Page 63 of Healer’s Betrayal

That thumb runs over my cheek again. “The other half to my soul.”

I take that in. I should be running for the hills, but I don’t feel scared. I feel...intrigued. “Does this have to do with you being what you are,” I pause and search his eyes.

“It’s a wolf thing,” he says in a lower voice. “Wolves mate once, for life. We search our whole lives for our mates; some of us are blessed to find them. When we do, we bond for life.” For the first time, a look passes through his eyes that looks almost like regret. I stiffen and try to pull back, but he won’t let me.

“And I’m that for you?” I ask. He nods. “And you don’t want it to be me.” It’s not a question.

He blinks and then growls low in his chest. “Yes, I want it to be you.”

“Then why did you give me a look of regret?” I ask. That same look passes over his face. “That look, right there.”

He palms the back of his neck, a sign I’m starting to learn that means he’s stressed. “I did something while you were unconscious.” I stiffen, even as I remind myself that he’s never done anything to hurt me. “Not like that,” he growls at me. “You were dying.” I blink at his words. He grits his teeth and forces out the next words. “They gave you a shot of something.”

“What?”

He takes a breath. “A serum meant to,” he pauses, and I wait for him to finish his thought.

“Meant to what, Jackson?” He stares at me without saying a word.

A new voice joins the conversation. “They gave you a shot of vampire serum, Kayla,” Raechel says.

I look over at her warily. “Vampire? They’re real?” I ask skeptically.

She nods. “Yeah, and they’re evil, nothing like the movies.”

It takes me a moment, and I can’t help it. It’s probably totally inappropriate, but I smirk. Raechel grins. “I didn’t take you for a Twilight fan,” I tell her.

“Team Jacob all the way, Baby,” she says, patting Max on his overly large bicep. “Gotta go werewolf.”

Despite the insanity of everything going on, I smile. “I was always Team Edward.”

She arches a brow. “Wow, you’ve got guts, Girl. To admit that in a room full of werewolves—that's impressive.”

My smile fades. “Vampires are bad; got it.”

“Very bad,” she says, all levity gone from her gaze. “The people that took you were all vampires. They’re like trying to take over the world and dominate and kill everyone in their path bad.” She nods at Jackson. “I figured he wouldn’t be able to do it, so I did it for him. Ripped the bandaid off. You’re a healer. The vampires need healers to create their army of super soldiers. So, they’re after all healers. But we’re after the healers as well, to keep them from being taken by the vampires.”

It all suddenly clicks into place. “That’s why you’re all here.”

She nods. “This one actually smelled you on Ava. He nearly attacked her.” She shakes her head. “Dumb idea. Bryce nearly killed him over it. But we finally realized that Ava and I had run into you at a rest stop. It’s a long story how we figured it out, but after that, we set about trying to find you. This one,” she points at Jackson. “Led the charge and refused to give up until we finally got a lock on your location and came to find you.” Her eyes fill with regret. “I’m sorry we didn’t help you that day at the rest stop.”

“I don’t even remember that,” I tell her honestly.

“I do, and there’s not a day I don’t regret it. I know Ava feels the same way.”

I shake my head. “I don’t regret it. If I hadn’t come here, I wouldn’t have found my crew at Mama May’s. I wouldn’t have met Mama May and Butch and Jessie. I wouldn’t have learned that I could stand on my own two feet and make it.”

“You really like it here.” It’s not really a question; it’s more of a statement that Raechel makes.

I nod. “I really do. I love the small-town feel; I love the shops. I like the weather here. I like knowing I can stand on my two feet and make it.” I reach out and grab Noah’s hand. “We’ve made a life here, or at least, we’re trying to.”

Raechel smiles widely. “I get it. Good for you. And now, you’re uncle’s dead. So, that’s a plus.”

I laugh again because this is literally the craziest conversation. “Yeah, there is that.” My smile fades, and I turn to Jackson. “Are you going to get in trouble by the police?”

He doesn’t bat an eye. “Is anybody going to report him missing?”

I shake my head. “No. I’m certainly not. But what about the body?”