Logan's Acadian Wolves (12 page)

Logan had been arguing with Luci yet again. He’d meant to introduce the women but the disagreement became a priority as she insisted she had rights to stay with an Alpha, to stay with him in his French Quarter home. He’d explained that there was no way she was living with him. She had to stay in one of the pack apartments. Yet he’d cordially hugged her as always, aware that Wynter had been watching. Sure, he felt strongly about Wynter and planned to explore their relationship further. But he still didn’t trust her, and it was best that he conduct business as usual. And Luci was business.

A split second passed before he registered what was happening. One minute Wynter was talking with Fiona and Dimitri and the next, she stalked toward him like a lioness on the prowl. As his eyes locked on hers, he soon found that in a role reversal, he was now prey. Wynter pushed Luci aside and pressed up against him, possessively taking his lips. He welcomed the warm feel of her tongue darting into his mouth. He’d almost forgotten they had an audience, putting on quite the show for his pack members. Never in his life had a female demonstrated this kind of alpha, dominant behavior toward him. And damn if it didn’t turn him on even more. He knew he should break it off, tell her no, especially given that she’d done it in front of pack, but her sweet taste enthralled his senses. Vacillating between taking her to the bedroom and pushing her away, became unnecessary when without warning, she released him. She’d been the one to back away, yet still remained between him and Luci, looking directly into his eyes.

“Thanks for the
swim
, sweetheart,” she purred, with a glare that conveyed both lust and anger. “See you tonight.”

That would teach him, Wynter thought as she proceeded to walk around Logan. Remembering exactly the kind of determined woman she was, there was no man on this green Earth that was going to strip, feel and kiss her senseless and then rub himself onto another woman two minutes later. No damn way. For as long as she remained in this pack of his, she could either be a doormat or establish her role as an alpha female. She’d spent a lifetime of listening to what other people thought was best for her, and it was damn time she stood up for herself.

If Logan wanted Goth Chick, he could have her, but she’d be damned if she let him fawn all over her with her ‘hard on’. No, that was her erection; she’d done that to him. She supposed she should be embarrassed, but as she opened the sliding glass door, she could have cared less. Let him think about that kiss, because it might be the last one he’d get from her if he thought he could use her like that. So not happening.

As Logan watched Fiona chase off after Wynter into the house, he looked over to his beta in disbelief over what had just happened. Dimitri gave him a big shit-eating grin, fully enjoying the performance. Luci, on the other hand, seethed, crossing her arms; clearly annoyed that another woman, not her, was living with the Alpha.

Logan shook his head. “D, get Luci settled, would ya? I’ve got some business to attend to.”

“Yeah, I bet you do, Alpha,” Dimitri laughed, pointing Luci toward the gate.

“Not funny.”

“Good luck with that,” he added, unable to resist teasing his Alpha. It was going to be fun to watch Logan handle the new female.

“Yeah, right.” Logan turned his back to Dimitri and walked into the house. As he entered, he cocked his hand upward, giving him a wave. His beta was freakin’ hilarious. And correct. Something in the back of his mind told him that he was going to need a hell of a lot more than luck to handle his little wolf. Oh yes, her territorial display had been very intriguing, indeed. Considering her behavior, he couldn’t wait to see her wolf, and ultimately her submission would be the greatest prize he’d ever earned.

As Wynter flew into Logan’s home like a bat out of hell, it occurred to her that she had no idea where she was going. She’d been so angry, jealous if she admitted it, she had to get away from Logan and his touchy feely woman. With his kiss still seared on her lips and adrenaline pumping, she finally came to a halt when she reached the foyer. She placed her fingers to her forehead and took a deep breath, trying to understand what had just happened.
Why did she feel that after one kiss with Logan she now wanted to rip the face off of that strange woman as if she were a rabid animal?
Where was she even going?

Glancing at her surroundings, she was stunned at the understated elegance of Logan’s home. Wynter noted that someone had taken great care to restore the meticulously kept rooms. Ornate crown molding covered every facet of the ceilings. The cream-colored paint complemented the taupe walls and cherry hardwood floors. A round marble table held a large vase of Asiatic lilies mixed with large pussy willow branches. The enticing scent of the flowers permeated the air. As she caught a glimpse of the living room, she admired the intricately patterned oriental carpets and period piece antique seating. It was a far contrast to the contemporary great room into which she’d first entered the house.

Her eyes swept up the magnificent curved mahogany staircase, and it occurred to her that Logan’s bedroom was upstairs. Even though she’d never forget the way Logan had held her that night, and of course the awkward exchange she’d had with Dimitri, she’d hardly taken the time to look at where she’d been. Unable to recollect the décor, she wondered if she’d ever see his room again. After her aggressive exhibition in the courtyard, she wasn’t sure what he’d do next.

Wynter’s face heated, recollecting their intimate tryst in the pool. She’d felt animalistic, unable to get enough of him. As he walked away and touched that strange woman, she was angry. But it had felt more than that. It felt as if she needed to stake her claim, let the others know he was hers. She’d never been the jealous type but then again, she’d never met a man like Logan. It was silly, she knew. In no universe was he hers nor did she belong to him. She reasoned it must be the changes to her body’s chemistry. If the change to her cellular structure could intensify her senses, it was entirely reasonable that her emotions were heightened as well.

Fiona’s voice pulled her from her deep contemplation, bringing her back to the fact that she’d been standing immobile, like a statue, in the vestibule.

“Wynter, hold on,” Fiona told her, somewhat amused at her behavior. She placed a comforting hand on Wynter’s shoulder. “You okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine,” she assured the young woman.

“Well, I’ve got to say that I’ve never seen anything so hot. I mean, damn, girl. Possessive much?” she laughed.

“I don’t know what you mean. I just…I guess I’m not exactly myself yet,” Wynter admitted sheepishly, embarrassed about her behavior in the courtyard.

“Well, Luci won’t be crossing your path anytime soon, I can tell you that. Come on, now.” Fiona started up the staircase. “Nice place, huh?”

Yes it was.
She wondered how Fiona knew Logan’s mansion so well. Another one of his women, she supposed. Resigned that she still needed Logan’s protection, Wynter obediently followed Fiona.

“Yes, it’s beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Wynter replied. She could literally feel the history oozing from the walls and wondered who’d lived in the home over the years and how old it was.

“He’s been renovating it for a long time. But since he became Alpha, he sped up the work.”

Fiona opened a heavy wooden door. “Here we go. You’re here in the ‘Rose Room’. Logan’s down the hall just in case you get lonely.” She winked. “This is his favorite guest room, you know. I think it says, ‘feminine but rich’.”

Wynter marveled at the rose-colored walls trimmed in metallic gold crown molding. A day bed with curled gold framing topped with cream-colored pillows took center stage. A lovely cream coverlet adorned with pink and red roses brought life to the piece. A dainty crystal chandelier dangled above.

“It’s something, isn’t it?” Fiona asked, opening large closet doors. “So, here we go. While you guys were out, I stocked the dresser and closet here with a few clothes. Dimitri said the clothes this morning fit so I bought more things…shoes, all that good stuff.”

“You shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble. I won’t be here long,” Wynter insisted, fully anticipating that she’d be leaving soon.

“Logan wants you to be comfortable, and besides, you are going out tonight,” she reminded her.

Wynter bit her lip, now mortified by what she’d said at the pool. Hoping she’d spend the remainder of her time alone, waiting for Jax, she’d forgotten that Logan said they were going to meet someone later.

“Yes, I suppose I am.” Wynter turned toward Fiona who was getting ready to leave.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be fine,” Fiona stated confidently.

“Hey, I just want to thank you for everything. I know I was really sick last night. You guys helped me, and I know you didn’t have to. Thank you.”

Wynter didn’t even know these people and they were helping her. True, she’d been trying desperately to help their race, but they had no idea what she’d done or who she was. Still, they’d been treating her with respect and kindness despite the fact she’d been less than candid. But instead of throwing her back on the street, they’d fed her, clothed her, saw to her medical needs.

Fiona smiled. “Really, it’s no problem. We all need help now and then.” She turned to walk away and then hesitated. “By the way, not sure if Logan got a chance to tell you, but my sister Dana, the doc who saw you last night, she got stuck at the hospital today. I know she ran some tests, but before you ask, I don’t know anything. She’ll probably be over in the morning or call later tonight.”

“Thanks, I really appreciate it. People…they just don’t…they just don’t do these things,” she said as if she were deep in thought.

As Fiona waved goodbye, Wynter considered what Jax had done for her. Saved her from a life of foster care. He could have turned his back on her at any time, but never did. Maybe it was wolves and their undying loyalty? Her parents had been loyal to him, and he’d, in turn, been loyal to them by taking her in, protecting her.

She wanted so badly to tell Logan everything she knew, but it was Jax who deserved her allegiance. When she talked to him on the phone, Jax had barely made mention of her work. He only wanted to know if she’d been all right and that Logan was treating her well. If he’d asked about what had happened over the past two months, she’d have told him everything, despite the fact Logan was listening. She supposed doing so would have been fair game. But to tell Logan, to disclose everything she and Jax had worked for without his permission, she just couldn’t bring herself to do it. Lust or not, Logan was most likely a temporary distraction in her otherwise boring life.

Despite all of her exceedingly rational thoughts, she couldn’t stop thinking about him. After watching the way he’d touched Goth Chick, hugging her, allowing her to continue to touch him, right after he’d been so incredibly intimate with her, it cut her in two. She couldn’t make sense out of her feelings, because never in her life had she felt such an intense attraction to a man. Even if she were able to comprehend the biological ramifications of her changes, she couldn’t deny a loss of control when it came to how she felt about the Alpha. It appeared as though the tendrils of their incipient connection were evolving in tandem, weaving and strengthening with each second they spent together. And for Wynter, the experience threw her solely into unchartered waters.

After a long shower, Wynter steadied her emotions, committed to getting through the evening with Logan without incident. But as she descended the staircase, butterflies began to dance in her belly, as she nervously anticipated Logan’s reaction to her earlier behavior. Alphas could be unpredictable, and she wasn’t certain how he’d address her interruption of his conversation with Goth Chick. It was bad enough that she’d been aggressive, obstructing his view of a pack member. But it was the kiss she’d planted on him that had her really worried. It had been a possessive, ‘get your hands the fuck away from my man’ kiss. She knew her intention wouldn’t be lost on Logan and fully expected he’d call her out on what she’d done.

Her emerging wolf clawed at her mind, and she wasn’t sure she wanted the message to be lost on him. No, clearly her wolf was staking some kind of a claim. Unfortunately, the human, and logical part of her, seemed to be taking a vacation. Torn between holding on to the threads of her humanity or letting go altogether, giving into her untamed cravings, she couldn’t decide if what she’d done was wrong or just a natural part of who she was becoming.

So when Wynter reached the landing of the stairs, she deliberately kept her eyes low in submission. She stole a fleeting glance at Logan, who looked fabulously handsome and with his usual air of danger. His wet hair was neatly combed, and he smelled deliciously spicy and masculine. He was casually dressed in a crisp white dress shirt with rolled up sleeves, and dark dress slacks. She swore her panties grew wet within seconds of being in his presence. It was ridiculous, she knew. Like a teenage girl with a crush on the quarterback, she tried desperately to hide her arousal. But no matter how hard she attempted to shove the carnal thoughts into the deep recesses of her brain, she couldn’t seem to control the visceral reaction to the man.