John and Joss rebond! Yes, there is smut ahead! Yes, I'm pandering to my audience! (but only because I love you and want you to have nice things)

Chapter 9 Acceptance

They drove home in silence. Joss was bone-tired from the challenge, and John was never talkative anyway. John drove with one hand while firmly keeping a grip on Joss's hand with his other. He didn't let go, even to turn a corner. If was as if he was afraid she was going to leap out of the car and run away. Joss just stared out the window, not really seeing the city as they passed by.

Fate seemed to be on their side as John found a parking spot almost right in front of their door. They climbed out of the car and, still holding hands, they walked up the steps to the apartment. Joss tiredly leaned her head on John's shoulder as he unlocked the door.

Joss was so tired she was a little wobbly on her feet and nearly stumbled, but John's arm around her waist kept her up. They walked to the bedroom, Joss was confused when John steered her past the bed toward the bathroom. She looked up at him, her eyebrows knit together, creating the little furrow between her brows that he thought was so cute.

John smiled down at her. "You're tired. You're hurt. The bond can wait one more night."

Joss closed her eyes and sighed. She had been waiting for this and didn't want to wait any more.

John cupped her face in his large hand and looked down into her eyes. "I want you too. But not when you're hurting." He kissed her forehead.

John drew her a hot bath and helped her into it. Joss sank into the steaming water with a sigh of contentment. John tenderly washed her while carefully examining her to see if she was seriously hurt and needed Shaw's medical expertise. To his relief all he found were superficial cuts and bruises. The worst appeared to the bruise from Pam's kick on her upper arm. While the bruise would be big and ugly, it wasn't serious. His Joss would be fine.

He heard a tiny snore and to his amusement realized that Joss had dozed off. He finished washing her and then gently shook her awake. Carefully he helped her out of the bath. She could barely remain standing while John tenderly dried her off. He scooped her up and carried her over the bed. For once Joss did not protest, she was too tired to even speak. John tucked her in, removed his clothes and joined her. By the time he crawled in next her she was already asleep again. He snuggled with her, thrilled to finally be back where he belonged, with his love, his anchor, his mate.

Joss woke the next morning to the smell of sausage and eggs cooking. With a huge grin on her face she got out of bed and stretched and then winced in pain as her sore muscles protested the movement. She stepped into bathroom to examine herself and was pleased to see that her wounds were all superficial and healing nicely.

Joss slipped on some drawstring pants and a tank top, then padded down to the kitchen to see her mate filling a couple of plates. "Just in time," he said in the soft voice that never failed to send a shiver down her spine. "Hungry?"

"Starving!" she laughed. This felt so right, to have John back with her, in their home, where he belonged. She wanted to dance and leap around the apartment like Misty Copeland** on crack.

John seemed to be affected as well. He smiled through the meal and couldn't keep his eyes off her as they ate. He took every opportunity to touch her, a brush of his fingers on her here, and touch on her arm there.

"Where's Taylor?" Joss asked as she finally finished her breakfast.

"I asked your mom to keep him for another day," John replied, staring at her intensely across the table. His silver-blue eyes glittered at her with purpose.

Joss's eyes locked with his and her breath was sucked out of her lungs by the desire she found there. "Good idea," she said in a husky voice as her own desire for the man in front was reflected in her own eyes.

Wordlessly John got up and walked around the table to Joss. He held his hand out to her, she took it and he pulled her to her feet. For a few seconds they just stared into each other's eyes, and then John's mouth descended on hers. His hands were on either side of her head holding her firmly in place while he thoroughly kissed her. His kisses were heavy with need and desire, and Joss responded with just as much heat. Her hands moved up to tangle in John's hair as she eagerly returned his kiss.

John's tongue slid into her mouth and their tongues lovingly caressed each other's. Joss felt the piece of her that had been missing for over a month slowly returning and reclaiming its rightful spot in her soul. One of them groaned a deep throaty groan, but Joss had no idea which one it was. She didn't care.

John finally broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers, breathing heavily with his arousal. Joss looked up into his eyes and saw a tear making is way down his cheek and realized she was crying too. "Joss," he whispered as he ghosted his lips across her cheeks and she knew he felt it as well.

John looked down at his love; the woman who had reached out to him during his darkest moment and helped pull him back from the abyss. He could feel the missing piece of his soul regenerating as he touched and kissed her; he started to feel whole again. He kissed her again, feeling the energy of the forming bond flowing through him.

Joss tried to unbutton John's shirt, but in the haze of her arousal, she couldn't do it. She finally just ripped it open in her frustration and yanked it off him. They stumbled towards the bedroom, desperately ripping and tearing each other's clothes off between kisses. Later they would find a line of ruined clothing that stretched between the kitchen and the bedroom, but right then they were incapable of conscious thought; they were running purely on instinct and lust. They fell on the bed entwined with each other.

Their hands were everywhere as they reacquainted themselves with each other's bodies after having been away for far too long. John hands gently traced the scar on Joss's chest from the bullet that nearly took her life, the scar on her side from the landmine that also almost took her life and the scar just below her lower abdomen that gave Taylor life. He loved them all because they marked her as a warrior and a survivor. They were symbols of the battles she had fought and won.

Joss stared at her beloved's face. He was so masculine and strong, and yet his eyes were so gentle and loving. She knew he was capable of incredible violence, and yet he was capable of unbelievable compassion. He was equal parts merciless killer and tender lover.

Today he was all tender lover as his hands slid down her body to find her clitoris. His finger slowly circled her sensitive nub causing Joss to arch her back and mewl his name. His mouth latched onto her nipple and his tongue slowly circled around it. Joss fingers threaded her fingers his hair holding him to her breast while she writhed under him.

John lifted his head to look her in the eyes. "My mate," he whispered.

Joss raised a hand to cup his cheek. "My mate," she repeated in a breathless voice. She could feel the bond gaining strength as she and John claimed each other. John's mouth descended again to claim hers in a searing kiss that threatened to scorch them both.

Joss pushed on John rolling him over onto his back so she was on top. She sat aside his thighs and lazily ran her finger nails down his chest and stomach leaving a trail of red marks. John's eyes were closed and he moaned softly at his mate's rough touch. She pinched his nipples, just hard enough to a produce a smidgen of pain. She began nipping and biting her way down his neck as John lay beneath her, content for now, to let her have her way with him. She reached the junction of his neck and shoulder, and without warning she sank her teeth in, renewing her mating mark on him.

John cried out in surprise, pain and need at all once. Her bite awoke the feral Wolf in him. With a growl, he flipped her over on her back with himself on top as his mouth and hands ravaged her body. All of his senses were tuned to their highest levels. Joss's unique scent filled his nostrils, and he swore he could hear her heart beating beneath him. Every touch sent a fire through his nervous system. He felt the bond wrapping itself around his heart and tightening its grip. It was a welcome sensation.

"Please, John," she whispered. "Can't… wait… any longer… I want… you, my mate."

John positioned himself at her entrance and slid into Joss's warmth with one smooth thrust. He thought he could die from the joy of finally having his mate back with him. With each thrust, the bond grew stronger and stronger. Joss wrapped her strong legs around his waist holding him to her. They didn't stop touching and kissing each other. Their bond thrummed with increasing power with each touch. They couldn't tell where one ended and the other was no him or her, there was just THEM as their souls once again entwined to make one single entity.

A dazed John sank his teeth into the juncture of Joss's shoulder and neck renewing the faded mating scar that marked her as his mate, pushing her over into the abyss. The sound of her screaming his name was the sweetest sound he had ever heard. He followed her over the edge mere seconds later.

They had no idea how long they lay there panting, their bodies entangled with each other and the sheets. It was one of those moments that neither one of them wanted to end. They were once again mated, their bond stronger than before, if that was even possible.

John pulled a blanket from the foot of the bed up over them and they fell into a deep peaceful slumber. Together, as they belonged.

Even after he had re-bonded with Joss, John had work to do. He needed to repair his relationship with Taylor.

Taylor returned home the next day while John was out working a number. Joss gave him a blow by blow account of the challenge - downplaying the danger she had been in- and let him know that she and John were once again mates. Taylor seemed happy enough at the news that John was his officially step-father again. He hugged his mom and went to his room to play video games.

John and Shaw wrapped up their number in short order and John was home by midnight. As he entered the apartment he noticed a light coming from under the door to Taylor's room. Taking a deep breath, he knocked softly on the door and entered the room.

Taylor looked up as John walked in and set aside his game. "I suppose you want to talk."

John smirked. "Not really, but we should."

Taylor gave little laugh than grew serious. "Why didn't you stop the challenge?"

John looked directly at the teen. "Your mom didn't want me too."

"You're the Alpha, you could have done it anyway," Taylor insisted.

"Have you met your mother?" John shot back, and then he paused as he considered his next words. "I decided to trust in her. It was important to her to keep the Pack together and she deserved the chance to make that happen."

Taylor looked down at his hands and picked at a nail for a minute. John sensing that Taylor had something he wanted to ask, but wasn't quite sure if he should, waited patiently. Finally the teen spoke. "What would you have done if mom had lost or died?"

"Who said anything about dying?" John asked sharply.

Taylor looked him straight in the eye. "I'm not stupid John. Everyone was tiptoeing around me all month. I knew."

John sighed. "I wouldn't have let it go that far."

"Even if it meant you lost the Pack?" Taylor challenged him.

"Yes."

Taylor stared at John, his mouth slightly open and his eyes wide. "You would have given up the Pack?"

"Yes." John met Taylor's eyes again. "I thought about it a lot this past month and I decided I decided that I would give up the Pack before I gave up you and your mother." There was a pause as John's jaw briefly moved back and forth as he tried to get the words out. "I couldn't lose you."

Taylor stared at the Alpha Wolf for a few more minutes and then a huge grim slowly spread across his face as he realized John was serious. "Thanks man."

John answered with his own smile. He clapped Taylor on the shoulder and started to leave the room when Taylor stopped him.

"John, I, um, have a debate Tuesday night…"

John stopped in the doorway and looked over his shoulder. "I'll be there," he said softly.

"Cool," Taylor said and went back to this game.

John shut the door quietly and went to find Joss.

One moon cycle later, Joss fidgeted in the passenger seat of John's SUV restlessly. John shot her an amused look from the driver's seat. "They'll be there."

"What if they aren't?" Joss fussed. "I may have cost you your pack."

"It wasn't you Joss, it was me. I didn't introduce you to the pack properly. I knew better, but I wanted you so badly that I got sloppy. Pam exploited that."

Joss shook her head. "Really, the blame belongs to Pam. Things were good with the pack until she showed up."

"You know Shaw, Fusco, Lassen and Cho will be there. That's enough for a pack."

"Not funny, John." Joss snarled irritably

John sighed. "Joss, honey, I'm sure the pack will be there."

Joss turned and looked out the window. "I hope you're right," she said glumly.

John gently patted her thigh,and Joss gave him a weak smile.

They arrived at the park and parked behind Lionel's car. Joss looked around to see if she recognized any other cars, but she knew it was futile. Few of their pack mates parked on this side of the park even on the best attended pack nights.

John held out his hand to her and she took it, lacing her fingers with his. Joss smiled, whatever happened that night, they would face it together.

Joss and John walked down the path to the clearing where the pack usually met. They emerged from the trees to see the entire pack standing there quietly waiting for them. John gave her hand a quick squeeze.

Lassen stepped forward, his smile wide. "Everyone is here, Alpha," he announced proudly.

"Thank you, Lassen," John said formally. Joss didn't say anything; she was too busy trying not to cry.

John looked over the assembled Pack. "I made a mistake several months ago when I didn't introduce my mate to you according to our traditions. An outsider used my mistake to try to tear us apart, but Jocelyn wouldn't let that happen. She met the challenge. She won. She has proven herself as an Alpha. Your presence here tonight tells me that you agree."

A murmur of agreement ran through the Pack.

"Thank you all," Joss said. "I know I made mistakes as well and I am sorry. I want to be the best Alpha I can be, and I'll need your help to guide me as I learn how to be a Wolf. No matter what, I will continue to fight for you."

Joss wasn't sure who started clapping, but within seconds the entire pack was applauding their Alphas. John and Joss looked at each other, their eyes shining with joy. All was forgiven; the Pack would remain intact and stronger than ever.

"We haven't had a run for a couple of months, I say we get right to it," John said when the applause died down. Again, there was a murmur of agreement from the pack and they headed to their usual places to remove their clothes and morph into Wolf form.

John and Joss stepped into their usual thicket to change. "Told you," he said with a smile.

Joss smiled shyly back. "Do you think this means they accept me now?"

"I think we can safely say you're accepted."

The Alphas shared a loving embrace when Shaw's rather annoyed voice came from the other side of the bushes. "Hey guys it's time to come out and get your Alpha on! Stop with the mushy stuff!"

Joss grinned up at her mate. "You heard he woman, let's go Alpha."

A few minutes later a large salt and pepper wolf and a smaller black wolf emerged from the bushes together to meet their Pack.

**Misty Copeland was the first black woman to be named a principal dancer for the American Ballet Theater. She is considered a ground-breaker for WOC in classical ballet.

And that's a wrap for this story. I'm working on more fics, but my free time is limited right right now. I'll be back as soon as I can!