Logan Chapter 97

-Landon-

I take deep breaths as I try to calm the fuck down. Not only are my plans to simplify things with Cora surprisingly complicated, but humans in general have been a thorn in my side this whole week. I still respect Emory as my Luna, of course, and I might just have the hots for Terri’s take-no-shit attitude for the rest of my days, but the rest of her family has been annoying at best, with Bryan fighting hard for a Darwin award. I guess it’s a good thing the Davises have two of each- boys and girls. I had high hopes when they took the shifter secret almost in stride- maybe they were more open minded because of the article- but when they were confronted with different traditions and social values, the real problems started.

Usually, Emory is a peacemaker. Every situation I’ve seen her in, she’s been the champion of bringing people together. She’s a connector. Maybe it’s something about having her brother in her face, maybe it’s just the stress of the situation, but she blew up this morning. I would almost say her wolf was close to the surface, if she had one. While I’m already zoned out, I waste some time wondering what it would be like if Emory were a wolf, what she would look like shifted. I bet she’d still be red- might be hard to hide in a forest. Foxes manage it, though.

I blink hard and come back to myself when the silence registers. Logan swung his dick around and now nobody knows what to do. I suppose, having grown up with it, I might be better equipped to bounce back from posturing. I raise my eyebrows at Logan, asking if he’s good before I start joking around to lighten things up. He rolls his eyes, but nods back to me. Emory glances over from where she’s been determinedly avoiding eye contact with any of her male relatives. They’re going to have to get better if they plan on hiding the telepathy.

“So Terri, have you always been this beautiful, or did you just wake up one morning transformed into a goddess?” Terri laughs, flattered, while Bill rolls his eyes at me. I’m fine with that.

“Oh, stop it, you. Of course I age like wine, better and better as the years go by. Ain’t that right, Bill?” She looks at him expectantly, waiting for the right answer.

“Pff, of course, darlin’. You've been out of my league since middle school and you just get further out every year.” Bill pulls out an actually sincere compliment like a pro. I elbow Logan to make sure he’s paying attention. He smacks the back of my head, as usual.

“Gross, guys.” Elliana says, nose in her screen. I keep forgetting she’s here. I guess she’s hoping that she can, too.

“How do you think you got here, pipsqueak?” Hunter laughs at her, though his nose is wrinkled as well. My job here is done. I sit for a few minutes listening to the banter as the siblings relax back into their usual roles in their family. Logan and I are both just soaking in the family vibe. It’s something we’ve been missing out on for a long time. I have to take a couple of deep breaths as I miss our parents all over again. They’ve been gone for years, and I hardly miss them most days, but I do miss having a carefree family meal.

I do the classic smack on my thighs and stand from the table. “I’ve got some babysitting to do. Need anything else from me, Alpha? Luna?” I emphasize their titles as a slight dig at Bryan. When Logan shakes his head with a smirk, I head back to Cora’s damned apartment.

As has become her usual, Cora is holed up inside. She spots me pulling up this time, and flips me off through her window while she plays around on her phone. Logan’s theory is that she sent Hector our way, but there’s no way for her to have known where we would be. So unless she had Hector follow us as closely as she would’ve, he really did just stumble across us in Central Park. We would’ve smelled him if he’d followed us. Nah, he was just loitering around. Maybe, maybe, he was on his way to our property. I would believe that much.

Me: Dude, a sawhorse with a cell phone camera could tail this lady.

Logan: Yeah, but how would it follow her to buy tampons?

Me: Ha. So glad to be of use to you, oh great Alpha

Logan: And don’t you forget it, peon.

I put my phone away and stare back into Cora’s window. The more I’ve stared at her lately, the more attractive she’s become to me. She was a smoke show all made up in her professional battle armor, but watching her lounge around in leggings and a sports bra has been a revelation. I’m ashamed to say that I’ve had to take care of myself a few times after she started doing yoga on her patio. I’ve got a few more organizational things to take care of at the fishing cabin before the two of us can start my little “vacation” plans, but we’re almost ready. Logan has been grateful that I stayed after their ceremony and to help wrangle the Davis family, but he’s also been confused why I didn’t make tracks the second he got settled back in. I told him I would give him one more week, so I need to haul ass to make sure I have all of Cora’s… accommodations installed before then. I don’t think he’ll understand another delay. I can’t answer his questions until I get everything fixed for us. I’m so ready to stop being the weak link.