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Waves splashed at her feet, their spray hitting her in the face. She danced up a few steps, surprised by how high the ocean had got—she must have been here for longer than she thought.

Sighing again, she turned and padded up the stairs, wondering if the celebration was still going full tilt. By the look of the position of the stars and the moon in the sky, a few hours had passed since she’d headed out for her run. Her headache had thankfully not made a return visit, but as she ascended the stairs from the beach, she became aware of the strange sensation still in her chest. She’d not noticed it when running—too busy pulling oxygen into her lungs so she could keep going.

But now she was only walking, she couldn’t ignore it.

Was there something wrong with her heart? Was that what had happened to her? Were rarely got sick from bugs and viruses, and their bodies were less likely to fall prey to diseases like cancer or neurological and heart issues, but that didn’t mean it didn’t happen.

Something wrong with her heart was the only thing she could think of to explain a month of illness, the large bottle of pain medication prepared by the pack healer at her house, her parents’ worry and protectiveness—even Siobhan’s words to her when she called her up to make a speech.

It was also the only reason she could think of that would explain this odd feeling of weakness and bruising ache in her chest, as if something incredibly important was now missing.

Should she have been running? She stopped as she reached the top of the cliffs and looked back. She was no longer panting heavily—hadn’t felt more exerted than she usually would after such a wild run. And she felt much better than she had before she’d started her run.

Okay, so running seemed okay.

But standing around wondering what was wrong with her wasn’t going to give her the information she needed to help her in the days ahead. She needed to wolf-up and ask her parents what had happened to her and admit she couldn’t remember the last four weeks.

Although, did she really want to worry them more than they already were? The news that she couldn’t remember anything since late February possibly wouldn’t go down too well. Maybe she needed to ask someone else.

Siobhan was going to be too busy tonight, so her best friend was out.

Same for her brother—she’d seen him eyeing off Charlotte, the female Were eagerly returning his ‘let’s have us some sex’ vibes. Maybe she should find Abby. As pack healer, she would be the best person to ask about the illness that had laid her low for such a long time. And Abby was probably the only one who could help her figure out why she couldn’t remember anything of that time and maybe even enable her to gain back some of the memories.

It was a really horrible thing to know there was a gap in your mind.

She padded off across the field that bounded the edge of the cliffs, the long grass brushing against her fur, then headed up the hill between the apple trees before veering into one of the vineyards as a shortcut to where the Alpha house sat, the healer cottage beside it.

The noise of pack mates still celebrating drifted through the night, making her wolf prick up her ears over the happy sounds, a little surprised that it was still so loud. By this time, usually at least half the pack must have already retired for the night, but it had been too long between mating celebrations, so she expected they were all taking advantage of the good news. Not to mention the love that ran through the pack bond from the happy couple. There would be more than a few pack mates coupling up tonight to rid themselves of the wildness of that sexual energy.

A sexual energy that was so vibrant, it sang through her as she got closer, almost making her want to break her staunch rule of staying single and keeping out of the kinds of relationship messes Siobhan and others of their age seemed to fall into at the drop of a hat. Her wolf didn’t urge her to give in though—she understood the need to keep themselves concentrated on their goals. But still, she couldn’t help but close her eyes and enjoy the thrilling intensity of sexual awareness that pushed at her.

Damn, but she was so happy for her friend. To have found the one to share that with—it was every Were’s dream.

Except hers. She didn’t think she ever wanted to give herself over to someone that much. She was too much her own Were to want to have to fit someone else into her life. Had too much to prove to herself and the pack. Too much to accomplish.

But still, she was happy for those who found it, even if she didn’t want it for herself.

A pulse of ache pulled at her chest and almost made her stumble.

Was her heart about to go? Was she having a heart attack?

She needed to get to Abby. She headed towards the pack circle—it was likely the pack healer was still there, using her healing abilities to make certain nobody got too exuberant, or if they did, be on tap to heal them immediately.

As she hurried up the slope towards the noise and the golden glow of flames from the torches and bonfire, the ache in her chest grew, pulling, tugging, making her gasp.

Such agony. Such sorrow. Such grief.

What the hell?

Then she saw him. And knew.

These weren’t her feelings of agony, of sorrow and grief.

They were his.

Paul Collins.

Her nemesis.

The man whose gaze hadn’t left her tonight as she’d danced with her brother then given her speech, and not for the entire time she’d stood with her parents.

He was standing against the wall of the apple storage barn overlooking the orchard. His blue eyes—glowing in her wolf night-vision—were on her once again.

As he watched her, that agonising ache inside him of sorrow and grief, grew and grew until she could barely stand it.

He was in pain. So much pain.

She had to help him.

She gathered her change—his need and pain so great she didn’t care that she’d be naked before him like she usually did—but before the rainbow glow brightened more than a few centimetres around her, there was a buzz of energy and he was gone.