Authors: Hazel Gower
Logan was pissed. How dare the werewolves try to take over more of his life? That’s what they were doing. Now that they knew about his supernatural power they wouldn’t let him go in peace. He would be made to join their supernatural group.
He studied his sister and hated to admit it, but even frowning at him, she was the most comfortable, happy, and content he’d ever seen her. Logan even had to bite his tongue to stop himself from smiling when her frown slipped as Rane leaned forward and kissed her neck. Kirby snuggled back into Rane and the look of happiness on her face convinced him that her coming to this town was worth everything.
Logan glanced at his brother who’d always been the hard-core military man, rough, no strings attached. There he sat with a hot blonde on his lap holding her hand and hugging her close to him.
Logan growled, because he knew he was going to give in. He would do anything for his family. But first he was going to get everything off his chest.
Marching up to Rane and Kane, he snarled. “Fuck you both. I was pulled out of a top secret mission in Siberia and sent here, told creatures my worst nightmare could conjure up are real and trying to take over the world. Then I’m shown a world where werewolves exist to help rid the world of these demonic creatures.”
He glared at each werewolf. Kane grinned, showing wicked, long, sharp teeth, and his eyes glowed. Logan couldn’t help the shudder that racked his body at the look Kane gave him. He glared at Rane as he continued.
“I think okay, what the hell are you telling me all this for if they have it all sorted. Command then continues to tell me that werewolves aren’t enough, as there are more of these creatures than ever, and they were pulling in all their top men to help with this new epidemic. I was told to report to Major Rane Wolfen within twenty-four hours, on a secret base on the New South Wales coast of Australia.”
Logan started pacing. “So I fucking follow orders only to find my baby sister shacking up with one of these supposed werewolf saviors.” He pulled at his hair and paused before the wolves. “You want to know what pisses me off the most? I don’t want to be supernatural. I want to be normal. Less worry, less stress, but since I’ve been around you, my little gift, or whatever the fuck you want to call it, has intensified. I only found out, or I should say we only found out…” He shot a glance at Hayden. “When we were placed on a mission with a guy who had a similar power to Kirby’s. That was about ten years ago. We’ve kept it a secret, especially since I watched all the ridicule and hassle it has caused our sister over the years.” He regretted that last comment when Kirby winced and shrunk back into Rane.
Faith sat up on Kane’s lap and laughed as she said, “Oh, honey, does he remind you of someone?”
Kane groaned and kissed his wife’s neck.
Hayden spoke up, for the first time since he’d entered the room. “I’m willing to help. If I have to learn to use the power to help our cause I will, but I will add I’m not as powerful as Logan. He’s almost like a supernatural vampire. I seem to have more of the same gift as Kirby.”
Kane and Rane nodded, then turned their penetrating gaze on Logan. He looked at his sister one last time and saw the hopeful expression on her face. He sighed, knowing he would do it. He finally gave a quick glance sideways at Ava, who was also staring at him with an almost pleading expression.
Turning back to the bane of all his troubles, Rane and Kane, he growled, “Fine. I’m in.”
Chapter 5
For once Ava didn’t know what to say. Logan sat quiet in the seat next to her as they drove back to the cottage. Parking in front of the house, Logan didn’t move or acknowledge her. She undid her seatbelt and opened the door only to be stopped by his hand grabbing hers. She waited, dreading what might come out of his mouth. So she was shocked when he said.
“When I said I’m in, I also meant with you.” He let go of her hand and raked his fingers through his hair. “I know what I am supposedly to you, Ava. I don’t know if I believe in all that mate stuff. All I know is for days now you’re all I’ve been able to think about.”
Ava stared at him, not sure what to say. On the one hand, she wanted him to give them a go so she could prove the mating thing was right. But on the other hand, she didn’t want him to be with her only because he felt he had to, like she was an itch he needed to scratch to get out of his system.
Getting out of the car, she walked to the front door, opening it and walking into the house. Ava heard his footsteps behind her. She went and sat in her lounge room, waiting for him, and tried to decide what she should do. Last night had been amazing, and she had to admit she wouldn’t mind waking up to him every morning. The problem was, she didn’t feel right with the way he’d said he would be with her, like she was an afterthought. Her wolf growled at her.
We want our mate. Together we will make him want to stay and never want, or think, of another.
She fought with herself as she sat there on the lounge, staring at the wall, hoping he would say more. He stopped at the entry to the lounge room and didn’t say anything. She snarled. “That’s it? That’s how you’re going to start a relationship with me?” She got up and stalked over to him. “You are happy to start it by saying you’re in with everything, like I should know what you mean, and just follow like the dog you think I am.”
Ava couldn’t believe what she was saying. She wanted to mate him and she should be grateful he was willing, but after the last couple of weeks and last night, she didn’t want to just settle. Ava knew she was stronger than she thought.
Logan turned red and his fists clenched at his sides. “I thought that that was what you wanted. I thought I was that stupid mate thing. That’s why I couldn’t get it up with all the women I have been trying to be with this week—”
Okay, that was it. She’d never hit a guy before without it being training, but tonight she couldn’t help herself. Ava slapped Logan across his face, cutting off whatever he was going to say. “How dare you. Get out!”
Ava held her wolf back as it paced in her mind, ready to claim him so no other woman could ever have him again and he wouldn’t think to try. But the human part of her knew she couldn’t let him get away with trying to sleep with a whole heap of women just so he wouldn’t have to mate with her. It felt like he was giving up…it didn’t work with the other women so he was just settling for her. Ava was better than that.
“Get out of my house, Logan, or so help me God you will not like the consequences.”
Logan tried to grab her but she moved out of his reach, angry beyond belief. “Why does it have to be about you, Logan? I have dreamed of being mated since I was little. And let me tell you, you are not what I wanted or expected.” She ran her fingers through her hair and stared at him. “Do you think I’m happy that my mate is a weak human? Because I’m not.” Ava paced away from him. “I think that’s the reason why I haven’t mated you, and I’ve been able to fight my wolf.” She glared at him. “I deserve better, and from now on I’m going to get it. So if you want a relationship with me, you need to work on your communication skills. Asking me on a date would be nice, but what I would settle for right now is you thinking of someone other than yourself. Maybe even try being nice to me.” She wiped a tear that had fallen down her cheek. “Would you allow someone to treat your sister this way?”
Logan stared at her for a moment before he nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m such an arse.” He sat on the lounge, rubbing his hands over his face. “I don’t know what it is about you, Ava, but…” He shook his head. “Look, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have treated you the way I have. It’s hard to change the arsehole gene I’m told, but for you I’ll try.”
She deflated as she studied him and noticed he looked, and sounded, like he was telling the truth.
“Will you go to dinner with me tomorrow night?”
He got up and meet her in the middle of her lounge room where she stood frozen, scared he would change again. “Yes. But you still have to leave.”
He gave a sheepish grin and wrapped his arms around her. “Are you sure? I could help you in the kitchen again.”
Ava fought her wolf who panted. She told herself she had to stand her ground so he knew he wouldn’t get away with treating her bad and walking all over her.
Moving out of his arms, she tried not to rub herself at the sudden coldness caused by the loss of his warmth. Ava closed her eyes so she wouldn’t cave as she answered him. “You need to leave. I will see you tomorrow night. I need what’s left today to myself. I have to figure out some things.” She let out a deep breath and opened her eyes to see him studying her.
“All right, I’m going. I’ll be here at six tomorrow night.”
She nodded and watched as he walked away.
When Ava heard the front door shut she counted to fifty and sunk to the floor, letting her wolf take over, hoping she’d given him enough time to walk far enough away.
* * * *
Logan ran to the beach and not the compound from Ava’s house as he needed to think. Could he mate a werewolf like his brother and sister had done? He didn’t know. Even though he’d told Ava he would give it all a try, he didn’t know if he could be happy.
He thought over last night and his time this morning with her in the kitchen. He had to admit it was the best sex he’d ever had and she was the only woman to keep up with him and not get tired. For the first time since he was a teenager it was him who had fallen asleep exhausted after sex.
Sitting on the sand, he watched the waves crash and he ran his fingers through the sand sifting it. Logan was tired of hooking up with different women, none had been what he wanted. What would it hurt for him to give everything a chance? On the drive back to Ava’s cottage he thought he’d decided to settle but after Ava’s little outburst he wondered at his behavior lately. His brother barely spoke to him and his parents weren’t much better. His sister Kirby was the only family member who seemed to be on speaking terms with him right now and he knew if Rane, her mate, or soon to be husband, had his way it would be different.
Logan laid back on the sand. Oh God, he’d been a real jack arse. He was angry at being reassigned, but that wasn’t his family’s fault, and he admitted it wasn’t the werewolves’ either. Logan knew the werewolves were training everyone at the government’s request.
Closing his eyes, he thought over everything. He wasn’t normal himself, and no matter what he did or said it didn’t look like he was ever going to be normal. He could channel paranormal gifts.
Thoughts of the demons from last night came back to him and he clenched his fist in the grainy sand. No, he wasn’t going to be normal anymore. Logan was going to help. He would not let those things out of nightmares take over the world and kill innocent people. He was going to help save the world, and if a certain leggy werewolf came with the gig and was still willing to give him a chance, he would show her that he could be the guy she wanted. And if it didn’t work out between them at least he knew he tried.
Logan wanted his brother back as his best friend, and for his parents to stop with the short, clipped replies or one word sentences. As he lay listening to the waves crash, he promised himself he would be better. He was going to give these werewolves a chance and hone his gift.
Feeling like a huge weight had just been lifted off his shoulders, he closed his eyes and relaxed, knowing he had a few people to apologize to.
He awoke on the sand to the sun setting and something licking his face. Opening one eye, he stared at the most beautiful shiny black coat and bright clear blue eyes. What a gorgeous wolf. Logan closed his eye and took a deep breath before opening them and slowly getting up, stretching his sunburnt body.
He reached over and ran his fingers through the fur coat. The wolf moved closer to his touch and rubbed its body on him. Logan knew this was Ava, he could feel it right through to his bones. “You are stunning.” He gripped her fur and they started to walk off the beach and toward the military base. “I knew you would be beautiful. So slick, and soft, and your eyes look magnificent against the black.”
He shook himself and thought what an idiot he was. “Do you understand me in this form?”
The wolf…Ava…stopped, and her head went up and down.
“I have seen your brothers and your mother but you, you’re…” He turned from her, shook his head, and kept walking. “I knew you were intelligent. I just wasn’t sure how much in this form, and I didn’t want to ask.”
Ava rubbed her fur covered body against him as he slowly walked back to the base.
“I’m going to have to apologize to a couple of people, like my brother and his girlfriend.” He looked down at the wolf Ava and groaned. “His mate, as you call her. And I’m also going to have to say sorry to my parents and sister. Kirby’s going to love it too, she does have a slight evil streak.”
Logan stopped and kneeled down in front of Ava, running his fingers through her soft, silky fur.
“Where do you think I should take you tomorrow night?” he said. “I was thinking this great restaurant called The Beaches overlooking the water. I go there when my parents come up. My mother loves their seafood platter.”
Of course Ava didn’t reply. He stood up and started walking again. Ava walked beside him, nuzzling into his hand.
“You know you’re a lot easier to talk to this way than in human form.”
Ava nipped his hand and let out a growl. He chuckled.
As they met the winding road that led to the barracks she stopped and sat on her hunches and stared at him. “You’re not coming down this way, are you?” She didn’t move and he took a step toward her and she took a couple back. “Fine, I’ll see you tomorrow at six?”
She nodded her wolf head before she turned and bounded off. He watched as her black fur body ran away and faded into the bush.
Walking into the barracks, he ignored the jeering of people asking where he’d been and who had he been with. He went to his bed and looked at his watch, setting it for when he needed to wake up before closing his eyes.
* * * *
Logan had never been so nervous in his life. He tried to tell himself he shouldn’t be, that Ava wasn’t what he originally wanted. But for some reason his body and his brain didn’t buy that.