Emma POV
I wouldn’t be surprised if my heart jumped out of my body. I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw it on Logan’s desk.
My whole body was trembling. I felt the need to touch him, but my heart kept screaming at me. I didn’t want to.
But a part of me needed to touch him. A part of me needed to feel his hands on me. A part of me needed to touch his skin. He smelled like rain. His scent was soothing and calming. I felt the need to go to him and breathe his scent in deeply.
I gulped down the lump in my throat and pushed that need away.
I took a deep breath and focused on Logan’s touch. It soothed me. It helped me.
You are doing great, my love. Logan mind-linked me. I know it’s hard. I am so sorry.
I love you. I mind-linked him back.
I love you too, baby. He said, rubbing my waist with his thumb.
Alpha Nathan’s eyes snapped to Logan’s hand on my waist, and I saw the rage inside him explode.
My heart hurt for him. I didn’t know him at all, but he didn’t deserve this. No one deserved this. He deserved a mate who could love him back. He deserved a mate who would want him as much as he wanted her.
If he was my cursed mate, and if our bond broke, would he find his true, Goddess-given mate? Did he have one?
“I am sorry, Alpha Nathan.” I said, making him look back up at me. “You don’t deserve this. I wish that there was something I could do to make it easier.”
His eyes widened. “Make what easier? You are not leaving me, Emma!”
I felt the pain in his heart, and I had to hold back a whimper.
‘His wolf is calling me.’ Eliza whined in pain.
‘It’s okay, Eliza.’ I said softly. ‘Talk to him.’
I didn’t want her to suffer. I would deal with it all. I had to protect her.
“Alpha Nathan…” I spoke, but he interrupted me.
“Stop being formal with me!” he growled. “I am your mate!”
Logan tensed up, and a growl escaped him.
“Don’t growl at my mate.” Logan said, gritting his teeth. “I will have you removed, Alpha Nathan.”
I knew about the warriors around the packhouse. Logan and Andrew worried that Alpha Drake and his father could get aggressive, so they had warriors all around and inside the packhouse.
Alpha Nathan looked at Logan in disbelief.
“You will have me removed?!” he asked. “Are you fucking kidding me?!”
My heart clenched painfully.
I felt the need to go to him and console him.
But I didn’t want to.
I didn’t want to.
“You can’t treat my son like that, Alpha Logan!” Alpha Nathan’s father said angrily.
“He was growling at my mate.” Logan said, tightening his jaw. “I won’t let that happen.”
Logan was still sitting down, but it was only a matter of time before he would lose it and jump at them.
It’s okay, Logan. I mind-linked him as I rubbed my hand on the back of his neck.
He relaxed under my touch a little. He looked up at me and gave me a small smile.
Thank you, my love. He said.
“I don’t accept it, Emma.” Alpha Nathan said, making me look at him. “You are my mate. You are my Goddess-given mate. He is your cursed mate. You can’t stay with him.”
My heart clenched painfully.
Logan wasn’t cursed. Our love wasn’t a curse.
He is wrong. I mind-linked Logan immediately. You aren’t a curse. Our love isn’t a curse.
I know. Logan mind-linked me back.
I could hear pain in his voice. I could feel the pain in his body. It made me angry. It made me want to scream.
“I think that’s enough.” Logan said as he stood up and pulled me behind him. “You are welcome to spend the night in our pack. If you don’t want to, I will have my warriors escort you back to the border.”
“I am not leaving without her!” Alpha Nathan growled.
Logan clenched his fists.
“Alpha Nathan, please.” I said softly, stepping away from Logan. “You can stay, and we can continue this conversation tomorrow.”
The tensions were too high. We needed to calm down. Nothing good would come out of this situation.
His eyes softened. The pain I saw in them had me ready to scream.
I didn’t want to hurt him. I really didn’t. He didn’t deserve it.
He took a deep breath and tightened his jaw. He never looked away from me.
“Let me hold you.” Alpha Nathan said, making me tense up.
Logan’s arm around me tightened.
“I won’t leave the pack.” Alpha Nathan said, looking at Logan. “I am not giving up on my mate.”
He looked back at me and gulped.
“I won’t give up on you, Emma.” he said. “But I will leave the office, and I will go to my room if you let me hold you. I need to touch you. Please.”
The pain in his voice made my heart clench painfully. I felt the need to go to him. But I couldn’t.
I couldn’t…
“Please, Emma.” Alpha Nathan said softly.
I could feel Logan’s anger. I could feel his fear.
If I let Alpha Nathan hold me, I would hurt Logan. If I didn’t let Alpha Nathan hold me, I would hurt him.
No matter what I did, one of my mates would get hurt.
But I only loved one of them. Only one of them had my entire heart and soul.
“I am sorry, Alpha Nathan.” I said softly. “I can’t do that to my mate.”
I could feel his heart break.
He didn’t even say anything. He just stared at me with a look that made me want to scream.
Logan’s office door opened, and one of our warriors walked inside.
“Peter will show you to your rooms.” Logan said. “I will see you tomorrow, Alpha Nathan.”
Alpha Nathan’s father approached his son and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Come on, Nathan.” he said.
Alpha Nathan never looked away from me. He kept his eyes on mine as his father started pulling him out of the room. He kept his eyes on mine until Mike closed the door behind them.
Tears fell on my cheeks as soon as the door closed.
Logan sat back down and pulled me onto his lap.
“I am so sorry, baby.” he said, wrapping his arms around me.
I pressed myself as close to him as possible and sobbed.
“Andrew, can you give us a moment?” Logan mumbled as he rubbed my back gently.
“Of course.” my brother said as he approached Logan and me.
I felt his lips on the top of my head.
“I will go check on Alpha Nathan and his father.” Andrew said, making Logan nod.
I heard my brother walking away. I heard the office door open and close.
“Look at me, baby.” Logan said softly, making me look up at him.
He wiped the tears from my cheeks and kissed me softly.
“I am so sorry.” I said as my heart clenched painfully. “I shouldn’t cry. I shouldn’t…”
Logan pressed his lips against mine, stopping me from talking.
“It’s okay, Emma.” he said as he stopped kissing me. “It hurts. I know it hurts. It’s okay to cry.”
He was amazing. I was crying about another man, and he was so understanding. How did he do it? How did I get so lucky to have him in my life?
I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him as hard as I could.
“I love you.” I mumbled against his lips. “Only you.”
Logan grabbed my ponytail and bent my head back. His lips descended on the mark on my neck, and I moaned.
“You are mine.” he growled against my skin, making me shiver.
I was his. Only his.
