It just about killed Stix that he and Satia couldn't spend the night in each other's arms, but he couldn't stand his mom's snickers and sudden giggles and knowing smiles. It was as if she was a giddy schoolgirl falling in love herself all over again. His dad, thank heavens, said nothing and Stix found him quietly telling his mother to chill.

Satia thankfully seemed blissfully unaware of whatever was going on with his mom. Satia and his mom chatted about this and that and made plans for when his mom would be in town. It made him happy to see Satia smile and be so comfortable around his parents. And as the women chatted and made dinner the following evening, Stix found himself rocking in a chair next to his dad on the porch. The two sat in silence for a long time watching the leaves blow in the trees.

"She seems like a perfect match for you," his father said, breaking the silence.

He glanced at his dad who kept rocking. "I think she might be."

"Have you formed the bond yet?"

Stix's chest tightened. "Not yet but I don't think we are too far off."

His dad nodded. "She mentioned going to college. Is that something you would like to do as well?"

Stix swallowed hard. He'd been trying to find a way to broach the subject of changing the restaurants to nightclubs over the past day but he'd not been able to find the right moment. But now faced with vocalizing what he wanted, he found he couldn't seem to do it.

"Stix we appreciate you running the restaurants these last few years. Getting out of the city and coming up here was what your mom and I needed to keep it together. The restaurants were an ends to a means. They got us here. Got us a house. Kept you in a good school. But now..."

"Now?"

"Now you are on the verge of possibly starting your own family with a beautiful young woman who I am pretty sure has no aspirations to run three Mexican restaurants."

"Dad-"

His father held up his hand. "Your mother and I discussed it last night. We have decided to give you the house in the city. And as for the restaurants, we are leaving that up to you to decide what you want to do. If you want to run them, you can. If you want to sell them, we will split the money with you fifty-fifty, and you can do what you want with your half."

The offer was more than generous. "Dad I can't take that from you and mom. It's too much."

"The items are ours to give. We can do with them as we choose. This is what we have chosen to do. If you don't want the house, sell it. We came here for you. To give you a better life. We have worked hard to do it, and now that we have accomplished that goal it is time to let you decide for yourself as a man what you want for your family."

Stix stared at his father not knowing what to say. Guilt snaked through him at everything his parents offered. But having met Satia and knowing the love he had for her he began to see what it might be like to have a child. If that was anything like what he was currently experiencing he knew what his father felt. Because even then he would not deny Satia anything she asked for.

"Thank you, dad. I'm not sure what to say."

"Don't say, do. Living the life you want will be thanks enough."

Stix had always appreciated his father's quiet and earnest ways, but until that moment he'd not truly understood the sacrifices his father had made on his behalf. He hoped that someday he would be half the dad that his father was.

After dinner, Satia and Stix went for a swim in the lake and then made love again on the shore. He knew that he would never tire of feeling her skin pressed up against his as they joined together and yet he fought to keep things as gentle as possible with her. She'd been through a lot, as the scars on her body attested to. He didn't want to push her in any way that would make her uncomfortable. And yet, he would never tire of her.

As they snuggled together naked under the moon, his fingers played over a particularly deep scar on her left shoulder.

"That one was delivered to me by the brother of one of the men I killed when we were attacked." Her breath sailed across his chest making his nipples harden.

He wanted to dismember every man who had dared to hurt her. Every saber who wielded the lash. Every coward who cut her skin in the act of dominance.

He stopped his hand from moving as the anger rippled through him.

"Don't stop," she whispered. "Your acceptance of them is the only thing that keeps me from hiding from you in shame."

Stix tipped her chin. "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met. These scars are not you. They are a part of who made you the strong woman you are, but they do not define you, and they do not offend me. If anything you are all the more beautiful for them because they made you strong."

She leaned in and kissed him softly, lingering and letting her tongue glide across his.

"I never thought I would find someone who would accept me as anything more than damaged."

He wrapped her in his arms and together they stared up at the moon again.

"My father offered me the business and the house to do whatever I want with."

Her fingers swirled in the dark hair on his chest. "That's most generous of him."

He nodded. "Yes. It is."

"What did you tell him?"

"He wouldn't take no for an answer. He said to sell them or keep them. Whatever I thought best."

"And?"

"And two days ago I would have jumped at the chance to sell the restaurants and do something else but now... at the prospect of selling them I realize I've grown more attached to them than I thought I was."

"Is running them what you want to do with your life then?"

He shrugged. "I still like the idea of turning them into nightclubs."

"Well, maybe start with one. Turn it into a club. See how it does. Use the revenue from the other two to keep it afloat while you update it."

A thought struck him. "Would you help me design it?"

"Me?"

"I've seen what you did with my office and the house. You have a real talent for decorating."

She lay quietly for a long minute. "I think I might like that. I've always enjoyed textiles and arranging things."

"You could take some classes if you think that might make you more comfortable."

"Or maybe I could go to the design school I saw around the corner from the mall we went to."

"That's an option too."

"But... I'd still need to work. I need to earn my keep."

"I'd take care of you."

She kissed his chest. "That's a kind offer but... I'd not be comfortable with that. Not unless..."

"Unless?"

"Unless we were mated." The thump of her heartbeat pounded against his ribs, and the sour sting of fear wafted gently off of her.

He pulled her tight against him. "That could be arranged. If that's what you want."

"Is it what you want? I don't want you to feel obligated-"

"Satia, from the moment I laid eyes on you my ursa told me you were the one. I also know that this is quick and I don't want to pressure you. I will wait for as long as it takes."

She chuckled. "Considering where we are, naked in the forest having made love several times, I am pretty sure it isn't going to take that long."

He pulled her tighter and kissed her hair. "As long as it takes."

* * *

The following morning Stix and Satia said goodbye to his parents and headed back toward the city. She couldn't believe the direction the weekend had taken. From a run in the woods to becoming engaged more or less, it had been full of high emotion. But as she lay with her cheek against Stix's back and her body wrapped around his, she realized she'd never felt so safe, loved, and relaxed. She hadn't had a nightmare in days, and for the first time, she thought about her future knowing she would be okay.

They parked the motorcycle in the garage and walked toward the house.

"I have an errand I need to run," he said. "I'm not sure how long it will take, but I should be back by noon."

She raised her eyebrows. "A bit cryptic."

He grinned at her. "You don't trust me?"

She bumped his shoulder with hers. "That's not true."

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her. "Since we have one last evening together before I have to return to work, let's go out to dinner."

"Okay, but no Chinese food."

He chuckled. "I was thinking Italian this time."

Satia unpacked the bag and threw the clothes in the washer then spotted the basement door. She flipped on the light and walked down the creaky linoleum stairs to the room below. It was a long narrow room with only an eight-foot ceiling that cramped her. Boxes and chests filled about half the space that stretched the entire length of the house. Satia headed to the boxes, the smell of musty paper filling her nostrils. She opened the lid on the first box and pulled out a stack of papers.

She smiled at the old pictures drawn by a cute child's hand. Several were labeled as Stix's from different ages. Others were Deacon's. She stopped at an aged book report from when Stix was in third grade and laughed at his childlike handwriting. After several minutes she replaced the items in the box and moved to another. Inside again she found items from Stix's past. On and on she went from box to box finding old things from Stix's youth and Deacon's.

Finally, she opened a box and stopped short. Inside she found items again done by a child, but these were done not by Stix or Deacon, but by Stix's sister, Opal. A shot struck her in the heart as she flipped through the pictures, papers and other school items. Satia stopped and stared at a framed photo at the bottom of the box. Stix and Deacon were easily recognizable in their late teens, and in between them stood a cute, skinny girl of about thirteen. Her beautiful thick curls hung down to her shoulders the way Satia had always wished hers would. She tenderly touched the young face that Stix had said was almost crushed by the weight of living in the world.

A loud knock sounded on the front door upstairs. Satia looked at the ceiling.

Again there was a knock, louder than the first, and then the doorbell rang three times in rapid succession.

Satia put the photo back in the box and replaced the lid before heading upstairs. Again the knocking continued and the bell rang. Satia peeped through the little hole in the door. A pretty young woman stood on the other side. Satia blew out a breath unsure of what to do. She opened the door but kept the chain fastened.

"Yes?"

The woman appraised Satia. "Does Stix still live here?"

Satia shifted from foot to foot. "Yes."

"Well, is he here?" A hint of annoyance tinged her voice.

Satia breathed deep, and the scent of shifter struck her. A wolf.

"I'm sorry he isn't at the moment, can I take a message?"

The woman rolled her eyes and stomped her foot, speaking to herself in a language Satia didn't recognize. "Do you know when he'll be back?"

"He should be back any time now."

The woman nodded. "I'll wait." She threw Satia a smile that didn't meet her eyes. Her deep eyes were sharp and alert but not happy. "Are you going to open the door?"

The woman's pushy demeanor wasn't one that Satia had any interest in dealing with, but at the same time, it wasn't her house.

"I'm sorry," said Satia. "Stix didn't tell me he was expecting anyone. I don't really feel comfortable-"

"Well, I'm sorry you don't feel comfortable, but I think you should open the door. I doubt very highly he'd want the mother of his child standing out here waiting for him." The woman turned around and picked up a toddler that Satia hadn't noticed standing behind the woman.

The little boy held Stix's same eyes and unruly hair that had been begun to shape in dreadlocks the same way Stix had his.

Satia's heart pounded. A child. Stix had a child. He hadn't told her. Wasn't that important to inform her before they'd talked about mating? Had he offered to mate this woman before?

"Well?" the woman asked.

Satia swallowed hard and nodded. The woman sniffed Satia as she passed and walked straight into the room with the couch and television. Satia glanced around on the street and then closed the door again.

Satia walked into the room and sat on a soft chair, unsure of what to say or do. The women stared at each other for several minutes as the child sat on his mother's lap playing on her cellphone.

"So you're a feline," the woman said. "Mountain lion?"

"My name is Satia. I'm of the Sabertooth clan."

Her eyes widened. "Like, as in, a sabertooth tiger?"

Satia nodded.

"I didn't even know sabertooth tigers existed."

"There are only a few of us left in our clan. We fled here to Earth when we were attacked."

"So you're an original Auroran."

"Yes."

The woman's eyes traveled over Satia's body. "How long have you been here?"

"Six months."

"Six months," she mused. "I've heard it's different there, but I've never been."

"It is very different on Aurora, but not necessarily better."

"My great, great, great, great grandfather was from Aurora. I've always wanted to go."

Satia fought to stay civil and not fire a million questions that were apparently none of her business.

"Maybe someday you will." Satia fought to keep from twitching under the woman's hard stare.

"So are you like... Stix's girlfriend or something?" she asked.

Satia turned back just as the key sounded in the front door and Satia got to her feet. The door opened, and Stix walked in carrying a bag. She crossed to him quickly and took the bag.

"Let me help you."

He shimmied his key from the lock and kicked the door closed. "Thanks. Are we still on for tonight? I got us-"

"You have company." Satia's eyes slid sideways and then back to Stix. "I... uh... I'm sorry. I didn't know what to do. I answered the door and-"

Concern crossed his features. "Are you okay? Did something happen?"

"Hello, Stix."

He turned. "Andrea."

She stood holding the little boy.

"I tried to call you, but you didn't answer. Well, at first you didn't answer, then you said to take you off my call list, the last time your call dropped after saying hello, but that's not the same thing."

"What are you doing here?"

"I figured it was time I introduced you to your son. Andre."

Satia's heart beat even faster. Hadn't he known he had a son?

Stix looked down at her his eyes full of anger and confusion.

"I'm going to put this in the kitchen and let you two talk." Satia exited, trying to make sense of the circumstances now upon them. Andrea had given birth to Stix's child, and she hadn't even told him? Why was she coming back now? What did it mean for Satia?

Satia set the bag on the table and stared at it. How could he not have known?

Stix entered and stared at the table for a long minute. He grabbed the back of one of the chairs. It groaned under his tight grip. She was afraid he might shatter it if he held on any tighter.

"Would it be better if I left?" she asked.

Stix grabbed her hand, his expression pained. "Stay. Please. I... I don't know if I can get through this alone."

Satia gave him a tight smile and nodded. "Of course."

Stix took several deep breaths, still holding her hand. Satia yearned to hug him. To comfort him and tell him that it would be alright. But the truth was, she had no idea if it would be.

* * *

Stix sat across from Andrea and stared at her. The emotions running through him ranged from anger to confusion.

"Well, aren't you going to say something?" she finally asked.

"What is there to say? You had a child, and you didn't tell me. I think that about says it all."

"Don't you want to know why? Or if he's yours?"

"I can smell that he's mine," said Stix. "And as for why, I'm pretty sure the answer is your pureblood, bullshitting family. With their 'you're a wolf or you're nothing' worldview. I'm just surprised they even let you carry him to term."

"I ran as soon as I found out I was pregnant. I didn't go back until a year ago."

"Then why? Why didn't you come to me? I would have helped you."

"I didn't want you to do something out of obligation. I wanted you to do it because you genuinely cared. And the way we left things wasn't the best. Not even close."

That was putting it mildly. Her hard-partying ways had been too much even for Stix. "You weren't in a good place."

"Exactly. But I am now. Andre brought that out in me. I've not had a drink since I found out I was pregnant. No drugs. No stupid stuff. None of it."

This was not happening. In one room sat his ex-girlfriend and his son and in the other sat the woman he had chosen to be his mate.

"Why don't we go to lunch and talk about this." Andrea smiled. "You can spend a little time with Andre and-"

"I can't."

"But... he's your son."

Stix clenched his fists. "Not him. You. I can't even look at you right now without wanting to rip you apart. You know how important it is for a cub to bond with both his parents early on. Especially when they are from different species. Has he even been around ursas?"

"No."

"Has he shifted yet?"

Andrea's gaze dropped to the floor. "No."

"So what happens if he shifts and he's not a wolf he's an ursa?"

"That's why I came to you," she pleaded. "I made a mistake-"

"A mistake? Burning pancakes is a mistake. Breaking a glass is a mistake. Drinking too much after eating at a buffet is a mistake. This was not a mistake. It was a choice. A horrible, soul-crushing choice and the fact that you think you can just come in here with my son after being gone for over three years and expect me to be okay with it is total bull, Andrea."

"Stix-"

"Get out."

She opened her mouth.

"Get out!" he bellowed.

Andre began to cry. Andrea pulled him to her and shushed him. Stix's ursa roared inside him to rip the child away from her and kick her out. His nails lengthened as anger took over. A set of hurried footsteps rushed in, and Satia appeared in the doorway and then hurried to Stix's side and laid her hand on his arm. He tried to focus on her face. His gaze swung to the terrified little boy who peered at him wide-eyed, cradled in his mother's arms.

Satia smiled at Andrea.

"You know this seems to be a bit overwhelming for everyone. Why don't you give Stix some time to process the information. Maybe the two of you should meet tomorrow for lunch. I'll take Andre for the afternoon, and the two of you can speak without Andre having to be present."

"I don't need you to watch my son," said Andrea.

"Our son," replied Stix. "Not your son. Not anymore. You lost the right to call him your son and solely make all the decisions for him thirty minutes ago when you walked through that door."

Andrea's eyes flashed. "Fine. Then I'll see you tomorrow."

She headed for the door.

"Andrea," Stix called. She stopped and turned. "Don't even think of running with him again. If you do, I'll track you down, drag you back and call a hearing of the elders to gain full custody of the boy."

Her face paled, and she pulled Andre in tight against her. "I'll be back at noon tomorrow."

Without another word, Andrea walked out the door. Stix stared at the door for a long moment after she'd gone. Satia turned silently and headed for the hall.

"Thank you."

She stopped. "For what?"

"For keeping me from doing something I would regret."

Satia cupped his cheek. "I've found that sometimes what one needs is something or someone to break the moment. Give them time to breathe. You did not want to hurt her. Nor did you want to scare the child, but sometimes we can't hold back our true feelings. Especially when we are blindsided."

Her level head was a voice of reason he'd rarely seen among shifters. "I'm sorry if I frightened you."

She laughed. "I've had many men scare me in my lifetime. You are not one of them."

He grinned. "I don't scare you, huh?"

"Nope."

He reached out and tickled her. "Not at all?"

She swatted his hand away. "Not at all."

His ursa wanted to play. He took a step toward her. "Really?"

She giggled. "Don't."

"Don't?" He stepped toward her again.

"Stix, I mean it." She backed up, a huge smile on her lips.

He stopped for a moment, and her eyes twinkled, and she ran into the kitchen. She screeched as she looked over her shoulder at him. He lumbered after her out into the hallway and into the kitchen. He stopped short at the sight of her. She stood at the sink with the spray nozzle pointed directly at him.

"I'll shoot." She laughed.

"I don't believe you." He took a step toward her, and she squeezed the button. Water sprayed him in the face.

She gasped as a wide grin spread across her face. "I... I didn't mean to do that."

"Really?" He spit water on the floor and advanced again. She laughed and squeezed the trigger soaking him.

Stix leapt at her and grabbed the nozzle. Pulling the trigger, he soaked her with water. She squealed and reached for the water hose. He held it out of her reach and sprayed her shirt soaking it through, so it clung to her skin. She reached for the hose again, and in his distraction, she managed to get it out of his hands and spray him down. She backed up and slipped on the water. Stix caught her and they both laughed. He pulled her close and pushed the hair from her face. The fragrance of desire wafted off her. Stix leaned in and kissed her hard. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

Stix threw the nozzle back in the sink and lifted her onto the counter. She tugged on his t-shirt as it clung to his skin. He unbuttoned her blouse kissing down her neck. She grabbed his belt buckle and unhooked it and then unzipped his pants. Stix pushed them down to his ankles as Satia shimmied out of her leggings.

He spread her legs wide and pulled her hips toward him as she grabbed onto the cabinets for leverage. He slid inside her hard and fast feeling her body wrap around his. Every muscle in his body flexed at the feel of them joining as one. Together they paved the road to pleasure until every muscle in his legs burned and he yearned for release.

She called his name and dug the nails of one hand into his shoulder as she came hard and fast squeezing him to his climax. He stared at her eyes wide watching his beautiful mate as she writhed in a mix of ecstasy and peace. As the flames of his climax shot through him all he could think was that he wanted to see that look on her face forever.