A soft knock on the door woke him from his slumber. "What is it?"

The door opened slightly, just enough for Sierra to pop her head in. "The young pup and his nanny are here."

Running a hand down his face he glanced at her through half-closed eyes. "I'll be out in a moment. Can you take them to the family room? Ask Demi if she could prepare him something to eat."

"No problem." Closing the door behind her, rushing off to enjoy the pup while she could. It's been ages since there had been a male pup within the pack, let alone one belonging to their alpha.

Rolling his head to the right, he found Olivia tucked into his side. Her head rested just on the edge of his chest. Her hand was over the left side of his chest. Every fiber of his being was begging not to wake her up. To keep her in his arms just a little longer. But he was also aware of the danger he'd be in if he wasn't to tell her Noah was here. "Liv?" Not much of a shocker when all she did was hum and scoot closer to him. "Olivia?" Pushing her hair away from her face, he ran his knuckles down her cheek. "Lucy is here with Noah."

"I'm up." Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, she turned her gaze up at him. "How are you feeling?"

Looking down he watched her hand run across his chest. "It's healed." Her thumb ran up and down his skin, extracting a shudder from him. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he pulled her over him. "Like it was never there." Running his hand down her back, over her ass, he grabbed her thigh, gently coaxing her to straddle him. His hands laid lazily on her waist. "The pack is having a run tonight."

She crossed her arms over her chest, resting her chin on them. "What's that?"

"Pack run." Barba muttered. "It's something we do once a month. Helps with any pent-up frustration or energy they might have. It also unifies the bond we have with each other." Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, he ran his finger along her jaw to the tip of her chin, lifting her just enough to look at him. "I was hoping you and Noah would join us."

"Rafa, it's a run." She said.

Barba chuckled. "Yeah, I know, but not everyone joins in on the run. You aren't expected to run with them."

Biting her lip, she saw the hope in his green eyes. "Okay, I'd love to."

"We need to get up, Noah is probably being smothered by the female's attention." The moment Olivia sat up; his hands gripped her waist in an attempt to hold her still. But it seemed the woman wasn't aware of what her movements were doing to him. "Liv." He gave a warning growl. "Don't move like that."

Quirking a brow, she placed her hands flat on his chest with a mischievous look. "Like what? This?" She rotated her hips feeling his semi-hard bulge begin to grow. "Or like this?" Pressing down with her hip, she thrust forward, enjoying the sound she drew out of him. "Or li-Rafa!" She found herself trapped underneath him. His hands were placed beside her head, holding up his weight from crushing her. He was settled between her legs, his legs spread, forcing her to semi-wrap hers around his waist. Sliding her hand up to his abdomen, Olivia raised her eyes to meet his. His eyes were so different in moments like these, softer than she knew eyes could be. The hard isolated man was gone and instead they were the eyes of one who loves deeply. If it were anyone else, she would drop her gaze, but with him she was drawn in closer, always wanting more.

Dipping his head, he paused just before their lips could meet. "It's a dangerous thing having you in my bed." Nudging her head to the side with his nose, Barba laid ghost-like kisses alongside her neck. "The desire and need to make you mine is almost unbearable." Nibbling the spot where his mark would one day lay, Barba drew a hand to her waist and held her steady. "To see you carry my mark." Thrusting his hips forward, drawing a low moan from her. Feeling her hands slide up his chest and around his neck, he waited for her next move.

Pulling him down closer, she kissed the side of his jawline. "Do it."

Those were not the words he believed she'd say. "What?" He heard her. There was no chance in hell he'd not hear those words. But it shocked him. Ceasing all movements, Barba was sure he looked like an idiot gaping at her. "Do you understand what you are asking me to do?"

Caressing the back of her neck, she nodded slowly. "I do."

Pushing himself off, he sat with his legs tucked underneath him. "I don't think you do."

"I may be new to this Rafael, but I have always been clear about what I want." Sitting up against the headboard, she exhaled slowly. "You explained to me what marking someone means. I spoke with Adhara and Garcia about it as well, they explained the pros and cons that come with being marked. I wouldn't be permitting you if I didn't understand."

His heart pounded against his chest. Clenching his fist in an attempt to calm himself. "I-no." Jumping off the bed he leaned back against a dresser, breathing heavily. He was having difficulty controlling the wolf in him. Trying to keep it at bay. But it was not having it. He was finally allowed to claim what was his, if only by a mark. "Liv, being marked by an alpha is different than the others. When we chose, it's for life. There is no going back."

Seeing his frantic breathing, and clenched hands, she climbed out of bed and approached him carefully. Placing a hand on his chest and the other on his cheek, she pulled him down for a kiss. Within seconds she felt him begin to relax. "Better?"

"Thank you." Cupping her jaw, he rested his forehead against hers. "I need you to understand it's not that I don't want to. I just need you to be completely sure this is what you want. We've only just decided to give us a try."

"True, but my feelings have been there for months Rafa." Pulling back, she stared up at him. "I don't know when I fell for you. I knew I had the day you came for me after Lewis." She laughed at the memory. "Punched Tucker when he tried taking me back."

Barba chuckled. "I remember." He tilted his head back. "That long? Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't know how." She shrugged, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. "And you weren't making it easy getting past those barriers of yours."

Going down on one knee in front of her, he took her hand. "Let's give it a month." He suggested. "If you still feel the same way, then I'll do it." He wasn't sure how he felt making a pact over something as delicate as this. "Deal?"

"Deal."

"Rafael?" A knock broke them apart.

Walking to his dresser he pulled out a t-shirt. "Yes?"

"Noah is asking for his mom."

"Give us five minutes, I'm getting dressed." He dropped his head with a groan the moment those words slipped out. "That's going to spread like wide fire."


Kitchen

Walking into the kitchen they found Noah surrounded by nearly every female in the pack. Adhara and Sierra sat by his side, growling at any attempt to touch or take him away. The boy was oblivious to their attention. His only interest was the plate of grilled cheeses in front of him.

"Ladies, that's enough. Let the boy eat in peace." Barba quirked a brow at being ignored. Giving them a low growl, he got their full attention. "It wasn't a suggestion."

"Sorry." Sierra chuckled sheeple. "Come on, let's go." With the help of Adhara, they managed to get everyone out. "By the way, Alpha Hotchner was asking for you. Something about the run."

"If you see him let him know where I am." Grabbing the pate he was offered, he handed it to Olivia. "I'll look for him later."

"Yes sir."

"Morning baby." Greeting her son with a kiss on the head, she sat to his right. "Where is Lucy?"

Taking a big bite of his sandwich, he gestured to the departing females. "They scared her away."

Barba scratched the back of his neck at the look Olivia gave him. "Yeah, they can be hostile with other females."

"Hi, uncle Barba!" Noah had just realized his favorite person was in the room with him. Sandwich forgotten, he ran over to him demanding he is picked up.

Doing what he was asked, he kissed the child on the cheek. "How have you been?"

"Good. Is this your house?" Noah asked.

"It is." Readjusting him he spotted Aaron hovering just outside the door. "Why don't you go with your mother and have Adhara give you a tour."

"Can we mom?" The boy asked excitedly.

Having caught the pleading look Barba gave her, she nodded. "Of course, come on."

Offering her a small smile, Barba walked out to meet Aaron. "Why didn't you go in?"

Aaron eyes him for a moment. "Not looking to get my throat ripped out."

"What?" Now he was worried. "What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything." Taking a step closer he took a sniff. "You don't smell different. Why don't you smell different?"

"Should I smell different?" Barba narrowed his eyes at the alpha. "What's going on with you?"

"Me? You're the one that's mated now!" Aaron howled.

Barba's eyes widen. "What?"

Smiling at his old friend, he pointed at Olivia. "With the captain." Seeing the looks of confusion on Barba, his smile slowly dropped. "You haven't?"

"No! Why would you think that?" He asked.

Aaron shrugged. "That's all the pack is talking about."

Barba groaned rolling his eyes. "One of the females came to my room asking for Olivia. I may have said I was changing and to give us a few minutes."

Aaron laughed. "You'd think after so many years, you'd learn to watch what you saw."

"Aaron, let me ask you something. When did you the right time to mark Garcia?" Barba kept thinking back to what Olivia had told him. The woman practically served herself on a platter for him.

"A knew what she was to me a few days after meeting her." He smiled at the memory of how foolish he acted in front of her. "To tell the truth, I wasn't the one to decide that. She wanted to turn and she wanted me. Why?"

"Olivia gave me the clear to mark her."

"Did you?" Seeing his friend shake his head, Hotch growled in annoyance. "Why the hell not?!"

"Why? You of all people know what that means." Barba growled. "She doesn't understand the changes that come with it. How it will alter her life. Hers and Noah's."

"Rafael..." Placing a hand on his shoulder, he sighed. "Unless you explain to her detail by the detail she will never fully understand it. I understand your hesitation with mating. But I say give her the mark."

"Aaron..."

"Hear me out." Aaron quickly stopped Rafael from walking off on him. "You staked a vocal claim on Olivia to another alpha that had shown interest in her. You keep holding it off and that claim will have no hold, leaving her open to any male wanting her. The mark will not only be your claim on her, but it will grant her the protection of your pack. It will back off Stabler from her and you. The bond she needs to truly feel what you feel for her will be created. You know damn well you don't need to mate to claim her."

Crouching down he ran a hand through his hair. His eyes caught a group of teenagers roughhousing nearby. "What if she realizes this isn't what she wants? That I'm not what she wants."

"It's a risk you must be willing to take." Aaron truly hoped that never came to be. If a bond between two unmated wolves, they would experience nothing but pure raw pain. In a situation like Rafael and Olivia, Rafael would be the one to suffer through the pain. Now should they be mated, it'd most likely kill him.

Looking up at hearing Noah's laughter, he spotted them walking out of the house. Noah was running around, not a care in the world. Flickering his sight to Olivia, he suddenly forgot how to breathe. He hadn't realized before that she wore one of his shirts. It fit her loosely. She had tied the bottom ends to keep it from hanging too low. The first couple of buttons were undone, giving him a view of her smooth tanned skin. Almost as if sensing his gaze upon her, she turned to him with a bright smile. "Some people are worth the risk."