by Kym Grosso
“Crystal,” she grumbled, conceding she wasn’t going to get to call Jax. She knew that condescending, ‘do what I say’ tone all too well. When decisions needed to be made in a pack, it wasn’t exactly the epitome of democracy. Pretty much the exact opposite. And given that she was neither a pack member nor a wolf, she had exactly zero say about her future at the moment.
Logan knew the second she’d entered his building. Occupying the top five floors of a renovated skyscraper on Poydras Street in the Central Business District, he ran pack operations as well as his own personal business. State of the art security had been installed throughout the building and a private, high speed elevator exited directly onto his floor. Logan watched on his plasma security screen as Wynter crammed herself into the corner of the lift, attempting to get away from Dimitri. Logan frowned, wondering what caused her to cower in such a fashion. He’d asked Dimitri to offer her breakfast and bring her to him if she was well. But clearly the morning had not gone how he’d planned.
Even though he’d told Dimitri not to touch her in any way or intimidate her, Logan was aware that his beta’s presence didn’t exactly put people at ease. A mere look from him would have most males shaking in their boots. Given Dimitri’s massive presence, he could understand how the little wolf would be wary. The man looked like a badass enforcer, but in truth, Dimitri was quite the peacemaker within the pack. Sure, he was almost as deadly as Logan given the right circumstances, but in general, he approached life with calm and humor.
Logan swore, remembering the way he’d left her. Oh, he’d wanted to stay all right. But encouraging the uncanny attraction wouldn’t help either of them. Holding her, smelling her, it had been too great a temptation. So instead of prolonging the torture, he’d made a judicious decision; he’d left the bedroom before he did something he regretted. Hearing Jax’s name should have been enough to douse the flame that heated his burgeoning erection. But as her soft breasts pressed against his chest and her hand wandered up to the ridges of his bare abs, he’d nearly lost it. Erotic thoughts painted over any worries he’d had about the New York Alpha. As she’d unconsciously draped her leg over his in her sleep, brushing her thigh over his hard shaft, he truly imagined he’d come in his boxers. So after three hours of barely sleeping, her intoxicating scent fully ensconced in his consciousness, he’d bailed.
He’d almost thought better of washing her scent away but doing so admittedly cleared his head. Not only did the she-wolf come with major baggage, she didn’t belong to him and had called for another man. What was he thinking? He knew the best thing for all of them would be to have a nice sit down in his office where he could wear his professional veneer like a mask. He’d treat their interaction like he should, all business. He’d find out who she was, what pack she belonged to, why the vampires were after her and how the hell she’d gotten sick. The most logical solution was magic, he’d decided. As for the rest, she probably got in a fight with her boyfriend and decided a little fun in the Big Easy was in order. Somehow she got mixed up with some rough vamps who decided they’d take it a little too far. By the time he’d arrived at the office, he’d had the most logical possibility wrapped up with a tidy bow. And his sexual attraction to her was sealed up nice and tight into that same package…until now.
Glued to the screen, he observed her aversion posturing; her eyes darted to Dimitri and then back down to the floor. He could practically smell her fear through the fiber optics. Perhaps she should be nervous, but fear was not an emotion he planned on eliciting…yet. Logan wasn’t into pain, but as Alpha, he’d do what he needed to do to protect the pack. As Tristan had pointed out to him on many occasions, an Alpha’s decisions weren’t based on popularity; rather, they needed to be calculated and implemented in the best interest of the pack. No matter how much his dick longed for her, the small, but real, possibility of her being a threat existed. Even a pocket knife could kill a large man if used correctly. He needed to get his shit together and focus on getting answers instead of getting laid.
He’d already called Jax, letting him know that one of his wolves had gone astray in New Orleans. The brief but necessary conversation caused his gut to twist. She does not belong to you. He just needed to keep telling himself those words. It should be easy to remember, considering it was true. Oddly, Jax didn’t claim her outright, but instead indicated he or one of his associates would be on a plane as soon as possible to assess the situation. Logan found that interesting in itself. What was there to assess? An Alpha knows all his wolves. But then again, after meeting Jax a few times, his penchant for drama tended to weave itself into everything he did.
The ding of the elevator caused him to suck a breath. This was it; time for answers. Showtime. Like clockwork, Jeanette, his secretary, buzzed his speaker, alerting him to their arrival. Jeanette, a human, had been working for Marcel for over forty years. She’d been crushed by his passing but agreed to Logan’s offer to stay on, working for him. She was the consummate professional, and he suspected her loyalties ran nearly as deep as those of the wolves in his pack.
Dimitri knocked once on the door and strode into Logan’s office, shutting it behind him.
“What did you do to her?” Logan accused, giving him a sardonic stare.
“Nothin’, she’s perfectly fine. You saw her. She’s fed and dressed; just like you asked.” Dimitri smiled and dropped into one of the tan leather seats facing Logan’s desk.
“Really? Then tell me why she looks like she’s scared shitless?” His mouth tightened into a fine line.
Dimitri diverted his gaze looking out the window and back to his Alpha. “It was nothing.”
“What was nothing?”
“I swear I was gentle with her,” Dimitri assured him. “She wanted to call Jax. I said no. I can’t help that she’s a little wisp of a thing. And well, I’m…I’m me.” He gave Logan a lopsided grin.
“You think this is funny?”
“Well, boss, I must admit it’s a little funny. I mean, come on. When was the last time a little she-wolf had the Alpha tearing out of his own home at the crack of dawn? And at the risk of pointing out the obvious, you still seem a little on edge.”
Logan rolled his eyes, swiveled in his chair and glanced out the window to look over the cityscape. He took a breath and blew it out, frustrated. “Fuck, yeah, I’m on edge. You try sleeping with a girl like her for a few hours while she calls out Jax Chandler’s name. Hearing his name should’ve been enough to make me treat her like a nun, but man, I was so not saying my prayers. It’s so wrong.”
Dimitri laughed out loud. “Well, she is fine, but she’s not ours. And she very well may be going home tonight. You get ahold of Jax?”
“Yeah, I called him. Cagey bastard’s playing his damn games. Says he’s coming here to ‘assess’ the situation. Didn’t claim her outright but didn’t deny it either. As for little Miss Wynter out there…there’s part of me that would like to keep her.” Logan smiled over at him like he’d discovered treasure.
“She’s not a lost dog, Alpha. You can’t just ‘keep her’.”
“You’d be surprised at what I can do when I put my mind to things,” he pondered. Was he really considering keeping her? Yes, yes he was. And why not? Jax didn’t exactly claim her. Then again, aside from a few hours of cuddling like a horny, blue-balled teen, he didn’t even know her. For all he knew, she had the personality of a honey badger.
“That you do. But as your beta, my advice is to go easy.” Dimitri shook his head and laughed. Damn if his Alpha wasn’t considering the unthinkable.
“I don’t do easy,” Logan remarked. “I do what I need to do. And right now, I plan to get the truth.” He stood, walked over to the bar and pulled a bottle of water out of the mini-fridge. “Speaking of which, we have a meeting with Kade later tonight at Mordez.”
“Mordez, huh? Love me a vamp club,” Dimitri said sarcastically.
“Yeah, you and me both. You know the vamps. They can’t meet in offices like normal people
.” He shrugged. “Bring Zeke and Jake in case there’s trouble. Have them keep eyes on us…discreetly. You know the drill.”
Logan detested meeting at a blood club as much as the next wolf, but he’d do it to meet Kade. If there was one vampire he remotely trusted, it was him. Logan would mete out justice when necessary, but it was Kade’s job to get his people in line, not his.
“Done,” Dimitri responded, making his way over to the door.
“Let’s get this show on the road, shall we?” Logan said with a wry smile.
Within seconds of Dimitri’s exit, Logan’s blonde angel stood in the archway.
Heart racing, Wynter passed through the doorway and looked up at the magnificent stranger who’d saved her. As his eyes locked on hers, her breath caught in her lungs. Alpha. The word resounded through her mind like an echo in a valley as she looked over to Logan, who sat carefully watching her every move from behind his desk. Memories of his arms around her body in the heart of the night swirled in her mind. Her face flushed at the confounding arousal she’d felt. Although she tried so hard not to stare, it became impossible to stop. The Alpha was both incredibly sexy and handsome yet he looked dangerous as his lips formed a knowing smile. Dressed in a dark blue suit, his confident posture exuded power. And sex. She tensed as her desire flared again. No, no, no. How could she be attracted to an Alpha? That could not happen. Jax would not be pleased, not one damn bit.
What was wrong with her? She’d been gone from society for months, and she was ready to throw herself at the first man to cross her path? Wynter reasoned that perhaps it was the drugs they gave her. Yes, that had to be it. Maybe she was still feeling the effects of her illness? But as she gazed into his eyes, she couldn’t deny the lure of his powerful presence. She tried to shake it off; her brain told her to be cautious. She knew better than to assume a handsome man equated to nice. In her experience, she’d learned that Alphas were charming, often good-looking and exceedingly deadly.
She took a deep breath, trying to tamp down her reaction. Do not think about how it felt to lie against him in bed. You don’t even know him. No matter how much her libido just got thrown into overdrive, she needed to get it the hell together. Concentrate, she told herself. She needed to call Jax, transfer the intelligence to him and initiate a new plan of action. Pulling over a façade of indifference, she exhaled.
With her misplaced emotions tucked away, she opened her eyes. The Alpha gave her a broad smile as if he knew exactly what she’d been thinking….every dirty, lustful thought. This cannot be happening. His voice jarred her back into reality.
“Have a seat.” Logan gestured to one of the seats across from his desk.
It was not lost on him how Wynter averted her gaze submissively at his words. Definitely wolf. How could he have been so wrong when he first met her in the alley, thinking she’d been human? Sensing both fear and arousal from Wynter, he struggled to remain objective. His wolf sought to pounce on the prey that tempted him so. Logan reminded himself that he really didn’t know this woman, no matter how delicious she looked.
He cursed silently as his eyes roamed over her jeans and the pale pink oxford shirt that was unbuttoned just low enough for him to see a hint of cleavage. He imagined that Dimitri had Melinda, one of his wolves who owned several shops, deliver her clothing. Even conservatively dressed, Wynter looked delightfully edible. Free from makeup, she was a natural beauty. While her skin looked pallid, as if she’d been out of the sun, her complexion was bright and clear.
Her long blonde hair was pulled into a tight ponytail. The spiraling curls sprang in all directions, and for a brief second, Logan wished he could snip the rubber band binding her hair, freeing it like the wind. How he’d love to wrap his hand around it while taking her from behind. Yes, indeed, that would be a sinful pleasure. Ah, but it was time for business. Perhaps if he convinced her to stay, he could play with her. But for now, he needed answers; answers that only she could give him.
“You’re safe, Wynter.” Logan watched her with interest as she sat, nervously playing with her fingers.
Startled to hear her name roll off his lips, she jerked in her chair. Apprehensively, she looked around his large office, checking out the space for an escape route.
“I…I’m sorry, Alpha,” she stated, finally raising her eyes to his.
“Do you know who I am?”
She shook her head. “No. I mean, yes, I remember last night. Thank you for taking care of me,” she managed.
“Yet you know what I am. You address me as Alpha. You can sense it, no?”
“Yes,” she quietly agreed.
“My name is Logan Reynaud, and I’m Alpha of Acadian Wolves here in New Orleans,” he informed her. Keeping his voice calm and low, he continued. “Listen Wynter, I’m not going to hurt you. But I need answers about what happened last night, okay? Let’s start with what you were doing down in the alley. Why were the vamps after you?” He leaned far back into his chair, resting his hands on the armrests. He cocked his head, waiting for an answer.
“I…they…I was being held.” Wynter forced her hands onto her thighs, attempting to relax. “I was working for someone. I had a disagreement with my employer. The vampires. They didn’t want me leaving.” Okay, that was the truth. Maybe not the whole truth but he couldn’t possibly know that.
“So you were working in the middle of the night, tried to leave and they chased you?” The lilt at the end of his sentence indicated that he clearly didn’t believe her.
“Well, yes. Please sir, it’s complicated.”
Sir, huh? While the mere mention of the word shot a rush of blood to his cock, he knew she was trying to conceal information. Sly little she-wolf, she was.
“So tell me, what kind of work do you do?”
She could tell he wasn’t buying her story. Oh God, she wished Jax was here to help her. Wynter knew that telling lies to an Alpha generally ended in disaster. She needed to be very careful. Do not lie, but don’t tell the whole truth.
“I’m a researcher. I’ve been working for a long time on some very important projects,” she sighed. “I knew things. They didn’t want me to leave. I escaped.” There, she said it. Again, all truth…but not everything. The memories of being held against her will elicited a fresh sense of fear. As if she was still in the lab, her blood pulsed in panic, and she struggled to remain composed. Pushing down her sleeves, she attempted to hide the scars of her internment that remained on her arms.
“You were working for a company that kept its workers nearly naked and locked up? Is this correct?” Infuriated at her admission, he attempted to stay calm. What kind of monster would keep her imprisoned? And what were they doing in his city?
“Yes,” she whispered. A small sob lodged in her throat. Why did she ever think she could work for that company? Although she’d done it to help the pack, it had been so foolish. Her lips tensed together, and she pretended to admire the New Orleans vista through the glass. Do not cry in front of an Alpha.
“And tortured? The bites. I saw them,” he pushed.
Instead of answering him, she simply nodded, refusing to look at him. Wynter’s face whitened at the mention of the bite marks that littered her body. Embarrassment washed over her even though she didn’t deserve it. She tugged at her sleeves once again in an attempt to hide. Anger surged. It was none of his business what happened to her. Where the hell was Jax?
“Little wolf, don’t be ashamed. These vampires…I know them. They can be vicious,” he told her.
Her eyes flashed in confusion. Wolf? Why was he calling her that? Tears threatened to spill from her already reddened eyes. She just needed to go home. Jax would help fix things, including the mess that her life had become.
Logan hated that they’d done this to her. He could tell she was on the edge of losing it, but he had to know what happened. Fighting the urge to wrap his arms around her and offer comfort, he purposefully grounded himself behind his desk.
“Okay, why don’t you tell me
about the magic? Were you hexed? Do you remember what happened?”
“What magic?” she countered, perplexed by his questions. What was he talking about?
“You were sick last night. Wolves don’t get sick,” he reminded her.
“Yes, I know,” she agreed, meeting his gaze. In truth, she wasn’t sure what happened to her. “Wolves don’t get sick. But humans do. I must have had the flu.” Feeling claustrophobic, Wynter suddenly got up and walked over to the edge of the floor-to-ceiling window. At one time, she’d marveled at the view of New York City from this height. But this wasn’t New York. At that moment, she simply wished to escape, as if hoping she could parachute out of the building.
“This is true, Wynter. But you’re not human, are you? Last night you were burning up. Something happened. You need to tell me what you remember. Were you around witches? Tell me, little wolf,” he asked tersely, growing impatient with her avoidance.
“Stop calling me that!” she snapped. This was it. She truly was losing it. Yelling at an Alpha was not her smartest move but she felt out of control. Why not go for broke? She turned around to face Logan, her back against the cool glass. “I was not around witches. I told you that vampires were holding me. I don’t know why I was sick. End of story. Now, I need to call Jax. And I am not a wolf! Can’t you see I’m human? You’re an Alpha, for God’s sake.”
Wynter barely saw him coming. Logan leapt across the room, and as his body touched hers, she gasped. His hands pressed hard against the glass on either side of her head. The masculine scent of him wafted into her nose and she fought the instinct to rub her face against his chest. Oh God, what had she done? How could she be so stupid as to challenge an Alpha? She really must be sick. Unable to speak, she held still. Initially charged with fear, she realized very quickly that he wasn’t hurting her. The tension between them escalated with every minute of silence that passed. And then she felt him, his nose grazing along the side of her neck. A small moan escaped her lips.