The Healer’s Mate

The Morning After

BEN POV

The night spent with Jane was the best night of my life. We fit together so well, it’s as if I never wanted to look at anyone else again. She had fallen asleep in my arms until the sunlight started to peak through. I left her sleeping soundly in my bed when a knock came at my door. I opened it to see father standing there. 

“Benjamin” he said tersely.

“What do I owe the pleasure, father?”

“We need to talk about Alpha Ethan’s sister.” 

“Her name is Jane,” I interrupted him midsentence. 

“Whatever her name is, you need to back off,” he said darkly. 

“Why?” I asked. 

“We don’t honor the mate bond here, you know that,” he spat at me. “You need to get your head out of your ass and start figuring out what is best for the pack. Right now, that’s an alliance with Ethan’s. I will not have you jeopardize that because your wolf thinks he’s in love.” 

I reeled as I realized that he knew about my mate. “And what if he is in love?” I asked.

“Don’t be a fool!” He said aggressively. “End this. Now. Or I will end it for you.” He left without another word. 

I sat on the edge of my bed and gazed at her under the covers. What was such a perfect night was so easily ended by one conversation. I hadn’t marked her last night because deep down I knew this was coming. Even though she kept exposing her neck for me to, I worried that it would end this way. And I was right. It was good that I didn’t mark her because I was about to do the worst thing I could ever imagine. 

Jane POV

“Get up!” I startled from my sleep squinting against the sunlight streaming in the room. “You need to go,” Ben stood with his arms crossed over his chest. 

“Huh?” I said stupidly. 

“You need to go. Back to your room or wherever, I don’t care just get out.” His words stung in my chest. I blinked slowly and then looked out the window.

“What time is it?” I asked trying to shake off the confusion.

“Six thirty” 

“Oh.” I said as I pulled the sheets around me, realizing I was still completely naked. “I don’t have anything to wear,” I said quietly. 

Ben walked wordlessly over to a tall dresser and pulled out some clothes. He threw them to me before walking out into the hall. 

I slowly got out of bed. I didn’t think I would be this sore, but I didn’t think my mate would send me out of his room so rudely either. I pulled on the shirt and leggings that Ben had thrown me. Then it hit me. He had women’s clothes in his dresser. Humiliation and shame flooded me and I felt tears threaten to fall. I stepped out the door, relieved that Ben was nowhere to be seen. I walked faster and faster until I was practically running to my room. Finally reaching my room I shed the clothes I had left in and crawled into my bed and sobbed into my pillow. 

“Janie?” A knock came at my door. I didn’t respond. I looked outside to see the sun setting. “Jane?” I recognized Ethan’s voice. 

“Come in,” I managed. 

Ethan opened the door and crept in. I smelled coffee and sat up reluctantly.

“You hungry?” I brought some food.

“Not really, I’ll take the coffee though,” I answered as he sat on the edge of the bed. 

“Maria said you weren’t at the clinic today,” he said slowly. 

“Yeah, wasn’t feeling well.” I shrugged him off.

“This have something to do with Ben?” He eyed me.

“No...yes... I don’t know” I sat back. “He’s my mate, Ethan. One minute he doesn’t want anything to do with me the next he’s the exact opposite. I almost just wish he would reject me so I can move on.”

“Don’t say that,” Ethan said darkly. I knew it was hard for him to hear since he had been looking for his mate for so long. 

“He kicked me out this morning. I thought we had gotten past it last night but he gave me some girls clothes to wear and left me. I’m so humiliated, Ethan. It’s like someone took a knife and jabbed it through my chest but didn’t pull it out. I can’t breathe when he’s not here and I can’t breathe when he is.” 

“I’m sorry... he did what?” Ethan stopped me. He looked confused and then very, very angry. The vein in his temple started to pulse and I could tell he was fighting his wolf for control.

“Ethan, don’t. It’s not worth the fight. I will be fine, I just want to go home. Really, I promise.” 

“You’re all I have left, Janie, I can’t just let him do this to you.”

I took a deep breath. “From what I gather, mates aren’t a fun topic at this pack. I think it’s in all our best interest if I just go home.” 

“Okay” he said reluctantly. “But if he so much as looks your way one more time, I’m going to kill him.” I laughed and rolled my eyes as he pulled me into a hug. “I’ll have a car ready in an hour.” 

I knew what I needed to do. I walked to the hospital to say goodbye to a very tearful Maria and a very stoic Dr. Reynolds. Sighing, I made my way out to the field. If I were to bet, that’s where he’d be.