Page 11 of Cupcake

“What—” Dean started but wasn’t even sure what he wanted to ask. Could his coven had been involved, that involved? Were they powerful enough to accomplish it? Well yes. If they were using black magic. If they had made the right sacrifices. Holy fuck! This couldn’t be true.

“Yeah, I understand that reaction. We don’t have all the answers, not yet. Soon hopefully. We’re working on it.”

Dean nodded. The coven. If they had done what Axel suspected then Dean really should have taken them out. Torn the magic from their very cores. He needed more. Had questions. Dean couldn’t get himself to ask though. Not yet.

“Daddy?”

Dean and Axel turned as Bryce walked into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes. Bryce was dressed in a dinosaur onesie and was absolutely adorable.

“Hey, baby,” Axel cooed.

Bryce dropped his hands then spotted Dean.

“Hi, Dean!” Bryce perked up. The soft sleepy boy quickly becoming excited.

“Morning, Bryce.”

“Dean brought breakfast,” Axel said. “Do you need the bathroom first?”

Bryce’s cute chubby cheeks reddened as he nodded.

“Let’s go upstairs.” Axel rose. “Can you give me a few minutes?” he asked Dean. Axel already had Bryce in his arms.

“Of course.” Dean waved his hand. “Take care of your boy.”

“But, Daddy,” Bryce whined. “Sprinkles?”

Dean wasn’t an idiot. “There’s an entire box of sprinkled donuts,” Dean promised.

Bryce grinned. “K.”

Axel lifted Bryce up as commotion from the other door caught Dean’s attention. Trevor, Shawn, and Drake entered the kitchen.

“Food!” Shawn said after taking a deep breath.

Dean snorted. This family. They were awesome. He still didn’t know what to do. How to handle the news that Axelshared with him. His first instinct was to leave and take trouble with him. Axel’s offer made him think instead of just reacting.

There wasn’t another group of paranormals as powerful as this one. This group who were shoving each other, grunting, stuffing their mouths—they were so powerful that the coven stood no chance against them. Dean had enough faith in his own magic that he wasn’t afraid for himself. Or he hadn’t been. But Logan. He was worried about the pretty lion shifter.

Dean returned greetings and smiled at the heartfelt thanks for bringing food. He liked the men in the room with him and as the kitchen slowly filled with the other occupants of the house, Dean had to wonder if he would be welcome if they knew what Logan was to him.

Was Noah right? Had Dean made a mistake hiding the bond from Logan? From the others? Dean wouldn’t blame them if they were angry.

Drake took command over the kitchen, getting everyone plates, drinks, and napkins before sending them out of the room. By the time Axel returned carrying Bryce, Drake even had Bryce’s plate ready and took the boy into the other room.

“Sorry about that,” Axel said as he sat back down. He peeked into the empty and half-empty containers. “I knew the hoard would descend on the food.” Axel picked up one of the chocolate croissants. “Mmm.”

“You never have to apologize for taking care of your boy,” Dean said sincerely.

Axel took a huge bite of the pastry. His eyes widened as he swallowed. “That is so good.”

The praise shouldn't have met that much to Dean, but it did. Made him warm and happy. No wait, there was something else. Someone else. Close.

His magic pulsed.

Logan stepped into the room.

Dean knew in that moment that he would do whatever it took to keep Logan safe. The time for running was over. Dean would take the fight to his coven. It wouldn’t be here though. Not where Logan could get hurt.

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