“Bastard.”
+25 BONUS
It was the first word out of my mouth as I shoved open the grimy motel room door. The air inside was stale–sweaty sheets, old coffee, the reek of damp carpet and desperation. Logan looked up from where he sat on the edge of the lopsided bed, one foot resting casually on the ratty hotel chair.
He raised a brow. “Maggie. Always a pleasure.”
Islammed the door behind me hard enough to rattle the ancient binds. “Don’t play cute with me. You knew.”
Logan stayed seated, his expression sharpening but still amused. Knew what, exactly?”
f
“There was a kid there. His kid. You didn’t tell me that.‘
The amusement drained from his face. He straightened, jaw tightening. “Aiden?”
My eyes narrowed. “Yeah. Aiden.”
He stood now, slowly, cautiously, like he wasn’t quite sure what kind of storm I was bringing with me. “Was he hurt?”
“No,” I bit out. “Because I stopped it. I called the whole damn thing off.”
His relief was quick–barely a flash in his eyes–but I saw it. And I hated him more for it.
“You told me we were hitting the Silverclaw Alpha and his Eastern Ridge girlfriend,” I snapped. “That was the agreement. That’s what you said. An ambush. A message. Not a fucking child.”
“I didn’t know the kid would be with them,” Logan said, lifting his hands like that excused it. “It was supposed to be Derek and the lady. Alone. That’s it.”
“Well, it wasn’t them,” I stepped toward him, letting every ounce of fury in me come to the surface. “He was camping. In the woods. With a six–year–old boy who you had me grab in the night. If I hadn’t stopped it… And you almost made me party to
that.”
Logan’s gaze darkened. “So you didn’t finish the attack.”
“No,” I hissed. “Because I have limits. You might be perfectly fine hurting a child, but I’m not.”
He tilted his head slightly, something unreadable flickering in his expression. “You don’t know what I’m fine with.”
“No?” I stepped closer, close enough to feel the heat rolling off him. “Because I’ve watched you sell off pieces of your soul for power, Logan. I’ve seen you lie, manipulate, scheme–but this? This was the final straw. I won’t be part of it. I won’t be part of you.”
He looked me up and down, anger coiling under his calm exterior. So that’s it, then? You’re just walking away?”
“Damn right I am.”
I turned toward the door, yanking my pack from the floor. I wanted to get out of that room, that stink of rot and failed ambition, more than I wanted to breathe.
“You can keep your money,” I said as I slung the strap over my shoulder. “My rogues–my pack–don’t need it. We’re done taking your orders.”
I reached for the doorknob, but his hand shot out and caught my arm.
I stopped dead.
“Let go,” I growled without turning.
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Chapter 186
+25 BONUS
But he didn’t.
His grip on my arm tightened, just slightly–not enough to hurt, just enough to make sure I didn’t walk away. I spun, ready to snarl, ready to slap him or throw him across the room.
But then it hit me.
That heat.
That tether.
That unbearable, magneticpull in my chest like something inside me had been yanked taut. My breath caught. The room tilted. And from the way Logan’s expression changed–from cold contempt to something far darker–1 knew he felt it too.
The bond flared to life between us like someone had struck a match in the center of my ribcage.
He didn’t speak. Just stared at me, like he was seeing me for the first time. Or remembering something he’d been trying to forget.
His hand flexed on my arm. His jaw ticked. He looked furious.
And then he kissed me.
It wasn’t soft.
It wasn’t tender.
It was a collision. All teeth and heat and fury. His mouth crushed mine like he wanted to punish me with it, like if he kissed me hard enough he could erase everything that had gone wrong between us.
Chapter 187
