Page 14 of Marked For A Bite
A slow, dangerous smile curved Logan's lips as he studied her defiant expression. The predator in him seemed to approve of her stubbornness.
"Alright then." He turned the key, the engine purring to life. "But don't say I didn't warn you against this choice. My world is dangerous, Zoe."
"I know." She buckled her seatbelt, excitement and nervousness warring in her chest. "But danger seems to be my new middle name these days."
Logan's laugh was low and rich, sending shivers down her spine as he pulled out of the gravel driveway. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into."
Maybe not,Zoe thought, watching his strong hands navigate the steering wheel with practiced ease.But I know I belong beside you.
As they wound through the mountain roads, Zoe finally gathered the courage to ask the questions burning in her mind.
"Logan." Her voice came out softer than intended, almost breathless. "What does mate mean in the wolf shifter world?"
His hands tightened imperceptibly on the wheel, but he didn't answer immediately.
"And what does that mean for our future?" she pressed on, her inner wolf practically vibrating with anticipation. "Because my wolf seems to think I should already know, but I don't."
Logan's eyes found hers briefly, hungry and intense, full of promises that made her breath hitch.
"I'll explain it all very soon," he said, his voice holding a rough edge that sent heat spiraling through her core. "When we get to my cabin."
Something in the way he said 'my cabin'—like it was a sanctuary where all pretense could be stripped away—made Zoe's heart flutter with anticipation and her body ache with a primal hunger she'd never experienced before.
What am I getting myself into?she wondered, but the thought held no fear, only electric anticipation for whatever Logan planned to show her in the isolation of his domain.
SIX
LOGAN
Logan pulled into the small but fortified detached garage on his property and killed the Jeep's engine. The silence pressed in around them like a held breath. The scent of Zoe's arousal still lingered in the Jeep, mingling with the crisp pine and damp earth of the mountains. His wolf practically purred with satisfaction at having its mate here at their sanctuary, but Logan made himself stay calm.
Zoe's voice broke the quiet, her tone light but curious. "Your cabin looks like a fortress."
She unbuckled her seatbelt, her fitted white t-shirt shifting with the motion, and Logan's gaze flicked to her. The thin fabric clung to her curves, the outline of her white lace bra visible beneath it. His jaw tightened at the sight while his wolf howled with excitement beneath his skin.
"That was the point," he said, his voice controlled. He stepped out of his Jeep, the cool night air doing little to temper the heat building within him.
Zoe followed, her tennis shoes crunching on the gravel as she circled the garage, taking in the reinforced steel doors, the motion sensors, and the high-security locks. "You're not exactly subtle, are you?"
"Subtlety gets you killed in my line of work." He grabbed her backpack from the backseat and slung it over his shoulder with deliberate movements.
She tilted her head slightly, her hazel eyes gleaming with mischief. "So, what, you're like the wolf shifter version of James Bond? Only with more… claws?"
Logan arched a brow, amused despite himself. "Something like that."
He gestured for her to follow him down the narrow path leading to his cabin. The scent of her curiosity—spiced with that intoxicating arousal—drifted toward him like a siren’s call.
The cabin itself was sturdy and unassuming from the outside, but the security measures were anything but. Reinforced windows, motion-activated floodlights, and a perimeter lined with sensors marked the property as belonging to someone who expected trouble. Zoe paused at the front porch, her fingers brushing over the carved wooden railing.
"This is… cozy," she said, her tone teasing but genuine. "In a 'don't mess with me' kind of way."
Logan unlocked the door with a key hidden in a concealed compartment, his movements precise. "Cozy isn't the goal. Safety is."
She stepped inside, her eyes widening at the open layout. The living room was sparsely furnished but functional—a leather couch, a low wooden coffee table, and a stone fireplace that dominated one wall. The kitchen was small but well-stocked, and a narrow hallway led to the bedroom at the back.
"It's not much," Logan said, setting her backpack by the door. "But it's secure."
Zoe turned to face Logan, her arms crossed over her chest. For a moment, the teasing glint in her eyes softened, replaced by something thoughtful. "So, you really live like this? Always on edge and always expecting someone to come after you?"
