by Kym Grosso
Wynter blew out a frustrated breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop. She’d been so mad; she hadn’t given too much thought as to how the Alphas would react to her heated lecture. Both men glanced away in embarrassment, from time to time, as she pointed out what they’d done. Logan’s eyes fixed on her as soon as she’d told Jax they were lovers. Her heart warmed, seeing him smile. She wished she could stay mad at him for at least an hour, but his sexy expression melted away her resolve like sun on ice. She looked away to collect her thoughts, and caught Dimitri sitting on a kitchen stool grinning at her. Glad he’s finding this so amusing. Unfortunately she wasn’t finished giving the two Alphas a piece of her mind.
“And third…third, we all need to work together for Emma’s sake. I don’t know what they’ve done, but I was close. So close to finding a treatment. Not a cure, but something that would give her quality of life. Buy me time to work further on it. I need you both to do this. Please. This isn’t about me anymore. We’ve got to get the person who killed Dana. The person that wants to turn my knowledge into a weapon.”
Logan bit at his lip. Goddess, she was magnificent. And right. She definitely had a point about Jax. If Logan took Wynter to the country, he could entrust Jax to help cover the city. Aside from Léopold, he needed an ally, someone who understood the enemy and wasn’t a vampire. Before he and Jax had gotten into a shouting match, they’d actually had a civilized discussion about Wynter turning wolf and had strategized for an hour about what to do next. But when he told him about what had happened with the explosion, Jax demanded to take Wynter back to New York. Before he knew it, they were arguing over Wynter like two kids fighting over a piece of candy. He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck and sighed.
“I’m sorry. You know I care about you. I’ll respect your choices.” Jax paused and glanced to Logan. “And your mate. But I still want to talk with you. Alone.”
Logan shook his head and rolled his eyes. The guy really didn’t give up. He supposed that after everything he’d done for Wynter over the years, he was entitled to have alone time with her. But take his mate away from the safety of his home? From him? No fucking way. Logan raised an eyebrow at Wynter in hopes she’d feel his emotion. Since he’d marked her, he’d started to sense her state of mind; confusion, anger and sadness swirled through her consciousness.
“Logan, I want to talk with Jax for a little bit. We need time,” she pleaded.
“Fine, you can talk here. I’ll go to my office,” he countered.
“Alpha, don’t take this the wrong way, but I want time alone with her in private. You and I both know there is no such thing as private as long as we’re here,” Jax argued.
“I’ll go,” Wynter decided. The truth was that she needed to have a heart to heart with Jax. As loath as she was to leave Logan, she wasn’t sure she could do that knowing he was listening to their every word. She wanted privacy.
“Wynter, do you really know what you’re asking?” Logan responded angrily. His mate was leaving with another unmated male, one not from his pack. His wolf snarled, wanting him to refuse her.
“Yes I do. You need to remember that I’m not all wolf yet, mate.” She didn’t mean to sound bitter but she couldn’t quite forgive him that quickly. “I won’t be long, but I am going.”
Logan approached her like a stalking panther, his eyes wild and his mouth tight with anger. Placing his hands around her waist, he pulled her against his chest. Ever so softly, he pressed his lips to hers but never deepened the kiss. It was a goodbye kiss, one he hoped she’d regret. But he wasn’t going to keep her against her will. She’d come to him willingly or not at all. When he released her from his embrace, Logan’s demeanor seethed in dominance.
Wynter, still reeling from the kiss, brought her fingers to her lips. She hated that Logan was so angry, but he needed to understand that she owed Jax. The least she could do was grant him a few hours of her time.
“Funeral’s this evening. If you aren’t back, I’m coming for you, sweetheart,” Logan vowed fiercely, his gaze fixed on hers. He watched her quietly nod and turned to address Jax. “Take care of her, Chandler. I’ll be in touch.”
Affronted, Logan supposed that perhaps Wynter did need to talk with Jax, but that didn’t mean he had to like it or agree with her. He’d decided to let her go as a penance of sorts, given the way he’d fucked up telling her about how they were mates. But when she returned, they’d have a long discussion about loyalty, because she wasn’t showing a whole lot of it by going off with Jax.
“D, make sure they get to Jax’s hotel safely. Wait for her,” he ordered. Logan shot Wynter an icy glare before he turned to walk away.
Wynter’s eyes brimmed in tears as Logan took off down the hallway toward his office. None of this made sense. Torn, she questioned her feelings for both Jax and Logan. Deep in her belly, the connection with Logan grew stronger every minute of the day. She’d called him Alpha and meant it. But with Jax here, a conflicting sense of what was right confused her. Since she’d told Logan she planned to go talk with Jax, she supposed she needed to go and get it over with so she could return on time.
The way Logan had spoken to her left her wolf trembling. It was as if she could literally picture her rolling in submission, exposing her underside. Despite her desire to acquiesce to the commanding Alpha, she wasn’t entirely wolf. Her human psyche continued to pay credence to her reasoning by telling her that Jax was her guardian, not Logan.
Dimitri slid the door open with a loud banging sound, and gestured for her and Jax to leave. As quickly as she caught his eyes, she averted them. Damn, Dimitri was angry with her as well. Well wasn’t that just great? She swore she’d fix things when she returned. But for now, she’d made her bed and had to lay in it. Exhaling loudly, she walked through the door and out of Logan’s home.
They rode in silence back to the hotel. Wynter ignored Jax, staring aimlessly out the window. Ten hours ago, Logan had made love to her. Within the strength of his arms, she’d belonged. As her feelings grew stronger, she could feel herself falling for him. But now, his words played in her mind. Mate. She was his mate? It wasn’t as if she didn’t desire Logan, but the revelation, in front of Dimitri and Jax, no less, had shocked her. She wondered if by going with Jax, Logan had interpreted her actions as disrespectful, as if she’d chosen him over her mate.
Even the ever-jovial Dimitri had been cool, refusing to look at her when she’d entered the car. The minute she’d stepped away from Logan, it’d felt uncomfortable. Her wolf clawed and whined, giving her a raging headache. It was all she could do to keep from crying. As if sensing her anguish, Jax slowly put a comforting arm around her shoulder. No matter what had happened in her life, he’d supported her. This was why she needed to go talk to him. So why did it feel so awful?
“Come on, Princess,” Jax coaxed. “It’s not all that bad, is it?”
“Then why do I feel like shit?” Wynter laid her head on his chest and glanced up to catch Dimitri’s frosty glare. She quickly closed her eyes, trying to ignore him.
“Because my dear, he’s your mate. Your wolf, she won’t like being away from him, especially since he’s not marked,” he explained casually. “Sorry, I reacted poorly. It’s just you and I; we’ve been together for a long time. I’m not ready to let you go.”
She smiled.
“And I’m not used to you being a wolf…not at all.”
“I don’t know what they did to me,” she confided. She felt like a little girl again, hoping he’d chase her nightmares away.
“Logan told me all about it. We’ll find out, Wyn. I don’t understand it either. But what’s done is done. I promise you’ll make it through this…your shift.”
“But you were so angry back there.”
“More like surprised. I consider you mine, but you aren’t really…well, not at all now. You were almost like a daughter at one time. But over the years, we’ve grown into a comfortable friendship. I’ll miss you. I suppose I always knew this w
ould happen. But it won’t change my being protective of you. That’s in my nature. Can’t be helped,” he reflected.
“Logan’s so angry with me. I feel bad.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll have you back in no time, your wolf will calm down.”
“And what about his wolf? I feel like I did something wrong. Not just wrong, but like I hurt him,” she told Jax.
“No, Princess, you didn’t do anything wrong. But it does rub against the way of wolves. You agreeing to come with me is a very rational, human thing to do. A very Wynter thing to do. Can’t fault you there. And me asking you to go…well, I knew Logan wouldn’t be happy, but you’re my family. I haven’t seen you in months. Goddess, Wynter, I’ll never forgive myself for letting you go,” he confessed. “This is my fault.”
“No…” she began to cry.
“Shhh, I won’t hear it. You were my charge. My responsibility. Logan was right. When we get back, we can have lunch and talk about how I can help you both with this colossal fail we’ve created. The one thing that drives me is that Emma’s still hangin’ on. And if there’s something we can do without putting you into harm’s way, then I want to do it.”
Wynter wanted to argue with him and tell him that she already was in danger, but she assumed he knew that. It was why he’d been freaking out at Logan. Meanwhile, Logan had done nothing to deserve the death they’d brought to New Orleans. Guilt racked her, but still, after everything that had happened, she wasn’t sure she would have done anything differently.
By the time they got up to Jax’s suite, Wynter was famished. Opening the door, a warm, familiar face greeted her.
“Hey missy, welcome back. Come on now, give me some sugar,” Jax’s beta, Nick, told her, giving her a big hug. “Why the sad face? What’s wrong?”
“Long story,” Jax sighed, taking a seat at the large dining table. Thank Goddess Nick had had lunch delivered. “Sit, let’s eat.”
“Talk and eat. What gives?”
Jax looked to Wynter. “Do you want to tell him?”
“Abridged version? The vampires who kidnapped me made me work on the virus, but I escaped. Logan Reynaud, the New Orleans’ Alpha, rescued me then took me into his home. Apparently the vamps infected me with something during one of their lovely feeding sessions. So, by the way, I’m turning into a wolf.” Wynter paused to grab a diet soda. She twisted the cap off, took a drink and snatched a wrap off the tray. “Let’s see, what else? Oh yeah, the vamps are still trying to kill me, Logan marked me and I just found out I’m his mate. Yeah, I think that pretty much sums it up.”
Both Jax and Nick exchanged a look of surprise. Although she’d been shaken in the car, she appeared to be recovering nicely. She had always been a fighter, Jax knew. But every time she rebounded, it still amazed him that a human so fragile could have the bravery of a lion.
“So, wait, have you mated, have you bonded with Logan?” Nick practically shouted.
“No,” she shook her head and pulled her hair aside to show him. “Marked. As in he marked me. Apparently I have to wait until after I shift. So looking forward to shifting…not.”
“It’ll be okay, Wyn. The way your Alpha tore into me today, I have every confidence he’ll protect you. He’s an honorable wolf,” Jax assured her.
“You say that as if you like him. Just a while ago, you guys almost ripped each other’s heads off. It was a real love fest, Nick,” she noted with sarcasm.
“That’s what Alphas do. We jostle for territory, establish dominance. What you saw today, that was child’s play, nothing more.”
She rolled her eyes. Men. Wolves. “Well, Logan was good and pissed at me when I left. Some mate I am.”
“Yeah, I bet that went over well. Jesus, Jax. What were you thinking taking her away from him?”
“I’m a selfish prick, okay? What do you expect? I haven’t seen her for months. Besides, she’ll go back after lunch.”
“I’m the one who decided, Jax. He’s my mate.” She nearly choked on the word, tears threatened. The longer she was away, the worse she felt. A change of subject was in order. “Tell me about Emma. How’s Mika?”
“Mika’s good, really good,” Nick winked.
“No way!” Wynter exclaimed, slapping his arm.
“Way,” Jax replied. “Bad wolf, Nick.”
“No, Alpha, I’m a very good wolf. Why do you think she likes me so much?” Nick teased.
Wynter couldn’t believe her friend had hooked up with Jax’s beta. How could she have missed that one? She fought the urge to call Mika right then and there. God, how she missed her.
“As for little Emma, well, she’s hanging in there,” Nick commented. “Good days, bad days. I don’t know, Wyn. She’s about the same. But damn, I wish we knew what was wrong.”
“I’m close. Although I haven’t done anything since I escaped the lab. But we’ve got a laptop. They got it before the car exploded.” She tried not to react to Nick’s pained expression as she mentioned what had happened. “Jax can fill you in on what all happened…fun times. Anyway, that laptop could have my data on it. Or not. We’ll see. The vamps scrubbed it but Dimitri’s going to try to recover it. I would have asked this morning how he was making out with it but well, you know…with all the yelling and whatnot, that didn’t happen.”
“A cure?” Nick posed the question.
“No. ‘Fraid not. But it’d give her quality of life. She could lead a normal life again with medication,” Wynter speculated. It wasn’t a panacea but it would be a far cry from spending her days bedridden.
“Logan told me he’s taking you out of the city. Said he’s setting up a lab at his house,” Jax mentioned.
Wynter stilled. Seemed her sneaky mate was always two steps ahead of her. No wonder the man was Alpha, she thought. “A lab, really, he said that?”
“Yes, he’s very committed to helping you, us. Of course, he doesn’t want whoever is doing this to proliferate a virus. But he mentioned Emma. He wants to help her…for you.” Jax smiled. “It didn’t make sense why he was going to such a great extent to help us when I first spoke to him. But that was before I knew you were his. And just like that, all the pieces came together.”
Wynter’s face flushed like a schoolgirl, thinking of Logan. She really could fall in love with him. No matter what had happened this morning, they’d work through it.
“Ah, love is a wonderful thing,” Nick declared with a broad smile.
As if caught with her hand in the cookie jar, Wynter looked down and shoved the wrap into her mouth.
“Wyn, in all seriousness, if you aren’t in agreement with this mating, you don’t have to stay here. I mean, I’d have to be an idiot not to feel the chemistry between you and Logan. But if you’re having second thoughts, you, as a wolf, aren’t required to mate with him. This isn’t the dark ages,” Jax explained.
“What?” Wynter looked up and found both of them staring at her.
“Do you love him, Princess?”
“Maybe,” Wynter blurted out before she had a chance to take it back. She decided to backpedal but as she considered how she felt, it was hard to deny her feelings. “I mean I think I could fall in love with him. He’s just so caring and loving and larger than life. It’s unbelievable. I don’t know how this happened.”
Nick and Jax both laughed.
“What?”
“Nature, baby,” Nick remarked.
“You can’t control it,” Jax said. He leaned back into his chair and sighed. “Love, she will come for all of us, and there isn’t a damn thing we can do.”
“I wish we’d talked about this before…this wolf stuff.” She smiled, at a loss for the correct terminology. “It’s just that even though I can feel something in me, what I think is my wolf…but I feel human too. I know why you wanted to protect me from wolves, from the pack, but now, I’m so alone.”
“No, never alone. Your Alpha, he’s there for you, to guide you, to love you,” he corrected her in a serious tone.
; “But how do you know? How do you know I’ll be fine?”
“Logan may be a new Alpha, but he’s been a beta. And he’s been a wolf for a very long time. You must trust him.” Jax fell short of telling his lovely human friend that she’d need to submit.
All wolves in a pack must submit for order to exist. She’d learn in time, but he suspected she might have a rough go at it. He’d love to help her, but it was something she needed to do on her own. No lecture could teach that life experience.
Wynter continued eating, considering Jax’s advice. The more she thought of Logan the more she missed him and sought to smooth over their disagreement. The look in his eyes when she’d gone with Jax tore at her heart. After another thirty minutes of catching up, Wynter told Jax that she needed to go. He assured her that he wasn’t leaving New Orleans and was on call should they locate the lab again. Jax walked her down to the lobby where Dimitri was waiting to take her home. Giving Jax a hug and kiss to the cheek, she quickly departed, walking over to the awaiting car.
Dimitri held open the back door as if he was a chauffeur. Ignoring his gesture, she slipped around him and into the front passenger seat, waiting for him to join her. Apparently, Logan wasn’t the only one who needed to talk. His cold disposition had not warmed since she was gone. If anything, he’d spent some time in the freezer. Dimitri slammed the back door and strode around to his side. He sat down, buckled up and started the car without looking at her.
“What? Just say it already,” she ordered, like the alpha female which she was becoming.
“Why’d you go with him?”
“I told you already, he’s like family. And just because I’m Logan’s mate, he’s still my friend. I haven’t seen him in months. Why do you care anyway? It’s not like I’m your mate,” she snapped.
“Because darlin’, when my Alpha’s unhappy, and he’s very unhappy at the minute, we all feel it. I know Jax is your family, but you’ve gotta see what this does to Logan,” he pleaded.
