Their love.

“Are you immortal?”

He laughed. “No. I age, like you.”

“Gorman and you argued about the harm of the gun.”

“A silver bullet can kill me during the change and after but not before. They hurt like hell, but their not fatal.”

“I don’t understand. Gorman came armed. Ready to kill you.”

Max’s gaze focused on the children who played alongside the ponies. “Gorman could have shot me before the change, weakened me. After he would have done his best to take me out. We’re most vulnerable during the change. The folklore about silver bullets holds some truth. Your aim must have hit his black heart dead center.”

“You would recover from a bullet wound? Even if you were shot right now?”

“I heal quickly. We all do.”

The nurse in her struggled with his explanations, then again she had seen him morph into an animal. What could be harder to explain than that? “If we... if I were to be with you, would I have to change?”

“No. Is that what has you worried?”

“It has crossed my mind.”

Max lifted her chin and met her eyes. “I won’t lie to you. If another like Gorman came our way, you might choose my life. Gorman wanted you as his. He would have turned you. If I hadn’t been there to protect you, you would’ve found yourself howling on the next full moon.”

“Would I have been evil, like him?”

“Yes.”

Her hands clutched the stems of the roses. Small thorns pricked her skin. If what he said was true, and she believed it was, she owed him her life. He had saved her; he loved her. She couldn’t lie to herself anymore. Max already had her heart. She gave it to him long before Gorman had kidnapped her.

“I can protect you. I will guard you with my life.”

Janet pushed the roses off her lap and wrapped her arms around him. He pulled her close and gave a fierce hug. The relief of being in his arms renewed the tears that plagued her day and night since she left him. Wolf or not, she loved him, couldn’t imagine her life without him.

“Let me protect you.”

“What am I going to do with you?” She laughed against his chest. “I’m allergic to dogs.”

“Good thing I’m not one.”

“What if I start sneezing when were fifty and can’t stop?”

He took her in with hopeful eyes. “I’ll shave.”

Her laugh continued. “I suppose allergy medications will be better by then.”

“Or they will still make you sleepy. In that case we can stay in bed.” His lips caught hers, sealing his feelings and hers in a passionate kiss.

He protested when she pulled away. “I can think of worse things than staying in bed,” she said against his lips.

His hands caught her hair. His blue eyes pierced her soul. “I love you, Janet O’Brien. Marry me.”

“This is crazy!”

“Marry me.”

“I’m in love with a dog.”

He smiled, not missing her words. “I’m a wolf.”

“I’m going to be Mrs. Wolf.”

His lips tugged, his dimples flashed. “You’re going to be Mrs. Ritter.”

Plastered against him, Janet did indeed feel his heart beat with hers. With their mixing of breath and passion, he vowed words of love. “I will show you my love everyday.”

“And on the nights of the full moon?” she asked.

“I will make love to you early, before the moon rises.”