Chapter 10

Maverick

I blink and try to focus, but the room is spinning. I shake my head, but that only seems to make it worse. "Just take a minute," Cade says, annoying me. He just needs to be quiet for one minute. I stand to my feet, cursing when the room spins again. Cade reaches out to touch me, and I shove his hand off me and curse again. "Maverick, just take a minute. Would you sit down before you fall down?"

I ignore him and try focus on the spinning room. I close my eyes and shake my head a minute. I turn my head and focus my eyes until I find the mousy healer standing in the corner. "What happened to me?" I demand of Cade.

"You went down."

"With what?"

"With a disease or something that's killing our pack." Cade's voice is solemn but steady. "Rose healed you."

I snort. "Course she did."

"Mav," Cade starts, but I ignore him and start towards the door.

"You know, you could say thank you." I notice the blonde healer near the door for the first time, the one with a chip on her shoulder.

"And you could leave," I growl at her as I pass her.

"You are such a jerk," she retorts.

"Tell me something I don't know, Blondie," I growl as I pass.

"Mav!" Cade's voice leaks power, and though I could blow past his order, I turn around. I meet the eyes of the dark-haired healer standing behind him. Her eyes are wide, and I grind my teeth. I look away from her and meet Cade's gaze head-on. "Stop being a jerk and tell us how you feel."

"Fine." I cross my arms over my chest.

Cade's eyes rise skeptically. "You've been at death's door for weeks, and you're fine ." His voice is laden with skepticism.

"I feel f—freakin' fine." My jaw tightens, and I refuse to meet the innocent healer's eyes. Why am I pandering to her? I've never had a problem cussing in front of any woman, ever. And I'm not going to start having a problem now. I jerk my head up in irritation. It's a mistake. The room spins again, and I feel the ground beneath me wobble. I'm trying to get a bearing when I feel a hand on my arm. I look down and see a small white hand on my bronzed skin.

"Careful," she says softly. The dark-haired healer looks up and meets my eyes, and it feels like a punch to my gut. "You're going to be weak for a little while."

I jerk my arm away, uncaring about the surprised and maybe hurt look in her eyes. "I'm going to shift and go for a run." I turn away from the doe-eyed healer, ignoring the disappointing look from Cade, and walk past Blondie.

"Mav," Cade calls out behind me. His voice holds his disapproval—nothing I'm not used to.

"Mav!" Carl says in surprise. He's obviously on duty in this hallway. He walks toward me, but I push past him. "It's good to see you up and about." He doesn't step any closer, and I stride past him without a word. My skin is itchy, my head is pounding, and I feel like I'm going to be sick. I rub a hand over my chest. I freeze when I feel my ribs and glance down at myself for the first time. I stare down at my exposed chest and run my hands over my chest and stomach in shock. I've lost so much weight, I can feel my ribs. I shake my head, beyond irritated. I'm going to have to gain back that weight and muscle. I've never been weak before, and I refuse to be now. Except when you were young... That errant thought hits me out of nowhere, and I shove it back into the dark recesses of my mind where it belongs. I run into a few more of my pack mates, but I ignore each and every one of them. I need to be outside. I need to shift before I lose my mind. I finally shove the front door open and take a deep breath of fresh air. Within three steps, I shift instantaneously into my wolf. Surprisingly, it's a little painful, but I put it behind me and just run after I convince my wolf that we have to heal. He doesn't want to leave, but I convince him to. I let thoughts of everything that's happened in the last few minutes fade away and let my wolf take control as I take a backseat. I feel his exuberance at finally being outside and free to run after such a long time. It's not lost on me that he feels weak too, but it's nothing that a good regiment of food and exercise won't fix.

My wolf runs for a while before he drops, too exhausted to continue. We need food and time to recover, and then we'll deal with what happened to us. But not now. Now is the time to heal, rest, and recover. I know that the best way to do that is away from the worrisome eyes of my pack. Here is where we'll find what we need to recover—out in nature.

Cade's voice suddenly interrupts my peace. Where are you?

As much as I don't want to answer, I owe him an explanation as to where I disappeared to. In the woods, I send back through our link.

You shouldn't have run off.

Not a little kid, Cade. You don't need to reprimand me.

He's quiet a moment; I figure somebody needs him for something or other. This is why I'm not an alpha. I could never handle being in demand all the time. I need space and lots of it. You shouldn't have run off, he repeats. I wanted Rose to check you over. Her name is like a punch to my gut, but I don't say anything. You've been at death's door. It wouldn't have hurt you to spend five minutes getting checked out by a healer.

Five minutes getting checked out by the dark-haired, doe-eyed healer? Oh, it would have hurt all right. I'm not about to put myself in that position. Ever. But Cade doesn't need to know that. I just need time to heal. Give me a few days in my wolf's skin, and I'll be good as new.

You sure you're not running from a certain healer?

I ignore that part. I'll be back in a few days. Will you be okay ‘til then?

I'll be fine.

A thought hits me, and I still. Amber? Paige?

They're fine, he's quick to assure me. They've stayed healthy. But his fear comes through the link, loud and clear.

How many have we lost?

It's quiet a moment, and I wait for his response, knowing he'll give it when he's good and ready and not a moment before. Eight.

My stomach twists, and I grimace. Who?

He gives me the rundown, and my anger rises with each name he says. Thankfully, none of them have been kids. But still.... What is it? I growl out.

I don't know. Sage and Paul from the Northwoods Pack are trying to figure it out, even now. They keep Rose up to date, but I don't know if she knows yet either. I need to check in with her and see what they're saying.

I grind my teeth again. I'll be out here for a few days healing up, but you know what to do if you need me. This isn't the first time I've spent time in the woods, away from the pack. Cade and I have a certain understanding. There are times when I need a break from pack life, and he lets me have it. In return, I serve at his side faithfully, protecting him and his family and this pack. It's the least I can do for all he's done for me over the years. Cade, Amber, and Paige are like family to me.

I get it. Just take care of yourself and don't be gone too long.

I'll check in with you. Reach out if anybody else gets sick.

Will do.

Cade drops the link after that, and I'm left to the peace of the woods once again. I give my wolf control once again and let him hunt for something to eat. We need to spend the next few days getting back in shape. Cade will keep the pack in line until I get healed up and can return to full duty. My wolf catches the scent of a rabbit, and we're off. Thoughts of a certain dark-haired healer drift into my mind, but I block them out. There will be no thinking of any healers while I'm out here trying to recover. My wolf growls, letting me know he's not exactly thrilled at the fact that we're ignoring the little healer, but I ignore him. This is how it has to be.