Page 19 of Marked For A Bite
The silence stretched between them after Logan ended the call, tension crackling in the air like electricity before a storm. Zoe couldn't stand it any longer—the way he stood there, all controlled and stoic and silent.
"What did Maya say?" she demanded, her bare feet carrying her closer to where he stood. "Why did you say 'understood' like you were accepting some kind of mission briefing?"
Logan's eyes flicked to hers, and she caught something there—anticipation mixed with hunger. His jaw worked as he considered his words, and the movement drew her attention to the strong line of his throat and then down to his bare chest.
God, he's handsome, and sexy.
"Maya thinks it's more appropriate if I personally start training you," he said finally. "Not only on how to shift into your wolf properly, but also on how to protect yourself. She thinks I'm the best person for the job."
Relief washed through Zoe, followed immediately by a rush of excitement that made her wolf howl with satisfaction.
"She seems to understand somehow that we're mates," Logan continued, his eyes darkening as they roamed over her face, "and that I'm the one to guide you."
Maya seemed to understand what Zoe herself was just beginning to grasp—that this connection between Zoe and Logan was deeper than attraction, more primal than desire. It was destiny.
"Training," Zoe repeated, her mind immediately conjuring images of Logan's hands on her body, guiding her movements and teaching her control. The thought sent heat to her core. "What kind of training exactly?"
His pupils dilated at the breathless quality in her voice. "The kind that will keep you alive if more hunters come. The kind that will help you control your wolf." He stepped closer, his voice dropping to that rough timber that made her knees weak. "The kind that requires trust."
"I trust you, Logan," she said without hesitation.
Something fierce and possessive flashed in his green eyes. "Go change into something that will allow more movement," he commanded, his alpha nature bleeding through. "But bring a change of clothes too. Your shifting is going to definitely ruin whatever you're wearing."
The practical instruction sent a thrill through her body. This was really happening. She was going to learn to shift, to become the wolf that had been clawing beneath her skin for days.
"Are you changing in your bedroom with me?" she asked, already heading toward the hallway, her heart hammering with anticipation.
"I suppose I need to change into something training appropriate as well," Logan said, following her.
In the bedroom, Zoe rummaged through her backpack with trembling fingers. The knowledge that Logan was changing clothes just feet away made her hyperaware of every sound.
Focus,she told herself, pulling out black leggings that would stretch with movement and a long-sleeved cotton shirt.Think about training.
But when she turned around, Logan was pulling a black henley over his head, the fabric sliding down over the magnificent landscape of his chest and abs. Dark cargo pants rode low on his hips, and combat boots completed the look that screamed dangerous and capable.
"Ready?" he asked, his voice low and rough.
Zoe nodded, excitement and anticipation coursing through her veins. "More than ready."
EIGHT
LOGAN
Logan guided Zoe through his cabin's reinforced back door, and his combat boots crunched on the fallen autumn leaves that carpeted his property. The morning air bit sharp and clean, carrying the scent of pine and the distant promise of snow. His large property stretched out before them—ten acres of dense forest that butted up against the wild heart of Silvercrest territory, where ancient trees stood sentinel and shadows held secrets.
Maya knew that he was Zoe's mate,Logan thought, watching Zoe's ponytail swing as she took in the towering evergreens that ringed his land.She had recognized what he meant to Zoe after she and Zoe spoke this morning.
After Zoe had spoken to Maya, she'd handed Logan his phone back. His and Maya's phone conversation that followed replayed in his mind. Maya's voice had been knowing, almost amused, when she'd suggested he train Zoe himself. "Since she's your mate, you'll be the best one to guide her," Maya had said, no doubt in her tone, just acceptance of what Logan himself was still grappling with. But Logan said to Maya what he'd always said to any directive he'd ever received. 'Understood.'
He hadn't confirmed that Zoe was indeed his fated mate on the phone—hadn't needed to. The mate bond sang between him and Zoe like a tuning fork struck against steel, impossible to miss for anyone with the sensitivity to recognize it.
"This place is incredible," Zoe said, spinning in a slow circle to take in the view. Her black leggings hugged every curve, and the fitted long-sleeved shirt emphasized her athletic build. "How long have you lived here?"
"Five years." Logan's eyes tracked her movement, cataloging the way the morning light brought out the honey highlights in her hair, and the grace in her movements despite her human upbringing. "I built most of the fortifications myself."
She paused, studying the reinforced fencing that bordered the property, the strategically placed cameras, and the subtle signs of a man who expected trouble. "Expecting company these days?"
"Yeah, the kind that doesn't knock." His voice held the weight of too many battles fought on this very ground. "My line of work makes me enemies, Zoe. People who would use you to get to me."
