"Adam, are you sure? You're not just reacting to the fact you almost died? You really want us?"

He met her gaze head-on and nodded. "I love you, Bay Jamenson. I love you and our son. I'm sorry I didn't say it before. Nothing can fix what I did before. I know I acted like an ass and treated you horribly. You deserve so much more than me."

"Adam..."

"No, let me finish, please. You came to this Pack for help, and I made you feel like crap, like nothing. No, less than nothing. I was so busy mourning a life I'd lost I couldn't see the life I had and could have. I'm so sorry, baby. But I'll do whatever I can to make it up to you."

Warmth filled her, and she leaned over to kiss him softly. He parted his lips, and she moaned. With great reluctance, she pulled back. "I love you, Adam. You don't need to make anything up to me. You already have by being here now."

Micah let out a cry, and she pulled back so he had more room to move around.

"Let me hold him."

A sweet thrill, a sense of their future, whipped through her, and she carefully placed their son in his arms. He cradled Micah in his large hands, and tears slid down her cheeks.

"Hey, buddy," Adam said, his voice a raspy breath. "Your momma is so brave. I hope you know how special you are. I'm going to do everything in my power to prove to you and her that I can be the best daddy and mate. Okay?"

Bay's body shook as she sobbed with happiness.

"We've been in our heads and haven't been talking. That's why we got to where we were. We were too scared to say what we were feeling, and we almost lost each other. We need to be with each other in actions, not just words."

Adam nodded and lifted his arm so she could settle against his uninjured side. His warmth seeped through to her bones, and she sighed.

"I want to be a family. I'm going to be the Enforcer of our Pack and protect us. But I'm going to need you on my side."

"Yes, always."

"Good, and then we can start making more babies and have Jasper and Kade add on to the house."

Bay laughed softly and played with Micah's little foot as it poked out of his blanket. "You're sure thinking a lot."

"I haven't been living for so long, and I've missed so much. I don't want to miss anything else with you."

She sighed again and smiled. "I like that idea."

"Good, because, Bay Jamenson, you're my mate, and I will do everything to make sure you know that."

"I already do, Adam. I already do."

Chapter 21.

Bay knelt in the grass, the cool breeze blowing through her hair. She closed her eyes, letting the early afternoon sun warm her face. Adam knelt beside her and wrapped his hand around her shoulders. They'd left Micah with Cailin so they could make this trip together.

"Hey, Anna, I've brought someone I think you should meet," Adam said as he kissed Bay's forehead.

Though she'd expected to feel a twinge of jealousy for the woman who had, for so long, held Adam's heart, she realized she couldn't possibly feel that. The place radiated warmth and peace, something Anna herself had also done according to everyone else.

"Hi, Anna, it's me, Bay, though I guess you already know that." Bay blushed, feeling awkward. Adam kissed her temple and rubbed her arm.

"You're doing great, Bay. So, Anna, this is my mate, the woman I've told you about."

The fact that he'd already told Anna about her made Bay want to smile and lean into his embrace. So she did.

"I just wanted to let you know I'm going to take care of him, Anna, I promise."

"She has a lot on her plate, I think."

Bay laughed and brushed a speck of dirt off Anna's tombstone. "I'm going to take care of him, don't worry."

They sat and spoke to Anna for a few more minutes until a gentle wind rushed along her face. She could have sworn it was a palm cupping her face.

Anna.

Bay gripped Adam's hand helped him stand and led them back to their home. He was still on crutches and wouldn't be fitted with a prosthesis for a few weeks, but he was getting the hang of it. It made her want to scream in anger when she saw nothing below his knee. They were both angry but moving on. He would learn to walk again, and when needed, he would learn to move on three legs when he shifted. He was stronger than he thought he was. God, she loved him. They still had a lot to talk about, but they were moving in the right direction with even talking at all.

"We have a Pack circle meeting tonight, but we have the afternoon off for just you and me," Adam said as his voice grew lower.

"And Micah is going to be with Aunt Cailin until after the circle." She grinned, and he crutched toward the bedroom.

"Meet me there," he called out.

"Wow, what a come-on. How will I survive?" she teased.

Adam laughed, and she followed him. Once she met him in their bedroom, he looked unsure of himself.

"I'm not sure how to...you know." He gave a weak smile, and her heart broke for him.

She smiled and kissed him, the scent of pine enveloping her. "We'll figure it out. We'll go slow."

He growled. "But what if I don't want to go slow?"

"Then we'll go faster. It's no biggie. As long as I get you, I'm happy."

"Mmm, I like that."

Bay smiled then gripped his shirt. "Sit on the bed."

He raised a brow. "Bossy?"

"Hell yeah, plus, I want to do something we haven't done before."

Adam groaned and hobbled over to the bed.

"No wait! Don't sit yet. Can you stand a bit longer?"

He laughed then nodded. "Come here, Bay."

She walked toward him and wrung her hands. "Sorry."

He rested on his crutches then cupped her face. "Stop being nervous. What is it you want me to do?"

"I want you to strip down and then sit on the bed."

His eyes darkened, and he groaned. "Okay." He gulped, and she kissed his nose.

"I'm going to see you, Adam. All of you. Don't be afraid."

"I don't think I could be afraid with you by my side, Bay."

"You say the nicest things."

"Not always, but I will."

He slowly stripped down, and she didn't help him. She knew he needed to do some things on his own and didn't want to make him feel weak. Because no matter what the Centrals had done to him, he would never be weak.

He finally stood on his one leg, naked, and aroused. His long body was tanned, well-muscled, and all hers. His cock stood out, and she licked her lips.

"Fuck, Bay, when you do that I just want to slide my cock down your throat to feel those pretty lips wrapped around it."

"I know. That's one thing we've never done. Now sit down on the edge."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Damn straight." He sat down and put his crutches off to the side, and she stripped down as well.

"I love you naked. Well, I love you every day, but damn, you naked? Hell, yeah. Come here and let me lick those pretty nipples."

Yep, she was pretty sure she almost came from his words alone. As it was, her pussy was so wet she could feel her juices sliding down her inner thigh.

"As much as I want you to do that, I want to taste you first."

"God, I love you."

"Because I want to go down on you?" she teased as she knelt between his legs.

He brushed a hand through her hair and grinned. "Among many things."

"Good." With that, she scored her nails down his thighs, being sure not to mess with the bandage at the end of where the rest of his leg used to be.

He hissed in a breath, and she licked up the vein on the underside of his dick.

"Fuck!"

She grinned then swirled her tongue around the head, licking that little taste of pre-cum. The musky flavor burst on her tongue, and she groaned.

"Mmm." She sucked him down whole, hollowing her cheeks, then looked up at him.

"Holy fuck, Bay." He brushed her cheek, and she bobbed her head, letting her throat relax to take him down farther. "Jesus, I'm going to come before I get in you, baby. With you looking up at me like that when I'm down your throat, I just may die happy."

She licked and sucked him then rolled his balls in her hand. She felt his cock start to twitch as she slowly rubbed the spot behind his balls. He gripped her hair, and she relaxed, letting him set the pace. She widened her mouth as much as possible, and he thrust harder. She hollowed her cheeks again, and he bumped the back of her throat before screaming out, his cum heating her tongue. She swallowed it all then lapped up any she missed.

She looked up at him, her body thrumming with heated energy.

"God, Bay, that was hot."

She grinned then stood on shaky legs before pushing him back on the bed. "Wanna see something hotter?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too." She straddled his still hard cock and smiled. Damn, she loved werewolves and their stamina. "Wait, do we need a condom?" She groaned. She didn't want to have to get up.

"No, if we make another baby, then that's fine. I just want you."

Warmth spread through her, and then she slowly slid down his cock. They both groaned as she sat to adjust to his girth. Her pussy wrapped tight around him, and she squeezed her muscles.

"Holy shit, if you do that again, I'll come, and I don't think I have another one in me, baby."

She laughed then leaned down to kiss him. "Then let's get moving."

He gripped her hips and thrust up, using his leg as leverage. She leaned over him and moved with him, his hips meeting with hers with every thrust. His cock hit that special spot, and her body thrummed, reaching that exact level of tension that said something was going to happen soon. She threw her head back as he licked and bit her nipples.

Just as that tension reached its highest point, she looked into his eyes, which glowed gold with passion. She knew hers would reflect that passion as well. "I love you."

"I love you, Bay Jamenson." He thrust harder, faster, impaling her with his cock, and then they both came, falling, cascading, until they lay panting, out of breath, and sweaty.

"Well, at least we still got it." Adam laughed.

"You know, we may have to try again, just to be sure."

Adam held her close, his cock still deep inside her, and kissed her temple. "Whatever you say. I'm game." He squeezed her ass, and she wiggled down on him, content and happy.

Adam traversed the dirt walkway on his crutches, trying not to curse because he just wanted his leg back. Yes, he was okay with what his life was now, but that didn't mean every once in a while he didn't just want things to be easier.

Bay rubbed the small of his back but didn't guide or help him. He loved that she knew he needed to walk in there under his own power-even with crutches. This was a Pack circle, and he needed to be strong, be the Enforcer.

They walked into the circle, the stone stadium seating resonated the deep power of an age-old magic and the passing time filled with rites and tradition. The other Pack members turned toward him, and he raised his chin. As a group, the Pack member who were not of his family lowered their gazes and bared their throats. Acceptance spread through him.

They wanted him.

But not just him.