Logan Chapter 78

-Emory-

I feel a hot flush of embarrassment at Bryan’s words. I was really hoping we could all just pretend the pictures didn’t exist, but I guess now I know that was too much to ask for from him. Bryan has always been a bit of a hothead, especially when it comes to Elliana and I. Dad used to tell him to take care of us especially, like we couldn’t do it ourselves, and it always got under my skin that he actually took it seriously. Dad is plenty good enough for me, I don’t need another.

I can feel mom and I making the same facial expression in Bryan and Logan’s direction, and Logan wisely lets go of Bryan’s hand and takes a step back. I can tell Landon thinks he’s being ridiculous, but it’s wise of him to get out of the blast zone. I feel like I could spew fire right now. “Just who the hell do you think you are, Bryan? Because last I checked, you’re not my daddy!” Mom tries to rub my back and calm me back down, but I shrug her off as Bryan rolls his eyes at me.

“Now who do you think you are, letting some trust fund douche treat you like that? I thought you had some kind of respect for yourself Emmy.” He knows I hate it when he calls me that.

“You’ve known him for all’a two minutes! And it ain’t your business! And there’s so much you don’ even understand that you’re legitimately puttin’ your life on the line right now, idiot!” I can feel my voice getting more shrill, my accent thicker, and distantly I mourn my loss of decorum. Surely the maids and girls cooking are hearing this and getting a nice gander at their new Luna going full reality TV. I take a deep breath and try to pull back in.

“My life on the line?! Is he a murderer now, too, Emory? What the hell shit did you step in?” Bryan is pushing into my space, and Logan is trying to restrain his growl, but I hear it. I see his eyes flashing as well. Shit, shit, I have to diffuse this.

“No, Bryan. He’s not a murderer. There are just other things happening that you don’t know about. I just need you to trust me, trust my judgment. I’m safe with Logan, and he thinks the world of me. He’ll get this fixed.” I’m proud of myself for calming myself down, but that doesn’t seem to work for Bryan.

“Other things happening? Do you hear yourself? Since when do you keep secrets from your family, Emory? How are we supposed to be here for you if you don’t tell us anything?” He gets even closer and lowers his voice. “Are you in trouble? Do we need to get you out of here?” Logan’s control snaps at that point and he fully growls.

“She stays with me.” Logan’s tone bristles with dominance, and I feel Bryan unwillingly backing down. Even humans can feel the power that comes with being Alpha. “What Emory is trying to tell you is that humans could never understand shifter politics from the outside. That you won’t be able to grasp what a fated mate bond feels like, how it changes everything for both sides. How you need to step back from my mate, right now. Take a walk, Bryan.” Logan wedges his shoulder between Bryan and I, and I automatically smack at it.

“I can handle him, Logan. This asshole has been pushing my buttons our whole damn lives.” Mom finally jumps in the fray.

“Now wait a minute! I have heard more curse words out of my own children’s mouths than I have in my whole life! Bryan! I want you on the couch! You’ve stirred the pot more than enough today. We’re all going to sit down like civilized people and get to know one another nicely, or we are all getting right back on the plane and I’ll ground every swinging one of you! Don’t test me!” Us Davis kids all duck our heads, and Landon and Logan watch in amazement as Dad herds all of us to different seats in the formal sitting room while Mom stations herself in front of the mantel with her hands on her hips.

When she, Landon, and Logan are the last ones standing, she waves a hand in their direction. “It sounds like you boys have some explaining to do. Get to it, before Bill gets upset.” Dad looses a sigh at the nonsensical threat Mom has always used on us. Really, she means before she gets upset.

Logan clears his throat and steps forward like he’s about to give a presentation in front of his board of directors, then totally ruins the image before grinning and asking outright “what do you all know about wolf shifters?” Landon gapes at him openly. Hunter and Elliana snicker to themselves and Bryan just glares even harder. Mom and Dad mostly just look confused. I’m going to have to find a way to salvage this.

“He means werewolves. Werewolves exist, and there’s a whole group of them here that he leads, and they prefer to be called wolf shifters. Questions?” I shoot the last at Bryan with my best unaffected look. It’s so easy to fall into childhood rolls with my whole family here. It’s like I age backwards fifteen years. I take a moment to bask in the blissful silence before Bryan ruins it, like always.

“Yeah. What’s this crap about a fated mate, Emmy?” Ugh. He would fixate on that part. I flash my eyes at Logan, hoping he’ll bail me out.

Logan rolls his eyes, but answers. “Fated mates haven’t been seen amongst wolf shifters for about a century. It turns out, they tend to happen in times of upheaval. Emory is mine, and I am hers.” I don’t think that’s going to go over well, either.