Fight, Flight, or Freeze: The Healer's Story
Chapter 167: Sharks In The Water

Chapter 167: Sharks In The Water

"Yeah, Alpha never called one on me, so I had nothing to worry about. I lived for almost 10 years after that. I even managed to set up a sanctuary of sorts before I was betrayed," explained Li Dai Lu as she stared across the room. Those memories must be excruciating, but like me, she never had to experience that soul breaking situation in this life.

And while I felt terrible for what she had lived through, her words made me freeze. Rip and I briefly shared a look. There was no way Alpha would have let a camper get away without a hunt. It made no sense.

"Not to dwell on the past, but how did I die?" I asked, cocking my head to the side like it wasn’t that big of a deal. I had no idea how long I had been in the Camp before we got out, but I knew roughly how many times I wanted to kill myself.

"It was a year after I was first brought into the Camp that I managed to escape. I had just made my way to the woods when the Alpha pulled you out of your cage and threw you onto the ground. You didn’t move... I was so scared."

"It’s okay. It never happened in this lifetime. You can put away any guilt or burden that you might feel about it. I am safe and sound here, thanks to you," I murmured, trying to reassure her to the best of my ability. There was no need to feel guilty because of something that never happened.

She nodded and gave me a watery smile. "Alpha had put a gun to your head and told me that if I didn’t come back, he would kill me. You told me to run, practically screamed it at me. I turned around and sprinted away as fast as I could. Suddenly, there was the sound of a gunshot. I turned around just in time to see you collapse to the ground, blood flowing from your head."

Okay, so she really didn’t need to get that gory with the details, but there was one thing for sure. There was no way my Alpha and her Alpha were the same Reaver.

Mine would have much rather shot her than me. I kept him rolling around in money every time I healed one of his fighters. If she was treated just like every other woman there, by the end of a year, her shelf life would have been numbered in minutes. She was a dead woman walking. Technically, there was no need to waste a bullet on either one of us.

But all that aside, Alpha never wanted me dead; my life would have been so much easier if that was the case.

Which put even more credence into my theory that he was still out there somewhere, waiting for me to get too comfortable.

"Well, you can put all that from your mind right now," I pressed. She had saved me and got me out of my cage. And while I was not as grateful as I should have been, I was thankful.

And it seemed that I now had a best friend.

Even if I had no idea what to do with one.

"You have more than repaid whatever debt you thought you had, and if I did manage to save you in our past life, I am truly thankful you survived." And I was even more thankful that it earned me a swift death. "Seriously, you need to go and be happy."

"Oh, I will. I have four men waiting on me hand and foot, treating me like the queen that I am, and unlimited supplies to make carrot cake," she grinned as she mentioned the cake.

I would not admit to my stomach growling at her statement... I think that there was a lion hiding in a corner somewhere, ready to pounce. The doctor really should fumigate better.

"You like carrot cake, too?"

I nodded my head. I loved carrot cake. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert... carrot cake was perfect any time, any day, for any occasion.

Add a milk tea bubble tea, and I was in heaven.

"I’ll leave you with one then. Like I said, I have more than enough to get me through the next little while, and Chen Zu Han is amazing at baking, so I’ll get him to make me more once we get back home."

Coming to her feet, she looked down at me. "Now, get that cute ass of yours outside so you can meet the guys, and then we are going to take off."

Not bothering to wait around for a reply, she turned and strolled out the door, leaving it open just a crack.

Enough to send my anxiety through the roof.

Fuck my life. I was expected to leave this room, go out into the unknown, and meet people who may or may not want to take advantage of my powers. And I was powerless to utter a word in my defense.

Fuck.

I could see the movement of large bodies through the door, their bodies making breaks in the backlight.

They seemed to be like sharks circling, waiting for their prey to enter the water. As long as I stayed here, everything would be fine, but that wouldn’t be the case if I left the safety of my room.

"It’s okay. No one can make you do something you don’t want to," said Rip softly as he started stroking my back again.

"No, I need to do this," I replied, wrinkling my nose. I knew I needed to push myself out of my comfort zone, but I wanted it to be my decision, not forced on me by someone who didn’t understand.

"Okay, we’ll go at your pace. I’ll be behind you the whole way. If you decide that things are too much, just let me know, and we’ll come back here."

I let out a long sigh of relief. I could do this. I knew it, and Rip knew it. I got this.