Makenna rubbed her nose against his. “You look tired. You fed me a lot of energy.”

According to Ally, who had earlier called to check on Makenna, his mate would have died long before Ally had arrived if he hadn’t lent her his strength. “You said you love me.” Again with the blurting things out.

She smiled. “That’s because I do.”

He closed his eyes, letting that soothe him. “No one’s ever said that to me before.” He slid his hand up to span her throat, wanting to feel her pulse beating beneath his thumb.

Her brows flew up. “Never?” God, his parents were assholes. “Come inside me, Ryan. I know you want to.”

He did want to. He wanted to assure himself in the most basic way that she was alive. “You’ve been unconscious for nine hours. You need food and—”

“You. Just you.” She writhed beneath him, tempting him. “Come inside me.”

He shouldn’t. He should have some food brought in and—

“Ryan, please. I need this too.”

Fuck it. He used his fingers to ready her to take him. Then he hiked up her leg and slid inside her, groaning as her pussy contracted around him. He took her with slow, deep, deliberate thrusts. The whole time, he kissed her—sharing breaths, groans, and gasps. And when he shoved himself deep and exploded, he buried his face in the crook of her neck and growled her name. “I love you, Kenna.”

She smiled. “I know. I feel it.” It was like a glow inside her.

Without leaving her body, he rolled onto his back, taking her with him.

She propped her chin on his chest as he grabbed his cell phone from the cabinet. “Who are you texting?”

“Grace. You need food. You lost a lot of blood.” He put down his phone. “Be warned, the room is going to fill up. There are a lot of people waiting to see you.” He’d been chasing them off, insisting she needed her rest. “Let’s get you showered.”

As they were dressing a short while later, a knock came at the door. “Open up!” called Grace.

Makenna held up her arms so Ryan could slip on her T-shirt. “I can go eat in the kitchen, you know.”

He shook his head. “You’re not at one hundred percent yet.”

She couldn’t deny that. But she’d be damned if she’d voice aloud just how weak she truly felt. “Okay.” She sighed as she sat, lotus style, in the middle of the bed.

“I’ll be back soon.”

She frowned. “Where are you going?”

Hand on the doorknob, he glanced over his shoulder. “To live up to a promise.”

With that mysterious answer, he left. Grace entered with a tray of food. Zac, Dawn, and Madisyn trailed behind her. Eyes teary, Zac gave her a tight hug that belied his typical teenage cool act and chatted with her for a short while. Then, complaining he had something in his eye, he left with Dawn. Madisyn stayed while Makenna ate, lecturing her for getting shot.

Each of the Phoenix wolves came to see Makenna, a few at a time. They all expressed their relief that she was fine. Rhett wanted to hear about what it was like to almost die and if she’d seen any bright lights. At that point, Grace shoved him out of the room.

Riley, Savannah, Dexter, and Kye then came inside. The kids leaped onto the bed, kissing her cheeks and showing her pictures that they’d doodled for her. Well, Dexter’s was more of a balled-up piece of paper, but the gesture was still there.

As the three children ran out of the room, laughing, Riley said, “Taryn’s offered to let Dexter and Savannah stay here permanently.”

Madisyn took a sip of Makenna’s coffee. “Really?”

Having seen how closely the children had bonded with Kye and how much Taryn adored them, Makenna wasn’t actually that surprised. “How do you feel about that?”

Riley smoothed out a wrinkle on the bedsheet. “It would be good for them, right? To have a real home.” Her reluctance to part with them was clear in her tone.

“I don’t think they’ll stay behind, Riley,” said Makenna. “They’re too attached to you. They love you.”

“Yeah, but they love you and Zac too. You guys live here now.”

Makenna patted her hand. “They love you more.”

Riley shifted uncomfortably. “Taryn said I could stay with them until they feel settled enough to stay without me. She said I could have a permanent place here too—”

“She said what?” Greta was in the doorway with Tao, whose eyes were locked on Riley with an intensity that the raven failed to notice.

“Aw, have you come to check up on me?” asked Makenna, smiling.

Greta’s upper lip curled back. “I was rather hoping you didn’t wake up at all. No such luck. Now I’m stuck with you and her!”

Riley sighed. “Look, Gretchen—”

“It’s Greta.”

“I don’t care.”

The kids all scurried back into the bedroom, and Dexter headed right for the tray.

Riley sighed. “Dexter, don’t stuff more food in your pockets.” Her tone was gentle but firm. The toddler looked at her with an expression that said, “Why?” Then he shoved a slice of apple down his shirt. “Savannah, stop hissing at Gretchen. Or, at least, don’t hiss so loud.”

Kye chuckled and then mimicked the action, making Greta gasp in horror at her grandson. That had Savannah laughing with an evil glee in her eyes.