TOUCH OF THE WOLF By Susan Krinard

Her skin shivered under his palms. “You don’t have to say that. You don’t have to—”

“I love you,” he repeated fiercely, and seized her mouth with his own. When she was dazed into temporary submission, he poured out the rest of it. “I always wanted you, Cassidy, even when I couldn’t admit it to myself. You were like… clean desert air in the midst of London’s choking fog. You swept through me and worked your way into my heart, and I was afraid.” She tried to shake her head. “Yes,” he said, “afraid. If I let you in, I thought I would lose the compromises I’d made with life to protect myself. Lose even the Cause. And I was afraid I would hurt you—yet I was glad when you couldn’t Change. I took the excuse to make you mine, but I wasn’t prepared to accept the consequences. I lied to myself a thousand times. And I lied to you.” She drew breath to speak, and he covered her lips. “Listen to me. No more lies. I love you, Cassidy, and I can put the past behind me. You have helped me. I see my mistakes. I wronged Quentin and Rowena as I wronged you. If you can live with me, and the Cause—”

“The Cause is part of you,” Cassidy said. “Part of what I love. It’s worth the struggle, even if it needs to change. I want to share that with you.”

He dared to imagine what life would be like with this woman, so loving and warm and strong. His mate in all ways, by his side at the next Convocation, teaching him how to rule and guide with compassion.

A thickness filled his throat. “We still cannot have children,” he said. “But the boy, Mikhail—if you could be a mother to him—”

She made a bubbling sound of joy. “Yes. I want to be Mikhail’s mother. But he won’t have to be alone. He’ll have a little brother or sister.” She caught up his hand and held it to her stomach. “Our child, Braden—our child is growing inside me.”

If it hadn’t been for the exultant conviction in Cassidy’s voice, he would have laughed in disbelief. But there was no denying the second, distinct kernel of light and life he sensed within Cassidy’s body, a thing not of sight but mind and heart.

And he was there. He thrust his fingers into the mud as if he could force the world to stop spinning.

“Milena lied, Braden. I think Mikhail is your son.”

His son. He’d already hurt an innocent child with no justification but his own selfish hatred, and to think that very child could be his own…

“How could I fail to know?” he whispered.

“Milena’s mind was very strong. She could make anyone believe whatever she wanted. If she hated you, she could have stopped any babies from coming, couldn’t she?”

Braden wrapped his arms about his chest. It was more than possible. Even humans had ways to avoid conceiving—but for loups-garous it would be even simpler.

“Mikhail,” he whispered. “My son. Forgive me.”

“He will,” Cassidy said. “It isn’t too late.” She folded her arms about him. “You’re going to be a father, Braden. And our children—all of them—will be loved.” Suddenly she jumped to her feet, and he heard her splash unheeding in the mud. “You love me!” Rain fell lightly, laughing with her. “Don’t you see? Our baby… he’ll be something new for the Cause, because he comes from love. Maybe that’s what’s missing and has to be put back in. It’s love that will keep our people alive. Love.”

Out of nowhere she spun up to him and tugged him to his feet. She pulled him into a wild dance, slipping and tripping with no regard for dignity. She swayed and began to fall, squealing, when he caught her and held her fast.

“Stop!” he commanded.

She stopped. He felt just the slightest flicker of defiance to remind him that she was his by choice, not compulsion. “What’s wrong?”

“If you’re to have our child, there’ll be no more of this wild behavior,” he said. He pulled her against him, his body quiet but his heart still dancing. “I won’t lose either of you, Cassidy. I can’t.”

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