says your earbuds are fried, and would you please use mine to give them an update.”
Logan grinned and tucked the device into his ear.
“Your mate is incredibly brave,” the oracle said.
“I know.”
“We’re going to have to do a security sweep of the warehouse. Norman cut the wires and fried some of our electronics. Thankfully, Bailey found the spares, but I’m unable to get a signal for the rest of you.”
“We’ll handle it. I think we’ve learned a lot of lessons the past few weeks.”
“We have,” the oracle agreed. “I’m sending the blueprints over to Orsen Riggs for the warehouse. If we’re making improvements, we might as well do them all at once.”
“I don’t—yeah, fine.”
“Alphas need their packs near them, Logan. I know this from experience.”
Ben wheeled Gideon into the room. He looked pale and weak, but much better than he had when they arrived. Scout returned with a tray of drinks and snacks that everyone eagerly accepted.
His entire pack was together. Logan breathed easier, and his wolf settled. He glanced back at Bailey and found his mate watching him.
“Mission Impossible marathon. Who’s with me?”
“What?”
“I’m in,” Will said. “I need nachos and popcorn and chocolate.”
“Seconded,” Heather said. “Also, is Tom Cruise one of you? Because that explains a lot.”
“I’ve never seen them,” Gideon said. “I’m intrigued.”
“Never?” Joey shook his head. “Okay, it’s happening. Where will we all fit?”
“We should put a theater in the warehouse,” Bailey said. “In between the apartments. It’d be fun.”
“I’ll handle it,” Aleron said. “I have a few ideas.”
“If your ideas aren’t bean bag chairs and a projector on the warehouse wall, the answer is no,” Bailey said. “Joey and Ashley, you’re in charge of snacks. You know what I like. Dasan, you and Heather go with Aleron and keep him in check. Coal and Scout, you’ve gotta go to my place and get the movies, then head back to the warehouse and air it out. Gideon, Logan, and I will meet you there once we get finished here.”
“Why are we—”
“Don’t question it,” Scout whispered. “This is alpha-mate territory. Trust me, he’s channeling my papa. Don’t fight it.”
Logan didn’t bother trying, because honestly, the idea of lying around for a few hours with Bailey at his side and his entire pack with them… it sounded exactly like what the doctor would order.
“Bails,” Ashley said suddenly, “we didn’t actually drive here. How are we supposed to get home?”
Finally, a job Logan could handle.
“I’ll handle transportation,” Logan said. “Everyone hang tight for a few. And you, rest. That’s an order from your alpha.”
Bailey scowled at him but leaned his head onto Ashley’s shoulder and closed his eyes. “He’s so bossy.”
Ashley laughed and tugged him closer. “Yeah, but he’s a keeper.”
32
Logan
Logan stood in the shadows, stalking his prey. His senses overloaded, so he paused to inhale. Scents filtered through his mind, and his wolf cataloged them eagerly.
His prey paused and looked over his shoulder, as if sensing the predator. He shook his head, then returned his attention to his task. It gave Logan the opening he needed.
He burst through the doorway, startling his mate so badly Bailey smacked him in the face with a spatula.
“I deserved that,” Logan said as he wiped tomato sauce from his cheek. “I absolutely deserved that.”
Bailey had his hand over his heart, and he whacked Logan with the spatula a second time. “You took ten years off my life. What the hell!”
“You’re alone! I wanted to grab you and pull you into the pantry and… you know.”
Bailey whacked him a third time.
“Ow!”
“You big baby. Also, I am not letting you steal me into the pantry, because I know what’s going to happen in there, and we’re having dinner in two hours and I’m not ready.”
“How can you not be ready?” Logan pouted. “You’ve been in here all day.”
“You do not understand the art form that is my lasagna.”
“No, I don’t. But I’ve been wanting to understand it by eating it for weeks now.”
Bailey eyed the unfinished pans, then turned back to Logan with raised brows. He didn’t have to state the obvious. If Logan kept bothering him, he’d never get the lasagna.
But he wanted his mate.
But he also wanted lasagna.
It was a tough decision.
In the end, Bailey won. He lifted his mate and sat him on the counter before scooting between his thighs. Bailey sighed and dropped his arms over Logan’s shoulders.
“Hi,” Logan whispered. “I missed you today.”
“Did you get the bad guy?”
“Yeah. Bear shifter was apparently sleepwalking in bear form? I don’t know. We