Thank God.

He quickly shifted to man and froze. "Oh shit." He ran to her side and lifted Adam from her hold. "Oh damn, Bay. Oh damn."

"He's alive, but he needs North now."

"Where's his leg?" his voice cracked as he said it, but as the Heir, he was still strong.

"I had to leave it. I couldn't hold it and Micah.

"We should go back for it," Kade said, his voice cracking.

"No!" Bay screamed. "No, I can still feel Caym close by. We need to go. I know Adam will hate me for making this decision for him, but I can't risk him and Micah. We need to go. Please."

Kade nodded, sorrow in his gaze. Jasper and Reed broke through the trees and shifted.

"Holy fuck," Jasper breathed, and took Adam's other side so he and Kade could carry him easier.

"Oh, God, Bay." Reed looked pointedly at the new tattoos on her arms and blinked. "I'm so sorry." Without saying anything else, Reed lifted her into his arms. Though she wanted to be strong and walk on her own, she didn't have anything left to do so she cradled Micah closer, and her new family carried them out of the forest, away from the demons and evil.

As the memories of what she'd seen and done came to her, she closed her eyes and wept.

Chapter 20.

Adam groaned and reached for his leg as it flared in pain. When he hit air, he froze. What the hell? What happened?

He thrashed against the bed, his fists clenching, his body writhing in pain. He could feel the cool, clammy beads of sweat form on his brow but couldn't bother to wipe them off. He tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids were too heavy.

"Adam?" A voice... but not the one he wanted, needed. "Adam, open your eyes. I need to know you're okay."

Adam mumbled something but couldn't form the words he needed.

"Adam, it's me, North. You need to wake up. I can't give you drugs, and Hannah can only heal you so much. I need to know where you're at."

Adam relaxed somewhat at knowing his brother was by his side. North was always there when he needed him. Adam knew he would be okay.

But what about Bay and Micah? Oh, God, he'd left them.

Flashes of how he'd got to where he was flooded him. The fight with Corbin, seeing Bay lying on the table in pain, Caym.

Caym.

He remembered the blinding pain of being ripped from the rock.

His leg.

Fuck.

He gritted his teeth, fought back the overwhelming urge to vomit from the pain, and cracked open his eyes. He could feel North's relief emanating from him when he did so.

Adam opened his mouth, his lips cracked and dry, and tried to speak.

North shook his head. "Don't try, Adam. It's enough that you're alive. We'll take care of you."

Adam closed his eyes, forced himself to gain the energy to do what he needed to do, and opened them again. He swallowed and winced in pain then opened his mouth.

"Bay. Micah."

It was all he could say, all he needed to say.

North gave a small smile then gave him some water. "They're fine. Your mate is freaking amazing."

Adam tried to smile, but he just wanted to go back to sleep at the relief of them being okay.

"Bay got you and Micah to where we could find you all and is okay. She's a little banged up." He patted Adam's shoulder as Adam growled at that. Bay couldn't be hurt; he wouldn't allow it. "She's fine. Micah is fine, just hungry, but Bay took care of that. You're the one we're worried about."

Adam nodded and sank back into the pillow. "She's an Alpha," he whispered, his voice rough and sore.

North nodded then shifted from foot to foot. "Do you remember what happened?"

Adam closed his eyes, unable to speak. Someone put a cool glass to his lips, and he started, opening his eyes in surprise.

Ellie's eyes widened, that frightened deer look of hers becoming more pronounced. "Sorry, I thought you might want some water."

Adam tried to smile to make her feel better. Now knowing firsthand the acts of brutality the Centrals could wield, he had a newfound respect for one of their newest Pack members.

He let the cool water flow down his throat; it was almost healing. He swallowed down almost half the glass before she took it away.

"I don't want you to drink too much too fast and get sick," she whispered.

Adam nodded then looked behind her at Maddox, who seemed to be frozen in place. He met his brother's eyes and felt all the resentment and guilt slide off him. He'd known he'd always felt off near his Omega brother because of the connection he'd had with Anna in those final moments. But now he could feel only such an agonizing pity that Maddox had to go through that.

"Hey, man," Maddox grumbled. "You didn't answer North's question. But I think I already know the answer. Don't I?"

Adam nodded. "I remember everything about my lack of limbs."

North sighed and sat on the other side of him. Adam turned his head and faced his brother. "For all that wolves can heal, we can't grow back limbs. We lost your leg, Adam. Bay is taking it hard."

Something shattered within him. He'd known he was too late. He'd professed his feelings for her when they'd had nothing to lose, though he'd wanted to do it earlier. She hadn't wanted a full man. Why would she want half a man?

Maddox came up to him and held his hand "Adam, don't think that."

Adam huffed a laugh then grunted in pain. "I thought you couldn't read minds."

Maddox shrugged. "I can't. But I know what you're feeling. Bay loves you. One leg or two. It sucks. You're going to have to live hundreds of years like this, but you're strong. You're the Enforcer. You're going to make it."

Adam wanted to believe him. But in all honesty, what could he do with one leg? He was a fucking werewolf. When he shifted he'd only have three legs. Holy shit.

Everything started to crash down on him, but his wolf growled. Not at the situation, but at him.

"We are strong. Don't forget that. We lost our Anna, and we almost lost our Bay. We won't lose again. Remember that."

Adam closed his eyes at his wolf's words. For the past twenty years, he'd ignored and resented his wolf. But he'd been wrong to do that.

"I've missed you, too."

Adam let out a rough laugh, and Maddox smiled, the stark contrast between the white jagged scar on his face and his tanned skin deepening.

"You're going to be okay," North added. "We'll fit you with a prosthesis, the best out there. You're tough."

"What about being an Enforcer?" he asked, afraid of the answer.

Ellie shook her head. "You know the Moon Goddess is the one who decides who gets what power and position. If you couldn't do your job, she'd have given it to someone else."

"No, it doesn't work that way. It will go to only Kade's sons."

"If he has them. If not, it will go to a Pack member who can protect their people. I know being a member of my old Pack is a death sentence, but they did have the same powers you did. The same hierarchy. I know what I'm talking about. If the Moon Goddess didn't believe in you, you wouldn't still have your powers."

As Adam could still feel the rest of the Pack and their dangers, he knew he was still the Enforcer. Tension radiated through him.

"What if I can't do it?"

"You will, Adam. I believe in you." Adam turned to the voice at the door and his breath caught.

Bay.

The others quickly filed out the room as she walked toward him, Micah in her arms.

"I believe in you," she repeated.

She looked down at him, her breath coming out in weak pants. He looked so big against the hospital bed, but so weak. He had gashes along his forehead and arms, and bruises in various stages of healing dotted his body. He was shirtless, his ripped muscles still looking sexy, even though he was in pain. Yes, there had to be something wrong with her. Here she was, thinking of all the ways she could lick and rub up against his body like a cat in heat when he was injured.

She pointedly looked down his body and rested to where his leg had been.

God, she felt so guilty for leaving his leg in the cave. Though she hadn't had a choice, she still wanted to weep at her failings.

"I know I'm not a full man. You can leave when you want to."

She looked sharply at him and frowned. Micah stirred in her arms, and she patted his little butt to calm him as the tension in the room increased.

"You are everything to me. You are an amazing man. Never sell yourself short. Never call yourself anything like that again. You are not half a man. You are my man. And never downgrade yourself in front of our son. Do you hear me?"

Adam smiled, his green eyes gleaming. "I like it when you get all fiery. Your red curls bounce around your face."

She relaxed and walked to his side. "Hey." Cautiously, she trailed her finger down his arm until she reached his hand. He gripped hers tightly, and the tears she'd held back since she walked in the room slid down her cheeks.

"Aw, baby, don't cry for me." He pulled her closer, and she moved to sit next to him on the bed. She did it carefully, afraid of hurting him.

"I don't want to hurt you," she said on a hiccup.

"You'd only hurt me if you didn't sit by my side, Bay."

She swallowed hard. "I love you."

He smiled, tears forming in his tired-looking eyes. "I love you too."

He held her hand, and she held Micah with her other. "He's okay?" he asked.

"He's perfect." When Adam let out a relived breath, she smiled. "We'll make it work."

He nodded then traced the newly formed tattoos along her arms. "Like Josh?"

She closed her eyes, hoping beyond hope when she opened them the tattoos would be gone. But of course, when she opened them, they hadn't disappeared. They were still as dark and vivid as ever. "Josh and I think it's because I finally let go and let my demon half rule for a bit. It was the only way I could be strong enough to save you."

"You know, at any other time in my life, like ten minutes ago, I would have felt the need to say I could take care of myself. But if it's you saving me, I'm okay. Though I'd rather save you."

"Actually, I wish no one had to save anyone."

He grinned. "But if someone had to save someone..."

She smiled. "I love the male mind, so arrogant."

"I can't help it. It's in my genes."

"I don't think these tattoos are going away."

"Good. I think their damned sexy. I can't wait to see what they taste like."

She blushed and was sure her face matched the color of her hair. "Adam, not in front of Micah," she scolded.

"He's going to have to get used to it."

Warmth filled her. Though it was aggravating and sad beyond hell that it had taken a near-death experience for them to actually talk, she would take it. They needed to move on with Micah and with each other.

"I think we can try that."

"Good," he said, smiling, though he still looked so tired. She'd have to let him sleep soon, but she didn't want to leave his side. "Do you know if you have any other new powers?"

She shook her head and cradled Micah closer to her when he fussed. "Not yet. I think only time will tell."

"Then we'll deal with all of that together."