Logan Chapter 63

-Emory-

James is the first to arrive, which I shouldn’t have been surprised about. He seems to be in an even worse mood than usual when he walks in, which doesn’t bode well for this meeting. I’m saved from extra anxiety by Oliver- Ollie- walking in behind him. If James is an angry surfer, Ollie has all the looks and mischief of the Irish stereotype. His milk chocolate eyes light with amusement when his nostrils flare at the doorway. Oh, hell, I can’t believe I let Logan convince me to get busy on the damn table. Ollie runs a hand through his auburn hair before he contains his smile and apparently decides not to say anything about what he senses in the room. I can’t help but be grateful.

Logan enthusiastically greets each of his friends as they come in the door. James is reserved, more so even than he was in my apartment. He looks like he just heard terrible news. Ollie claps Logan on the back with a big smile, and I can’t even hear what they’re saying over the blood pounding in my ears. Logan holds a hand out to me and I take a deep breath before walking over to the three of them.

Ollie shakes my hand with a smile just as Derek- Deek- walks in. “You must be the incredible Emory. I’ve heard you’re way too good for this asshole.” He jerks a thumb at Logan, who rolls his eyes but doesn’t lose his smile.

I smile shyly, appreciating his attempt to lighten my anxiety and James’ weirdness. “It’s nice to meet you, Ollie. I’ve heard a lot about all three of you.”

Derek chooses then to join the conversation. “So you have heard of us? I wondered, by the smell of this room, if you all ever did anything else!”

Logan immediately smacks the back of his head. “Shut up, ass. I know you know better than to pull that shit with me right now. I’m hanging by a thread ninety-nine percent of the time as is.” He looks toward me with another eye roll. “Deek and Ollie are usually much better behaved, but they’re showing off right now because they haven’t matured since they were thirteen.” All of us- minus James- laugh at that, and I finally relax a bit.

Derek looks at me with a wink. “So sorry, Emory. He’s so easy to rile up nowadays, but it’s not fair that you’re in the crossfire. Forget I said anything and tell me about yourself. Logan never tells us anything except how much of an idiot he is with you.”

I can’t help but beam at him. “I want to hear about all of you. What have you all been up to this past month? Do you have siblings? Are they your Betas like Landon is Logan’s? I have so many questions.” It’s easy to be comfortable with Deek and Ollie. They have a vibe really similar to Landon’s in that you can tell that they’re constantly after a good time. They’re a little more mature than he is, as we get to talking, but still constantly ragging on each other and talking about past pranks.

After a bit of conversation, I learn that Ollie has two sisters, Deek has an older sister and brother, and James is an only child- somehow, I’m not surprised at that one. I was intrigued at first that Deek is the youngest and is still the Alpha of his pack, but I wasn’t sure if it was rude to ask. I guess it would be better to speak up here among friends than learn what’s rude when I ask around about Logan’s pack.

“Deek, did your older brother not want to be Alpha? I’m sorry if it’s rude to ask, but I feel like I’m missing something.” He shoots me a kind smile before he nods and explains.

“Art was always more intellectual than me, and he felt like his talents would be a lot more useful in learning about and keeping track of the history of wolves as a whole. He actually has been researching fated mate bonds for us while you and Logan were… figuring things out. He said that the proximity issue should go away with the full moon ceremony, but that there were rumors of telepathy or some crap. He thinks it’s a metaphor for emotional closeness. I guess you all will find out. How does it feel to pave the way, Logan? Do you feel sparkly special yet?”

Logan rubs the back of his neck. “I suppose I do. I’ve always known I was ahead of you guys, but it would’ve been nice to know anything about any of this before I went through it.”

Derek nods along, but I can tell he’s been distracted by something about James. “James, man, you’ve been quieter than usual. Are you good? What’s going on?”

James seems to shake himself out of a trance. “Just thinking. Logan actually has a good point. Tell us all again what it felt like to meet your fated- and it may also be a good idea to have you talk to Art, so he can record the signs and sensations. Perhaps, with better record-keeping, we can stop anyone else from months of misery.” I feel a blush move up my neck at the insinuation that I’ve made Logan’s life more complicated, that somehow I’ve shown up and made it so that everyone will have some inconvenient fated mate blow a hole in their normal lives.

Logan pats my thigh before he replies thoughtfully. “I suppose that would be helpful. Just to run through it quickly here, I knew I was attracted to her before I noticed anything else. It felt like electricity when we first touched, and the first time I smelled her arousal it was like… my wolf was home. He’s never reacted to a scent like that before, and I know he won’t ever again.”

I cover my face in my embarrassment. I didn’t even think back to our first interactions with his wolf in mind. I wasn’t hiding anything that I thought I was. I can’t even think about hiding my mortification now. It’s just too much. Logan rubs my back to comfort me, and I suppose it’s all working out. It’s not like he can leave me, after all, no matter how cringey I’ve been. I can only hope he thinks it’s cute instead of painful. He seems to think so.

The guys obviously notice my discomfort and make plans to meet up again soon. I struggle through goodbyes and fall into a chair as soon as the door closes behind them. If I can just get over these damned insecurities, I think I can handle these monsters.