Page 74 of Logan’s Acadian Wolves

The she-wolves had been chasing around Logan since he’d replaced Marcel. Luci, especially, had staked her unofficial claim by continuing to live with Logan. Up until several days ago, she’d made it her daily ritual to knock on Logan’s bedroom door. And while he knew Logan had only comforted her, Luci wasn’t going to take his impending mating well.

Cognizant that Logan had been busy with Wynter and also Dana’s death, Dimitri had hesitated to broach the subject with him. But tonight, he was prepared to step in and assist. And that didn’t just include helping Wynter sexually. Yes, he’d grown fond of the little wolf. But at the moment, he was more concerned about her safety. Dimitri had already decided that he’d step in and stop a fight, if necessary. Sure, he’d take a hard hit for intervening but so be it. A direct challenge to Wynter wouldn’t negate her status as Logan’s mate, but still, it was within a she-wolf’s right to attack and kill if necessary. If someone challenged Wynter and she lost, it would further distract Logan from leading the pack. Within days if not hours, another challenge for Alpha might be issued. Logan had promised to kill the next wolf who challenged him, and Dimitri was confident he’d make good on his word

No matter how sexually adventurous she’d felt, Wynter’s human notions clashed with her emerging wolf. She watched as Logan stood naked before her, cajoling her to shuck the dress. Wynter reluctantly undressed and immediately covered her breasts with her hands. Realizing that the rest of her body was already exposed, she forced her arms to her sides.

“Come here, Wyn,” he told her. Magnanimously nude, she was a spectacular sight, Logan thought. “You trust me?”

“Yes,” she responded quietly, looking at her feet. She could feel Logan and Dimitri’s eyes on her skin. She was frightened out of her wits. No matter how much she’d told herself this was going to happen, she still wasn’t prepared.

A surge of nausea rolled her stomach. Reacting, she bent over, her hands on her knees, willing her stomach to hold the food. She coughed and gagged, managing to push the bile back down her esophagus. Please God. I will not throw up…no throwing up…especially in front of Logan. Be brave. I can do this. No, I will do this. She closed her eyes and took a deep cleansing breath. With a whoosh, she blew it out through her mouth. Logan is with me. Logan. Oh shit. She’d almost forgotten he was watching her ridiculous panic attack. She stood up and gave him an apologetic smile.

“Are you okay? As gross as it is, if you need to throw up, go ahead. Believe me, you wouldn’t be the first.”

“You’re being nice.”

Logan smiled. “Well, it’s the pups who usually hurl their first time, but you’re kind of like a pup.”

She shot him an annoyed look, her hands on her hips.

“Okay, more like a super-hot, naked human lady wolf,” he laughed. “Seriously, baby. Nothing and I mean nothing bad is going to happen tonight. We’ll shift. We’ll run. We’ll make love.” His voice was low and dominant, guiding her wolf.

She simply nodded, allowing him to take her hand in his.

“Look at me, sweetheart,” Logan instructed. When her eyes met his, he continued. “I’m sorry this happened to you…I really am. No matter how much I want you as my mate, I’d never force a shift on you. It sucks. It’s not fair, even. But there’s no stopping nature. This is like skiing, baby. Sure, it’s a little dangerous. You will most definitely fall. Probably will be sore afterwards. And a little dirty. But most certainly, you will have fun. And before you go hatin’ my analogy, you’ve never been skiing with me…and you will love it.”

“I like skiing,” she disclosed with a small smile. “I’m from New York.”

“And someday, we’ll do that together too. But today, you’ll shift. So let’s do this thing, okay?”

“Okay.” As soon as she’d agreed, her skin tingled as if she’d stuck her finger in an electrical socket. She looked up at the full moon. As if it reached out with a firm hand striking into her heart, she seized, unable to speak.

Logan saw Wynter freeze and knew immediately it had begun. Damn, this was not how a pup or anyone was supposed to shift. It shouldn’t be done under duress. Transformation was a celebratory milestone. Logan focused within, drawing on his inherent Alpha power, attempting to soothe her mind. But her immobility continued and within seconds, she began to shake uncontrollably, saliva dripping from her mouth as if she’d gone into a full grand mal seizure.

Logan put his hands onto her cheeks, forcing her to look at him, but her vacant stare told him she was lost within her own mind. Dimitri sensed trouble and ran to his assistance, but Logan waved him off with a hand. He and he alone would coax her out of the paralysis that had taken over her body.

“Wynter, concentrate on my voice. Listen to me. No matter what’s going on inside of you, I know you can hear me. I’m your Alpha. And as such, you will do as I say. Your wolf. She knows this. And you do too. You need to let go. Let me in.” Goddess, it shouldn’t be this way. He hated to be harsh with her but he needed to force her wolf to the surface. “Close your eyes.”

Unresponsive, Wynter continued to quiver.

“Close. Your. Eyes. This is an order from your Alpha. Do it now,” he growled.

Recognition registered in her pupils. Her lids flickered but still didn’t shut. Her wolf rolled submissively onto her back, yelping in response. At his voice, she struggled, clawing to get out, to run with her mate.

Small though it was, Logan knew she’d heard him. He’d have to be more forceful. A dominant, almost foreign voice emerged. “Wynter, I’m commanding you to shift. Now close. Your. Eyes.”

Logan’s authoritative directive speared through the palpable numbness that had arrested Wynter’s muscles. As if someone had smashed a rock through a pane of glass, her humanity shattered into pieces. Her eyes snapped shut, and the wolf emerged. Utter agony ensued as the metamorphosis completed. Gagged by the shift, her scream pinged within her own consciousness, and she thought she’d died. Mouth opened, no tortured cry would save her. But within seconds, she heard a howl pierce the night air. Blinking her eyes, she realized the animalistic noise had come from her. For it was she, the wolf, acknowledging her shift, calling to her mate. As Logan came into focus, she caught sight of his proud smile.

Logan held his breath as she changed before his eyes. Her silent screams tore open his gut. With great restraint, he held back, allowing her to transform independently. There could be no other way. And within seconds, the red-haired, blue-eyed, she-wolf lay on the dirt.

“Look at you, sweetheart,” he whispered and crouched down to the ground.

Goddess, she was every bit as resplendent in her wolf as in her person. His heart constricted seeing that she’d gone into submission. With her ears backward and tail curved under her backside, she whimpered and quivered in fear. Slowly reaching forward, he held his hand out to her.

Distressed and disoriented, Wynter sniffed and licked Logan’s hand. She knew her mate. His scent, his taste. Thank God, he was still here with her. He didn’t leave. She focused on his voice and touch. Everything about him seemed to calm her and felt peaceful.

“That’s right, it’s me. I won’t hurt you, baby,” he assured her, rubbing her ears. He nodded to Dimitri, who’d stripped in preparation for his own shift. But as his friend drew closer, Wynter growled and bared her teeth. “Come on now, it’s okay. It’s just D. You know he won’t hurt you either.”

Wynter saw movement, a human. Defensively, she snarled at the incoming danger. An innate desire to protect surfaced.