Fighting Fate (Redwood Pack #7)

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  He was an enforcer.

  He had a place.

  And it felt fucking amazing.

  Logan grinned as Josh did the same with Kade, another small bond sliding into place with the partial demon. Each of the enforcers would have to be in place soon, and Kade would have a job to do in order to find who fit, but Logan knew it would come.

  He couldn’t wait to tell Cailin.

  Speaking of…

  The scent of ice, temptation, and roses…and something else he couldn’t quiet put his finger on filled his nose, and he was on his feet before he could think.

  “What’s wrong, princess?” he asked as she flew into his arms. He wrapped his arms around her and tugged her close. He could feel the others surrounding him, but he ignored them, needing Cailin alone.

  She pulled back, tears in her eyes. “I…I’m pregnant,” she blurted out.

  Staggered, Logan took two steps back, Cailin still in his arms. “Pregnant?”

  She smiled then. Full-out. Goddess, she’d never looked so beautiful. “We’re having a baby.”

  He smiled back, his wolf howling, practically thrusting his chest out so all others could see how manly and virile they were. Oh yes, like Logan was all alone in making this baby and the fact that this came so soon after their mating would be the shining example of how potent his seed was.

  “A baby.” He lowered his head, so he could whisper the next part in her ear—though they were wolves and everyone could probably hear it anyway. “You are going to look so fucking gorgeous pregnant. I cannot wait.”

  Cailin laughed before crushing her mouth to his. He kissed her back. Hard. Eventually the women came into the house, and he felt hands on his back, congratulating him, but they could keep.

  Right then he had his mate in his arms, their baby in her womb. That’s all that mattered for the moment.

  He’d die to protect them. He just hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

  He had something worth fighting for.

  Chapter Thirteen

  It was so quiet.

  Too quiet.

  The moon goddess hunt was upon them, and Logan hadn’t known it could be this quiet, not during a Redwood Pack hunt. Sure, he’d had quieter when he’d been on the run with Parker and Lexi, but this was different. Back then, until Parker could shift, Logan hunted alone, letting the moon goddess replenish and rejoice in his wolf in all the magical ways possible so he could burn off the excess adrenaline, and then he’d come back to their hideout. Lexi hadn’t been able to shift then, and he’d known the hunts always hurt her.

  When Parker became old enough to shift, they’d taken slower hunts, teaching the pup how to protect himself in a world that was far too big for a little boy.

  Now, though, the quiet seemed to be magnified by the lack of wolves and the lack of something crucial and inherent to the den itself.

  It couldn’t be one with so much of the Pack missing.

  Only the Jamensons and the select few that had remained behind were ready for the hunt. Those were the strongest of the strong—minus the soldiers who had gone with the evacuees to provide protection. All wolves could fight, but not all of them could fight to the death. The submissive wolves should never have to. Hence the reason they’d been evacuated.

  Now the remaining wolves were ready for the hunt, ready for the moon goddess to shine upon them and remind them why they were wolves. Remind them what they were fighting for in the first place.

  Everyone knew the final battle was coming. They could taste it on their tongues like a potent drug, ready to take its final victim.

  Cailin leaned into his side, and he held back a smile. He’d been doing enough of that since the night before when she’d come into his arms, telling him about the baby. He was so freaking happy about it.

  And so freaking scared.

  Not about being a parent. No, he’d helped raise Parker after all. He’d had some practice, and he knew Cailin had with all of her nephews and nieces. It wasn’t about that at all. Sure, he had the normal fears any soon-to-be parent would, but that wasn’t all.

  They were in the middle of a war he wasn’t sure they could win. Not with the resources they had and not when they couldn’t find the resources they so desperately needed.

  And now he was going to be a father. He and Cailin were bringing an innocent baby into the mix. It took all within him not to package her up and send her away with the other wolves who’d been taken away.

  She wouldn’t have anything to do with that though. Not that he’d asked her. No, he valued his neck more than that. He couldn’t let her out of his sight, not right then. Not with his wolf on edge. In fact, his wolf was so on edge he didn’t think that even this moon hunt would help.

  The only way to ensure her safety was to be by her side at all times. Much to her annoyance. He couldn’t send her away, and even if he could, he’d be forced to go with her or his wolf would never relent.

  However, for some reason, his wolf knew they had to be here for the final battle. It wasn’t that he thought he was important, far from it, but he knew he was part of something far greater than anything he could have ever hoped for.

  He was now an enforcer for the Alpha. He’d protect not only Cailin with every fiber of his being, but Kade as well. They were his two main goals, and his wolf prided itself on that.

  Logan had a purpose.

  He just had to live up to it.

  He also had to tell Cailin about the darkness and extra power from the moon goddess. He should have done it ages ago and surely should have before they mated, but he’d been scared. He was dominant enough to admit that. Logan couldn’t lose her. Not when he’d just found her in his heart and he in hers.

  “Hey? What’s wrong?” Cailin asked, tugging his hand.

  He squeezed hers back and lowered his head. “I have something to tell you before we start the hunt. Okay?”

  She furrowed her brows but nodded. “Okay, big boy,” she whispered.

  Logan closed his eyes, fighting off the smile. He heard snickering around him, so he had a feeling her brothers had heard.

  “What did we say about that nickname?” he grumbled.

  His eyes shot open as Cailin pinched his ass. “What?” She laughed. “You still haven’t helped me come up with a new name, so I’m going with that. Plus, I wanted to see you smile.” She tugged on his arm. “We have a few minutes before we all strip and shift for the hunt, so we can talk over here.”

  She led him to a group of trees close enough that they could hear if anyone shouted, but far enough away that he could talk with her privately.

  “What is it?”

  “You know that I’m a stronger wolf than others, right?”

  She nodded, a frown on her face. “Of course. I’ve always known that. Your wolf is closer to the surface than most. But you have great control, Logan. If you’re worried about hurting me or something, don’t be. I trust you.”

  He let out a sigh, her words filling him with hope, but he needed to tell her everything before she could truly trust him.

  “That’s part of it. The other part is…damn it. Okay, remember when Lexi told us she heard the moon goddess when she was fighting Caym?”

  Cailin nodded. “Of course. That’s why she was able to scar him in the first place. I can’t believe the moon goddess actually had the power to help then though.”

  “That’s because Lexi’s an Anderson.”

  She tilted her head. “What? What does that mean?”

  Logan licked his lips. “The Andersons are said to have come from the direct line of the first hunter. The hunter the moon goddess made into the wolf to teach him about the souls of others less than him.”

  Cailin’s eyes widened, and she took a step back. “You…you’re saying you’re of the original line of wolves?” she breathed.

  “That’s the legend anyway. I’m not sure if that’s true, but we’ve always had extra…gifts in each generation.”

  “Is that why Lexi was latent?
That doesn’t make sense.”

  Logan shook his head. “No, that was a genetic defect. That has nothing to do with the moon goddess. She found her wolf eventually because she had North to help her, as well as the bite of two Alphas.” He shuddered at the memory of Edward and Gideon ripping into his sister’s flesh so Lexi could find her wolf and live without pain.

  “So what does that mean? What gifts?” Cailin rubbed his arm, and he leaned into her touch. Needing her more than she knew.

  “Some of us are stronger than other wolves. Others have special powers that I’m not sure of, but I know they’re in the legends of my family. As for me? I’m closer to the moon goddess. While Lexi got the light. I got the darkness. I’m stronger than others because my wolf hunts and knows dark to dark. That’s how I found North in the forest that one time. That’s how I’ve been able to hide my family for so long. I was able to track when someone out to get us was getting closer. I’m not pure, Cailin. I have control because it was forced upon me at an early age, but I’m not a good wolf.”

  “Bullshit.”

  He blinked, meeting her gaze. “Excuse me?”

  “Bullshit. You’re a good wolf, baby. You’re a fucking amazing wolf. You don’t use your powers for evil or whatever a comic book villain would say. You protected your family. You’ve protected your Pack. And you protect me. So what if you have a wolf closer to the surface? You’ve only used it to protect those you love. You’re an asset. You’re not like Corbin and the rest. Stop making yourself feel like less because you’re not like others. I love you for who you are, Logan, not what you think you’re missing.”

  He smiled softly then. “You love me?”

  His mate blinked, covering her mouth with her hand. “Uh…”

  “You said it. You can’t take it back.”

  She lowered her hand, licking her lips. “I was waiting to say it in a more romantic setting. Not in the middle of the forest with my brothers lurking about.”

  “I love you too, princess. And the fact that you’re taking me, all that I am? Makes me love you even more.”

  He crushed his mouth to hers, collaring her throat in the process. She moaned beneath him, her nails digging into his ass.

  “Glad we got that settled, big boy,” she whispered when they pulled apart.

  “What did I say about that name?”

  Her hand brushed against his cock before squeezing. Hard. “What can I say? You’re a big boy. Now, if you’re done being emo, we need to go hunt. Then you can show me just how much of a big boy you are.”

  His already hardening cock filled even more, and he cursed. “Do realize how hard it is to shift and hunt with a hard-on?”

  She grinned. “Then we better get to it.” She cupped his face, her expression becoming serious. “I’m not making light of what you told me. I’m just saying it doesn’t matter to me the way you were afraid it would. I’m taking all of you, Logan. You’re mine, and I’m not letting you go. If you ever feel that your wolf is becoming too much, then you tell me. Tell your Alpha. That’s what a Pack is for. We won’t let you falter, the same way you won’t let me stumble. We’re a team, Logan. Never forget that.”

  He brushed his lips to hers once more, a weight lifting off his shoulders.

  “You two ready to hunt?” Kade called from behind them.

  “Ready as ever,” Logan whispered.

  “We’re on our way!” Cailin yelled out then gripped his hand. “Come on, I need to feel the ground beneath four paws, and then, when our wolves are spent, you can fuck me hard into the ground so we remember we’re wolves and not human.”

  He groaned and walked beside her. “Stop turning me on, woman.”

  She fluttered her eyelashes. “Like I can help it.”

  He lowered his head and nipped at the fading mate mark. “I’ll have to mark you again, princess. Show you who’s boss.”

  She shuddered in his hold. “Fine, but then I get to mark you as well.”

  “Deal.”

  “If you’re done molesting my sister, we’re ready to shift,” Kade said dryly.

  “Don’t tell me you’re not going to get all up on Mel when we’re done with the hunt, brother mine.”

  “She’s got a point, honey,” Mel teased.

  Kade closed his eyes, and Logan had a feeling the man was praying for patience. “If we’re done…” He rolled his shoulders and opened his eyes, looking every bit the Alpha he’d been groomed to be.

  “We’re here to hunt as a Pack,” the Alpha began. “We’re not full yet, we’re not complete, but that doesn’t mean we’re not Pack.”

  The others, including Logan, howled.

  “We will hunt as one. We will live as one. We will fight as one. We are the Redwoods. We do not fail!”

  Logan howled louder, Cailin’s tone blending into his in perfect harmony. Everyone began to strip, tossing their clothes to the side. It wasn’t sexual. It was freeing. It was wolf.

  He went down on all fours beside Cailin, letting his wolf come to the surface. It brushed along his skin, ready to come forth. He tugged on the bond he held with his wolf and shifted, bones breaking, tendons snapping. His body altered, his face elongating, fur sprouting.

  Soon he stood on four paws rather than kneeling as a human. He threw his head back and howled, the others joining him as they shifted. As it was, he was third in line when it came to shifting, Kade and North the only two faster than him.

  Once Cailin shifted into her beautiful pure-white wolf form, he took off, ready to burn off the adrenaline in his veins.

  His paws pounded into the ground as he ran beside Kade. The others followed them, their wolves on the prowl. He vaulted over a fallen log, loving the feel of the wind in his fur, the soil between his toes.

  This was why he loved being a wolf. The freedom to enjoy the forest in a way humans never could.

  Animals scattered around them, and others darted after them. Some needed to hunt in truth that night, but right then, all he needed was to protect his Alpha until it was time to take Cailin off in their own private corner and mark her as his.

  Again.

  After an hour of running, Kade looked over his shoulder and nodded before turning to nip at Mel’s heals. He chased her to a secluded area, no doubt about to mate with her just as Logan was planning on with Cailin.

  He turned on his heel, facing Cailin’s white form. Goddess, he loved the color of her fur, the feel of her wolf beside his. He rubbed his body along hers, and she stood still. The woman might be his equal, but his wolf powered over hers—something they both loved and craved.

  He opened his jaw wide and gently bit her neck, not breaking skin. Her wolf shuddered under his, and he growled softly, needing.

  He pulled back then nudged her toward a nearby clearing. She padded away, and he followed, taking in their surroundings and his mate.

  Once they were there, they each shifted, leaving two very naked, very sweaty humans in their place.

  Cailin bared her neck, and Logan howled, almost coming at the sight.

  He growled, and they were on each other in an instant. Teeth, mouths, and bodies, pressing and grinding as if they couldn’t get enough of each other.

  Honestly, he knew he’d never get enough of her.

  Ever.

  He backed her up to the nearest tree, lifted her legs, and thrust into her. They both stilled for a moment, catching their breaths.

  “Your cunt is so fucking wet, Cailin.”

  His mate gripped his shoulders then rocked her hips, taking more of him in. “Of course I am, Logan. You’re mine. Now fuck me. Now.” She winked. “Please.”

  “Far be it from me to leave you wanting.” He pulled out slowly, her tight pussy gripping him hard, then slid back in. They both panted as he kept pushing deep inside then pulling back out. He gripped her hips hard and pummeled into her, his mate pushing right back, taking and giving as much as he was.

  “Damn it,” Cailin cursed, “the bark is digging into my back.”

/>   He pulled out quickly, took them both to the ground, and got her onto all fours facing away from him in the next instant.

  “I’m sorry, princess,” he said as he ran his hands up and down her back. They hadn’t broken the skin, but there were scratches nonetheless.

  “It’s okay, just get back inside me, Logan. I need to come.” She wiggled her ass so he slapped her cheek. Hard. “Jesus!” she panted, tilting her butt back for more.

  “I see we’re going to have to have more fun with this in the future,” he teased as he gripped his cock, placing it at her entrance.

  “Only if I get to spank you too.”

  Logan paused then nodded, forgetting she couldn’t see him. “Anything you want, Cailin. As long as I get to do it to you too.” He slid into her wet heat, and they both groaned.

  “I like the sound of that,” she gasped, her fingers digging into the soil beneath her.

  Logan lifted so he was on one knee then thrust into her over and over again, his balls tightening. He didn’t want to come, not then. He wanted to see her blush first, feel her clamp around his dick once or twice before he came.

  She always made such beautiful little noises when she came.

  Cailin arched her back, taking him deeper. Needing more, he lowered himself then picked her up so her back lay against his chest. He angled his dick, rotating his hips upward so he could fuck her and still keep touching her in as many places as possible. With one hand on her hip, he gripped her chin with the other, forcing her gaze over her shoulder.

  He took her mouth in a passionate kiss, fucking her with his tongue, mimicking the movement of his dick within her pussy. When he pulled back, they were both out of breath and on the edge.

  “Play with your tits then your cunt,” he ordered, a low growl that vibrated through both of them. “I want to have you come on my cock, and then you can ride me in the moonlight.”

  “Dirty, dirty, man. I love it.”

  He kept his hand on her chin and throat as she pinched her nipples. Each movement made her pussy clench around his dick, and he had to suck in a breath so she could come first. When her hand slid down her belly to roll over her clit, Logan just about lost it.