That night, others from the clan arrived at Gage's cabin. There, they began to dismantle his cabin piece by piece, carrying his possessions deeper into the woods. What was left of the bodies of Miles and his men were taken and disposed of in an old abandoned mine, and Lacey was carried gently through the forest by the Elder.
There was no evidence that they had ever been there, and as it was, Gage's and Lacey's previous lives were now no more.
Gage was badly injured, and so was taken to be treated by the clan doctors. It took two hours to reach the clan homeland, and in that time the Elder was both welcoming and supportive.
"Did you feel anything strange when you left Gage for Wild Cove?" The Elder's voice growled affectionately as he plodded through the trees.
"Yes… It was odd. Like a hunger to be with him. I've never experienced anything like that before," Lacey said, puzzled.
"What you experienced was The Bond. It normally happens between shifters when they mate for life. It's rare that it happens with a pure blood and a shifter, but I could sense it in you. You and Gage have bonded out of love, for that reason, by our rules that means that you may become a member of our clan, if you choose to…"
Lacey didn't know what to say, but her feelings for Gage were so strong that she knew she didn't want to be apart from him. The forest called to her, and while she would never be a shifter herself, the idea of living among them with Gage appealed greatly to her. Away from the outside world, away from running all the time. Away.
She was stunned when she saw where they lived as the tree line receded. Beautifully crafted wooden houses lined many streets, home to a town of at least a few thousand people. Some were in bear form, others human, but it was peaceful, beautiful, and Lacey finally realised what she'd always been missing. A place to call home.
It was a week before Gage recovered. They'd had to operate on him, he'd been shot three times and was still carrying wounds from the tournament.
The Elder had decided that it was too dangerous for him to remain outside for now, that the police would come looking for Miles, and it was better off if they found nothing, including Gage. Marlow had taken them in and given them the run of his home.
After Gage was given the all clear, the bonding became too much for both Lacey and her shifter man. They yearned for each other. That night, Gage lifted Lacey up into his strong arms and carried her to their bedroom. She had fantasised about this since she'd met him, desiring Gage more than anyone she'd ever met. She wanted him, and he wanted her. But it was more than just lust, there was love between them, and this was the first time they'd had a chance to express it physically.
Gage lay Lacey down on a wide double bed and sat next to her.
"Are you sure you want to stay here in the forest with me and my people?" he said gently.
Lacey smiled. She wanted that more than anything. "I would love to be here, as long as I can be with you."
"Always," said Gage, brushing Lacey's hair away from her face with his hand.
Lacey moved closer to Gage on the bed. As he caught her scent, he felt a deep yearning beneath. Lacey moved her hand down Gage's clothed body, feeling his hardness underneath his jeans.
Gage pulled Lacey close to him, and as she did so she rubbed herself against him. Then, they kissed. Soft and gentle at first, and then filled with passion. Their mouths opened and their tongues touched, tasting each other.
Undressing Lacey carefully, Gage placed his hands on her body. He felt her curves, her petite waist, her full and soft breasts. He lay on top of her, kissing passionately as his hand caressed her face, her neck, and then her breasts.
Lacey quivered under his touch. The bond had primed them both for this, but there was no mistake — they had chosen to be together, The Bond had only followed that instinct, that calling.
Gage kissed Lacey's neck slowly, and then moved down her body. His tongue ran down over her left breast, and then he took her nipple into his mouth. He sucked and teased it with his tongue, and as he did so, Lacey's nipples hardened.
Deep below, Lacey was growing wetter by the second. Each touch, ever caress was driving her into a frenzy of ecstasy. She wanted him so badly, but he wasn't finished enjoying her, enjoying every moment.
He ran his tongue down her body, and then kissed the inside of her thighs slowly. Lacey could barely contain her excitement and let out a loud groan of pleasure. Gage continued up her leg, until he reached her pussy. At first he teased her clitoris with his tongue, before sliding his tongue deep inside her. The taste of Lacey ran into his mouth, and as it did, Gage let out a grizzled groan of pleasure.
Lacey looked down her body, and saw Gage as he pleasured her with his mouth and tongue. His eyes glistened gold, his hair resting on his shoulders, and more than at any point before, she wanted him inside of her.
But not before she had her fun.
Lacey groaned loudly as she experienced an orgasm building up through her body. Once it had passed, she gently pulled Gage up towards her, and then lay him flat on the bed. She ran her tongue down his chiselled body. She flicked her tongue over his nipples and solid pecs. She then ran her hands all over his abs. He looked like he was cut out of stone, but his body felt soothing and warm to the touch.
She ran her tongue over his body before finally placing her hand on his cock. He was big, though not so big that he would hurt her. She giggled to herself as she thought it's just right, everything's just right. Lacey moved her hand up and down his hard shaft as she smiled at him. He grinned back, almost squirming with pleasure.
Lacey then slowly licked the head of his cock, before licking from the bottom of the shaft all the way to the top. She grew wetter as she did so, thinking of his cock inside her. She then took him inside her mouth. He was warm and hard, and she looked at her man with wide beautiful eyes, and moved her head up and down slowly, sensually, each time running her tongue underneath his cock.
Gage grinned from ear to ear with pleasure. That made Lacey feel good. He'd protected her. He'd risked his life, and she wanted to make him feel good.
Pulling his cock out of her mouth, Lacey then ran her tongue down his penis to his balls and gently teased them with her tongue.
The pleasure was too much for Gage. He lifted Lacey up in his strong, firm arms and then placed her on her back. He parted her legs, running his hand over her pussy. Placing his finger inside, Lacey groaned again in pleasure.
"I want you inside me," she said. "Do you want me?"
"I need you," Gage said, and with one careful movement, he rubbed his cock against her pussy. The tip grew wet, and as he teased the opening, Lacey grabbed hold of his back, digging her fingers into his muscular shoulders.
He liked it, the animal inside him liked it too.
Gage lay on top of Lacey, kissing her gently, before finally pushing his cock inside her. Lacey had yearned for it, and now her body responded with waves of pleasure. She smiled, thinking again that Gage was the perfect size.
Gage moved in and out, and as he did so he delved deeper and deeper. Lacey had never felt anything like it before. It was utter ecstasy. Now she knew what it was like to be with someone she both loved and lusted after in equal measure.
Lacey felt an orgasm building up deep inside. She wrapped her legs around Gage, as he held her close, rhythmically moving with each and every wave of pleasure.
She climaxed again and again, looking up at her strong, powerful man, and as they kissed once more, Gage finally came inside her.
They lay there that night, as they did each night for the rest of their lives together. In each other's arms. Devoted. In love. Lacey had been running from her ex husband, but she had never known where she was truly running to. Now she knew, she had been running to her soul mate. And Gage, he'd found something too, a loving woman who helped him to reconcile his human and animal side.
Together they would live as part of the clan, but they would never forget their humanity, the outside world which had brought them together, two pieces of a puzzle now complete and joined as one.