The Healer’s Mate

Drinks

Ben POV 

I told the guys I’d meet them at this bar, but my god, it was not what I was expecting. It looked more like a run down cabin than anything. I rolled my eyes at the neon light on the door before yanking it open. I didn’t have to scan the crowd before I sensed her. Sitting at the bar in jeans that fit her way too well for me to be in the same room as her, Jane was talking to a dark haired girl and a tall blonde guy. She smiled at something the guy said and I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It was a different smile though, it didn’t reach her eyes like the one she had in my bed that night. The feel of her skin against mine as she nuzzled against my neck. No. This smile was forced and quiet. She didn’t turn to see me and so I forced my legs to the other side of the room, past couples dancing to the slow music the band in the far corner was playing, to Gabe, Trey, and Quinton. 

“You made it,” Gabe said with a clap on my shoulder.

“Is this really where this pack goes to socialize?” I asked with a sharpness to my voice. My eyes still hadn’t left Jane on the other side. Why hadn’t she sensed me like I did her?

“Yeah it’s a far cry from home,” Quinton agreed to my left. “I’m going to get us some drinks, the usual?” 

We all nodded and he left to ask the pretty bar tender for our beers. The music slowed and the couple Jane had been talking to now clung to each other on the dance floor. I watched Quinton stand next to her waiting on our drinks. 

“Too close.” My wolf growled in my head.I shoved him back and took the beer Quinton now came back to hand me. It was gone in seconds. 

“Do you want to dance?” A short girl behind me asked Trey who grinned and led her out on the floor. I was too busy watching the guy who was now leaning in to whisper something into Jane’s ear, resting a hand on the back of her chair. She smiled at him and downed the rest of her drink before following him to the dance floor. 

I couldn’t tell if it was the toothy grin he gave her or the hand on the small of her back that threatened to travel lower but I couldn’t control the growl that slipped past my lips. It was loud enough to warrant looks from the people around me but Jane and the asshole with his hands on her didn’t notice. My feet took me to where they danced and I saw the guy look over her shoulder and make eye contact with me. He immediately put his hands up in defense but I was too quick and landed a blow on his face and he went down. 

“What the hell?” Jane spun on me, eyes wide. I forced my gaze away from the guy in the ground to meet her eyes. What I saw there caused me to falter for a second. Her eyes that were normally bight with life were now ringed with dark circles around them. Her cheek bones were hollow on each side and her hair that normally shined in the light was dull. She was still as beautiful as ever, but she was obviously haunted. 

“Go home,” I ordered, grabbing her elbow and leading her to the door. She followed with no resistance. The cool air filled my lungs outside and I started to breathe more clearly than before. 

“You can’t just tell me where I can and can’t be, this is my pack, my brother’s territory. I can do as I want and I don’t need your permission.” She gave me an incredulous look.

“You knew I was there and you did that anyways! You agreed to dance with that asshole right in front of me!” I sneered at her. I couldn’t control the anger in my voice and she recoiled ever so slightly. 

“I didn’t know you were there,” her voice was barely a whisper and she focused her eyes on the ground.

“What?” 

“I didn’t know you were there. I didn’t sense you,” her voice croaked. “I... didn’t know you were there.” 

Jane seemed to be trying to convince herself what was happening. This time, the blow hit me differently. I had to get out of there, I had to figure out what to do. I gave her one last look. I took in the way the freckles were patterned on her nose, the way her lips were shaped. I reached my hand out to brush a lock of hair from her face, but stopped as she flinched away from me. Instead, I put it down and walked toward the tree line and shifted. 

I stopped at the river rushing past me and shifted back. I knew Gabe had followed me but I didn’t turn to look at him.

“What happened man?” He asked.

“That girl. She’s my mate,” I growled. 

“How long have you known?” 

“Since they first came to visit, I knew who she was. I tried to ignore it, but it’s starting to feel impossible.” 

“You rejected her?” He stood next to me looking out towards the river too.

“Yes.”

“Did she accept it?” 

My heart stopped at that. “No, she didn’t.”

Gabe gave an understanding nod. “She doesn’t feel you because you severed your connection to her. You feel her because she hasn’t accepted it. To her, she still belongs to you. But to you...” he didn’t finish the rest. 

“How do you know this? I said lowly. 

He took a deep breath as if he had to gain the energy to respond. “Elaina and I met when she turned sixteen. We were in history first period and I knew the minute she walked in who she was. I swear, sometimes I can still smell her,” he swallowed hard and continued. “We both knew we couldn’t keep it secret forever, but we tried. Her dad caught us one night. He threatened to kill me if she didn’t reject me. So she did. That pain... it was almost unbearable. He held a knife to my throat until I accepted it. It was like all of the sudden my reason to live just stopped and I didn’t know what else to do. I went home and told my parents I wanted to focus on training. They agreed and now here we are a decade later and it still doesn’t feel right being with another girl.” 

I nodded understanding what he was saying. He put a somber hand on my shoulder before leaving me to my own thoughts on the riverbank.