Mag-log inWhen he finally slipped free — along with a rush of warmth that soaked the sheets beneath us — I mourned the loss of fullness immediately."I need to shower," I said, not moving."We both do." He still didn't move either. "In a minute.""In a minute," I agreed.It was fifteen minutes before either of us actually got up."Fuck, I'm going to be late," Fao muttered, finally rolling out of bed. "Garrett's going to make me run laps.""Worth it?"He looked at me — still sprawled on my stomach from where he'd taken me, his release slick between my thighs — and his eyes went dark again.His hands found my ass immediately — squeezing, kneading, spreading me apart to look at what was his."Fuck," he breathed. "You have no idea what you do to me.""I have some idea." I wiggled my hips, and he groaned.He leaned down and bit — right on the curve of my ass, hard enough to leave a mark. I yelped, heat flooding through me despite the fact that I was already wrung out."Fao—""Just one more." He bit
ELOWENFour days in, I could walk again.Not well — I still limped, still needed the wheelchair for anything more than short distances — but I could walk. Dr. Chen called it remarkable. Fao called it his saliva. I called it a miracle and tried not to think too hard about the mechanics.I woke that morning to Fao's mouth between my legs."Wha—" I gasped, my hands flying to his hair. "Fao—""Good morning." His voice was a rumble against my core, and I felt his lips curve into a smile. "Stay still."It wasn't a request.Something had been shifting in him over the past few days. The more time he spent with the pack, the more he trained, the more he stepped into his role as Alpha — the more that dominance bled into everything else. Including our bed.I wasn't complaining.His tongue flicked against me, and I arched off the mattress. He growled — actually growled — and pressed a hand flat against my stomach, pinning me down."I said still."Heat pooled low in my belly. "Fao, please—""Pleas
ELOWENWe moved slowly, carefully.My leg was still a consideration — would probably be a consideration for days yet — but we'd learned each other's bodies well enough by now to find ways around it.Fao helped me out of my clothes with gentle hands, pressing kisses to each new inch of skin he revealed. When I was bare beneath him, he just looked at me for a moment, his gray eyes dark with something that went beyond desire."You're beautiful," he murmured. "Every time I see you, you're more beautiful.""You're biased.""Extremely." He kissed me, deep and slow, while his hands mapped the familiar terrain of my body. "But also right."I tugged at his shirt. "Off. I want to feel you."He stripped quickly, efficiently, and then he was back, his skin against mine, warm and solid and real. I could feel the bond between us humming, that connection that went deeper than touch."How do we—" He glanced at my bandaged thigh. "I don't want to hurt you.""Straddle my bad leg," I said. "My good one
FAOI ordered dinner brought to our suite.We'd spent all day with the pack — meeting, greeting, learning — and I wasn't ready to spend dinner in the communal hall too. I just wanted her. My mate. My anchor. The one person who made any of this bearable.We ate on the bed, plates balanced on our laps. Halfway through, Elowen set her fork down and looked at me."I need to make some calls," she said. "Rowan. My parents. I left them messages from the road, but...""They need to hear your voice." I nodded, reaching for the phone Corvin had given me earlier. "Use this. Take your time."She took the phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she dialed."Ro? It's me. For real this time."A shriek came through the speaker loud enough that I winced. Even without enhanced hearing, that would have been painful. With it, I heard every word Ro screamed."ELOWEN MARIE WALSH, I HAVE BEEN LOSING MY ENTIRE MIND FOR TWO DAYS—"Elowen pulled the phone away from her ear, laughing despite herself. "And that
By late afternoon, we'd met what felt like half the pack.Warriors who wanted to assess Fao with sharp eyes, measuring him against whatever standard they carried in their heads. Elders who looked at him like they were seeing a ghost, something old and familiar returned. Pups who stared at both of us with unabashed curiosity, the smallest ones trailing after the wheelchair at a respectful distance before their parents called them back. And everywhere, the same greeting, one knee, bared throat, "Alpha.""Does it get less weird?" I asked Nina as we finally headed back toward the lodge, Fao pushing my wheelchair while Corvin walked alongside."The bowing? Yeah, eventually. The first time someone bared their throat to me, I had no idea what to do." She grinned. "I just said 'uh, thanks?' Declan was mortified.""I just don't know what I'm supposed to do." I glanced back at Fao. "He's learning to lead, but what's my role? I can't shift. I can't fight, not like them. I'm just human."Fao's ha
Twenty minutes later, we were ready.The lodge had an elevator — of course it did, this place thought of everything — with buttons worn smooth from years of use. Wheelchair ramps connected the buildings outside, subtle but well-maintained. I wondered how many injured wolves had needed them over the years, healing from battles or training accidents."The compound was designed to be accessible," Nina explained as we descended to the main floor. "Human mates, injured pack members, elders who can't shift as easily anymore. Silverpine takes care of its own."Corvin met us in the main foyer, looking pleased to see us together."Good," he said. "This is how it should be. The pack needs to see you as a unit. Alpha and Alpha, leading together."The tour took hours.Corvin led us through the lodge first — the common rooms, the kitchens, the offices. Then outside, across the compound. Training grounds where wolves sparred in both forms. The school where pups learned alongside the few human child
I stared at him, memories clicking into place. The way the bite on my shoulder had healed so fast. The scratches that should have scarred but didn't. The soreness between my legs that had faded impossibly quickly after that first night."You've been healing me this whole time. And you didn't think
"Through and through. Missed the artery, but she's still bleeding too heavily." Thalia dug into the med kit and pulled out what looked like gauze packed in a sealed bag. "Combat gauze. It'll help clot." She looked at me. "This is going to hurt.""Everything hurts. Just do it."She wasn't gentle — c
I didn't hear the shot — just felt the impact, the white-hot pain that made me scream into Fao's fur. My leg spasmed, nearly losing my grip, and I felt the bullet punch through muscle and out the other side, burying itself in Fao's flank.He stumbled but didn't stop. Didn't even slow down.El! His
"Then you need allies. Protection. A pack." Corvin spread his hands. "We can offer all three. The ranch is remote — sixty miles of private trails, dark skies, mountains on every side. The pack has held it for decades. It's the safest place for you right now.""You want me to leave." I looked around







