The war was over. Her baby would grow up in a world that was safe and she could do her job, go back to being a doctor and not have to be followed by ten wolves at all times.

“You okay, Grace?” Tracy asked her when she came downstairs. “Gabe just made sandwiches, here, sit.”

“I wanted to thank you for letting us use your place.” Grace sat. Gabe pushed a plate in front of her and she automatically began to eat.

“It was our pleasure to be able to give you shelter at such a time. You know, I understand you’re looking for a place where you can live alone with Cade but have guards housed nearby. I own this building and I leased it to National. It would make us very happy to offer it to you and Cade.”

“I think the bedroom right next to the master would be perfect for a nursery. It’s secure, there’s a guard station on the first floor and on the roof and the other guards could live here. Right now only two of the condos are occupied, one of them is Jack’s. He moved in after we left for Portland.” Tracy poured a huge glass of milk and gave it to Grace.

“Really?” Grace had been instantly enamored of the place. She’d loved the view, loved the sleek elegance of the building and the old world class of the neighborhood. It was plenty big, although it might be nice to take over the whole floor.

“I can see you’re already planning.” Gabe laughed. “I spoke to Cade and he said to bring it up to you. You two talk and we’ll go from there.”

Cade finally came in and moved straight to her, picking her up and kissing her as if he hadn’t seen her for weeks. She held on, luxuriating in his taste, in knowing they had forever.

“Hi. That’s a welcome.”

He put her back down and nodded at the plates and everyone at the table.

“The war is over, boys and girls. Yellowstone, acting as the Pellini Allied representative, signed the agreement and I believe it’s truly over.”

“How are you feeling? Any lingering effects from the virus? I checked your blood, you show no traces at all of the virus.” She’d breathed a sigh of relief at that. She’d held off on giving herself the vaccine when she’d inoculated Cade and now that she was pregnant she wanted to wait. But if he’d become a carrier it would have been a tricky thing.

“Fine. Better than fine. I still can’t figure out how he infected me though.”

“Ah! I can answer that.” She got up and went to the mini-lab she had set up in the downstairs office and brought back a vial.

“I was watching, it was when you transformed back that time and had your arm at his throat and were choking him. He scratched you. Do you remember? That’s when he infected you. You fell back right then.”

Cade thought for a moment and nodded. “Exactly. But he didn’t have any jewelry on and by that time he was naked. And he wasn’t infected because when I bit him he got infected and was dying when I snapped his neck.”

She gently shook the vial and it made a gentle clinking sound. “He had this under one of his fingernails. A small injector, with a reservoir in it. It had been imbedded in his nail bed which is why it stayed when he took his wolf and then changed again. All he had to do was hit it just right and it would have released the virus through the needle. He appeared to scratch you and then he jumped back. He was waiting for you to die but not getting close enough for you to grab at him. You surprised him when you transformed like that.”

“That’s some heavy duty spy type shit,” Gabe said and she nodded.

“That’s exactly the kind of place you’d expect to see this sort of thing.”

“Are you okay?” Cade asked her. “We need to go to the Pack House. If you’re okay with me taking over as Supreme Alpha that is. You know, Templeton can stay on and I’m sure Lex will let me have my old job back.”

“I told you a week ago, and a week before that, and before that, I accept it. My place is beside you in all things, Cade. If fate means for us to lead here, we’ll do it. And our child will come into a world we’ve made better.”

“I’m so lucky.” He kissed her again.

“You are. Now let’s go.”

The streets around the Pack House were filled with cars and inside it was wall-to-wall werewolves. When Cade and Grace entered, all heads bowed and then applause and howls broke out.

Templeton, with his wife Carla at his right and Jack at his left, waited for them in the main living room.

“Are you ready, Cade Warden? Are you ready for the leadership of the wolves on this land to fall to you and your mate?” Templeton asked.

“I give all I have and all I am to my wolves.” Cade got to his knees.

“I give all I have and all I am to my wolves.” Grace followed.

Templeton sliced his palm with a sharp knife. The metallic scent of blood filled the air. Carla took the knife and did the same. Their mixed blood hit a small chalice of earth, symbolic of the nation of wolves.

They stepped back. “We’ve given ourselves and now fade away so that a new Alpha may reign.”

Cade helped Grace up and sliced his hand open and Grace followed. Their blood hit that same earth and the magic of that action, the magic of their intent crackled through the room and suddenly she felt it. Felt the lives of wolves for miles and miles.

At first it was frightening but slowly, as Cade held her with one arm around her shoulders, it settled into place.

“I feel my nation and I take them as my own. May I always do honor as their leader.”