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Despite Paige not having her wolf she healed remarkably quickly. What would have taken a human two months to heal was done in a fraction of the time. She was back up on her feet and was even training again with in a matter a weeks.

Paige had been reserved since the ritual failed. At first Nathan thought it was just her injuries taking all her energy but now he wasn't so sure. She had become more closed off, not just to him but everyone. It's like she retreated back into her shell of who she was in London.

A few weeks after her failed shift Nathan was having lunch with his officers. He was quiet thinking about how to reach her, to bring her back out. "What's going on with Paige?" Allen asked, pulling Nathan from his reverie.

"You've noticed it too?" Nathan asked.

"I think we all have," Patrick said. "She was different that week we were doing research but now..." He let the sentence trail off, unsure of where to go with it.

"I asked Micah about it this morning in training," Allen said. "He said it's a thing she does after she experiences a set back. She retreats into herself for a while before coming back out."

"I don't know, this feels... It feels like she's slipping away from me." Nathan had been spending as much time as he could with her.

While she was in the infirmary he stayed with her, bringing the most important work he had to get done into the room.

When she was released he would eat lunch with her and spend his evenings with her at her families house.

The first night it was awkward with her father there.

Nathan had become comfortable with Paige's mother and sister but her father was another story. When they had told him what was going on while she was in the hospital he was excited, but when she failed to get her wolf again he'd become sullen.

When Nathan came by the first time her father sat with them in the living room all evening.

The second night Nathan didn't even see him. He didn't know if it was because Paige or her mother had talked to him or if he just couldn't face the shame he thought his daughter brought.

At first Nathan blamed her reservedness on the broken limbs. Healing takes a lot of energy but she was healed and in physical therapy now. She saw the fire in her eyes when they trained together but as soon as one of them tapped out she'd move away and close off again.

A knock at the door halted their conversation. It was Paige. "Hey guys," They all gave her smiles and soft 'hey's' in greeting. "Nathan you got a minute?" she asked.

"I have all the time in the world for you." He smiled at her and she returned it though it didn't reach her eyes. Allen and Patrick quietly got up and left the room, closing the door behind them. "What's up?"

"I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner with me tonight?"

"I was already planning on coming over."

"No, not dinner with my family," she said. "Just me and you. I thought I could come to your place and we could cook something."

"Okay." He smiled, enjoying the thought of more alone time with Paige. "I'd love too!"

She smiled at him. It was genuine and covered her face but he saw a bit of sadness behind it.

They set a time and she left.

Patrick and Allen came back in.

"I gotta go clean the apartment," he said to them.

"And you gotta make yourself scarce tonight. Paige and I are having dinner," he said to Patrick.

"So I guess she's done retreating." Patrick said. Nathan just smiled at him as he hurried out of his office. A glimmer of hope made it's way in again. Just a few moments ago he felt like he was losing her, but now they were having dinner.

Later that evening after he had thoroughly cleaned the bachelor pad he and Patrick lived in, he welcomed Paige in. She had a handful of groceries with her which she set down on the counter. He closed the door and followed her into the kitchen.

Taking her in his arms he kissed her and said, "You didn't have to get groceries. I could have picked them up."

"It's fine," she hugged him back. "I wasn't sure you get the right stuff." She teased.

He rolled his eyes. "I can follow a list."

***

Nathan couldn't have asked for a more perfect evening. Paige cooked the most delicious dinner, their conversation was comfortable and effortless, Paige even asked him to dance again. They snuggled on the couch talking of anything and everything. Conversation slowed and they sat comfortably in the silence. Paige let out a sigh.

"That was quite the sigh," Nathan said. "Everything alright?"

"I just," she paused as if she was trying to find the words to say something. "I just really love you." She sat up and looked at him. "I love you with everything that I am Nathan. As long as I live, I will always love you."

"I love you too," he responded. Though he was happy to hear her say those words, his heart felt heavy. The way Paige said it made it feel like she was saying goodbye. "I want you to know I'm not done. I'm not giving up. We will find a way to wake your wolf. We will be together. I promise you."

She didn't reply and it worried him. He leaned in and kissed her, trying to convey the depth of his determination, of his love and of his commitment. She kissed him back slowly at first. Hesitantly, as if she was deciding something. She seemed to make up her mind and deepened the kiss. He quickly matched her passion, kissing her back with gusto. She pulled herself closer to him, almost climbing into his lap, the scent of her arousal was strong. It increased his own.

He pulled back. "Paige," he panted. "If we don't stop now, I'm not going to be able to hold back." He searched her face, trying to make sure this was something she really wanted.

"I don't want you to hold back." She climbed on to him properly now, straddling him. "I want you Nathan, I want this." She kissed him again and he met her eagerly. Not needing to be told twice he stood, taking her with him. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he headed to the bedroom. Kissing her passionately he closed the door behind them and carried her to the bed, ready to spend the night loving her.

The next morning Nathan woke to Paige getting dressed. "Where are you going?" He asked, wiping the sleep from his eyes.

"Back to my parents. I promised I'd spend the day with Sophie. I haven't seen her that much this visit. She's feeling a little neglected." Nathan tried not to feel dejected himself. He was hoping to spend the day with her.

"We'll you can't leave without breakfast."

"I don't like to eat before my run."

"You're going running after everything we did last night." She smirked at him.

"Last night was wonderful, but yes. I'm still going for a run." She finished dressing and leaned over the bed to kiss him. He put his arms around her and pulled her to the bed.

"Stay right here," he said, peppering kisses down her neck. "We can get just as much exercise as a run."

She smiled. "The run isn't just for exercise. It's a comfortable habit that soothes me." She pulled away. "I got to go."

He kissed her once more. "I'll see you later?" He asked.

She made her way to the door, "In your dreams, pretty boy!" she called over her shoulder. Nathan smiled. It's the same thing she said to him after their first night together.

Nathan went about his day with a goofy smile on his face. He couldn't help it. He was happy, Malcolm was ecstatic! He had wanted to mark her last night but Nathan held him back. Despite this, they were both on cloud nine.

That afternoon he was working in his office with Patrick and when Sophie entered with a grim look on her face. She held out a envelope and Nathan saw his name on it.

"Alpha, Paige asked me to give you this."

Nathan's stomach dropped. "What is this? Where is Paige?"

Sophie stayed quiet. She looked around the room. Both Patrick and Allen had concerned looks on their faces. Nathan's face was closer to worried rage.

"Sophie, where is she?" He enunciated each word. He let a little of his Alpha Command slip into the question. He didn't mean too but it had a tendency to slip out when he was stressed.

Sophie swallowed and took a breath before answering. "She's on a plane to London." Nathan jumped up from his chair and started forward. It startled Sophie and she took a step back.

"Sophie give me your phone." Nathan demanded.

"What?"

"You're phone. Give it to me now. She won't pick up a call from one of us, but she will from you."

"She's probably already put it in airplane mode. The flight should be taking off right about now." Sophie handed over the phone.

Nathan grabbed took it and dialed Paige. She picked up after the first ring.

"Did you give it to him?"

"Paige, what are you doing?"

"Damn it Sophie." She let out a sigh before sucking in another breath.

"Paige-" He started to beg her to stop but she interrupted him.

"Did you read the letter?"

"I don't want to read a letter Paige I want you to tell me what's going on."

"I'm going back to London."

"Paige no. Please just don't get on the plane. Wait for me I'm coming to you right now." He grabbed his keys and started moving out from around the desk, ready to walk out the door.

"I'm already on the plane."

"Then get off!" He practically shouted into the phone. He softened his voice. "Paige please. Just get off the plane."

"I can't, we've already pulled away from the gate. I've got to go Nathan, we're about to take off. Good-"

"NO!" He shouted. "Don't you dare say goodbye. Not again. Please Paige." His voice broke as he begged her not to leave him. He couldn't lose her, it would break him completely. In the back of his mind the thought that this must have been what it had felt like for her after he left sounded and it broke him even more.

"I'm sorry, Nathan. I'm so sorry." She sounded like she was crying. "Read the letter. It's all there."

"Paige ple-"

"Goodbye Nathan." He heard the tell-tale beep of the call disconnecting.

"PAIGE!" He screamed.

He fell to the floor, "No no no no no no no no. This can't be happening! I can't- Paige!" Pain was ricocheting through out his body.

This wasn't a formal rejection so the overwhelming pain a werewolf typically feels after rejecting the mate bond isn't quite as strong but it still hurt like hell.

He was losing her. He wasn't sure if he would survive.