The Healer’s Mate

Clarity

Ben POV

As soon as I sensed her I stormed through the training field. I couldn’t face her after what I did this morning.

 “Hey! Wait!” She called. I couldn’t get away from her fast enough. She was quick and caught my arm so I spun around. 

“Will you stop?” I snarled at her 

“I just need to talk to you.” She said furiously.

“Why?”

“Because you told me you wanted nothing to do with me, then you slept with me and I thought things had changed, and then you kick me out and give me some random girls clothes to wear. I think I deserve some clarity.” She hissed back at me. From the corner of my eye I noticed we were drawing a crowd. 

“Here’s some clarity-  I. Do. Not. Want. You.” The words were out of my mouth before I even realized it. I felt a twinge of regret in my chest as it tightened. “I don’t care what you think or what you want. You were a lousy lay, and I’m done with you.” 

Her face was shock at first. Her eyebrows were raised. Her mouth was slightly open, her pouty lips begged to be kissed. She immediately closed it and dropped her eyes to the ground as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. Her brow furrowed as she searched for words to say to my harsh rejection. She took her bottom lip into her teeth before meeting my gaze again. 

“Got it,” she whispered as her eyes shone with tears. One fell and I had to stop myself from wiping it away. I shared her pain but there was no way she could know. This was the best way to keep her safe- I had to. 

“Jane...” My heart stung for her but I told myself I couldn’t care. My wolf howled in my mind, furious with me I watched her walk back up to the pack house but the wind caught her hair as she did. Her scent was intoxicating to me. I resisted the urge to grab her and pull her to me, to kiss her until she saw stars. Instead I stood still in my place and watched her go. I watched until she she the door and then I turned my back to her, yet again, and walked away.

. . . 

I made my way down to the dinner table where my father, Theo and Ethan were already sitting. 

“Like I said, Alpha Jack is out of control. We’re going to have to move and soon if we’re going to make a difference,” Ethan was saying.

“I agree,” Theo commented deep in thought. “Ben, what are your thoughts on the warriors? Are they ready for something like this?” 

“Yes. They’re definitely ready to see battle. When are you wanting to move on Red Aspen?” I asked Ethan but my eyes were on the empty seat where Jane was missing. 

“Jane left this morning to head back to our pack. As soon as my beta puts eyes on her and I know she’s safe at home, we’re ready to go.” Ethan’s tone was neutral but his eyes were dark. I could tell he knew what I’d done. 

“I think it would be in everyone’s best interest for some of our warriors to train with yours,” my father suggested. It wasn’t a bad idea, but I could tell where this was going. “Benjamin and a handful of his warriors could return back with you and strategize our approach to this problem.” His words were pointed and I knew there was more than one problem he was demanding I fix. 

“I think that’s a wonderful idea,” Ethan said bringing a glass to his mouth to cover a smirk. 

“Sounds like a plan.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. 

I sulked back to my room to pack. 

“s**t. s**t. Shit.” I muttered under my breath. Throwing clothes into my bag. I mind linked six of my best guys to get ready to go and I knew they’d be waiting. A knock came at my door and I paced over to it to open it. 

“Hi Ben.” Ethan’s voice was stern and I could tell I was about to get my ass chewed. “We need to come to an agreement on something before we take this trip.”

“Look man, this obviously wasn’t my idea. It’s not something I premeditated. I wouldn’t be doing it if my alpha hadn’t made me.” 

“Oh that I’m sure of. Here’s what we need to agree on. When you’re at my pack, you won’t talk to Jane. You won’t look at her. You won’t be in the same room as her. You will leave her the hell alone,” his voice was threatening. “My sister has seen more heartache in her short life than others will see in their entire lifetime. She doesn’t need some sorry excuse of a mate.” 

I was frozen in my shoes. What kind of heartache had she experienced? What kind of grief was she healing from? Why had I added so much more to that? I held my head in my hands. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.” 

“For what to happen?” he asked.

“To find her. To hurt her. Any of it. My father... he doesn’t allow mate bonds. It’s not the way things work here.” 

“ I know. But if you’re going to live by that, you’ve gotta let Jane go. It’ll hurt her at first but she can heal from that. If you keep dragging her along, she will keep waiting for you. It’s who she is. She’s got this endless supply of hope. Hell, it’s annoying to even me sometimes.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “You’ve gotta choose, one way or the other. Or I’m going to have to kill you myself.”He laughed as he walked away. “We’re leaving at eight tomorrow morning,” he called over his shoulder.