Cliff leaned back against the wall of the pack house watching Aiyana smile up at Nate under the green leaves of the fruit trees a hundred yards or so in front of him. At least they weren't kissing. Nope, spoke too soon. He heard a whine and realized it was coming from him. Why was he torturing himself like this? He should just leave. Yep, just pick up his feet and walk away. He couldn't do it. He wasn't even bonded to her any more and yet he couldn't walk away.

They stopped in full view of him, framed perfectly by the trees on either side. A photographer couldn't have arranged the shot any better, except it was the wrong guy. Oh no. The blond bimbo wasn't...he was. Cliff was half-way to the trees before he stopped himself. What was he going to do, rage in there while Nate was down on one knee? That would win Aiyana back for sure. Nate wasn't her mate. She couldn't possibly say yes. No, don't put it on your finger. Don't say yes. He felt his heart tear as she pushed her lips against Nate's. Where he could hear birds and the breeze through the branches moments before, now it was only the howl of his wolf. He couldn't think - he couldn't see. He couldn't be around her anymore. He ran.

Buildings and trees and waving heads of grain rushed past him. It should feel good to stretch his legs out as far as he could and fly over the fertile soil with the wind ruffling his fur, but he couldn't enjoy it, not without her. He had been so stupid. His mate, his wonderful, beautiful Aiyana was with another and he didn't know how to win her back.

Out of nowhere, something slammed into his shoulder and he felt a sharp pain. He glanced down to see feathers protruding form his fur. A dart. Where did that come from? There shouldn't be any hunters around here. He turned into the tall wheat, hoping to get far enough away that whoever it was would have difficulty finding him, but a few seconds later his leg gave out and he knew it was hopeless. He stumbled and hit the ground, then everything went black.