Chapter 21 Logan #2
Xavier pauses at the door, his mint scent carrying notes of determination mixed with barely controlled panic. "Think about what I said. About the resort. About what we owe Emma and Savannah."
With that, he's gone, leaving us five alphas to process what just happened. The small office feels even more cramped without his authoritative presence, and I watch as everyone shifts uncomfortably in the sudden void.
Dax slumps forward in his chair, burying his face in his hands. "He's lost his mind," he says, his voice muffled by his palms.
"Completely insane," Derek agrees.
"Absolutely impossible," Ryan adds, shoving his phone into his pocket and crossing his arms defensively across his chest.
"I love it," Griff announces with a grin that transforms his entire face, pushing off the wall with renewed energy. "This is the kind of challenge that separates real contractors from weekend warriors."
I lean back in my chair, studying him with growing disbelief.
"Griff," I say carefully, my voice carrying the kind of measured tone I use when someone's about to do something spectacularly stupid, "that building's been abandoned for eight years.
Even if we could get it functional, we're talking about hosting Emma's wedding in a construction site. "
"Every venue is a construction site until someone makes it beautiful," Griff replies with insufferable confidence, his chest puffing out with alpha arrogance. "Most people don't have the vision to see potential."
Derek stops pacing abruptly, wheeling around to face him with obvious irritation. "Vision doesn't install electrical systems."
"No, but skilled labor and planning do. And we've got both.
" Griff starts pacing the cramped space with predatory excitement, his hands gesturing as he talks.
"Derek handles structural assessment and repairs.
I'll take electrical and permitting. Ryan coordinates catering logistics and kitchen facilities. "
"What about Dax and Logan?" Ryan asks, uncrossing his arms to gesture between us.
"Dax handles environmental health and emergency services coordination. Logan..." Griff stops pacing and looks at me expectantly, his eyebrows raised.
I stand up slowly, feeling the weight of leadership settle on my shoulders like a familiar coat.
"Logan handles project management and coordinates with the fire marshal for clearance and event permitting," I say, then cross my arms over my chest. "And points out that we're talking about seven weeks to make a condemned building suitable for almost a thousand guests. "
"Seven weeks is plenty if we approach this systematically," Griff insists, his excitement making him bounce slightly on the balls of his feet.
Week one, structural assessment. Week two, electrical and permitting.
Week three, plumbing and utilities. Week four, cleaning and cosmetic work.
Week five, inspections and compliance. Week six, decorating and preparation. Week seven, wedding."
“Assuming nothing goes wrong," Derek observes dryly, finally stopping his pacing to lean against the wall with his arms crossed.
I watch Dax shake his head slowly, his shoulders sagging with exhaustion and something that looks like defeat. The sight makes something hot and angry uncurl in my chest.
"Dax," I say, my voice carrying the alpha authority that makes people listen whether they want to or not. He looks up at me, and I see the exact moment my words hit home. "You're marrying your omega. You're supposed to do anything for her."
The silence that follows is heavy with implication. Dax's scent spikes with guilt and something that might be shame, while Derek and Ryan exchange uncomfortable glances. Griff stops bouncing, his expression sobering as he processes what I'm really saying.
"That's what this is about, isn't it?" I continue, stepping closer to Dax's chair, my voice dropping to something quieter but no less intense.
"Xavier isn't just trying to save Emma's wedding.
He's trying to prove to Savannah that we can be the pack she deserves instead of the disasters she's been managing. "
Dax straightens slowly in his chair, his hands gripping the armrests. "Logan..."
"No, listen to me." I lean forward, bracing my hands on the arms of his chair so we're eye level.
"Emma is stressed because her wedding is falling apart.
But Savannah is ready to quit because we've been treating her like hired help instead of family.
Xavier sees that. He's not doing this just for Emma, he's doing it for both of them. "
The emotional weight of that realization settles over the room like a blanket. Derek stops leaning against the wall, his posture straightening as understanding dawns. Ryan's hand drops from his pocket, his attention fully focused for the first time since we started this meeting.
"Shit," Dax breathes, and I can smell the guilt rolling off him in waves.
"Yeah, shit." I straighten up, running a hand through my hair as my own emotions threaten to overwhelm me. "We've been so focused on the logistics, on the problems, that we forgot this is supposed to be about love. About showing the people we care about that they matter enough to move mountains."
Griff nods slowly, his earlier excitement tempered by something deeper and more meaningful. "That's why Xavier had that look in his eyes. That determined, slightly panicked look."
"Because he knows if we can't pull this off, we lose more than just a wedding venue," I finish. "We lose our chance to prove we're worth staying for."
"Nothing will go wrong because we won't let it," Griff says with quiet determination. "This is Emma's wedding. Failure isn't an option."
The office door opens and Xavier returns, looking harried but focused. "Patient's stable and prepared for surgery. I have maybe thirty minutes before I need to scrub in."
"We've been discussing your insane venue proposal," I tell him.
"And?" Xavier asks, settling back behind his desk.
"Griff thinks he can turn a condemned ski resort into a wedding venue in just under two months through sheer will and superior expertise."
"Griff can turn it into a venue because he has the skills, resources, and support team necessary," Xavier corrects, his voice carrying conviction. "The question is whether we're committed to making Emma's wedding a success, or letting fear prevent us from doing what needs to be done."
"All right," I say, feeling the alpha authority that's kept this pack together through countless crises. "Let's say we commit to this plan."
Dax looks around at his pack mates, reading the same determination I can smell in their scents. "We're in. Derek handles structural, Ryan coordinates catering logistics. I'll handle health and safety compliance."
"What about the bride?" Derek asks. "Does Emma know about this?"
"Emma doesn't know because we haven't finalized details," Xavier replies. "But she'll appreciate having a venue that accommodates her guest list without compromising her vision."
"And Savannah?" Griff asks.
"Savannah coordinates the overall event while we handle venue preparation," Xavier says firmly. "She's been managing crisis after crisis without adequate support. Our job is to provide her with a functional venue so she can focus on making Emma's wedding beautiful."
Xavier's phone buzzes again, and he checks the screen with obvious frustration. "I need to get to the hospital. But there's one more thing."
"What now?" Dax asks.
"Tonight, your pack needs to do something special for Emma.
Let her know her happiness matters, that her wedding will be everything she dreamed of.
" Xavier's voice carries alpha authority mixed with genuine affection.
"She's been stressed and worried. She needs to know her pack family is committed to making her day perfect. "
"What kind of something special?" Ryan asks.
"That's up to you. But make it meaningful. Make it clear she's valued and supported."
"And Savannah?" I ask, though I'm not sure I want to hear the answer.
"We're going to do something special for Savannah too," Xavier says, his eyes finding mine with intensity that makes my chest tight.
"She's been carrying this burden alone while dealing with pack members who create more problems than they solve.
She deserves to know she's appreciated, valued, and.
.." He pauses, choosing his words carefully.
"And that some mistakes won't be repeated. "
The marking incident again. Xavier's making it clear my territorial behavior was unacceptable and that I need to make amends.
"What did you have in mind?" Griff asks.
"Something we need to figure out together," Xavier replies. "But it needs to be genuine. Savannah has excellent instincts for detecting bullshit."
Xavier's phone rings again, and this time he answers immediately. "Dr. Blackwell... yes, I'm on my way... I'll be there in ten minutes."
He hangs up and starts gathering his things with efficient movements.
"Griff, start working on permits and structural assessment tomorrow morning.
Derek, coordinates with Griff on the construction timeline.
Ryan, begin researching catering logistics for the venue.
Dax, handle health department compliance and emergency service coordination. "
"What about you?" I ask.
"Medical emergencies and coordinating with Savannah on overall event planning." Xavier pauses at the door, his mint scent carrying notes of determination and something that might be affection. "And Logan?"
"Yeah?"
"Fix whatever you broke with Savannah. She's been through enough stress without managing inappropriate territorial behavior on top of everything else."
With that diplomatic but pointed observation, Xavier leaves us five alphas processing the fact that we just committed to the most insane wedding venue restoration project in Pine Hollow history.
"Well," Griff says cheerfully, "this should be interesting."
"Insane is probably more accurate," Derek mutters.
"Impossible might be most accurate," Ryan concludes.
I look around at four other alphas thinking the same thing: we just committed to a project that could be the most impressive display of pack coordination in our history, or the most spectacular failure any of us has ever been involved in.
"You know what?" I say finally. "Fuck it. Let's do this."
"Really?" Dax asks. "You think we can pull this off?"
"I think Emma deserves a wedding that lives up to her dreams, and Savannah deserves a pack that supports her efforts instead of creating additional problems." I stand up, feeling the alpha authority I rarely use but never doubt.
"And we're all tired of being failures who disappoint the people we care about. "
"Damn right," Griff agrees, his arrogance shifting into something more focused and determined. "Emma's getting the wedding she deserves, and we're going to prove this pack can handle whatever challenges come our way."
"Even renovating a condemned ski resort in seven weeks?” Derek asks.
"Especially that," Griff replies with complete confidence. "This is going to be legendary."
As we file out of Xavier's office, I think Griff might be right. This project is either going to be legendary, or the kind of disaster people tell stories about for decades.
Either way, Emma's getting her wedding, and Savannah's getting a pack that supports her instead of making her job harder.
And maybe I can figure out how to apologize for territorial behavior without making things worse.
Because Xavier's right: Savannah deserves better than how we've been treating her.
Time to prove we can be the pack she deserves, instead of the disasters she's been managing.
Starting with turning an abandoned ski resort into a wedding venue in two months.
No pressure.
But alphas love proving impossible things can be accomplished through determination and planning.
Emma's wedding is going to be perfect.
Even if it kills us.