His Apprehensive Mate - Brea Alepou Page 0,70

you aren’t willing to talk, then I don’t see why we should allow you to stay,” Kash said.

Indigo’s shoulders tensed. The room was silent for entirely too long, and it seemed Dezi and Kash would turn Indigo away.

“My true mate is here,” Indigo said through gritted teeth.

No one batted an eyelash at that or even acted surprised. They’d all noticed the way he stared at Logan and the way Logan avoided staying around him for any long period of time.

“We will have to privately discuss you staying here, Indigo,” Dezi said.

Indigo’s whole body seemed to go slack.

“I messed up once, but I—I can’t lose him again.”

A part of Kenny wanted to know, but when they had started the pride, they had agreed that unless the person opened up about their past, it was theirs alone.

Kash smiled kindly at Indigo. “We understand. We will have an answer for you later today.”

Indigo looked ready to argue, but Rudd and Hodge both placed a hand on his shoulders, and Indigo left out of the room, leaving both sets of alphas and their betas.

“You wouldn’t separate them, would you?” Rudd asked.

Dezi sighed. “I’d rather not, but my pride mates are very important to me. If it is better for him not to be here, then that will be the case.”

“They are true mates,” Rudd argued.

“Yes, but if one doesn’t want to be with the other, do you think it’s fair we force it on them?” Kash asked.

Hodge stopped Rudd before he replied.

“He is a good man, and Gabriella is a wonderful little girl. Your pride might be the perfect fit for them regardless of the fated mate situation,” Hodge said.

“That may be, bu—”

“We will take that into consideration, thank you,” Dezi said.

Kenny stepped forward to let them out of the office.

“They can’t force the issue. If Logan wants him gone, then he isn’t staying,” Kash said, with a finality.

Dezi groaned, massaging his temples. “I agree with you, Kitten, but he asked specifically to stay within our territory. I have never turned anyone away.”

Kash shook his head. “Kenny, what do you think?”

Kenny thought it over, remembering the car trip back to the pride house and the way Logan had let down one of his walls. It was a brief second, but Kenny had been a witness to it.

“We should ask Logan if it’s okay and go from there.”

Dezi sighed. “And if he says Indigo has to go?”

Kenny doubted it. Logan put up a good front, but he was hurting too, having his mate so close.

“Then we remind him it’s not just Indigo, it’s Gabriella too.”

Kash leaned against the desk Dezi sat behind. It was an office that rarely got any use except for pack business.

“Okay, well, let’s bring in our pack doctor.”

Kenny found Logan in the infirmary section of the house, coffee cup still full as he sat there biting at his nails. Agitation was the best way to describe the look on Logan’s face. He still hadn’t noticed Kenny.

Kenny knocked on the door, and Logan practically jumped out of his skin.

“What?” he shouted before he smoothed back his dirty-blond hair. “Um sorry, what do you need, Kenny?”

Kenny glanced over to the coffee cup. “The alphas want to speak to you.”

Kenny used their title to portray the severity of the situation. Logan looked reluctant to get up, but he stood, not even reaching for the coffee cup, and followed behind Kenny. They entered the office, and Logan stood in front of Dezi and Kash.

Kash glanced over to Kenny with a worried look. Kenny had to agree Logan was feeling something being so close to Indigo.

“We had a request from Indigo. He would like permission for him and Gabriella to stay in our territory,” Dezi said.

Logan balled his fists. “What?”

“We haven’t given him an answer yet. We wanted to ask you first,” Kash said.

Logan’s jaw ticked as he stayed perfectly still.

“I—”

“Logan, we already know that he is your—”

“Don’t,” Logan blurted out. He avoided all their eyes, instead staring down at the floor. “Why does he want to stay here?” Logan asked.

Kash and Dezi both looked at each other.

“To be here with y—his true mate,” Kash answered.

Logan flinched at the words “true mate” but didn’t argue about them. It seemed to piss Logan off even more as blood dripped from his clenched fists.

“And what do you two think about him staying?”

“He is polite and willing to help around the house. Not to mention Gabriella is a joy to have around. But it all comes down to if