Page 89 of Cupcake

“You should be dead!” Mage Appleton shouted. “We paid the hunters for you.”

“Another miscalculation on your part,” Dean told her. “Now surrender or be stripped of all magic.”

Mage Appleton lifted her hands. “Come and take it, boy!”

Chapter Sixteen

Logan

There was no sleeping for him. Not with his mate and Noah still gone, but Logan was exhausted and was at least attempting to rest his tired body and wary mind. He’d dressed in his cutest pair of satin shorts with lace trim and matching camisole. His favorite aspect of this outfit was that the V-neck of the camisole revealed his pierced nipples. Admittedly, after the day he’d had, Logan needed to feel pretty.

His brother and nieces were set up at Mason’s old cabin just a few miles away. Logan’s mother had refused to leave the pride land. Five elder members had stayed while the rest of the pride had gone with the lion alpha that had come for them.

Alpha Jones was a powerful shifter, but it was his soft smile and kind eyes that had won Logan and the rest of the pride over. He’d offered safety to the pride who wanted it. His territory had plenty of space and resources. His educational programs to help save natural lions were well-known throughout the country. Alpha Jones spent his time and money saving natural big cats and his own pride.

Logan had begged his mother to go with alpha Jones. She’d ignored his request, refusing to even speak to Logan. Logan had his brother though. And his beautiful nieces. They might not stick around. The alpha had brought one of his strongest lionesses, Kia, that Josiah and the girls had seemed drawn to. For the time being, Logan had his brother and time.

Now all he needed was his mate and familiar.

He’d always loved his suite, a real home, but with his two favorite people gone, Logan was having a hard time settling.

Logan sprung up and out of bed at the knock.

Who would that be?

Was Dean hurt?

Had something bad happened?

Logan raced toward the door and swung it open in fear.

“What’s wrong?” Logan demanded.

Bryce, Nate, and Lawson stood in the hallway.

“Nothing!” Bryce clasped his hands to his chest. “I’m sorry. We wanted to talk to you! I didn’t think about Dean and Noah being gone. We should have been with you!” He launched himself at Logan, hugging him tight.

Logan’s heart was beating so fast that he was almost dizzy. “They’re okay though?”

“As far as we know,” Lawson responded.

Bryce was still hugging the stuffing out of Logan.

“Bryce, honey, let him breathe.” Lawson thankfully pulled Bryce off him.

Nate looked down the hall before shoving them the rest of the way back into Logan’s suite and shutting the door. His face was red. And he was staring at Logan's chest.

That was when Logan remembered what he was wearing. He’d told his alpha and Levi that he wanted to rest before Dean and Noah returned. Logan hadn’t expected anyone to come up.Oh! What should he do? Was it too late to run? Hide? He could be in his bed with the blankets over his head in seconds!

“Dude,” Nate drawled. He still hadn’t looked away from Logan’s nipples. “Your nipples are pierced.”

“And belly button!” Bryce added. “That is so cool!”

Logan shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot.

“Nate!” Lawson nudged Nate.

Nate blinked rapidly before he looked up at Logan. Their gazes met and Nate started to blush. Logan had never seen his friend’s face so red. Nate was one of the most playful and hard to intimate people ever.

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