*clears throat* So chapter 8...I'm a little speechless with this one. Jacob scared me but I liked it. Many of you seem to be liking Walker more than Jake. Um, I'm not sure if this chapter might make you hesitate. But, guys, there's a...a... a LEMON! Woo-hoo! You guys have missed those apparently. And I just couldn't stand the tension anymore. So...uh, yeah. Off with the clothes!

*Disclaimer*

Please Enjoy!

WalkerPOV

I tried to feel something as Christa ran away from me. There was nothing. I'd done what I had to in order to protect her. She could hate me for the rest of our lives as long as the information I'd gotten helped to protect her and the pack. The Cullens and some of the pack surrounded me, expressions ranging from downright shock to respect.

"Did you just say 'Denali'?"

Only my eyes moved to look at Bella. "Yes. I did. What does it mean?"

Carlisle couldn't seem to look at me. His eyes roamed everywhere else but on me. "They're family. We call them the Denali clan because they reside in Denali. Two sisters. Tanya and Kate. Irina was killed. Our friends, Carmen and Eleazar, also live with them. What did he say about them?"

I looked down at myself. My skin was painted red. "From what he managed to say before passing out, Tristan and the pack had found an abandoned house in the mountains. Smelled like vampire but they stayed there anyway before heading back down here. Apparently, Jane had told him to go there should anything happen. The Denalis were out of town."

"Are they ok?" Bella asked.

I shrugged. "Didn't say. All he said was that Jane was irritated she couldn't find them."

Carlisle excused himself as he pulled out his phone.

Jacob crossed his arms. "We have to go up there."

"Agreed," Caden said. "But first, let's get Walker cleaned up. The doc might want to check on Nicolai." He looked at me. "If he's still breathing."

I shrugged again, not really caring. "His heart was beating when I left."

Everybody shared looks before tossing one to me and looking away quickly. "I'm gonna go for a run, maybe wash off in the river."

"I'll go with you." Caden stepped up beside me.

I looked at him. "I don't need a babysitter."

He put a hand on my shoulder. "I'm well aware of that."

A silent understanding passed between us, and I nodded. Turning, I left everyone there. This must be what a sociopath felt like. I had no emotions. I knew that I should be feeling something, some sort of decency. But the wolf was flying high with what we'd just done. He was too close.

"Walker, why don't we shift? Take a run."

Closing my eyes, I completely released the small amount of control I'd kept. When the wolf flooded that empty space, I went to my knees. It felt like my body imploded. Bones broke. Muscle popped. Skin slid. It was almost like I turned into a skin bag of broken pieces and something was putting me back together in another form.

Since I didn't fight it this time, the shift was much smoother, less painful. For a couple heartbeats, I just laid on the dirt, eyes closed, breathing heavy. When I finally opened my eyes, Caden was in wolf form and sitting in my line of sight. He yipped at me, which meant he was impatient. Lumbering to my four legs, I stretched and shook out my coat. Droplets of blood flew from my fur and onto Caden's white coat. Apparently, it didn't go away with the shift. It just transferred to my wolf form. Great.

Caden rolled those amber eyes, a very human gesture in wolf form, and loped into the woods. I followed him. The deer crashed through the trees away from us while the smaller animals scurried to get out of our way. We passed a cottage that was dark on our way to the river. The air was chilly as I breathed it in, but it was nice compared to my warmer temperatures.

When we got to the river, I shifted back in the water so that I could scrub the blood off of me. We were in one of the shallower beds. I didn't think Christa would want me in her house or near her the way I was at the moment. The humanity was starting to seep back into me, making me wonder how I'd deal without her in my life.

There was a splash as Caden joined me.

"Do you think she'll hate me now?" I asked as I scrubbed at my arm.

He shook his head. "I don't know. But honestly, I'm pretty impressed. You did what you had to do. You did what I did to find information on the vampire who killed my family."

"Did you find him?"

He shook his head. "No, but I got a good description even though I'd caught a glimpse of him. Apparently, he's not popular with our kind."

"Well, I hope you get him."

"Me, too. Walker, for being newly infected and only eighteen, what you did tonight was how it should be. Men should understand the threat and learn to deal with necessary evils. You did well."

"Thanks."

"Now that you're calm and back in your head, any regrets?"

A part of me felt like I should feel bad about what I'd done, but I just couldn't feel something that wasn't there. I shook my head and sat down in the water. It came up to my shoulders.

"Honestly, this morning, when I woke up next to her, I knew I'd do what had been done to me to protect her and the pack. This is my home, my family. I guess the protectiveness comes from years of watching over Tricia." I shrugged and reached behind me to scrub what I could of my back. The water was cold, but again, my warmth made it feel refreshing. "I just think that sometimes a sacrifice has to be made. It's how I've always seen things. To better ourselves, we have to think of others."

Caden nodded. "I agree."

A throat cleared to my left. Esme was standing on the bank with a pile of clothes. She smiled at us.

"I figured you could use some clean clothes." She laid them on the ground.

"Thank you, luv," Caden said with a smile.

"Would you like me to make you something to eat?"

I was about to say no when my stomach objected. "Actually, that would be great. If you don't mind."

"Not at all. Anything specific?"

I shook my head. "Surprise me."

She smiled again before disappearing.

"That is quite a woman right there," Caden said.

I agreed with him as I dunked under the water to scrub my hair out. It took a couple dunks but eventually my hair and face were clean according to the other wolf. Neither one of us had a problem being naked around other men so we got out of the river to dry off. Esme had also left some towels. Once we were dressed, we headed back to the house on two legs.

Caden clapped a hand to the nape of my neck. "She'll understand. Honestly, it's hard for their kind of wolf to understand. Sure there are a few among them who do, like Morgan and Christa. Christa's past was hard. Maybe once she's gotten over the spectacle you presented, she'll come to terms. But you'll also have some explaining to do."

I nodded and then another thought occurred to me. "Hey, if you've...done what I did before, then why didn't you do it sooner?"

He was silent for a moment. "I didn't really think about it at first. Honestly, I didn't think Nicolai really knew anything. Though he was third in line, Tristan didn't particularly trust him."

"Why didn't you know about the Denalis?"

He shook his head. "That was a new development. Had to have been unless Jane only told Tristan."

"Ok, explain to me who Jane is. I must have missed that part."

Again, he nodded. "It was before you got involved. Jane is a vampire, part of the royal guard of the Volturi. They are the closest thing to royalty that the vampires have. And apparently, they are after the Cullens, have been for a while so far as I can tell. Something happened a long time ago. Ever since then, the Cullens have been worried of a return. Now, Jane shows up. Her power is to cause pain. It's a mental thing, but it hurts like hell."

"You've felt it?"

This time, there was no response, just a far off look.

"Sorry I asked."

"Don't be. You learn from things like that, but there's no way to protect yourself. Not even the wolf in your head can protect you from her. It's awful. But Bella is a mental shield. She can push it onto someone else to keep Jane or any other mental abilities at bay. And Ness had developed her own mental wall, but only she can access it. That's why, if we ever go up against Jane again, it needs to be Ness and Bella doing the fighting."

"Amen to that."

"Look, I know you're worried about Christa and how she'll react to you. I was worried about the same thing when I decided to tell Leah about what I'd done. At first, she was put off. But then, she came around. It's the fear that you've gotten a taste of the torture, and will need it all the time to sate your lust for blood, that you might hurt her. The fear that you might go off the deep end. What you have to do is show her that you'll do what's necessary to survive, but you won't let that bleed over to take your humanity."

After that, we both fell silent, the sounds of the trees in the breeze and the animals chirping following us. The animals were preparing for the really cold weeks of winter that were approaching.

Idly, I wondered where I'd be staying if Christa didn't want me in her house. Ness and Jake? No. They were newlyweds. That would be rude. The Cullen house? Maybe. The recovery room had the normal bed and if anybody got hurt, I could sleep on the couch. Surely, Carlisle and Esme would understand that I couldn't go home.

I may have been an eighteen year old that had no problems with torture, but I still worried where I'd call home at the end of the day.

ChristaPOV

I was sitting on the couch in the Cullen house when Esme handed me a mug of something hot.

"Thanks."

She smiled and went back to the kitchen, probably to make some food.

"I just don't understand," I said in an emotionless voice. "It looked like he killed someone."

Jacob snorted. "That would have been the easier path."

Morgan, who was sitting beside me, glared at him before turning back to me. She stroked my hair. "Walker did what he had to do, Chrissy. He did what nobody else would."

Jacob exploded from where he was taking up space on the wall. "What, you want me to torture people now?"

"That's not what she meant."

We all looked to the rocking chair where Shelby sat. She was feeding Brayden, a blanket covering one side of her chest and the baby. Surprisingly, none of us minded.

Jacob turned to her. "So what does she mean?"

Shelby looked past him to Morgan. "I agree with what Walker did, and what Morgan just said. I was even telling Seth the other night that we needed to find a way to get through to the prisoners."

With an incredulous expression, Jacob turned to Seth. "And you agree?"

Seth didn't give an affirmation, only stared at Jake.

"Don't you get it, yet, Jake?" Shelby demanded. "The rest of us do. Maybe we don't like that it had to come to that, but it had to be done. This. Is. War."

Apparently Brayden was done eating because Shelby readjusted and then handed her son to his father before getting up to stand in front of Jake.

"We are out of options, yet none of us can stomach what Walker did. Our people are dying, Jacob. Those lives that were lost are on our hands. Luke. That innocent young girl. Those lives are on us because we're here, the wolves and the Cullens. Forks is our responsibility, Jacob, and so far, Walker is the only one with balls enough to do what needed doing. This way we still have the Makah chief in line and we know where to start looking for Tristan. We finally know where the second camp is. Maybe we can catch them."

Jacob stepped up to her. "Or maybe they're gone, suspecting that one of our prisoners might talk. We may have tortured that man for no reason."

"Actually, there were tons of reasons to torture the man."

Again we all turned, but toward the foyer. Caden was standing there, hands in his pockets.

"I think, Jacob, you should ask yourself if you're really upset about this, or are you upset that you should be upset, but aren't."

"What are you talking about?" Jacob asked, grinding his teeth, but ignoring the last statement.

Caden sighed, understanding what Jacob was asking. "Nicolai has had that coming for a long time. Why do you think I went along with Walker doing it? I could have easily stepped up to the plate." When everybody gave him confused looks, he continued. "Nicolai was one of the two wolves to tear the skin from Walker when he was infected."

I looked at him sharply, my hackles raising. "How do you know that? And does Walker know?"

He nodded. "I know because I scented him when we found Walker. And yes, I told Walker on our way over here."

I looked behind him and around the living room. "Where is he?"

"On his way down to your house to collect his things. Apparently he thinks you'll kick him out. Esme already gave him permission to stay here just in case that did happen."

The urge to get up and run to my house was irresistible. I stood up. "Please, excuse me." I was just passing Caden, when another question popped up. "What else did Nicolai do?"

Caden didn't look at me, but at Jacob. "He killed the girl. After he raped her. That's what Nicolai is notorious for. My one condition for working with him had been that Tristan control him. I wouldn't work with the bastard if he raped in the process. I've been wanting to kill him for years. But that's one thing I've kept from you. I asked Charlie to keep quiet and off the news."

"Again, Caden, what the hell are you talking about?"

"There have been a string of rapes between Seattle and Forks since I left Tristan and the pack. Tristan allowed Nicolai off his leash. I didn't want you to know about it because it's more my fault than anyone else's."

"How many?" Jake asked emotionlessly.

"Jacob-,"

"How. Many?" he demanded through clenched teeth.

Caden swallowed hard. "Thirteen, not including the jogger."

"Are they still alive? Are those women still alive?"

"Ten of them are. Again, not including the jogger."

So in all fourteen women raped, and four of them dead.

Jacob closed his eyes, looking like the calm before the storm, a little deadened. "And that's our fault, too, isn't it?"

"Jacob, it would have happened anywhere the pack went."

The alpha exploded and I was glad I was behind Caden. "But it's my land he wants! My head he wants on a stick!" He was shaking from head to toe, jaw clenched, fists heavy at his sides.

"Jacob,-" Nessie tried, going to him.

She didn't get far. In fact, she had to duck.

"Goddammit!" Jacob swung around, fist flying into the wall.

There was a pause and eerie silence before Jacob roared. He tore at the wall, punching hole after hole until blood flowed from his hands. Screamed until he was hoarse.

"Jacob!" Nessie was huddled on the floor, crying. Bella wrapped her up in her arms.

Caden turned to me, placing a hand on my chin to get me to look at him. "Go on, luv. See to your man. There's nothing you can do here but get in the way."

Wanting to comfort my alpha but not daring to get too close, I took Caden's advice and fled the house.

JPOV

Pure. Rage.

That was all I could process. All I could feel.

Finally, my hands stilled, and I stood, breathing hard, and staring at the giant hole I'd made. For the first time in my life, I wanted to kill, to tear something other than a vampire apart with my bare hands.

And the prey is close, the wolf pointed out.

I didn't even remember making the decision. All I knew was that I was heading for the door.

"I'll fix the wall," I said in a low voice.

"Don't worry about it, Jacob," Carlisle said sadly.

I turned to him slowly. It didn't matter that he was practically the nicest guy on the planet. Right now, everybody was a target.

"I. Will fix. The Wall," I growled out.

Carlisle just nodded.

Briefly, I registered that Nessie was on her knees in Bella's arms sobbing into her mother's shoulder and hair. But even that didn't phase me. Pissed was an understatement of epic proportions. This rage felt right. This was how I was supposed to feel about that fucking pack. This was the rage I'd been terrified to feel, to use. Though I'd been there and had been reminded numerous times, they'd almost taken Nessie, my wife from me twice now. Jordan was dead, my own packmate. There were kids involved now. And now, innocent people that had nothing to do with this fucking war were dying for no fucking reason.

The wolf inside me purred at the anger, tasting it like a fine chocolate, rolling around in it. He wanted a little control. He wanted to help me, to come forward enough that he could protect me, protect us. I allowed him some room and he stretched inside me. My hands flexed and popped.

"Jacob," came a small voice beside me.

The wolf turned my head, angry at the interruption. We looked to Alice with cold eyes.

Her eyes didn't meet ours. "Your wedding ring. It's important to you."

Bringing my hand up, I stared at the black ring. After a moment, I slid it off and dropped it into her palm, moving on without a backward glance. Edward had apparently been in my head because he was waiting next to the stairs that led down to the cell's door, ready to lock it behind me.

"I won't be long," I told him as I walked past him. My voice was still devoid of emotion, the wolf taking up more and more of my consciousness.

The door locked behind me and the lights came on.

The one that Walker had worked over wasn't hanging in the center of the room as the pool of blood had suggested he'd been. Now, he was huddled down into a corner, still leaking. He looked like one big wound.

Ignoring the snapping and growling from the others, I went to crouch in front of him. He stared at me with pain-filled eyes.

Reaching forward with clawed hands, I gripped his hair, scratching his scalp. He winced.

"Stand up."

He choked, trying to talk. Blood poured out of his mouth. He tried again. "Can't," he managed weakly.

"Don't care." I pulled up, using his blood-soaked hair as a handle. "Stand. Up."

Gritting his teeth, he had no choice but to follow my hand. When he straightened out, he hissed and tried to hold back the whimpers. And that's when I saw what had been done to him. Puncture wounds from claws laced through spots where skin and meat were missing, large chunks just torn away. His hands rested over his lower abdomen.

Somehow knowing the pain he'd endured just didn't do it for me or the wolf. We wanted him to scream because of us. Maybe Caden had been right. I was just upset that I should have been upset.

Finding one of the open wounds, I dug my claws into it as I stared into his eyes. Pain tightened his features and he fought not to make any noises. Inside his body, I clenched my hand into a fist. He let out a yell. The wolf in me purred.

"You insignificant little shit. How many women have you raped? Murdered? Other than fourteen between here and Seattle."

For a moment, he just stared at me. And then the little shit smiled, teeth covered in blood.

He swallowed hard before talking. "Only fourteen, huh? Those were the few brave ones that came forward. Well, the ones I didn't kill anyway."

Growling, I twisted my fist inside his body. He grunted, so I twisted more and harder. He screamed.

Once the screaming stopped, he let out a painful laugh. "How's your little wifey? She looked rather tasty."

Snarling, I ripped out whatever was in reach. Now, he screamed as his body ripped apart. I sliced off the remaining pieces of his skin slowly. The entire time he screamed.

When I was done, there was a small pile next to my feet, blood pouring from him to me. He was a sagging bag of bones. I was the only thing holding him up. I pulled his face to mine, my lips at his ear.

"You know, I'd love to leave you here to suffer, but I can't stand the thought of you breathing the same air as your victims for another second."

I shoved my hand up under his ribs and dug upward. As soon as he got his breath, he screamed louder than he had this whole time. His hands came up weakly to try to stop me, but it was more like a baby batting at me. Easily avoided.

My fingers slipped over his beating heart. The wolf in me purred again.

There were no regrets or second thoughts as I gripped the organ and ripped it out of his chest.

His scream died, eyes wide as he stared at my hand. And then his body went slack. I dropped him, threw his heart to the group of wolves that had gathered in the corner. They fell upon it, fighting for it. The wolf in my head told me they were going to eat it. I didn't mind because it made a certain kind of sense.

The door opened just as I was about to knock. Edward was standing there with a look of approval on his face.

"Adam, Derek," I called as Edward closed the door behind me.

A moment later, two wolves came up to me slowly, ears down, tail lowered, bellies low to the ground. Their eyes rolled up to me.

Reaching down, I scratched behind their ears before I realized I was covered in blood. "You don't have to be scared of me. I want the two of you to bury the body before they eat it. The protein would give them strength."

They rubbed their sides against my legs as they passed me. Without looking back, I walked to the house and went for the shower. Nessie was curled up on her side, her head in Bella's lap. Bella was stroking her hair. I met Bella's stare as I passed. She looked sad but not about what I'd done, more about her daughter's heartbreak.

The hot water felt good on my aching body. Blood washed off in dark red swirls that eventually ran off in pinks until, eventually, it was clear. The wolf had finally laid back down in my head, sated. His consciousness faded and I was left in my own head. I could feel my humanity slip back into my body. And it was a relief to know that I was still ok.

The realization that everybody had been right made me want to kick my own ass. But really, there was nothing I could do about the past. I'd plan for the future better now, though.

I dried off and got dressed.

Caden was waiting for me in the hallway.

"What?"

He shook his head. "Just wanted to make sure you're ok after you wolf goes into hiding."

"I'm fine, Caden. Now, I'm going to go see if my wife wants to go home with me."

Leaving him in the hallway, I went downstairs to kneel in front of the couch. Nessie's eyes were squinched tight. Reaching out tentatively, I stroked her hair back. Those eyes opened. Thankfully the tears had stopped.

"Hey," I whispered.

"Hi," she said back just as softly.

"Do you wanna go home?"

She just stared at me for a moment before swallowing hard and nodding.

"With me? Or do you want someone else to take you? I could stay down here."

Licking her lips, she held her hand out to me. "With you. Always with you."

I kissed her fingers and helped her up. She was a little woozy from crying and laying down so I tucked her in against me. Bella stood up to put her hand against my cheek with a smile. Nessie's arms wrapped around my waist, holding me tightly. Alice appeared beside me, holding out my wedding band. Nessie took it from her so that she could slide it on my finger herself.

I pressed my lips to her hair. "Let's get you home."

ChristaPOV

After leaving Jacob with his rage, I flew down to the rez. The people got out of my way since I was in wolf form. When I got to my front yard, I saw that some bags had been thrown out onto the law. Phasing back, I didn't give a shit that I was naked. I just rushed into the house.

Moving down the hall toward the sounds of movement, I found Walker in the extra bedroom. He was bent over the bed, back to me.

"What are you doing?" I demanded, even though I already knew.

He straightened up. "I figured you would want a little space from me right now."

Swinging his bag over his shoulder, he turned around and froze as he got a good look at me. I didn't try to hide. Instead, I put all the heat I could into my eyes. He was dressed in a ribbed tank and low hung jeans. The shirt did nothing to hide his achingly perfect torso.

"Christa-," he started in a strangled voice.

Moving forward, I ripped the bag off his shoulder and threw it on the bed. "No. You're staying here. I want you here with me. Period."

My hand snapped out to grab his neck and pull him down to me. I practically devoured his lips, biting my way inside. He finally relaxed and opened his mouth to me. Not hesitating, I dove my tongue inside to taste him. It was as if I hadn't just kissed him this morning, and I needed that sweetness in my blood. His fingers gripped my bare hips.

He pulled back, breathing hard. "Christa, are you sure?"

"Either my room, or let me go."

I was giving him a choice. Either we could finish this, cement the relationship or we could wait. Whatever he chose, I let him know that I was ready for both.

He studied me for a long moment, fingers digging into my flesh. And then with a growl, he picked me up, crushing his lips to mine, and moved down the hallway, across the living room, and to my room.

Without breaking the kiss, he walked until his knees hit the bed and went down with me. As I crawled backward and he followed me, I clawed at his shirt, pulling it over his head. He separated from me just long enough to toss it, but his lips didn't go back to mine. They went to my neck. Closing my eyes, I laid back on the pillows, nails sliding up his arms. His teeth sank in here and there with a growl and then he licked away the sting. Moving down my body, he put one hand on one breast and his mouth on the other. I pushed my head back into the pillow, thrusting my chest further to him. He groaned as his tongue swirled around my nipple, his thumb performing the same motions on my other breast. My fingers pushed their way into his hair, holding his head over me. Once he was done with one breast, he moved his ministrations to the other, but this time, he bit down.

I moaned.

He did it again.

And then he moved on, tracing a line down the center of my body with his tongue and lips.

When his mouth his the apex of my thighs, my upper body convulsed off the bed. I'd never done any of this, never even let anyone touch me sexually. Hell, I've never done anything remotely sexual in my life.

He paused, unsure what to do. But he got over that quickly when his tongue snaked out for a taste. I convulsed again, fingers clawing his scalp. He rumbled out a growl, the vibrations pouring from his lips and onto me.

And then he licked me. One smooth stroke.

I cried out, one hand going to the sheets to rip at them from the pleasure. Those fingers played around the outside of my core as he continued his lapping. We figured out at the same time that the upstroke was my sweet spot, that little nub at the top of my core. He ran his tongue and lips mercilessly over that spot, adding a light touch of teeth.

While my body bucked with that, he slipped a finger inside of me. Immediate pressure hit my lower abdomen. At first it was almost painful, my body sucking down on the intruding appendage. But then, with my writhing and movement, I stretched out and the pressure loosened. The most delicious warmth pulsed through me as Walker started pumping his finger inside me while his tongue continued it's lashing of my sweet spot.

Steadily, the pleasure and warmth climbed higher, became hotter. Until he added a second finger and paused. The pressure was again painful, but I got over it faster than the first time.

"Walker," I groaned as he started up the movements again.

He growled again.

And that was my breaking point. The pleasure spilled over and I screamed, stars bursting in front of my closed eyelids. My body bucked as it sucked on his fingers, milking them. He continued to lavish me with those sinful lips throughout the entire orgasm, drawing it out, until I was a limp mess on the bed.

Relearning how to breathe, I peeled my eyes open to see him looking both worried and smug. I couldn't help but chuckle.

"You ok?" he asked. His voice was nothing but a low rumble.

I managed a nod. "Yeah, but you're wearing too much and not finishing this.

He grinned smugly again as he backed up to stand up and shed the jeans. There was no underwear.

Instantly, my body revved back up. He was gorgeous, body fully tanned. Sun-kissed perfection. Muscles leanly wrapped his frame. And his manhood was perfectly proportioned. Soft, rounded head. Long, thick shaft that looked painfully hard. A heavy sac underneath. Only a light dusting of auburn hair. The tan there was darker with the blush of all the blood pooling there.

He picked up his pants to rifle through the pockets.

I leaned back on my elbows. "Can't use condoms."

He gave me a look. "What?"

I shook my head, curls bouncing over my shoulders. "We can't use condoms. Our body heat will melt them. So unless you wanna be peeling latex off of you, I'd suggest not trying." My eyes decided I couldn't look at him so they roamed. "I'd understand if you don't want to finish. I...um, I could do you by hand...if you want."

A heartbeat passed before I felt the bed move with his weight. I assumed he'd sat down to get dressed, but again, with him my assumption was wrong. He growled as he prowled up my body, hands sliding over my skin. Gripping my thighs, he parted my legs to make room for his hips.

"Let me ask you something."

"Ok."

"Would this be goodbye sex? Are you throwing me out after this?"

I shook my head, my breath coming short. "No, more like, I'm yours forever sex."

That smug grin was back. "No leaving after this?"

Again, I shook my head. "Never."

He stretched out on top of me, planting his elbows over my shoulders. No longer able to help myself, I reached between us to grip him. He shuddered, eyes closed as I stroked him once, twice. And then I positioned him at my entrance. When he opened his eyes, they were glowing, pale green.

His stomach slid against mine as he moved forward, inching his way inside. The pressure was much tighter than when he'd used his fingers and I couldn't help the flinch.

He paused, voice strained. "Are you ok?"

I nodded. "Yeah. You?"

"Definitely ok."

That made me laugh and he slipped in all the way, breaking the wall inside me. The tear hurt so bad that I winced and hissed.

"I'm good," I said before he could ask. "Just stay there for a second." Breathing through it, the pain ebbed and all I could feel was full. I gripped his hips. "Ok, I'm good."

Grinning, he pressed his lips to mine and slowly pulled back. The friction was tight and delicious. This time when he thrust forward, all there was to feel was intense pleasure.

"Faster," I whispered against his mouth. "Please."

"My pleasure."

He lifted himself up and moved, swinging his hips up and back. His breath was hot in my ear as he rocked against me, fingers tightening in my hair.

"Oh, god," he whispered. "You're so tight."

Smoothing my hands up his back, I kissed his chest. "Just move, Walker. I'm fine now. God, please, just move."

Entire body spasming, he thrust hard once, twice, three times, hips slamming into mine. With each stroke, he went deeper, and my sweet spot rubbed against his lower abdomen. That stroke sent a jolt of heat through the center of my body. For that friction, I lifted my hips on his thrust in so that we met in the middle.

Lifting up off his elbows to his hands, he had more room to swing. And swing he did. The thrusts became harder and faster, deeper and deeper. Glowing green eyes stared down at me as he shoved himself in and out of me. My hands roamed his body, dancing through the sweat beading on his spine and the nape of his neck. My nails traced the muscles as they tensed and relaxed.

Going up on my elbows, I licked a line from the center of his chest to the underside of his chin. And then I set my teeth in his neck directly over his pulse point. He growled, body shuddering, jolting inside me. Now I understood why the pack couples ended up with teeth marks on their necks or shoulders. It was a love bite, a mark of belonging. It also explained why the marks never truly went away. They wanted the mark on them as long as possible.

The harder I set my teeth, the harder his body bucked against mine.

"Fuck, Christa. Harder. Bleed me."

Wrapping my entire body around him, I slid my arms around his shoulders and legs around his hips, and dug my teeth into his flesh until I tasted blood. Pressing my head to his neck to keep me there, he got up on his knees and scooted back until my back hit the the headboard. His free hand gripped the wood so he had something to use for leverage as he hammered into me from the new angle. He had more room to move and my body swung with him. The motions slapped us against each other, taking both of us higher.

"Harder, Christa!"

At first, I was nervous about hurting him, but then he did something sinful with his hips, and I bit down harder in place of a shout.

"That's it. That's so it."

He pressed me harder to the headboard, placed both hands on my hips and pounded into me. I made noises in my throat as I drank down his blood, the infection giving it a weird taste, but it was still good.

Walker's breathing was become erratic, thrusts out of rhythm.

"Christa," he groaned.

"I know. Me, too," I said hoarsely, releasing my grip on him.

And it was true. My body was heating up again, that lightning strike getting closer and closer to the center of my body. When it lined up, I'd burst apart and then float back down. I held onto him for all I was worth as his hips pistoned against me. The part of him sheathed inside of me started to jerk wildly.

"Almost. So close."

Reaching between us, I stroked my sweet spot, applying more pressure. The stars started popping up under my eyelids between each thrust. Groans and moans came from both of us, sweat and blood mingling on our bodies. He hissed when the sweat seeped into the bite wound.

"Bite me," I said rather urgently.

"What?"

Gripping the nape of his neck, I pulled his mouth down to my throat. "Bite. Me. I want your mark on me."

This growl was much deeper and scarier, but I didn't have time to question it before his teeth sank into my skin. And that was the last push I needed.

I screamed as my body convulsed around him, bucking and squeezing down. My muscles turned into a fist around him as he continued to try to thrust through the resistance, which made it that much more pleasurable. His teeth sank deeper, piercing the skin, bleeding me like I had him.

I screamed his name and set my nails down his back, in his skin.

One more hard thrust was his last as he pulled away from my throat to let out a hoarse cry. It was his body's turn to buck against mine, prolonging my orgasm. White burst behind my closed lids, and I shredded his back even more.

My name left his lips as his body jerked only a few more times inside me.

Eventually, we calmed and stayed where we were, a heaving, heavy-breathing, sweaty mess. He rested his forehead on mine while we both relearned how to breathe.

"That was...fucking...amazing," he whispered.

I chuckled but he winced. "What? Did I hurt you?"

"Sensitive."

"Sorry."

He smiled. "I think I can live with it as long as we get to do that again."

I kissed his lips. "Absolutely."

Moving his head to the side, he licked at my skin. It took me a moment to realize he was lapping up my blood where it had oozed from the bite.

"Mmmm, you taste like cinnamon."

I licked him in return, cleaning up his blood. "And you taste like wood burning in the forest."

He leaned back enough to look me in the eyes. His had returned to their normal dark brown. Stroking the sweaty curls from my face, he studied me as if he were memorizing every detail of my face.

"I love you, Christa. And I know I scared you today. But I will never ever hurt you. I did what I felt was necessary to keep you protected. You and the pack and my mom and dad. I'll understand if you're scared of me, but-,"

I leaned forward to stop him with a kiss.

"Walker, I understand why you did it. And I know you don't regret it. I also know that you'd never hurt me." It was my turn to stroke the hair out of his eyes. "And Walker?"

"Yeah?" he whispered as if he couldn't quite catch his breath.

"I love you, too. No matter what you do, that will never change. You're mine now, and I'm yours."

"Forever?"

"Forever. And always."

He grinned. "I like the sound of that. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"And I'd be equally lost without you. I was for months, not knowing where you were." I pressed a finger to his lips so he couldn't say he was sorry again. "Don't apologize again. I understand. I just want you to know that the next time you run off, you better expect two bags to be packed. One, yours. The other mine."

He stared at me for a long moment, lips brushing over my finger, before gathering me to him in a tight hug. His face was buried in my hair, and he took a deep breath, chest expanding against my breasts.

"God, I love you."

I laughed. "I'm not God, but I love you, too."

He laughed, then winced. As he backed up, pulling out of me, my body jerked with sensation. I had to close my eyes as I shuddered, goosebumps rolling over my skin.

A finger stroked down my cheek. "I had to end up with a smartass, didn't I?"

"Of course. The universe is funny that way, isn't it?"

"Oh yeah. And I wouldn't trade it for the world."

"You know," I said, stroking a hand down his sweaty chest. "I couldn't agree more."

Thank you, sweet baby Jesus! I think I speak for everyone when I say, FINALLY! Geez. But how hot was that? Not to float my own boat or anything, but I rather liked that lemon. It also helps that I am a HUGE Walker fan. Anywhozzle, please, pretty please, review? I love them and they make my work days sooooooooo much better. Love you guys! Oh, and I don't mind answering any questions. So don't hesitate to PM me if you feel the need. xoxoxoxo