Chapter 5

Rose

"Your beta has a private wing?" Raechel asks, sounding impressed. She grins and looks at Max. "We'll have to tell Liam that he's missing out."

Max looks down at her. "He has a house."

"Yes, but does he have his own private wing in a house like this?" she asks with a twinkle in her eye. "Why is this place so empty?" Raechel asks after we walk back down the steps. "Is nobody around during the day?"

"It's a hot day out," James says, like that's supposed to mean something to us. Raechel looks at me, but I give her a shoulder shrug. I don't know where everybody is. "The pool," James finally says. "Everybody's probably gathered at the pool or they've died or are dying."

I choke at his words. Raechel stops moving, but for a very different reason. "You have a pool?" When he nods, looking at her like she's a little daft, she turns to Max. "Max! They have a pool!" She squeals. "We have to go swimming. I brought a bikini just in case, and this is perfect."

Max doesn't slow his stride or look at her. "No."

"And by no, you mean yes."

He looks down at her this time. "No."

She turns to James. "Is it a big pool?"

He nods. "There are multiple pools."

"They have multiple pools," Raechel repeats to Max.

"There's also a lazy river," James adds.

"And a lazy river," Raechel says in awe.

"And a two-story water slide."

Raechel stops and tugs on Max's arm, causing him to stop as well. "They have a water slide!" Her eyes are huge, and I bite my lip to keep from smiling.

"No," he repeats and then takes a step closer. "You're not wearing a bikini in front of a bunch of male shifters, especially ones I don't know." His gaze pins James in place. "You have any unmated males?" James, as if aware of the danger that Max is or can be, stays completely still. He simply nods. "A lot?" Max asks. He nods again, and Max stares down at Raechel. "No," he says in a low voice.

"If you let me go swimming, I'll let you take it off later," she says with a big grin.

"Raechel," Ava and I both complain at the same time.

"What my innocent cherubs?" she asks with a wicked grin. "You know I don't need your permission, Mate," she says, turning back to Max.

"I know," he says in his deep rumble. "You don't. But just remember that all the deaths of the males that look at you will be on your hands." With that he turns and walks down the hall to where James stands a few feet away.

"You do realize you have a problem, right?" Raechel calls out after him. Then she turns to us. "What?" I try to clear the expression on my face, but I don't think I do a good job. "So when should we go check this pool out?" she asks.

I stare at her. "Uh, did you hear what Max threatened?"

"I'm pretty sure everybody heard what Max threatened," Ava says dryly.

Raechel waves me off. "It will be fine." She starts off after the guys, and I hurry to catch up.

"I don't think it will be; he sounds really serious, Raechel," I tell her as soon as I reach her side.

"Oh, he is," she responds.

"Then why are you going to do it?" I ask in exasperation.

"Because when I put on my bikini to go check out the pool, he will absolutely lose his mind." She grins maniacally at me. "And that will lead to wild, crazy sex. I'll never actually get out of the room."

I close my eyes and shake my head as Ava groans. Raechel laughs and puts her arms through mine and Ava's, walking between us. "Come on, my little innocents."

"You're a mess," I mumble, but she just laughs again. When we reach the room where Max and James are waiting, Max's eyes are on his mate, and they're doing their glowy thing.

"I heard you, Mate," he says in a growl as she walks past him.

"Figured you would," she tosses over her shoulder as we walk past him and into the room. "Ooo, these are really nice. These rooms are huge!" She releases us and sits on the bed. "They're much bigger than the ones in Samantha and Wyatt's pack; don't tell Samantha." I walk around the room, surprised by the size and opulence of it. There's a small kitchen with a kitchen table, a living room area with a large tv on the wall, a bathroom that's much larger than I would think it would be, and a bedroom.

"This is really nice," I say out loud.

"The other healer is next door," James says. I drop my bags on the floor and follow Ava and James to the room next door. It's almost identical to mine.

"Are you ready to see our beta?" James asks, surprising me.

"Oh." His words take me by surprise. "Right now?" I sort of squeak out.

James gives me a confused look. "You're healers, right? Here to heal the pack?"

I take a breath at his words and try to still the instant panic that his words produce. I mean that is why I'm here, but the pressure of trying to save an entire pack? That's a lot of pressure. I bite my lip as I try to come up with something to say. "You made it," a new voice says, and we turn in surprise.

Alpha Cade gives us a small smile. "Welcome to the Orlando Pack. I'm sorry I wasn't here to greet you when you first arrived." A beautiful woman stands next to him holding an adorable little girl. Cade puts his hand on the woman's back and smiles proudly. "This is my mate, Amber, and our little girl, Paige."

I try to swallow my nerves. "I'm Rose." I don't say anything else, because I can't. But Amber doesn't seem to mind. She steps forward.

"It's so nice to meet you, Rose." She shocks me by leaning forward and giving me a hug, trapping the little girl in between us.

"Mama," the little one says in a complaint.

Amber leans back and smiles down at the little girl. She turns big eyes to me before she buries her head in her mother's chest. But when she lifts her head again and smiles shyly at me, I can't help the smile that spreads across my face. "Hi, Little One. What's your name?"

"What's your name?" Amber prompts gently.

"Paige," she finally says quietly.

"Hi, Paige. I'm Rose; it's so nice to meet you. Are you two?" I hold up two fingers. She nods before burying her head again.

"She's adorable, and I love her name," I tell Amber.

"Thank you. It's after Sage and Paul," she tells me, surprising me. "They didn't tell you they delivered our little girl?" she asks in surprise.

"I knew that; I just didn't know she was named after them," I explain. "That's so sweet."

"Well, she wouldn't be here if not for them. I probably wouldn't be either."

Cade turns away from talking to Max and puts his hand on his mate's back. "But you both are, and that's what matters," he says firmly, planting a kiss on her cheek and reaching for Paige. She giggles when he tickles her and lays her head on his chest. A feeling of tenderness tugs at my chest, and I find myself wanting to tear up. I turn away a moment, needing a chance to reset.

"Have you seen Maverick yet?" Amber asks softly, and I turn back to her.

"Uh, no. Not yet."

Cade wraps an arm around Amber and draws her close to his side. He must say something to her through their bond because she gives a slight nod. "I hope that you will reach out with anything you need. I know you're going to be busy, but I really hope to have a chance to get to know you." Her smile is bright, and she seems sincere. I surprise myself by nodding.

"I would like that."

She beams and gives Cade a kiss. "We'll see you later."

When Cade turns back to me, his face is serious, and I know it's time to get down to business. He glances between Ava and I. "Would you like to see what we're dealing with?"

I chance a glance at Ava, and she meets my eyes and gives me the slightest nod. I find courage from the act. "Yes, please."

"Follow me."

We walk back the way we came and down a few halls and into another part of the building. When we get close, the smell of antiseptic and cleaners hits my nose, but beneath that smell is one that's worse. Much, much worse. It's the smell of sickness and death. I watch Max and Blaine make a facial expression that tells me the smell is much worse for them. Cade stops at a table that's covered in medical protection. "Anybody that goes in has to be completely covered," he explains. He turns to Max, Cade, and Raechel. "I wouldn't advise going in. The less contact, the better chance you have of not contracting it."

Max and Blaine nod solemnly, and Raechel meets my eyes. I give her a look so that she knows I'm okay with this. I know why she would have her doubts. In the not-too-distant past, I wouldn't have been. But I've come a long way. I spend the next few minutes covering myself head to toe with protective gear—gloves, masks, a white hazmat kind of suit, bootie things to cover our shoes, face shields...it's a lot. I look over at Ava, who's busy putting on her own gear. I raise my eyebrows. "You're going in?" That surprises me. She told me at home before we left that she would come for support, but she wasn't going to partake in the healings unless I absolutely needed her help.

"Might as well die together, so I'm not left to take care of the house by myself," she mutters, and I turn so she doesn't see the smile on my face.

Moments later, she and I are all geared up. "Are you both good?" Raechel asks. I nod, trying to reassure our friend.

"After they finish inside, we'll take them to the decontamination tent. I wouldn't wait in this wing," Cade advises Raechel, Max, and Blaine.

Raechel seems reluctant to leave, but Max tugs on her hand. "Okay, we'll check in with you later. Be careful," she calls out as they walk away.

I turn back to Alpha Cade and try to settle my racing heart. I have no idea what to expect, but it doesn't seem good. Well, that's not true. He did tell us what to expect, but still. I'm nervous, worried I won't be able to help. "Are you ready?" Cade asks.

I nod and reach out and find Ava's hand. It's hard in these gloves, but I manage to squeeze her hand. Alpha Cade strides over to the door and opens it and disappears inside. With a glance at Ava, I make myself follow him inside. I stop inside the door because the scent of death nearly overwhelms me, but I force myself to walk forward. There are two beds in the room and all sorts of medical equipment, making it look like a sort-of makeshift hospital room. Cade walks over to the bed furthest away. I watch as he bends over and reaches out to the person's face. I'm unsure what he's doing until he closes the person's eyelids. A sick feeling fills me, and I will myself to be strong. When Cade turns to the patient on the first bed, I somehow get my leaden feet to move that way. I'm almost to the bed when a hard shudder shakes the person, and the entire bed moves, scaring me to death. I jump at least a foot backward and knock into Ava. I try to calm myself as I approach the bed and stare down at the gaunt figure before me. I can't believe he's a shifter. His body is thin, emaciated, and nothing like the powerful, muscular bodies that shifters have. His body shudders again, and the smallest sound escapes the man's lips. I study his face and see the pain lines etched into his face and the grimace on his mouth. I can see how much pain he's in, and it hits me hard. I see the IV with the bag he's hooked up to and make a mental note of it.

I feel my hands begin to tingle, a sure sign that my healing power is being activated. But not knowing yet what I'm dealing with keeps me from doing anything. He makes a rattling sound and makes several gasping sounds before settling somewhat. I squeeze my fists inside my gloves, hating that this person is in so much pain. I don't even know him, but I hate what he's enduring right now. Before I can say anything, Cade nods his head toward the hallway. We follow him out, and he closes the door behind us.

"I'm sorry about that," Cade says. "I didn't realize he had already passed." My soul grieves for the loss of the shifter, a man I don't even know. I can't imagine how Cade and his pack are dealing with these losses.

"What are they hooked up to?" Ava asks before I can.

"Morphine--to keep them comfortable before..." his words trail off, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand his words.

I take a deep breath before I ask, "Where is Maverick?"