"Maggie and Nicolas will be there. They know how important you are to me, and to all of them. Don't worry. They'll learn to love you, and obey you as they do me."

Obey. The idea sounded tantalizing. "Such as me ordering them to eat greens instead of meat all the time? Okay, I'll go."

A heavy sigh, followed by his deep chuckle, followed. "You'll see. Maybe you can even convince me."

"I don't need to convince you." She leaned down, splaying a hand over his perspiring chest. "Because I don't want to change you one little bit. You're just exactly as I need you."

As she kissed him, she murmured against his mouth. "A very ber awesome Alpha I love very much. Toujours."

"I do have a surprise for you." Damian rolled out of bed, shrugged into his trousers. He headed for the desk. Shock filled her as he opened a slim laptop and powered up. Jamie dragged the sheet about her, joined him and stared at the screen.

"You like World of Warcraft so much, I decided to learn. While you've been resting these past two days, Gabe signed all of us up, taught me a few computer skills and I've been practicing. It's fun."

"You told me computer games were a frivolous waste of time," Jamie teased.

"Spending time with you isn't. You taught me to feel young again," he said solemnly. Then mischief sparked his green gaze. "Besides, I'm very compet.i.tive."

Shock filled her when he confessed what level he'd achieved already. "I'm rusty and I have to level up. Let's play," Jamie suggested.

Mirth filled his boyish grin. He looked years younger, carefree. Her heart turned over as she caressed his cheek. Then she fetched her own laptop, and they played the game.

The sound of Damian's laughter was the most beautiful sound in the world to Jamie.

A few days later they materialized on the rain-soaked field near the pack lodge in New Mexico. Damian staggered, shook his head. Jamie grinned at his stunned expression.

"Takes a little getting used to, having your molecules scrambled like eggs as you travel through s.p.a.ce, huh?"

Blinking rapidly, he looked a trifle green. "Now I know why I never watched Star Trek." He glanced at her. "No more headaches?"

She shook her head. Since the stone spell had left her body, magick flowed with no ill effects other than needing energy. The pain she'd felt before using her powers had been the darkness inside her fighting against the white magick.

Damian clasped her hand as they walked toward the lodge. She trembled a little, wondering if the pack would be upset at seeing her. Jamie, the one they'd once loathed.

Something in the gra.s.s caught her eye. She broke free, ran over. A half-deflated football lodged in the crusty mud. His memories flashed through her. The game he'd played, years ago, when the Morphs attacked. Damian had lost three pack members that day and blamed himself for indulging in recreation instead of scanning his territory for an attack.

It was time to heal that memory, and start again. Jamie pulled it free.

"Hey, wolf, catch!"

Damian caught the muddy, lopsided ball in one hand. He stared at it in bemus.e.m.e.nt, then looked at her expression.

"Throw it back!" she yelled.

He slowly grinned, ran backward and let it sail. Jamie caught the football, ran forward in a charging tackle.

She spilled him downward into a thick patch of mud, landing atop him with a whuff of air. He growled and wrapped his arms around her. She laughed as they rolled over and over in the mud. Jamie pressed a kiss to his warm lips, needing the contact between them. A sigh wafted out of her as he deepened the kiss.

"I love you," they echoed at the same time, and they both smiled.

Nearby sounds warned they were no longer alone. Damian released her, sat up. Mud clinging to her sweater, she wiped her face, leaving more streaks of dirt.

Astonishment filled her as she gaped at the crowd coming down the hill. She recognized a beaming Maggie and Nicolas flanking two small children holding a large white banner. Painted on the banner was a childish scrawl. "Welcome to our family, Jamie."

Wetness spilled down her cheeks. She didn't check the tears, but let them flow. Oh, h.e.l.l. Jamie began to cry in earnest. Damian squeezed her hand gently.

The pack stared at her, made sounds of distress. The blond girl holding one edge of the sign let go. She scrambled forward, sank to her knees and touched Jamie's face.

"You're crying," she cried out. "We thought the sign would make you happy."

"It's fine," she said, smiling through her tears. "Really, crying is a very good thing."

She wouldn't have it any other way.

ISBN: 978-1-4268-2433-3.

Books by Bonnie Vanak.

Silhouette Nocturne.

The Empath #30.

Enemy Lover #51.