Logan nearly took the door off the hinges when he saw Natalia slumped against the bar inside. As it was, he launched a drunk who got in his way back ten feet. Then he was close enough to her to touch her, to inhale her, but he held back. He didn't ever want to see terror in her face again, ever. Especially when he caused that fear.
He held her hand as it trembled and shook, and concentrated on keeping his voice low and steady. Calm. Willing her to relax. She was drunk as hell, staring at him wide-eyed and wobbly. Logan took a deep breath and held her gaze. "Baby, listen to me. I would never, ever hurt you. Ever."
Her chin trembled.
He couldn't help it, touched her cheek. Adored the softness of her skin against his fingers. Wanted to pull her against his chest and inhale her, carry her away and take care of her. Logan took a deep breath. "What you saw tonight, Natalia, I'm not proud of. I should not have lost control like that. I frightened you, and I'm very sorry."
She didn't pull away, at least. She blinked rapidly, searching his face for something. Natalia whispered, "Tell me it was a joke. A trick. Some mirrors or a projector or something."
"I wish I could." Logan sighed and rested his forehead against hers. "But it isn't a trick, my darling. It's who I am."
"It can't be." Her voice broke. "It's not fair."
Logan closed his eyes, holding her face gently and stroking his thumbs across her cheeks. "It isn't all bad."
She drew back, wiping under her eyes, and his heart sank to see the tears streaking her face. Natalia took a deep breath, though she hiccuped and nearly fell off her stool. "Can you do it whenever you want? Or just when you're angry?"
"I control it." Usually, he wanted to add, but any caveats at that point could have set her off. "I can show you if you want. Just not here."
She flinched, holding onto the bar. "No thank you."
Logan almost laughed, rubbing his forehead. He looked up as something bumped his elbow — a glass of liquor. Ruby still frowned at him, but Rafe looked more sympathetic. Logan took a deep breath and raised the glass in a toast, "Thanks," before he drained it. The liquid courage helped.
"So are you magic?"
He snorted, almost spat the liquor back in her face. He coughed, pounding his chest before he looked at her, and croaked, "What?"
"It has to be magic." She looked so earnest and confused, the urge to kiss her nearly overwhelmed Logan. Natalia looked at the ceiling, struggling to order her thoughts as she gestured widely. "That's — otherwise it doesn't make any sense. It has to be magic. Or — or God, maybe? Are you an angel?"
Rafe laughed and walked away. Ruby didn't even crack a smile, her arms folded over her chest. Logan cleared his throat and tried not to laugh at Natalia's questions. "No, baby, I'm not an angel, and I'm not magic. Some people are born like this, but it's possible for normal humans to be changed. It spreads like a virus if there are very specific conditions."
"Oh my." Natalia fell off her stool.
Logan jumped up to help her, wanting to laugh more, and carefully propped her back up. She braced against his chest and stared up at him with eyes round as saucers. "Did you infect me?"
"No, Natalia." Logan pressed his nose to her hair, closing his eyes as he drank her in. He didn't want to even consider it, but it might be the last time she let him touch her. "It takes a deep bite to change someone. Touching, kissing, sex — none of that does it. Just a bite."
"Does it hurt?"
"If I were to bite you? I've never —"
"No, when you do ... that. When you're the other thing. It sounded like breaking bones. Does it hurt?"
"A little." He pressed his lips to her forehead. "You get used to it, though. It's a small price to pay."
"Oh." She frowned at his chest, then sighed. "I'm really tired. I want to go home."
"Come home with me," Logan murmured, touching her cheek again. "Come home with me so I can take care of you."
"You're too scary." Natalia poked his chest, trying to look fierce. "And I don't like cats."
He laughed, rubbing his temples. Shit. "You don't like cats?"
"No." Natalia folded her arms over her chest. "They're judgey."
"She's a dog person," Ruby said, leaning forward on the bar and fixing Logan with a grim look. "And will stay that way. Understood?"
Logan took a deep breath as he faced the female alpha of the BloodMoon pack, but he wasn't about to let Ruby intimidate him into giving up Natalia. "She makes her own decisions, Ruby Leigh."
"Ruby Leigh?" Natalia giggled, then clapped a hand over her mouth and looked aghast. "I'm so sorry I laughed. That's a beautiful name."
Ruby gave her a sideways look but saved her ire for Logan. "Look, cat. She's under my protection, got it? She calls and says 'come help me,' and you're going to have twenty pissed off wolves at your door. Literally. And then we will pull every single contract and deal we have with you, and so will every other pack in this half of the country. If you hurt her, we will ruin you. And then we'll kill you."
Logan believed every word she said. And since the packs made up about a third of his revenue, it wasn't an idle threat. He could recover financially, but the damage to his heart and his lion from losing Natalia would be irreparable. Natalia hiccuped again, then leaned toward her friend and whispered, "You have wolves?"
"Honey," Ruby said, sparing the chef a patient look. "We are wolves."
"No. Way." Natalia's eyes widened, and she pushed back from the bar. "You're fucking kidding —" And promptly toppled off the stool once more.
Logan picked her up and said under his breath, "Your friend needs to get chairs instead of bar stools, doesn't she?"
"Don't make fun of me," Natalia said.
"Never," he said, and kissed her temple. "Never ever. Now tell Ruby you want to come home with me, and we'll get out of here."
Natalia took a deep breath, frowning as she stared at the smooth, unmarked surface of the bar. "I want to lay down. And you have my bag. And my phone."
"Edgar has it right here," he said. He gestured, and his brother approached, placing the bag on the bar next to her elbow and winking when Natalia looked up at him.
She beamed at him, "Edgar!" and threw her arms around his neck.
Logan looked at Ruby, a bit astonished, and the wolf shook her head with a long-suffering sigh. "She's a happy drunk. A very friendly, very happy drunk. No filter."
As if on cue, Natalia grabbed Edgar's face and mushed the skin on his cheeks. Her whisper was loud as a shout even in the busy bar. "Are you a cat too? Are you a magic cat?"
"I'm a lion," Edgar said, though he struggled to keep his face composed and neutral. "Not a cat. King of the jungle, got it?"
Still poking Edgar's cheeks, she looked over her shoulder at Ruby. "Lions, Ruby. Lions!"
"Okay," Logan said, and looped his arm around Natalia's waist. "Before she tells the entire city, we're going to go. I will protect her, wolf."
"See that you do." Ruby eyed Edgar askance, then pointed a scarlet-painted talon at him. "I hold you personally responsible, Edgar Chase."
"She's his mate," Edgar said, and Logan punched his shoulder. Edgar ignored him to fiddle with his phone instead. "Don't deny it, Logan. She is. She's yours. Just don't mess it up now." He looked up and nodded to Ruby. "We'll be in touch with you and Rafe to discuss any necessary ... arrangements."
Logan supported Natalia as she wobbled and stared up at him. "What did he say?"
"Nothing, baby." Logan kissed her and readjusted his grip on her waist. He looked at Ruby. "I'll have her call you tomorrow. You might have some explaining to do, too."
She smiled, though, and shrugged as she turned away. "Right. Good luck."
Logan half-carried Natalia to the SUV and settled her in the backseat next to him as Edgar got in the driver's seat. He stroked her cheek, "Natalia, if —"
A quiet snore was her only answer. Logan laughed and tilted his head back, rubbing his forehead as he closed his eyes. The pain of the change faded somewhat, aided by the drink Rafe gave him, but he wanted only to crawl into bed and sleep a solid ten hours. First he had to make sure Natalia was cared for. The SUV rolled to a stop, and Logan looked up. "This isn't home."
"No, this is her home." Edgar didn't turn around. "If you take her to the mansion, she'll feel trapped. Take her here and give her the option of kicking you out."
"When did you get so smart?" Logan kicked his door open and tried to wake Natalia up, but she made a face and pushed him away with a muttered, "Bad kitty."
Edgar sighed, glancing at his phone once more. "I've always been this smart, you just never listened before. Kitty."
"Fuck off." Logan lifted Natalia out of the car, throwing her over his shoulder so if she puked it wouldn't end up all over him. "But thank you."
Edgar raised his hand in a dismissive wave, and drove off as soon as the door closed. Logan carried her up the stairs to the shitty apartment, wishing he hadn't been quite so picky about the new one. At least then he could have taken her back to a place they both belonged. Soon, though. Soon he would take her home.