Chapter 24
Logan
When Logan stumbled into the alpha’s dining room still buttoning his shirt sleeves, he flushed in embarrassment. He’d already made a fool out of himself once today. To show up late to a dinner with the alpha and his mate was almost unforgivable. Ben’s concerned face met his and Logan could see the relief wash across his brother’s expression at his entry, late though it was.
“Sorry for being late, Alpha. Alpha’s Mate,” Logan said formally, nodding his head to both. He quickly shuffled into the same seat at the table he had used the night before and a full plate magically appeared in front of him. The teenage wolf that was acting as their server for the evening returned to being invisible against the wall and Logan thanked his hosts again for the meal.
Logan took the first bite of his venison steak before he noticed the murmuring around the table increasing in volume and urgency. He raised his head and took in the empty space directly across from him. Logan dropped his fork with a loud clang.
“Where’s Jude?” Logan asked, searching the faces of everyone at the table for an answer.
“We thought he was with you,” Adam replied. Logan looked at his brother and was surprised to see Ben’s head in his hands. Apparently unwilling to let Logan injure his mate anymore with words that evening, Adam continued, instantly jumping to Ben’s defense.
“Don’t you look at Ben like that. Jude was your responsibility, not Ben’s. Not mine. Yours. If you would get it through that thick skull of yours, that is. All Jude was trying to do was love you. If you’d just fucking accept it, then I bet you wouldn’t be in this situation,” Adam snarled waving his steak knife around in a threatening manner as he ranted. Adam stopped and flushed as he apparently realized he’d just dropped the f-bomb in front of his mother. Logan pushed Adam’s embarrassment aside. There were more important matters that needed his full attention instead.
“I’m not trying to accuse anyone, Adam. I’m just trying to find out where Jude is right now. And about all the rest, you’re right. He is my responsibility. That’s why I need to know where he is,” Logan said, forcing himself to remain calm. Losing his cool wasn’t going to help bring his mate back any faster. Alpha Leikos pushed away from the table and pulled out his cell. He paced the room, obviously waiting for whoever he was calling to pick up on the other end.
“Kieran, have you seen the tiger shifter by any chance this evening?” Alpha Leikos asked. Logan knew the alpha didn’t need to announce himself when he called. No one could mistake his alpha tone for any other. A few moments passed before the alpha said anything again.
“Alright. Well that’s all.” The alpha ended the call with one jab of a finger. Logan flinched at the finality of the motion.
“He’s gone, isn’t he?” Logan asked, simultaneously desperate for the answer but also terrified to know.
“Yes, Logan. He’s gone. Left a few hours ago on foot with just the backpack he walked in with. Probably time enough to make it to a main road and catch a ride. I suspect he’s out of the state by now,” Alpha Leikos answered. Lucy gasped and Logan felt his heart fall into his stomach. It bounced around with every beat, making Logan regret taking that first bite of food. Logan shot up from the table, intent on starting the search. Before he cleared the door, his alpha’s restraining hand on his bicep pulled him to a stop.
“Now don’t go running off half-cocked, son. Jude’s smart and more than that, he’s determined. If he plans to go to ground and hide, you’ll never find him. Not without help,” Alpha Leikos said. The alpha turned back to the table, five anxious faces trained on his next word.
“Ben, you and Adam take your brother home and put him to bed. I’ll send Sylvia over with something to help him sleep.” Logan started to argue but the glare his alpha aimed in his direction, stopped any complaint before it started.
“You need to sleep, Logan. You’re running on fumes as it is. Everyone in the room can see it. Hell, your wolf’s so close to taking over, I’m afraid we might lose you if you shift right now. I made a promise to your folks when I took over this pack that I would protect you and your brother and I’m going to do that tonight whether you like it or not.” Logan deflated and the alpha turned back to the group continuing to dole out orders.
“Ryan, you and Izzy go home, too. Izzy, you need to put your feet up and pretend nothing is wrong. Watch a funny movie, sleep, have sex, I don’t care. Just do anything you can to trick your brain into thinking everything is perfect. Too much stress this early can end a pregnancy, even if you had the advantage of being female. You hear me?” Izzy nodded as the color drained from his mate’s cheeks.
“Yes, sir,” Ryan agreed for them both and stood, pulling Izzy behind him out the door. Their half-touched plates lay abandoned on the table like witnesses to the apocalypse. The alpha watched them go and turned back to the table to find no one else had moved.
“I said go home, people. Now get! I’ve got work to do.” The alpha’s command boomed through the room. Logan felt the unmistakable order all the way to his core. His wolf curled on its side and showed its belly in the ultimate display of submission. Before he could move, he was being herded out the door, Ben on one side, Adam the other.
Whatever was in the draught his brother had almost forced on him the night before was powerful stuff Logan realized. The sun was up long before his leaden eyelids would finally open. He’d felt trapped in a half-sleep, slightly aware of the goings on around him, but not alert enough to do anything about it. His mouth tasted like shit and he felt like death-warmed-over. Logan decided he really needed a drink of water. Logan reached for the water bottle he normally kept on the nightstand and found the note Jude had left again instead. He turned over the fuzzy picture of Izzy’s bean for what felt like the millionth time and read the two words scrawled nearly illegibly.
Be happy.
Logan’s heart felt like it was clenched inside a giant’s fist and it was slowly squeezing the life out of him. The feeling only intensified every time he read the message, but he couldn’t make himself stop. Logan was so desperate for relief, he even considered letting his wolf take over, but the beast had apparently had enough of being Logan’s whipping boy. He hoped it was the effect of the sedative still in his system and that he hadn’t permanently damaged the link to his wolf. Logan had only ever heard of that happening with rogues that were so far gone into insanity they had to be put down.
Logan jumped when his cellphone rang and started vibrating across his nightstand. He frantically fumbled for the phone, having to swipe his finger across the screen several times before it connected.
“Logan?” Alpha Leikos queried from the other end of the line. As usual, he cut to the chase, eliminating any hint of small talk. Logan had never been more thankful for his alpha’s abrupt nature.
“Did you find him?” Logan asked anxiously.
“Son, I’ve put out feelers to every pack in the country. If he stays in the U.S., we’ll eventually find him,” the alpha responded. Logan’s heart sank as he took in his alpha’s words.
“So you didn’t find him then?” Alpha Leikos’ answering sigh was confirmation enough. Logan forced down the tears he felt trying to brew. He was alpha stock, damn it. Alphas didn’t cry. Logan took a deep breath and felt his wall clicking back into place like a comforting friend. He’d been a fool to let it down for those few moments the day before, he realized.
“Okay then. What do you want us to do now? Go back home and wait?” Logan asked coolly, erasing any hint of emotion from his tone.
“I think that’s the best option. The boys need to get back to school and I’m sure you can find something to occupy your mind better there. I’ll call as soon as I hear anything at all,” Alpha Leikos responded.
“Fine. We’ll leave this morning. Anything else, sir?” Logan asked robotically.
“No, Logan. I guess that’s all. I promise you, Logan, I will do everything…” Logan disconnected before his alpha could finish. He should be pissing his pants in terror right now after hanging up on his alpha, but all Logan felt was the empty hole in his chest where his soul used to be. More empty promises couldn’t fix that.