Page 33 of Cupcake

“I got you.” Axel pulled Dean to his feet. Noah hovered at his side.

Dean turned to Noah. “I asked him if he wanted a ride home. I should have insisted. I knew he was upset.”

“Let’s not worry about that now,” Noah said. “He was close to the state park the last I felt him?”

“Yeah.” Dean nodded. “Past the house.”

“He’s not in our territory?” Axel’s voice was strained.

“No.” Of that Dean was sure.

“I’m on it,” Bo said. “Everyone is out looking for him. We’ll find him. As soon as they do, they’ll call and I’ll portal us there.”

Dean collapsed against the counter as all the possibilities ran through his head. How had he fucked up this bad?

“You still with us?” Axel questioned.

“I want to go. To look for him,” Dean responded. Logan was his mate. His to protect, and comfort, and keep safe.

“We can portal straight to where they last felt him,” Bo offered.

“Yes!” Dean agreed immediately.

“Let the guys know we’re headed out,” Axel said.

It felt much better to have a plan.

Hang in there, Logan, Dean thought to himself.I’m coming for you. It’s all going to be okay.

Bo offered Dean his hand. “I need you to think very specifically about where you last felt him.”

Dean threaded the fingers of his free hand with Noah’s. The magic would respond strongly with their connection. “I can do it. Portal us. My connection with Logan will allow it. But I can’t take everyone.”

“Just think of the last place you felt him. I’ll zero on it and open a portal. That way everyone can come through.”

Magic worked in different ways for different species. Dean was glad to have the hellhound alpha with him. They needed everyone out looking for his mate. “Okay.”

“Axel, Trevor,” Bo said. “Stay close.”

A portal opened inside the kitchen of Dean’s bakery. Dean was the first one through it.

* * * * *

Logan

The air held the heavy scent of rain. Lion Logan did not like being wet any more than human Logan. He needed to find shelter. If the rain started, lion Logan didn’t want to be stuck out in it.

He’d been keeping close to the trails that had been made over the years. Lion Logan didn’t know this area. His human half didn’t either. They were far away from home. This territory didn’t have the same feelings that home did. There was no safety out here. The scent of his family was missing. Lion Logan didn’t like it at all.

At least there weren’t any other predators in the area. He sent soothing emotions through the bond to his human side. Lion Logan would keep them safe.

Things hadn’t been this confusing since the bond between his lion and human side had fully connected. Lion Logan had to take control then too. Working on instinct alone, lion Logan strayed from the path. Shelter. Somewhere safe and warm.

Time had no meaning for a lion.

He kept his pace as the rain began to fall. They had a perfectly nice and warm structure that they could be inside of right now, but his human side insisted they couldn’t go back. The lion had scented his mate! Didn’t his human side know what that meant? They should be running back toward their mate, not away from him.

He chuffed but kept moving.

---