Brick was going to be okay.

I kept repeating those words over and over in my head as I stood in his hospital room.

Overall, he’d been really lucky. Brick hadn’t been burned in the fire, which was an absolute blessing. He had, unfortunately, been asleep and inhaled a lot of smoke before the firemen had rescued him.

That’s why, he was laying in the bed, his skin dark with soot, and an oxygen mask covering his mouth. And, when he’d spoke, his voice was really hoarse.

I was trying not to cry as I looked at my brother in that bed, still looking like he’d just been grabbed from a fire, and kept repeating that mantra in my head. Because, he was going to be okay, he just needed to get plenty of rest, stay on the oxygen for a while, and avoid things that may irritate his lungs.

They said they wanted to keep him overnight, but then he’d be able to go home. Obviously, not back to Gilly’s apartment over Howlers, because Mateo and I had driven past Howlers, and there was nothing left.

I’d almost gotten hysterical in that moment, seen the smoking ruble of what was left of the bar that had been in our pack for generation. The visual proof of how lucky Brick was to be alive, but I’d kept it together. Mostly because, I knew if I lost it, so would Mateo. The poor guy was hanging on by a thread.

That was when I knew Logan was right. Mateo loved my brother, and he was his mate. I’d just hoped this would be the wakeup call he needed to come out to the pack. I couldn’t worry about that now, though, that was between Brick and Mateo. All I wanted was to be there for my brother and make him as comfortable as possible as he recovered.

“He’ll be okay,” Logan whispered, his arms coming around me.

I leaned back, accepting his comfort, then turned my cheek toward him and asked, “Can we talk in the hall?”

“Yeah,” he said, taking my hand and leading me out of the room. “What do you need?”

If it was possible, I fell even more in love with him in that moment, because although I knew what I was about to ask isn’t exactly what he was hoping for right now, the fact that he was willing to be there for me no matter what, was evident in his question.

“Brick’s going to need a place to stay, and someone to look after him,” I began, but Logan knew where I was going before I finished my thought.

“Hey, Natasha, don’t worry about it. I completely understand,” he said, taking my hands in his. “You want to be here for your brother, so you can’t move in with me right away.” When I nodded, he continued making my heart swell, “I’ll travel back and forth, being here with you when I can, but handling clan business back at home. I don’t want to be apart from you for too long.”

I smiled at that, because truthfully, I didn’t want that either.

He was being so understanding, but I wanted him to know that this didn’t mean our plans were totally on hold.

“While we’re at my place, I’ll start packing, and doing what I need to do around the house to put it on the market. It’s not like Brick will want me in his hair twenty-four-seven, and well, I don’t have a job anymore, so…”

Logan’s grin grew larger as I spoke.

He brought my hand to his lips and kissed the back softly. “Sounds perfect, and I’ll help in any way that I can, with the house and your brother. Plus, I want to be here when Mateo and the council decide what their play is with the Threehorn Pack. I definitely want to help serve justice to Josiah and his pack.”

My heart stuttered a little at that. If I had my way, the Threehorn pack would disappear and we’d never have to deal with them again. I hated the thought of Logan or any of my pack being anywhere near those horrible wolves.

“Hey,” Logan said, and my eyes flitted up to meet his. “It’s going to be okay.”

I nodded, but I felt so overwhelmed, my eyes filled with tears.

Logan pulled me to him and brushed his lips across mine. Needing that contact, needing to feel alive, I opened beneath him and ran my tongue along the seam of his lips, diving in when they opened in response.

He kissed me deeply, holding me close as we gave each other what we needed, then he broke away and hugged me to him.

“It will be okay,” he promised again, and I squeezed him tighter. “You’ll get Brick healthy, and we’ll get your house squared away, and then we’ll move you into the cabin, and we can get started on forever. You’ll meet the clan, assume your rightful position as my mate, and we have our claiming ceremony.”

“I’m sorry that we have to wait.”

“Don’t be. Family has to come first, I get that, and we’re already on the way to forever, babe. We have each other, and that’s all that matters.”

“I love you, Logan,” I said into his chest.

“I love you, too. More than anything in this world. And if there’s something you need, I’m going to give it to you, I’ll promise you that.”

“Boy, do we need to have a talk, Natasha!”

I broke away from Logan to see Gilly standing in the doorway, watching us is shock.

“Max said you were in good hands with Logan, that he was keeping you safe after your abduction, but this looks like a lot more than friendly concern.”

I laughed, thinking we certainly did need to talk… There was a lot I had to catch my sister up on, all of my family actually, and they’d probably be as surprised as I’d been about the “alpha” who was my mate. But, for now, I was content in Logan’s arms, knowing I was safe and with the man I loved.