"It doesn't happen often, and I can't control it. But, with certain things I touch, I can see what others saw and feel what others feel."

"And is that what you did right there?" he asked, his voice strained.

"Something like that, but instead of someone else's feelings, I feel my wolf's. Meaning I can let her come to the surface more easily than a normal werewolf."

"What the hell, Bay? It felt as though you'd thrown power in the room and you looked like an Alpha for a moment."

She shook her head and fisted her hands, not knowing what else to do with them. "I don't know, Adam, I just don't know. I've always been able to do these things. Or, at least since I've been able to shift."

Werewolves were able to shift at the age of two or three, usually. She had been five by the time she been able to shift, scaring her mother to death. But she wouldn't tell him that.

"I've never heard of anything like that, Bay."

"I haven't either."

"What about your mother? Is that why they kicked her out?"

She could've lied and said it was the truth, but a wolf would've been able to smell that lie. She had to tread lightly. As it was, her lies were only leaving parts of the truth out, not lying head-on. "No, she was a normal wolf. I'm the freak." An understatement if there ever was one.

"I don't know what to do with you, Bay."

She gave a wry smile. "I don't know what to do with me either."

"Even though I've never heard of it, it doesn't mean it's not real. I mean, you're proof of that. There are many different powers in the Pack. Maybe yours is just special." He raised a brow as if asking her to contradict him.

"I'm just a wolf, Adam. Nothing more."

He looked at her like he didn't quite believe her, but she stood strong. She had to keep her secrets safe, not only for herself, but for her unborn child. Adam would help her find whoever was following her and take them out. That was his job and, as he said, his duty. He would protect them when she was unable to, and then she could leave, though it might kill her to do so. It wasn't just for herself; it was for the unborn child currently rolling in her womb, showing her how much it loved her. She bit back a sob, closed her eyes, and walked away from the man who was her mate. It was all too much. But this is what she'd asked for-a chance to live again, or maybe live for the first time.

Chapter 7.

The leaves crunched under Adam's feet as he crouched down to the forest floor, the sickly sweet scent of the Centrals permeating and stinging his nose. He held back a curse and looked around, making sure he was alone. He'd been on patrol, searching around the outermost points of the wards to determine whether there'd been any intruders.

The wards possessed a natural ability to fend off humans. Meaning, that if a human came up to the Redwood den, they would have the sudden urge to leave or pass by without going any farther. Also, if for any reason they still continued on, which was highly unlikely, they couldn't pass through the wards, and they would turn around on their own. However, those with any supernatural ability could see the wards, feel the wards, and try to get through the wards.

Witches, other werewolves, and even demons could see their wards, but only those of the Redwood could pass through them easily. Others would need an invitation and have to be by the side of a Redwood Pack member.

However, what Adam smelled now was not the scent of a Pack member, but of their enemy, the Centrals. Rage simmered through him, boiling under his skin, threatening to burst. His wolf was still on alert, ready to attack. The fucking, piece-of-shit weasels of wolves thought it was okay to come to his land? He held back a growl and stood, his claws threatening to burst from his skin. Ever since that one fateful night eight months before, he'd had control issues. This time it wasn't about the redhead. No, it was about the fact that those bastards thought it was okay to encroach on their territory. They were at war, and this wasn't the time to pussyfoot around. He was the fucking Enforcer, and he needed to make a stand. Though the dark magic out there infecting the Centrals seemed to be overpowering, the Redwoods would not stand aside.

He inhaled their scents, the sweet sickness coating his tongue, and followed their trail. The two that had been sent to spy on the Redwoods were young, and inexperienced, they'd left markers and a clear trail. He would've laughed at the irony, but it wasn't the fact that they were wolves that made them bad. No, because they chose to summon a demon and let him into their hearts, their souls were black, and Adam had no use for them. He had no use for demons at all.

He came upon them, and they didn't notice him coming. He crept behind them, his wolf rising to the surface, loving the hunt. He was about two feet from them when they froze, fear and that sickly taint wafting from them. Adam gave a harsh smile and growled. They tried to run, but he was faster. He grabbed them by their collars and smashed their heads together, but not with too much force because he needed to hear them talk.

They groaned, whimpered, and cried out, and Adam shook his head. Really? This was the reason that the Redwoods were losing people? Weak wolves with a craving for power?

Adam growled again, letting his power flow out through him. The wolves paled and bared their throats. He would've bared his teeth and shown who was the more dominant wolf, but he wanted nothing to do with them, unsure of what would happen if he had a taste their blood. The scent of their disease slid into the air from their pores, and Adam almost felt sorry for the sick bastards.

"So, tell me, why are you here?" he growled.

"We were told to watch, nothing more," the smaller one whimpered.

Adam bared his teeth, and the other wolf, the one who hadn't spoken, growled and nipped at him. Adam growled and punched the bastard in the nose, almost enjoying the feel of its break beneath his fist. He was a wolf, not just a man. He didn't crave violence, but he didn't shy away from it. He did what he had to do to protect his Pack, and these infected wolves didn't deserve to live. Maybe if it had looked as if they had any remorse, or if their eyes had been completely black, tainted by the demon, he would've let them live. But he couldn't let them go back to Corbin and his pet demon and tell them anything they'd seen. It was too much of a risk.

This war was killing him death-by-death, blow-by-blow. But at least with this, he didn't have to feel what he had before and miss what wasn't there to miss.

"I could make you talk," Adam threatened.

"We promise; we don't know anything," the smaller one spoke again.

"They are telling the truth, Adam," his wolf assured.

Because he was the Enforcer, he could immediately feel when there was a danger to the Pack or when something might cause a threat later. Though these two posed no threat to him other than being in the wrong place. If they left and went back to Corbin with what they'd seen, the danger to his Pack would increase, meaning he would have to take care of them. Permanently.

What would Anna have thought of who he had become?

In that moment of hesitation, the larger wolf reached out and clawed Adam in the face, its long nails piercing his skin, the pain radiating out like fire.

Adam roared and broke the bastard's neck in quick one movement. He didn't deserve a quick death, but Adam didn't want to deal with him anymore. The other wolf grew frightened and wriggled beneath his hold. With a remorseful sigh, he broke the other's neck.

He leaned back on his haunches and looked down at his hands. Though some might call it justice, others might call a murder. These days he didn't know what to call it. He hated who he was becoming but he didn't know how to stop it. Because if he didn't do things like this, his family wouldn't be protected, and he could lose everything, even if he didn't think he had much to lose.

He put a hand up to his face and winced. Damn, that wasn't going to heal quickly. He was pretty sure he could feel his cheekbone and cursed. He wouldn't be able to heal on his own. Even though wolves were fast at healing, they weren't as fast as portrayed in the movies. He would probably need North or Hannah to heal him. Frankly, he didn't want to see either of them right now. He'd rather sit up in his house and hide away. Oh yeah, look at the mighty Enforcer go.

He left the bodies where they lay, knowing they were too close to the Redwood wards to be noticed by humans. He'd leave the bodies there and let Corbin's next minions come and see the bodies. Though some part of him wanted to give the men proper burial, they'd wanted to harm his Pack, and he needed to make a statement.

He walked back through the wards, the magic feeling like honey sliding over his skin, and he made his way back to his home. He could've shifted to a wolf and made it to his home faster, but he didn't want to leave his clothes, and frankly, he didn't like shifting anymore. Even though, since Bay had come two days ago, his wolf had been happier, he still didn't trust it. He didn't know when he would be able to.

Yep, he had a pretty dysfunctional relationship with his wolf.

He made his way through the door and paused as Bay's scent hit him in the face. Fuck. He adjusted himself and groaned. Every second he spent in the house with her was sheer agony. Her body radiated health, wellness, and her pregnancy. He knew her breasts were bigger since the last time he'd seen her, and he hated himself for noticing. Even the sight of her swollen belly made him feel more like a man. No wonder Jasper and Kade walked around like cocks on the walk while their mates were pregnant.

That stopped in his tracks. Holy hell, he needed to stop thinking about her like she was his mate. Yes, they'd gone through the rituals of mating, but he didn't want her. He bit his tongue as his eyes burned. He couldn't want her. It was a betrayal of everything he had ever known.

Bay came from the back of the house, alarm on her face. "Oh my God, Adam. I knew I smelled blood. What happened?" She came up to him and lifted her hands as if she were going to touch him. He pulled back as if she'd burned him, and she winced.

"It's nothing, just part of the job."

"Shouldn't you see North or Hannah?"

"Probably, but I'm not in the mood right now."

She shook her head then let out a snort. "I swear all men are the same. Whether they are man or wolf, they don't like doctors."

He gave a big smile, showing teeth. "Are you calling all men babies?"

"If the rattle fits."

Adam threw his head back and laughed, surprising himself in the process.

"If you don't want to see North or Hannah, I can at least clean it for you. It looks pretty bad, but maybe if I just put some butterfly bandages on it, it'll be okay until you see them." She raised her brow, and Adam nodded his head.

"Fine, my first aid kit is in the bathroom."

He watched her go, and he sank down into the chair. What the hell was he doing? He was acting like this was the day-to-day thing and that it was okay she was taking care of him. No, it would only happen this once. He couldn't let her too close. His wolf begged and growled to claim her in more ways than one.

He hated this predestined mate shit. It was as if it were forcing him to have her. Because even as she kept saying that she'd leave and he'd never see her again, a little part of him didn't want her to go. That same little part wanted to know the baby inside her.

That little part needed to shut up.

She came out of the bathroom, her stomach leading her. She smiled at him, though her body radiated tension. It had to be a bit uncomfortable for her to live in a house knowing she wasn't welcome. But no one else in the den would take her. It was as if there was a large conspiracy against them. The den didn't want to interfere, and they thought that Adam, being the Enforcer, could best protect her.

For some reason, he couldn't quite believe them.

"Okay, I'm going to do my best to clean it and then put on some bandages." Bay slowly sat on the table and cringed as it made a groan beneath her.

"It's an old table," he said as he tried to bite back a smile. Damn, this woman made him laugh more than he wanted to.

"Thanks for that. I really think North or Hannah should be looking at this though, Adam. It doesn't look good; I mean I think I see bone."

Adam ignored the dull throbbing in his cheek and shrugged. "I'll be fine; I've had worse."

"That doesn't make me feel any better."

"Just do your best."

She leaned forward and used a wet washcloth to wipe up the blood. As she worked, he watched the way her red curls framed her face and how her green eyes darkened when she concentrated. No matter how hard he tried, this little wolf was getting under his skin. He didn't know her, and he didn't know who had brought her here. He didn't know what the future would bring, and right now, the only thing he could think was if he could remember the taste of her lips.

Like sweet berries, the plumpest strawberries...

And that was enough of that.

"Okay, all patched up."

He blinked them focused on her. "Didn't hurt a bit, thanks." He focused on her lips and cursed inwardly at himself.

This was so not a good idea. Thoughts of Anna, his pack, and every other little reason on earth why he shouldn't bend down and kiss this woman flew through his head, but he ignored them.

"Adam?" she asked, breathless.

"I'm going to kiss you, Bay," he growled.

"Why?

"Because I have to."

"Because of the mating, right? Because you have no choice?"

He nodded, not knowing what else to say.

"Once we figure out what's going on and I leave, you'll just let me go?" she asked, her voice cold and no emotions showing on her face.

"Yes. That's all I have left to give."

"So you want to ride out the mating urge with me and not deal with the other crap?" Before he could apologize for his asinine comment, she nodded. "Okay. I can accept those rules. Because, frankly, you're not the only one dealing with a wolf that wants more."

His wolf growled, wanting to pounce on her, but the man held it back. He leaned forward and framed her face with his hands. He could feel the fluttering of her pulse, speeding up like a hummingbird. The scent of her arousal hit his nose, and he groaned.

"Shit, can we do this, you know, with the..." He gestured to her belly, not able to say the word.

Her eyes filled then she blinked the tears away, stronger than any wolf he'd seen. "Yes, we can do pretty much anything."

"You know this doesn't mean anything."

"I know," she whispered, her voice finally carrying a hint of emotion-fear.

"I will hurt you, Bay. I told you that."

"That's not the kind of hurt I'm afraid of."

He steeled himself and took a deep breath. "There's nothing I can do about that. I've nothing of that to give. I don't do love; I already did that. I don't want it again."

"Fine."

With that, he leaned down again and brushed his lips against hers. Shock rippled through him as he tasted her. She tasted of cool berries, feminine wolf, and Bay. She tasted just the same as she had that night, minus the tequila. But for some reason, that made her taste even more intoxicating.

He pulled back and rested his forehead against hers, his breath labored. "We're going to do this; it doesn't mean anything."

"Fine. I understand, stop saying it. Please." She ran a hand through his hair, and he growled, his cock straining against his zipper.

With that, he picked her up and cradled her to his body, ignoring the way she felt against him. Her soft curves were even more pronounced now than they had been before, and all he wanted to do was get inside her and relieve the aching tension. He placed her on the edge of the bed and knelt between her legs. Her belly was in his line of sight, but he ignored it. He stripped off her leggings and maternity dress and growled. Damn, she was fucking beautiful.

He stripped off her panties and took off her bra, leaving her bare before him, curvy and delicious. Her breasts were full and round, larger than they had been before. He cupped them in his hands, the heavy weight overfilling them.

"These are magnificent," he murmured, his voice low.

She laughed, low and husky. "They're getting freaking huge. I'm pretty sure they are their own shelf right now."

"What can I say? Apparently I'm a breast man." He rolled both nipples between his thumbs and forefingers, and she gasped, throwing her head back.

"I think I can deal with that."

"I'm going to be careful with you. I don't want to hurt you." As his mate, he couldn't hurt her physically without wanting to hurt himself. But that wasn't the only reason, though he didn't want to think about that.