Chapter 290
Chapter 291
Amber’s POV
+25 BONUS
Before we could go, I felt obligated to head back to the clinic and run some tests. The water was the problem. Soon, I was absolutely sure.
Without medicine, I tried to make a few herb–related cures for the sick people, but soon, without the antibiotics, there was a limit to what I could do.
Fortunately, as I returned to the waiting room, I found Rafael on the phone, already coordinating the delivery of some goods.
When there was nothing else we could do, we headed out of the clinic in the direction of the address.
Jessica no longer thought we needed armed guards, so she let us travel without them.
We approached the house that the address led to. It seemed a nice enough place, in better condition than some, but still with a tarp over the roof.
With some discussion, Rafael, Julian, and I decided that I should be the one to do most of the talking here, while they stayed behind. So far, my presence had done the most good, so we imagined things would keep up that way.
I walked up to the door, with the others slightly behind me and knocked.
For a moment, nothing happened. There were no sounds around or within the house. So I knocked again.
This time, I heard some shuffling from behind the door. A scurry of frightened footsteps, but also a pair of bolder ones, coming nearer.
“Go away,” said an old woman’s voice, muffled through the door. “We don’t want anything to do with outsiders around here. You better be getting on back to wherever it is you came from p>
“Please,” I said. “I’m not here to hurt you.
“Then go away p>
“My daughter has the same condition as your grandson,” I said, a bit desperate now. I couldn’t just leave, not without answers. “I’ve searched but haven’t found anyone else with the same condition. I think, by comparing some samples from the two, I might be able to find a cure p>
“A cure?” the old woman huffed. “Who do you think you are that makes you think you’ll be able to cure anything p>
I didn’t like to namedrop, but in this case, it felt necessary. I did have a reputation, one that I had built up with hard work over a long period of time. I knew I had the means, the abilities, and the experiences to help me see this through.
As it was my own daughter involved, I also had extreme determination and drive.
So I took a steadying breath and called back through the door, “I’m Healer Amber p>
1/2
Chapter 291
There was a long pause, and then a gasp. In a rush, the locks unlatched and the door opened.
+25 BONUS
Just inside, standing half in the shadow of the house was an older woman, likely in her seventies. She had a hunch to her back, and her hair was white as a cloud. Looking at me through her spectacles, one lens of which was cracked, she asked, “The Healer Amber p>
“Yes,” I told her.
She looked me over once more, then seemed satisfied. “Yes, even I’ve heard of you. But… ” Her gaze slipped past me, to Rafael and Julian. “I don’t know about your companions. They look like Alphas. We don’t like Alphas here p>
“They are with me,” I said. But when that didn’t seem to be enough, I continued, motioning to Rafael. “This is my brother.” Then I motioned to Julian, “And this is…” A million different words filled my mind to explain the relationship between Julian and me.
Yet they all felt lacking to one very apt descriptor. And at this moment, it also felt like the most accurate, even if he and I hadn’t really talked about it. After this, I imagined we would.
“This is my mate,” I said.
Julian went very still, but I heard his tiny intake of breath. I’d shocked him saying that. With a quick glance at his face though, and seeing the small smile there, I could tell that I’d also pleased him greatly.