up and slightly ragged. I would drop everything and follow you anywhere, my precious little dove.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to, I don’t want to take you away from your duties or your… family” she said the last part, almost in a whisper. Of course, she had no idea I was an unmated wolf with nothing but Beta duties and training to do. It’s as if the Goddess herself read my mind and answered my prayers. The Alpha was pacing the room, obviously thinking about her request. His brow was tilted, and he stared at the floor as he moved, nodding to himself.

“You want me to go with you?” I asked in confusion. Hoping I heard her correctly. I would follow her to the ends of the earth.

“..I I … would feel better, safer if … you were… with me.” I had no idea how to respond to that. I wanted to jump for joy and fist pump the air, but of course, I stood still like an i***t. I looked over at Alpha to see his reaction, and he was standing there with a big smile on his face. I scrunched up my face at that, and he just nodded his head.

“I shouldn’t have… I mean…. It’s not my place to ask…. I will figure something out.’ I heard Tori speaking, not knowing what to say. I hadn’t answered her yet and she sounded heartbroken that maybe I didn’t want to because I haven’t said anything yet.

“Tori … I”

“Oh my God, I went too far! I don’t mean to take you away from your family! Your mate! I am so sorry Beta, I’ll find someone else….” At that last statement, Alpha let out a loud growl shaking the room and obviously traveling through the phone to Tori’s ear.

“What was that?” She asked in a shaky voice. “I didn’t mean to upset anyone. Please, I mean no disrespect, please forget I said… “

“Tori!” She was getting herself worked up and upset, and it was making myself and Alpha upset.

“Yes?” I heard her take a deep breath and release slowly.

“First of all, I have no mate and no family. So you wouldn’t be taking me away from anyone. That growl you heard was Alpha Rick. He’s not comfortable with you going to another pack in the first place, but he would rather you have someone he trusted with you to keep you and Tammy safe.”

Tori was quiet for a moment, although I could hear her breathing. The silence was deafening, but I was patient with her to speak.

“I would appreciate that, but why would your alpha care about me? He doesn’t even know me.” Her almost floored me. I had no idea how to respond to that. I could tell that Alpha wanted to say something, to tell her right then and there that he was her father, but I knew he wouldn’t. He wouldn’t want to scare her off.

“Are you still wanting to join the pack?” I tried to deflect the question with a different one.

“I would, but I would like to speak with your Alpha first, if that is permitted.” I could see the Alpha nodding his head out of the corner of my eye.

“Of course, Tori. When would you like to meet him?”

“Well, I don’t mean to be pushy, but can I see him today? I still must call Dr. MacDonald today and let him know I accept. But I would like to see you first.” A small smirk came across my face as I heard what she said, I know what she meant, but it sounded nice coming from her.

“Oooh, I mean, I would like to see you to talk to you and Alpha first. That’s what I meant, yeah” I had to stifle a chuckle. Even the Alpha had a grin on his face.

“I think that can be arranged. I will come and pick you up in say…. “I looked at Alpha, and he held up 1 finger. “One hour?”

“Uh that would be great…umm…okay. I’ll go get ready and wait for you her at home.”

“See you soon Tori” I hung up with a smile on my face.

“She sounds just like her mother.” The Alpha whispered as he sat down at his desk while staring at his hands. “Do you think she will remember me?” I took a seat in front of his desk and leaned my arms on my knees.

“I don’t know. I do know that according to Eric and Tammy, she has warm and fond memories of her father. The ones that she does remember. She has been looking for you for many years. Her mother tried to keep her from learning about you and finding you, but she kept looking. With nothing but her own looks to go on, she obviously didn’t have much luck.”

“I take it. She doesn’t remember you either?” He asked gently in an apologetic tone. I closed my eyes and ran my hands over my face.

“the look in her eyes when she sees me is a look of familiarity and trust, but I don’t think she knows where it comes from. I haven’t told her anything yet. I’m not sure how to approach that subject with her. We’ve been looking for so long for her and now… here she is. Just falling into our laps and its’ nerve-wracking. It's almost frightening, and I don’t want to lose her again!” I looked up with wide eyes as I realized what I’ve said. “I mean no disrespect, Alpha. I just want her to remember us.” He sat there quiet for a moment and then nodded.

“Yes. I’ve looked forward to this day myself for seventeen years. It’s a little scary, but even if she wants nothing to do with me or the pack, at least I got to meet her and her me. We’ll go from there at her pace and her request.”

“Of course, Alpha. I’ll go notify Miss Grace of her arrival, and I’ll call Eric and have him come back to the packhouse with Tammy. She’ll want a friendly face to be with her when she learns about us.”

“Do not tell anyone who she is. Not yet. I want us to talk first and see how she wants to move forward. It’ll be up to her who and when they know about her.”

“Yes Alpha” I bowed before I left the room.

I pulled out my phone and called Eric.

“Gamma Eric, Alpha has requested you return and bring your mate with you.”

“Everything okay, Beta?”

“Yes. I am going to go get Tori and bring her here in an hour.”

“No way! That’s’ great!” I winced at his loud cheering through the phone, and I could hear Tammy cheering in the background as well.

“Alpha orders that no one knows who she is yet. Do not mention that she is his daughter to anyone. Is that clear?”

“Yes Beta. We are on our way.” Eric answered in his professional voice and then cut the call.

I headed to the kitchen to find Miss Grace and notify her of a guest. She’ll get a room ready for her and some snacks and drinks as well.

“Miss Grace?” I called as I stepped in the kitchen.

“Yes dear, over here!” I heard her calling out from the walk-in pantry. I saw her trying to stock some boxes and cans on the shelves, so I stepped up and placed them for her. Being a little too short, she was unable to reach. “Thank you, Beta. Now, what can I do for you?”

“Alpha is having a guest arrive soon and would like a room and some snacks prepared for her when she arrives.”

“Yes Beta. I will take care of that right away.” Grace gave a bow and a knowing smile before she took off to make up the guestroom.

I turned the corner to head back to my room to freshen up before I go get Tori when I bump into my least favorite person.

“Hello Beta, I hear we have a new guest coming?” Corinne greats in her seductive tone as she steps up to me. I just want to push her away and get away from her, but being the alpha’s “girl” I have to try to be nice to her.

“Yes. Alpha has a guest coming. I would appreciate it if you were nice to her.” She dropped her smile, and her face hardened.

“Her? Is Alpha having a female guest?”

“Yes, Corinne. Do not start any trouble with her, or you will answer to the Alpha!” I can see the evil look in her eyes, and I don’t like it. I will have to keep an eye on her and never let Tori be alone.

“Who, me? I wouldn’t think of it. When is she arriving?” I didn’t like her tone, and she had a mischievous smile about her.

“I will be bringing her here shortly” She just smiled and nodded, so I continued on my way to my room.

Thirty minutes later, I was showered, clean set of clothes, and I was tying my boots as I heard a knock on my door.

“Come!” The door opened, and Eric stepped in.

“Gamma. Where is Tammy?”

“She’s helping Miss Grace set up Tori’s room.” I nodded as I finished with my boots and grabbed my leather jacket.

“I’ll be leaving to go get Tori. Make sure Corinne is nowhere near her at any time when she arrives. I can already see the jealousy streak running, but Alpha does not want anyone to know who she is yet, and I’m assuming that includes Corinne.”

“Of course, Beta. Tammy is really excited to have her friend here. Can’t wait to show her around the pack grounds and especially the training grounds.”

“Why the training grounds?” I asked as we stepped out of my room into the hallway.

“She loves to train! You don’t know…she is a second-dan black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Quite impressive skills if you ask me! I’ve sparred with her a few times, and she certainly gave me a run for my money. You’ll see.” He winked as he walked up the stairs in search of his mate. I just shook my head, thinking I’ll have to challenge her to spar some time and see for myself. Although she is a tiny little thing, I bet she is full of surprises.

I walk out the front door and towards my truck. I open the door and settle myself inside as I buckle my seat belt and start the engine. Before I pull out, I see Corinne standing on the side of the pack house with a grin on her face. I stare at her for a moment before she walks away. I don’t like the looks of that. I’ll deal with that when I get back. I head off pack lands, and my excitement rises as I drive to Tori’s house.