Chapter 4

Two months later

Chad’s relentless charm knows no bounds. It’s been two months, and he’s still bombarding me with text messages day and night. It was like a never-ending marathon of communication. Even if I chose not to reply to all of them, it didn’t encourage him to stop. Two months later and I can’t deny that I’ve grown accustomed to our daily conversations, and on the rare occasions when he doesn’t message me, I find myself missing the incessant buzzing of my phone.

Who would have thought?

Weekends have become a predictable routine of pub visits with Jake and Chad, with the occasional absence when Chad is drowning in his work.

Who knew his job as Gamma was more demanding than a hospital’s emergency ward? Well, at least that’s what he claims. I think because my pack is small and doesn’t have as much conflict as Diamond Claw, I had no idea how much work he had.

He never delves into the specifics of his missions, but he loves to regale me with tales of challenges and the eccentricities of his Alpha and Beta.

Chad, the calm and well-calculated problem solver.

Maybe I should take some notes for my own life.

🐺 🐺 🐺

One month later

Panic surged through me as Chad decided to surprise me at work one day. I had just finished my reports and was chatting with Dr. Smith when I was jolted by the sight of Chad standing at the hospital entrance, holding a huge bouquet of roses and sporting that familiar smile that I recognized immediately. That’s the same smile he’s been wearing when he’s looked at me since he first saw me.

Without hesitation, I ran to him, and we hurried out of the hospital as soon as I noticed people staring at us.

“These flowers are for you,” Chad handed over the flowers, his voice filled with hope.

I accepted the flowers, momentarily speechless. What was happening? I stared at him, waiting for an explanation, hoping against hope that he wouldn’t say what I feared he would, “Oh, how lovely. Thanks, I guess.”

We got into his car, and he hesitated before starting the engine. I couldn’t help but feel a knot forming in my stomach.

His gaze met mine, “Katie, I know it’s been a while since we’ve known each other, but I really like you. Every day, I find myself eagerly waiting for your messages. I know I can make you very happy, Katie. Do you want to be my girlfriend?” Chad’s eyes brimmed with anticipation.

Oh, Chad… Don’t get me wrong, Chad is a wonderful guy, but I’m not ready for a relationship with him. We complete each other in almost everything, but I feel something is missing, you know?

Passion… I think that’s the missing feeling.

Even though I like him, I can’t envision him as more than a friend. Yet, when I saw those roses, a tiny sliver of hope emerged that he wouldn’t say what he had just said.

“Chad, you are a nice guy, but I don’t see you in this way at all. I consider you as a friend. I’m sorry,” I confessed, my eyes filled with sadness. I let out a sigh, preparing for disappointment.

To my surprise, Chad remained as kind as ever, his disappointment masked by a gentle smile. “It’s ok, Katie. I just wanted to let you know how I feel and how much I would love to have a chance with you. Let’s head to the pub. Jake is already there,” he started the car, and we silently drove towards our destination.

🐺 🐺 🐺

One month later

“You should give Chad a chance, Kitkat. I can see how much he likes you. He’s been different this past month, I hardly recognized him. I think your rejection hit him hard.” Jake remarked, passing me the orange juice as I handed him a slice of bread during our breakfast after a grueling workout session.

I sighed, contemplating Jake’s words. “I know he’s great, Jake, but I can’t force myself to feel something I don’t. It’s not fair to him.”

Jake took a bite of his sandwich, “Give him a chance. I think you’re insecure because you’ve never dated. You know, I wouldn’t have suggested it if I hadn’t thought he was good for you. Besides, I couldn’t believe it when he made me his delivery boy, bringing gifts for you every time I left Elite Training. He seems to think I’m what? A carrier pigeon?” We burst into laughter.

“You deserve all of this! It’s all your fault,” I said while drinking the orange juice. “I’m afraid I’ll regret it, Jake.”

We continued our coffee, talking about random things, but I couldn’t shake the thought that had been lingering in my mind all day.

Since it was my day off, I spent the morning running some errands and then lounged in bed in the afternoon, deep in thought, thinking about a relationship with Chad. Why am I like this? Why am I saying no to Chad when he checked all the boxes I’d hoped for in someone?

Every time I try to think of him romantically, there seems to be a voice inside me whispering that it’s not the right thing to do.

I made up my mind. I’ve listened to that voice for too long, and I think that’s the voice of my insecurity.

It can only be this, this is the voice of my insecurity!

So that night, I called Chad to come over, and to my surprise, he came immediately. He thought something serious had happened to me because I never invited him to my house.

As I spoke the words, I struggled to believe them myself; I agreed to be his girlfriend. He looked so happy, he immediately hugged me and promised me the world, he told me sweet things and how much he liked me. I can only hope that one day, I’ll feel the same way.

🐺 🐺 🐺

One month later

It had been a month since Chad and I officially started dating, four months since we first met.

We get along well, and he’s always there for me.

Yet, no matter how much time we spend together, I can’t seem to look at Chad the way he looks at me. It’s really frustrating. He’s got the looks, the physique, and all the qualities I’ve been hoping for in someone. But that spark, that elusive spark, is still missing. I’m left trying to unravel my own mysterious problem.

There are two months left to finish this semester in Hospital Training, and I must say — I need a vacation!

In the first two months, I began to notice how many people were seriously injured in the hospital. Every day, I attended to people who were in critical situations, and to my surprise, they started to get better as soon as I finished my shift, after that, I began to notice that Chloe had only given me patients in severe condition. When I asked her, she said she didn’t know how I did it, but I enhanced them, so she gave me the most complex cases for their sake. Every time she said that I rolled my eyes, as she always speaks to everyone in the hospital, it turned out to be something it shouldn’t have. Patients started begging to be seen by me, and the other students started to get upset with this, some of them started to avoid me.

I asked Chloe to stop talking nonsense and take back what she said to people so I wouldn’t be looked like the wrong one.

Did she? Of course, she didn’t.

🐺 🐺 🐺

One month later

Fear settled in the pit of my stomach as soon as Chad started his speech about how much his wolf liked me. I already knew where this conversation was going to end, and as soon as he mentioned marking me. I immediately refused and told him it was too soon, we needed to wait a little longer, and I wasn’t ready. The disappointment and sadness etched across his face broke my heart. Chad is such a good person, and here I am, complicating things. Why do I have to screw this up? Why don’t I just accept being happy, Goddess? Thankfully, he understood and said he would give me time, and when I was ready, he’d hopefully still be there, waiting for me.

That was not the only surprise that day. During one of my shifts, a man arrived at the hospital seriously injured; that day, there was almost no doctor to attend to him, so I was asked immediately. He was in his 60s, covered in blood, and had sores all over his body. It was just me and him in the room, and I don’t know what came over me, but I ran my hand over his head and then over his heart. It was impressive! I couldn’t believe my eyes! I felt a warmth coming out of my hand, and out of nowhere, his wounds started to heal. I got scared; it seemed like a miracle. Even though he could heal quickly, that was just instantaneous. He was unconscious, and immediately, he woke up and looked at me, scared. I took my hand away from his heart and looked at him, even more scared.

“You healed me!” he stated. I was quiet, not knowing what to say. “The Goddess Selena told me she was going to send someone to heal me, I didn’t know it would be like this, you healed me! You are a HEALER!” I shook my head with wide eyes. No. This is not possible.

I’m just a human, I don’t have any supernatural abilities. He can only be wrong. But I saw it too, with my own eyes… this can’t be happening.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone, don’t be scared, kid. You have an incredible gift, and it’s no wonder you chose this profession. When you’re ready, seek help to develop your power. Here at the pack, there’s no healer, but I’m sure Alpha knows someone who can help you with that,” he said, holding my hand. “You can’t tell anyone. It’s too dangerous! The last person I knew who was a healer was kidnapped by the Alpha of another pack and made her a slave. He forced her to heal him until the day she killed herself because she couldn’t take his tortures anymore, so be careful!!” Then he sat up and just walked out the door like nothing had happened, even though he arrived half dead at the hospital.

My state of shock was undeniable. I can’t believe I’m a healer! It was only then that I started to be happy.

Now everything makes sense, the reason for many things! The reason everyone I touch suddenly gets better!

Now, it makes sense why I feel what people are feeling when I touch them and the way I know how to heal them.

Now, all these incognita finally have an answer.

Unfortunately, because I’m just a human, I didn’t hear that Laila was in the hall, and she heard everything. And she was beyond furious about what she heard.