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Once the picture was over, Emm sauntered over and put her hands on her hips. “Well, look at you. You became some bad-ass bitch, didn’t you? Don’t think I can’t whoop your ass.” She nudged me with her elbow .

I huffed in annoyance and lowered my head to whisper. “Yeah, we will see about that. I think I got you beat in the sex department this time. Instead of lycan dick, I can take two dragon dicks.”

Emm’s eyes widened and stared at Anaki. “No, damn way. Are you serious?” She looked at Anaki and then between his legs to look for his slit. I growled and stood in front of him.

“Keep your eyes away from him,” I snarled.

Locke came behind Emm and kissed her on the shoulder. “Easy there, princess. You want two dicks? I’ll get a mold of mine and shove it in you at the same time. How about that?” He ran his hand down her stomach and cupped her pussy.

I groaned and turned away. I tripped when I got closer to Anaki, and he used his body to prop me up.

“Love, I’m going to show you how to shift back, it’s been too long. Then, we are gonna go feed you.”

Once shifted back, we found ourselves in the cozy warmth of Bear and Nadia’s cabin.

I was sprawled out on the plush couch, my head resting comfortably in Anaki’s lap.

The soft glow of the fireplace painted the room in a warm, flickering light.

Luis was sitting cross-legged on the wooden floor, carefully feeding me.

Anaki watched Luis with a discerning eye, ensuring that he offered me a generous serving of freshly cooked fish and vegetables.

Anaki was a stickler about the food I should be eating.

My eyes were on the verge of closing, but I wanted desperately to stay awake to see everyone. It wasn’t because I was lonely staying in the cave with Anaki for a month, but this pack had watched my son, and I was grateful to them. I wanted to show my appreciation.

We also missed a lot while we were gone. Anaki might have reached out, through the link or a phone call or two, to find out what was going on, but I was still very much behind.

The pack had been established, mainly by mated couples. There were a few single shifters who were able to join with a link but were still on the watch list. The only reason they were able to join was that they had only recently been rejected.

More prospects were being admitted into the pack.

Those who had proven themselves in the battle with Idris were instantly approved.

Where Idris was currently, no one was sure.

The mansion on the East Coast was empty, and now that Idris knew where we resided, we would have to be more vigilant.

We were pack now. We had an Alpha and a Luna, and we were stronger; we were what Idris didn’t want us to become.

That didn’t mean he was weak, however. Far from it; he was desperate now, and Switch had all eyes and ears open on the web. Even searching the dark web in a hunt for any bounties that he may put out, like he did for Emm to out Locke .

So far, there was nothing, fortunately or unfortunately, depending how you wanted to look at it.

“The bear shifters are ready to work on your cave, Anaki, if you are willing to stay here at Bear and Nadia’s for a few days while they fix it up. They might put a scent-clearing bomb inside to clear the stench.”

I growled lowly, but everyone ignored me .

Anaki waved his hand in dismissal. “That’s fine. I will go retrieve our bedding and things I don’t want touched and bring them here. Are you guys fine with that?” Anaki turned to Bear and Nadia. “I don’t want to take her to the bar apartments.”

Nadia shook her head. “We would love to have you here! I’d like to check both of your mental health if that’s okay. You both have been through a lot. I’d also like to check on you, Elena. Any weakness? Pain?”

I shook my head. My cheeks turned pink. “No. No pain at all.”

Nadia smiled widely and clapped her hands together in excitement. “Wonderful. I had a feeling. Sorry to ask so openly, it’s just great news. Abuela felt so guilty about that.”

I sat up on the sofa and lifted an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Nadia came over and sat beside me. “Abuela told me in private that she wanted to cure you, but it would cost her too much manna, and she had to save it to hide all of you. She felt so guilty she didn’t have enough stores to rid you of your illness.

” Nadia brushed back a wet tendril of hair from my forehead.

I gave her a solemn smile. “That didn’t even cross my mind,” I told her. “I wouldn’t expect someone to heal me. It was my own sickness, just dealt a bad hand. Just because someone has magic doesn’t mean they owe me anything to heal me.”

Tajah’s brows furrowed. “No magical entity would have been able to cure you, Elena. It would take an extreme amount of manna, a very powerful entity, to do such a thing. Not even my manna stores could touch you. It would take potions, enchantments, and the cost of those would be far too great. All magic comes at a price. The pain would be gone, but another ailment could have replaced it.”

We were silent for a time as I pondered her words.

Tajah didn’t know what Abuela was capable of, and I needed to keep it that way.

I was sure Nadia didn’t really know what she was talking about, unless Abuela purposely let that slip.

I believed that Abuela could have helped me, but keeping us protected was what was more important.

Besides, being with Anaki was what healed me.

I didn’t need her magic. Locke settled himself onto the plush, inviting cushion of the La-Z-Boy rocking chair.

Emm followed and nestled comfortably onto Locke’s lap.

His fingers gently traced through her hair, each stroke soothing and deliberate, while she instinctively snuggled closer, seeking warmth and solace in his embrace.

“Speaking of Abuela and her abilities to protect us. The running and hiding are over for our family.”

Luis giggled and pushed another forkful of food into my mouth. Anaki high-fived him and pointed to the plate to get another scoop of food.

“Wait, what?” I pressed. “What do you mean?”

Emm smirked and ran her finger across the rim of the glass of wine she was drinking. “Our sperm donor is dead, and most of the cartel’s men. We are no longer in hiding, and we can expect them to leave us the hell alone.” She winced. “Sorry, mijo.”

Luis stood up. “That’s twenty bucks in the cursing jar!”

Emm cursed again.

“Forty!”

Locke snickered. “The jar is back at the bar, and I swear, to the fucking goddess, there has got to be a grand in it by now.”

“Twenty!” Luis laughed.

Journey put her hand on her hip. “Serves you all right. There are children at the bar now. Soon, Deliah’s baby is going to be talking, and she would be so upset if her baby’s first word was something bad.”

Grim chuckled and rubbed his beard. “That would be funny as fuck.” We all stared at him. “Aw, dammit.”

Anaki threw his head back and laughed, then pulled me closer .

That may have been the most unconventional family dynamic I had ever encountered, but it was really, really growing on me.