10. Logan
10
LOGAN
L ogan leaned against the wooden gate, two steaming cups of coffee in hand as Serena's car pulled up the gravel driveway. The morning sun caught in her messy bun as she stepped out and made the loose strands glow. His bear stirred remembering how soft that hair felt between his fingers.
"Brought you some coffee. Two sugars, splash of cream?"
"You remembered." Serena's eyes widened behind her glasses as she accepted the cup. Their fingers brushed briefly, and a tingle surged through him.
"Hard to forget." Logan cleared his throat.
Spring had transformed the sanctuary overnight - new buds dotted the trees and wildflowers pushed through the soil. A rabbit darted across their path as they approached the enclosures. Logan watched as Serena's face lit up and he couldn’t help but grin.
Inside the first enclosure, she knelt beside the recovering fox, her hands gentle as she checked its vitals. "Temperature's normal now. How's he been eating?"
"Like a champ. Stole my sandwich yesterday when I wasn't looking."
Her laugh hit him right in the chest. Same musical sound it had always been.
"That's a good sign." She scratched behind the fox's ears. "Your medicine worked perfectly, didn't it, sweet boy?"
Logan watched her work, moving from animal to animal with practiced ease. The way she spoke to them, soft and sure, reminded him of all those nights they'd spent dreaming about their future - her clinic, his sanctuary. Funny how life worked out.
His bear paced restlessly again. Having her here felt right, like puzzle pieces clicking into place. But timing was a cruel thing.
"They're all doing great," Serena announced. "The potions cleared out whatever magic Silas used completely."
"Thanks to you."
The spring breeze carried her scent, and Logan gripped his coffee cup tighter. No use dwelling on what-ifs. She wasn't here for him. This was business, nothing more.
But watching her crouch down to put her supplies in her veterinary kit, sunlight dancing across her face, Logan knew he was lying to himself. Some feelings never really went away, they just hibernated, waiting for the right moment to wake up.
Serena's eyes lit up suddenly, that familiar spark Logan remembered all too well - the one that meant she'd just had an idea. She stood up and grabbed his arm, her small hand barely wrapping around his bicep.
"Wait. What if we double up on the fence protection?"
Logan's bear preened at her touch, but he kept his voice steady. "What're you thinking?"
"The headache/shock potion is good for offense, but..." She paced in front of him. "I can brew something to actually strengthen the fence itself. Make it harder for Silas to break through in the first place."
"Like supernatural reinforcement?" The idea had merit. Logan crossed his arms, studying the fence line. His bear appreciated any solution that would keep their territory secure.
"Exactly! It would be like coating the wood in steel, but better because it's magical. Even in bear form, he'd have a hell of a time trying to break through."
Logan couldn't help grinning at her enthusiasm. "Look at you, getting all excited about fortification potions."
"Oh, shut up." She smacked his arm playfully. "I'm serious. Between the two potions, it would be like having a fortress."
"A fortress, huh?" He leaned against the fence post, enjoying how animated she'd become. "Trying to turn my sanctuary into a castle, Princess?"
"Keep calling me princess and I'll let Silas eat your fence." But her eyes danced with amusement behind those glasses.
His bear hummed with satisfaction at their easy banter. "Alright, alright. I like the idea."
Logan leaned against his workshop doorframe, arms crossed as he watched Serena work. Her hair had started falling from its bun and wisps framed her face as she bent over the bubbling cauldron. The afternoon sun streaming through the window caught the glass vials lined up on his workbench, casting rainbow patterns across her concentrated expression.
His bear rumbled appreciatively at having her in his space. The workshop smelled like her now - lavender and vanilla mixing with the wood shavings.
"Almost done," Serena muttered, more to herself than him. "Just needs one more..."
"You always stick your tongue out like that when you're focusing?"
She jumped, nearly dropping the vial she held. "I do not stick my tongue out."
"Sure you do. Right there in the corner." He tapped the side of his mouth, grinning when she quickly pulled her tongue back in.
"Don't you have something better to do than hover?"
"Nope. My workshop, remember?"
Serena rolled her eyes, but he caught her small smile. "Well, it's ready. Let's test it."
They headed to the fence line, Serena carrying her potion like it was liquid gold. Logan's bear preened at her confidence - she'd always been brilliant at potions.
"Here goes nothing." She splashed the mixture onto a section of fence.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then the wood began to shimmer and transform. Instead of hardening, bright yellow daisies burst forth, covering the entire section in cheerful blooms.
Logan burst out laughing.
"Stop it!" Serena's cheeks flushed pink. "This isn't funny. It was supposed to reinforce the wood, not... garden it."
"I don't know." He plucked one of the daisies, tucking it behind her ear. "I think it's an improvement."
"Logan!" But she was fighting back a smile now. "Silas isn't going to be deterred by flowers."
"Maybe he's got allergies we don't know about."
She swatted his arm. "This is serious. I need to fix the potion."
"In a minute." He caught her hand, enjoying how small it felt in his. "First, admit it's at least a little funny."
Serena bit her lip, looking at the flower-covered fence. A giggle escaped. "Okay, maybe a little."
A few minutes later, Logan watched as Serena muttered under her breath, mixing another batch of potion. Her glasses had slipped down her nose again, and she pushed them up, leaving a smudge of purple powder across her cheek.
"This one will work," she insisted, marching to a fresh section of fence.
The liquid splashed against the wood. Instead of hardening, the fence posts started dancing, swaying back and forth like they were at a party.
Logan doubled over laughing. His bear roared with laughter inside him. "Oh yeah, that'll stop Silas. He'll be too busy dancing to break in."
"Stop laughing!" Serena's face turned red as she rushed back to her workbench. "I just need to adjust the ratio of moonstone to..."
The next attempt turned the fence into rubber. It bounced when Logan poked it, sending ripples down the entire line.
"At least it's flexible?" he offered, wiping tears from his eyes.
Serena's lower lip trembled. "This is mortifying. I used to be good at this."
"Hey." Logan's bear stirred protectively. He stepped closer, still chuckling. "You are good at this. Remember that time in high school when you tried to make a healing potion and turned Mrs. Peterson's cat purple instead?"
"That was different! I was learning then." But her lips twitched.
The next attempt created a musical fence that played "Old MacDonald" whenever the wind blew.
Logan lost it completely, sliding down to sit in the grass, his whole body shaking with laughter. "E-I-E-I-Oh my god."
"This isn't funny!" But Serena's shoulders started shaking too. "I'm trying to..." A giggle escaped. "To be professional here and..." She snorted, then clapped her hand over her mouth.
That snort did him in. Logan fell backwards, gasping for air between laughs. "Your face when the daisies..."
"Shut up!" Serena collapsed next to him, giggling uncontrollably. "The dancing fence was worse!"
"The rubber one..." Logan could barely get the words out. "It just... bounced..."
They lay in the grass, both crying with laughter, while the fence continued its cheerful farm-themed serenade behind them. Every time one of them started to calm down, they'd catch the other's eye and start up again.
Logan's bear hummed contentedly as he lay in the grass next to Serena, both of them taking exaggerated breaths between lingering giggles. The breeze carried the scent of her vanilla perfume, mixing with the musical notes still drifting from the enchanted fence.
"Deep breaths," Serena gasped, pressing her hand to her stomach. "Oh god, deep breaths."
"That was your fault," Logan chuckled, turning his head to watch her. A strand of hair had fallen across her face, and his fingers itched to brush it away.
"I haven't..." Serena wiped tears from under her glasses. "I haven't laughed like that in... I can't even remember how long."
Something in her voice made Logan's bear stir protectively. The shadows that had lingered behind her eyes since she'd returned to town seemed lighter now, but knowing she'd been unhappy enough to forget laughter made his chest ache.
They sat up slowly, grass clinging to their clothes. Serena's eyes suddenly went wide.
"Oh! That's it!" She jumped to her feet. "Iron shavings! That's what I was missing!"
Logan watched as she darted back to the workbench. His bear prided itself at having helped lift her spirits, even if it was through failed potions and dancing fences.
"You sure this one won't turn my fence into a jazz band?" He followed her inside and leaned against his usual spot in the doorframe.
"Very funny." Serena measured ingredients with precise movements. "The iron will anchor the strengthening properties and prevent any... musical side effects."
The new potion shimmered a deep silver, nothing like the previous rainbow-colored disasters. When they tested it on a small section of fence, the wood darkened and hardened visibly, taking on a metallic sheen.
"Now that's more like it." Logan rapped his knuckles against it, satisfaction rumbling through his chest at the solid thunk. "Silas won't know what hit him."
They worked together applying the potion along the fence line, shoulders brushing occasionally as they moved. Each touch sent sparks through Logan's skin. His bear grew more possessive with every accidental contact.