Page 43 of Bound By Alphas 1: Bound

Before he could move, the bathroom door opened, and Finn stepped out.

Naked.

Completely, gloriously naked.

Logan’s brain short-circuited, his enhanced vision cataloging details at lightning speed: water droplets sliding down pale skin, the lean muscles of a swimmer’s build, the graceful curve of his spine, the way his fox tail swished behind him, the slender legs that led up to?—

Holy shit. Keir’s internal voice crashed into his consciousness, followed immediately by Cade’s sharp command,Control yourself!

Too late, Logan realized he was projecting what he was seeing through their pack bond, broadcasting the image of a very naked, very beautiful Finn to his brothers.

Finn spotted him and froze, eyes widening in shock. For one excruciating moment, they stared at each other, Logan unable to tear his gaze away as it traveled down Finn’s slender body.

Logan’s enhanced vision took in details that made his mouth go dry: the complete absence of body hair that made Finn look impossibly delicate, the gentle curve of his hips, the way water droplets traced paths down his skin that Logan’s fingers itched to follow. His wolf surged forward, nearly overwhelming his human control as primal need crashed through him.

When Finn finally broke from his trance, he let out a yelp and dove behind the chaise lounge.

“Jesus Christ on a unicycle!” Finn shouted. “Ever heard of knocking? Or texting? Or any form of communication that doesn’t involve cardiac arrest?”

“I brought you this,” Logan managed, his voice barely recognizable to his own ears as he held up the sketchbook.

When Finn demanded something to wear, Logan reached for a t-shirt on the desk chair. His hands, normally steady enoughto disassemble a weapon blindfolded or track prey through a blizzard, suddenly felt clumsy and uncoordinated. The shirt slipped from his fingers, landing pathetically short of its target.

Your legendary aim fails you, brother?Keir’s mocking voice filled his head.

Shut. Up, Logan growled back, mortified by his body’s betrayal. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from the pale expanse of Finn’s skin, the delicate structure of his collarbones visible above the chaise, the fox ears flattened against his head in embarrassment.

Logan had seen countless naked bodies before—in military showers, in combat medical situations, in various bedrooms throughout his life. None had ever affected him like this, leaving him breathless and unsteady, his wolf clawing at his control, demanding he cross the room and claim what was his.

“Stellar aim,” Finn muttered, stretching to grab the shirt without exposing himself further. “Really living up to that predator reputation.”

Get out of there, Cade ordered through the bond.Now.

I’m trying, Logan growled back, but his feet seemed rooted to the floor, his body refusing to move away from his mate’s presence.

Then Finn was moving toward him, the t-shirt barely covering his essentials, and Logan caught the scent of fox and honey and something uniquely Finn that made his head swim. When Finn’s feet slipped on the wet floor, Logan moved purely on instinct, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat.

One moment Finn was falling, the next he was pressed against Logan’s chest, fitting against him as though he’d been designed specifically for Logan’s arms. The t-shirt had ridden up during the fall, and Logan’s hand encountered bare skin at Finn’s lower back, directly over the silvery marks they’d placed there years ago.

The contact sent a jolt of electricity through Logan’s system, his fingers automatically tracing the triangle pattern—their claim, their mark, proof that this beautiful creature belonged to them. Had always belonged to them.

Finn’s heart hammered against Logan’s chest, so rapid Logan could feel each beat like a drum against his own. The cool air hit Logan’s hand where it rested near Finn’s exposed backside, creating a maddening contrast with the heat where their bodies pressed together. Then Logan felt it—Finn’s fox tail unconsciously curling around his leg, the soft fur caressing his calf in slow, gentle strokes that felt more intimate than any deliberate touch.

The sensation sent a shiver up Logan’s spine, his wolf howling with primitive satisfaction at this unconscious claiming gesture from their mate. Even as Finn’s conscious mind resisted them, his fox instincts knew exactly who he belonged with.

Mine, his wolf snarled.Mate. Take. Claim.

CONTROL. Cade’s mental command slammed into him with alpha force, the only thing keeping Logan from doing something unforgivable.

“We’re both men, Finn. Brothers,” he forced himself to say, the words tasting like ash. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

The hurt that flashed across Finn’s face was like a physical blow. Logan retreated, escaping to the hallway before his control could slip any further. He leaned against the wall, breathing hard, his body still humming with adrenaline and desire.

That was too close. Cade’s internal voice was strained.We agreed to give him space.

Tell that to my wolf, Logan snarled back.He wasn’t falling on purpose.

No, but you didn’t have to catch him like he’s your bride on your wedding night, Keir pointed out, his usual humor notably absent.Cade’s right. We need to be more careful.

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