Page 105 of Healer’s Betrayal

Yeah. Where are you?

We’re in the stairwell at the end of the building, the opposite end of where they kept you.

I’m coming to you.

I look down at Alicia’s arm. “Any day now,” she mutters.

Alicia’s with us, I warn him.

She’s with you? There’s a new intensity to his voice. Are you safe at the moment?

I start healing Alicia’s second arm. You can’t kill her, I send back. The door at the bottom of the stairs is thrown open, and a furious Jackson races up the stairs. Before I know what’s happening, he’s between me and Alicia and has her up against the wall with his forearm against her throat.

“Jackson, no, don’t,” I put my hand on his back. I hear a sound, and then there’s another male joining us. He’s tall and muscular and goes right to Sherese. He runs his hands down her arms and stares at her intently; I get the feeling they’re talking through their bond. Then he turns towards Alicia.

Chapter 47

Kayla

“Alicia.” There is no warmth to his voice.

“Hunter,” she says right back. But this time, there’s something different in her tone.

“The only reason you’re not dead is because you’re connected to his mate,” Hunter says, dark eyes flashing as he thrusts his chin at Jackson. “The moment you no longer are, I’m coming for you.”

“Oh, I can’t wait.” She smirks, but I’m still watching her closely. There’s something there; I just don’t know what it is. Then she looks right at me. I meet her eyes but don’t say anything. She and I are the only ones that know that we’re not really connected. The wolves could kill her, and it wouldn’t do anything to me. And yet, I say nothing. The hand that Jackson isn’t using to hold Alicia to the wall snakes back and reaches for mine.

You’re okay? He asks.

Yes. You?

He squeezes my hand gently. Yes.

What about that guy that was in charge—the one that...I don’t want to remember what he made Jackson do.

He disappeared as soon as the attack started; he's long gone.

Defeat washes over me, but I squeeze his hand back. Let's just focus on getting out of here alive.

Jackson continues to stare down at Alicia as he talks to me. You healed her.

It’s not a question, but I answer anyway. I did.

Jackson stares down at Alicia. “My mate is a much nicer person than me.”

She lifts her chin. “I know.”

“You’re going to get us out of here safely.” His words carry an underlying level of tension and anger that she would be wise to listen to.

“Oh, I am, am I?” she asks with a smirk.

“Yes, you are,” Hunter says with a decisiveness. “It’s what you owe us, what you owe Cody.”

The mask drops for a second, and I see the guilt in her eyes. But when she flicks her gaze to Hunter, it’s gone. “I don’t owe you anything.”

Hunter looks like he wants to end her himself, but Sherese puts her hand on his arm. “We have to get out of here. We’ve been in one spot too long,” Jackson says. He stares down Alicia. “You get us out of here. Consider it payback for my mate healing you.”

She rolls her eyes. “Fine. But if you don’t listen to me and die, that’s on you.”