She Really Cares
*Hezzlie*
I stare at James for several seconds, trying to comprehend what he’s just said to me. “You’re going to what?” I finally blurt out. It’s not that I don’t know what he said–I’m just not sure I know what it means.
I mean–I know what rejecting someone means in general, but something tells me that it means something different, something more substantial, when a wolf shifter says it.
James blows out a long breath and looks down at a stack of files on his desk. It’s not a big stack; I know that he’s the kind of healer/doctor that gets through things quickly and doesn’t let his responsibilities pile up. Still, it’s easier for him to look at the work than it is for him to look at me.
“This is weird,” he mumbles. I arch an eyebrow, and when he glances at me, he half-shrugs. “You were my patient. Now, you’re my Luna.”
“Well, not quite,” I remind him. “Apparently, nothing is for sure until we both say I do, or whatever the tradition is amongst wolf shifters. But I know what you mean. Still, I’d like to think that I’m also your friend.” I mean it. I don’t have a whole lot of friends left in this world. I often think about my friends from school and the girls I met at Peripheral, but they aren’t here, and I have no way of getting in touch with the latter. The former, I could call, but what would I tell them? And after what Wilma has done, well, I’d just as soon keep the people I trust close–and that includes James.
He nods in agreement. “Yes, I would say we are also friends,” he says, and I see a bit of the tension in his shoulders dissolve. “Rejecting one’s mate just means that you’re taking a pass, that you don’t want to be with that person. Usually, the person who is rejected gets a second chance mate. The person who does the rejecting usually doesn’t, and that’s fine with me. I want Corey to meet someone who can make him happy, someone who has time for him. That’s not me.”
I brush a hand through my hair and contemplate what he’s saying to me. I’m not sure it’s one hundred percent accurate. After all, the Moon Goddess Herself is the one who decides who is going to be mates and who isn’t, right? So why would She be fine with Her people not following Her instructions?
I can’t imagine She would be.
“She doesn’t get mad?” I ask.
James looks away from me again, which tells me either he isn’t sure, or She does. “I guess She might, but honestly, I don’t think She’s down here poking around in the lives of everyday people. Royalty, nobles? Sure. But people like me?” He shakes his head. “Why would She give a rat’s ass if I’m with Corey, someone else, or no one?”
“You’re not an everyday person, James,” I remind him. “You play a very important role in our pack. A lot of people would die if it wasn’t for you.”
He shakes his head adamantly. “That’s not true. I don’t do anything that normal healers can’t do.”
“Oh really?” I question. “Well, you got me here, didn’t you?” He rolls his eyes, but I’m persistent. “Look, not just anyone would’ve been able to pull off what you did, fooling those doctors and nurses at Peripheral into thinking you belonged there.”
“Money talks,” he reminds me. “I just paid off the higher-ups. Besides, I am licensed to practice medicine in your state–in your world.”
I still haven’t quite figured out how this world fits into the one that I’m used to, but I nod. “Okay. Well, I think you’re pretty special, and if the Moon Goddess wants you with Corey, I say you at least have to give him a chance.”
“But what about Natalie?” he asks, dragging a hand down his face. “She’s gotta be crushed.”
“She didn’t take it well,” I admit. “I hated seeing her reaction when Rowan told her. But she’ll get used to it. She already knew Corey wasn’t her mate.”
“What if she’s his second chance mate, though?” he argues. “Then, they’d have a chance to be happy.”
I shake my head. “No, I don’t think so. If Corey wanted to be with her, he would’ve said so. Listen, I’m not saying you should go buy a ring today. I’m just saying, give it some time. If the Moon Goddess truly thinks it’s for the best that the two of you be together, then you should be. And… I don’t think we need any more bad luck right now. So if we can avoid calling down the wrath of the Moon Goddess before King Solomon is defeated, I think that’s also for the best.”
He agrees with me, finally, and nods. “Fine. I’ll wait until after the war. But don’t expect to see me taking Corey out on a date or waltzing around the ballroom with him.”
I grin at him, thinking back to my birthday party when we danced together and remembering how jealous Rowan was about me even looking at other guys. “Okay. I’ll be patient.” I reach my hand across the desk, and James shakes it.
I stand and start to the door when he stops me. “Hezzlie?”
I turn and look at him, my eyebrows raised. “Yeah?”
“Thank you. You’re going to make an amazing Luna one day–one day soon.”
I cock my head to the side and ask, “Why do you say that?”
“Because… you genuinely care about people. That’s the most important thing a Luna can do, care about her people.”
I smile at him. “Well, maybe it won’t be such a hard job after all.”
“Not for you.”
Laughing, I open the door and step out into the hallway and almost collide with Rowan who stops dead in his tracks before he runs into me. “There you are. We have a problem.”
All traces of laughter melt from my face when I see how serious his expression is. “What’s wrong?”
He reaches for my hand. “Come with me. It’s your father.”
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