Reese bounded through the dark forest, branches slapping at his muzzle as he fought to outrun his demons. He barely felt the whip of fast scratches through his fur and flesh. He needed the run. More than that, his wolf needed the physical activity. Both halves of him had to burn off some of the confusion, frustration, and anger that’d been eating at him since the botched summit.

After the fight with the Colemans, Roman and the other members of the National Circle had formally reprimanded him for his behavior. They’d promised Lance Coleman and his beta would also be chastised. Right. Reese silently wondered what effect that might have on a couple of lunatics.

Reese’s wolf had become frantic the moment Jane had climbed back into that black-as-death SUV. He didn’t miss the way her gaze sought him out and then she was gone—the door closed and tinted windows hiding her from his view. His beast had howled in protest as the truck carrying her drove off. Reese had summoned every ounce of strength he possessed not to chase after it like a stupid dog on the street. Instead, he’d waited until the dust had settled and then he’d run into the forest, full throttle.

He’d been running ever since.

His wolf demanded he hunt down their mate and pup, but Reese had to tread carefully. As much as he yearned to slaughter any Coleman who dared to stand between him and his new family, he’d made a promise to his dying father to seek peace at all costs. On top of that, he sensed something… off with Lance Coleman.

Naturally, Jane’s unexpected pregnancy had no doubt rocked their pack to the core, but something else swam just under the surface. Something dark and evil. He simply didn’t know what it might be. If he could somehow track her down, maybe he could figure it out and find a solution.

No, it was too dangerous—not just for him, but for Jane as well—to invade Coleman lands. They no doubt had sentries protecting the border, and getting caught meant certain death. That didn’t stop him from trying to come up with a safer solution, though. He had so many questions, not the least of which was if she’d set him up.

A growl bounced off the trees, sending a jolt of adrenaline rushing through his body. It took a moment to realize his wolf had been growling at him for thinking his mate would betray him in such a way. And in his heart, he knew the truth. Fate had brought them together for one incredible night to heal the wounds between their packs. He just had to make sure they all survived to see it through to the end.

Even a passing thought about their night together in Ft. Lauderdale brought back a flood of memories. He tried to push them away, but it was no use. Even as he sprinted through the woods, he couldn’t outrun his memories. They’d become part of the fabric of his soul.

Jane dancing with him, grinding her luscious ass into him until he couldn’t control himself. The feel of her full lips wrapping around his cock. The way her hips arched into him as he rocked into her, begging him to go even deeper.

Fuck.

He shoved the vivid memories from his brain. It wouldn’t do for one of his pack to see their alpha in wolf form running around with a boner. The very thought took care of the problem in a heartbeat.

His paws were caked with mud and his muscles burned by the time he reached his small cabin near the boundary line. If that hadn’t run the piss and vinegar out of his wolf, nothing would. Panting heavily in the crisp night air, he pulled his beast back, stretching his arms and rolling his shoulders as fur shifted to skin.

An evening alone, away from the pressures of being alpha, might allow him the quiet he needed to plan his next move. His pack was understandably skittish, thinking they were on the brink of war. No amount of reassurance from him could soothe them—probably because they could smell his own agitation. Unfortunately, living in the pack house didn’t offer a lot of privacy. The only place for him to be alone was his tiny, private man-cave out in the middle of nowhere.

His skin erupted in goosebumps as he mounted the steps and let himself inside. Fall felt heavy in the air around him, so his first stop was a small cardboard box that held spare clothes. Shrugging a hoodie over his head and tugging on some sweatpants, he then piled some kindling in the little potbelly stove in the middle of the one-room cabin. Except, before he could light the match, a loud howl ripped through the night. He’d recognize that call anywhere—an enforcer needed backup.

Damn.

Reese’s cabin sat just a few hundred yards from Coleman lands, so it stood to reason another Coleman enforcer had tried pushing onto Warren land again. As much as he’d like to let his men tear out the throat of the intruder, that wasn’t the path to peace. He picked up his pace to make sure he reached the scene before anything happened.

Normally, he’d shift back into his wolf form for the boost in speed, but the call sounded close. Very close. Pausing to shift would only slow him down.

Plus, he didn’t want to ruin another set of clothes over a Coleman.

He caught the scent on the air before the scene came into view. A wall of Warren scents hit him full force. Several of his sentries in wolf form stood in a circle, growling and gnashing their teeth at the trespasser. The moon had yet to rise, so Reese couldn’t see the Coleman in question, but an aroma eventually wound its way through the testosterone and body odor. When the faint flavors reached him, he pushed past furry bodies to confirm what his wolf already knew.

Jane stood in the center of the circle, her strawberry blonde hair pulled into a ponytail and a backpack slung across her back. She held two enormous hunting knives and glared at each wolf in turn, her eyes wild with a combination of fear and fury. It was almost as if she dared them to make the first move.

She didn’t have to wait long. Ren, one of their best enforcers, sprang forward and lunged for Jane’s throat. She sidestepped him deftly and swiped one knife through the air, slashing Ren’s haunch. The enforcer crumpled to the ground a bleeding, whining wreck.

Pride like Reese had never felt swelled inside him for his mate’s bravery. She truly was an alpha bitch to her very core. He almost wanted to see how she’d handle the rest of his pack, but he couldn’t stomach the idea of her getting hurt—or worse. As the other wolves inched closer, Reese pushed his way past furry bodies to stand at her side.

“Back off!” he shouted, his tone firm.

The circle of wolves paused mid-step, some glancing at each other in confusion while a few whined. Regardless, they all backed away, giving their alpha and the Coleman spy space. They no doubt assumed Reese wanted the honor of killing her.

Instead, he wrapped a steadying arm around her trembling shoulders. When her pale green gaze latched onto his, he almost forgot anyone else in the world existed.

“Reese!” An angry voice cut through the fog in his brain. A young sentry named Declan had shifted to get to the bottom of the matter.

“What is it, Declan?” Reese kept his tone even and calm.

Declan stared at him, mouth hanging open, as if the answer to the question was obvious. He raised his hands and looked incredulous, totally speechless. Finally, he managed a lame, “What the fuck?”

Jane tensed next to him, but Reese remained calm. “Would you like to rephrase your question, Declan?”

Declan’s face burned red. “This is bullshit! That Coleman bitch just walks right onto Warren land and you’re going to let her go free? We should send her back to her daddy in pieces to send those bastards a message!”

Reese’s facade of composure crumbled at the threat to his mate and his pup. He allowed his wolf to show a little of itself as he snarled at the upstart sentry.

“You so much as look at her the wrong way, and you’ll be the one who ends up in pieces, boy. This is none of your business.”

“That bastard she’s carrying is all of our business,” Declan sneered. He sniffed the air for effect. “As if we can’t smell it on her.”

The young man had grown up with Jake Warren as alpha, and perhaps he resented the fact Reese took his father’s place. Or maybe he was testing the new alpha’s boundaries.

Or maybe he was just stupid.

Declan looked to the other wolves for approval, all of whom avoided his gaze. Turning back to Reese, he glared at them both.

“It’s unnatural and you should get rid of it as soon as possible before any more damage is done!”

Confirmed. The kid was stupid. He needed to be taught a lesson—they all did—and Reese was happy to oblige. Before Declan could raise his hands to defend himself, Reese was on him, smashing his fist into Declan’s face. The sentry bounced off a nearby tree from the force and fell to the spongy earth in a heap.

Reese hadn’t come close to giving the man everything he deserved, but killing one of his own would only make things worse. Instead, he shoved Declan with his foot until he lay face up, blood pouring from his broken nose. He coughed up a spray of blood before meeting Reese’s gaze. Reese crouched next to him, hands on his knees as he peered into terrified eyes.

“Will you submit to me, your alpha, or should we make this more interesting?”

Tears of pain mixed with Declan’s blood as he shook his head frantically. “I thubmit! I thubmit!”

Reese gave him a stiff nod and reached out a hand. Declan winced, thinking Reese was going to hit him again, but quickly realized his alpha was offering him a hand up. Once the kid was steady on his feet, Reese slapped him on the back—perhaps a little harder than was strictly necessary—and made his way back to Jane’s side.

“Go home,” he commanded. “I’ll hear nothing more on this matter.”

He watched as each wolf disappeared into the blackness of the trees, Ren limping and Declan holding his bloody nose. Not a single one so much as looked over their shoulder.

“Thank you,” Jane whispered.

When he was sure all of his men had followed his orders, he turned to her and gathered her into his arms. He still had a thousand questions, but right now, he just needed to hold her, to prove to himself she and their baby were fine.

“What for?” he asked gently.

“For saving my life. There were so many…”

Reese smiled. “And you showed them what you’re made of.”

She searched his face, looking for reassurance or acceptance or… something. He wanted to give that to her and more, but first things first.

“It was foolhardy to come here like that,” he said, trying not to sound too scolding. She’d had a hell of a night already. “You’re carrying our baby. You need to be more careful.”

Her eyes grew wide and then filled with tears. “You knew.”

It wasn’t a question. Of course it wasn’t. They were connected now on a cellular level. All that was left was to claim her as his mate, and as much as he wanted to do that right there on the forest floor, Jane needed to rest.

“Just promise me you’ll be more careful,” he said as he stooped to pick her up. Alarm shot through him at how light she felt in his arms. Like a starving bird.

“I promise,” she whispered into his chest as she nestled in. “I didn’t have a choice though. Reese, I need your help.”

“You’ll have it, Jane, but first you need some sleep. We can talk about everything in the morning.”

Within three paces, Jane’s breathing slowed and her body went limp. She barely moved when he finally tucked her into his small bunk in the cabin. As he sat by the fire watching the shadows flicker on her beautiful face, a sense of wonder and gratitude nearly overwhelmed him. Gratitude for finding her before she was killed by his men, gratitude for their baby, but most of all gratitude that they were finally under his protection.

They were home.