Chapter Seven
Logan
He was a brave boy. A fierce lion. Logan didn’t need a mate. They’d be okay. It didn’t matter that his entire world was falling apart. Worse things had happened to him before and Logan had been just fine. Just fine!
He swallowed a roar that wanted to escape. Stomping through the woods, Logan left his imprints in the mud. It made him happy to see his giant paw prints. He was a lion! Logan didn’t need anyone! He roared! Why hide it? Everyone should know that a lion had been through here.
King of the freaking jungle. Or forest. Or whatever!
Whatever.
Nothing mattered anymore.
His heart ached.
No matter what Logan told himself, he couldn’t help the feeling of devastation.
Logan stumbled but pressed on. Each tree he passed was an opportunity to rub against, leaving his scent behind. Logan didn’t know why his lion wanted to scent mark everything in their path, but he also didn’t care about that either. Because nothing mattered anymore!
It was getting harder and harder to fight the instinct to let his lion be in control.
Why was he even fighting?
Nothing mattered anymore!
Dropping his head, Logan stalked through the forest. How was he going to tell his family that Logan wasn’t good enough to have a mate? That they would forever be stuck with him all alone. Logan would have to watch the other couples go on happily with their lives as the years passed.
Except, maybe he didn’t have to watch that.
He’d allowed his lion to take over before. When he’d first been thrown away. His lion had protected Logan. Well, it seemed that he’d been thrown away once again.
Logan had no idea what was wrong with him.
Why did no one ever want to keep him?
Was there something wrong with him that Logan didn’t know?
Must be. Yes, it would be so much easier to just let his lion be in control. They could travel again. Just keep walking.
He would miss his family. His brothers. The only people that had truly loved him. It was better this way. If Logan left now, he would only have fond memories of his family. The bitterness of watching the happy couples hadn’t tainted everything else he’d shared with his family.
And his pretties!
Logan would never wear pretties again.
A lion didn’t need silk, lace, or satin.
Maybe…could it be because of that? Somehow Dean had figured out his secret?
No, he wasn’t going to think his mate’s name. Say Dean’s name. That was his past. Dean belonged to human Logan, and he wasn’t human any longer.
He was a lion! A fierce lion!
* * * * *
Dean
“It will be okay,” Noah told him for the tenth time in fifteen minutes.
Dean shook his head. “You didn’t see how devastated he was. Didn’t feel it.”
Noah rubbed his chest. “I sort of did. Still do. I can tell he’s hurting.”
That’s right. His bond with Noah would have been affected by having Dean’s mate so upset. Dean had been a wreck for the entire day. Logan’s pain affecting him as much as his own. Dean wanted to go to his mate. He needed to hold Logan tight. He’d promised to give Logan time and Dean would keep that promise. Even as his own heart ached.
“He said that he forgave you though,” Noah pointed out. “For hiding your scent. For not telling him.”
“Yes. But he was so upset! Is upset!”
“Of course he is. Confused too, probably. He just needs time,” Noah assured him.
Time. Dean regrated the promise he’d given Logan time. He should have insisted that Logan stayed. That they talked more. Except he had already screwed up so much that Dean wanted to respect what was best for Logan.
“I’m going to make coffee for your meeting,” Noah said. “Are you going to be okay?”
“I don’t care about me. I’m worried about Logan.” His mate’s emotions still hadn’t settled. The magic that connected Dean to his mate told him a lot. Some of the magical tugs didn’t make sense. And Logan hadn’t gone home yet. He was out in the woods. Probably in his shifted form.
Noah sighed. “Yeah.” He walked over to the counter that held their coffee machine. “We’ll love him so hard once he lets us.”
Managing a smile for his familiar, Dean turned to lift the boxes he’d brought down from his apartment. At least he had something to do to keep his mind off of what a horrible mistake he’d made. The boxes were filled with everything that he and Noah had gathered from his coven would be shared with Axel and the others.
Dean might be a terrible mate but he was still intent of keeping Logan safe.
The bakery was closed so he could meet with the pack and discuss the next steps. He began to make piles. Sorting out what was important and what wasn’t. There was a knock on the back door and Noah rushed to answer it.
For a fleeting moment, Dean hoped that Logan had returned even though he knew that Logan was far from the center of town. Instead, Axel, Bo, Levi, Trevor, and Gavin stepped into his kitchen. Dean smiled at them, pushing down the fact that his heart was breaking.
“Hey, man.” Axel smiled in greeting. The smile immediately fell from his face. “What’s wrong?”
Dean shook his head. His throat tightened. He had to fight his tears. This wasn’t about him. He’d done this to himself. It was Logan who deserved comfort.
“Dean.” Axel grabbed his shoulders hard.
“He told Logan today,” Noah said quietly. “About them being mates. Dropped the scent-blocking spell.”
Levi made a sound in the back of his throat as his gaze met Dean’s. “We should have been here!”
Dean shook his head. “He deserved for me to tell him. I didn’t want him to have to deal with everyone else.”
“No! You don’t get it!” Levi pulled out his phone and pressed some buttons. He placed the cell up to his ear. “You don’t know how Logan thinks.”
“I know!” Dean defended. “I’ve been watching him!”
“You know what he allows you to see,” Levi argued. “Not the insecurities he hides. He’s not answering his phone.” He dropped his arm.
“He’s fine,” Noah said. “Dean has a monitoring spell on him. He’s extremely upset but he’s not hurt.”
Levi turned panicked eyes to Gavin.
“We’ll find him,” Gavin promised. “He wouldn’t have gone far. He’s probably in his shifted form and can’t answer his phone. That’s all.”
Dean grabbed Axel by the front of his shirt. Axel’s strong fingers wrapped around Dean’s elbows. “Did I fuck up again? Is Logan going to be okay? I was trying to do the right thing.”
“He’ll be fine.” Axel didn’t let him go. He breathed steadily.
Dean watched his chest move as the ability to breathe was getting harder.
“Stay with me, Dean,” Axel barked. “Levi and Gavin will find him.”
“I…” Dean clung to Axel. “I wanted to show him respect. I have so much to make up for. I made him breakfast. His cupcake! He left his cupcake behind.”
The back door opened and he whirled.
“Logan!”
Noah’s arms came around him. “That was Levi and Gavin leaving. They’re going to find Logan. Make sure he’s okay.”
“He has to be okay! He said he forgave me!” Dean fell to his knees.
Noah wrapped himself around Dean.
Axel knelt in front of him.
Bo and Trevor were on their phones.
“I’m sorry,” Dean gasped out through his tears. His heart was beating so fast that he was scared that it would explode. Just go boom and make as big of a mess as Dean had done.
“Listen to me,” Noah said sternly. “I don’t think this is just you panicking. I think you’re channeling Logan’s pain as well. I need you to calm down. Calm him down.”
“He’s channeling Logan?” Axel asked.
“I think so. There’s no reason for this,” Noah said.
For what? What was wrong? Why couldn’t Dean stop shaking? Something was happening! His connection. The spell he had on Logan.
There was a snap inside Dean’s core and he screamed.
It hurt! Burned. The magic had nowhere to go and slammed back into Dean hard and fast.
“What?” Axel demanded.
Noah was crying now. Tears fell from Noah’s eyes to land on Dean. Their tears mixed together.
“The spell broke,” Noah whispered. “We lost our connection to Logan.”
Trevor yowled while shifting.
Bo ran to the door and opened it as a black panther raced out. “Find him!” Bo shouted.
Dean’s vision blurred when everything hit him at once. His tears finally took over. Devastation making his heart ache. Why couldn’t he find Logan with his magic.
Had…had something happened to him?
Was he… No! Dean couldn’t think that way.
“Dean.” Axel shook him. “I need you to focus.”
Dean wiped the tears from his eyes and looked up at Axel.
“Logan’s truck is still out front,” Axel said. “Do you know where he went?”
“Far,” Dean said. He wasn’t close by. Not the last time Dean had felt him.
“Direction?” Axel questioned.
“Woods. He went to the woods,” Dean told him. Yes, this was good. It hadn’t been long since the spell broke apart. Dean still didn’t know why that would happen. He needed to think. He had to help find Logan.
“Good, that helps,” Axel said.
“I need to get up,” Dean demanded.
“I got you.” Axel pulled Dean to his feet. Noah hovered at his side.
Dean turned to Noah. “I asked him if he wanted a ride home. I should have insisted. I knew he was upset.”
“Let’s not worry about that now,” Noah said. “He was close to the state park the last I felt him?”
“Yeah.” Dean nodded. “Past the house.”
“He’s not in our territory?” Axel’s voice was strained.
“No.” Of that Dean was sure.
“I’m on it,” Bo said. “Everyone is out looking for him. We’ll find him. As soon as they do, they’ll call and I’ll portal us there.”
Dean collapsed against the counter as all the possibilities ran through his head. How had he fucked up this bad?
“You still with us?” Axel questioned.
“I want to go. To look for him,” Dean responded. Logan was his mate. His to protect, and comfort, and keep safe.
“We can portal straight to where they last felt him,” Bo offered.
“Yes!” Dean agreed immediately.
“Let the guys know we’re headed out,” Axel said.
It felt much better to have a plan.
Hang in there, Logan , Dean thought to himself. I’m coming for you. It’s all going to be okay.
Bo offered Dean his hand. “I need you to think very specifically about where you last felt him.”
Dean threaded the fingers of his free hand with Noah’s. The magic would respond strongly with their connection. “I can do it. Portal us. My connection with Logan will allow it. But I can’t take everyone.”
“Just think of the last place you felt him. I’ll zero on it and open a portal. That way everyone can come through.”
Magic worked in different ways for different species. Dean was glad to have the hellhound alpha with him. They needed everyone out looking for his mate. “Okay.”
“Axel, Trevor,” Bo said. “Stay close.”
A portal opened inside the kitchen of Dean’s bakery. Dean was the first one through it.
* * * * *
Logan
The air held the heavy scent of rain. Lion Logan did not like being wet any more than human Logan. He needed to find shelter. If the rain started, lion Logan didn’t want to be stuck out in it.
He’d been keeping close to the trails that had been made over the years. Lion Logan didn’t know this area. His human half didn’t either. They were far away from home. This territory didn’t have the same feelings that home did. There was no safety out here. The scent of his family was missing. Lion Logan didn’t like it at all.
At least there weren’t any other predators in the area. He sent soothing emotions through the bond to his human side. Lion Logan would keep them safe.
Things hadn’t been this confusing since the bond between his lion and human side had fully connected. Lion Logan had to take control then too. Working on instinct alone, lion Logan strayed from the path. Shelter. Somewhere safe and warm.
Time had no meaning for a lion.
He kept his pace as the rain began to fall. They had a perfectly nice and warm structure that they could be inside of right now, but his human side insisted they couldn’t go back. The lion had scented his mate! Didn’t his human side know what that meant? They should be running back toward their mate, not away from him.
He chuffed but kept moving.
His human side was hurting, broken, and tired.
Lightning flashed in the sky. The storm was over them now. Lion Logan headed toward a cluster of tall trees that would hopefully offer them some sort of break from the steady rain coming down.
There was a snap before intense burning pain.
Lion Logan roared into the darkness as he fell. His leg! His paw!
Shh! His human side pushed to the surface. It’s okay. We’re injured.
Hurts!
Lion Logan roared again.
His leg was gone! Lion Logan tried to move his paw, but the burning and pain made him dizzy.
“Logan!”
Lion Logan heard the voice. It was far away. Too far away.
He roared again.
Hurt!
He tried tugging his paw up but couldn’t.
Rain fell hard, pelting him.
“Logan!”
Settling his big head on the ground, lion Logan whimpered.
Help. Help was coming, his human side told him.
His human half pushed harder to take control. No, he needed to protect his human side. The pain. He threw his shoulders back and fought to get out of whatever held him. They had to save themselves!
“No!” A human dropped down beside him. “Logan, calm down. Please calm down. I need to get you out of the trap.”
Lion Logan snarled. They couldn’t protect themselves like this. He snapped his massive jaws at the human, who scrambled away. He fought harder to free himself.
“Levi! I found him. He’s stuck in a bear trap, but he won’t let me get close!”
Get out! They needed to get out and get away.
Danger!
“I know, but he’s doing more damage! Please, Levi! Fine!”
Ignore the pain. Fight. Get away.
“Logan! Help is coming,” the human said. Wait, lion Logan knew this human. The scent teased his memory.
He huffed as he rolled his head to look at the threat. Teeth still pulled back. Bite. Tear. Protect!
Gargoyle mate. Human. Family.
Family! His human half screamed at him. Don’t hurt family!
Lion Logan collapsed.
“Please,” human, gargoyle mate, said. “Just stay still.” He moved forward.
Lion Logan snarled.
Back!
Danger!
“Okay! I won’t come closer!”
“Mason!”
“Logan!”
“Thank God,” Human said. “Here!” He rose before he began to wave a light frantically.
More voices.
More scents.
Danger! Protect!
Lion Logan gathered all his remaining strength and fought to get away.
Lightning. Harder rain. Mud. He slipped and slid but couldn’t escape.
“He keeps panicking. If he keeps thrashing like that, he might lose his leg. I can get the trap off him. We’re trained for this. I need to get close.”
“No! Something is wrong.”
Lion Logan stopped.
Family.
Gargoyle.
Brother.
“He heard your voice,” Human said. “Keep talking to him.”
“Logan? Can you hear me?” Gargoyle asked.
Lion Logan whimpered.
“I know, buddy. We’re here to help,” Gargoyle told him.
Help.
Family.
Brother.
“Stay still for me, Logan,” Gargoyle ordered. “Real still.”
The human approached again.
Lion Logan snarled.
“Stop!”
He froze.
“Mason, get away!”
Alpha.
Family.
Help.
“Axel, he’s hurt,” Gargoyle said.
“Look in his eyes, Levi,” Alpha ordered. His voice strong. Sure.
Strong alpha.
Lion Logan whined. Hurt!
Need help.
“His lion has taken over. Do not get close to him.” Alpha came closer.
Lion Logan could see his alpha now. He whimpered. Please help. Hurts.
“I know, buddy,” Alpha said. “It’s going to be okay. Don’t move.”
Don’t move. He could do that.
“I need to get close enough to take the trap apart,” Human said.
“No,” Alpha responded without taking his gaze off lion Logan.
He could sense the dragon close.
Love.
Shelter.
Family.
The dragon would watch over them. They were safe now.
“Let me.”
Mate!
Mage!
Magic!
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Alpha said hesitantly.
Mate! Lion Logan whined louder. Help!
“I can magically remove the trap. He won’t hurt me.” Mate walked closer. He passed the alpha. The human. Came closer. Yes! Help them, mate! Help!
“Dean,” Alpha growled.
Lion Logan lifted his head to growl back at alpha. Mate. Safe. No growling at mate.
“It’s okay.” Mate came closer.
“His human side is not in control,” Alpha said.
A tiny black creature ran from the shadows. Lion Logan reared up to bite but caught the scent first.
Mate. Belonged to mate. Don’t hurt.
Cat.
Shifter.
Wet fur.
Familiar.
The cat tucked himself against lion Logan’s chin and started to purr.
Love.
Safety.
Lion Logan nuzzled the small body. Hiding the smaller feline from the heavy rain. He couldn’t do much stuck like he was but lion Logan would protect familiar. Cat. Family.
“It’s okay. The lion might be in charge, but he knows us,” Mate said.
Of course, he knew mate. Mate!
Mate’s hands touched his leg.
Pain!
Burning!
He whimpered.
The pressure around his back paw released and Logan roared as the pain traveled up. Up and up. Vision blurry. Can’t see! Can’t protect!
“I know! Let me help you,” Mate said.
Warmth.
Magic.
Love.
“We need to get him home. It’s too dark out here to see all the damage,” Mate said.
Home.
Family.
“Can we get close enough to carry him?” Alpha asked.
“I don’t know,” Mate said. He moved up lion Logan’s body. “Logan?”
Lion Logan blinked at him.
“Good lion. You did good. Protected.”
Good lion.
“I need human Logan back,” Mate said. “Please.”
When his human half shoved forward this time, lion Logan faded back. He was exhausted. Trusted mate to watch over them.
The shift was slow.
His human side was fighting for them though. Determined.
Lion Logan rested.
“Logan? Baby?” Dean cupped his face.
“Hurts,” Logan managed. Tears fell down his cheeks to mix in the rain. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“Shh.” Dean gathered him in his arms.
He’d never known pain like this. Fear. He could smell blood. His blood. Was his leg gone?
Logan started to panic. He shook and tried to pull away to get a look at his leg.
“No.” Dean held him tight. “Stay with me. We have you. Calm down.”
A black cat jumped into his lap.
‘Meow.’
Noah.
Noah and Dean. Axel. Levi and Mason. Bo. Trevor. Gavin.
His family had come for him. His mate was there.
Logan buried his face in Dean’s neck and wailed.
Dean’s arms were so strong as they held him. Logan would have shattered apart, he just knew it, if it wasn’t for Dean.
Eventually he had to draw back. It wasn’t right for him to think of Dean as his mate. To lean on him. Logan needed to be respectful to his mate.
“Look at me, baby.” Dean forced Logan’s chin up. “Shh, it’s okay. Sleep.” Dean’s lips brushed over his forehead as Logan’s eyes grew heavy.