by Kym Grosso
“Thanks, Fi.” Logan paced, working through his plan of action. “Dimitri, call Jake and Zeke. I want them to set up a perimeter guard on my place. Have them fix the damn gate. No one gets in or out. I don’t know how long she’s going to be down, but my guess is this little bird is going to try to fly the coop when she realizes where she is.”
“You got it.” Dimitri nodded.
“Dana, I hate to ask the obvious question but is whatever’s going on with her a threat to others?”
“Do you mean is what she has contagious? I’d go with no. I can’t be sure but if it was brought on quickly and she’s already rebounding, it could even be a poison of some kind. I didn’t think of it until now, but considering the marks on her neck, it’s obvious she was exposed to something. Sorry I can’t tell you more,” Dana said in defeat. She finished drawing blood, snapped the test tubes neatly into a carrying case and arranged everything back into her medical bag.
“Listen up everyone,” Logan snapped. All eyes landed on his hard glare. “No one else in the pack is to know what’s going on here with mystery girl, got it? I don’t know who this woman is…this wolf is. But something’s not right here. And until we figure out what’s happening, I want to keep it under wraps. This is a direct order. Do not speak of this to anyone. The story for now is that she’s a victim of a vampire attack and she’s under my protection, nothing more.”
The group nodded in agreement and began filing out the door. Logan stopped Dana, privately asking her if she could change Wynter into one of his t-shirts and boxers. As good as she’d felt in his arms, it felt wrong for him to touch her any further. It was obvious she’d been violated by vampires; he wasn’t about to add himself to the list.
Logan had doubts about having the girl sleep in his bed, but his protective instincts told him to keep her close. She was vulnerable, and for at least the night, his responsibility. He wasn’t sure whether it was his wolf or his heart driving his actions, but he felt compelled to watch over her, to protect her. In the morning, there’d be plenty of time for questions and rational approaches to solving perplexing conundrums. For now it was just him and her, resting, healing.
Clothed, Logan laid next to Wynter. He pushed over to his side and propped his head with the heel of his hand. He studied her face as if memorizing every curve of her chin, the swell of her lips. Something about her drew his interest. He’d like to have blamed it on his vision, but his visceral reaction to her scent concerned him. Alone and happily content for so many years, he couldn’t fathom such an instantaneous and intense attraction toward a woman. Regardless, she smelled incredibly delectable to his wolf. Logan sighed. It would wait until tomorrow. He looked forward to her awakening, to forthcoming answers and mostly to getting to know the little wolf in his bed.
Chapter Four
“Hey sweetheart, can you hear me?” Logan awoke to a cry. Even though her eyelids fluttered, she didn’t appear to be moving.
As if an elephant sat on her chest, Wynter felt immobilized, both tired and heavy. The soft bedding was her first clue that she was no longer outside. Where am I? Please God, don’t let them have captured me. She took a deep breath, forcing her mind to focus. Her hazy vision presented the blurry image of a man. No, no, no.
“I’ve gotta go,” she coughed, attempting to push upward. Feeling as if she weighed a million pounds, she got an inch off the mattress before falling backward. She licked her dry lips; tears brimmed in her eyes.
“Hold on there now. You’re safe. How do you feel?” Logan asked, brushing the back of his hand across her cheek. She felt much cooler; her fever had subsided.
Wynter heard the sound of his familiar low voice wrapping around her like a warm blanket. The man from the alleyway. Thoughts spilled like droplets of rain as she remembered their brief encounter. He’d protected her. Sexy, dominant and altogether male. But, no, he wasn’t a man. He was a wolf. Alpha.
“I’m Wyn. Wynter Ryan. I think I’m…” She closed her eyes, trying to piece together what had happened. She hadn’t felt well.
“Sick. You gave us a good scare, but your fever’s down.” Logan finished her sentence. “Here, let me get you some water. You’ve been out of it for a few hours.”
He reached over and grabbed a bottle of water that he’d kept near his bedside. Unscrewing the cap, he slid an arm underneath her neck so he could support her head. Bringing the rim to her lips, he watched as she swallowed a few sips. Almost feeling as if he was feeding an infant, he was careful not to choke her with too much liquid.
“Thank you,” she whispered, aware that he was holding her. She gazed into his mesmerizing blue eyes. The handsome planes of his face were only outdone by the small smile he gave her. She’d been scared he’d hurt her. Jax had warned her about male wolves. But instead of being aggressive, her savior spoke to her gently, tending to her like an injured child.
“Do you need anything else? You really should get some sleep,” he suggested, even though he wanted to ask her a million questions. Reluctantly, he laid her back onto her pillow and backed away.
Immediately, Wynter felt the loss of his warmth as he removed his arm from the crook of her neck. She barely knew him, so why did the brief embrace feel so good? She diverted her gaze, embarrassed by her situation.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have run,” she began. “I need to tell you…”
“Shhh…you need to rest now. Tomorrow, Wynter. Tomorrow, we’ll talk, okay?” Logan assured her. He could hear her heartbeat race; he assumed from anxiety. He sought to soothe her worries. “Just lay back and close your eyes, little wolf.”
“But I’m not,” Wynter protested.
“Hey now, no more words, okay? You need to get well.” Logan moved away from Wynter. Logical thoughts pressed forward; he should let her sleep alone, go work in his office. He eased off the bed and turned off the lights. “You’ll be safe here. Just rest.”
As the room fell into darkness, Wynter grabbed the sheet out of fear. She hated the dark. Two long months of no sun had done that to her. The claustrophobia threatened to smother her. In the pitch black of the night, she let out a small sob.
“Please, please not the dark. Don’t leave,” she cried.
Logan flicked one of the soft hallway lights back on and returned to her side. Goddess, he knew he’d regret this in the morning. This was exactly how he’d ended up with a menagerie of animals as a kid. As if he’d found a stray puppy, he was already becoming attached. But he knew there was something special about this woman, something that would keep him from simply letting her go in the morning. He’d learned long ago that one could not fight nature. He sighed, aware of what he was about to do. Against his better judgment, he slid into the bed next to her.
“Come here, Wynter,” he ordered, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
Goddess almighty, her small body fit his perfectly, and he was pissed at himself. Not only had he let Wynter into his home, his bed, he now had her conveniently and warmly against his chest. The dreams hadn’t prepared him for the intense arousal and possessiveness that appeared to be rearing its ugly head. No, he couldn’t let this happen. Establishing his dominance within the pack and securing his position as Alpha had been his number one priority. And now that that was accomplished, he needed to focus on continuing to nurture his already successful real estate venture, not become emotionally involved with a stranger.
As he allowed himself the indulgence of pressing his nose to her hair, he mentally shook his head. He didn’t know anything about this woman. She seemed human, but now he distinctively scented wolf. And if she was wolf that meant she came from a pack. She belonged somewhere else, possibly to someone else. He cringed slightly at the thought she could be mated. No, that couldn’t be possible. She felt so right in his arms. So terribly, wonderfully perfect. And it was all wrong.
Wynter had never been needy or scared. But in that moment, her vulnerability overtook her sense of reason. A small voice in her head told her that it wasn’t
right to let a stranger hold her, comfort her. Yet the attraction was too hard to resist. Certain that he was Alpha, she wasn’t sure if it was his powers she felt humming through her veins or her own arousal, but his protective embrace spoke to her soul, calmed her mind. Acquiescing to his wishes, she cuddled her head on his shoulder and her hand on his chest. Safe.
The last thought that ran through her mind was that she needed to call home. God, she missed him. Surely, he’d be ripe with panic. Tomorrow, she thought. Tomorrow, I’ll call him.
“Jax,” she murmured right before she was lost to sleep.
Logan sucked a breath. What the fuck did she just say? He glanced downward. She was completely asleep, but there was no mistaking what she just said. No, it could not be possible. Jax. Jax fucking Chandler; the Alpha of New York City. He’d met him a handful of times. When it came to business, the man was fair, albeit having a flair for the dramatic.
The last time he’d seen the guy in Jersey, he’d presented Tristan with a ‘present’ of sorts. Of course the ‘gift’ turned out to be a wolf who’d been involved in killing one of Tristan’s wolves. It’s the thought that counts. In reality, Tristan couldn’t have been happier with the present. During the event, Logan had observed Jax, who seemed to take perverse pleasure in watching Tristan attack and kill the wolf. He distinctively remembered Jax comforting Tristan after he’d taken a life, assuring him that he’d done the right thing as Alpha.
At the time he couldn’t quite understand the interaction. But now that he was Alpha, he could easily relate to what transpired that day. Jax was merely supporting Tristan, giving him a peace offering after he’d aggressively pursued Tristan’s sister. Like leaders of countries, Alphas chose other Alphas as allies, all the while protecting their own packs. Logan had never thought it would be possible to have more respect for Tristan or Jax, but now that he was Alpha, their relationship was even more important.
Did Wynter belong to Jax? Was she his mate? He blew out a breath, knowing that it shouldn’t matter. All that really mattered was finding out what the hell happened with the vampires in the alleyway and how a wolf could get sick. Both spelled serious trouble for not just wolves but all supernaturals in the area. The shit was about to hit the fan.
Chapter Five
Wynter woke refreshed, although alone. The bright sun streamed into her room, causing her to yawn. Months of sleeping on the floor, and she was finally home in her warm bed; it felt incredible. She pressed her eyes shut, willing her dream to continue. A sexy mysterious stranger beckoned to her in the distance. She could make out the definition of his abs, but couldn’t quite see his face. She strained to listen, to run to him, so she could see who he was.
“Hey sunshine,” a male voice called to her.
Startled, she jolted upward, eyes wide open. Scanning the room, she instantly realized her erotic dream of being held in a strong Alpha’s arms must have been just that: a dream. Where am I? Panic set in once again as an imposing man with tattoos on his forearms approached her. Not the man from her dreams.
“Don’t come any closer,” she warned him. “I don’t know how I got here but I’m leaving.” She jumped out of bed, then quickly realized she was naked underneath a man’s t-shirt and boxer shorts. Oh God.
“Listen, cher. No one here’s goin’ to hurt you. Just settle down,” he suggested and gestured toward a bureau. Yogurt, granola, fruit and juice sat on a tray. “Now that you’re feelin’ better, maybe you can eat some breakfast.”
She wanted to deny it, but her stomach ached in hunger. How long had it been since she’d eaten like a normal human being? Months? But how could she trust this stranger looming across the room? She glanced up at him. Definitely wolf. She could tell by his piercing green eyes. But who was he? Alpha? No, he wasn’t Alpha. She’d been with pack long enough to tell this wasn’t him. But the man from last night…was he real? She grasped the collar of her shirt, drew it up to her nose and took a deep breath. Clean, male with a touch of cologne. She nearly fell back into the bed taking in his scent. She sighed, closing her eyes. The male from last night. It was him. And it smelled so…good. Memories of their conversation played in her mind. She’d asked him to stay with her. And he did. He’d held her. The arousal she’d felt. Oh God. That couldn’t be right. She was in so much trouble. No, no, no. Jax was going to freak out when he finally found her.
Dimitri smiled. Yep, that’s right, baby. Smell your shirt. Little did she know that Logan was waiting for Dimitri to bring her to him downtown. Whatever had transpired last night between the two of them seemed to have rattled his Alpha. He’d watched as Logan tore out of the mansion at the crack of dawn. Even though he’d mumbled something about meeting preparations, Dimitri knew damn well that his Alpha rarely needed time to prepare for anything. He was the sharpest tool in the shed, both mentally and physically. On the way out, he’d ordered Dimitri to watch over the little wolf, see if he could get her to eat and bring her to the office.
Aside from the entertainment factor, Dimitri liked the idea of his Alpha concentrating on something other than challenges. And this lovely little lady was turning out to be a damn fine distraction, at least for the short term. But they still didn’t really know who she was, and that was a wrench in the cog. If she belonged to another wolf or pack, they’d soon claim her. And as it was looking, she was a runner by nature and didn’t plan to stick around very long. And then there was her mystery illness, unheard of among wolves. Maybe that’s why Logan was all about business? He probably thought a passing attraction to the little wolf would be futile by nature.
Dimitri glanced at Wynter and decided they’d better get moving; he coughed to get her attention. He needed her to accept what was about to happen. He contemplated the best approach for getting her to comply. Deciding on going soft, rather than using force, he crouched down so he could speak to her on eye level, trying to seem less intimidating than he knew he was.
“It’s okay, Wynter.”
“You know who I am?” she asked timidly.
“Yes, you talked to my Alpha last night. You’re remembering, right? His scent?”
“I…” She sniffed the ambrosial-scented fabric once again. What the hell was wrong with her? “I…I guess…yes. But I was sick, right?”
“Sure were. How're you feelin’?” He was genuinely concerned.
“I feel fine,” she lied. Physically, she felt fine. But mentally, she was broken. Wynter stared out toward the window, helplessly shaking her head. Tears brimmed in her eyes, and she looked away.
Dimitri sat on the bed at her side and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. Surprisingly, she didn’t shrug him off; she just let the tears run down her cheeks.
“I may be old-fashioned but the girls I know who actually feel fine don’t cry, cher.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m just overwhelmed.”
This was not going so well, Dimitri thought. He stood up and walked over to the dresser and poured her a glass of orange juice.
“Have something to drink,” he told her.
With no energy to argue, she complied, reaching for the glass. The sweet acidy pulp tasted so good. She hadn’t had juice for so long, and it made her feel as if she was doing something wonderfully normal. She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand and gave him a small smile.
“That’s a girl. Are you sure you don’t want to lie down? I was supposed to take you to see the Alpha, but he won’t want you to go if you’re not well.”
“No, really, I’m okay.” I’d be better if I were home. She looked up at Dimitri in silent defeat, wishing she could just get on the next flight out of New Orleans. But she knew better than to try to outrun a wolf. Well, she used to know better. She figured that last night didn’t count; she hadn’t exactly been thinking clearly. And now that she was in another pack’s home, possibly the Alpha’s, there was no way she’d get out on her own. She had to call Jax.
“I need to call someone. Can I use your phone?” she asked quietly.
“Sorry, but you’ve got to talk with the Alpha first. I don’t want to point out the obvious, but we need to know why you were being chased by those vamps last night. And your fever. Alpha’s got a lot of questions.”
“But I have to call Jax,” she protested. “I have to get out of here.”
Dimitri stopped dead in his tracks, almost dropping the glass. Jax. There was only one Jax that he knew: Jax Chandler. Holy fuck. No wonder Logan was pissed this morning. Seems like the rules of the game just changed. Attempting to hide his reaction, he continued and handed her a yogurt.
“I’m sure my Alpha will be in touch with yours.” He could only assume she belonged to the New York pack. And she’d slept with his Alpha. Yeah, this was going to be fun.
“He’s not my Alpha. Well, yes he is but…” her words trailed off when she realized she was going to be interrogated ad nauseum about what had happened by the New Orleans’ Alpha. Even if he’d acted caring last night, he’d want details about why she was in that alley. But she needed to talk to Jax first. Her eyes darted defiantly up at Dimitri and she said nothing more.
“Okay, little wolf, whatever you say.”
“I’m not a wolf,” she stated firmly, confused as to why he’d call her that. Any supernatural worth their salt could tell she was very much human.
Dimitri laughed. “Well, that fever must have affected you a little more than I thought.” He shook his head, irritated that she’d lie to him. The whole situation was turning into one shitload of crazy that he was ready to dump somewhere else. If that was how she was going to play it, he was ready to take a stricter approach with her.
“Wynter, this’s what’s goin’ happen. You need to eat something and then we’re going to see my Alpha. I called over to one of the shops this morning, and they delivered some clothes that should fit you.” He pointed to several shopping bags lying near the closet door. “You’re welcome to take a shower before we leave but I’d like to leave in an hour. Am I clear?”