The Healer’s Mate

“Jane!” I heard Ethan yell down the stairs. “Let’s go!” Grabbing the last of my supplies, I threw my bag over my shoulder and put my coat in the other hand. “You know, just because you’re alpha, doesn’t mean you can boss me around, big brother.”  “I can if you’re going to make us late!” He shot back.  We were headed to a neighboring back for a few days. As alpha, Ethan had business with the Wethersfield pack and I was looking forward to training with their nursing staff. I had already been to nursing school but putting bandaids on scrapes and doing physicals wasn’t the extent of my talents. I wanted to know more to be prepared for anything.  Ethan loaded down his jeep with our essentials and I hopped into the passenger seat. It had always been this way with my brother. He was a caretaker and a close friend. Our mother had died early in our lives and what was left of our father after losing his mate wasn’t much to call a parent. Instead, we leaned on each other for support. I suspected it would be different when one of us found their mate, but it wasn’t time to worry about that just yet.  We drove for what seemed like an eternity, Ethan reminded me it was only six hours. Winding down the road through densely wooded trees felt soothing until we came up on a large cement wall with a large iron gate. It was such a contrast to our home. Ours was loving and warm, this was fierce and cold. Ethan rolled his windows down to talk to the guard at the gate.  “Alpha Ethan Evans. Here to see Alpha Zack Phillips.” Ethan’s voice was void of any emotion.  “Follow the road to the main house. Alpha Phillips will meet you there,” the guard said.  We wound down up through the trees to come up in a large house. House was a modest word for it- it was a mansion. Ethan took in a deep breath. This meeting was supposed to mend some broken bonds between our packs, I knew it would be stressful which is why I came along for moral support. He parked the jeep and we both got out to survey the house. Like the wall, it was grey but it was made of stone. A large wooden door stood at the entrance. The top was lined with windows indicating rooms on the second floor.  The door opened and a man in his fifties stepped out. He had a strong jaw line that was peppered with a  grey and black beard. His eyes were dark, almost black. He was muscular for his age, his biceps outlined his shirt. Behind him, a man thirty years his junior stepped out. He was a carbon copy of the older man so I assumed it was his father.  “Welcome” the older man said extending his hand. They weren’t warm people, so Ethan met the formality of the room.  “Thank you for having us. This is my sister, Jane.” “Oh yes, she’s here to train with our hospital,” he recalled. “It’s down the hall that way,” he pointed behind him. “This is my eldest son, Theo. He will show you the way.”  Theo nodded at me and I followed him through the door.  We came to the end of the long hall and I said goodbye to Theo. I was met by an older man with glasses who was eyeing a computer.  “Hi, I’m Jane,” I said unsure of the man. “Oh yes! The trainee. Hi Jane, I’m Dr. Reynolds. We sure are glad to have some extra help. Let’s start in room 1. I take it you can insert and IV and take vitals?”  “Yes sir, I can,” I responded, heading to the door that was marked #1.  The rest of the day went by uneventfully. Dr Reynolds and another nurse named Maria taught me how to use several of their newer diagnostic machines. I made a mental note to ask Ethan about buying some for our hospital at home.  “So whats your pack like?” Maria asked as we refilled trays of supplies for the next day.  “Oh it’s pretty standard, at least I think. My brother and I live in the packhouse. Our dad used to live there when he was alpha, but when he lost our mom he moved out. Most of the families with their mates and pups in separate homes...” I trailed off when I noticed Maria staring at me incredulously.  “You mean, your pack follows the mate bond?” She asked, her mouth open wide.  “Don’t all packs honor the mate bond?” I asked, confused at her question.  “I didn’t think so, but that might be because I’ve lived here my whole life and we don’t.” She said going back to her task. “What do you do when someone finds their mate?” I asked curiously. “Nothing” she said simply. “Our alpha doesn’t allow mates.”  “That must be miserable.”  “I only know of a few people who did find their mate here, they had to go rogue.” I shuddered at her words.  “That’s absolutely awful” “Yeah, I guess it is” she responded quietly. We finished the rest of the stocking in silence. When we were done, Maria waved goodbye and I mind linked Ethan.  “Where are you?” “Room 356. You’re in 357. Dinners in 30 minutes, see you there.”  I sighed and made my way to the staircase. I definitely couldn’t go to dinner wearing dirty scrubs so I climbed the stairs until I got to floor 3. Huffing from being out of shape, I almost didn’t recognize the strong scent of cinnamon that hit me. I looked up from the landing and saw a man standing about ten yards away from me. He was frozen in his place and I took that time to study him. His dark black hair was longer and combed back except for one strand that made its way to frame his dark brown eyes. His muscular chest was visible through his dark t shirt and his jeans hung just right from his waist.  I was so entranced that I almost missed my wolf saying “mate.”  I walked slowly up to him, my eyes never leaving his. After what seemed like eternity, I reached out to touch his cheek, and for a moment he leaned into my palm. The seconds felt like forever before he shoved my hand away. “I... I’m sorry,” I stammered taken aback by his actions. He didn’t say anything, instead he turned his back and started to walk away.  “Wait!” I called after him.  “What do you want?” He spat, turning around to face me again.  “I just thought... I’m Jane.” I cursed myself for sounding so dumb. “You thought what, Jane, that you would meet your mate and everything would be sunshine and rainbows?” I stood there shocked at his words.  “No... was just thinking maybe we could get to know one another,” I corrected him. He threw his head back and laughed. “No. That won’t be happening. I don’t need a mate and I don’t want a mate, so you’d be better off going home.” He spun on his heel and headed down the hallway.  His words stung and hot tears pricked the back of my eyes. When I was sure he wasn’t going to turn back around I let the first of many tears fall. I didn’t want him to see my like this, so vulnerable. My wolf was howling in my mind, her pain was greater than mine. I let her feel what she needed to as I slumped to the floor of the hallway. When I felt like I couldn’t cry anymore, I went to change and join my brother for dinner.