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than it had been expected.
    The Pack had wanted the connection. Wanted a strong mate for her in case something happened to the Alpha.
    She would never regret her time with Kurt. And even better, she could look back at that time with fond memories, but that was all they would ever be—memories. She had a life without him. She was happy.
    She crawled out of bed without disturbing Mike. She had to look down at him just one more time. Mike was handsome, strong and kind—just who she had pictured she would end up with. Not that she was in a hurry to mate. It would be a long time before she went down that road again. But she would like to spend time with Mike, to start to make new memories. She wanted Mike in her life.
    The morning before—and God, did that seem like years ago now—she’d contacted her friend Nikki to get all the dirt on Mike.
    They’d exchanged text messages, each one of Nikki’s consisting of her singing Mike’s praises. It had been obvious to Becca that Nikki wanted to play matchmaker. Becca took a lot of enjoyment in informing her that she didn’t need the help.
    Nikki was pleased. Happy for her.
    She’d met Nikki on one of her very first assignments away from home. Nikki had been writing an article on endangered red wolves in the United States. Becca had been asked to accompany her to take the photos.
    Once both of them had realised they shared the shifter gene, they had become fast friends.
    Becca knew that Nikki still took assignments all over even though she had mated. That was just the way Nikki was. She liked what she did. Becca preferred to be home. It was one of the few things they didn’t have in common.
    Of course, the last time Becca had taken a job out of the country was when her friend had her mating ceremony. Becca had hated to miss it but Nikki had understood.
    Now that she’d met Mike, Becca had more of a reason to regret not being able to attend. Mike was one of Nikki’s mate’s best friends.
    It really was a small world when you thought about it—the connections that drew people together.
    The connection that helped to keep the shifter communities thriving even with the threats coming at them now.
    Becca pulled jeans and a T-shirt out of her drawers and hurried to the shower. There was something she wanted to do first before she dealt with anything else.
    She took a quick shower and dressed then managed to get out of the bedroom and downstairs without running into anyone. She avoided the kitchen, knowing that was where most people would be, slipped out of the door in the den and quickly made her way towards the woods.
    She wasn’t quiet once outside in order to let anyone out know she was coming. If Kurt and his friends were staying in the area, she knew just where to find him.
    She passed the creek and went further north. Before she got to the old hangout, she heard movement.
    Kurt walked towards her and she paused to let him finish closing the distance. He smiled at her but nervously shoved his hands in his jeans. He wasn’t wearing a shirt or shoes.
    He was more attractive now he’d aged, with tanned firm skin and a muscular body. But she was also relieved when she didn’t feel the same stirring inside at the sight of him half naked. She was truly over him.
    “Hey, Becca,” he greeted.
    She nodded. “You got a minute to talk?”
    He motioned towards a pile of rocks they could sit on. She led the way and took a seat. Once he was beside her, she turned to face her old friend.
    “I’m sorry, Becca. I should have told you I was back. That I was helping,” he started.
    She held up a hand to stop him. “No, Kurt. You’ve apologised enough. It’s my turn.”
    He jerked back. “What? No.”
    “Yes,” she sighed. This was harder than she thought. “I was mad at you for a long time. I blamed you for leaving me.”
    “I did,” he interrupted.
    “No,” she corrected. “I let you go. You were right that night when you asked if I was one hundred per cent sure I was