Chapter Five
Six Weeks Later
Dean
Why was his boy sleeping under that same tree again? Three days after Dean had returned home, he couldn’t resist stalking his unclaimed mate. He hadn’t gotten up the nerve to approach Logan or Axel or anyone else in the family. Hell, he hadn’t even reopened his bakery yet.
He just needed to be close to Logan.
Without the possibility of him being rejected.
Dean hadn’t taken his cell phone with him when he’d left. Technology nowadays was more than his limited experience could handle. He did know that he could have been tracked by the little device, so he and Noah had relied on burner phones when needed.
The voice messages and texts when he’d finally returned had been full of demands and questions. Yeah, there were plenty of people not happy with him. Including Axel and several other members of Logan's family. Most worrisome was the one voice message he’d received nearly two weeks ago from Lucifer.
Dean had some explaining to do.
Just not yet.
Dean had tracked most of his former coven across the entire United States. From one state to another to another. A large group number of coven members that had been the closest to the leaders hadn’t been anywhere to be found though. They were still out there. Could come for him. He also had seen no sign of his family. If they were even still alive. Most likely the coven leaders were holding them close.
He felt like a failure even though he’d done everything he could.
Until the Intel had dried up.
Dean had run out of options just as the date he’d promised Noah they would return home arrived.
He’d finally admitted that he needed help. That as much as Dean wanted to keep Logan and his family away from danger, he didn’t know what else he could do to find the coven leaders. Or his family.
He did know that he didn’t have much time to figure it out.
He’d been sickened by the devastation they coven left behind as they moved from community to community using up resources. Shifters seemed to have been the most targeted group to steal magic from. And Dean had a powerful dragon alpha that he could call for help if he’d just man up. At least that was how Noah had put it.
The three months that he’d spent hunting his coven, Dean had realized that he wanted Logan more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life. Logan was his promise. Fate had given him a gift. He was doing a disservice to both of them by not accepting the incredible mate that he’d been given.
He would have some explaining to do though. And that scared him more than going up against his coven. The entire coven at one time.
Logan had the ability to break him.
Dean even deserved Logan’s anger. If Logan rejected him then Dean had no one to blame but himself. He’d made so many mistakes. He should have told Logan right away. Allowed his mate to make the decision of whether he wanted to be with Dean. If it was safe enough for him.
Until he could take that giant step of admitting everything to his mate, Dean stalked Logan. He watched as Logan and the others made plans about dinner. Going into town to watch a movie. Someone’s birthday was coming up.
They were living their lives as Dean struggled not to lose himself in darkness.
Only the sound of Logan’s bright laugh brought Dean any comfort at all.
It was late afternoon, edging into early evening, and the residents of the big house were having a family get-together. A barbeque, playtime, and relaxing with each other.
Dean tried not to let his jealousy surface. Dean had never had the kind of bonds that this pack exhibited. It didn’t matter if Axel considered them a pack or not. That was how Dean viewed the makeshift family of paranormals. A gay pack. And they were everything that Dean had ever wanted with his own coven. And hadn’t gotten.
It warmed his heart that Logan had them though. That his mate wasn’t alone in the world. Even as much as he watched and protected his mate, Logan was still a mystery.
He sat up at night wondering how his unclaimed mate had come to live with these other paranormals. Most male lions were essential for prides and growing the numbers. Maybe that was it. If Logan identified with any other sexuality than straight, would he have been kicked out? That didn’t sit right with Dean. He grew sick at the thought of Logan being dismissed because he hadn’t or couldn’t provide cubs to the pride.
Maybe one day he would be able to ask.
They could sit under what Dean suspected was Logan’s favorite tree and talk. Share about their pasts. Lean on each other. It was what Dean longed for.
Sprawled out on his lap, Noah, in his familiar form, stretched out his legs before kicking Dean with his back paw.
Dean didn’t know why Noah had insisted on accompanying Dean this afternoon. Especially when all Noah had done was sleep. Much like Logan.
Dean’s magic gave a pulse.
His boy was waking. Noah rolled onto his stomach before he stretched. He arched his back then took a few steps forward.
“Where are you going?” Dean asked.
Noah ignored him.
“Noah!” Nothing. Damn it! Dean jumped to his feet. “Get back here!”
Instead of listening, his familiar took off at a run.
No! His stubborn, irritating, ridiculous familiar. Dean chased after Noah until he couldn’t get any closer without the pack being able to sense him. Noah didn’t stop. Dean had to back away far enough that he could send his magic out to keep an eye on Noah. Who had reached Dean’s mate.
“A cat!” Logan exclaimed. He pulled Noah into his lap as the other boys came running. “It’s not Gage although he looks just like him!”
Dean was going to kill his familiar. And who was Gage?
“Daddy! Daddy! Logan found a cat,” Bryce called. “Can we keep him?”
“I’m pretty sure the cat found him,” Axel replied as he approached.
The alpha was spot on. Dean didn’t know what Noah’s motives were, but he was starting to think that his familiar was taking a stand. Noah hadn’t made it a secret that he’d disapproved of how Dean was handling his mate.
“He’s so pretty,” Logan said. “And soft.”
Noah purred from Logan’s lap.
One dead familiar coming right up.
Logan continued to stroke Noah’s back. “Do you…do you think…”
“Logan?” Axel was now rubbing Logan’s back as the boy grew upset.
“Is this Noah? Dean’s assistant? Is Dean back?” Logan asked quietly. “It smells like him.”
Dean’s magic amplified what Dean needed to hear. Dean could clearly pick up on Logan’s distress. Logan had figured out that Noah belonged to him. His mate was too smart.
“It’s possible,” Axel said slowly. “I haven’t heard anything.”
“Could…” Logan swallowed hard. “Could you call him? Let him know that we have Noah. Make sure he’s not hurt? What if…what if he didn’t make it back? What if Noah is all alone?”
“I’ll call. Why don’t you and the boys take Noah inside? Get him something to eat and drink?”
Logan gasped. “He might be hungry.” The boy scrambled to his feet. “Come on, guys! We need to take care of Dean’s—of Noah!”
The boys all rushed off as Axel rose to stare out into the forest.
Busted.
Trevor, Gavin, and Levi all joined Axel at the tree line.
“You might as well come out,” Axel said quietly. He knew he didn’t have to raise his voice for Dean to hear.
Damn it! Dean strolled forward, knowing that it was time to face the music.
He was greeted by scowls and frowns.
“Welcome home,” Axel greeted. He wasn’t actually offering a warm welcome.
Dean nodded.
“It seems like your cat has more sense than you do,” Gavin accused. “Or balls. To show up here.”
“I’ve been back for three days. I’ve been watching over him.”
Trevor snorted. “I’m sure he would appreciate that if he knew. Not. And now he thinks something happened to you and Noah is all alone.”
Dean rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s not like I planned this. Noah…he does have a mind of his own. Damn familiar.”
Levi made a sound in the back of his throat. “He’s not just a friend? He’s your familiar?”
The other men looked at him.
Dean caught the knowledge in Levi’s eyes.
“What’s that matter?” Axel demanded.
Levi shook his head. “They’re bonded. Connected through magic. I read about the mage and familiar bond from some of the books that Tristan and Jason brought back. It’s very powerful.”
Dean would love to get his hands on those books. Taking in the hostility around him, he decided it wasn’t the time to ask.
“You bonded with someone other than your mate?” Axel demanded. He was pissed.
“Woah, wait.” Dean held up his hands. “A familiar bond is much different than a mate bond.”
“Fuck!” Axel spat. “You left a mess behind.”
“I know.” He met the alpha’s gaze. “I know that I have a lot to answer for. That I have a lot of work to do with my mate.”
Axel sighed. “Did you take care of your coven?”
“Mostly. I did what I could. I also gathered a lot of material that you might want to look at. I…” He gathered his courage. “I need help.”
“About fucking time you realized that.” Gavin slapped him on the back. “I can appreciate you wanting to keep Logan safe but leaving him was not the way to do it.”
Dean nodded. “I realize that. Now.”
Axel glanced over his shoulder. “I don’t want to talk about this in front of the boys. Not until we know more.”
“Bo’s shop?” Levi suggested.
“Good idea.” Axel waved to him to follow. “I’m going to text Logan and let him know that you’re back and unharmed. It’s up to you to make things right with him. And that means sooner than later.”
Dean gave one last look in the direction that Logan had run off to. He didn’t know if he should thank Noah for pushing him into this or still plan the little shit’s funeral.
He followed behind the other guys, forcing his mind to go from thinking about his mate to the information that he had to share. Dean could also give them a few tips on what to look out for. What his coven might try to use to blend in with the normal tourists that came through town.
Until the coven leaders were removed from the playing field, Dean’s mate would not be safe.
His magic vibrated at his core, letting him know that his mate was currently happy and safe.
* * * * *
Logan
After a bowl of milk and a plate of tuna, which Drake helped Logan get for Noah, Logan carried his furry visitor up the stairs. He entered his suite, wondering what to do with Noah now.
It might have taken some time to figure it out, but the scent was too familiar. Once he’d spoken to Gage, Logan realized that Dean’s assistant was a housecat, just like Gage. Which made him a shifter.
Setting the cat down in the living room, Logan shifted nervously from foot to foot. “Did you want to shift? I can bring you some clothes. Or take you back to Dean?”
‘Mer.’ Cat Noah walked around Logan’s living room, scenting the space.
“Uh, I don’t really speak cat? Do you want to shift?”
Noah leapt onto the couch before jumping onto the back, putting him eye level with Logan. He shook his head slowly.
“No? You don’t want to shift?”
Cat Noah shook his head again.
“That’s okay.” Logan shrugged. “I love being in my shifted form. My lion is so big and brave. Once…a long time ago, I stayed in my shifted form for a long time.”
Noah placed one paw on Logan’s chest, purring at him.
Logan ran a hand down Noah’s long sleek back. It seemed like Noah was trying to comfort him but Logan was okay now. “Yeah, it was a bad time. Before I came here. I’m alright now though.”
His phone chimed in his pocket.
“Oh! That might be Axel. Maybe be got ahold of Dean?” Logan hurried to get his phone out of his pocket. The message was from his alpha.
Dean is fine. They are back. Noah got away from him. Dean said Noah will return when he wants. He appreciates your taking care of him. Oh! And Noah isn’t just a shifter—he is a familiar as well.
“Dean’s okay?” Relief filled him. He showed Noah the text. It was rude to talk about someone when they were right there. Even if they were in shifted form. He suspected that Noah could read the text since Logan could read when he was in his lion form. “I don’t know what a familiar is though. Sounds important.”
‘Meow.’ Noah kicked off the back of the couch, pushing farther into his arms. Logan cuddled the cat under his chin. He liked the smaller felines. They were the best to cuddle with.
“This is my suite,” he said, just to have something to say. Logan was sort of at a loss on what to do now. “I have two guest rooms, but uh, I don’t have a bed or anything in them. I’ve never had a visitor before.”
Logan turned in a circle.
“I don’t have anything to eat up here. I can get you something if you want! Later? You seemed to like the tuna. There’s water and juice in the fridge.” Logan ate when he was nervous. Maybe Noah did too? It was hard to know what he should do.
‘Meow.’
“Let’s see, what else?” Logan strolled toward his room. “This is my bedroom. The bathroom is through there.”
Okay, now what?
“Dean said you would go home when you want. Do you want to go home?” He felt it was fair to ask.
‘Mer.’
“That sounds like a no,” Logan commented.
‘Meow.’
“Sure. I guess just…let me know when you want to go?” He looked at his bed. “Do you like to watch Netflix?”
‘Meow.’
“I just started a new show. Well, it’s not new but I hadn’t seen it before. It’s a spinoff from another show I just finished. It’s about a vampire family in New Orleans. I like this one better than the other because the other had high school kids.” He strolled over to his bed. “I never went to high school so maybe that’s why I like this one better. I don’t know. Do you want to watch it with me?”
Noah’s ears had pricked up. ‘Meow.’
“Cool!” Logan set Noah on his mattress. “I’m just gonna change real quick.” He hurried to his dresser to pull out some plain plaid lounge pants. As he headed toward the bathroom, Logan noticed that Noah was pawing at the pillow on the opposite side from where he slept.
Logan hurried to get his shoes, socks, and jeans off before pulling on his lounge pants. He was excited to have someone in his room to watch television with. The boys always made time to spend with him but usually their Daddies were close by.
He returned to the bedroom to climb next to Noah.
“Is it okay if I start from where I left off?” Logan asked as he picked up the remote.
‘Meow.’
“Awesome.” Logan got the program started before he slid under the covers. He settled back against his pillows as the opening credits started.
He made a sound as Klaus Mikaelson came onto the screen. “He’s dreamy, isn’t he?”
‘Meow. Meow.’
Logan was pretty sure that Noah agreed with him.
The storyline and plot immediately drew him in. Logan liked the series a lot. He couldn’t see Drake acting like any of these vampires, but the show was fun. Noah started over on the extra pillow but eventually crawled closer to him.
Absently Logan started to pet his new furry friend until Noah was purring and rumbling on his chest. He wondered if Noah slept on Dean like this. It was wonderful. Warming and comforting. Logan would cuddle Noah whenever he could if Noah was his cat. Or familiar.
He didn’t know what a familiar was.
Well, he knew what it meant in movies, television, and books but those often got things wrong.
The paranormal world was amazing and magical.
Logan hoped whatever role that Noah played as Dean’s familiar that they both stayed happy and healthy. And that they might stick around a little longer this time. Even if Logan knew he should continue to stay far away from Dean, his heart told him otherwise. His lion side agreed with his heart and not his head as well.