Chapter 21
Logan
Logan stared at his ceiling, ignoring his cell phone again the fourth time it rang. Annoyed, he turned the phone all the way off and tossed it into the corner in disgust. He felt barely a hint of his wolf as it curled back into a ball defensively. His bedroom door slowly slid open and his shoe hit the door frame with an echoing thunk. Logan failed to miss Ben’s look of exasperation as the projectile almost nailed him in the face. What did his brother expect? Served him right for entering his room without permission.
“Damn it, Logan. You almost hit me, you asshole,” Ben accused. Logan simply raised his brow and scowled, his expression easily giving his unconcerned response, saving Logan the effort of speaking.
“Look, if you would answer your fucking phone, I wouldn’t have to keep bothering you. That was the alpha. AGAIN. Now get off your ass and call him back,” Ben said. His brother stood firm in the doorway, arms crossed tight over his chest as if waiting for Logan to comply. Logan rolled over and pulled a pillow over his head instead.
“Damn you, Logan. I know you’re frustrated, but this time Alpha thinks it’s real,” Ben snarled. Logan could hear his brother crossing the room and the cold plastic of his phone was suddenly forced against his most exposed ear and ringing. Logan struggled to move but Ben actually sat on him to keep him from escaping. Logan knew he could fight his brother off, but he honestly couldn’t be bothered to try.
“Logan Sterling, why aren’t you answering when your alpha calls?” Alpha Leikos’ booming accusation filled Logan’s mind and he felt his wolf cower even more, if that was even possible. Logan opened his mouth to speak but couldn’t form the words. Logan had no memory of the last time he’d actually spoken to someone since they’d left home pack. It already felt like years ago, but probably was only several weeks. Ben put the phone on speaker, thankfully taking in his brother’s predicament.
“Alpha Leikos, this is Ben. Logan’s here with me, but he’s having trouble responding just now. Can you say again what you told me earlier?”
“You’re brother’s a stubborn bastard, Ben. You know that?” the alpha groused.
“Yes, sir. Well aware. Now what do you know?” Ben asked again.
“Logan, this is real this time. I have it from two reliable sources that they’ve located your mate. Jude’s in Dallas hooked up with some warlock causing all kinds of trouble if the stories are true. Frankly, I’m glad he’s making such a spectacle of himself or we likely never would have found him,” Alpha Leikos said.
Logan refused to admit he was hanging on every word. There’d been leads like this before and they’d all proved false so far. His fragile psyche couldn’t let him put faith in the alpha’s assurances yet. He had to see Jude to believe it was really him.
“What’s he up to?” Ben asked. But before his alpha could answer, Logan pushed his brother aside and grabbed the phone. He put the screen to his ear and turned off the speaker, shutting his brother out of any more of the alpha’s words. Logan strode for the door, grabbing his keys and wallet on his way.
“Text me the address. I’m on the way,” Logan said, disconnecting the call before his alpha had a chance to reply. Ben stood on the curb in front of their house watching Logan’s truck tires receding into the distance helplessly. Adam was instantly by his side, pulling on a hoodie and following his line of sight, concern painted across his pale face.
“He’s going to get himself killed like this,” Ben said frustration heavy in his tone. Adam grabbed his mate’s hand and squeezed.
“I think that’s what he’s aiming for, Ben. Come on. We need to get the others. Call the alpha back and get the address. Your brother needs us.” Adam pulled his mate back inside and left him in the kitchen, phone in hand while he went to round up the troops.
Logan saw the building of glass in the distance long before he reached it. It towered above the Dallas skyline gleaming in the failing light of day. Logan suspected that to the residents of Dallas the building represented wealth and prosperity. To Logan, it looked more like the harbinger of death, a sharp reminder of all he’d lost due to his own stubborn foolishness. No matter what he found inside its walls, Logan was certain his journey into self-destruction was nearly over.
Logan parked his dusty truck in a pay lot across the street. He carefully examined the exterior of the building looking for likely weak spots. Logan rubbed the gritty sleep out of the corners of his eyes, knowing he should have rested at some point along the drive. He’d forced himself to keep going long after his pool of energy waned, instinctively knowing he was running out of time. Logan sighed, accepting he was functioning on pure adrenaline and spite now. He hoped it was enough to at least lay eyes on his mate again. Anything after that was gravy.
Logan opened the glove box and pulled out the handgun he’d stopped long enough to purchase in Arkansas. Right then, he could kiss the South’s staunch embracing of the second amendment. Even Logan was surprised at how easy he could go from lone wolf to lone gunman. He knew the weapon wasn’t likely to kill anyone he happened across tonight, but it might at least slow them down. Time was all Logan was hoping for anyway.
Logan checked the clip one more time and stepped from the truck, tucking the firearm into the back of his jeans. The tail of his t-shirt barely hid the weapon but Logan didn’t expect it to stay hidden for long, regardless. He was about to step away from the truck when movement at the front of the building drew his attention. Two shifters the size of mountains stood on the sidewalk, scanning their surroundings. Bears of some kind, if Logan had to guess. Logan ducked until he could barely see over the hood of his truck, knowing he had narrowly avoided detection.
Apparently satisfied the coast was clear, the larger of the two shifters opened the door behind him. Out walked Kai, Jude following close behind. Logan’s heart beat a rapid staccato at the sight of his mate, seemingly healthy and whole. He strained to hear what the men were discussing, but even his wolf’s superior hearing couldn’t make out their words. The distance may not have been too great, but when combined with the heavy street traffic, Logan was at a definite disadvantage.
Logan watched as the group got in a stereotypically black SUV with windows tinted so dark he wondered how they were legal. Knowing Kai, they likely weren’t. Jude took the back seat alongside the warlock and Logan resisted the urge to make his move now, accepting he couldn’t jump in half-cocked or he might get them both killed. While Logan’s own personal safety no longer mattered, he wouldn’t risk Jude’s life for anything.
Logan’s wolf growled as the vehicle’s doors slammed shut and pulled out into traffic. Fearing he might lose them, Logan was instantly back in his truck and gunning the engine. Logan had to do some fancy car driving to keep the SUV in sight, but managed to keep his eyes locked on the SUV’s tail lights for most of the trip. Logan ignored the furious honks he earned and hoped the SUV driver was as bad at detecting a tail as he was at avoiding one. When the SUV’s tail lights disappeared down a dirt road, Logan cursed and followed.