Page 30 of Marked For A Bite
"I'm so glad we finally get to meet properly," Maya said, pulling Zoe into a gentle hug. "Welcome to our home, and to pack territory."
Logan watched Zoe's shoulders relax at Maya's touch. The bond between hybrids seemed to transcend mere understanding—it was recognition on a cellular level.
The dining room table had been set with care, candles casting dancing shadows across the polished wood. Kieran sat at the head, his silver-blue eyes assessing but not cold, while Lena occupied a chair to his right, her unusual violet eyes bright with curiosity as they took in Zoe's appearance.
"Lena Nightshade, our pack healer," Kieran said by way of introduction as Logan pulled out Zoe's chair. "She's the one who first sensed your manifestation."
Logan settled into the seat beside Zoe, hyperaware of her presence and the way her scent had changed subtly since he'd partially marked her. His wolf preened at the evidence of his claim, even as his logical mind cataloged potential threats and escape routes—an old habit.
The first few minutes passed pleasantly enough. Maya served a hearty stew that filled the cabin with rich aromas, and conversation flowed around pack dynamics and Zoe's adjustment to wolf shifter life. Logan found himself relaxing slightly as he watched Zoe engage with Maya, their sharedhybrid nature creating an instant connection that eased some of his protective instincts.
But Kieran's Alpha nature wouldn't let social pleasantries continue indefinitely.
"Logan," he said, setting down his spoon with deliberate precision. "You mentioned something being extremely urgent when you called."
Logan's jaw clenched as he felt the weight of everyone's attention shift to him. Through their bond, he sensed Zoe's sudden spike of anxiety—she knew what he was about to reveal would change everything.
"The High Council contacted me yesterday morning before you gave me the extraction mission," Logan began. "Elder Thorne specifically. They wanted me to eliminate a human in Portland."
Maya's spoon clattered against her bowl. "They what?"
"I refused the mission," Logan continued, his hand finding Zoe's under the table. Her fingers were cold, and he squeezed gently. "But when I went to punch in the address you gave me into my Jeep's GPS, I realized it was the same location the Council had targeted."
Kieran's eyes darkened, his Alpha power radiating controlled fury. "You didn't think to mention this connection?"
"I was too focused on getting to her." Logan's voice carried a defensive edge that surprised him—he rarely explained himself to anyone. "By the time I put all the pieces together, we were already under attack in Zoe's house."
"They were human hunters that the High Council sent," Zoe said quietly, her voice steady. "They were going to kill me in my own home."
Lena leaned forward, her violet eyes sharp with interest. "How did you confirm the Council's involvement?"
"Elder Callum." Logan watched Kieran's expression darken further. "He called me late last night, sounding desperate and nervous. When I asked him why he was calling me, he revealed that Elder Thorne had dispatched human hunters to Portland after I refused the mission. When I pressed him on why that mattered to me, he said the human hunters were found killed in Zoe Raymond's home and Zoe Raymond was missing. The whole call seemed off. He seemed... terrified. Like he was being watched."
"Callum didn't tell me any of this," Kieran said, his deep voice carrying dangerous undertones. "We spoke just this morning about pack business, and he didn't mention anything about Council operations against hybrids."
"Maybe he couldn't," Maya interjected, her analytical mind clearly working through possibilities. "If there is a rift within the Council because of shifter laws and ideals, and one side is taking extreme measures to protect them while intimidating the other side who's trying to change them, then..."
"Then we have a much bigger problem than we thought," Logan finished grimly. He turned to face Kieran directly, his enforcer mask slipping to reveal raw determination. "This isn't just about Zoe anymore, though she's clearly their primary target right now. They're hunting hybrids systematically for some reason."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees as the implications settled over the group. Logan felt Zoe's fear spike through their mate bond, and his wolf snarled internally at the threat to his mate.
"Maya," Kieran said, reaching for his wife's hand. "You're still in danger too."
"We both are," Zoe added, her voice gaining strength as she processed the situation. "But why? What makes us such a threat?"
Logan's protective instincts spiked as he watched his mate face the reality that powerful enemies wanted her dead simply for existing.
"I'm done following Council orders," Logan declared, his voice holding the weight of a vow. "Effective immediately, my loyalty belongs to this pack alone. And to her." His hand tightened on Zoe's as he met Kieran's gaze. "Zoe is my fated mate, and I won't let anyone harm her while I draw breath."
"I support that decision completely," Kieran said without hesitation. "The Council can answer to me if they have issues with your new priorities."
Maya nodded firmly. "We protect our own. All of us."
Logan felt something fundamental shift within him as he looked around the table at these faces—not just his Alpha and Luna, but his pack family. For the first time in ten years, he wasn't facing a threat alone.
"We need to move fast," Logan continued, his tactical mind engaging fully. "If they're tracking hybrids, they won't stop with Zoe. There could be others out there, completely unaware of the danger."
"Then we find them first," Kieran decided, his Alpha authority settling over the room like a protective mantle. "And we get to the bottom of this corruption before anyone else dies."
