Rebirth of the Alpha's Slave Mate (Samantha and Kade) novel Chapter 177

Chapter 177

Elena’s POV

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The party went on through most of the night, but I had no intention of sleeping. After changing out of the prank dress, I threw on a pair of leggings and a sweater, then padded down to the infirmary.

The room was dimly lit with flickering candles when I entered. I spotted Jayne sitting beside a patient’s bed, gently waving a hand fan in his face to cool him off. He seemed feverish, sweat coating his brow. His eyes were squeezed shut and he was turning his head back and forth, muttering deliriously under his breath.

Wordlessly, I walked up to his bedside and placed my hand on his clammy forehead. A gentle thrum of cool energy wafted out of my palm, and a moment later, he let out a dreamy sigh and drifted off to sleep.

Jayne looked up at me with a small smile. Her eyes had crow’s feet around them these days, and her hair was graying, but she still looked the same as she did seven years ago. Plain and content and always able to see right through me.

“I was wondering when you’d find the time to come see me,” she whispered, standing. We retreated to her office, where she poured us both a cup of tea.

I took my cup gratefully and inhaled the steam; chamomile and peppermint. The perfect mixture for stressful nights, of which there had been many when I was her apprentice. Jayne never relented with the homework and exams. But being in this room, with my mentor, with a good cup of tea, always soothed everything.

“I saw Kade tonight,” I blurted out, perching on the windowsill.

“Oh?” Jayne arched her brows as she sank into the worn leather chair behind her cluttered desk. “Did sparks fly?”

I snorted. “Something like that.” I took a sip of my tea, burning my tongue, but went on, “He told me that his sister’s condition worsened. He asked for my help.”

“I see.” She set aside her cup. “When are you going to Crescent Hollow, then?”

“Never. I told him I’m not going to help him.”

The healer’s face paled. “What?” she breathed.

“I told him-”

She clenched her fists on top of her desk. “First vow: by the Moon Goddess’s decree, you shall not turn down anyone in need-”

“I know-”

“You shall not turn away the sick, the injured, or the destitute.”

“Jayne-”

“Regardless of social class, financial ability, or personal history!” Jayne stood, slamming her hands against the top of her desk hard enough to make me jump a little. I had only seen her look so angry a handful of times, and it was always for good reason. “What the hell is wrong with you, Elena?”

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Chapter 177

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My throat bobbed. I opened my mouth, but no words came.

“You made eight vows when you took your healer’s oath. The latter seven are open to interpretation-wiggle room. But the first vow? That was the most important. The most concrete. You cannot ignore it. Not if you want to become a respected healer.”

I looked down at the tea leaves at the bottom of my cup and sighed. Jayne was right, of course. All of my vows meant the world to me, but the first vow was the most important. No healer worth their salt would ever break it. If they did, they would lose all respect amongst their peers. Respect in themselves, too.

No halfway decent healer ever refused help when help was asked.

“But I just… I can’t,” I whispered. Tears pricked my eyes, and before I could stop it, one plopped down into my cup, making a rogue tea leaf swirl around. “I can’t go back to that place. Not after what he did to my daughter.”

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