Fighting Fate (9 page)

others might infer from me being by your side.”

She shook her head. “I don’t care. You’re right. People will talk, and frankly, if it gives them

something to talk about other than what happened, I think that will be a good thing.”

Logan narrowed his eyes. “So you’re doing this to take the focus off the pain and hurt?”

She swallowed hard then shook her head again. “No, that’s not what I mean. If the fact that they

think about something else works, then that’s a bonus. I’m selfish enough to say I need you by my side,

even if we haven’t mated.”

He nodded then ran a hand through his hair. Her gaze followed the movement, taking in the

definition in his arms.

“We’re going to talk about that last part soon, Cailin.” His gaze met hers, and she froze, prey in a

predator’s path. “It’s beyond time we at least discuss it, but right now I know we both need to…

breathe.”

He stood up, his erection tenting his sweats, but he ignored it. He held out a hand, and she took

it, standing close to him. So close she could scent the wolf, power, and sin radiating off of him.

Logan cupped her face and stared down at her. She licked her lips, knowing this wasn’t the time

to want him, but when
was
the time?

“I’m going to kiss you, Cailin,” Logan whispered. “Think of this when you’re trying to decide if

you want to be my mate. Think of this when you find yourself on your own and in need of comfort.”

“Okay,” she breathed then inwardly cursed at the stupidity of that answer.

With a quick grin that faded before she could blink, he lowered his head, the intensity in his gaze

making her belly clench. His lips brushed hers, once, twice, before pressing harder. She closed her

eyes, letting the sensation of his mouth against hers wash over her.

His lips were firm, soft, with just the hint of pressure to exude his dominance. Oh, she wasn’t his

submissive wolf. No, she’d kiss him back.

Hard.

She opened her mouth, sliding her tongue against the seam of his lips. Oh, he might have been the

one to say
he’d
kiss
her
, but she’d be part of this. Relish it.

He groaned against her, opening his mouth to her. He moved his hands so they held her lower

back, pressing her to his chest, his erection hard, demanding against her belly. Cailin thrust her

fingers in his hair, panting as she deepened the kiss.

Their tongues tangled, fighting for dominance as they kissed each other, their chests heaving.

Finally, she pulled back, taking two steps away so she could think. He’d made her dizzy, drunk,

addicted. Damn his taste, his…everything.

“Go home, Cailin,” Logan grunted. He gave her a sad smile before tucking her hair behind her

ear. “Get ready for what needs to be done, and I will be there by your side. I won’t leave you.”

She nodded, emotions clutching at her. She needed to breathe, to think.

To grieve.

Cailin quickly dressed and made her way home. Logan had left her at the door, and she could

feel his gaze on her as she moved. While she had a feeling he wanted to come with her and not let her

leave his sight, he must have known she needed the time alone to compose herself.

As soon as she got home she quickly showered, trying to prepare herself for the day. Logan’s

scent had leeched into her skin, and her wolf didn’t want to wash it away. Only the fact that the man

would be by their side soon seemed to calm them both.

She could still remember the first time she’d seen Logan. He’d been covered in blood, her

brother’s blood. North had almost been killed by Corbin during an attack on the Jamensons’ property,

and the Andersons had saved his life. Lexi and Parker had been holding North’s chest together as he

bled while Logan had driven into the den, not knowing if either of them would die or not—North from

his wound and Logan at the hands of the Pack.

After all, at the time they’d been outsiders in the middle of a war. But they’d risked it all to save

North. Logan’s actions were proof to the Alpha and his family that the Andersons could be trusted.

That and the fact that their wolves readily submitted to a new Pack.

Cailin had been so scared for her brother, scared she’d never see him again. Yet even then, her

attention had drifted to the large man with the darkness covering his appearance and build so deeply it

seemed like a second skin.

That danger attracted her like no other.

Neither had made a move, even though they both knew the potential for mating lay between them.

There hadn’t been time, not really. And when things finally calmed down, she’d run. She’d pushed

him away, not ready to bare herself and give up what she’d tried so hard to attain her whole life—

freedom.

Now that she’d lost the two people she held most dear, she knew she’d made a mistake keeping

him away.

She wanted to mate with Logan Anderson.

Cailin just hoped Logan still wanted her.

Oh, he might have said he’d never leave her, but she’d pushed him away for so long his wolf

might have stopped the mating dance—a painful process she didn’t know if she herself could survive.

Logan was strong though.

Stronger than most

Stronger than her.

She shook her head, clearing her thoughts of mating, strength, and a bond that would come later

—she hoped. Her heart lay heavy in her chest at what she was about to see, about to do. She quickly

put on the black dress she kept in the corner of her closet. She’d worn it only once, and after today,

she’d never wear it again.

The woman in the mirror wasn’t her.

It couldn’t be.

That pale face, lank hair, and dead eyes. No, it couldn’t be her. She didn’t look like the strong

wolf she needed to be for her people, her family. She closed her eyes and shook her head, trying to

gain the courage she needed to walk into the Pack circle and say goodbye to her parents.

She wouldn’t cry in front of her Pack. She’d done that enough.

Only the thought of Logan being by her side helped her step into her shoes, the loose skirt around

her thighs shimmering.

The knock at the door startled her, but the scent behind it calmed her.

Logan.

He’d come for her so she wouldn’t have to walk alone.

Goddess, she could love him.

When she opened the door, she held back a sigh. Long legs in dark pants and a shirt that molded

to his build quite nicely. Maybe if she focused on Logan, she wouldn’t have to think about what was

coming.

He seemed to understand she needed something…else, so he lifted her chin with a finger before

leaning down to brush a tender kiss against her lips.

“Ready?”

“No,” she answered honestly.

He nodded then held out his arm. She closed the door behind her and tucked her arm into his. As

they made their way to the circle, Pack members joined their trek, heads lowered, wolves in pain. No

one spoke—there was no need to.

Nothing to say until they found themselves in the circle.

Logan’s arm on hers steadied her as she raised her chin, trying to show the others that they could

be strong. It was her job as a Jamenson—a role she held with pride.

Her brothers, their mates and children were standing at their places in the circle. The raised

platform would soon be too small for her growing family, but the absence of the two people who

meant the most to her was stark in its evidence.

Each of her brothers noticed her in turn, their eyes narrowing slightly at Logan before schooling

their features. This was not the time to deal with big-brother bullshit.

She glared, and each of them turned away, their mates leaning into them. As she stood beside

Maddox, she tried to let go of Logan, only to have Logan grip her hand and squeeze. Her wolf calmed,

needing the man near them.

Her brother Kade, her new Alpha, rose to stand in front of the Pack. Melanie and their three

children stood off to the side, still visible but allowing Kade to speak first.

“We’ve lost an Alpha, a wolf, a father, a friend,” Kade began.

Cailin swallowed hard, keeping her head high, leaning slightly into Logan, not so much that

anyone would notice, but
he
knew. Her head pounded, creating a roaring in her ears. She could see

Kade’s mouth moving, could see the others in her family standing tall, grief on their faces, tears

staining some of their cheeks.

The other Pack members openly wept, their emotions so strong she could taste them on her

tongue. She would not cry. Not then, maybe not ever again.

Kade spoke once more, and the others in the Pack howled.

She threw her head back and joined them, Logan’s howl a sweet harmony to hers—the first thing

she could hear.

She could feel others’ gazes on her and Logan, but she didn’t care. Her heart hurt too much and

the confusion in her mind too tangled to unravel. The reason they were all here was because of her

parents. Not who was with whom. What mattered in her heart was that she and Logan shared a

connection beyond mating.

They were the reasons her parents were dead. Not that she'd ever blame Logan for that.

No, the blame lay solely with her.

When the enforcers came to take her parents’ bodies—already covered in silk—she held back a

shudder. She hadn’t looked down into the circle, she couldn’t. Goddess, her parents were
right

there…yet so far away.

So far out of reach.

Logan let go of her hand, only to wrap his arm around her side, squeezing her other hip. He

didn’t pull her close, didn’t pat her and tell her everything would be okay.

He knew exactly what to do to help her.

The others started to leave, their own mourning taking place quietly and in private. Cailin

followed her brothers back to Kade’s house for another meeting. Only, unlike the last time, Logan

wouldn’t be leaving her side. It might be selfish, but she needed him.

As soon as they were in Kade’s living room, she knew something was coming that she wouldn’t

like. From the firm set of Melanie’s mouth, she had a feeling her sister-in-law, the new Alpha female,

didn’t like it either.

“The battles are on our land,” Kade said. “We need to ensure the children and submissives are

safe. In doing that, I’m going to follow the plans Dad set in motion.”

Cailin frowned. She hadn’t known her father had any such plans. But she wasn’t the Heir to the

Pack, so she wouldn’t have been privy to all information.

“You’re going to evacuate some of the Pack to the safe zones,” Logan said.

Kade started then narrowed his eyes. “And how would you know that?”

Cailin growled, not liking Kade’s tone. Logan squeezed her hand, and she settled. For now.

“All Packs have places set for evacuation,” Logan said calmly. Much more calm than she was.

“Places that only a select few know about. The Pack isn’t safe under the wards, and Caym knows that.

You’ll have to send them out in small groups.”

Kade relaxed somewhat and nodded. “Yes. Father’s enforcers…” He coughed. “I guess they’re

my enforcers now.”

“You can choose your own men to join you in the future, Kade,” Jasper whispered. “Those of

Father’s men who want to stay, and you get along with, will fight for you. Others will fall back and

allow you to make changes. It’s the way of the Pack.”

Melanie hugged Kade’s side, and he wrapped an arm around his mate. “We can talk about that

later. Like I was saying, the enforcers have started the process.” He let out a breath. “I want our mates

and children to go with them.”

The response to his words was loud, clear, and vehement.

“No,” Cailin said above them all, her voice steady, dangerous.

Kade’s eyes met hers. “I want my family safe.”

“Then the children go with the submissives, maternals, and enforcers,” Cailin argued. “They’ll

be safe there. But don’t send away our family. At least the adults. You can’t do that now. You all

mated dominant fighters. For god’s sake, Reed married two of them.”

Hannah gave a small smile, and Cailin nodded at the earth witch who could move soil and bury

her enemies quickly.

“We’re not leaving you,” Ellie whispered, her hand held tightly in Maddox’s.

“None of us are,” Bay said from her perch on Adam’s lap.

“You can’t hide us away,” Willow added in.

“We’re wolves, witches, and half demons. We’re stronger than you think,” Lexi said.

“You’ve never treated us as less before, mate of mine, don’t start now,” Melanie said from his

side.

Kade lowered his head. “I just want you safe. I know you can fight. I’ve seen you all do it. This

Alpha thing…I don’t know what to do.”

Cailin growled. “Yes. You. Do. You’re our Alpha, Kade Jamenson. Start acting like it.”

Logan squeezed her hand when Kade growled back.

“You need to go with the submissives at least, Cailin,” Kade said.

“Why? Because I’m all alone? Because I’m the one who doesn’t have a mate to fight alongside?”

“She’s not alone,” Logan said from beside her, and her wolf howled in triumph.

Each of her brothers growled in response, but their mates shut them up with small pinches and

looks.