Logan Chapter 51

-Logan-

I forget sometimes how skilled Landon can be with people. He has a different kind of charm than I always have growing up, and his all-play little brother shenanigans draw people in a way that I often overlook. There’s a reason he naturally fell in as Beta. There’s nobody better to offset my - admittedly- intense energy than our loveable rake Landon. I’ll have to thank him later for setting Emory at ease while still reminding her that she’s the only one not getting the level of information we get from scent. I’m proud for everyone to know what we were doing on the way here. I’ll wear Emory’s scent like cologne for the rest of my life if she’ll let me. But Emory, judging by her blush, didn’t even realize that our sexual contact isn’t as private as it would be in the human world.

I’m pulled from my thoughts by my driver clearing his throat only to see Emory’s obvious approval of the pack house. No matter how much time I spend at the penthouse during the week, this place will always be my home, and I soak in her admiration as if I had made any of the design decisions. The actual house was built in the early 1900s, but we’ve kept it up to date and in good repair. If it hadn’t been willed from Alpha to Alpha without much input from lawyers and the government, we would’ve had to keep it without electricity or plumbing for the sake of history, but wolves have always had a knack for sneaking under the radar.

Silverson clears his throat again and I give him an apologetic glance before tearing myself away to see what’s up. “Hey, what can I do for you?” He looks mildly uncomfortable, and I remind myself to talk to him and make sure he’s still comfortable driving while I have… liaisons.

“Yes, well sir, I had a development while we were en route, but you were indisposed and I didn’t want to interrupt.” Oh, damn. I hope Emory didn’t hear that. With a glance her way, I confirm that she’s absorbed in the detailing on the front door.

“What is it, Silverson? Do we need to take the car to the shop?” There’s a shifter in the pack that likes to tinker with cars, but he doesn’t have the expertise to touch my Phantom.

“No sir, we picked up a tail. I managed to lose him, eventually, but he was rather determined. I suppose it doesn’t surprise me you didn’t notice the extra travel time, sir.” Silverson gives me a wry smile, and I feel flustered for the first time in a long while.

“No, I suppose it shouldn’t. I’ll keep that in mind, man, thank you. Any guesses as to who we’re entertaining?”

“No, I didn’t see any branding, and it was a compact car. Most likely an undercover car or a personal vehicle. There was no extra hardware like the police undercover have.” I give him a pat on the shoulder as I step away, though I know it embarrasses him to break “protocol”

“Excellent work, Jax. We should be good for the day. Give the Mrs. my best”

“Well. I will, thank you, sir.” As I walk away with the troubling news, I can’t help but be glad he waited to pull me aside where Emory wouldn’t hear. I’ll need to find the least scary way to break it to her that we were being followed.

If it was a full-on news van, that would be one thing. At this point, the best we can hope for is an unusually gutsy individual reporter. Worst case, we’ve attracted the attention of the regular crazies and are about to become one of the local conspiracy theories. Just because the conspiracy in this case is real, doesn’t mean they’ll have the right idea about us. It actually almost guarantees that they won’t.

I try to put it out of my mind for now so I can enjoy Emory’s reactions to her new home. She’s effusive in her praise of the outside, but the inside is a little less grand. My mother preferred to keep her home as homey as possible. As I jog up the steps behind her, she turns a big grin my way. I can’t help but pull her into my arms as I open the door for us and carry her bridal style over the threshold.

“Oh! Logan, you have got to start warning me before you sling me all over the place.” Her cheeks redden as she scrambles to wrap her arms around my neck, as if I would drop her.

“But you’re so cute when you’re flustered! Relax, baby. You know I’m stronger than I look, and I know I don’t look weak.” I set her down in the exact center of the entryway so she can get the full effect of the crown molding and the chandelier.

“Logan, this is absolutely gorgeous. You grew up in this? How did you ever have the nerve to get up to the pranks I keep hearing about?” I laugh out loud as I think about our days as pups running through these halls and sliding down the stair rails.

“We definitely managed. Dad used to joke that Landon and I had more balls than brains sometimes. He was always convincing me to get into mischief with him. I guess we still do prank each other every now and again, as you noticed earlier.” I’ll have to find a way to get him back for embarrassing Emory like that. Even with good intentions, he could’ve found a better way to go about it.

“Well, it’s just beautiful here, Logan. Do you want to give me the full tour?” She looks at me under her lashes as I hold out an elbow to her.

“I would love to.”