To everyone that's read the last chapter big apologies for the minor spelling and grammar mistakes; they were quite insignificant and there weren't a whole lot but still … In my defence I was writing that chapter late in the night and they were sleep induced mistakes.

Major thanks for comments and reviews from everyone.

Dev scooped Sera up in his arms and stared towards the large homely looking log cabin, the air was dense and humid and even Dev, who had lived in New Orleans since God was a child felt the shortness of breath that usually accompanied this thick kind of heat. Sera let her head fall back against his shoulder and Dev leant down to rub his chin over her hair, the ebony strands fusing with his stubble, adding to their already deep-seated bond. She hadn't said anything since flashing out of the dark room in Sanctuary and Dev was starting to get worried by her silence; he struggled for a few minutes trying to find the right words just standing there, completely still holding on to her like she was his life line.

"Don't say anything, Dev," Sera murmured, her breath tickling his neck and moving the wispy curls of hair that grew behind his ear. "None of this was your fault."

Dev gave a defeated sigh and begun to walk at a slow, weary pace. "I should have been there to protect you. I had no idea they would do anything like that, Sera. If I had I would never have left you in their care."

He'd never felt so tired and … unhappy in all his life.

Sera winced at the desolate tone of his voice, she'd never heard him sound so grim and sad before, it tugged her heart in a way she did not care for.

"You had no way of knowing, Dev," Sera begun using her melodic voice to sooth his battered soul, she lifted her head from Dev's shoulder. "Where in the world are we?"

Dev gave a small smile as he stopped at the foot of the steps leading up to the cabin, something was tickling the inside of his stomach when he felt her hands tighten around his neck, he tightened his own arms in response to her tone and dropped a chaste kiss on her cheek.

"We're in the bayou," Dev replied, placing her on her feet, he twined his fingers with hers and gave a little pull to get her moving to the door.

"What do you mean 'in the bayou'?" Sera asked, staying completely still; her eyes sweeping over her surroundings, taking in the thick, lush vegetation, the rippling water under the moonlight. "You can't live in the bayou!"

"Sure you can, baby," Dev said with a wicked grin, "Didn't you know bears can do anything?"

Sera's lips twitched at his cocky grin and she laughed softly, she then leant into his side. There was a moments pause where Dev held his breath, wanting things to be this way so badly he was scared to move in case he shattered the moment. Equally nervous Sera had a fleeting second where she wondered whether it was wise to show so much affection to a person she had planned on leaving not so long ago. Was she so fickle? Did her plans change so quickly? Sera refused to contemplate the possibility that she could be in love with Dev, love took time. Long time. And as far as she concerned the kind of love she was after only happened in once upon a time.

The moment passed and Dev's arm closed round her, sheltering her and hugging her beneath his shoulder. Her closeness and her scent wrapped around Dev and again that peculiar butterfly sensation spread warmth through his bones.

Sera eyed the cabin uneasily. "You know the Bayou isn't exactly safe .."

"Such a city girl!"

She slapped at his arm playfully and laughed. "That may be true but never the less … we are a bit unprotected. It's a strategically nightmare!"

Dev pondered that for a bit, he was amused by her, that serious frown as she studied the face of the cabin and the way her eyes took in its exits.

"Well, if anything happens I'll have you to protect me. My hero!" Dev pretended to bat his eyelashes and Sera laughed before launching herself up the steps to look down on Dev her hands on her hips, her expression saucy.

"That's heroine to you, darling, and your welcome to me saving your furry ass!" Dev knelt on the step before her and for a moment the image of weddings and proposals and diamond rings in boxes flashing through her mind even though that was a human custom; but Dev merely reached down and began to tie her loose lace on her trainers.

"You never know when you might need a fragile little female around to save you, eh?"

Sera laughed, he did that a lot, make her laugh. Just had a way about him that relaxed her and excited her at the same time.

Dev held on to her ankle, her skin burning his palm and putting fire in his bloodstream, he had waited so long for someone like her to come along; he didn't think he had the strength to give her up. Even if she wanted to leave him. She reached down a hand to play in his hair and he leaned his head in to her hands attentions.

"Besides," Dev said in a casual voice, "we're virtually risk free. We are safe from Diamons not only because they don't tend to venture in to the bayou but also 'cause there's a dark-hunter living not far from me that would kick their ass. And as for other Were's, well the scent of the bayou will throw them off a bit because of the water and so on. And the fact that your not the only one that can hide your scent."

Sera winced, incredibly she had forgotten about the fact that she had lied … well omitted the truth was how she would put it. He would want to talk about it, she would have to give him some semblance of the truth.

Sera opened her mouth but Dev cut her off, "not now, Cher. Wait for tomorrow, we'll still be here; there's time enough tomorrow."

Sera felt her throat grow tight, how would she ever have the strength to leave her bear, he was everything. Dev straightened before her and staring into her wide gaze brushed his lips over hers. He felt her shiver and moved his mouth across her cheek and back again, down her chin. Small nips and teasing kisses; he touched her no where else and with nothing else other then his lips.

He felt her body moving restlessly, drawing his own nearer; she captured his head in her hands and drew his lips back to her own. Dev could barely kiss her where he was smiling so widely, she was so demanding and hungry for him, it was the most powerful aphrodisiac. Dev wrapped his arms round Sera, they were like two thick iron bands, sturdy and protective and so safe and warm. He moved his hands down her back, that exquisite shudder they produced in each other it was like fiery chills racing over their skin, Dev knew she was feeling the same way, knew he had as much of an effect on Sera as she did on him. Dev cupped her firm round bottom in his hands and massaged it, he captured Sera's low moan on his own tongue; she squirmed faster against him as if trying to get closer. Dev gave her bottom another squeeze that was bordering painful but Sera gasped delightedly and wrapped her legs around his waist. She was causing him to go up in flames, it was almost a compulsion that he take her, there and then on the porch of his cabin; Dev vanished their clothes away with a thought.

Sera gasped when the heat of their surroundings bizarrely increased with the removal of their clothing, she felt his hardness rubbing her sensitive area and she moaned. Then she looked in to Dev's eyes and her own filled with tears, of joy maybe, she honestly didn't know, she could only lean down to his ear and whisper raggedly into it.

"Take me, Dev. I'm yours."

For tonight, Dev's cynical side muttered, he pushed it away not wanting anything to mar the perfection of this moment with his mate. Dev lay Sera back on the porch and let his hands roam and claim, dipping into hollows and valley only once before explored, his mouth followed the path his hands, tongue, teeth and finger tips had Sera minutes later straining, back arching, her hands buried in Dev's hair.

Sera touched Dev's cheek as he once more loomed above her, her body still rippling with aftershocks, she knew her eyes were wide and though she wouldn't have liked the idea very much, they were shining with awe and a tenderness that made Dev look away from her perfect eyes. His own cheeks were flushed and his body held a fine sheen of perspiration from holding himself back while he simply gave to his mate. Sera ran her hands over the muscles of Dev's back loving the velvet over iron, the contrast between his fair hair and smoothness; the air around her licked at her skin. Late night heat and the humid Louisiana breeze made her shiver and she suddenly realised how wanton she was being, by making love out in the open for the world to see. And the only world that she was seeing, the only world that she cared could see, had just shifted his body to slip inside her and show her the closest thing to an actual mating ritual she had ever experienced.

When Sera's body finally shattered once more and Dev with a roar of ecstasy had followed her to paradise, Dev felt her body go limp beneath him and he raised his head to stare into her face. She looked exhausted and breathless and happy, he was all those things too but he still did not want to relinquish the intimate hold he had on her for the moment.

"Your heavy," Sera complained, in between soft kisses on his chest, Dev chuckled.

"I'm a growing bear, what do you expect?" But he rolled off her to her side and pulled her wit him, Sera lay her head over his beating heart; she felt lazy and sated to an unbelievable level, now she wanted sleep. Dev brushed a kiss on her forehead before wrapping his steel arms around her and flashing them to the bedroom in the cabin; they were laying under a thin sheet in the unbelievably soft bed. Sera gave a small groan of contentment and snuggled closer to Dev's side; Dev tried to keep his feelings at bay even as he spooned up behind her.

"Dev?"

"Hmm?"

"Your tired."

Dev smiled. "You should hang out with Kyle. He's champion at stating the obvious too."

Sera gave a tired laugh before turning round so she could stare sleepily, sexily in to his hazel eyes.

"I mean your tired so why don't you shift and go to sleep?"

Dev's heart skipped a beat, then did a lazy roll in his chest and Dev gave a gruff laugh, but his eyes were hopeful. Were though she was it wasn't uncommon for those who mated from different races I.e. Arcadian and Katagaria, to experience uneasiness when laying beside what they considered their enemies. Her genuine and casual acceptance of all that he was touched his heart to depths never before known to him.

"Do you mind?"

Sera just giggled which surprised them both, she never giggled.

"Why would I mind? Its natural. Your not ashamed of what you are, are you?"

Dev's eyes narrowed in mock threat and Sera stared up at him innocently, she leaned up and kissed his chin before turning over to give him her back once more.

"Just sleep, Dev."

Dev was quiet and still for a few minutes, his heart was beating wildly in his chest, how could he be in love with someone in such a short space of time. But here it was in front of him, the object of his love, the evidence to prove that it can happen. Did this happen to everyone that was mated? Did all Were's feel like this about their mates? Was it simply because he knew he may have to spend the rest of his life with this woman that he was actively encouraging his feelings for her to grow? Somehow Dev didn't think so, he believed it was all because of Sera.

Dev lay back down on the pillow, his hair fanning out like curled gold, he tucked a tight, possessive arm around Sera's waist and brought her against his hard body. Inhaling deeply taking in the smell of their combined scents on the sheets and on his skin into his lungs; he marvelled at the differences in their bodies, she so soft and smooth and him so hard and rough. She Arcadian, he Katagaria. Perhaps they were never meant to fit, perhaps it was just a sick game the fates played, all he knew is that she didn't pull away from him when his arm changed into a paw. Her delicate, slim fingers just caressed the fur and as they drifted off to oblivion, Dev heard Sera's sleepy sigh and … "I missed you."

Tears threatened his own eyes before he forced himself to sleep.