He cleared his throat and stood up abruptly. "I'm going to drop you off at my mom and dad's. They want to get to know you, and frankly, I think my mom needs someone to talk to about that scenario. She was still a little shaken over what happened to her grandson."

"I think I'm still a little shaken too."

"We all are. But I need to go do another run, to see what I can do to help. Plus, with Reed and Hannah out of commission because they're staying at Josh's side, someone needs to go do some research."

"Research?"

"The elders have always written down everything in our history, but it's not yet in the digital age. So we're all taking turns looking through the old stacks and trying to figure out anything we can about demons."

"I can help with that. I can't really do any physical labor right now, but I feel like I'm going to explode. I can do reading. That is, if you trust me enough for that."

He gave her a long look, and she waited for the blow. "I think they'd like that. My mom has a few volumes at the house that she hasn't had a chance to look at yet. I'm sure the two of you could look over them while you're trying to keep her mind off of Finn."

She smiled at him and tried to stand. When she wobbled back and almost fell into the couch, he caught her and pulled her against him. For a moment, she leaned against his heat and relished the fact that the father of her child cared. But then she got a cold dose of reality when she remembered exactly what terms they were on and pulled back. "Thank you. I seem to be having balance issues."

"No problem, it's a pregnancy thing I hear." He still wouldn't look down at her stomach, but least he was saying the pregnancy word. That had to be better than nothing.

"Okay, then. Let's head out." With that, he walked her out of the house and into the car. The drive was short because the Jamensons all lived in the corner of the den relatively close to one another, but far enough away that they had their privacy. After all, werewolves could hear sounds, smell things, and see things stronger. Meaning they needed a little bit more space if they want their privacy.

Pat walked out of the house as soon as they pulled into the driveway. She was smaller, a little more round than most wolf females, and usually looked as fierce as any werewolf mama. She gave them a weak smile and held the door open as they walked through. Once inside, she gave the each warm hugs, and Bay settled into hers. It was times like these she missed her mom most of all. Though her mom had never been very strong, due to the fact that she had felt broken inside, she had still been stronger than most, based on the fact that she had survived as long as she had.

"I'm glad you're okay, Bay," Pat said as soon as they walked into the living room.

Bay gave a small smile and nodded. "I'm so sorry, Pat."

Pat gave Bay another hug, letting this one linger. "It's not your fault."

She didn't quite believe that, but she let it pass.

"Okay, Mom, I'm going to leave now, but I'll be back soon as I can. Bay said she could help you with the texts if you wanted to keep your mind off things." He leaned down and brushed a kiss on his mom's forehead then did the same to hers. She blinked but didn't say anything. The spot tingled where his lips had touched.

As he walked out the door without another word, she watched him and tried not to let the tug on their mate bond mean anything. Every touch and familiar feeling of their bond reminded her that she wanted him and he didn't want her. His off-and-on-again thing wasn't working for her. Somewhere deep inside she'd always held the belief that, because of their mating, he could maybe love her, but he couldn't. He still loved Anna, and Bay didn't think anything would change that.

"Bay? Is everything okay? You look like you're lost in your thoughts." Pat had opened an ancient-looking text, its paper cream and worn.

She shook her head and tried to temper the energy that wouldn't go away. "I'm fine, just pregnant."

Pat looked at her stomach and gave a watery smile. "I'm really happy you're here. Really."

Bay gave her a smile, telling her she didn't quite believe her.

Pat hiccupped up the chuckle. "I guess I can't fool you, huh? I'm so sorry, Bay. We are blessed that you are going to give us another grandchild, never mistake our cautiousness with hatred. We just weren't expecting you."

Bay gave a nod but kept quiet, knowing the other woman needed to speak her mind. After all, this was the Alpha female of the Pack.

Pat gripped her hands, the strength radiating from the other woman. "Don't mistake me. I want you to be my daughter-in-law. You are Adam's mate, no matter what he says. I know you have a long way to go in finding out who you are and what you are to each other, but no matter what, we're here for you. I want you to be our daughter-in-law. I do."

Pat took a deep breath, and fear clenched Bay's stomach at what the other woman was about to say.

"Anna was such a part of our lives. She was the first marriage in our family. And she was going to give us our first grandchild. When we lost her, it was as if the Pack lost the thing that made us whole and we became blurred. It'd taken a long time, but we were finally moving on. My sons were getting married, and I was getting grandchildren. And Adam broke again. And I didn't know why."

Bay refused to cry or show any emotion. She had known she wasn't worthy. She had known it would hurt this much.

"We want you with our family, Bay. Adam does too. He just needs to let go of his past."

"You know he can't do that. Anna is with us every moment of every day."

The other woman nodded. "I know. And that may be my fault. I let him stew and mourn for so many years. I don't think he knows how to pull himself out of that."

"He's a grown man. It was not your fault then, and it's not your fault now. He lost his mate. Throwing in another mate on top of that isn't going to help matters. I know he doesn't want me. You don't have to try to make me feel better."

Pat shook her head then dabbed her eyes with a tissue. "You're pack. You need to remember that. We're not just going to let you go. You're holding one of our members within you. Remember that."

"Is that a warning?"

Pat leveled her gaze at her, and Bay lowered her own. "I know you are the daughter of Caym, and that his blood runs through your and Adam's child. But I also know that you came for protection, not to hurt us. I am, at least, that much a judge of character."

Relief spread through her as Pat confirmed Adam's thoughts.

"You didn't hurt Finn and Josh. The demon did. You did your best; we all have. But it isn't good enough. We need to figure out a way to protect our family."

Pat continued to speak and then moved on to discuss the books, but Bay wasn't listening. She was an idiot for endangering the family. What the hell could she have been thinking? There was nothing she could do for them, and by just staying here, she was offering a beacon for her father. The Redwoods were in danger no matter what, but maybe if she weren't here, Caym would focus his attention elsewhere.

Abruptly, she stood and schooled her emotions. "I need to use the bathroom; I'll be right back."

Pat nodded absentmindedly, taking notes from the books she read to try to find a way to protect her family. Bay would do one better and protect them, even from her. Quickly, and silently, she crept out the house and ran. She didn't have time to get her stuff or her car, but she could run as fast as she could, even pregnant, and make it to the wards. The others would be able to find her, but maybe if she ran fast enough, they wouldn't care enough to follow.

The trees tugged at her clothes, and branches scratched at her, but she ignored everything, only cradling her stomach to protect her child, the only thing that mattered. She'd find a way to protect him or her, no matter what.

Her heart hurt at what she'd have to do. She didn't have a mate who loved her, only one who offered to protect her, and in this stage, she wasn't strong enough to protect herself. She'd do what she could to keep the demon's eyes off the Pack, have her child, make sure it was safe, and say goodbye.

She bit her lip and jumped over a rock awkwardly. She felt the warm pulse of magic as she slipped through the wards, and she was free. She ran faster, knowing she would only make it so far in her state. There had been only two choices when she had felt the demon coming for her-find Adam and be safe within the Pack walls or sacrifice herself for her child.

Adam's disdain for her had chosen her course.

She tripped over some roots and braced her hands on a tree to break her fall. The bark gouged at her hands, and she cursed. She looked around her and sighed with relief when she spotted a cave in the deep rock face. She'd be able to rest for a few moments, get her bearings, and find a way to get farther away. She'd been stupid to run when she did; she should've made a plan. But sitting in Pat's house and hearing all about Anna had caused her to act without thinking. Crap, she had once been a strong independent woman, and now look at her.

Her wolf snorted inwardly, and she rolled her eyes. Apparently, her wolf didn't even want to speak to her. No wonder. Bay had made stupid decisions in the past, but this one had to take the cake.

She slipped inside the crevice, and her breath caught. It had to be the most beautiful cave she'd ever seen her life. The cave opening at the other end led to beautiful mountain range with lush greens. Inside was a pool of what had to be ice-cold water that glittered over crystals and shiny rocks. Stalactites, or maybe those were stalagmites, came down from the cave ceiling and made beautiful shadows. The whole scene made this an oasis.

This couldn't have been a secret from the Redwoods. It was too close and too beautiful. She couldn't stay here long. She's stay only long enough to find her bearings and her breath.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Bay turned quickly and slipped on a rock. She waved her arms around and tried to catch herself, but it was no use. She was falling. Adam's arms wrapped around her waist and caught her. He clutched to his chest and held her tightly.

"Why did you leave like that? You could have been killed. What the hell were you thinking?" he growled as he rubbed his arms down her back and sides as if checking for injuries.

She closed her eyes and inhaled his masculine scent, letting herself sink into his hold for just a moment. Dammit, he wasn't supposed to find her so quickly.

"I can hurt your family, Adam. I needed to leave." She didn't open her eyes nor did she step away from him. Call her weak, but she wanted his touch for just a moment.

"You're an idiot, you know that? Caym will come after my family no matter what. You leaving doesn't change that. All it does is make you another target."

"That was the point." She pulled away and hid her hands so he wouldn't see the shaking. "If I would have stayed there, it would have made it worse."

He growled, and the sound sent shivers down her spine. "No, don't you see? No matter what, you're in danger. But you are Pack, meaning we work as a team and find out how to protect and help ourselves. A Pack is better as a whole, not broken off into parts. You can't just leave and expect everything to be okay. You can't run from your problems."

"Seriously? You have the nerve to say that me? You been running the entire time I've been here. I'm trying to protect you and your family. Don't you understand that?"

"So you're just going to go off and hide and hope that you can protect the child you're carrying?" He shook his head and spat, "What was your plan?"

She lowered her head, ashamed.

"Really? You didn't have a plan. Just run and hope for the best. What were you going to do if I hadn't found you, and you would've had the baby, huh?" He walked a few feet away, the tension in his shoulders evident.

"Found a way to get him or her back to you or your family," she whispered.

A dark look passed over his face, and he stomped toward her. She froze but met his gaze head-on. She had to be strong, had to.

He stopped right in front of her, the warmth of his body seeping through her pores and heating her chilled bones.

"I'm not going to let you sacrifice yourself for an ill-conceived plan or idea."

He tipped up her chin with his finger, and her breath caught. Damn, she hated this mating bond. She did care about him.

"We need to work out who we are. What we are. We can't keep going on like this... I can't keep going on like this." He took a deep breath, and she bit her tongue from saying anything. What was he talking about? "You're making me feel things that I shouldn't want to, Bay."

"What?" she whispered.

"Fate has decided we're supposed to be together, but we haven't. I don't have anything left to love, don't you understand that? I've done that, and I have nothing left to give. But when you stand there and look at me, all I want to do is hold you and make sure you're okay. I don't want to be that man. I want to have everything like it was, but it's not ever going to be like that."

Her heart raced yet froze at the same time. What was he saying?

"Much as I want it to happen, you're not going away."

"Thanks," she said wryly.

He let out a breath and rubbed his hand over his face. "We're it, Bay. We have a bond, and like it or not, I have to accept that. You have been amazing, and I've been an ass. A bastard. Do you think I want to treat you the way I do? But every time I see you, all I think about is the fact that Anna's not here and I don't want to do this."

He punched the cliff wall, winced, watching the blood rush over his hand.

"You're going to break something," she admonished.

"I don't like the wolf I've become. I don't. I don't know what the future holds for us, but I can't run away from it. You ran away and could have died, mostly because you were stupid and didn't have a plan, but because you didn't feel safe with me. What kind of Enforcer am I if I can make you feel that way and do that?"

"I don't want to think about us as just a member of the Pack and the Enforcer. We're mates. Reckon we have to deal with that."

"I know; I'm trying."

"Not good enough." She knew she was laying it all out on the line, but if she didn't say everything, she wouldn't be able to live with herself.

He brushed his non-bloody hand against her cheek, and she leaned into it. "I don't know what we're going to do. You can't run away again. I already lost a pregnant mate because I wasn't there. I can't lose you too."

Oddly touched by those words, she let that small kernel of hope settle into her heart.

"Come back with me, please."

"I can't be your sense of duty. An obligation."

He looked at her for a long time, as if searching for the right words to say. But she wouldn't give him any help. He had to come up with this on his own.

"Okay. We'll try it."

"And the baby?" She hadn't failed to notice that he had refused to look at her stomach and hadn't acknowledged the fact that they were having a child together. She couldn't raise a child in that environment.

He gulped and closed his eyes. "One thing at a time."

"Not good enough. This baby comes before me, always."

"Give me time, please." He lowered his lips to hers, and she let him kiss her. She closed her eyes and fell into the kiss, his lips soft, demanding, but not rough. When he pulled back, she was out of breath, and she wanted to kick herself for letting him get away with that.

"I'll go back with you, but only for the baby. I'm sorry I left without thinking."

"It was a stupid thing to do."

"Stop calling me stupid."

He grinned at her, and for a second, she caught a glimpse of the man that he had been before everything had been taken away and gone to hell.

"Sorry, Bay. But you got admit it wasn't the smartest thing you could have done."

"Well, I didn't really have any choice. But I won't do it again; at least not without a set of wheels."

He coughed a laugh and shook his head. "At least if you plan to get somewhere."

Where, she had no idea. At least this was a step in the right direction, right?

Chapter 14.

A stick snapped under Adam's foot, and he cursed. He had to start paying more attention. He'd left her back at the house with Maddox watching her. For some reason, it grated on him that his little brother kept being the one to watch over her. Though, the way the man kept hiding from his twin and Ellie, Adam wasn't so surprised that Maddux kept volunteering for the job.