by Stormy Glenn
“So, maybe that’s something you can help me with. I can’t promise to keep my mouth shut because I’m not just built that way. But I don’t want to do anything that would put your life in danger.”
“As long as you’re willing to try, that’s all I want.”
“The same goes for you, beta. Remember that we’re partners, equals. I am not your slave, your boy toy, or your doormat. If you want something from me, ask. Don’t demand. I may be smaller than you, but I get just as irritated.”
Logan grinned. “You’re awfully sexy when you’re all worked up.”
“Does that mean you’re going to ask and not demand?”
“I’ll try, but you need to understand that there are some things I will not bend on.”
“Like?” Love asked. He was thrilled that Logan at least seemed to be willing to talk about things. If there was no compromise in their relationship, then they didn’t have much of a chance.
“Your safety, for one. I will never bend on that. You need to understand, Love. You’re entering a world you have no concept of. I wish that I could introduce you slowly, but I can’t. I need you with me now.”
“Is that your way of asking me to move in with you?” Love knew he had a heavy dose of sarcasm in his voice, but he couldn’t help it. He wanted to live with Logan, but he wanted to be asked. He wanted to know that Logan really wanted him there.
Logan’s sudden smile seemed to be amused and a tad self-deprecating. “Love, would you please move in with me?”
Parting his lips, Love leaned up to kiss Logan. He brushed his tongue against Logan’s, groaning at the sweet sensation. Logan knew just how to send his senses swirling. Finally, out of breath, Love laid back. He stroked his hand down the side of Logan’s face and smiled.
“I’ll think about it.”
Chapter 12
Logan chuckled from his position on the bed as he watched Love staring at himself in the mirror. His little mate was positioning the new black fuzzy ears on his head that Logan had given him. Love kept turning this way and that, looking at his ears.
“You look sexy as hell, and you know it,” Logan said. “Stop fussing.”
Love swung around, a glare on his face and his hands planted firmly on his hips. “Do you think this look is easy?”
Logan blinked. “Uh, no?”
He wasn’t sure what the correct answer was. He thought Love was sexy whether he spent an hour in front of the mirror or just woke up in the morning. No man could be as attractive as Love without it being natural. The eyeliner, ears, and the clothes were just window dressing.
“I’ve spent hours in front of the mirror trying to get this look perfect. I think I know when it’s right.”
Ah, so the high maintenance begins, Logan thought to himself as he rolled to the side of the bed and sat up. He needed to nip that in the bud right now. Logan gestured with his hand for Love to come stand between his thighs.
“Come here, baby.”
Love rolled his eyes and strode across the room with a haughty swing in his hips. “What?” Love’s silky voice held a challenge that Logan couldn’t ignore.
Logan grabbed Love’s arms and swung him around. He heard Love yelp as he landed on the bed. Logan followed him down, covering Love’s body with his own, stretching Love’s arms up over his head.
“Who are you getting all dolled up for, Love?”
“You.” Love frowned.
“Then you need to listen to me when I say you look fine. The eyeliner, the ears, even the clothes, they all look nice, and they make you look great. But, baby, to be honest, you look just as sexy when you wake up first thing in the morning with nothing on.”
Logan barely restrained himself from growling when Love’s lower lip slipped out and he started to pout. It was probably the sexiest damn thing he had ever seen. Logan grabbed both of Love’s hands with one of his then reached down with the other hand and rubbed his finger across Love’s lips.
“This, however, this I’m in full support of.”
Love started laughing. “You like my lip?”
“I like your pouty lip.”
Logan chuckled when Love stuck it out further. Maybe high maintenance wasn’t so bad after all. He leaned in and nipped at Love’s lips with his teeth then soothed it with his tongue. Love’s long, drawn-out groan surprised him, and he leaned back to look into his eyes.
“Love?”
“You’ve got this whole dominance thing down to an art form, don’t you?” Love asked as he pulled on his hands just a little. Not enough to really get himself free, though, just enough to wiggle around a little and feel the pressure of Logan’s hand wrapped around his wrists.
“You like me that way.” Logan grinned at the exasperation on Love’s face. Somehow, Logan knew it was true. Love wanted him to be dominant. He just didn’t want Logan to be an ass about it. Logan could live with that.
“Do I really have to meet your entire clan?”
“You do.”
“Couldn’t we have like a small get-together or something? I could meet a few at a time.”
“Love—”
“What if they don’t like me?” Love whispered.
Logan smiled down at Love as he stroked the side of his face. “I like you, and that’s all they need to know. They will accept you because you’re my mate.”
“Well, it would be nice if they accepted me because they liked me, too. I don’t want them to like me just because I’m your mate.” Love started to pout again. “I’ll never make any friends that way.”
“You, my sweet little pup…” Logan tapped the end of Love’s nose, “don’t need to do anything except be yourself, and they won’t be able to stop from liking you.”
Love snorted and rolled his eyes. “Boy, have I got you snowballed.”
“Love, you—”
Logan’s words were interrupted by a loud pounding on the bedroom door. “Logan, I need you out here. The clan is starting to get restless, and Asher is arriving.”
Logan recognized the voice as his brother’s and groaned. He rolled to the side of the bed and stood up, then reached back for Love. “Come on, babe, as much as I would prefer staying in bed with you, duty calls.”
Love took Logan’s hand and scooted off the bed. Logan smirked when Love straightened his shirt then checked his ears. Love brushed his dark hair back from his face then drew in a deep breath.
“Okay, I’m ready.”
Logan didn’t think Love looked like he was ready. His face was tense and just a bit on the pale side. He was also chewing on this thumb. Logan suddenly remembered Matt’s words about what to do when Love was nervous, and he remembered the small bag of lollipops that had come with the ears.
“Hold on, baby.”
Logan hurried to the dresser and opened the top drawer. He pulled the bag out and carried it to Love. “I think you might need these. I forgot to give them to you earlier.”
Love frowned in confusion until he looked inside the bag. Logan wasn’t prepared for the squeal of delight that fell from Love’s mouth or the bouncing mate that he suddenly had in his arms.
“Thank you!” Love said as he peppered Logan’s face with kisses.
“I told you I wouldn’t forget.” Logan chuckled as he hugged his mate before slapping him on the ass. “Now, pop one of those in your mouth and let’s go downstairs and see what has my brother’s pantyhose in a bunch.”
Love laughed and quickly dug into the bag. He pulled a lollipop out and unwrapped it, then popped it into his mouth. Logan’s groan was almost as loud as Love’s. There was nothing quite like listening to his mate moan in pleasure.
“Come on, babe, if I don’t get you out of this room, we’re never leaving.”
Logan held out his hand to Love then led his mate from the room once he took it. Love bounced along side of Logan, looking happy as all get-out with his lollipop in his mouth and black, fuzzy ears on his head.
He was adorable.
Logan had no idea how hi
s clan would accept Love, but he knew he was perfectly happy with the one fate had given him. Love might be high maintenance, but Logan liked him that way.
Logan could feel the eyes of his clan on him and Love as they descended the stairs. He stopped half way down and pulled Love to his side, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. He smiled when Love edged a little closer then faced his clan.
“This is my mate, Love.” His stern voice brooked no protests. He could feel Love tremble beside him and knew the tone affected him just as much as it did the people below them. It was the voice of the beta. “I’d like you to welcome him into our clan.”
Logan let his words sink into the clan for several moments then smiled as if amused. “And yes, his name truly is Love.” He heard several people chuckle and the tension in the room eased. “He is the beta-mate.”
Logan felt Love jerk when the clan started clapping. He flexed his finger’s letting Love know he was there for him. “Don’t let his gorgeous good looks or sweet personality fool you. Love can be just as fierce as any of us if he needs to be. He’s already saved my life once.”
“A human, beta?” one man asked.
“My human.”
The man nodded quickly. Even he could hear the underlying threat in Logan’s voice. Logan wouldn’t allow any disrespect towards Love. His mate deserved all of the respect due someone of his status.
Logan opened his mouth to make his opinion perfectly clear when the front door suddenly flew open and two of his clan enforcers rushed in carrying a third man between them. The man was unconscious and bleeding.
“What happened?” Logan shouted as he ran over.
“We were attacked, beta,” Iain said. “They were waiting for us right outside the grounds, a whole group of them. We were outnumbered.”
“They who?” Logan asked.
“Coyotes , beta.”
Logan growled. His muscles tensed.
“Beta, one of them told us to give you a message,” Iain said. “It was the only reason he let us go.”
Cold dread filled Logan. “What was the message?”
Iain’s eyes strayed to where Love stood on the stairs. “They want the human.”
“They can rot in hell!” Logan snapped. “They are not getting my mate.”
“Logan,” Iain said warily, “I don’t know if we have enough soldiers to fight them off.”
“Then we’ll make them fight for every inch of ground they cross. Get everyone inside the main compound. I want the cubs moved to the bunker. Then go to the armory and get enough weapons to outfit everyone.” Logan glanced down at the wounded man on the floor when he began to moan. “And get the doc in here.”
People started moving immediately. Logan had ordered emergency drills in the past so that everyone would know what to do if they were attacked. He was satisfied that his clan would react accordingly.
“Love, what are you doing?” Logan growled when Love rushed forward and fell to his knees beside the man on the floor. He forgot that Love had never participated in any of the emergency drills. “You need to get down to the bunker with everyone else. It’s the safest place in the compound.”
“And you need to hold these while I work,” Love said as he pulled his ears off and handed them over to Logan.
“Wha—”
“I told you that I worked in a hospital and attended school.” Love said as he pushed up his sleeves then leaned over the injured man and started checking him over. “Well, I do. I just wasn’t completely honest about what exactly I do at that hospital or what I’m going to school for.”
“Then tell me now.”
Logan was mystified as he watched Love work. Love was usually a little off, flighty. As Logan watched him, his mate became confident and self-assured, working briskly but carefully as he tried to stop the bleeding and assess the man’s condition.
“Love?”
“I’m a registered nurse, Logan. I work in the trauma unit at the hospital,” Love said without looking up. “I’m also attending medical school to be a doctor.”
Logan stared, stunned by Love’s words. Not in a million years would he have guessed that Love was a registered nurse or attending medical school. It just didn’t seem to be something the man would be into. Love didn’t seem that focused.
“You’re going to medical school?” Logan asked.
“I’ve been going to medical school for several years, Logan. I’m about to start my residency.”
“You’re a doctor?” a sandy browned haired man asked as he ran in and knelt down on the floor across from Love. Logan recognized Darren Stone, the alpha-mate, immediately and heaved a sigh of relief. Darren could help the injured man. It also meant Asher was home.
“Not yet.”
“Then stop touching my patient.”
Logan growled when Darren started pushing Love away. He reached down and wrapped his hand around the Darren’s wrist and pulled him away from Love. “Don’t touch!”
He knew he could lose his life if Asher ever saw him handle Darren the way he was, but Love belonged to him. No one had the right to touch him without Logan’s permission. Asher would just have to understand.
Logan wasn’t expecting Love to turn and glare at him.
“Logan, we don’t have time for this.” Love gestured to the man on the floor. “This man is going to die if he doesn’t get treated, and if I heard right, you have more pressing matters to deal with than someone touching me.”
“Love—”
“Go!”
“Love!”
Love smirked. He reached and grabbed the edge of Logan’s shirt and pulled him down for a quick kiss. When Love pulled away, they were mere inches from each other. Logan could suddenly see the worry in his mate’s eyes.
“You damn well better come back to me without a scratch on you, or I’m going to be very pissed.” One of Love’s dark eyebrows arched up as if he dared Logan to argue with him. “And Logan, I’m not nearly as sexy when I’m pissed.”
Logan grinned. He couldn’t think of anything else to do in the face of his mate’s demand. He stroked the back of his hand down the side of Love’s pale face. “As you wish, Love, so shall it be.”
Logan was ready this time when Love leaned in and kissed him. He kissed Love back, putting all of his pent-up emotions into the press of his lips against his mates. He needed Love to know how important he was to him.
When Logan pulled away from Love, he held his hand out. “Knife and sheath, Iain.” A moment later, a knife inside of a leather sheath was pressed into his hand. Logan held it out to Love. “If anyone touches you or threatens you in a manner you do not like, I expect you to do to them what you did to Mick.”
Love blanched but nodded as he took the knife. Logan helped Love attach the sheath to his belt then stood up. “Remember what I said, Love. You’re first duty before any other is to keep yourself safe. I cannot live without you.”
Logan didn’t wait for a reply from his mate. He didn’t need one. He’d seen Love’s reaction in the glistening of tears in his eyes. He just turned and headed for the door. Just as he reached it he heard Love start talking and couldn’t help but grin. His clan had no idea what they were getting into when they tried to deal with his little human mate.
“Now, doc, this is how things are going to go…”
Logan shook his head and headed out. He took the gun that Iain handed to him and strapped it on. The earpiece communicator came next. Each of his solders had one. Logan hooked it in his ear and turned it on.
“Cáel, can you hear me?” as he hurried toward the front gate.
“Yes, beta.”
“I want you to go to Love. He’s with the Darren inside the main residence. I don’t care how much they argue with you, don’t let either of them out of your sight until I come back. Is that understood?”
Cáel was the best man for the job. He had a vested interest in protecting Love, one that wouldn’t send Logan’s possessive instincts through the roof. If Cáel was indeed
Love’s father, Logan knew he had no reason to be jealous of the man.
“Yes, beta.”
“I mean it, Cáel, don’t take your eyes off of them.”
“I understand, beta,” Cáel said. “I will guard them with my life.”
“You can let Love know that Garen is with me, protecting me. And tell Darren that Asher is going to be with me, too.” Logan knew Love would feel better if one of the guardians was with him, guarding his back. It might make Cáel’s job a little easier. Love wouldn’t protest so much.
Cáel chuckled. “Yes, beta.”
Logan rolled his eyes at Cáel’s impertinence and turned to Iain. “Okay, where is Asher?”
“He’s already checking the perimeter, beta.”
Logan nodded. “Good, now what can you tell me about what happened and who is attacking us?”
“Coyotes.”
Chapter 13
“You did pretty good in there.”
Love looked up from where he was washing his hands in the sink to see the doctor standing a few feet away leaning against the counter. One corner of his mouth lifted up in a slight smirk as he went back to washing his hands.
“For a human, you mean?”
“Actually, no.” The doctor sounded surprised. “You did pretty well for anyone in the medical field. It takes a special kind of person to work on a patient in a trauma situation. Add in the fact that wolf physiology is a bit different from humans and ninety-nine percent of the population would have run screaming from the room. You didn’t.”
Love shrugged. “I saw no reason to panic. A patient is a patient, no matter what their physiology. The man needed our help.”
Love wiped his hands dry on a towel then turned to face the doctor. He knew the man was suspicious of him because he was a human. He expected that and didn’t fault the doctor for it. He just hoped that time would prove he wasn’t someone the clan needed to be worried about.
“I’m not going to be going anywhere anytime soon, doctor,” Love said as he crossed his arms over his chest. “I would appreciate anything you can teach me about shifter physiology. I want to learn whatever I can so I can be beneficial to this clan. I see no reason to let my skills go to waste just because I’ve joined the clan.”