Everwild (The Healer Series, #1) (15 page)

“Just take them,” Declan muttered and looked
at Willow. Willow’s cheek flushed red with embarrassment at the
exchange. She’d never seen a naked man before, and didn’t even stop
to think about it. One more step and she would’ve found out
everything
a man had to offer. The werewolf snatched the
shorts and laughed quietly.

A thought popped into Willow’s head. “Hey!
Where did you get those shorts?”

Declan actually looked embarrassed when he
said, “I was wearing them under my jeans.”

Willow raised her eyebrows. The werewolf
huffed behind her. “Well great! I’ve always wanted to wear clothes
that were
just
on another guy’s body.”

“Would you prefer walking around naked
instead?” Declan snapped at him.

“Guess not,” he shrugged and put them on.
“Don’t worry, Healer, I’m decent now thanks to your boyfriend.” the
werewolf said smiling.

“He’s not my boyfriend,” Willow said
immediately as the werewolf stepped out from the bush. He was tall
and broad and Willow saw him favoring his left leg. His right leg
was still open; the wound was deep and would take a while to heal,
even for a werewolf. Blood ran in uneven streaks down his leg. It
was a nasty injury and Willow found her arm already reaching out to
him, the tingling sensation coursing through her fingertips at the
ready. The werewolf sat on the ground and waited patiently for
Willow.

She crouched to his level. Closing her eyes,
she waved her hands above his leg. Up and down she moved her arms,
feeling the tendons mending together and the blood rushing quicker
to heal him. “Wow,” she heard the wolf say, but she only continued
healing. Finally, the wound was closed and the werewolf jumped to
his feet, stretching and jogging in place. Willow stood and watched
him amused and a little arrogant. “Good as new!” he rushed up to
Willow and wrapped her in a hug, lifting her from her feet and
squeezing hard, twirling her around.

“Can’t breathe,” Willow laughed. The werewolf
put her back on her feet.

Declan spoke up beside her and the good she
was feeling instantaneously vanished. “I can’t believe you used
your healing power on him Willow! Did you even stop to think how it
will put us in more danger? No! I warned you not to do it but
instead you went charging in like you always do! I mean, come on,
Willow, I know you’re smarter than that! Didn’t you learn your
lesson with the ghouls?”

A stab of hurt penetrated through her. If it
wasn’t for her healing power, Declan could have been dead. Even
though the ghouls discovered them, they still managed to escape
together, and without magic to boot! She turned her back on the
werewolf to face Declan. “Listen closely, Declan Aldridge. I’m sick
of you ordering me around like a child, I’m sick of you thinking
you know what’s best for me, and I’m sick of you holding me back
and thinking I’m not good enough to do what I was born to do!”

“I never said—”

“Well I’ve got news for you! Just because
your father is Head Warlock doesn’t give you the right to make all
the decisions! It’s MY talisman we’re going after, It’s MY family
that needs MY help, and it’s MY power that will guide us there! So
just do us all a favor and shut up!”

An awkward silence followed Willow’s
outburst. Declan’s fists tightened at his sides and his face was
contorted with rage. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to dispute
her, but then shut it again. Tears swelled in Willow’s eyes. She
wondered what happened to the sweet, caring Declan he was earlier.
Why was he being so mean? Declan saw Willow about to burst into
tears and stepped up to her, but the werewolf got there first. He
towered in front of Willow blocking her view of Declan. To her
surprise, he leaned down and took her arm kissing the back of her
hand.

“I never gave you a proper thank you,
Healer,” he said, “so thank you. You have saved my life and in
return, I pledge my services to you as long as you would have
me.”

“Oh, no, you don’t have to do that,” she said
pulling her hand away. The werewolf stepped closer to her, invading
her personal space.

“You don’t understand, Healer. I can protect
you.” He looked back at Declan and then at her as if to say he
could do a better job at protecting her. “Trust me, having a
werewolf may come in handy, especially here. It’s obvious you don’t
live here, and judging by the conversation you just had with your
boyfriend over there, you’re on some kind of awesome mission, and
well, I’m a mission type of guy.”

“Um…no,” Willow said defiantly trying to look
to Declan for help. He was leaning against a tree with his arms
crossed looking pissed off. He definitely wasn’t going to help.
Another wave of hurt coursed through her. It took all her effort
not to go running into his arms apologizing for her behavior. Would
there ever be a time where her and Declan didn’t fight about
something?

“Don’t make me beg, Healer,” the werewolf
pleaded. “I can lead you wherever you want.”

“Do you know where the crystal cave is?”

“Whoa! Hold on! You’re going to the crystal
cave?” He exclaimed in shock. “Are you asking for a death sentence?
I can’t go there because….” He trailed off looking over his
shoulder in paranoia.

“Because what?” Willow asked curiously.

“It’s nothing,” he shook his head and turned
back to her. “If you’re going there, then I’m your man. That is, of
course, if you’ll have me,” he pouted his lips and widened his eyes
looking very much like a puppy.

“I have your word that you’ll take us there?”
Willow asked.

“On my life, I will guide you,” the werewolf
said smiling and putting his hand over his heart in a gallant
pledge. “But if I die along the way, then you’re on your own.”

“Ooookay,” Willow said sarcastically. “That
wasn’t morbid or anything.”

The werewolf reared his head back and
laughed. “I like you, Healer.”

“Oh, I’m Willow,” she said.

“Yeah, she likes being called Willow too,”
Declan said mockingly and came to stand near them.

The werewolf looked at Declan and then back
to Willow smiling. “Shall we go, then, Healer?” He grabbed Willow’s
hand and pulled her away from Declan as they took off walking.
Twining his hands in hers, he firmly held her hand, not letting go.
Willow didn’t protest. They were back on track with a guide who
knew how to navigate the Everwild. The odds seemed to favor her.
She only glanced back once to make sure Declan was following. He
didn’t look happy, but he was still there.

“So…do you know if we’re close?” Willow asked
hopefully.

“Oh, we’re at least a few days from the cave,
Healer,” the werewolf looked down at her. His face was so flawless,
that Willow couldn’t take her eyes from him. He still wasn’t as
attractive as Declan, though. “But you don’t have to worry, because
I’m with you.”

Willow faked sadness and pouted. “And I don’t
even know your name…”

The werewolf laughed and squeezed her hand.
“I’m so lost in your spell that I didn’t even introduce myself….pun
intended.
” The werewolf looked back at Declan smugly and
then back at her. “I’m Chase.”

“Well, Chase, thanks for your help.”

“Such a sweet little Healer,” Chase said and
pulled her closer to him. He smelled like wet dog. “And so
beautiful too! Are you single?”

Willow laughed. “Are you always
this…this…”

“Charming? Confident? Feisty?” Chase
suggested waggling his eyebrows.

“Um…yeah.”

“I’m a werewolf. You’re a super hot Healer
witch girl. I have a feeling we’ll get to know each other
very
well in the next few days.”

“Looking forward to it,” Willow said
non-enthusiastically. She had always wanted attention like this,
always wanted an attractive, charming person in her life to treat
her like she mattered. But something didn’t settle with her. There
were no feelings, no sparks, and nothing stirring inside her.
Granted she just met Chase, and he was of a completely different
magical race than she, but something was off. Feeling eyes on her
back, Willow slowly turned her head to the side and glanced back at
Declan. The look in his eyes made her feel like she had betrayed
him. She turned quickly to the front, resisting the urge to cry.
She knew who she wanted, and it wasn’t the charming werewolf named
Chase.

Willow didn’t know what was worse, Chase’s
flirtatiousness or Declan’s indifference. With each step she took,
her worry for Declan increased. Okay, so she yelled at him, but now
he wasn’t talking or saying anything at all! In was infuriating,
hurtful, and confusing. Several times she found herself turning
around about to demand what his problem was and why he was ignoring
her, but then she always stopped herself. She was already feeling
guilty about her outburst, but he just let Chase keep complimenting
and pestering her. He didn’t seem to care at all, which bothered
her even more. But then, she shouldn’t expect him to care, either,
since they weren’t a couple, but it was still getting under her
skin, as only Declan seemed to do.

Chase was obnoxious. At first, it was all
cute because he was cute. Now, he was overdoing it, like he wanted
to impress her or something. She did learn a good deal about
werewolves by talking to him, though. A werewolf could shift into
their wolf form at any moment. He and the wolf were one entity.
While in wolf form, Chase had complete and total control over his
movements and thoughts. He was still a rational thinking man but
his physical appearance was just altered. He could understand
everything Willow said when she tried healing him earlier, which
seemed quite hilarious to him. Chase lived in a pack, just like
normal wolves did, with an Alpha at the head. Chase was on his way
back to his pack when he was trapped. He hinted more than once how
furious his Alpha would be with him when he found out about his new
debt to be paid.

“What’s your Alpha’s name?” Willow asked.

Chase glanced at her sideways and smirked.
“I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.” He stopped to sniff
the air. “This way,” he steered them up rocky terrain. “We’re
getting close to Dokkaebi territory.”

“Dokkaebi?” Willow said inching closer to
Chase. “What’s that?” The name alone was strange enough to send
shudders down her back. In her spell casting training, she had
never spent much time on learning about the lesser magical
creatures. She merely had to memorize the names of a few popular
ones and the spells that would work best to defend her and hinder
them. For instance, a werewolf is allergic to silver. Producing
silver would disarm them and give her enough time to kill or
escape. She had no idea what a Dokkaebi was or even if it was
dangerous, as it was one of the lesser magical beings. It sure
sounded terrifying.

“You really should get out more,” Chase
laughed at her. “If I have to explain every little magical creature
out there and their habits and where they live and what they eat,
it could take forever. Then again, forever with you doesn’t sound
too bad. So how about we start alphabetically. Let’s see…first
there’s the Banshee. No, wait. The first would be an Ankou. Come
across one of those, and you’d be dead within the night. They only
come out when death is imminent.” Willow hugged herself and tried
not to be worried by the scary creature lessons she was about to be
given. Chase continued on as if she wanted to hear all about this.
“They look like skeletons, but hide most of their form by a thick
black cloak that--”

“Just stop it, werewolf. Can’t you see you’re
bothering her?” Declan finally spoke up angrily. Willow exhaled
deeply at hearing his voice. When Declan moved to stand beside her,
Willow couldn’t have been more relieved. He remained distant from
her and didn’t look at her, but he faced the werewolf with a cool
resolve. His hazel eyes literally burned into Chase, who stood
slightly taller than Declan. Declan was pissed, but Chase only
looked amused.

“Bothering her?” Chase asked calmly. “I was
simply doing what you spell casters fail to do. Educate.”

“That so?” Declan chided, rage welling inside
him. “Well how about I educate
you
in how to use manners
around a woman? Better yet, I should just get you a silver collar
to latch around your neck to help hold up your big head!”

“I liked you better when you weren’t talking,
warlock,” Chase counteracted.

“And I liked you better when I didn’t know
you existed,” Declan sneered back and stepped next to Willow. This
time, he did look at her. Willow gave him an encouraging smile,
like she was trying to apologize without really saying it. Declan’s
eyes softened on hers and then turned back to Chase. He shifted
halfway in front of Willow and signaled with his hand in front of
him sarcastically. “Now be a good boy and lead the way.”

Chase snarled at Declan, looking very much
like an angry wolf. His canines extended and his eyes flashed
dangerously at Declan’s taunting. “You better watch it, warlock,”
Chase growled. “You
really
don’t want to mess with me.”

“You’re right,” Declan said, just as
irritably, “That would only be stooping to a level of total
incompetence. Wouldn’t wanna do that, huh?”

Chase wound his hand up in a fist and Declan
was willing and waiting for the opportunity to put this werewolf in
his place when Willow stepped right in between the two and shoved
them apart with all of her might. They barely moved, but both guys
looked at her perplexed, as if they just realized she was there the
entire time. She crossed her arms and looked up at the two gorgeous
men above her. Willow felt so small standing in between those two.
They were both so tall and fit.

“Please tell me you weren’t going to get into
a fight,” Willow said pinching the bridge of her nose. “Because
that’s
my
job.” Both guys’ eyebrows shot up in question,
caught off by her words, which is what Willow wanted: distraction.
Willow looked at them and tried to seem irritated. She turned first
to Chase. “Chase, you’re our guide. Not a slave, not a lap dog, not
some flirty wolf-boy who only wants one thing. You are a guide. K?”
Next, Willow turned to Declan and stared hard into his eyes, trying
not to let her voice give away any emotion she was now feeling
towards him, which was jittery, excitement, and (she had to admit),
love struck. “Declan, you’re my protector. You defend my life, my
honor, and anything else that cocky head of yours feels like you
should guard me from. That does not include stopping me from
healing who I want and when I want. K?” Declan crossed his arms and
lifted a corner of his mouth in amusement.