1922

by lovebeauty011

Set two years in 1922. Thomas Shelby now a married man faces new challenges with his company, his Pack & crew, and especially his family. Expanding in London finds him challenged in ways he couldn't anticipate while an old enemy returns with a vengeance.

1. Chapter 1

Welcome to the second edition of my Peaky Blinders saga. The entire story is complete and under revision as of today. The first two chapters are very long covering 1920-1921 respectively. Some chapters will vary in length, though I tried to keep it consistent. It will continue to follow the story line that Steven Knight wrote but with my own spin. All historical events have been researched to the full extent of my researching abilities. I have taken Billy Kimber's real life and inserted Thomas Shelby. The first couple of chapters will reflect the time period and how Thomas deals with it.

As always.. Enjoy!

Small Heath, January 1920

Thomas Shelby closed the front door to Maze's house quietly. He left his mate sated and naked in their bed. While he wanted to stay in it, he had prior engagements, or at least that's what he told himself. Inhaling the brisk, cold air, he shoved his hands in his overcoat pockets to find his cigarette box. Opening it, he fished out a cigarette and lit it quickly. An icy breeze filtered by as he began his walk to the Garrison.

He pinched the edge of his cigarette, letting his arm dangle by his side as he blew out a smoke cloud. His pale blue eyes darted down the Lane as he looked for oncoming traffic and possibly the spies from the now deceased Kimber's men. He knew he should head to his office and look over the ledgers, but that could wait.

The past month since Kimber's untimely ending, Thomas had been busy. Integrating the Peaky Blinders with the remains of the Birmingham Boys hadn't been smooth sailing. Neither group was fond of each other, resulting in several fights. Unlike the Peaky Blinders, which many were part of the Darkfur Pack, Thomas had little control over the Birmingham Boys.

Sidestepping a puddle that had frozen overnight, Thomas let his mind wander over what needed to be done about the discord between the two gangs. Several fights had broken out since the day after he took over Kimber's racecourses, leading him to think it was time for peace talks. None of the Peaky Blinders were going to let the Birmingham Boys order them around.

Though he assumed that once he took over, things would fall into place. The constant fighting proved otherwise. Many of the ones that were in charge with the Birmingham Boys wanted to keep their position within the ranks of the Peaky Blinders.

He sighed heavily, tossing his cigarette on the tarmac, and looked up to see the Garrison in front of him. Grabbing the cold brass handle, Thomas opened the door smoothly and entered the pub. It was quiet as a tomb this early in the morning. Thomas reminded himself that while he wished he was back in Maze's bed, warm and determined to stay between her thighs, business came first.

The family meeting that took place days after Kimber's death was an interesting one. Maze refused to be scrutinized for her involvement with Thomas. Instead, she opted out, letting Thomas talk with his family about their relationship. The both of them knew that eventually it would be brought up or they would be caught and hell would pay.

Neither option was appealing to his mate, but there wasn't anything she could do about it. There was one thing from the meeting that bothered Thomas still. It was Arthur's proclamation that Thomas wouldn't last the winter without trying to mark Maze. Thomas argued vehemently he could handle it.

He swore to himself that he would keep his teeth to himself until Spring. As he sat down in his usual chair in his private room, Thomas leaned his head back, looking up at the ceiling and cursed his existence. He could feel his teeth aching the longer he thought about his mate laying in their bed. Shifting in his chair, Thomas reached behind him, knocking gently on the pass-thru window.

Since Grace's departure, it had forced him to hire another bartender, giving Harry Fenton help running the Garrison . A few minutes later, the door opened quietly, though with his sensitive hearing, Thomas heard the hinges squeak. Hard bottom glass bottle scratched the wooden ledge as Thomas turned around to pick up the bottle and tumbler.

Setting the unopened bottle on the table in front of him, he contemplated if he needed a drink at nine in the morning. As he stared at it, unbidden memories over the past several weeks came flooding back.

The moment he entered her wetness, the urge to bite her rose tenfold. Thomas tucked his head in the crook of her inviting neck and inhaled her scent, moaning softly as her walls squeezed his cock. His hand snaked down to grip her thigh, bringing her closer to him.

Maze's supple body arched into his, her hands sliding down his chest before scouring her nails lightly on his hips before tracing back up to his neck and bringing him close for a kiss.

Thomas grunted, tasting her swollen lips. His cock moved roughly in her as he pressed down on her hip to slow her movements. He didn't want her to help; he wanted to fuck her until she screamed.

Breaking away from her kiss, Thomas nipped her lips gently before kissing slowly down the side of her neck as she arched her body into his and fought gently against him to move her hips.

He couldn't stop the urge to bite her. Thomas wanted it so much he was having difficulty doing anything productive. Of its own volition, his mouth opened, his teeth grazing her warm skin. His body shuddered violently, his mind lost to his nature.

"Maze…" he grunted, "I'm going," he swallowed thickly, "to bite you."

Instinctively, Maze moaned softly, throwing her head to the side as an invitation, ignoring a low hiss. In her lust-addled state, her body flared as tiny fire prickles of heat scoured her body. She bit her lower lip, feeling his hand clench her hip harder, as if he were trying to control himself.

She wanted his teeth in her flesh, though it unnerved her he would bite her. Maze rolled her hips, her fingers fisted in his damp hair. She opened her eyes briefly to stare into amber orbs and inhaled and saw the intensity of his words.

His teeth ached. Fuck, he needed to feel her skin between his teeth. His body shuddered again, momentarily pausing him before he twisted his hips against hers, re-angling his cock, eliciting a heady moan from his mate. He forgot how to breathe properly when her walls clenched tightly around his cock as she orgasmed.

"Thomas! Fuck!" She gasped as her orgasm took over her body before bringing his lips back to hers.

Thomas groaned, sliding a hand to cup her arse and shifted her body. He traced his tongue slowly up the side of her neck, causing her to squirm underneath him. The momentary distraction over, the urge returned fiercely.

It was too soon.

"No…" he muttered, slowing his movement. Thomas shook his head, pushing down the desire as far as he could get it. He opened his eyes briefly and saw the tiny nip he gave her, and a swell of lust and possessiveness overcame him.

"Fuck," he grunted, sliding out of Maze quickly, much to her cries of protest, and moved himself quickly across the room to stand behind the small sofa. Thomas stared at the cackling fireplace as his hands gripped the back of the sofa.

He breathed slowly, trying to block out his mate's overpowering scent. Thomas shuffled his feet, his hands twisting the fabric on the back of the sofa as he tried desperately to gain control of himself. The wolf howled loudly in his head, demanding that he go back and fuck his mate until he caved and bit her.

"Baby?" Maze's concerned voice flooded the quiet room. When he pulled out of her quickly and walked away, she immediately knew something was amiss. Maze crawled slowly to the edge of her bed when Thomas shook his head.

"No," he rasped, shaking his head again. "Don't come any closer."

"Thomas?" Maze said slowly, cautiously, her voice taking on her natural accent. "What's wrong?"

"I want... to bite... you," he struggled to say. Desire flooded him as his eyes slightly rolled back into his head. Just the thought alone had his heart racing and his cock thickening.

Maze watched as her lover struggled against his other nature. It pained her to witness his struggle. If only he'd give in and bite her, but she understood it wouldn't work like that. Her brain hiccuped, thinking about it. While she still had reservations about the mating ritual, she wanted to be with Thomas. She shivered slightly from the chill that crept into the room.

Thomas quietly grunted as he fought for control over his desire to…. bite Maze. It was far too soon for this intensity. He figured it would progressively get worse the closer March came, but it seemed he was mistaken. The wolf wanted his teeth in her flesh, marking her for everyone to see, but the man in him fought against his nature. He always fought his nature when it came to Maze, as he never wanted to harm her. If he fucked her, he'd forget his senses the second her walls clamped down on his cock and bite her. He couldn't do that.

The heat from the fireplace warmed his skin as he stared into the flames. His grip lessened as he peeled his fingers from the back of the sofa. Flexing his fingers, he shuffled his feet against the cool hardwood floor and sighed. The urge to bite her simmered to a dull burn.

He wanted to fuck her, but didn't want to harm her. Though it didn't mean he couldn't have a little fun.

He flexed his fingers again and twisted his body around to find Maze sitting on the bed, her naked form enticing him to sample her lovely body. Inhaling sharply, her arousal flooded his senses, and he felt the wolf stir. He never took his eyes off his prey as he came around to the foot of the bed. As he lowered himself down, Thomas pulled her legs open as she watched with curious eyes.

Maze bit the inside of her cheek as Thomas trailed slow kisses down her calf. His destination was her eager cunt. "Thomas…" she said with amusement, but frowned, hearing him growl low at her, " what…." She faltered, moaning a little as his mouth trailed closer to her cunt. Maze swallowed heavily, trying to make her brain work. "... what are you doing?"

"Tasting you," he whispered seductively against her inner thigh.

His eyes flicked toward her before closing to enjoy tasting her. Maze's breath quickened into harsh pants. Her body roared to life the second his lips touched her heated skin. Her lust for him dampened the second he walked away from her, only to be reignited into an inferno. Desire coiled in her belly as she tried to bite back a moan. Wetting her dry lips, she gazed into amber orbs. This wasn't Thomas, this was the Alpha.

She had to admit he was hot as sin like this.

Her thigh muscles trembled slightly under his experienced hands. Maze felt her body heating, her arousal thick in the air as Thomas kissed closer to her soaking cunt. The coil in her lower belly tightened in anticipation and begged for a release.

The second his fingers grazed her entrance before sliding in, Maze dropped her head back, her body arching as she came, the word "Alpha" falling from her lips.

"That's it," he murmured, his fingers still fucking her cunt. "Cum for me."

His head dropped forward, his body shuddering as her arousal thickened in the air. He could almost taste it on his tongue. Heat licked his skull as desire clouded his judgment. Slowly, he pushed his fingers in and out of her cunt, his thumb sliding through her folds to caress her clit.

Her body twitched above him as her hand snaked between them to stop his thumb. He growled low, slapping her hand away in warning.

Thomas snarled quietly, his breath coming out in harsh pants as he tried to control his alpha urges to mark Maze. He curled his nails tightly against the palms of his hands, trying to push down his sudden desire for Maze. Lust roared through his brain, igniting it until he couldn't think straight. Sucking in a harsh breath, Thomas closed his amber-colored eyes, running a shaky hand over his face.

He could hear her moans, her want, her fucking need. His body shook as the wolf reared its head, coming to the forefront of his mind. Thomas felt his skin warming as he fought for the hard won control.

Thomas initially scoffed at the idea that the urge to mark would drive him mad. As he sat there warring with himself, he thought differently. The ever-present wolf stirred viciously in his head, trying to coax him to leave and find his mate.

Arthur had warned him he wouldn't survive till March.

Inhaling sharply, he angrily snatched the bottle of whiskey off the table and twisted the cap off. Shakily, he poured the pale gold fluid into the tumbler before swallowing the alcohol. He hoped the burn from the alcohol would distract his thoughts. He shook his head roughly, reaching for the bottle again to refill his glass. The second tumbler of alcohol burned down his throat, finally distracting him.

The tumbler fell from his loose fingers, clattering on the worn tabletop until it clinked against the bottle. Thomas reached for the half-lit cigarette in the ashtray and brought it to his lips, only to pause and set it back in the ashtray.

He placed his hands on the table and pushed himself away from it; the chair scraping the floor loudly. It took everything in his power to keep his feet in the Garrison . Wiping his mouth with his hand, he eyed the half full bottle of whiskey and contemplated on returning it to the bar.

Thomas ignored the slight spin as he stood quickly, tipping him off balance slightly. He shook his head to clear it before he grabbed his coat and pushed his arms through the sleeves. He needed to get out of the pub and find something to do lest he go mad.

Mazella Hawthorne shivered viciously as she wrapped her coat around her tightly. An icy February breeze rushed past her while snow fell gently to the cold ground. It had been over a month since Thomas's victory over Billy Kimber and the revelation of hers and Thomas's relationship.

Thomas informed her of how the meeting went with his family. It surprised her that Polly didn't bring it up with her since it happened. The older woman just looked at her, like she was determining if Mazella would mold well as the wife of an Alpha. Maze frowned at the thought. Thomas was more than just the Alpha of the Darkfur Pack or the head of the family.

Her mind drifted over the past few weeks since the revelation. Since Thomas took over Kimber's businesses, gang, and racecourses, he'd been overly busy trying to smooth the transition. She knew he wouldn't tell her everything, but she could tell he wasn't sleeping well despite fucking her nightly. He had all but moved into her house by Christmas morning. No one spoke about his decision, but she could feel eyes on her every so often.

She slipped into the Sainsbury's, shaking off the cold, and adjusted the wicker basket on her arm. Maze noticed several women standing in line with long slips of paper. She grumbled lightly, wishing that a Kroger would pop up down the street. If she didn't need sugar, coffee, and flour, she wouldn't be here. She needed to visit the greengrocer for seasonal vegetables.

When it was her turn at the till, she handed her list to the fair-headed man behind the counter who shoved Maze's list to a younger boy that ran off to fill her list. As she stood here, her eyes scanned the rows of products behind the counter. It amazed her that in just a few short years, these kinds of shops would slowly disappear as self-serving grocery stores would pop up.

Not that she minded wandering around Birmingham and Small Heath for her goods. She didn't. It just would be convenient to have everything in one , sort of in one location. Refrigeration wasn't quite invented yet. Maze watched the young boy dart around the shop and felt eyes on her.

More people entered the shop, eyeing her as she stood there. Oh, how she wished she could read minds. A part of her desperately wanted to know what these people thought about her. Thought about her relationship with Thomas Shelby. Thomas always carried a level of respect with the people of Small Heath, but since returning home from the war, she noticed there was an unreasonable level of fear attached to the respect.

Several hours later, Maze approached her house and smiled. While she didn't dislike living in the past, she disliked the lack of heating in the house. It would take several hours for the house to warm up with the fireplaces burning. As she shoved the key in the lock, she frowned, noticing that her front door was unlocked.

No one but she and Thomas had a key to the house, but it didn't mean that no one could break in. Her heart sped up as a wave of panic settled over her. It made her wish she carried a gun on her. Inching the door open, she listened for signs of life. Hearing nothing, she sighed and pushed the door fully open, letting the frigid February air into the foyer. Shivering, she set her basket down and removed her jacket before hanging it up on the hook.

"It's about bloody time you arrived," a feminine voice called from the kitchen.

Maze peered down the hallway to see a blob of dark hair and sighed as she realized it was Polly. She grabbed her basket and frowned, but continued her walk into the warm kitchen.

"Polly…," Maze began, setting her basket down on the table, and unpacked. "What brings you by?"

Polly peered at Maze, tapping her cigarette on the ashtray that sat on the table. The older woman sat back in the wooden chair and watched as Maze unpacked her basket. "You're marrying my nephew in a few weeks. Have you thought about a wedding?"

Maze paused her movements for half a second before digesting Polly's question. She had thought about her wedding and wanted to buy a dress, but her biggest concern was the mating that was to take place a week prior to the wedding. She hadn't confessed it to Thomas yet, but she feared the truth would slip from her lips, eventually.

She was thankful for Polly's silence while she finished unpacking her goods. It let her think about how to answer the older woman. Setting the flour down, she turned to Polly. "I have thought about it."

Polly arched an eyebrow at Maze's simple statement. She figured the girl would elaborate and give her a novel length explanation, but not this. Something was bothering the younger woman. Unlike Ada, who didn't plan for a wedding, Polly felt a rush of excitement at planning Maze and Thomas's wedding. She wasn't angry that they kept the relationship a secret for months. After the family meeting last December, she couldn't fault Thomas for keeping the relationship secret.

Polly silently agreed with Thomas. Keeping their relationship a secret from Chester Campbell was smart. The man seemed to have a vendetta against her family. From what she observed and listened, Thomas managed to anger the copper. She watched Mazella unpack her groceries with interest. There was always something a little different about the younger woman, but Polly couldn't put a finger to it. Maybe time would reveal all.

It irritated her that neither of them trusted the family. Would this one moment start a precedent of secrets?

"But you have concerns."

"Concerns?" Maze paused, setting the kettle on the stove.

"Don't play stupid, Mazella," Polly snapped, leaning forward in her chair. She placed her forearms on the table, interlacing her fingers.

Maze lit the firewood inside the stove before closing the small door. She hated when Polly made her feel like a child. "If I do, then it's my business."

Polly chuckled humorlessly. "You're marrying Tommy… everything is our business."

The younger woman sighed quietly to herself as she plucked two teacups from the shelf and prepared a late tea. Maze understood the ramifications of marrying Thomas. She knew the family came first in everything and that if something was happening, the information would be shared.

"Is it the mating ritual ?" Polly asked, accepting the tea cup placed in front of her. Pol watched as the younger woman stiffened. Unfortunately, it wasn't her place to reassure or explain to the younger woman what the ritual entailed. She didn't know herself. That would be something Tommy would explain to her…. If he explained it to her.

"Because if it is, you need to speak to Tommy." Polly continued.

"I think," Maze wet her lips, ignoring how her fingers trembled, "I've got this."

Polly didn't say another word about it, but hoped Mazella would speak to Tommy about it. The older woman yearned for her family to be happy, and it felt as if it had taken decades, but Thomas was happy. John was happy with his marriage to Esme. Arthur was the last to marry. The eldest born, but the last to marry. That would need to be fixed. As Polly gazed at Maze, who busied herself preparing tea, she hoped the younger woman had what it took to be Tommy's wife with everything that would come with it.

Thomas entered the Garrison as the afternoon waned. It was two days till the mating ceremony and three before the full moon. His wolf growled pleasingly in his head, knowing the day was almost near. He paused in the interior of the small antechamber and listened to the voices of his Pack. Taking a short inhale on his cigarette, he pushed the door open, revealing the interior of the pub.

All noise stopped as his men turned to see who walked inside. With a curt nod, Thomas walked behind the bar and poured himself a whiskey. He listened as the door locked and took a healthy sip of his whiskey and set the tumbler down. He turned his attention to his waiting pack and sighed.

"In two days, I will be mated to Maze," Thomas tapped his cigarette on the side of the ashtray. He heard noises of agreement. "A week later, we'll be married."

"Have you decided the location?" Scudboat asked, leaning back in his chair, his gaze looking at another before turning back his attention to his Alpha.

"Same place we run," Thomas picked up his tumbler, taking another sip. "I want it cleaned and ready for that night….," he paused, smothering the excitement that coursed through his body. He was ready….beyond ready for this.

"What about security?" Arthur spoke up from his spot on the opposite side of the bar where he nursed a whiskey.

Thomas turned his head to Arthur and nodded. "Just the inner Pack will be there. No need to have everyone."

"The human wedding will take place outside of town. Maze wants it outdoors, and that's what she's going to get. Hire a few lads to set up tables and a large tent. All I want her to do is worry about her dress."

He received a few nods from his Pack and sipped his whiskey. Refilling the tumbler, he listened to the quiet conversations around the pub.

"What about those Brum boys?" John asked, coming around the bar and filling himself a pint. "What are we going to do about them?"

"Nothing for now. We don't have the work for that many men," Thomas replied. He turned his head to John, then Arthur. "I want them monitored. We can't have anything ruining the next week."

"What if they don't listen?" Arthur asked, lifting his head from his drink to gaze at Tom.

Tom's eyes flashed amber , his gaze hardening at the thought of dissent. "Then remind them who they work for."

Low growls reached his sensitive ears. His Pack was ready to fight with anyone that dared cross the Peaky Blinders. He suspected there would be discord within the ranks of the Brum boys and the Peaky Blinders, but he had full faith in his men to corral the dissenters. Thomas would fire, release, or threaten any of the Brum boys that didn't fall in line.

He cared nothing for the extra men, but the ample businesses needed security, and once money poured into their hands, he would buy up most of the pubs in Birmingham and the surrounding areas. It would give work and pay for the Brum boys. The Peaky Blinders would keep to the Shelby business. Later that year, he would go to London hoping to find a warehouse to expand his business.

The night air was chilly as Thomas parked the family car. In the distance, he saw the faint outcropping of the surrounding hills. Tonight was the night . He felt a stirring in his body, an excitement that grew exponentially the closer he felt the pull of the moon. It was the first week of March and as he stepped out of the car; he felt the grass beneath him crunch. Taking a deep breath, he exhaled, seeing his breath.

The full moon would rise the next night and he and the Pack would run through the Peak District and through the winding roads that were carved into the Earth, but tonight…. Tonight was the mating ritual. Tonight he would mark Maze and make her his mate. A feral excitement pounded in his veins as he thought about what her flesh would taste like when he finally bit down.

Thomas grunted, trying to bank the lust and overwhelming possessiveness that overcame him. He tried to breathe, but he couldn't. He felt the hardness of the metal of the car door bite into his flesh as he gripped it tightly. His eyes swam as the wolf surfaced. It started at the base of his spine and crawled slowly until it touched his brain.

Slapping the car door, he grunted, forcing himself to get it together so he wouldn't claim her the second she arrived. Thomas shook his head from side to side and swallowed thickly.

In the distance, he heard the hooting of owls and the soft sounds of wildlife. He braced himself for Maze's arrival. The family wanted to be there for the mating, but Thomas steadfastly refused their company. Only a few of his inner circle would be there for security. He made sure none of them would see Maze naked. That was his privilege.

Thomas didn't have long to wait, hearing the nickering of horses. The travel to the isolated camp was only accessible by horse. As he gathered himself, he turned around to see Scudboat with his horse. Behind him, another two horses were following him. Nothing was said as Thomas mounted the animal and they rode forward.

Half an hour later, he and Scudboat arrived at the isolated camp. A furious fire burned brightly, warming the immediate area. Thomas tilted his head to the side, hearing his men gather in the surrounding trees, keeping their eyes open for any threats to their Alpha. As he dismounted, he felt the heat from the fire and noticed a pile of blankets on the ground closest to the fire.

Thomas stood before the fire, rubbing his hands together before fishing out a cigarette. He lit it quickly and tossed the match into the blazing fire. He didn't have to wait long before his keen hearing caught the noise of a horse cantering down the worn pathway. His heart sped up, the wolf becoming restless as Maze neared.

Maze closed the door to her house, locking it quickly before turning to see Lovelock waiting by her car. She shifted her basket on her arm. Tonight was the night of the mating ritual that would bind her and Thomas together. She took a deep breath, tightening her coat around her before fishing her keys from her beaded black purse.

When she raised her head, she saw Lovelock standing there with his hand out, palm up for her keys. She stared at him contemptuously, but he didn't budge his stance. Apparently, he had orders from Thomas to not yield to her independence. Grumbling indignantly, she raised an eyebrow but handed over her keys to him. Within seconds, she was situated in the passenger seat of her car. She arranged her parcels in the basket as Lovelock turned the car and got inside to drive them down the Lane.

They drove in silence. Maze wasn't sure where he was taking her; only that she would be with Thomas soon. She sighed softly enough that Lovelock's keen hearing wouldn't hear her. No one had spoken to her about how tonight would entail. It rattled her nerves that Thomas wouldn't speak to her except the ritual words. She scoffed lightly… ritual words. After reading them carefully, they seemed like marriage words.

She was vaguely aware of what would happen during the mating . She wasn't worried about the ceremony, but how things would change once she was properly his. As she sat back into the cushioned bench seat, she gazed out the window of the car. The city had long disappeared behind her, leaving the countryside her only view of the world.

In a week, she would properly be Mrs. Thomas Shelby. Maze fidgeted in her seat, hoping Lovelock wouldn't notice her shifting around as if she were nervous. Quite frankly, she never thought she'd marry. Least of all to Thomas. Marriage to him would be interesting considering her more modern 21st century views on marriage compared to the early 20th century views.

She only hoped Thomas knew what he was getting himself into. Maze could almost see the future rows between them where the punishment would be great make up sex. She might have been raised with modern feminist' views, but Maze was also raised with traditional values from the Hawthorne's.

It became a conflicting conundrum within her. It was one thing she feared going back to the 21st century after her assignment was over. Her personality would shift back and forth, confusing the people who knew her. It was a drawback of living out a Lifetime assignment.

Lost in her own thoughts, Mazella never noticed the car slowing down and the night air chilled her hands. Gazing around, she knew she was far north of Birmingham. A panic settled over her not seeing Thomas around. He was supposed to be here.

"Miss, we will finish our trip on horse," Lovelock assured her, seeing the panicked look on her face.

Maze sighed in relief and exited the car. Lovelock released her from her burden and strapped her basket to the horse she assumed was hers. When he finished his task, Maze mounted the horse, reaching for the reins. Lovelock nudged his horse forward, signaling Maze to follow him.

Half an hour later, Maze could see the faint flickering of fire. Her nerves reared their ugly head, trying to convince her not to do this. Shaking her head, she banished the thoughts from her mind. This was something she wanted, something she waited years for. Whatever was in store for them would come and they would battle it together…. no matter what.

His amber eyes scanned her body as she walked closer to him. He could feel the wolf urging him to claim her, mark her, take her for everything she offered. The cigarette fell from his fingers, landing on the frosty ground as he stood there. He could hear her heart hammering in her chest as he pulled her roughly close to him. Burying his face in the crook of her neck, he inhaled sharply, breathing her in.

The wolf hummed under his skin as he pulled her into a searing kiss. She whimpered against his lips, her hands coming around to wrap around his neck, her nails gently scratching the bare skin. His hands gripped the soft fabric of her dress. He wanted to rip it off her and sink himself into her before biting down, claiming her. Thomas moaned, feeling the heat of her body pressed against his.

He grunted softly, breaking the kiss. The wolf whined softly, but he pushed it down. He couldn't let himself get distracted. He wanted to keep kissing her until both were naked and sweaty, but that would come soon enough.

"You're here," he breathed against her warm lips. He felt her nod her head, their noses brushing gently. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," she returned, her fingers playing gently with the buttons on his white button-up shirt.

Thomas took a breath. He could feel the tugging on the moon behind him, the wolf's impatience to mark her. Lust thrummed gently through his veins, banked for the moment. Releasing her from his fingers took effort, but he managed it. As he looked into her eyes, he knew he wanted this. He wanted a life with her, no matter what it entailed. Inhaling, his nose flared gently, scenting her arousal.

Pain flared in his mouth as he bit the inside of his cheek, keeping his mind off fucking her. "Are you ready?" he whispered, cradling the side of her face, and kissed her lips gently.

He waited until she nodded before inhaling. Thomas knew the words by heart and instructed Maze to learn them. He felt the not-so-subtle nudge from the wolf to get the ceremony started.

"La răsăritul lunii… Îmi iau mâinile în ale tale… Să te iubesc și să te onoreze….. Tu ești a mea așa cum eu sunt a ta…. Fie ca iubirea noastră să fie eternă, " Thomas whispered gently against her lips. (At the rising of the moon…. I take my hands in yours…. To love and honor you…. You are mine as I am yours…. May our love be eternal.)

The words fell from his lips like a prayer. Once he started, he couldn't stop the words. He shivered as the already tight bond between them tightened further. He swayed dangerously, hearing Maze repeat the words to him. Her voice was soft, but the words clung to his psyche, warping him, tying him to her.

As the last syllable left her lips, Thomas pulled her into a searing kiss, his hands tugging at her clothes, trying to remove them as quickly as he could. Maze opened her mouth to his probing tongue, her own fingers unbuttoning his shirt before pushing it off his shoulders.

All he could think about was touching her bare skin. Thomas tugged her blouse down, exposing her bare shoulder to him. Lust roared in his ears as a hazy film slid over his eyes. His teeth ached seeing the unblemished skin. Kissing along her shoulder, his hand bunched her skirt before grabbing her thigh and slowly dragging them to the mound of blankets.

Maze grunted softly as she and Thomas fell onto the cushioned ground. Pulling his head toward hers, she found his lips as her hands pushed his shirt off his body. Calloused fingers skimmed her thigh, inching further between her legs. She groaned, bucking her hips into his when she felt his fingers swipe her soaked cunt.

Thomas groaned softly into Maze's chest, feeling her soaked cunt against his fingers. Gripping the offending article, he ripped her knickers, much to her surprise. He felt heat lick his skull as he kissed down her bare chest. Sliding his hands up the side of her bare thighs, he tugged her skirt from her hips before tossing the offending garment to the side.

His eyes slid over her bare frame, savoring each contour of her body. He couldn't wait to sink himself inside her. He wanted to hear her scream when he bit into her shoulder. Nimble fingers tugged on the button fly on his trousers, before lowering them to his knees. Kicking the trousers off, Thomas then lowered himself to capture Maze's lips with his own.

Settling between her inviting thighs, his cock brushed against her soaked cunt. Thomas gripped her wrists tightly, eliciting a small yelp from her. He loosened his grip, reminding himself not to hurt her. As he pinned her hands above her head, he entered her swiftly. Thomas gripped her hip, his mind stuttering as her tight walls wrapped around his cock.

His hand slid around to cup her arse, giving it a squeeze as he laid his head on her chest. Giving himself a minute, he curbed the urge to fuck her senseless. Maze rolled her hips into his, urging him to fuck her. He growled softly, raising his head to nudge her head over, exposing her neck to him.

Pinning her hips with his, Thomas slid from her heat before shoving back in. He felt the wolf shimmer on the surface of his skin as he fucked Maze. The noises escaping from her mouth urged him further to have her body any way he wanted. He felt his body tighten as he continued to fuck her. Angling his hips, he gripped her thigh and squeezed the flesh. He moaned low, feeling her walls clench around his cock as she came. Her arousal was thick in the air, suffocating him until he couldn't breathe.

"Mine," he grunted, his lips ghosting over the spot he wanted to bite. His fucking teeth ached for her flesh. Tightness coiled in his stomach as he felt his orgasm near. Thomas placed his hand on her wrists. Pinning her to the blankets as they fucked.

"Always mine," Thomas mumbled into her shoulder, kissing along the soft skin. She arched her body into his as his teeth nipped the flesh.

Thomas tried to hold off, but when Maze's slick walls tightened around his cock, the last of his will snapped. With a guttural roar as he orgasmed, Thomas bit down on her shoulder. Euphoria flooded his mind the second his teeth sank into her unblemished flesh. His body stiffened as his tongue tasted the coppery tang of blood. The wolf howled loudly in his head, relishing marking her.

Nothing prepared Maze for how much the bite would hurt as Thomas sank his teeth into her shoulder. Crying out in pain, she temporarily forgot how good the sex was. Curling her nails into the back of his head, she opened her eyes to look up at the starry sky. The fire burned brightly beside them, keeping them warm against the early spring night.

With a soft groan in her ear, she felt him release her shoulder and lay his head down on her shoulder. Maze felt the tight bond between them complete. Thomas's sweat soaked body lay prone on her, their legs tangled in a sweaty heap. She was his, just as now he was hers. Hopefully, she would have time to process everything before the wedding next week.

Thomas groaned, lifting his head slowly to look down at his mate . Her eyes opened, sensing someone watching her. Thomas gave her a smile, leaning down to kiss her swollen lips. Propping himself up on his shoulders, he gently slid from her warmth and rolled over, bringing her with him. Thomas laid on his back, his arm wrapped around his wife, and sighed contently.

Everything in his body was content. The wolf sighed happily, lazily. All the years of hunting and waiting for this moment were over. As he laid there, listening to the sounds of nature, he felt the pull of the moon. Tomorrow he would return to run in the hills. Caressing his hand slowly down Maze's arm, he felt her contentment.

In a few days, he would be married to her. Not like the human wedding mattered to him, but it was important to Maze and it would let everyone know she wasn't available. If he strained his ears, he could hear his pack wandering around the woods. He realized it was time to leave when he felt Maze shiver beside him.

Leaning up, he disentangled himself from her and felt her rest her head on his shoulder. Giving her a kiss on the head, he sighed.

"I love you," she whispered into his shoulder.

"And I, you…," Thomas muttered, "but you're cold."

"I am, but you can always keep me warm," she smiled coyly at him.

"Let me get us home and I will," he promised, raking his eyes hungrily over her body. He wanted her again. Wanted to touch and kiss her body until she begged for him to fuck her.

The hot fire warmed his bare back as his blue eyes roamed over her face. Her hair was a mess and her lips swollen, but she never looked more beautiful to him. He sucked in a sharp intake of air, seeing his teeth print embedded in her flesh. Lust ignited in his veins remembering how she tasted, how his teeth felt finally tasting her skin. The coloring was dark, and he was sure she'd bruise a little, but he didn't care about that.

Brushing his fingers across her jaw, he turned her head to him, his amber eyes scaling the other side of her neck and wanting to bite there as well. He wanted her flesh marred with his teeth. Thomas bit back a low moan when she turned her head away from him, letting him glimpse the bite mark he'd given her.

He felt his body stirring, his need for her growing the longer they laid there. Thomas would have taken her again outside by the fire, but she was cold. He sighed for the long journey back to their house. He'd never call it her house again. Giving her a light kiss on the lips, he turned to hunt down his discarded trousers and felt her move as well.

They dressed quickly. Maze winced when her slip strap rubbed against the bite mark on her shoulder, but tried to push it aside until they arrived home. Quickly, they mounted their horses. With a firm grip on the reins, Thomas leaned over to kiss his wife, his eyes flicking toward the bite mark.

Arriving home an hour later, Maze barely got the front door open before Thomas's lips found hers again.

Thomas grunted, sliding out of the Riley van and looked around as his feet touched the soft earth. His body shivered, uncontrollably remembering last night. Last night, he finally mated with Maze. Marked her flesh and then fucked her until daylight. His scent sinking into her pores. Tom gripped the door handle of the van, feeling the cold handle press into his sweaty palm.

If he could turn around and return home, he would. Casting his eyes toward the sky, he saw the moon hovering brightly in the near blackened sky. Of course, he knew it wasn't black, but shades of blue. His men piled out of the back of the van and conversed quietly. Some moved to find firewood and others talked amongst themselves. John and Arthur moved seamlessly through the small crowd, laughing and roughhousing. Tom cared nothing about it, but let his men participate in the tomfoolery. A long, low howl caught the attention of half the men. Heads turned toward the noise as excited growls spurred at the thought of a hunt. A shuffling in the bushes caught more attention.

Thomas rubbed the back of his head and walked to the spot for the campfire and slowly breathed in the night air. His body shook with excitement from last night. It was a night he knew he wouldn't forget. He closed his eyes, shivering as the images raced through his mind. Fishing a cigarette from his jacket, he lit it as men brought wood to burn. He watched with disinterest as they built a fire. Soon enough, he felt the warmth from the flickering flames wrap around his legs.

A cool breeze swept through the land, promising rain tomorrow. Tom paced around the fire, keeping warm until the moment. Men stopped to speak to him about nonsense and moved on. Tom sighed before frowning, seeing the time. His eyes shifted amber as he took on the scene and found a log. Taking a seat, he toed off his boots and removed his overcoat and jacket.

The men caught on and soon Tom could hear soft plopping of clothes and light jeering from his Pack. He loosened the button-fly on his trousers when felt the pain start at the base of his spine. Cursing softly, he ignored the initial pain but swore louder when it slowly wrapped itself around each of his vertebrae. The pain slithered like a snake around his spine and branched out through his muscles.

The second he dropped his shirt on his discarded trousers, he bit down hard on the inside of his cheek, bringing blood. His amber eyes rolled in the back of his head as he collapsed lightly on the log again and bent at the waist. He growled low, feeling his bones and joints shift . He vaguely heard the rest of his Pack collectively groan in pain. Tom rolled his head around, hearing the bones in his neck crack. Sliding off the log, he collapsed gently on the damp grass, feeling his wolf pushing to free itself from the confines of its prison.

He took another shuddering breath, feeling his lungs and heart constrict before releasing his wolf. He opened his eyes to a sharper world. Tom slowed his breathing and rose unsteadily on four legs and took several small steps before gaining his bearings. Turning to his Pack, fully formed, he howled and raced past the roaring fire and into the woods.

Polly Gray stood at the front door of Mazella's house and knocked impatiently. Her arms were heavy, loaded down with everything she would need to help Mazella. Behind her were Ada and Esme. Both ladies wanted to be there to get the newest family member ready for her big day, and Polly didn't have the heart to tell them no. Ada was more excited than Esme about her best friend's wedding.

The mating went as expected and as much as she wished to throw a celebration, Mazella convinced her to do it for the wedding reception. When she saw the new bride the day after the mating , it shocked Polly to see the bite mark that adorned Maze's shoulder. It was the first time in years since she'd seen a bite mark. The last time she saw one was Thomas's grandmother. Polly saw the mark briefly and wondered why anyone would let someone bite them.

Mazella hadn't spoken about that night, and Polly would not push her to speak about it. She figured it was something private, like a wedding night. Polly shifted her feet and huffed. She knew Mazella was home, but Tommy wasn't. With another hard knock, she faintly heard heavy footsteps coming from inside the house.

With a twist of the handle, Polly watched as Maze opened the door clad in a dark blue silk robe. Her wet hair pulled to the top of her head as she gazed at her intruders. "Today's the day," Polly entered her house, bypassing the younger woman with Ada and Esme in tow.

"Yes, it is…." Maze said, closing the door quietly.

"What?" Polly caught the look Maze gave the ladies. "We are here to get you ready for your wedding."

"Thank you," Maze nodded to the ladies.

"Now, where is your dress?" Polly asked, looking around downstairs.

Raucous laughter filtered around him as Thomas Shelby sat with his brothers and crew in celebration of his upcoming human wedding to Maze. Many of them were there the night he mated, but there wasn't a celebration that night. In front of him was a bucket of beer and two bottles of whiskey. The worn table was littered with empty beer mugs, tumblers, and assorted ashtrays.

He knew it was early to get drunk, but it wouldn't hurt to enjoy a drink or two. Maze would be with Polly and the ladies preparing for the wedding that afternoon. He knew she would be beautiful. The day after the mating , a small hand awoke him on his cock, which led to him devouring his mate .

He smirked, remembering that night. The night he finally succumbed to the wolf and tasted her flesh; marking for all to see. Thomas shivered, his teeth slightly throbbing. Since that night, he hadn't bitten her again, but he desperately wanted to.

"It's Arfur's turn!" John slurred, leaning back against the cushioned bench.

Thomas chuckled, raising his tumbler to his lips, and sipped the whiskey. The look of dismay crossed Arthur's face, causing everyone to laugh.

"No, it's bloody not," Arthur replied, shoving his younger brother on the shoulder and knocking John off the bench. "Th'ere's no woman for me." Arthur shook his head in agreement.

"No, 'e's too busy whorin' 'imself." John slurred, climbing from the floor to sit haphazardly on the bench.

Arthur glared at Thomas, who looked too amused by the conversation, before glaring at John. Bloody help the woman that married Arthur one day. Thomas almost felt sorry for the lady…. Almost. There were days he wondered how Esme dealt with John's house and kids.

Thomas pulled his pocket watch to check the time, noting the wedding would take place in a couple of hours. Shoving the timepiece away, he reached for his glass of whiskey and finished the amber liquid.

"Well boys," Thomas said, placing his hands on the table amidst the beer glasses, and stood up. "It's almost time. I'm about to be officially married."

A drunken, raucous cheer went up as Arthur, John, and Scudboat staggered to their feet. Thomas knew they would be presentable when the time came. He waited patiently for them to leave the room before he did. Thomas slipped on his coat, tucking his cigarette box in the pocket before leaving.

An hour later, Thomas found himself nudged out of Maze's house to dress elsewhere. It amused him that Ada refused to let him see Maze before the wedding. No matter, he would see her soon enough. Then tonight, after the reception was over, he would take her back here and strip her before fucking her till morning.

Thomas bit down on the inside of his cheek to keep the surge of lust in check lest he turn around and order everyone out of the house. The most important ceremony had taken place the week prior. This was for the humans and their law. Though he sensed it pleased his mate that he catered to a human wedding.

Thomas suppressed a shudder, thinking of the past week since the mating . The sex between them left him aching for more of her body and touch. His teeth left its mark on her flesh that night and he planned to bite her again. Thomas knew tonight would be no different. Entering his old lodging, he swallowed heavily, breathing the stale air. He checked the time again and sighed before dressing for his wedding.

He arrived with half an hour till the wedding. Blinders and Pack members stood around rough housing and sipped on beer. Thomas stood there momentarily, casually watching his men. Someone pressed a beer into his hand, causing him to glance over at Arthur. The last one of the Shelbys to marry sans Finn.

The Birmingham boys were there despite Maze's objection. She knew about the dissent between the two gangs and didn't want it at her wedding. Thomas wanted to oblige his wife, but he needed the Birmingham boys close to monitor them.

Raising the glass to his dry lips, he sipped the bitter liquid before lowering the glass.

"You ready for this?" Arthur asked, sipping on his beer.

Thomas rolled his head to the side, a warm breeze teasing his senses. He looked over Arthur critically, knowing the anger that lived deep in his brother's psyche. "I've been ready for this."

Arthur chuckled, shaking his head at his younger brother. While Thomas and John were ready for marriage, Arthur found he wasn't. He was too damaged in the head for a woman to deal with. Besides, he preferred having all the women he wanted at a drop of a hat. No one ever said no to a Shelby.

A loud cheer went up as the men caught sight of their Alpha. Thomas smiled behind his drink before taking another sip. Handing his beer to his brother, who turned and set it down on an empty table, Thomas fished out his box of cigarettes and removed one from the gold case. Lightning it quickly, Tom inhaled the nicotine and sighed.

Thomas looked around at the men congregating around him in a circle, pulling the cigarette from his lips. His inner circle stood close, their eyes wandering from their Alpha to their surroundings. "Today is my fucking wedding day," he began, ignoring the cheers around him.

John shifted from foot to foot, his eyes wandering around the reception area. Today reminded him of his own wedding to Esme. From the corner of his eyes, he saw the Brum boys wandering closer to the reception area. Narrowing his eyes, a low hiss escaped his lips, catching the attention of everyone around him. John hated the fuckers with a passion. He didn't mind the Lee's anymore since he married Esme. He pointed to a group of Brum boys wandering closer to the tent. John felt his wolf snarl in his head as his hackles were raised.

Since the death of Kimber, the Peaky Blinders had to deal with the leftover gang members of the Brum boys. With Kimber dead, many left, but those that were dedicated to the life stayed. Those were the ones that were placed in power and didn't wish to lose it. It caused too many fights between the Blinders and the Boys.

John looked at his older brother and caught the interest in Tommy's eyes. He was watching the Boys but did nothing about it. "You said it was gonna be a small wedding. What are they doing here?"

Thomas sighed seeing the Lee men standing around buckets of beer and rough housing. Behind them were Kimber's former men. He wasn't in the mood for hostility. The Lee's were kin through Esme's marriage to John. Well, properly kin. Their families went back decades between a few marriages and mostly from confrontations between them.

Some of the Birmingham boys were scattered around the wooded area for the wedding, watching the interaction. Thomas wasn't worried about the Lees getting rowdy, but he would monitor the Birmingham boys.

"They're here for security. Nothing more," Thomas assured John, who looked at his older brother incredulously.

Arthur gave a sideways glance at John conveying a silent message. They would discuss it later. Much later after Tommy left for his honeymoon. "Yea, well they better keep themselves away from us."

A quiet grumble filtered through the men, with many of them nodding at John's words. Thomas sighed internally, knowing that when he returned from his honeymoon, he would have to sit down with John, Arthur, and his inner circle. Maybe bring it to the table at a Pack meeting.

"None of us want them around Tommy," Arthur gestured his arm around, encompassing the Blinders and Pack. "We can't bloody trust 'em."

"Be that as it may, I want no fucking fighting," Thomas instructed, glaring at his inner circle.

His men groaned in their beer, shaking their heads at him. Thomas scowled behind his cigarette. Frankly, he didn't give a fuck if they didn't agree with him. He looked over Charlie's shoulder to see a few of the Birmingham boys staring at his inner circle. Many of them were scowling at him, their eyes calculating.

"This is Maze's day. I had mine last week with her. So for her sake, no blood." Thomas paused, glaring at each of his men. "No fucking fighting. And if you do anything... and I mean anything to embarrass her, I will fuck you up. No questions asked, eh?"

Thomas glared pointedly at each of his men before turning his head at the other men in the distance. His men all nodded reluctantly, grumbling under their breath.

Thomas angrily snatched the beer from the empty table and stalked off, flicking his cigarette in the short grass. Placing the glass to his lips, he finished the beer before setting it down hard on a table.

They would listen, or there would be hell to pay.

Later on, Thomas would remember pieces of the human wedding to Maze. Though he wouldn't forget how beautiful she was walking down the aisle toward him. He lacked knowledge of women's fashion, but could see a slip of her cleavage from the low cut scoop of the dress.

When she reached him, he instantly calmed. He stood before the priest, barely listening to the religious rhetoric. Maze pulled her eyes from the priest and caught Thomas's eye. She looked as impatient as he did for the priest to finish his speech. Behind her, he saw her close friend, Heather, watching the scene intently.

The woman's actions confused him, but he said nothing else. Maze would tell him afterward. When it was time for him to recite the vows, he repeated the words solemnly. The only words he cared about were the ones spoken last week.

"...I now pronounce you man and wife," the priest spoke, looking between Thomas and Maze. "You may kiss your bride."

Without hesitation, Thomas grabbed Maze gently and pulled her tightly to him before finding her supple lips. He wanted to devour her lips but kissed her slowly, savoring her lips.

The clapping behind them broke them apart, causing Maze to blush. He smirked, flicking his eyes toward his family, before looking at his wife.

His wife.

The words rolled around his head, his lust for her doubling. Releasing his wife, they turned to the crowd. Thomas gripped Maze's hand, leading her down the short aisle until everyone was behind them.

Once he and Maze returned from their small honeymoon, he would begin the next step of his ambition. After the death of Danny, Thomas sent another man to London, hoping to gain information about Alfie Solomons and Darby Sabini. He needed to know more about their territories and other gang leaders in and around London.

As he escorted Maze to the tent his men set up for the outside reception, he wondered why she chose such a simple day. Thomas truly wished to spoil her on this day, but she refused a church, citing she never wanted a church wedding despite being raised Catholic.

The only damper Maze found during that day was the lack of family on her side. Not that she minded all the Shelby's there, they would always be considered family to her, but it would have been nice to have her actual family there. Though she knew it would be impossible for them to be there. Thankfully, Heather filmed the wedding with the recording contacts. Maze caught Thomas staring intently at Heather, but didn't inquire what her friend was doing.

As the family cheered for their nuptials, Maze found herself stunned. In neither lifetime did she ever think she'd marry. Especially to an early twentieth century gangster. As she turned her head to peek through the lace veil at Thomas, she briefly wondered what kind of life they would lead.

While many women would buck up to the idea of being permanently bound to a man, she wasn't. She knew who and what he was a long time ago, though she imagined she would be a witness to his wedding, not be the bride. From the corner of her eye, she caught a flash of amber from his blue eyes and shivered deliciously. Tonight's wedding night would be satisfying. As they walked to the tent that Thomas' boys set up, she couldn't wait until that night.

The afternoon was filled with frivolities as his family danced and drank to their hearts' content. Maze even dragged him to the makeshift dance platform to dance with her. As he held her close, he breathed her in. His eyes roamed over the slope of her neck, catching the imprint of teeth underneath her makeup.

His arms tightened around her waist as lust rumbled in his veins. Inhaling sharply, he couldn't wait for that night. In two days, they would set course to New York for a honeymoon that he hadn't spoken to her about. Thomas knew his wife was half American and would appreciate going somewhere familiar, even if it was a century in the past.

Not that anyone knew about her heritage.

A tinkling of glass caught his attention as he paused his feet. Arthur stood there waiting for everyone to notice him. When the noise didn't die down, Arthur snarled and pulled out his Webley. Thomas rolled his eyes at his brother, wishing the man had listened to him.

A shot fired in the air caught everyone's attention. The talking ceased as Arthur shoved his gun back into his shoulder holster. Thomas turned to Maze, hoping she wasn't upset by Arthur's actions. Seeing her roll her eyes at his older brother calmed him. Thomas pulled Maze into his arms, her warm body close to his.

"Now that I've gotten everyone's attention," Arthur began, looking around the crowd of people. He turned his attention to the married couple standing on the makeshift dance floor. "It's taken both of you years to get here. We all wondered when Tommy would finally snatch Maze up and make an honest woman out of her. Of course, many of us didn't know until last December." The crowd chuckled as Thomas pulled Maze close, kissing her forehead.

Arthur took a breath and tossed back his whiskey. He sat the tumbler down before wiping his mouth. "I just wanna tell everyone that I wish the best and all the happiness to Tommy and Mazie."

Everyone raised their glasses, beer mugs and tin cups to cheer for the newlyweds. Tugging his smiling wife back to the table, he waited till she sat before sitting beside her and reached for his half empty beer. Thomas leaned back in his chair, watching the crowd.

The Birmingham boys were close by, their eyes keeping track of the movement of people. Most were enjoying the free beer as a few of them wandered around. Thomas understood the animosity between the two gangs. It made him wonder how long it would take before someone got hurt.

It warranted further watching.

Maze sighed happily at seeing her house again after being gone for a little over a month. Her eyes wandered around the Lane, noting nothing had changed in their month's absence. While she immensely enjoyed the honeymoon in New York, she was happy to be home. She waited as Thomas parked the car before turning it off. A warm breeze filtered through the open car, ruffling her hair.

Two days after the wedding, Thomas sprung two tickets to New York for their honeymoon. It excited her to no end that he would be all right traveling across the Atlantic for America. Though she hadn't expected the voyage to take almost a month, but it was interesting to live on a ship.

Intellectually, she knew New York would be vastly different in 1920 than it would be in the future, and the shock alone unnerved her. Maybe it was because the last time she had been in New York, she was getting on an airplane to fly to London.

They spent two weeks enjoying the city and each other. Thankfully, nothing happened, but she could see Thomas' eyes wander around, looking for opportunities to expand his business. She didn't mind it, knowing it would be years before Thomas planted his feet in America.

But she knew it would happen.

A car door slammed loudly to her side, startling her from her thoughts. Maze turned her head to see Thomas step out of the driver's side and around to open her door. He stopped on her side, his hand clenched tightly against the door handle and leaned into the car to kiss her. His warm lips caressed hers as he pulled the door open, releasing her.

Following Thomas to the front door, she smiled seeing him retrieve the door key, letting them inside the cleaned house. Polly and Ada must have kept it cleaned while they were gone. The house was warm as her eyes roamed around the foyer. She yawned lightly as she opened the curtains in the front parlor, letting in natural sunlight.

Maze frowned at her tiredness. She hadn't felt well the past few weeks, sleeping far more than normal. Shucking her jacket, she draped it on the wingback chair and reminded herself to move it to the coat rack in the hallway.

"... Set the trunks in the master bedroom," she turned as Thomas directed his men carrying their luggage. Two more men walked in carrying Thomas's trunk and headed up the stairs to the second floor.

She caught his eye and shivered internally at seeing the lust filter through his blue eyes. Maze wet her lips, remembering the past couple of months and the sex that followed. Since their bonding, she noticed there was something... different about the sex.

Before their bonding, the sex and seduction were heavy. It made her knees weak and her heart speed up. But now, she sighed as she bit down on the inside of her cheek; it was like the sexual emotion bordered on upheaval. There were times that he barely caressed her skin, transforming her into a lust ridden submissive.

She didn't understand her increased sensitivity to him, but chalked it up to their bond. Maze heard the front door close quietly as Thomas stepped in front of her, pulling her closely. "Now," he murmured against her lips, "that we're alone…."

Her breath hitched in her throat, feeling a swell of lust pour between them. Her brain still stuck on the sexual relationship between them was her last thought before his lips descended on hers and she forgot to think.

Thomas Shelby paused his hand on the doorknob of his…. house. He had decided that after the wedding, he would officially move into Maze's house. It had worried him since her brother could show any time and retake the house. Jacob went to war with the rest of the men from Small Heath, but one of the few that didn't return.

Maze insisted her brother wasn't dead. She hadn't received a missive that Jacob Hawthorne had died in battle, nor was he missing in battle. He didn't like her living with that uncertainty. Not that it mattered. If Jacob returned to Small Heath and reclaimed the family home, Thomas would buy them another house.

Business was doing exceedingly well since his takeover of Kimber's businesses and territory. There hadn't been any more rows between his men and the Birmingham boys. At least none that he was aware of. Once he returned to his office, he would find out. He also missed two full moons and needed to call a Pack meeting.

The past month was something he desperately needed. Time alone with his wife hadn't been a burden but fruitful. Though he kept his eyes open during their honeymoon, he spent more time wrapped in her arms and between her thighs. Not that he complained about it.

Thomas opened the front door of his house and walked down the fixed sidewalk to the Lane. He would spend this morning walking, immersed in his own thoughts, rather than driving. The air was warming as summer approached. The local fair would come around soon. Maybe this year he would take Maze to the fair since last year he provoked a war with the Lee family.

The Garrison was quiet as he pulled the green double doors open, letting in the early morning air in. Thomas pushed the door open to his room, removing his hat and jacket before sitting down. Laying on the table was a copy of the Birmingham Mail , waiting for him to read. He'd done his best to keep up with the news while away on his honeymoon, but Thomas wasn't interested in American politics and news…not yet, at least.

He could hear the squeak of the hinges on the pass thru window as a quiet thunk rattled the wood. Twisting his head around, Thomas saw a bottle of unopened Bushmill's sitting there, along with a tumbler. Shaking his head, he grabbed the bottle and set it on the table before reaching for his cigarette box and plucking one from the box and lighting it.

As he sat reading the paper, the bottle of whiskey unopened, he carefully formulated a plan to expand his business and territory. First, since they were making more money, he would purchase several of the pubs that paid him protection money. Thomas tapped the cigarette against the side of the ashtray and frowned.

They would lose the protection money income, but Shelby Company would have better financial growth buying the pubs. It would be easy to place a couple of men at each pub, making sure to keep fights and intimidation away. He would check the numbers when he arrived at his office later. Thomas wanted to expand and control as much as he could in the Birmingham area before his expansion into London.

Thomas snapped the paper closed when he realized he read the same sentence three times. It slid across the table before dipping off and falling gently to the floor. The unopened bottle of Bushmill's sat there enticing him, but he shook his head and picked it up to set it back on the wooden shelf.

He grabbed his jacket, shoving his arms in the sleeves before exiting the room. Thomas closed the door quietly, seeing the pub filled with patrons. Harry stepped out of the back room and paused his step at seeing his boss. No words were said as Thomas eyed the barkeep. The double doors opened behind Thomas, revealing Ronin, the barkeep Arthur had hired after Grace's departure.

Tom learned his lesson with Grace. Everyone would be investigated before they were hired, especially at any of his businesses.

Thomas didn't have a problem with whom Arthur hired as long as the arsehole did his job and did not spy on the Shelbys. Giving the two men a look, Thomas left the pub and stepped out into the warm late May weather. His walk to the Shelby house was quiet in his head, but loud around him. The small town was busy with humans milling around as men stood around talking loudly.

The line was quite long as Thomas approached the Shelby house. Since his takeover of Kimber's tracks, the men could bet more freely. The Peaky Blinders controlled five to six of the best pitches on every track they owned, which meant more money for everyone. He placed many of the Brum boys, as well as his own, at the tracks to protect the bookies in Newmarket, Chester, and York for the May races.

Entering the house, the chinking of money falling into bins and wooden tables touched his sensitive ears. Removing his hat, he shoved it in his jacket pocket and maneuvered around the throng of men standing in line. He returned nods of the standing men before entering the den. His eyes roamed the large room, the well-used blackboard in the far back, and the addition of two new tables.

His office door was closed, but he knew there would be work to do. He found Arthur leaning against the door frame, watching everyone work. From his vantage, it looked like Arthur was the boss. Well, he was, until Thomas returned from his honeymoon.

"Tommy!" Arthur called out with a slight cheerfulness to his voice. The entire room ceased activity, turning to see their boss and Alpha standing before them.

"Gentleman," Thomas tilted his head in recognition.

The moment was over as the men turned back to their work. Thomas walked through the den to Arthur's office, where his brother let him inside the room before closing the door. The noise level outside the office ensured they had privacy. Thomas stood in front of Arthur's desk as his older brother there himself into his chair.

"So you're back," Arthur began, trying to keep the bitter disappointment from his tone.

Thomas nodded shortly. "I am. How's business going?"

Arthur reached for an empty tumbler, filling it with whiskey before leaning back into his chair and sipped it slowly. He wondered how much he wanted to tell Tommy. The two months his older brother had been gone, Arthur reveled in the fact that he was acting boss. Everyone listened to him, following his directions about the business. Everything went smoothly while Tommy was gone. Though it angered him he was only 'acting boss'.

While Arthur didn't want to credit the successful business to Tommy, Arthur had to admit he did like the free flowing money. No one ever said no to a Blinder but now the Shelby's owned all of Kimber's race tracks and businesses. The only thing that wasn't given to the Peaky Blinders was Kimber's former home. Arthur would have taken the house, but it wouldn't be right. Kimber's widow lived there.

"Business," Arthur scrunched up his face, setting the tumbler down on the desk, is fine."

Thomas arched an eyebrow, his expression never wavering. He knew Arthur would deflect the truth from him. His brother wouldn't lie to him, but Thomas knew Arthur could and would avoid telling him everything. Much of what happened in his absence he would learn on his own.

"Is it?" Thomas inquired.

"Yea, it is," Arthur said shortly, glaring at his older brother.

Thomas said nothing, but stared unflinchingly at his older brother. When Arthur didn't budge, Thomas gave him a sharp nod of the head and walked out of the office, intent on slamming the door in disapproval but refrained. There wasn't a need to cause a scene, especially in front of people.

Entering his office, he saw a stack of ledgers sitting there untouched. They were for him to check. Thomas removed his jacket, hanging it on the coat rack before fishing out his cigarette box and matches. As Thomas sat down in the creaky chair, his mind drifted to Arthur's lack of information and antagonizing attitude. He was fully aware his brother enjoyed being the boss while Thomas was gone, but the boss returned.

If Arthur would not tell him what he needed to know, he would find Polly. Polly might keep her secrets but she wouldn't hesitate to talk business. It would take a few days before he would have all the information he needed. Once things settled, Thomas would draft his future plans.

Grace Burgess tapped her nails on the windowsill as her eyes followed the rain that streamed down the pane. It had been months since her arrival to America. Her departure from Birmingham left a hole in her heart. No matter how angry she was at Thomas Shelby, she still loved him. She still wanted him.

But now an ocean separated them.

The pitter patter of rain was the only sound in the room besides her sighs. She was never one to pine away over a man, but there was something about Thomas Shelby that made her heart throb. She didn't care about the dangerous or illegal situations he found himself in. In fact, she mused, it would be thrilling to have that kind of adventure in her life.

Maybe that's what drove her to him. He was the complete antithesis of the good man. The complete opposite of her father and uncle. She tried doing the right thing, but there was something thrilling about doing the wrong thing. Grace shook her head from those thoughts. She needed to focus on her life and the next step to take. She tore her eyes from the drizzling rain to look around her borrowed room.

When she stepped off the walkway from the ship, she met with her distant aunt and uncle. Her Aunt Lucinda gave her a tight, sympathetic hug. While her family didn't know the intricate details of what happened to her in Birmingham, she told her Aunt Lucinda about her recent breakup. Her Uncle Robert asked her about the slip for her trunk retrieval. She handed it to him and watched as he turned to leave.

A quiet knock interrupted her morose thoughts. She turned her head just in time to see her Aunt Lucinda poke her head through the door. The woman's slight gray hair was wrapped tightly in a low bun that teased the back of her neck. When Grace said nothing, her aunt smiled at her.

"You have been invited to a party, Grace," Lucinda said abruptly, getting to the point. In her mind, her niece had plenty of time to mourn the loss of a love. It was time to move on. It was why she planned this small get together. The poor girl needed a husband.

"Have I?" Grace furrowed her brow, giving her aunt a curious look.

"Yes," her aunt said, coming into the room and closing the door softly behind her. "I do hope you have something lovely to wear."

"Like a red dress….," Grace muttered quietly enough that her aunt didn't hear her. Schooling her face, she plastered on a false smile. "I do and I would love to go."

It was at the same party that she met Clive Macmillan. Turns out he was a rich banker that took a great interest in Grace.

While her heart pined away for Thomas Shelby, she understood that this would be an excellent opportunity for her to live her life away from Birmingham. Clive wouldn't force her to work, but to become a mother and wife for him. It was far easier employment than a cop. When he proposed, she said yes to him.

Their wedding turned into a lavish affair. One that Grace enjoyed immensely, but wished the groom was different. For now, she would aside her thoughts on Thomas Shelby, but he never strayed too far from her mind. She would meet him again one day and this time she would convince him properly that she would be a good wife and mother to his children. She would let him know Mazella Hawthorne couldn't hold a candle to what she had to offer.

Thomas opened the front door of his house, shutting the door quietly as he looked around for his wife. The house looked like it was half kept, which surprised him since he knew she preferred to keep a clean house daily. For her not to take care of her home, something severe happened.

He removed his jacket, hanging it up before rolling his hat and shoving it in the jacket pocket. As he scanned the downstairs parlor, he saw her favorite blanket bunched at the end of the sofa. Thomas felt a heavy breeze filter through the room, airing it out. Listening, he turned his head toward the stairs. There was a low hum that became louder as he climbed the stairs to the second floor.

Fully pushing the door open to her office, he stepped inside where the hum was loudest and saw the portal door open. Furrowing his brow, he pursed his lips, wondering why she would be in the future without letting him know. Tom walked over to her desk, hoping for a note, but found none. He caught a flash of silver and turned to see the bracelet inside the cedar box. He knew it was the only way to get through the portal.

Slipping it on his right wrist, he inhaled sharply, wishing for a cigarette. As he walked through the portal, he squinted against the bright sunlight illuminating the parlor. A slight panic came over him seeing a different home. The last time he'd been here she lived in an apartment, but this was a house. He wasn't aware that she moved nor pleased that she didn't inform him she moved locations in the future.

A bit of calm came over him, seeing the same furniture and curtains. At least she didn't change those out. The curtains were opened, letting in plenty of light. The flat panel gadget wasn't on either. One would think she had no power, but he heard something turn on and the house began to cool. Listening, he looked around his wife's modern home, hoping he could hear her. The home was quiet, devoid of life sans himself.

Frowning, he pushed down the urge to storm out of her modern home to hunt her down, but stopped himself as he didn't know where she could have gone. The future wasn't familiar to him unlike his own time. Thomas knew better than to panic. Instinctively he knew she could take care of herself in the future, but it didn't stop the low growl that threatened to escape. He walked down to her bedroom, hoping she'd be in there but wasn't.

Running his hand over his mouth, he walked into her kitchen and opened the fridge. He knew she wasn't in there, but checked to see if it was full of food. If it was bare or close too, she would shop, but it was stocked. As he closed the fridge door to leave the kitchen, he heard the sound of a motor. He paused his step, listening. A few minutes passed, and he finally heard movement coming from the outside.

The jingling of the door caught his attention, and he felt his body stiffen for a battle. If someone was trying to break into his wife's home, they would have to go through him. Thomas counted down from ten in his head as the doorknob twisted and the door kicked open. He sighed in relief to see his wife standing in the doorway. She was dressed in a short dress that teased the tops of her knees and unrecognizable shoes. She carried three bags in her left hand as she turned to close the door, oblivious that her husband was standing behind her.

Her startled scream resulted in her dropping her bags. Thomas held his hands up in peace, watching her until she calmed down.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, leaning down to pick up her bags before walking over to him.

Thomas watched her approach, his eyes sliding over her body, trying to glean anything from her and failing. When she stepped into his personal space, he inhaled slightly, his nostrils flaring gently. He heard the wolf whine quietly, breathing in the scent of his mate . His nose twitched under the assault of her natural scent and something that lurked underneath. Something that he wasn't used to.

"Where were you?" He muttered, dipping his head down until his lips brushed hers. A wandering hand slid down her arse, giving it a squeeze. He inhaled again, trying to discern the scent. It drove him mad.

Maze bit back the surprised yelp as a wave of lust swam between them. She swallowed heavily as her body reacted to his not so innocent advances. Closing the distance between them, she succumbed to his kiss. His lips dragged over hers as his tongue teased her before deepening the kiss. Her fingers itched to undress him, but she didn't want to be distracted.

Since their arrival home, she hadn't felt well. It didn't worry her until she dozed off this morning at the kitchen table with a dishcloth in her hands. When she awoke, she nearly fainted back into the chair. Realizing something was wrong, she figured a trip to the clinic wouldn't hurt. The results weren't quite what she was expecting.

" Tom ," she muttered as he pulled away from her to kiss along her jaw until his lips found her throat. She bit back a moan, feeling his teeth nip at her jugular. The bigger bites were still painful, whereas the small nips made her boneless.

Thomas grunted low in his throat as he pulled his mate tighter to him. His lips trailed down the side of her throat to the spot where he first bit her. Her scent didn't smell like him, but wherever she journeyed. He didn't like it and wanted to slowly tear her dress off and fuck her.

He heard his name muttered in his ear, slowing his movements a little. Thomas pulled his head up slowly, nudging their noses together in light touches until her eyes fluttered open. Brown eyes bore into his amber ones for a moment as he gained a grip on himself. He wanted her, hell he always wanted her, but they couldn't fuck all the time.

"I-," Maze moistened her lips, trying to re-engage her brain. Shaking her head, she fought for focus. "I have something for you."

Thomas arched an eyebrow at her. She left their timeline to buy something for him? He figured it wasn't for anything important, but knowing his wife, it could be anything. Achingly, he stepped back from her so she could retrieve whatever she bought for him.

He watched her with trepidation as she smiled, her eyes alight, as she lowered down to pick up one of the bags. It was small compared to bags he had seen before and gave her a confused look. Maze simply smiled at him and encouraged him to open it.

Hesitantly, he opened the bag to find a pair of baby shoes. Raising an eyebrow at the unusual gift, he flicked his eyes to his wife, who was grinning madly. Thomas wondered for half a second why she would give him baby shoes when his eyes widened comically.

"We're pregnant," he murmured, dropping the bag before he lowered himself to his knees and kissed her stomach reverently. Thomas rested his head against her stomach and exhaled deeply.

Maze smiled and looked down at the top of Thomas's head. "Not quite how I wanted to tell you," she chuckled lightly, running her fingers through his hair.

Thomas winced, hearing the wolf howl loudly in joy at the prospect of a young one. His future heir to his burgeoning empire he was building. While a part of him wished they had waited for children, it thrilled him she was pregnant. Rising to his feet, he pulled his wife into a deep kiss as he dragged her gently to the bedroom, kicking the door closed.

A gentle snore caught his attention half an hour after he made love to his wife. He looked down to see his wife curled against him, her hair missed and a smile bloomed on his face. He hadn't expected to find out he was going to be a father when he stepped through the portal to hunt down his wife. A thrill rushed through him, knowing in a few short months he was going to be a father.

Though, he mused, looking down at his sleeping wife, he would have to up the protection for her and his unborn child. He knew she would argue with him about protection, but he felt it would be necessary if things became untenable. The house wasn't as secure as he'd like it. Smiling in the semi-darkness, he couldn't wait for the pregnancy announcement.

The Pack would celebrate for their Alpha's future heir. While this son, and he was sure it was a boy, wouldn't step into the Alpha position when he became of age, he would shift and run the company one day. The family would happily welcome a new member of the Shelby clan.

Time would only tell how his life would turn out. He hoped for the best and prepared for the worst.