“We heal faster,” Jax reminded him. “We can take a lot of abuse before we succumb.”

Well, that wasn’t a comforting thought. Kira felt sorry for the victims on both sides.

Nick sighed, and glanced at one of the bodies. “I hate to ask you this, but can you see about getting a reading?”

“Sure. Let’s do it.”

He sounded so casual, but Kira had seen firsthand how much this took out of him. And today, though sexy as always, he appeared tired, like he hadn’t been sleeping well. He was scratching every now and then, too, really digging at his arms and stomach. She frowned, unable to spot a rash.

He moved to the oldest of the corpses, touching only the wrist without the benefit of latex gloves, which could hamper his ability. He concentrated for several minutes, but shook his head and moved on. “Nothing. He’s been gone too long, with the elements working at him.”

Kira hid her revulsion as he went on to the second victim. He had the same bad luck with that one and the third. It wasn’t until the latest victim that the tide turned.

Closing his eyes, he took the abraded wrist and breathed slowly and deeply, settling himself. After a few moments, his head tilted back and his body tensed. As the minutes passed, the color drained from his face and he began to shake. That was frightening enough, but the agonized scream he suddenly let out nearly made her heart explode.

“Nick!” Frantic, she looked to the boss, who’d taken a step toward his friend.

But before he could intervene, Jax moaned, “Oh, God, no. Please don’t . . .”

Then his knees buckled and he hit the floor, sprawled on his back.

“Oh, my God! Jax!” Everyone converged on him, but Kira reached him first. Dropping to his side she patted his cheeks, shook him. “Jax!”

He didn’t respond, but his breathing was steady, she noted in relief. Mac pushed in next to her and took his pulse. Next, she opened an eyelid and shined her penlight, testing the reaction.

“Has this ever happened to him before?” Kira asked the group anxiously.

“No,” Nick said, voice rough. “It’s never easy on him, but he’s never passed out.”

Dr. Mallory’s voice cut through the rising panic. “We need to get him into an exam room. Nick, get his shoulders and I’ll take his feet.”

Between the two of them they managed to pick him up and maneuver his big body out, down the hall, and onto one of the clinic’s exam tables. Kira tried to ease into the room, but Dr. Mallory wasn’t having it.

“Everyone out so we can see to our patient. Either Mac or I will come as soon as we have news.”

From nowhere, a powerful emotion hit Kira hard. How dare that woman keep him from me? The fierce rage swelled in her chest, strangling her lungs. A low sound emerged from her throat that very much emulated the noise Jax had made at the idea of others touching her. That reaction from him had pissed her off, and now she was doing the same thing.

Dr. Mallory froze, her efficient mask slipping long enough to gape at Kira in astonishment. Then she turned back to Kira’s lover. “Nick, get her out of here.”

“Come on,” he said, taking her arm. “Let’s get out of Melina’s way. Jax will be fine.”

As he led her to the waiting area, the red-hot anger began to subside, only to be replaced by a terrible anxiety. Jax was in there, only God knows what was happening to him. She couldn’t touch him. Speak to him. Make certain he was okay. She needed to do those things or she’d go crazy.

“Nick, what’s wrong with me?”

He sat her in a chair, took a seat next to her, and remained silent for a long moment. When he met her eyes, the expression in his dark blue ones made her heart lurch. “You’re a scientist, Kira. Look at his reactions and yours with that analytical brain, and you tell me.”

Unwillingly, she did. Protectiveness, bordering on violence, on both sides. The unexplainable animal attraction from the first instant he morphed into a man before her eyes. The constant desire to be near him.

“No,” she said in denial. Her hands started to shake. “It can’t be. That kind of thing only happens in the movies.”

“Sweetheart, it’s true. Jax is your Bondmate.”

She stared at him, trepidation curling in her stomach. “What does that mean, exactly? Spell it out, please.”

“Melina can give a better explanation than me.”

“I’m asking you,” she insisted.

After a long pause, he continued with some reluctance. “You’re his perfect match. The one who completes him, both the man and the wolf. Whether a made shifter like Jax, or a born shifter like me, we all have a Bondmate out there somewhere.”

“Is this bonding thing triggered by feelings a shifter is developing for the other person?” she asked hopefully. The analytical part of her brain could accept that—but not the answer she actually got.

“No. Whether feelings develop before or after the shifter recognizes his or her Bondmate is irrelevant. The two are fated to be together, period.”

“I won’t accept that! No way.” Her vehemence surprised them both.

“Jax is a good man. There’s obviously chemistry between you two. What’s so bad about being his mate?”

Bombarded by conflicting emotions, she struggled to explain. “Nothing, if he loved me! Yes, we’ve had fireworks, but that doesn’t mean anything. We still don’t know each other very well, and he sees other women—”

“He won’t anymore. Not now.”

“What? How come?” She refused to acknowledge the bubble of happiness that news caused.

“Once wolf shifters find our mates, we’re physically incapable of being with anyone else in the carnal sense. No worries there.” He said that as though she should be thrilled.

And she was, except for one tiny detail. “You don’t understand. I want my man to be with me because I’m me, not because his glands are dictating to his libido! I want him to fall in love with me and vice versa, not be stuck together because science says so.”

“Kira, what makes you think you two won’t fall head over heels? Personally, I believe you’re well on the way already, and you just need to give yourselves a chance.”

“But how will I know?”

“The same way anyone does. In here,” he said, pointing at her heart.

She considered this. “Have you ever been in love?”

Pain flashed in his eyes, there and gone. He smiled, but it seemed a little sad. “Hey, we’re not talking about me, remember? Just give it time. Trust me.”

She didn’t answer, but the whole idea still bothered her a great deal. It was the thought that basic feral nature could force two people together, and before either of them were ready. That did not sit well at all.

Forty minutes later, Mac and Dr. Mallory appeared. Kira didn’t like the almost tangible aura of gloom surrounding them, the anxiety.

“What’s wrong? Isn’t he okay?”

Mac glanced at her colleague, who nodded, indicating she could go ahead. “The reading really knocked him for a loop, but as far as recovering from that goes, he should be fine.”

“That’s good, but what do you mean ‘as far as that goes’? There’s more?”

“Unfortunately, yes. He’s experiencing some symptoms that are causing him discomfort.”

“I noticed him scratching,” Kira said with a frown.

“He’s itching and it’s getting worse, starting to burn. He also has a sore throat and a fever, which he didn’t have yesterday. He’s getting sicker and if the proper steps aren’t taken, his life will be in danger.”

Kira blinked, chest squeezing. “What do you mean? What kinds of steps?”

“One important one, really.” Mac paused. “Did Nick tell you?”

“I told her,” the boss confirmed.

“Wait a second. Is this about me being his mate? You’re telling me that not only do we have this attraction we can’t help, but his cure depends on me?”

“That’s what we’re saying,” Mac told her gently. “His life depends on you.”

She gasped. “He’s going to die if I don’t mate with him? Oh, my God!” She rounded on Nick. “You said I could give it time! And now I find out I have no choice? I’m supposed to just hand my entire life over to a man who’s half canine, and not really a man at all?”