Katey had climbed nearly half way up on the perimeter fence, watching the two of them beat on each other. She couldn’t stand this. She hated fighting. She hated violence. She couldn’t stand the pain and hate that emitted from each other’s eyes. Even her wolf fidgeted nervously at the sight of their battle, pleading with her to stop the madness somehow.
Erik stood up and Logan seemed to be paralyzed there, face down on the mat, but still conscious, breathing heavily and wincing from exhaustion. Erik came down and slammed his elbow into Logan’s lower back and Logan cried out once more as bones cracked and snapped under his skin.
The crowd disapproved of Erik all of the sudden and shouted him down, but he ignored them all. It was good sportsmanship to give Logan a chance to rise, but Erik wasn’t one to follow any ethical code.
Erik grabbed Logan, heaved him into one of the corners and repeatedly punched Logan like he was a ragdoll.
Katey shouted for Erik to stop. She could see that Logan was beginning to lose the will to fight. His eyes were no longer gold, but a dull gray. Katey found herself weeping at this scene, silent tears rolling down her flushed cheeks.
Erik grasped Logan’s throat and tossed him carelessly into the opposite corner, making Logan’s spine take another beating against the cold, unforgiving metal. Katey continually cried out for Erik to show some mercy. Erik glanced at Katey from the corner of his eye and snickered as his eyes flashed gold.
He dragged the weak Logan from the corner and into the center of the ring. Katey couldn’t imagine what Erik could do to degrade Logan any more than he already had. Couldn’t he see that Logan had enough? She couldn’t stand it any longer.
Katey desperately looked around the cage and forced her way through the crowd as Erik began to continuously torture Logan’s body.
She found a door on the cage that was around the ring. Katey jumped over the first fence and pulled the second door clean off of its hinges, just as Erik was preparing to slam his elbow into Logan’s windpipe.
She ran as fast as she could from behind Erik and put herself between the two feuding loups-garous.
Erik stopped dead in his tracks as she covered her body over Logan’s to serve as his sheild.
The crowd was shocked and angry that Katey was interrupting their sport, but she didn’t care. They didn’t know that Erik would stop at nothing until Logan was dead and Katey wasn’t about to let that happen. No matter the cost to herself, she couldn’t just watch Logan die. She would have rather given the last breath in her lungs than witness such brutality again.
Katey growled up at Erik, who was frozen and incensed.
“Move!” he commanded, his dominance pulsing off him in waves, but she would not obey.
“Never,” she spat, growling at him even more fiercely, baring her own teeth and her own eyes glowing gold. She didn’t know if there was an unspoken chivalry rule that loup-garou males would not strike a woman, but she was willing to take that chance for Logan.
“Back away,” Erik snarled, as if her answer would change.
“No! I choose Logan!” Katey roared, knowing very well that if her presence didn’t end the conflict, her words would.
Beneath her, Logan’s strength began to return and he gently pushed her aside to face Erik. Katey scooted herself to the side, but stayed low as the loups-garous snarled to one another again, ready to continue their fight.
Erik’s golden eyes darted between Katey and his rival, a whole other battle taking place in his mind that they couldn’t control. In a move that shocked the assembly, Erik went to one corner of the ring and grabbed the white towel hanging on the hook. He tossed it into the middle of the ring, ending the fight and giving Logan the victory.
The betters that had put their money on Logan hooted their own victory and went to the bar to collect their earnings. The few who had gambled on Erik shouted their barbaric insults, but The Killer wasn’t listening.
He looked to Logan and gave a short nod. “Next time,” he said and turned to launch himself through the cage door that Katey had torn off.
Once the rougarou disappeared into the crowds, Logan turned to Katey, but there was little joy in his expression.
“You... Why did you do that?” Logan asked, his voice hoarse and gruff.
“I couldn’t stand to see you hurt like that. Erik would have killed you and - ”
“I had everything…” He paused in his retort and Katey knew what he was about to say was a complete lie. He didn’t have everything under control. The match was spiraling into chaos and they all knew it. It might have gotten worse if Katey hadn’t stopped Erik from dealing such a crippling blow.
Logan offered out his hand to her and helped her to her feet, a new gentleness in his eyes. “If I fight Erik again – and I’m sure I will – I don’t want you to interfere.”
She nodded and listened to the insistent urges of her heart. Before he could push her way, she leapt and hugged around his neck, her clothes clinging to the sweat and blood that glistened on his body. Katey buried her face in the place where his neck and shoulder met and listened to his thrumming heartbeat.
“I was so worried he was going to kill you,” she whispered, her throat tight with tears as his strong arms enveloped her.
Logan held her close, their bodies pressed together as the cage rose back to the ceiling to release them from the ring. She breathed in his scent, letting it seep into her, reassuring her that he was safe and alive – if not a little beaten.
Begrudgingly, he released her and pulled down her arms so he could kiss the back of her hands. “Let’s go home,” he whispered to her.
Katey smiled, tasting the salt of her tears on her lips. “That sounds great to me.”
They speedily made their way past Logan’s adoring fans who pushed things like shirts and booklets in his path for him to sign. Without hardly acknowledging them, Katey and Logan ducked into the back hall that led to the prepping room for the fighters.
The hallway reeked of fetid socks and shower soap. Once he was sure they were out of sight from the rest of the world, Logan twisted his body a bit, popping some stiff joints, then turned to her with a reassuring smile.
“I just need to go and change and I’ll be right back, okay?” Logan said softly.
Katey felt a little foolish for gripping his arms to keep him there with her. “Don’t leave me here alone...” she mumbled, giving him a pathetic, frightened look.
She knew what it felt like to be without him and she couldn’t endure the emptiness inside. That day made her realize how much she needed him around just to feel complete. Even though he’d only be gone for a little while, it was those few minutes that she dreaded as much as she did the whole day.
Logan let out the breath he’d been holding and put his hand upon her cheek, sensing her anxiety. “It’s okay. It won’t take me more than a minute or two. You’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?”
He chuckled and she could feel the vibrations in her chest as he edged closer, pinning her to the wall where she stood. “I’m very sure.”
Katey felt his body press against hers and every contour of his muscles beneath his skin. She shivered with pleasure, knowing he was so close and completely hers. In the dim light of the hall, she could see his bright blue eyes focused on her and only her. Nothing outside of them existed and for a breathless moment, Katey forgot everything.
Her grip around his arms tightened, fingertips pressing into his flesh until she could feel the quivering of his muscles. Hot breath cascaded over her face as he bent lower, their noses nearly touching. Electricity, so intense and overpowering, surged through her until she was sure she would faint.
But he wouldn’t let her and enveloped his arm around her waist. She felt the silky touch of Logan’s lips on hers and the universe exploded for Katey. She had never been kissed, never knew the consuming intimacy of anything beyond Logan’s tender touches and embrace. If she had known that such powerful magic existed, she would have kisse
d him the first day they met in the cemetery.
As lips moved and caressed each other, seemingly with a mind and heart of their own, Katey could feel her soul coming together as her body fell apart. The ache low in her belly grew to a magnitude that she could barely contain as it spread down her legs and into her core to warm her blood.
Their hearts beat wildly against their chests as they melded into one another, unwilling to tear away.
When Katey met Logan, he stitched back together the pieces of her that had been ripped apart over the years. The dysfunctional families, the devastating depression, the feelings of total abandonment and worthlessness was nothing to her when such a man existed in her world. But in this kiss, their first, she felt the stitches come undone to reveal that she was truly whole once more. No more brokenness, no more despair. All that existed was the longing for more of Logan, more of his loving touch that set her spirit on fire.
A tiny, almost imperceptible moan found its way out of her mouth and Logan’s lips stilled for a brief second before he pulled away. Katey whimpered and latched onto to him, now even more adverse for them to part ways. Not even for a second.
She opened her eyes to see that his gaze was as crimson as hers. The world slowly came back into focus and she realized that they were still in a public place, susceptible to discovery if anyone dared to come down the hallway. This was not the place to make out, but Katey desperately wanted more if he would give it.
Edging forward, Katey begged for it, but Logan would not supply. He stepped away and bowed his head. “Not here,” he whispered, an unspoken promise in his plea that they would have more chances to explore the passions that bound them together.
Katey swallowed and nodded before taking a deep breath. Against her will, she let go of Logan’s arms and braced herself against the wall with her legs locked to keep her standing. The red had faded away to blue in Logan’s eyes and he gave her a quick peck on the forehead before turning to hurry toward the locker room.
13
By the time they exited the warehouse, night had settled in over the world and the cool air helped Katey to come down further from the ecstasy high that Logan had sent her on. The red was gone from her eyes, but the embers of their kiss continued to smolder in her soul.
Logan had run to the match from the house, so they agreed to take Katey’s jeep. The black shirt, stained with blood and sweat, was tucked away in his gym bag and he now wore a fresh gray shirt that still highlighted his enticing body.
Once they were in the jeep, Katey cranked up the engine and turned to Logan. “I’ve got to go back to Lily’s house to pick up a pizza, then we’ll head back if that’s okay?”
The pangs of longing spiked in her as his striking eyes met hers. He nodded in agreement and Katey typed out a quick text to let Lily know that she was on her way.
“Why were you at Lily’s house?” he asked as they pulled onto the highway.
Katey kept her eyes on the road as she told him about the intended sleepover and how Darren and the others were out with Ben for his change night. Somewhere around halfway back to town, her phone vibrated and Logan snatched it up before she had a chance to see who the text was from.
“Lily says that she called and canceled your pizza order right after you left,” Logan replied. Katey sighed and rested her chin on the steering wheel miserably as a car passed by in the opposite lane. “What’s wrong?”
“I haven’t eaten much of anything since this morning.” Katey could feel that gnawing grip on her innards as the hunger was setting in heavily. In the heat of the match, she had ignored all other needs. Still, she didn’t feel her wolf roar in protest just yet, but it was only a matter of time.
“We need to eat something when we get home. I’ll a little hungry myself.”
Katey blushed as her dirty mind filled in a nuance that she knew to be nonexistent. Logan was talking about food and nothing else.
When they arrived at the house, all the windows were dark and Dustin’s truck was missing. “Do they usually go out of town when one of them has to change?” Katey asked Logan as they made their way to the front porch, her hand comfortably settled in his.
“Yes. Our property is pretty far-reaching and they go running out in a field not far from here,” Logan replied as he pulled out his set of keys from his bag.
Katey thought for a moment. “Do you ever go with them? As a human, I mean.” she inquired, tilting her head curiously.
Logan paused while unlocking the door and glanced up to her, dejected by the question, but he tried to not show it. “No... Not unless it’s my time of the month,” he confessed and opened the door for her. Katey flashed him a weak smile and ambled through, turning on a few lights as she went to the kitchen.
Logan followed close behind her, but broke away for a moment to throw his bag onto the stairs. “So, what do you feel like having? Deer? Cow? Chicken? Fish? I think we have some squirrel in here if you’re interested in trying it. Too chewy for my taste, but Ben loves it,” Logan said as they walked into the kitchen and he searched through the refrigerator.
Katey giggled as she casually checked him out from behind. She knew exactly what she wanted.
“I don’t know, whatever you’re having I guess. What time do we fly out in the morning?” she asked, strolling around the counter island in the middle of the kitchen, trailing her fingers along the cold granite.
“I guess Darren told you about that. I think the flight leaves around ten o’clock so we should be safe for sleeping in, at least for a little while,” Logan answered, digging through the contents on the shelves.
Katey watched him as he muttered to himself about what would be best to have. A million thoughts and feelings roiled in her soul as she gazed at him.
She couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have such a handsome guy looking after her the way he did. The gravity of his feelings for her finally settled on her mind. Logan had risked his life tonight for her, not just so he could claim her from Erik, but also to prove himself against a stronger loup-garou, to declare that he deserved to be with her more than Erik did.
He had also risked his position and relationship with his pack more than a few instances in the short while that she had known him. Logan had gone out of his way to disobey them time and time again, just to be with her.
He had put so much investment into her and what had Katey done to show her gratitude? She went behind his back and went on a date with Erik. She refused to eat and take care of herself like a loup-garou should. She tried to commit suicide the morning after he changed her and throw away the miracle that had manifested itself in her.
Katey was overcome by guilt and shame for the way she had treated him and the pack. And staring at Logan now made her realize exactly where she would have been without him; still living with Mary and stuck in the mire of depression until something else came along to cheer her up or self-destructive tendencies ended it all. She owed him her life and though the kiss sealed their bond, she felt unworthy of such devotion.
Logan looked up from the fridge, probably sensing the storm that came with the tiny teardrops that formed at the corner of her eyes. And Katey could sense something from him, too.
No longer was he numb and closed off as he had been the night before, Logan was wide open and receptive to her after they shared their first kiss at the warehouse. There was the immediate concern of finding food for both of them, but underneath it all was the love and passion he felt for her, lively and growing steadily stronger with every beat of his strong loup-garou heart.
He gave her a questioning look, but Katey couldn’t contain it anymore. She rushed forward and embraced him, burying her head in his chest, holding him so tight that their bodies were like one. But there was no lust in her embrace; only the need to know that he was real and they had one another, despite all of her unwitting efforts to drive them apart.
Logan’s arms encased her and he pressed his lips to the top of her head as silent tears rolled down and wet h
is shirt.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, stroking her wavy dark brown hair with immeasurable tenderness.
All Katey could do was shake her head and grip fistfuls of his shirt in her hands, as if he would pull away at any second and that thought was unbearable. She never wanted to have him any farther away than he was right now.
Interrupting her mawkish display, Katey began to feel dizzy like she had the other day when she refused to eat. Katey closed her eyes and tried to keep her knees from buckling. The room begin to tilt out from beneath her and she groaned at the aching in her stomach.
Logan’s muscles tensed around her to keep her standing. “Katey?” he asked with a hint of fear in his voice. She completely went limp in his arms as Logan picked her up to set her on top of the counters, his hands resting upon her shoulders to keep her sitting upright.
“Are you all right?”
Katey shook her head and pressed her fingertips against her forehead, taking deep breaths through her mouth to try and force the queasiness away. She cracked open her eyes to him as he turned back to the refrigerator and pulled out some left-over ground beef in a bright red bowl. Logan hopped on the counter with her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders to keep her steady as he offered the bowl to her.
This time, she didn’t reject it. She picked up a bit between her fingers and ate it willingly. Logan relaxed and ate a little himself as he lowered his arm to settle around her waist, his hand resting upon her hip.
Katey began to come back to her senses after the first few nibbles of meat and edged closer to Logan until their thighs were touching. Still feeling a little lightheaded, she asked, “Why do you smell so good all the time?” She breathed in the intoxicating scent from his shoulder.
“What do you mean?” he chuckled.
“You always smell so good, ever since I met you. Do you wear some type of cologne or deodorant or something?” Katey asked, glancing up into his eyes, then down to a pinch of meat she was about to shove between her lips.
Becoming the Enigma (The Loup-Garou Series Book 2) Page 18