Page 31 of Cupcake

Noah rubbed his chest. “I sort of did. Still do. I can tell he’s hurting.”

That’s right. His bond with Noah would have been affected by having Dean’s mate so upset. Dean had been a wreck for the entire day. Logan’s pain affecting him as much as his own. Dean wanted to go to his mate. He needed to hold Logan tight. He’d promised to give Logan time and Dean would keep that promise. Even as his own heart ached.

“He said that he forgave you though,” Noah pointed out. “For hiding your scent. For not telling him.”

“Yes. But he was so upset! Is upset!”

“Of course he is. Confused too, probably. He just needs time,” Noah assured him.

Time. Dean regrated the promise he’d given Logan time. He should have insisted that Logan stayed. That they talked more. Except he had already screwed up so much that Dean wanted to respect what was best for Logan.

“I’m going to make coffee for your meeting,” Noah said. “Are you going to be okay?”

“I don’t care about me. I’m worried about Logan.” His mate’s emotions still hadn’t settled. The magic that connected Dean to his mate told him a lot. Some of the magical tugs didn’t make sense. And Logan hadn’t gone home yet. He was out in the woods. Probably in his shifted form.

Noah sighed. “Yeah.” He walked over to the counter that held their coffee machine. “We’ll love him so hard once he lets us.”

Managing a smile for his familiar, Dean turned to lift the boxes he’d brought down from his apartment. At least he had something to do to keep his mind off of what a horrible mistake he’d made. The boxes were filled with everything that he and Noah had gathered from his coven would be shared with Axel and the others.

Dean might be a terrible mate but he was still intent of keeping Logan safe.

The bakery was closed so he could meet with the pack and discuss the next steps. He began to make piles. Sorting out what was important and what wasn’t. There was a knock on the back door and Noah rushed to answer it.

For a fleeting moment, Dean hoped that Logan had returned even though he knew that Logan was far from the center of town. Instead, Axel, Bo, Levi, Trevor, and Gavin stepped into his kitchen. Dean smiled at them, pushing down the fact that his heart was breaking.

“Hey, man.” Axel smiled in greeting. The smile immediately fell from his face. “What’s wrong?”

Dean shook his head. His throat tightened. He had to fight his tears. This wasn’t about him. He’d done this to himself. It was Logan who deserved comfort.

“Dean.” Axel grabbed his shoulders hard.

“He told Logan today,” Noah said quietly. “About them being mates. Dropped the scent-blocking spell.”

Levi made a sound in the back of his throat as his gaze met Dean’s. “We should have been here!”

Dean shook his head. “He deserved for me to tell him. I didn’t want him to have to deal with everyone else.”

“No! You don’t get it!” Levi pulled out his phone and pressed some buttons. He placed the cell up to his ear. “You don’t know how Logan thinks.”

“I know!” Dean defended. “I’ve been watching him!”

“You know what he allows you to see,” Levi argued. “Not the insecurities he hides. He’s not answering his phone.” He dropped his arm.

“He’s fine,” Noah said. “Dean has a monitoring spell on him. He’s extremely upset but he’s not hurt.”

Levi turned panicked eyes to Gavin.

“We’ll find him,” Gavin promised. “He wouldn’t have gone far. He’s probably in his shifted form and can’t answer his phone. That’s all.”

Dean grabbed Axel by the front of his shirt. Axel’s strong fingers wrapped around Dean’s elbows. “Did I fuck up again? Is Logan going to be okay? I was trying to do the right thing.”

“He’ll be fine.” Axel didn’t let him go. He breathed steadily.

Dean watched his chest move as the ability to breathe was getting harder.

“Stay with me, Dean,” Axel barked. “Levi and Gavin will find him.”

“I…” Dean clung to Axel. “I wanted to show him respect. I have so much to make up for. I made him breakfast. His cupcake! He left his cupcake behind.”

---