Page 98 of Poet & Protector

Now a second wolf under his protection had become the object of a master’s obsession. I could see how much it hurt him, how desperately he wanted to help me. I hoped he knew I didn’t think any of this was his fault.

Only when the alphas were gone, the doors to the commons closed, did I turn to face Logan. He stood very still, the late afternoon sun spilling through the windows set his silhouette ablaze.

“Come here.” His voice was disturbingly quiet.

I crossed the space separating us, each heartbeat a hard punch against my breastbone.

“What is it, Logan?”

He smiled and gestured to a chair. “Why don’t we sit?”

I sank into the chair, and he took a seat next to me. Silent seconds drew out as Logan watched me. I didn’t know if he was waiting for me to say something or if he simply enjoyed my discomfort.

“I thought it best if you and I had a private chat,” Logan said at last. “It’s time we worked a few things out. To avoid misunderstandings like the one at Eden Friday night.”

A misunderstanding. That’s how he’s choosing to interpret my avoiding him.

Did he truly believe I could ever want to be his pet, or was he trying to convince himself—convince us both—that it was going to happen?

This time he did wait until I spoke.

“We can talk if you like.” I wasn’t going to offer him any more than the least I could give.

He tilted his head, surveying me again. “Mason, why must you be so difficult?”

I couldn’t stop myself from shooting him a hard glare. “What do you expect, Logan?”

“Expect?” He took a drag from one of his favored Djarum Black cigarettes, exhaled. The scent of cloves and tobacco swirled around us, joining Logan’s essence of mahogany. “At the moment I expect nothing. We’re still getting to know one another. My hope is that you will appreciate what I’m about to offer you.”

“I—” I couldn’t look at him. I felt sick over what might come next. “I don’t know what to say to that.”

It was the truth.

He made a soft sound, and I felt his fingertips brush my cheek. “So much fear. It’s not your fear I want, Mason. No, quite the opposite.”

He caught my chin between his thumb and index finger, turning my face until I looked at him. His eyes held an intense emotion I couldn’t identify, but it shook me to the core. When he was certain I wouldn’t break our locked gazes, he let his hand fall away.

“I will give you a life no one else can,” Logan murmured, his amber irises bright, almost fevered. “One you never imagined possible. Every dream you have, I will make real. Whatever you ask for is yours. I promise you that and more.”

“If…?” A fist closed around my heart.

He tapped the ash from his cigarette onto the floor. “If you please me.”

That could mean any number of things, none of which were good as far as I was concerned, but his offer threw me off balance. I expected unthinkable demands and violent ultimatums. Instead, he’d paved a path of glittering gemstones leading to a gilded cage. But a cage was still a cage and his promises meant nothing to me. My only dream was a life with Nev.

I knew I had to be careful. I couldn’t tell him to fuck off and walk out of the room. Anything I said or did would have consequences not only for me, but for my packmates. And especially for Nev.

I was going to resist Logan as much as I could, but eventually there would be a line that I’d either cross or refuse to. If refusing meant hurting the ones I cared about, I wouldn’t choose myself over their safety.

My gut twisted again. “What if I don’t want what you want?”

As Logan considered my question, he took another drag from his cigarette, parted his lips, and let the smoke slowly curl out.

“That would disappoint me.”

My mouth set in a grim line. “I thought it might.”

“You’re too intelligent to think disappointing me would be without cost,” he said. “Don’t you want Ansel and Bryn to be mates? The way they feel about each other is obvious.”