“Monsieur Devereoux,” Logan acknowledged without emotion. “This is my beta, Dimitri. Please call me Logan.” He reluctantly gestured for him to sit.
“Logan it is.” Léopold grabbed a chair from a nearby table and sat. He crossed his legs and picked a piece of lint from his trouser.
From the minute Logan spotted Devereoux, he knew that this evening was fucked. The last time he’d seen the powerful vampire, he’d been in Philadelphia. And while Léopold had been helpful in locating his Alpha’s mate, it was no secret the vampire was extraordinarily dangerous. Where the hell was Kade? Why had he sent his maker to meet them? And what exactly was Wynter’s connection to the most lethal vampire on the east coast?
When Léopold had kissed her hand, he’d nearly lost it. Logan decided right then and there that he’d be having a sit down with Miss Ryan or Dr. Ryan or whoever the hell she was as soon as they got out of there, because he was sick of the damn lies. Protocol or not, he was done with all the secrets. If he had to call Jax himself tonight, he’d have the truth. In the meantime, he had to deal with Devereoux.
“Where’s Kade?” Logan inquired but then was interrupted by Wynter.
“He’s not my Alpha, Monsieur Devereoux,” she corrected Léopold. “And please call me Wynter.”
Logan gave her a stern look.
What the fuck was she doing? Did she have a death wish?
A she-wolf didn’t go announcing in the middle of a vampire bar that she wasn’t with her Alpha, especially in his city. A lone wolf was a vulnerable wolf. Every protective instinct in him told him to throw her over his shoulder and drag her back to his home.
“Please forgive her ignorance. Wynter is under my protection,” Logan explained to Léopold and then turned a hard stare on Wynter. “So until Jax gets here, you’re mine.”
Mine.
He knew how he was using the term, and it wasn’t as if she was a mate. But in the back of his head, the idea bounced around briefly, and it bothered him to think he’d even go there.
Dimitri shot him a look of surprise. Hearing his Alpha go all territorial and call a woman his was unusual, given the conversation they’d all just had in the theater. So far, this evening wasn’t going how he expected. He readied himself for more surprises, sizing up the vampire at their table.
Wynter held her breath for a minute, stifling her anger.
Why was Logan saying that she was his
? Jax always made it known that she belonged to him, with his pack. No matter what feelings she was developing for Logan, it could be no other way.
“No, Logan,” she argued. She needed to explain the situation to Léopold. She couldn’t have him running off to Jax, spreading the misconception that she now belonged to Logan. No, that could not happen. Jax would be pissed, for sure. “While it is true that I’m under his protection, I don’t belong to him.”
“Ah, seems mademoiselle can’t decide where she belongs, Alpha. Perhaps she needs to be schooled in wolf rules, no?” Léopold laughed, well aware of the implications of their conversation.
“Wynter, on this, Léopold is correct. Look around you. This club. Anything goes. By entering, your consent has been granted. If you didn’t belong to me, you’d be free to be taken. This is my city, and at least for tonight, you’re mine. No one will touch you without my permission. And that’s not happening. Now tell me how you know each other,” he ordered.
Wynter quieted at his words. Was that true? If he didn’t claim her as his wolf, anyone in this place could go after her? God, she hated this club. Great, now Logan was angry at her, and it made her stomach twist. She hadn’t intended to make him mad. In fact, she found herself wanting to please him. He’d been so kind to her, and this wasn’t how she dreamed of repaying him. In truth, part of her wanted to belong to him. But after their conversation, he agreed that she had no claim to him. She sighed in defeat. Looking around, she realized he was right. What good would it do to declare she belonged to Jax or worse, pretend that she was a single female? It was too dangerous.
“Wynter. Explain. Now,” she heard Logan say. Maybe this wasn’t how she’d pictured telling Logan, but at this point, she had no choice but to tell him the truth…at least more of it anyway. Uncertain about what Léopold would tell him, she realized it would be best if he heard it from her.
“We…we met last year at a charity gala,” she stuttered. “You see, I used to teach, well mostly did research. Virology. There was a fundraiser at the Guggenheim.”
“Dr. Ryan, here, gave an excellent speech about the implications of trans-species viral infections. Quite interesting. And how is Jane Doe doing? Your case study?”
“Well, I haven’t seen her in a few months,” Wynter said sadly. Emma, her best friend Mika’s sister. She was the entire reason she’d gone into virology and decided to work at ViroSun.
“Pity, no? You see, Alpha, Jane Doe was a hybrid. Although if I remember correctly, you didn’t specify which type of shifter; only that she was a child.”
“Well, yes. She’s a teen now.”
“Hybrids don’t get sick. What’s wrong with her?” Logan asked.
“Um, it’s complicated. It’s a long-term illness and it could be fatal, I’m afraid,” Wynter commented, trying to avoid his questions. She neglected to specify that she knew Jane Doe and that she had a viral infection. “So anyhow, that’s how we know each other. Monsieur Devereoux’s made very generous donations to the school, helping to fund our research.”
Emma’s illness had been the catalyst for Wynter going into virology. Early on, Wynter had suspected leukemia. But unlike human leukemia, which could be treated, sometimes even pushed into remission, this leukemia was lupine in nature. And like feline leukemia, she suspected that it would eventually be fatal. The quagmire rested in the fact that shifters, even hybrids, were supposedly immune to viruses.
She hated lying to Logan. It was wrong and she knew it. But she’d promised Jax that she’d keep everything confidential. As far as she knew, only Jax and his beta knew about the virus. But Logan deserved to know as well. This was his city and he was putting himself out there, killing the vampires who’d attacked her. This was far from over and she knew it. They’d come for her. And she suspected his pack could be in danger because he’d taken her in and protected her. Her heart ached. She couldn’t take the guilt. She decided then that if Jax wasn’t in New Orleans by the morning, she’d call and ask for permission to tell Logan everything.
Logan tensed as he listened to Wynter explain how she knew Devereoux. The story of how they’d met seemed feasible, but he could tell she was still withholding the truth. When she finished speaking about the sick girl, he noticed she withdrew from the conversation entirely. She wore her sadness like a mask as she stared into her drink. It was as if she held the weight of the world on her shoulders. Whoever the hybrid was, Wynter must have known her. It wasn’t just a case; no, it was personal. And like how Wynter had been sick when he’d first met her, it made no sense how a hybrid could contract an illness. Just what exactly had she been working on in New Orleans? He was about to probe further when Devereoux interrupted his train of thought.
“And to answer your other question, Kade is out of the country. And Luca is with him. Business. I do apologize for the surprise. But I’d prefer not to have the whole city on alert that he’s gone,” Léopold elucidated with an air of arrogance.
Logan simply nodded, not sure about whether he believed his story. He didn’t trust the vampire as far as he could throw him. Kade’s damn secretary knew their meeting was important, and she’d lied. It seemed like lying was par for the course when it came to vamps, he thought.
Without warning, two large vampires came up behind Léopold. They flashed their exposed fangs at Wynter, and she wondered if they did it on purpose for intimidation. Or maybe they were getting ready to feed? She backed up as far as her chair would let her.
Unfazed by their presence, Léopold blithely introduced the two vampires. “Pardon my manners. These are two of Kade’s men. Étienne and Xavier.”
Étienne, a young blonde vampire, appeared to be in his mid-twenties, and he gave Wynter a cool smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Not wanting to be impolite, she managed to return the smile. She glanced over to the older, exceptionally well-built vampire, Xavier. It appeared to Wynter that perhaps Logan knew the vampire, as he acknowledged him with a handshake.
“Go feed. I still have business here with the Alpha,” Léopold ordered with a wave of his hand. The vampires were gone from sight within mere seconds. “Now, where was I? Oui, our meeting. So I understand there was a scuffle of sorts. Something about vampires? I admit, it doesn’t sound unusual, but how can I be of service?”
“As much as I’d like to speak with Kade, if he’s left you in charge, then I’m afraid I must bring this matter to your attention,” Logan began, his low tone emanating anger. “Last night, we were in a local shifter bar off Decatur when four vampires attacked Wynter.”
Léopold frowned. He liked the pretty doctor very much and wouldn’t want anything to happen to her, not to mention that he and Jax were old friends.
“I’ll get to the short of it. Wynter was held captive by her employer and told us that this organization’s been using vamps as guards. They did a number on her. Bites, feedings. The usual,” Logan told him with a tick in his jaw. His eyebrows furrowed in anger at the thought of what they’d done to her. “She escaped and on her way out, we fought and ended up staking a few of them. Now, I’m sure you know how this works. Under normal circumstances, we’d hold the offenders and turn them over to Kade. But last night, I had no choice.”
“Oui, I understand,” Léopold replied, skimming his finger over the rim of a glass that was sitting on the table. His voice held an edge of rage, yet his demeanor was controlled. “This is not acceptable…at all.”
“So that brings me to you. First of all, it’s likely this operation is still here in the city. But my immediate concern is Wynter’s safety. She was doing work for them, and they’ll probably be back for her. It’d be nice if we knew whether the vampires belong to Kade.”
“I can assure you that all in Kade’s line are well accounted for. So either these vampires were from outside the city,” Léopold paused as if in deep thought, “Or someone in Kade’s line is making children without reporting it, which as you know would be a great offense. One that generally ends in death. Now that you’ve brought this to my attention, I’ll certainly look into it.”
“You should also be aware that Jax is coming to New Orleans. He was delayed due to the snow, but he’ll be here soon. At that time, I expect we’ll have more information,” Logan hedged. He didn’t wish to reveal that Wynter hadn’t told him everything. And frankly, even if she had, he wasn’t sure that he’d share it with Devereoux. Yes, he was grateful for his assistance but at the end of the day, he didn’t trust him.
“I see. We’re finished, no?” Léopold’s dark mood seemed to transform back into a playful tone.
“We’re finished,” Logan confirmed, noticing that Wynter still appeared unresponsive. He wanted to take her home as soon as possible and force her to tell him exactly what she’d been doing in New Orleans. And he wanted every last detail, no more half-truths.
“A dance then, pet? Come, it’s been too long,” Léopold asked innocently, raising an eyebrow at Wynter. Sensing her hesitation, he glanced over to Logan, requesting permission. “Would you allow it, Alpha?”
Logan’s gut churned at the thought of any other man putting his hands on Wynter. But was he going to refuse the bastard whose help he needed? He considered it. After all, Wynter knew Devereoux and didn’t seem at all afraid of him. If anything, she was overly friendly with the guy; she hadn’t outright said no to the dance. With an air of nonchalance, he glanced at Wynter who looked like a deer in the headlights. He wondered, was she attracted to Léopold? How well did they know each other? A flare of jealousy flamed, but he quickly reined in his feelings.
Fuck, she was driving him crazy. He’d specifically told her earlier that they didn’t belong to each other and then when pressed by Léopold, he’d done a one eighty and publicly announced that she was his. Even though he’d said she belonged to him to protect her, his heart was starting to wish she really was. And his cock, well, his cock had already claimed her.
Putting his ego aside, Logan decided he’d allow one dance. One dance. That’s all he could handle. And Léopold had better keep his damn hands to himself.
“Wynter, a dance?” Logan asked, stifling the jealousy that tightened in his chest.
Wynter gave Logan a surprised look. Dance with Léopold? A vampire? Her gut told her no, but her mind told her she was being silly. No matter what she’d just seen him do in the club, it had just been sex. He hadn’t at all showed a proclivity for violence. Moreover, he was an acquaintance of Jax’s.
“You’ll be safe. Remember, you belong to me,” he stated with confidence, his eyes pinned on Devereoux’s.
“I…um…of course…yes,” she accepted, not wanting to insult Léopold. Even though she was nervous, he’d been enormously supportive of her department at the university. But as she rose to take Léopold’s hand, she wished it was Logan who’d asked her to dance.
As soon as she hit the dance floor, Wynter instantly regretted leaving Logan’s side. The smell of blood, sweat and sex permeated the room. A sea of undulating bodies, in various states of dress, danced all around her. The separation felt unnatural and panic set in; she should never have accepted this dance.
Wynter gasped as Léopold pulled her tightly against him. She frantically swiveled her neck, in search of Logan. Léopold spun their bodies in a circle, and she caught a glimpse of Logan staring at her. She visibly relaxed at the sight of him. Léopold abruptly slowed his movement. With his lips inches from her ear, he spoke softly to her, all too intimate for Wynter’s comfort.
“Quite a mess you’ve gotten yourself into, I see. Now tell me, my sweet doctor. Why did you lie to the Alpha? Ma chère, tis not wise,” he advised.
“I haven’t lied. You must understand, Monsieur, I’ve got to follow protocol. Jax is my Alpha,” she explained breathlessly, surprised at herself for revealing that much to Léopold.