Zachary groaned as Doctor Serrano checked his back one more time.

“The wounds have healed up, though they’ve scarred. Unavoidable. How are you feeling otherwise?” Serrano was pleased with Zachary’s recovery, but Zachary wasn’t.

“My back always fucking hurts,” he growled. “Always.”

“The muscles need to rebuild their strength,” Serrano sighed. “And the fracture on your vertebrae is still healing.”

“How much longer? It’s already been a month.” Zachary was used to smaller injuries that healed so much faster thanks to whatever made shifters faster healers. They were well into a new year, a cold January. Zachary was ready to be healed.

“I would give it another month and an x-ray just to be sure,” Serrano told him, keeping it light, as if there was no permanent damage. “Something is on your mind.”

“Yeah,” Zachary growled. “I just want to heal right.”

“You are healing perfectly well. You just need to be patient.”

Zachary snorted.

“I’m going to go,” he mumbled, standing up from the examination table.

“Are you taking your medications?” Serrano asked quietly.

“No,” Zachary snarled. “I flushed them.”

“Why?” Serrano frowned at him and Zachary rolled his eyes.

“Because I have a recovering drug addict for a brother, and I don’t want him to feel the itch. Andrew’s are kept under lock and key, at Gabe’s request.”

“I’ll write you another prescription,” Serrano groaned. “You need the muscle relaxers to keep your back from spasming.”

“I really don’t,” Zachary hissed, and, for the first time, Serrano hissed back.

“You do, you stubborn ass of a patient. I understand that Gabe has problems, but he knows how they can be avoided. You just don’t want to take them, but you need to. I’ll call Brenton in here if you need a dressing down from your Alpha over it, try me. Or better yet, Riley. She seems to get all of you to do exactly what she wants.”

“I outrank her,” Zachary mumbled, feeling petulant. He didn’t need to get thrown back into the doghouse. He’d just gotten out of it. “Please don’t call her. I’ll start taking the meds and lock them up with Andrew’s. There’s no reason to call her.”

Zachary was already still in some trouble because he pulled a muscle trying to workout when he wasn’t supposed to. Riley and Brenton… and Andrew had all given him a verbal beating over it. Then Riley left his bed until he was feeling better and as punishment for being careless.

Yeah, she had them figured out. He had been on his knees last night for her, apologizing for being insufferable over his injury.

“I thought so,” Serrano chuckled, handing him a slip. Zachary took it and shoved it in his pocket. “The pharmacy here in the hospital will get them ready for you by the time Andrew is out of his appointment. How’s he doing?”

“Better,” Zachary sighed, rubbing his lower back. “He’s adjusting, and so are we. He thinks it’s a bigger thing than it is. I’m just happy he’s alive. I don’t care if he can remember what he made us for breakfast or not.”

“He’s not worried about breakfast,” Serrano told Zachary gently. Zachary narrowed his eyes. “He’s worried about not remembering moments with all of you. And you need to understand that.”

Zachary snarled. He did understand it. He just didn’t know what to say about it. He didn’t want Andrew to feel like he was useless or losing them. He just didn’t know how to fix it. And then there was Brenton, who floated between being so content and pleased with their life… and miserable because every feline shifter on the planet was watching him, waiting for the last Kingson to make a move, to do something.

The only ones Zachary could count on to be right in the head were the brothers and Riley. The brothers, of all fucking people. He loved them to death, but there had been a time when those two were last people he could rely on. Now, they were shining examples of having problems and continuing on.

Pricks.

He was mildly jealous of them.

They had somehow grown into real fucking adults over the last year in Wild Junction.

Zachary knew that was Riley’s doing. She loved them, she pushed them to talk about their issues and overcome them. She reminded them that there was so much more than the bottom of the bottle, booze or pills.

Zachary left the exam room and saw her waiting patiently for him.

“Hey, baby,” he purred, pulling her into his chest.

“Hey, Zachary,” she chuckled. “How’s my big, cranky tiger?”

“Cranky,” he growled with a smile. “He would like to get pet.”

“I’ll pet you when we’re home,” she laughed, kissing his cheek. He didn’t like that his back hurt when he leaned down for her, but that was something he was going to ignore. Absolutely nothing was going to stop him from getting kissed by her.

“You can pet me in the car,” he growled playfully. “You like playing around in the backseat, I know.”

He watched just a small tinge of pink enter her cheeks. He remembered driving home while Brenton gave her an orgasm. She was remembering too.

“We could have Brenton drive this time,” he whispered in her ear, “and Andrew can watch me blow your fucking mind.” He loved the way her breath caught, which distracted him from the small slap to his stomach. He gave a soft grunt, rubbing the spot.

“You can’t talk like that in the hospital. Plus, you have to drive. Brenton is going home tomorrow with Troy. We’re taking Andrew home, where Gabe is waiting. Remember?”

He had. A pity, really. He would have to wait until they got home and tucked Andrew into bed… probably hers. Zachary would even let Andrew have a go.

They walked silently, exchanging dirty looks, on their way to Andrew’s room. Brenton and Troy were both in the room, as well. Zachary felt like it was too small with all of them in there, but he wanted to hear how Andrew was.

“What did I miss?” Zachary whispered to Brenton.

“His face is healing fine,” Brenton sighed. “The memory problems will probably be permanent.”

“We can handle that,” Zachary reminded him.

“We can,” Brenton agreed, with a strong nod.

“I can hear you two,” Andrew growled softly. Zachary was happy to see that Andrew hadn’t lost all of his hard edge that he hid so well. That streak of dominance and passion underneath the calm, loving nature.

“You won’t remember it in an hour,” Troy teased, making Andrew snort.

“You can’t make me laugh about this. It’s not funny.” Andrew chuckled softly. “Seriously.”

“Too soon?” Troy asked, looking around the room.

“Too soon,” Riley told him with an eye roll.

Zachary watched Tanaka read over papers and examine x-rays and cat scans of Andrew’s head.

“We’ll keep monitoring but, everything is healing nicely. Mr. Hicks, I wish I could do something more, but this is where we enter the great unknown. The brain is a tricky thing. We didn’t notice any damage and still don’t, but these things are complicated.”

“You say this every time,” Andrew sighed. “I know, Doctor Tanaka. It’s okay. If it’s a problem forever, then I have support to help me. I’ll start taking notes and dealing with it.”

“Yes, you do have support,” Tanaka said with a wistful, happy note. Zachary saw the doctor look over the Pride. Everyone was in attendance, except Gabe, who got caught up in a meeting with one of the Walkers’ clients. “You have a good family to help you through this.”

“I do,” Andrew confirmed, sliding off the bed. “Are we done?”

“We are, you’re free to go,” Tanaka chuckled. “Call me if anything changes, please.”

“We will, Doctor Tanaka,” Brenton said, shaking the shifter’s hand. “We will.”

Zachary led them all out into the hallway and casually threw an arm over Andrew’s shoulder.

“Ready to head home?” He asked.

“Yeah. I am, please,” Andrew groaned, nodding. Zachary took a long look at Andrew’s face. The bruising was mostly gone, except for the worst parts on his cheekbones. His nose was now slightly crooked, but it wasn’t awful. It added something even more rugged to the long-haired outdoorsman that Andrew embodied.

He would be fine, Zachary told himself. They all would be.

“Brenton, Troy, you both be good and safe,” Riley mumbled, kissing each of them. Zachary and Andrew watched and waited.

“We will,” Brenton sighed. “We will. This is all just clean up. Everyone wants me to know that they were just swayed by Lana… and they want to make sure I never make a play to be bigger than I am now. They are willing to leave us alone if I do not try to be what the Kingson family once was.”

“Yes, yes,” Riley mumbled, waving her hand. “Go deal with them. Tell them that we’re more of a family than a Pride now. It’s the truth.”

“It is,” Brenton chuckled. Troy grinned and clapped their Alpha on the back, and Zachary watched them leave. Then he pulled on Riley and tugged her to walk between him and Andrew.

“I have an idea,” Andrew said quietly as they walked to the Range Rover they brought to Denver. “And it’s going to sound crazy.”

“What’s it about?” Riley asked, curious.

“Our family,” Andrew told them with a smile, “and finally being a real one.”

Zachary’s eyes went wide as Andrew explained.

It was a fucking crazy idea.

Zachary loved it.

“I don’t need Brenton’s signature to do it,” he laughed. “I have power of attorney.”

“Yeah,” Riley whispered. “And this fixes one other problem.”

“What’s that?” Andrew chuckled.

“I was never going to marry any of you because whose name would I have taken?” Riley smirked with a shrug.

“Well, damn,” Zachary groaned, turning on the Range Rover. “Thanks for finally admitting that, baby. I appreciate it.”

“It’s the truth,” Riley laughed. “Think Troy and Gabe will go for it?”

“They will,” Andrew whispered. “I’ve already talked to them about it, knowing they have their own things they’ll need to deal with if we go through with it.”

“So, when do we want this done?” Zachary asked from the driver’s seat. Riley sat next to him while Andrew lay down in the backseat. “It could take me months to get it all set up.”

“What about my opening? It’s going to be in April, right after my birthday. And… well, you all know what I paint. Us. Our family, our friends. It’s the perfect time.”

“Yes,” Andrew laughed. “I like that. Write it down, so I remember it in an hour and don’t ask again. Please.”

“I can do that,” Riley chuckled.

Zachary considered the plan, Andrew’s scheme. It would solve a lot and it would make one Alpha so happy.

It might also scare a lot of people, but Zachary didn’t really give a shit.

Zachary only ever had this family. One he was willing to throw his life away for.

He would be honored to throw the Woods name away and be a real family.