Over the next year, Nick sent flowers and small gifts to Leya at work and at home. He took her on dates and learned everything he could about her. After talking to her mom, he found out that her parents had dated instead of mating right away. Her father still dated her mother even though they had been together for a long time. Nick would show up at the hospital nursery just to see Leya. He took her on spur of the moment dates and picnics. It took everything in him just to kiss her goodnight and walk away. His natural instinct was to mate and mark her. He never realized how hard it was to fight your own instincts.