So according to Kai she wouldn’t change into a wolf until her first full moon. Then she could change at will. It terrified her, having to wait. Amelia just wanted to get it over with instead of wondering how much it was going to hurt and what it would feel like.

During the night he’d made love to her again, soothing her aches and pains and worry. Kai had admitted they were mates, destined to be together. Something about magic and genetics bonded them, holding them together. It was stronger than anything human that was for sure.

She could feel it in her chest, an acute awareness of Kai that wouldn’t go away even if she wanted it to. But Amelia liked knowing where he was and that this was forever. This bond was unbreakable, only death could end it. There was something morbidly comforting about that.

When she woke up the next morning everything was different. The silver scars on her arm a testament to all that had happened the night before. Not to mention they were in one of the guest rooms since the window in the master bedroom was shattered to bits.

Amelia had no idea what to do from here. What happened next? Was she a danger to humans? She wracked her brain trying to think of everything she’d ever read about shifters, werewolves, and anything remotely paranormal. It wasn’t like she was an expert but she read the shit out of paranormal romance.

Kai must have sensed that she was awake because he ran his hand down her back soothingly. All night he’d spooned her, never once trying to roll away. It was nice. Those few hours the best sleep she’d had in a long time.

“Can I go home?” she asked; her voice small and unsure. Amelia wished she could sound stronger, but she was afraid. The unknown terrified her.

“You won’t be able to change until the full moon,” Kai assured her. “That’s still two weeks away. Until then you’re still mostly human, just don’t go biting anyone.”

Amelia felt a bit relieved, but there were still so many questions. “What about long term? My loft and my job? I can’t just drop everything and live here. Bonnie would suspect something, and I would have nothing to do here.”

Kai tensed behind her, but Amelia needed to know, she needed a plan.

“Well, it depends on you of course. You’ll always be my mate Amelia, but I hope you’d want to live here with me.” He kissed the back of her neck and for the first time since she’d been bitten she felt like crying.

“I don’t want to give up everything I’ve worked so hard for,” she mumbled as the tears streamed down her cheeks.

Amelia had known after the first day she’d end up here in this house with Kai, but she’d banked on the time when they’d be long distance to get used to the idea, to ease into it, maybe start with a drawer and then move to a few days a week.

“I’m not forcing you to do anything you don’t want to,” Kai said carefully. “But there needs to be a few things clarified. You have to register with my pack, or another pack. Lone wolves go crazy and end up like the guy who hurt you last night. We all need a pack. If you did sign with me, as your Alpha I would need to make sure you were safe to be around humans. Portland is still my territory. You could live there if you wanted and you wouldn’t have to change a thing. Only join us on the full moon each month, pack meetings, and the occasional pack business like hunting a savage wolf.”

Amelia rolled to face him and Kai looked devastated at the idea, but he’d let her go if that was what she wanted. “I love you, Kai. I’m not saying I don’t want this bond, I’m saying I don’t feel ready for all of this.” She waved her hand to encompass the house, the land, the pack. “There is no publishing house out here and I worked my ass off to become editor. I can’t just let you take care of me like David did, not to mention there probably isn’t any Thai food out here.”

He cupped her face and gave her a sad smile. “If you wanted to live here, but still wanted to be an editor we could make that happen.”

She shook her head. “It’s not that easy, it takes a lot of money to start a company and I don’t have much in savings, plus there’s the whole issue where I might not profit. Where would I get that money? A bank won’t lend it to me.”

The whole idea was a lark. Amelia wanted it bad, but there was no way to make it happen. Money didn’t grow on trees.

“What if I invested in this business?” Kai asked with a twinkle in his eye. “Then we’d both benefit.”

It was a nice gesture, but the idea made her uncomfortable. “No Kai, I couldn’t do that. I’d owe you money, and I don’t want to owe the man I love money.” Amelia snuggled into him, tucking her head under his chin.

It was still strange to say how she felt out loud, but it also felt good – freeing. Amelia couldn’t deny it was love. Nothing else could convince her to move to the damn mountains in the middle of nowhere.

“What if I co-signed the loan with you? Convince Bonnie to move out here and do it with you. A bank won’t refuse a loan when it’s co-signed by someone as fabulous as me,” Kai said with a wink.

It was her dream, to find authors with a voice that needed to be heard. To take chances on stories that might never be told. Amelia had always wanted to find that perfect story, one that would define her entire life and uplift her spirits. It was a terrible, romantic idea; especially when she loved dirty romances just as hard.

“What about my loft?”

“Do you own it?”

Amelia nodded. It wasn’t like she owned pets though, or a car. Fuck, if she lived out here she'd probably have to drive. Ugh, she really did not want to drive.

“You can rent it out or sell it to help fund your business venture.”

“What about health insurance?” she asked.

Actually, that was a stupid question.

Kai looked down at her with a raised brow and she laughed. “I forgot about the crazy fast healing okay? Give me a break. And if Bonnie agrees to this she’ll need insurance. She’s still very human and very breakable.”

Kai grinned. “Yes, whatever you want babe. Anything if you’ll stay with me.”

Amelia grinned, sliding her hand down his bare chest. “Can I put my pictures on your walls?”

His breathing hitched when her hand wrapped around his already hard cock. It poked her stomach, pressing insistently. “You can do whatever you damn well please to my house, but if you marry me it’ll be your house too.”

Instantly she stopped. “What did you just say?”

Kai’s eyes burned like silver fire when he looked down at her with such fierce love and possession. “As my mate you are more than a wife in the pack, you are the Alpha Female and I can smell the sweet smoky scent of your dominant wolf baby.” He licked his lips and trailed his fingertips over the curve of her breast.

With a quick tug he rolled her on top until she was pressed up against his hard cock. Amelia had to bite her lip to keep from groaning. She was so wet and ready for him. Kai really wasn’t playing fair.

“But one day, I’d like to make it official and call you my wife. I want to share everything with you, and make sure you’re taken care of. If anything happens to me this place goes to you, both by human laws, and pack laws.”

“Don’t say that,” Amelia growled, rocking against him. Instantly she felt the need to possess him, to take him inside and show him how much she wanted him.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he murmured. Kai watched her slide up and down his length and she felt truly powerful for the first time in her life.

“You want to marry me?” she asked, angling his cock so he pressed against her entrance.

The love in his eyes burned her up inside and Amelia sank down onto him slowly, inch by inch.

Kai let her take the lead, but his eyes were half-lidded with lust and there was a low growl of pleasure in his throat that had a whole new meaning with her new hearing. “I want to marry the fuck out of you.”

Amelia tipped her head back and laughed. It was such a Kai thing to say. She rode him slowly, enjoying the way he felt inside her and the way she felt about him. Kai gripped her ass and held on while he resisted taking control.

“Then buy me a ring while I think about it,” she teased. “Might as well do it right, but I want to wait awhile…you know, give the appearance to the rest of the world we actually have brains.”

Kai grinned and slammed her down on his dick, hard and huge. He hit that perfect spot inside and she gasped. God, he felt so good. “Whatever you want baby, now I want you to come for me.”

Without warning he sat up, taking a nipple in his mouth and sucking hard. Amelia groaned and arched into him. She rode him hard until she was a shaking, quivering mess. Kai growled when she came. Amelia breathed his name, clutching on his shoulders as he pounded into her from below.

Then Kai had her on her back and suddenly he was covering her, shielding her from the world. He thrust hard, and then groaned when he spurt into her. “Amelia,” he growled. “God woman, yes. Tell me yes.”

“Yes, I want to be your wife,” she whispered, hardly believing the words were coming out of her mouth after everything she’d been through. “One day,” she teased.

Kai laughed and kissed her roughly. “Mine,” he growled.

“Yours,” she agreed, holding on tight. “And you’re mine.”

Kai nuzzled her neck. “Are you ready to officially meet your pack as the Alpha Female?” he asked.

“Not even remotely.” God, just the idea set off her nerves.

“They already like you, and Shane wants to apologize. Without you I’d probably be dead,” he said. The look in his eyes as he studied her face was completely serious. They were brown again and Amelia instantly sobered.

“Why did he try and attack you?” she asked, nearly breathless.

Kai shrugged and slipped from the bed before he went into the guest bathroom. A second later he came out and cleaned them both up with such adoring detail Amelia could only watch. “He’s a dominant wolf, but he’s also damaged. When I’m healthy and strong there’s no way he could take me. My wolf is bigger, meaner, and more dominant. But injured? His wolf wanted to snatch the opportunity, but Shane the man doesn’t want to be Alpha. It’s just hard to ignore those instincts.”

Amelia slipped on her fleece jeans and wool socks. “So will being a wolf make me less cold all the time like you?”

Kai grabbed his own jeans and glanced back at her, eyes snagging on her breasts as she hopped up and down to get her ass into her pants. Instantly Amelia felt that sexual heat again.

“Is this because of the mate bond?” she asked, practically panting when Kai came back to lick the curve of her breast.

“Part of it,” he growled, having to practically rip himself away from her. Kai readjusted his pants and slipped on a shirt. “But mostly I just think you’re hot as hell and I want you all the damn time.”

When he turned back to her that lust was banked somewhat and Kai grinned.

“Well, back at ya pretty boy,” Amelia said, pulling back on her constant desire. Damn, she had it bad. But this was not the time; she still had to officially meet the other wolves or whatever.

She grabbed her favorite black sweater and followed Kai out and downstairs. Amelia paused outside Bonnie’s door. How was she going to explain everything? Fuck, Bonnie was too smart and Amelia couldn’t lie for shit.

Kai glanced back when he saw she wasn’t behind him. “It’ll be okay,” he promised. “Bonnie won’t stop being your friend. I’ve got a good feeling about her and Shane.”

He had a point. Maybe it would all work itself out.

Amelia took Kai’s offered hand and followed him down the stairs.

The entire pack was already lounging around the great room on the couch, waiting for them. When Kai nodded Shane stepped forward. The man looked absolutely wrecked.

“I want to apologize for last night,” Shane said, pleading with his eyes for understanding. “My instincts…sometimes I can’t deny my wolf. I’m not as strong as you.”

Kai clapped Shane on the shoulder and squeezed. “It’s all forgiven brother, I knew the risks when I asked you as Second.”

Then Shane turned to her and Amelia shuffled her feet anxiously. “Thank you, Amelia. Without you there, I don’t know that I would have stopped. No one else is dominant or strong enough to have stopped me. So thank you for keeping me from hurting my Alpha.”

Just like that Shane angled his head to show her his neck as did the others. Then they all came and thanked her too. Amelia gave Shane a hug. She was still pissed, but she also knew it hadn’t been his intention to kill the love of her life.

Then Olivia let out a small squeal and wrapped her arms around Amelia’s waist in a lung-crushing bear hug. “I’m so glad you’re a part of the pack,” she said. “Welcome to the family.”

Family…Amelia looked back at Kai with tears in her eyes. She finally had a family.

Kai smiled back and nodded in agreement. “Amelia is my mate, and the Alpha Female. She’s also gonna be my wife,” he teased.

Instantly her cheeks heated and Amelia hid her face in her hands. “You’re such an ass.”

Olivia grabbed her hand and then tossed it away. “No ring, Alpha. Doesn’t count until you put a ring on it.”

Kai grabbed her and pulled her into a hug. Amelia loved the way he buried his face in her hair and she could feel the smile on his face. “Let’s go get one now then,” he said.

Amelia laughed and shook her head. She wasn’t ready to leave her newfound family just yet. “Maybe later, I’m hungry.”

“Oh shit, Alpha. You gotta feed your mate,” Jacob whooped.

Then there were suddenly six wolves in the kitchen all trying to find something to cook so they could feed her, but Amelia stayed back with Kai, eyes locked on his; his gorgeous silver and brown eyes. She would never get enough of him.

Amelia pressed her forehead against his and sighed happily. Who knew that taking such a big risk would have paid off so well?

“Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything.” The family, the ability to love again, and a whole new set of dreams that was actually within her reach. “I’ve never been this happy before.”

Kai kissed her gently, lovingly, and then smiled against her lips. “Neither have I, babe.”

“Do you want eggs?” Noah called.

“What about bacon?” Liam suggested.

“Dude, everyone loves bacon,” Noah protested.

“We got that maple kind too,” Jacob yelled.

Amelia laughed and then sat down with her mate to watch her new family cook breakfast.

She still had a lot of questions about her new life, a lot of doubts and fears, but Amelia knew her new family would help her find her way. It’s what being a part of a pack meant, right? She pulled up the sleeve of her sweater to look at the silvery scars where the savage wolf had bit her, looking as though they were years old rather than hours.

Then she heard a door open and close across the house and when she glanced at Kai in amazement he only grinned at her. “I have superpowers now too,” she whispered. Kai laughed but Amelia knew she would probably have to explain to Bonnie. The girl was smart. She would know something was up instantly, and Amelia still had to ask her about starting their own company.

Amelia watched the twins bicker as they worked and Olivia started a vat of coffee. Nothing could ruin her good mood today. She knew in the end everything would work out and she was no longer alone. Even if things got complicated, she had Kai and her pack to lean on.

* * *