Logan's Acadian Wolves

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?”

“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.

At the challenge, Logan strode across the room, pinning her against the wall. He had to smell her, taste her. Why would she deny her wolf? Why play games? Logan didn’t want to hurt her. Oh no. If anything, he’d like to give her pleasure like she’d never known. But she kept insisting she was human. If she wanted to play, play he would. She was wolf, and he’d prove it to her. But as her sweet scent engulfed his senses, he began to lose control. His wolf clawed at his psyche, begging to take the woman. Like freshly cut roses, the heavenly aroma was familiar yet altogether unique and desirable, although her wolf lingered on the edge; she was there, he could scent her.

In an effort to prevent himself from ravishing her right there in his office, Logan plastered his hands so hard against the window, he thought it’d crack. At the sound of her moan, he darted his tongue out against her silky skin. He had to taste her. Just once. Ah fuck, no; his wolf wanted more. Eyes feral, he locked them with hers, taking her arm. He placed a small kiss to her palm before dragging his tongue along her wrist all the way to the crook of her elbow, releasing a growl of satisfaction.

Wynter’s heart pounded as he gently took her arm into his hands. She shivered as he pushed up her sleeve and brought her delicate wrist to his lips. Wet with arousal, she couldn’t break their connection as she stared deep into his mesmerizing eyes. Oh my God. Wolf. Human. I’ll be whatever you want me to be…just please, just take me. Wynter thought her knees would give out, except he had her pressed up against the window. Lost in his spell, she responded by nudging her own hips against his hard arousal as he tasted her skin.

Logan groaned as the territorial need to take her consumed him. He needed to get things under control. Jax. Fucking, goddamned Jax. His name alone should have killed his raging hard on, but it wasn’t helping one damn bit. No, he needed to separate himself from her before he tore her clothes off. He closed his eyes and blew out a breath, but didn’t release her.

“Wolf,” he breathed into her hair.

“What?”

“Wolf, sweetheart. You’re very much a wolf,” he confirmed.

“No, I know I was sick but that just can’t be.” Wynter tried to move, but he wrapped his arms around her protectively. “I need to see a doctor. Please, Alpha.”

Confused, Logan pulled away enough so he could look at her. He wasn’t sure why she was denying her wolf. Considering her illness, he tried to be gentle, to calm her. “Wynter,” he said softly, noticing that she’d rested her forehead against his chest. “Look at me.”

Wynter complied, slowly raising her head. She was overwhelmed. One minute she’d felt a healthy dose of fear, then instantly she was overcome with lust for the Alpha before her. She didn’t know him, but something deep down told her that she could trust him. He had nothing to gain from telling her she was a wolf. She suspected she’d been compromised somehow by ViroSun. How, she didn’t know.

“Hey, I don’t know what’s goin’ on with you, but we’ll deal with this. And given that we’ve technically slept together, I think you can call me Logan.” He winked in an effort to put her at ease. “Last night when you were unconscious, I had my doctor examine you. And before you ask, she’s a hybrid so she knows about wolves and humans. But I need you to be honest with me. Why do you keep denying your wolf?”

She sighed, resigned to the fact that she needed his help. While it was true she had to talk to Jax, the man before her was offering her a lifeline and she desperately needed to grab onto it if she had a shot in hell of keeping her sanity. She had to explain to him, tell him more about what happened to her.

“I deny my wolf as you put it, because I’m not a wolf. I’m human,” she explained, placing her palms against his chest. “Please listen to me. I swear I’m human. I’ve never in my life shifted. And I don’t know why I scent like wolf to you. But you have to understand, the place I worked; they…they could do things. I was forced to help them do these things.”

“Things? What kinds of things?” Logan didn’t like where this was headed, but he tried to sound encouraging and not angry. He didn’t want to scare her any more than she’d already been.

“I was working on many different things….mostly viruses. When I’d refuse or give them a hard time…let’s just say there are parts of my employment that I don’t remember. These people…they’re evil. And capable of horrible things…things I never knew could be possible,” she croaked.

Logan pulled her into an embrace and stroked her hair. “Whatever happened we’ll figure it out,” he assured her. He couldn’t understand how a human could smell like a wolf, but a few months ago he’d been around wolves, who through pharmaceutical means, could hide their wolf, scenting as humans. Perhaps she’d been injected with something similar? “I need to know what exactly you were working on. Sounds pretty important if these vampires were willing to risk going after you out in the open like they did.”

Wynter wrenched herself out of his arms and wrapped her arms around herself. She knew he wouldn’t like what she was about to tell him. As much as she wanted to tell him everything, her loyalty was to Jax. Her Alpha had first rights to access the intelligence she’d gleaned in her captivity.

“I want to tell you. But…I can’t,” she said softly. “Jax. I have to talk to him first.”

Logan’s stomach clenched at the mention of the New York Alpha. He had to know. “Do you belong to him?”

Wynter slowly turned around and gave him a sorrowful frown. “Yes.”

As the word left her lips, she wished in that moment it wasn’t true. There was something about Logan. She wanted so badly to tell him everything. Her attraction to the gentle wolf couldn’t be denied. But she owed Jax her life and her allegiance. Maybe after she talked to Jax, she could explore the budding feelings she had for the New Orleans’ Alpha. But now was not the time. No, out of respect for Jax, she needed to speak with him first.

Logan blew out a breath. Needing to put distance between them, he returned to his desk and sat down. He leaned back and stared up at the ceiling, trying to concentrate. If she thought she could tell him that there was something nefarious going on in his city and simply walk away from him, she was surely delusional. The next question he was about to ask was critical to how he’d proceed with regards to her and his investigation.

“Are you his mate?” He held his breath, awaiting her response.

She froze. Jax’s mate? She lived with Jax, wore his scent even. But she’d never revealed the true nature of her relationship with Jax to anyone. She and Jax agreed that it would be best if she lived with him, kept others in the dark. He assured her that that would be the only way she’d be protected under his care. Despite the fact that they’d agreed upon it in the past, she couldn’t lie to Logan.

“I’m not his mate,” she responded, not quite meeting his eyes. Please, no more questions. “Logan, I know you don’t know me, but I’m begging you. You know how this works. He’s my Alpha. What I worked on…it was with Jax’s knowledge and approval. I knew what I was getting into or at least I thought I did,” she huffed. Yeah, I knew exactly what I was doing right up until I couldn’t leave the compound and became dinner for the guards. “I need to talk with Jax first. That’s how it has to be. You know protocol.”

Fuck protocol. He wanted the goddamned truth. But he knew she was right. If she’d been one of his wolves, working for him, she wouldn’t be allowed to discuss business with another Alpha. That being said, New Orleans was his city and if Jax wanted answers, wanted her, he had to go through him.

Steepling his fingers, he pinned her with a hard stare. He suspected by the way she carefully responded that she was concealing the true nature of their relationship. Now why was that? If she was his girlfriend, why not just tell him? Maybe because he could have easily fucked her on his desk two minutes ago and she wasn’t at all resisting. The scent of her arousal was overwhelming. But if she wasn’t his mate, her attraction to another male shouldn’t have mattered to her or Jax. No, it actually would have been expected. All wolves played the field, quite unfaithfully, until they found their mate.

So why all the secrecy? Deliberately, he’d let her think she’d won this round of questioning. Logan was determined to influence her into spilling every last secret including her darkest fantasies. But first, he needed to lay down some ground rules. Ah yes, rules were great fun especially when you got to make them.

“Sit down, Wynter,” he ordered. She obeyed without question. It was evident to him she’d been around wolves long enough to understand it was in her best interest to listen to an Alpha. “Until Jax gets here, you are under my protection. And I assure you, you will be safe with me. But I’ve got a few rules.”

Wynter should have known this was coming; Alphas and their rules. It was as if she was home. Oddly, she felt relief knowing that for at least now, she’d be safe from ViroSun. She was certain that they’d be looking for her. They’d want their research finished.

As she looked up to Logan, she was surprised to see him smiling. She couldn’t help but give him a small smile in return. What was he thinking? The rules, of course.

“What? Is something funny?” she asked.

“The rules,” he continued, ignoring her question. If she was going to stay with him, he might as well have fun with her until she submitted to him fully. As soon as Jax landed, he planned to have a very long conversation with him about his lovely little wolf. “I don’t have many, but these two you must follow without question. First, you will not leave my home or office alone. Ever. If for some reason I’m not available, my beta, Dimitri will be. In spite of whatever happened with you two this morning, he’ll protect you with his life.”

“Yes, don’t leave alone…got it,” she repeated, uneasy with how happy the thought of spending more time with Logan made her. This first rule would not be hard to follow, because she was scared to death that they’d come after her again.

“Whoever was keeping you captive may decide to kidnap you back. And I’m going to need your help finding the place where they kept you last. I’m guessing they’ve already made themselves scarce, but after we talk to Kade, we’ll check it out.”

She nodded in agreement.

“Second rule. I expect honesty. By taking you into my home, I’m assuming responsibility for your safety based upon the little information I have. But I will not put my pack at risk, you understand?”

“But I already told you there are some things I can’t tell you,” she interrupted.

“Yes. Protocol. I’m well aware about why you prefer to talk to your Alpha first. But other than that, no lies. I’m not playing games.”

Wynter bristled at his tone. “I’m hardly playing games. You do realize that it was me who just spent two months imprisoned?”

“Sweetheart, I get it, but remember you’re the one withholding info, not me. But I’m not worried. Very soon, I’m confident you’ll trust me with all your clandestine secrets and desires,” Logan predicted, giving her a sexy smile.

“Um, we’ll see,” she commented, returning his smile.

Wynter flushed, embarrassed by his insinuation. Desires. It had been forever since she’d had sex. Until last night, she’d nearly forgotten she was a woman. Being around Logan was like going from drought to flood. She stared at his lips, remembering the soft way he kissed her wrist and squeezed her legs together. A familiar ache between her thighs overwhelmed her. Taking a deep breath, she shifted in her seat and crossed her legs, attempting unsuccessfully to relieve her arousal.

Those sensual lips of his…on her skin. What would he taste like? As soon as the thought popped into her head, she tensed. If she didn’t get it together, she’d be in his lap in two seconds, taking her fill of him. No, she needed to concentrate on something else. Virus. Ah yes, that thought dulled her desire. They’d come for her…slice into her skin, stealing her blood. That single thought was like having a bucket of ice cold water dumped over her head.

Logan sat quietly watching a wide range of emotions play across her face. His little wolf was terribly aroused but then within seconds he could tell she was thinking of something else, something scary perhaps. Best keep her on her toes. Perhaps he’d learn the entire truth before Jax got here. If he could get her to trust him, she’d break. It wouldn’t take much, he reasoned.

“Well, now that that is settled, here. Call him.” He took the phone on his desk and turned it toward her. It would matter little if she spoke to Jax. She had to know that with his exceptional hearing, he’d be able to hear what she was telling him.

“I can call Jax?” she asked, surprised he was allowing her to call home.

“Be quick though because I’m hungry,” he instructed. He swiveled his chair, focusing his attention to his laptop screen.

“Hungry?”

“Yes. Time for lunch. And while I’d be quite satisfied eating in…just you and me, alone here in my office, I suspect things would be safer if we went out for lunch, if you know what I mean,” he quipped.

“Uh, yeah. Lunch. Out would be best.” She gave him a small smile, understanding his meaning. She shook her head, trying to ignore his comment and began to dial. Eat in…or eat her? Had he pushed further, she suspected she’d let him eat wherever or whatever he wanted. It frightened and excited her. She was finding it hard to think clearly around him as the thought of her spread out on his desk, Logan feasting on her, popped into her mind. Before she could fantasize any further, Jax answered. The voice of her Alpha startled and calmed her all at once. Her eyes darted over to Logan as she made contact.

As suspected, Wynter had revealed few clues during her brief phone call with Jax. Logan suspected the New York Alpha knew he was listening and had kept the call short on purpose. From the brief conversation, Logan had failed to learn the extent of her relationship with him. He’d heard Jax call her the term of endearment ‘princess’. Close friends perhaps? Lovers? It bothered him that he cared so much about even knowing the status. It shouldn’t matter…yet it did.

Logan had been single for well over a hundred years, and he wasn’t about to jeopardize his pack over a woman. It wasn’t as if he didn’t plan on making love to her; no, it was quite the opposite. As long as she wasn’t Jax’s mate, she was available. But considering her secretive nature, he wasn’t about to start a sexual relationship without her full submission and disclosure.

Regardless of the lack of information exchanged during the call, Logan noticed that Wynter was visibly more relaxed as she hung up the receiver. He supposed the voice of her Alpha had assuaged any apprehensions she’d had about him coming for her. It was a shame that she’d leave him so soon, possibly even tomorrow if Jax managed a flight. Deciding to make the most of the afternoon, Logan stood and silently ushered her out of his office. Nodding to his secretary and Dimitri, he smiled as the elevator doors opened.

As they descended, Logan glanced at Wynter, wondering if whatever little nugget she was keeping to herself had the potential to destroy the peaceful coexistence they’d cultivated between vampires and wolves. His gut told him there was far more complexity to the situation than met the eye. With or without her help, he intended to scratch the surface, carving it wide open, exposing the organization that had held her captive. He was deeply troubled that even a few vampires were caught torturing, running down a human or wolf. Like with roaches, when you found just a few, you could be certain that you had an infestation. And Logan planned on carrying out a thorough extermination.