Chapter Nine

The next twenty-four hours of Josiah Hallow’s life was a perfect combination of nightmare and paradise. He didn’t leave the cage where Sarah was kept. They spent hours staring at each other, sometimes in silence, sometimes in small talk. He learned about her normal childhood with two working parents, a brother, a sister, a dog and cat and the white picket fence. She was her high school valedictorian. She went to church and Sunday school every Sunday. It was the perfect picture of Americana if he ever heard one.

She was a wild child in college. She drank. She smoked weed. She slept in her boyfriend’s dorm room bed almost every night. That was until she caught him near banging another girl on the dance floor of the bar they liked to go to. It broke her heart. She straightened her ways, upped her grade point average, and graduated with honors. Then she took her first teaching job. Slowly she made her way to Bemidji. She joined the MMA gym there to keep in shape. Her coaches saw potential in her and prepped her for the cage. She didn’t know why. She hadn’t gotten one win yet but instead two concussions.

She pried at him to tell his story. She asked questions about his childhood, his brothers, and his parents. She wanted to know what he did for a living. He managed to deflect each one. Every facet of his life returned to his origin. He was a werewolf. She called him a lunatic. Where else could they go from there?

Little did she know that the noises that kept her awake the night before were hundreds just like him prowling outside her window, sniffing out the human flesh inside. They wanted it. They would have to kill him to get it.

He studied her the entire time they talked. She was far beyond beautiful. Her clear, deep blue eyes sparkled with innocence. Her long blonde hair flowed like a waterfall past her shoulders and down her back. It was perfect to knot around his fist to draw her closer. Her curves were perfect for him. He had been such a lust-ravaged monster lately that he never took a good look at his mate. Her smile sent his heart pounding like a school kid with a crush. Her laugh was music. He wanted to fuck her senseless one moment and then pick her a bouquet of wildflowers the next. No woman had ever made him want to act more man than beast.

Was this what love was? He’d never been in love before. He had no clue.

They interrupted their conversation with long, slow pleasure. He feasted on her, his tongue exploring the soft, sweet, tender flesh that the bars allowed him to taste. She screamed his name over and over. Her cries drove him insane. He freed his cock to stroke himself. He forgot how many times he came. He just wished he was buried inside her when he did. At some point around sunset, she shoved his hand away and took control. For being inexperienced, she brought him to orgasm faster than he ever did in his entire life.

Atticus sent someone down to him every other hour like clockwork to encourage him to come upstairs and to get something to eat. They enticed him with a hot shower and a warm bed. Josiah turned each time down as coldly as he could.

At twilight, as the inhuman growls seeped through the cracks in the plaster around the windows, Sarah succumbed to sleep. It was the only time Josiah gave into the urge to let himself inside the jail. He took the key hung on the wall, slipped it into the lock, and turned until it clicked. He fought the urge to wake her up, to strip her bare, to give in to what they both wanted.

Instead, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the cot. He pulled the covers over her and then tucked them securely around her. Once he laid a chaste kiss on her forehead, he slipped back outside and locked the door behind him.

Then he slumped to the floor and returned his concentration to his body. He willed his cells to stay human. He didn’t know how he did it. His body waged war against him. It wanted to transform, to go feral and become the beast. His skin dampened with sweat. His muscles ached. His stomach churned violently. He swallowed hard over and over to keep the bile out of his throat. It would be so much easier to run upstairs, to join the pack, to roam the countryside.

But he wouldn’t let any of those bastards near her. He took a deep breath and struggled to meditate instead.

When the first rays of sunrise bathed the basement in a golden light, his body gave up. He caught Sarah’s confused gaze just before his eyelids grew heavy and he fell asleep on the cold concrete floor.

He woke up out of a dead sleep to two pairs of hands jerking him to his feet. His knees buckled as he glanced around, confused. Sarah was on her feet with her hands gripped tight around the bars. He watched her body thrash as she shook them like a crazy woman.

“What the fuck?” he mumbled groggily as he glared at Roman and Albanus.

“Atticus wants your sorry ass at dinner. No is not an option. Tell your sweetheart goodbye.”

Josiah struggled against their grip. “Fuck you.”

“Stop acting like a big shit, you asshole. Atticus is giving you the world on a platter. Did you know we’re cousins? Tabitha was my mom. This whole place could be mine. Except she was the beta female and you sons of bitches were born to Atticus’s favorite child, his baby boy.” Roman pointed at Sarah. “And you would give it all up for that bitch? You’re insane. Come on. I don’t need the old man chewing my ass.”

Josiah pulled free from Albanus and clamped his hand around Roman’s throat. He tightened his grip until he saw the concern in Roman’s eyes. “Never call her a bitch again. I will kill you. Don’t put it past me.”

“Upstairs, Josiah.”

“In a minute.” Josiah shook free of Roman and then crossed the basement to Sarah. He cradled her face in his hands and pulled her as close as he could for a deep, soft kiss.

“I’ll be back,” he informed her.

She smiled. “I know.”

He pressed one more kiss to her lips then let her go. He snarled as he strode past Roman and ascended the staircase two steps at a time.

Josiah didn’t need anyone to tell him where the dining room was. The scent of roast beef wafted through the house. At least that’s what he thought it was. He cringed at the thought of the alternative.

He glanced out the large multi-paned windows on either side of the front doors. He’d texted his brothers the minute Sarah was taken. Where the hell were they? Had they bailed on him and left him helpless? He shook his head and continued to look for the dining room.

He wound his way through the opulent rooms until he found Atticus seated at the end of a long, polished oak table. Platters of food covered the top of it. There was one empty chair at the other end of the table and no others.

Josiah’s eyes locked on the meat as his mouth watered. “What is that?”

Atticus frowned. “Roast beef. Why? What do you think it is?”

Josiah glared at him silently. Atticus tossed the napkin in his hand on the plate. “For heaven’s sake, Josiah. We’re not cannibals. When we’re human, we eat like humans. What do you eat when you’re not a wolf?”

“Food. But when I’m a beast, I eat cow just like when I’m human. I don’t eat people. I was brought up better.”

He could see the anger in his grandfather’s glare. He didn’t care. He was going to piss the old man off as much as he could.

Atticus pointed to the empty chair. “Sit. Eat.”

Josiah made his way to the other end of the table and slumped in the chair. Several women appeared out of nowhere and picked up a dish. One at a time they offered their dishes to Atticus. If he nodded, they scooped some out and set it on his plate. If he waved his hand, they left his side.

Once they were done with Atticus, they lined up beside Josiah. He stared at them, baffled. “What the hell is this?”

“We’re here to serve,” the first woman, a beautiful blonde with emerald eyes cradling the roast in her arms, answered.

“Why? Is he incapable of serving himself?”

He heard the sound of fists hitting the table. “Josiah, make your selections. Stop being difficult.”

“Whatever.” He motioned to the plate before him. “Give me a little bit of everything.”

Each woman dished out what she carried onto his plate until his plate was near overflowing. Each one smiled at him. He knew that smile all too well. Before Sarah, a smile like that led him to try to seduce her until he was in her bed. A smile like that meant a night of endless sex.

Now it just pissed him off. He nodded to each one to dismiss them without as much as a smirk.

Both men ate in silence. The sound of silver scraped across china was the only one in the room.

As a piece of decadent chocolate cake was set in front of each of them, Atticus finally spoke. “Have you thought about what we discussed?”

Josiah poked at the dessert with his fork. “Nope. Answer is still no.”

“There are other women.” He reached out to the brunette holding the water pitcher. When she came near him, he stroked her arm. “Take Ruthie here. She’s from a good family. Beautiful. Smart as a whip. Beats me at chess all the time. She would make a good mate for you.”

“One, mates are for eternity, and I have one. She’s in the basement,” Josiah answered. “Two, I thought you wanted an alpha for me. Your water girl? Seems far from alpha to me. No offense, Ruthie.”

Josiah caught Ruthie’s icy glare just before she stormed off to the kitchen. He took a bite of cake in triumph.

Atticus cleared his throat. “When Zane left here, it nearly killed me. We might not have seen eye to eye on some things. He was still my son. I want to share that relationship with you.”

Josiah set his fork down. “That’s fantastic. Come search me out. Don’t steal my mate.”

“I did when I sent Roman to fight Micah.” Atticus shuffled the napkin on his lap around. “Speaking of stealing, Zane took something from me the night he ran away. I wonder if you’ve ever seen it.”

Josiah sat back in his chair. His body tensed as instinct kicked in. “The amulet.”

For the first time since Josiah arrived, Atticus looked happy. “Yes. Do you know what happened to it? It’s a priceless heirloom going back generations.”

“It’s the equivalent of my mother’s engagement ring.”

“I need it back.”

“Good luck. It’s the last reminder of Poppa for her. And you’ll have to get in line. A bunch of vampires want it too.”

Atticus gave a nervous laugh. “I don’t know why. It’s just a sentimental piece of junk really.”

Josiah leaned forward until his elbows were on the table on either side of the cake plate. “Bullshit. We know about where it came from. And we know about the Heka. So, truth time. Why do the bloodsuckers want it? You want it so bad. What can it do?”

Atticus stared at him in silence for a long time. “You know about the Heka?”

“We know where this generation’s Heka is. What does it do, Atticus?”

Atticus huffed. By the way the old man fidgeted, Josiah could tell he was stalling. “Many magical species want that amulet. It has power beyond your imagination. That’s why it should not be in some lowly mortal’s hands.”

Josiah growled. “The vampires.”

“It gives them the ability to walk in the day as well as the night.”

Josiah’s mouth dropped. He was stunned. “The human race would be a feast for them twenty-four-seven. They would take over. They would rule the Earth.”

Atticus didn’t respond. Josiah frowned. “And us? What does it do for werewolves?”

“Nothing beneficial.”

“Tell me.”

Again Atticus was quiet. Josiah slammed his fist on the table. “What does it do for werewolves?”

Atticus snarled at him. Then he nodded to someone behind Josiah. When Josiah turned behind him, there was no one in the doorway. It must have been another maid.

Finally, Atticus spoke. “It turns us human. No more change. No more mating. Just weak, pathetic humans.”

Josiah fell back against the back of his chair in shock. “Holy shit.”

“So you see why I need it back.”

A smile spread across Josiah’s face. “No way in hell. Not until I reverse the curse for my brothers and me.”

“You have no idea how.”

“I told you I know where the Heka is. We have him. He’s a Hallow. He would do this for his mate.”

Atticus stood and kicked his chair away. “You would do that to me? You would leave me without an heir to lead the pack? You would leave us in civil war?”

Josiah slowly rose. “You keep missing the point, old man. I don’t give a shit about you and your pack. I love my Momma. I love my brothers. I love their mates. And most of all, I love my mate. More than my own soul. So you and your pack can fuck off.”

A scream pierced the air followed by the sound of a scuffle. Josiah spun around to see where it came from. He didn’t have to ask who did it. He knew the voice.

He looked at Atticus. “What the fuck?”

Atticus stared at him coldly. “You gave me no choice.”

Sarah screamed again. Josiah sprinted after the sound. As he passed a window, he noticed only one thing. It made his blood run cold.

The sun had already set. All that was left was the twilight sky.

»»•««

Sarah dug her heels into the marble floor as she tried to wrench free from Roman and Albanus. It was no use. Roman scooped her up over his shoulder and carried her outside the front double doors.

She screamed again as she kicked and beat on his back with her fists. He just tightened his grip as he jogged down the stairs. She watched the steps below her as they descended. Maybe it was all right that he hung on tight to her. If he let go of her, she’d split her head open.

“Sarah,” she heard Josiah shout from inside as Roman dropped her on the bottom step. It was then that Sarah noticed the metal eyelets that had been screwed into the brick wall that lined each side of the staircase. Chains had been laced through the eyelet and stretched to either side of her. She glanced at the step beneath her. She didn’t see it before when they first arrived, but it was stained with blotches of red.

Roman grinned at her as he took her wrist and clamped a shackle to it like a heavy bracelet. She leaned back and kicked him in the chest with both feet. She never saw his hand until it struck her across the face. As she shook herself back to her senses, he bound her other wrist in a shackle hitched to the second chain.

“Let her go!” Josiah demanded from the top step. She could hear the panic hitch his voice.

“It’s too late,” Atticus answered as he strode out of the house. “I pleaded with you to cooperate. You refused. You’ve given me no choice. This will convince you.”

He motioned out past the front of the house toward the town.

Sarah turned to where he pointed to find the town square full of people. Men, women, children, every member of the small community had to be standing there, and every gaze was locked on her. She couldn’t breathe. She watched several lick their lips like she was a decadent treat. What was going on with these people?

The sun finally dipped behind the horizon, extinguishing the light except that which came from the full moon above. Every person in the square collapsed to the ground. Their bodies shook and writhed. Their skin was replaced by thick, coarse fur. Nails curled into claws. Teeth grew into razor sharp fangs. Slowly they all stood and growled, a pack of nightmares staring her down. She couldn’t breathe. She fought to remain conscious. The terror nearly made her faint. Her heart stampeded in her chest. She was as good as dead.

The light of the full moon disappeared as something overshadowed her. She lifted her head to see only to bounce against muscle and sinew covered in hair bristled like a hairbrush. The touch filled her with a delicious shiver that nearly made her orgasm. She strained her neck to look at the beast hovering over her. It was as horrifying as those prowling toward her, looking for a way to strike without him interfering. But it held its head up nobly as it protected her. She whimpered as the realization washed over her like a cold wave.

Josiah wasn’t lying to her that first morning they woke up together. He told her he was a werewolf. She called him a liar and a minion of Satan.

Except he was neither. And now he was protecting her from an entire pack of his own kind, and he didn’t stand a chance.

“Let her be, Josiah,” Atticus commanded. “You can’t save her.”

The only answer was a deep growl from within Josiah’s chest.

Sarah shook her head. It only made her dizzy. “You aren’t one of them?” she shouted to Atticus.

“I’m their alpha. I’m holding back my change just like your mate has the past two nights. Once they are done feasting, I will join them.”

“Feasting on what?”

Atticus flicked his wrist toward her and Josiah. “You, my dear. Kill them both.”

Three wolves, each well over six feet tall, sprung at them. Sarah never saw them land. Josiah met them in midair. Claws slashed. Jaws clamped down on flesh. She heard yelps come from the chaos. It seemed Josiah was winning, despite being outnumbered. But as they circled for a second attack, she noticed the crimson spots blooming in Josiah’s fur.

Sarah glanced to either side of the staircase. Beasts shoved against each other to scale the brick wall. A sob escaped her throat as they peaked it. She pulled hard against her chains. Nothing happened. She kept yanking with all her strength. The iron rubbed her skin raw. Still, they held strong.

The rumble of motors grew louder. Bright headlights bounced off buildings. There was the sound of gunshots followed by high-pitched, inhuman cries. The wolves near the back scrambled away into the surrounding forest.

Three trucks tore around the corner of the square. Werewolves parted like the Red Sea to let them through. All three screeched to a halt, blocking the rest of the pack from the house and those attacking Josiah. Doors flew open on each vehicle. Several men and three women hopped out, each carrying rifles. A shot pierced a wolf with its teeth buried in the nape of Josiah’s neck. The beast collapsed, and his body shook violently until he returned to his bare human shape. The other two fled, leaving Josiah in a heap on the pavement.

“Henry, the tailgate,” the red-headed woman called out.

The bespectacled man crossed behind one of the trucks and dropped the back of the truck. It was then that Sarah recognized him. He was in the doorway of the church when she first met Josiah. The three women were the ones gathered around Evelyn at the funeral. They were the mates of the other Hallows. She just didn’t know their names.

The rescue party didn’t deter the wolves that climbed over the walls of the house. Sarah ducked her head as more shots were fired toward the house. The chains on her right arm went slack followed by the left. She looked up to find herself free. Several passed out, very naked humans laid scattered on the steps.

The brunette waved over to her. “Come on, Sarah. We’ll figure out how to get that shit off you later. We got to go.”

Sarah didn’t know how the brunette knew her name. She jumped to her feet and gathered the dangling chain to herself. She sprinted to the group and then huddled against the truck.

A tall, older man with long salt and pepper hair pointed to Josiah. “Turn him. We’ve got to go.”

Another man, almost a carbon copy of him but thirty years younger, kneeled next to the beast. “Don’t. He needs to heal.”

“Noah, we can’t haul a werewolf in the back of a truck all the way to Minnesota.”

“Uncle, these wounds are deep. He needs the healing power as a werewolf to get a head start. Turn him, and they could be fatal.” Noah pointed at Sarah. “He’ll stay down if she’s with him.”

“Fine. Gentlemen, we lift. Meg, Eve, Delilah, cover us. Sarah, get in the back please.”

The three women fanned out against the wolves while the men approached Josiah. Out of nowhere, a large, ash gray werewolf dropped between them and the fallen Hallow. Sarah didn’t remember him from the pack as they swarmed around her. She gritted her teeth as she ripped the rifle out of the blonde’s hands.

“What the fuck?” The blonde protested.

Sarah didn’t answer. She aimed at the ashen gray beast and fired. It took two shots to drop him. She watched, satisfied, as the beast shuddered and then shrunk, leaving a bare old man with white hair. Any werewolf still prowling around disappeared at the sight of their fallen alpha.

Sarah handed the gun back to the blonde. “He deserves it. He locked me up in a cage.”

“And he is?”

Sarah smirked at her. “Atticus.”

The blonde’s eyes grew wide. “Holy shit. You just shot Grandpa.”

Sarah hopped into the back of the truck and settled against the back window. The men were awkward as they laid Josiah in the back. He managed to get up on all fours to scuttle to her. He crumbled against her with his head in her lap.

Tears welled in her eyes as she smoothed his bloody fur. “You saved me.”

He huffed in response. His breath was hot on her bare legs. She looked up to find the three women and the guy in glasses crawling in the back with her.

“You three girls in the trucks,” the older man ordered. Josiah lifted his muzzle and growled as if to concur.

“Littlefoot, we’ll be fine. I’m sure Sarah has questions. We’ve done this before.”

“Do you three forget you’re all pregnant?”

Sarah’s mouth dropped at his words. The brunette answered. “We’ll get in at the first stop. We’ll hang on and be careful.”

“Whatever. I’m not sticking around until someone comes back.” Littlefoot hopped in the cab and fired the truck on. She could tell Littlefoot’s care as he drove. He managed to miss every rut and pothole. The ride was smooth as silk.

The back of the truck was silent as the trucks made their way down the tree-covered lane. The three women and Henry clenched their rifles tightly as they watched the woods around them, waiting for an attack. When they reached the highway, they each let out a sigh of relief and set their guns down.

The blonde gave Sarah a little wave. “Hi. I’m Meg.”

The brunette followed her. “I’m Eve.”

The redhead smiled. “I’m Delilah.” She patted the outstretched leg of the man beside her. “And this is my mate, Henry.”

“You’re mates?” Sarah questioned. “Are you a werewolf, Henry?” She shook her head. Did she really ask that?

Henry laughed. “No. We’re both mated to Sam Hallow.”

“Each one of them has multiple mates?”

“No. Just Sam.”

“Sam’s special,” Eve said with a grin. She looked at Sarah. “My mate and husband is Mike.”

Meg waved her hand to get Sarah’s attention. “And I’m mated and married to Cay.”

Sarah frowned. “That guy, Littlefoot, said you’re all pregnant.”

“Yep,” Meg replied. “We’re going to catch hell from our mates. This was stupid really. But we couldn’t leave Joe high and dry without backup. I just wish we would have gotten here earlier. Maybe he wouldn’t be in such rough shape.”

“Did you have sex with him while you were captured?” Eve questioned.

“That’s a little personal, don’t you think?” Sarah countered.

“I’m sorry. You’re right. You should know, though, that the Hallows are only fertile during the full moon. So if you had sex…” Eve’s voice trailed off.

Sarah shook her head. “I wanted to. I begged him. He wanted to also, but he refused both of us.” She petted him lovingly. He let out a loud snore in response. “We found…other ways…to please each other.” She glanced out the back of the truck. “Did we kill them?”

“No,” Henry answered. “Those were tranquilizer bullets. They’ll wake up naked with a killer headache. But they’re alive.”

“Oh. Good.” Sarah absently ran her fingers along Josiah’s snout. “Where are his brothers? Why didn’t they come to save him?”

“They were sent a decoy text saying he was heading to Connecticut. Our texts were blocked from telling them he was heading to Maine instead. Hopefully, they are on their way home. We still can’t text them.”

“Who would send them to Connecticut?”

“Sarah, you are barely hanging onto the news that the guy you share that mark on your back with is a werewolf. You’re pale and shaky. I can see it from here. You might want to stop there for the night.”

“Tell me. Who sent them?”

Henry sighed. “Vampires. Your promoters. The ones you’re going to fight for in a few weeks? Both vampires. I watched them kill my assistant when I worked as a librarian in Duluth.”

“Oh, heavens.”

“Maybe we should get some shuteye,” Meg suggested. “It’s been a long day.”

There was a murmur of agreement among them. Delilah cuddled up with Henry as they laid down in the bed of the truck. Eve and Meg followed their example. Sarah could only hug Josiah. With everything she had witnessed, how could she sleep?

»»•««

The sunrise piercing her senses woke Sarah up from her fitful slumber. She finally dozed off long after the rest of those in the back of the truck. Henry did help her pry the shackles off her wrists before he fell asleep. It took at least an hour and nearly every tool in Littlefoot’s toolbox but she was free from her physical bonds. Her mental ones would take some more time. Her dreams were filled with horrifying images. It was difficult to stay asleep.

She sat up and yawned as the others started to stir. She bolted straight as the beast in her lap started to shake violently. Fur turned to flesh. Claws and fangs returned to fingernails and teeth. Where a terrifying beast once was now lay a gloriously naked man. Sarah licked her lips as she stared at Josiah’s hard cock.

The others weren’t as impressed. “Oh, shit,” Meg called out.

“Hello. That’s a whole lot of naked.” Henry slipped by Josiah and Sarah and pounded on the back window.

Littlefoot pulled over and climbed out. “What is it?”

“He changed back,” Delilah reported as she pointed.

Littlefoot chuckled. “I didn’t plan for that. I’ve got a blanket in the cab. Joe, you can cover up with that. We’ll stop in a little bit and look for clothes. Noah can examine you in your human form then too.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Josiah answered weakly.

Littlefoot reached into the back of the cab and rummaged around. He pulled out the midnight blue fleece blanket and tossed it to Josiah. The Hallow sat up and wrapped it around his waist. Then he leaned against the back window next to Sarah.

“So,” he said.

“So,” she repeated.

“Questions?”

“About you being a werewolf? Loads.” She pointed to the other four in the truck. “But they covered the basics.”

Josiah frowned at Meg, Eve, Delilah, and Henry. “What are you four doing here? Where are my brothers? I asked them to come help me.”

“Our cell phones were jammed,” Eve answered. “Instead of getting your text, they got one saying the vampires had Sarah in Connecticut. They took off right after they got it.”

“But you’re here. Explain that one to me.”

Meg wrapped an arm around Eve and gave her a squeeze. “Our resident hacker read the text over her hubby’s shoulder and realized something wasn’t right. The message was too abbreviated, and we know how much you freak out about that sort of thing. So she hacked into whatever super secure program she shouldn’t have been in and found your original text. We couldn’t reach the boys, so we took off after you instead.”

Josiah wiggled to get the blanket tucked around him tighter. “You shouldn’t have. You should have stayed put at camp.”

Henry held up his index finger. “One, you’re welcome for us coming to save your ass.”

Josiah shook his head. “It’s not that I’m not grateful. I owe you all my life and Sarah’s. Literally. But you girls are pregnant. You put the lives of your unborn children at risk. That’s unacceptable. You were the safest at camp.”

“Really?” Henry countered as he raised another finger. “Two. Think about it. You’re heading to Maine. The other six are heading to Connecticut. That leaves the camp unprotected. And Rock and Cort know how to get there.”

Josiah bolted upright. “Momma.”

Delilah offered a weak smile. “At the reservation with Ruby and the amulet. When the bloodsuckers get there, the place will be empty. Granted when we get back, we’ll probably have one hell of a mess to clean up.”

Josiah grinned at them all. “I’ll take that over losing any member of this family. But I’m echoing what Littlefoot said. Next stop you three mothers are in the cab. Henry is welcome to hang back here with Sarah and me. But no more risking those babes. Got it?”

There might have been some reluctance when the three women nodded, but they did agree. Josiah wrapped an arm around Sarah’s shoulders and held her tight. She wrapped her arms around his naked torso. That overwhelming need to straddle him and have mindless sex filled her. It was almost too much to resist. He was naked under that blanket, after all. She remembered what the others said about the full moon and having sex with a Hallow. She bit her lip hard to suppress her desire.

Josiah leaned toward her until his lips brushed against her ear. “I want it too, baby. More than you can imagine. But you aren’t carrying my child into the cage. Maybe after your fight.”

Sarah’s breath hitched in her throat. Despite the lust coursing through her, she couldn’t help her deep-learned morals from seeping through. “Josiah, I’m not bringing a baby into this world without a husband.”

“I’m your mate. Same thing.”

“Hardly.”

He pulled away from her. “Can’t stop beating on that drum, can you?”

She cocked a grin at him. “Wow, not a profanity in sight. And there were a couple of spots where they would have fit nicely.”

He huffed. “Yeah, tell me about it.”

She laughed as she laid her head on his shoulder. He stiffened at first. Then he relaxed under her caress. He was finally making a concession to her wishes. Maybe it was time to give in a little to his?