The Healer

Chapter 4

Darius had been pacing up and down for a solid thirty minutes before Marcus thought he was willing to see reason. 

"So Emma is..." he began. 

"Mine! My mate!" Darius growled. 

Marcus snorted. 

"Yeah, I got that part. You're aware, of course, that you turned into a raving lunatic. Imagine that. Cold and stoic Darius lost his cool. You scared the entire pack. According to Lila, everyone thought you were trying to kill her." 

Darius looked as if he was in pain. 

"They thought I was trying to what? Is that what she thought? I have to go to her. I have to make this right. I have..." 

"You have to let the girl get some rest. Remember, she hasn't had a proper sleep going on three days," Marcus said and was relieved when Darius nodded. 

"Of course. I can do other things tonight. Arrange for a pack transfer, contact her Alpha..." Darius began but Marcus shook his head. 

"Good grief man. Why don't you try learning her favorite color first? Jeez is this how you wooed Sylvia," Marcus said, then shut his mouth. 

"Don't mention that creatures name in the same sentence as my mate," he snarled. 

Marcus knew he was taking a chance but he decided to go for it. 

"I'm merely pointing out that Sylvia got flowers, chocolates and jewelry. And she wasn't even your true mate! You seem pretty sure that Emma is and all she's gotten is a dislocated shoulder. And now you're talking about uprooting her from her pack before even talking to her?" 

Darius opened his mouth to respond then closed it and sighed. 

"I know damn it! I know. It's just that the thought of not seeing her makes me insane. And then there's something she said. She said she'd go away again. Again. As if she already had gone away." 

Marcus frowned. 

"That doesn't make sense. I'd definitely remember a ninth level healer crossing my path and you turning into a mad man. When on earth would...oh no. Oh my friggin god." Marcus shook his head as everything began to fall into place. 

"What are you thinking?" Darius asked his Beta. 

"This can't be possible. It's just, I do remember someone. A girl who looked a lot like Emma. She visited Illyria once," Marcus said hesitantly. 

"And?" Darius said with a frown. "Was I there as well?" 

"You were. Darius, remember you told me about a little girl who tried to stop your mating ceremony to the witch? I mean Sylvia." 

Darius went back to that day in his head. 

Marcus had been making a mess out of both of their ties when a little girl had come up to him and asked to speak to him in private. Marcus had shrugged and walked away. He remembered the girl seemed nervous but she had taken a deep breath and asked him not to go through with the ceremony because she was...she was... 

"No," Darius whispered.  

Marcus covered his face in his hands.  

"That poor girl," he couldn't stop himself from saying. "Oh Darius, it wasn't your fault. Not really. Most people don't recognize a mate until they're fifteen. I don't know how she knew it was you." 

"Maybe I wouldn't have recognized her, but I damn well should have recognized that Sylvia wasn't it! I mean, to compare the feelings I have for Emma just from her scent to whatever I thought I felt for Sylvia is a joke. She must think I'm an idiot. I don't deserve her. I never deserved her."