Free Promises Unbroken: A Hot Paranormal Shifter Romance (Hidden Hills Shifter Book 5) by Vella Day Page A

later, the paramedics arrived. Watching the pain on her mom’s face as they checked her out then placed her on the gurney, tore at her.
    “Don’t worry,” one of the men said. “We’ll take good care of her.”
    The fact her mother fell in the first place bothered her more. “I’ll be right behind you.”
    As much as she wanted to turn on her sirens, even if she arrived at the hospital quickly, it would be hours before the orthopedist checked out her mom.
    When Selena reached her mom’s room, a nurse was with her, cutting off her pants. Darn. Selena should have thought to pick up extra clothes though she could always return for some if they released her tonight.
    “Ow.”
    Selena couldn’t stand seeing her mom suffer. “Can’t you give her a sedative?”
    “We need the doctor to see her first. Let me find him.”
    Fortunately, Selena didn’t have to wait long. A tall woman, by the name of Dr. Janice Divine, barreled in a few minutes later. “Someone took a fall?”
    While she acted as if her mom was either a kid or senile, at least she sounded cheerful. She faced Selena. “Are you related to Mrs. Niles?”
    “I’m her daughter.”
    The doctor smiled and returned her attention back to Mom. A few seconds later, Dr. Divine motioned Selena aside. “I’m afraid it’s a compound fracture and we’ll need to operate.
    Her heart sank. While her mom had insurance, it wouldn’t be enough to cover the cost of the surgery, but she’d find a way to pay. “I understand.”
    A loud voice sounded in the hallway, and her body exploded with need. Jackson was near. Had the dispatcher called him?
    A moment later, he rushed in and hugged her. “I just heard. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”
    Her confused brain wasn’t making sense of much. “What are you doing here?”
    “I thought you could use the support.”
    She wanted to ask him if he thought she wasn’t capable of taking care of her mother by herself, but then she backed down. He’d done nothing to show her he wasn’t just trying to be nice. “Thank you.”
    Actually, having him here did lower her anxiety.
    The doctor had been waiting patiently. “There’s one other thing. Your mom’s leg is terribly deformed and she’ll need to have it straightened. While I’m setting the bone, I can place a rod in her lower and upper leg to realign it.”
    It was what she’d dreamed of. “Won’t that be expensive?”
    Dr. Divine nodded. “Yes.”
    As they discussed her insurance plan, Selena realized that even if she worked for fifty more years, she’d never be able to pay back that much money.
    “Go ahead and do the operation,” Jackson said. “I’ll pay for.”
    Selena grabbed his arm. “You can’t do that.”
    “Why not? I’ve saved some money—and we are mates.”
    Heat raced up her face. She didn’t want the whole town to know. “It’s my mother. I’m responsible for her.”
    “I want to do this,” he said with more conviction than she thought possible.
    Dr. Divine placed a hand on her arm. “You’ll have to decide quickly. I need to take your mother into surgery now.”
    She wanted what was best for her mom. Perhaps if she had the operation, she’d be able to work again and help with the payment plan. “Then go ahead.”
    “Don’t worry. Your mom will be fine.”
    As the nurse wheeled her mother out, Selena grasped her mom’s hand. “I’ll see you when you’re out of surgery.”
    “I like him.” No sooner had she said the words than her eyes closed and she passed out, probably from the pain.
    Selena prayed she hadn’t made a mistake in accepting Jackson’s generosity—or at least some of it. She would pay him back eventually. Her biggest fear was that he’d expect her to be with him because of this debt, and she wanted to be the one to decide if he was the right man for her.
    “Let’s sit in the waiting room,” he said.
    “You don’t have to stay. You should be back at work.” She owed him enough already.
    Jackson