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His eyebrows smashed together. "You really think that's what you'd look like if you gained some weight during your pregnancy?"

"I've seen photos. Stretch marks and baggy skin. Stomachs you could carry your entire purse in. No, thank you."

He stared at her for a minute without speaking.

"I mean, that would gross you out, right?"

He shook his head. "I think your body is amazing. You're growing a person in there. It's not going to be exactly the same after doing something like that. Sure, you can exercise and diet and try to get back to where you were before, but why? Your body is a testament to the life and love you brought into the world. It isn't something to be ashamed of, it's something to be celebrated. Stretch marks are the tattoos of courage and love women wear on their bodies to show the world they care about something more than just themselves."

Makayla swallowed hard. In that moment she wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around his neck and kiss him hard. How was it possible a man like him existed?

“You know you’re kind of amazing, right?”

He snorted. “I’m just me.”

“And nothing like I thought you were.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“Yes. That’s a very good thing.” Her wolf agreed. If he’d asked her to finish the mating bond right then, she wouldn’t have hesitated. Caleb was so different than any male she’d met before. He was strong and protective but also so gentle and unaffected by what other people thought of him. Back home it was all about appearances and who had the best, or the most or the biggest. But in Wolf River… people were just content to live and love. Work and play.

"Caleb? Swim?" A younger man called.

Caleb waved then went back to rubbing her feet. "Be there in a minute, Jacob."

"Do you know everyone in the pack?"

Caleb nodded. "It's kind of my job. I keep tabs on everyone. Make sure they stay out of trouble. Make sure they have what they need. Make sure outsiders leave us alone."

Her mind drifted to her discussion with Dakota the day before, and how she'd said Caleb and Griffin had done something that had hurt them mentally.

"And what do you do if someone gets into trouble?"

His expression darkened, and he stared at her. For a moment she thought he wouldn’t answer, but then he said, "I take care of it."

The definitive edge in his voice told her she would never want to be on the receiving end of Caleb’s justice.

"What's the worst thing someone in the pack has ever gotten into that you've had to take care of?"

He licked his lips and rubbed her feet a bit rougher for a minute. "Are you hungry?" he finally asked. "Let me get you a plate of food." He stood, and Makayla sat up.

"Caleb."

He looked down at her, his large form powerful and enticing.

"You can tell me anything," she said.

He nodded and threw her a tight smile before walking to the table. Her gut told her he'd done something, possibly illegal, and it weighed on him like a Mack truck. She wanted to know what it was, but she also knew better than to pry. He wasn't ready to tell her what he'd done, and she wasn't ready to tell him what she'd done, either. She hoped someday in the near future, that would change—for both of them.

Makayla spentthe rest of the afternoon on the bank, meeting members of the pack and watching Caleb in the water with the little kids and teens. He towered over them like a playful, protective mountain. It made her smile, giving her a glimpse into what her future might hold. A cabin full of boys, rough and tumble. Football practices, wrestling teams, working for Caleb in the summers, learning his trade in the construction business. Learning how to live off the land. How to catch and hunt for food. How to provide and be good men. Good mates. Fathers. The thought made her smile.

She watched him but her wolf grew agitated. Makayla looked around and noticed an older woman staring at her. She tried to not stare back, but the sad expression on the woman’s face wasn't one Makayla could turn away from. Finally, the woman walked over to Makayla, her frail body barely holding up the clothes draped over her.

"Hi," Makayla said, from her spot on the blanket.

"You're her, aren't you?"

Makayla started to rise, but stopped. "I'm sorry?"