Logan (Chosen Champions #1) - Macy Blake Page 0,89

Survive.

His cheek throbbed, and his eye began to swell. Bailey tried to control his breathing, listening for the sound of footsteps. Norman knew how to hunt, though, and Bailey wasn’t surprised when Norman caught him again. This time, his arms went around Bailey’s, trapping him and preventing him from using the staff. Bailey let it go, then dropped his shoulder and went to one knee.

Norman stumbled, and Bailey shoved him backward before picking up the staff again. He really didn’t have anywhere to hide. His ankle gave, refusing to hold his weight any longer, and he adjusted his stance to put all his weight on his good one.

He hobbled back, holding the staff in front of him as Norman stalked closer. His grin scared Bailey more than the mean and vicious looks from before. The smile was terrifying and malicious. He was going to do more than hurt Bailey this time. He was going to hurt him and enjoy it. And then he was going to kill him.

Bailey couldn’t let that happen.

He took another step back.

But he’d forgotten about Randy. He tripped over Randy’s body and fell backward onto the floor. The staff clattered to the ground beside him.

“Gotcha,” Norman whispered as the door to the warehouse burst open, and Bailey’s friends appeared.

“The fuck you do,” Ashley said. She picked up the staff and spun it in in her hands, looking much cooler than Bailey ever would with the weapon.

Heather held up a can of pepper spray. Bailey flung himself over Randy’s body and covered both their faces as she let loose with the spray.

From Norman’s screams, Bailey knew she’d hit her target. Then Ashley spun the staff, and from the thwacking thuds, she’d also found her mark. Will moved behind Norman, and the moment Ashley stopped pummeling him, Will swept his feet out from under him.

Norman landed on his side with a thud, and before he could move, Will kicked him over onto his stomach.

“Joey, lights.” Will had a foot on Norman’s back while Ashley and Heather knelt beside Bailey and began checking him for wounds. “Heather, get the gaffer tape from Bailey’s backpack.”

“On it.”

The lights came back on, blinding Bailey with their brightness. He blinked a few times. A sickeningly sweet smell began to fill the air, which, added to the scent of sunshine and mimosas, was a bit much. He coughed and covered his mouth and nose, but it wasn’t helping.

Heather came back with the gaffer tape, and Joey and Will managed to get Norman taped up.

“Randy,” Bailey said. “He needs help.”

Heather knelt at Randy’s side and pulled open his shirt. It was a bloody mess.

“He’s still breathing.”

About that time, Bailey heard thuds from outside. Logan ran inside, his eyes glowing a brilliant blue, and then a dragon and a griffin and a martial eagle ran in behind him.

His pack had come for him. All of them.

“What the…?” Ashley dropped the staff.

Logan fell to his knees at Bailey’s side and frantically pulled him close.

“I’m okay. Randy’s hurt, Logan. He needs help.”

“Dasan,” Logan said sharply.

Dasan shifted back and knelt beside Randy, helping Heather assess his wounds. As long as he was still breathing, they had hope. Logan, meanwhile, felt every inch of Bailey’s body for injuries. Bailey pushed his hands away and grabbed his face.

“You came.”

“I was late.”

“Nope, you were exactly on time. We kicked his ass.”

“You did. Is that tape?”

“Yep. I carry it in my backpack.”

Logan laughed. “Of course you do. What else is in that thing?”

Bailey shrugged. “Important stuff.”

Logan breathed him in as the others continued to babble questions. Bailey focused on his mate, though, smiling and leaning their foreheads together. “I’m okay.”

“I know. Scared me.”

“It’s time we talk to the rest of our pack, Logan. We’ve got some explaining to do.”

“You knew all along, didn’t you? That the humans would be joining our pack too.”

Bailey shrugged. “Seemed likely. They’ll keep our secrets. Besides, we need a big pack. You won’t have enough people to be grumpy at otherwise.”

“I’m not that grumpy.”

“Lies.” Ashley, Heather, Joey, and Will all said it at the same time.

Bailey bit his lip to keep from laughing in Logan’s face. “An alpha’s only as strong as his pack.”

“Someone’s going to explain this soon, right?” Will asked. “I’m still trying to figure out if that’s really a dragon.”

Joey pointed at Dasan, who was naked after shifting from his eagle form. His eyes widened, and he looked back at Bailey with a mix of lust and confusion before he turned back to stare at