“Nothing,” she snapped.
“We have a date with Tilly, remember?”
“Don’t you think we have enough on our plates?”
“No,” Ray drawled. “There is nothing more important to me, or the Pack, than you. Let’s go.”
“Damn it.” She almost stamped her foot as she followed her Beta grudgingly. “Well, I guess we’ll see that this is all a storm in a teacup and there’s nothing wrong with me, big guy.”
“Yeah, we’ll see,” Ray replied as he held the door open for her, a glint in his eye.
Shoot, she knew that look. It was the one where she wouldn’t be able to side-track him, or dissuade him from taking her to the Healer. Better just to get it over and done with and pray to the Goddess that there truly was nothing actually wrong with her.
She’d soon find out because her Beta wasn’t letting her off the hook from her earlier promise to visit with Tilly. Shit, she wished she hadn’t been quite so hasty in agreeing to see the Healer. Now that the time was fast approaching, her nerves were overcoming her about as fast as the damn hunger that was taking over . . . again.
Ray held Tilly’s door open, ushering her inside and she hoped that Kai was still there. That would mean the Healer would not be able to see her. Not in confidence anyway. But no. The cabin was empty apart from Tilly clearing away some smelly concoction or other, her head turning to check them out as they entered.
“Hello, Alpha, what brings you here?” she asked. “If you’re checking up on Kai then you’re too late, he’s all fixed up and away to get some food. He says he’s starving, but then again, that lad is always hungry.”
Sheba side eyed Ray, whispering, “Tell me about it.”
Ray ignored her, merely motioning her forward as he stood guard to ensure nobody entered or interrupted. It was at this point that Tilly seemed to sense the Beta’s mood and she stopped what she was doing, wiping her hands on her apron and giving them her full attention. “Are you okay?”
Sheba shrugged a second before pain lanced through her insides, her skin feeling as if it were on fire, and her heart thudding wildly in her chest. “Hmm, okay might be stretching it a bit, but I think Ray’s overreacting by making me come here. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
Ray shook his head. “You’re far from fine, Sheba. Stop ignoring what’s going on and just tell the truth, and let’s get to the bottom of this before things get out of hand.”
Tilly sat down at her large kitchen table, motioning for Sheba to join her. “Come sit with me, Alpha, and I’m sure we can sort this out.”
“Yeah, sure we can.” Sheba sauntered over slowly, every muscle inside her screaming at her to turn and run for the trees, the forest . . . where the prey was that would help her, even if it was only a temporary fix. Her skin damp with sweat as she took a seat, her head thumping, her hands fisted in her lap as she fought to control her urge to hunt.
Tilly reached over calmly touching her shoulder, her voice soft and reassuring. “Sheba, you are obviously upset and unwilling to share what’s wrong, but I assure you whatever you tell me is strictly between us. I would never speak of anything that you tell me and I’ll do everything in my power to help you. Please, lass, trust me.”
“Sheba, please, you have to,” Ray urged her too.
She couldn’t ignore the craving inside her, it was growing with each passing second and if she didn’t get help, and soon, she knew she’d lose her damn mind . . . and her Pack. That wasn’t something she could stand. It would break her. Heart, body and soul. Her eyes sought Tilly’s, seeing nothing but compassion in the Healer’s gaze. She inhaled deeply and nodded. “Okay, but this is going to sound a little nuts. Hell, it’ll make me sound like a candidate for One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.”
“What?” Tilly cocked her head to the side, frowning as Ray chuckled at the mention of one of their favorite movies.
“Never mind.” Sheba shrugged. “I’m not sure how to explain what’s going on, other than it’s like some kind of . . . craving inside me.”
Tilly kept her face impassive, nodding again. “A craving. For what?”
Sheba’s nose twitched, the scents of the Healer’s cabin overwhelming her senses and making her feel as if she was about to puke. She inhaled through clenched teeth as Tilly poured her some water, pushing the glass toward her and she gladly sipped on it before answering. “Prey. Lots and lots of prey. I can’t seem to fill myself up. I always feel hungry and it’s getting out of hand.”
There. She’d said it and now she relaxed back against the chair and waited. Hoping that Tilly would clap her hands and jump up, grab one of her many tomes, flick through it and say something like “Voila! Here you go, this is what’s wrong, take this and you’ll be fine.” Yeah, right. As if that’s what was going to happen.
Instead she watched as Tilly’s body stilled, her head spinning to look at Ray and then back at her before she let out a loud exhale. But still she remained silent and in place. She didn’t reach for one of her hundreds of ancient books and she didn’t utter a word. Seconds ticked by and Sheba grew anxious as she waited, growing impatient . . . and worried.
Before she could say anything though, Ray stomped over, scowling down at Tilly. “Healer, can you stop just sitting there like a fish out of water and say something? This is your Alpha that’s in trouble and we need answers. Now.”
His voice was far harsher than Sheba had heard from him
