Page 38 of Marked For A Bite
Beside him, Zoe moved with newfound confidence despite the arsenal strapped to her lean frame. The custom leather harness he'd fitted to her body distributed the weight of her weapons perfectly, and Logan felt a surge of pride watching her natural grace adapt to the tactical gear. She looked lethal and beautiful—a combination that made his wolf preen with possession while his tactical brain cataloged every potential vulnerability.
"You're staring," Zoe observed, glancing sideways at him as they entered the forest path toward Kieran's cabin.
"I'm assessing," Logan corrected, though his gaze lingered on the way her ponytail swayed with each step. "Making sure the harness isn't restricting your movement at all."
"Uh-huh." Her eyes sparkled with amusement. "And that assessment requires you to look at my curves?"
Logan's lips twitched despite his serious mood. "Tactical considerations. Your center of gravity is crucial for blade work."
"Right. Tactical." Zoe's nervous energy radiated through their bond like electricity, mixing anticipation with genuine excitement. "Tell me again why we didn't just drive to Kieran's? The human hunters clearly know I'm here."
"Because after last night's attack, we don't know how many of them are tracking us." Logan scanned the treeline automatically, his enhanced senses cataloging every sound and scent. "Walking gives us better awareness of our surroundings."
The increased security Kieran had promised was evident—Logan caught glimpses of pack sentries positioned throughout the forest, their presence deliberately visible as a deterrent. Itshould have been reassuring, but Logan's protective instincts remained on high alert. Too much depended on today's mission, and too many variables remained outside his control.
"You're wound tight as a spring," Zoe murmured, reaching out to brush her fingers against his hand. "I can feel your anxiety through our mate bond."
Logan caught her hand briefly, squeezing her fingers. "It's not anxiety. It's operational readiness."
"Call it whatever makes you feel better, but you're worried about me." She didn't flinch from his intense stare. "I can handle myself, Logan. You've made sure of that."
The rational part of his mind agreed—Zoe had absorbed his training with supernatural speed, mastering combat techniques that should have taken weeks to learn. But rational thought held no power over the primal fear that gripped him whenever he imagined her in danger.
Maybe that was his real terror—not that she couldn't protect herself, but that she could. That she'd become so capable and so powerful, she wouldn't need him anymore. The thought clawed at something deep in his chest.
Coward,his wolf growled.She's our mate. We're stronger together.
Last night's shifting session flooded back—the way their wolf forms had moved in perfect synchronization, and how her energy had enhanced his strength while his steadied hers. They'd been two halves of something ancient and unbreakable.
"We're here," Zoe said suddenly.
Logan knocked once on the heavy wooden door, the sound echoing in the morning stillness. Maya's voice called for them to enter, and Logan pushed inside, his hand instinctively moving toward his weapons until he identified everyone present.
Kieran stood near the stone fireplace, his commanding presence filling the room even in casual dark jeans and a forest-green henley. Maya sat at the dining table with maps spread before her. Lena perched in a chair nearby, her violet eyes bright with anticipation.
But it was the other man that made Logan's shoulders tense with surprise.
"Logan, Zoe," Kieran nodded toward the familiar looking man. "My younger brother Malcolm will be joining us today."
Malcolm Silvercrest rose from his chair with fluid grace—nearly as tall as Kieran but leaner, with the same silver-blue eyes and dark hair, though his hair was shorter than Kieran's longer style. Where Kieran projected Alpha authority, Malcolm emanated something more easy-going.
"The legendary Logan Cross," Malcolm extended his hand with a smile. "Your reputation precedes you."
Logan shook the offered hand, measuring the younger Silvercrest's grip. Strong, confident, with calluses that spoke of weapons training. "Malcolm. I haven't seen you since we were pups."
"I prefer to keep a low profile," Malcolm's gaze shifted to Zoe with obvious interest. "And you must be the new hybrid everyone's talking about. One of the keys to our little prophecy."
Zoe stepped closer to Logan instinctively. "That's what they tell me."
Logan didn't like the way Malcolm's eyes lingered on his mate.
"Now that we're all here," Maya interrupted, spreading another map across the table, "we can finalize our infiltration strategy."
SEVENTEEN
ZOE
Zoe pressed closer to the dining table in Kieran and Maya's cabin as Maya's fingers traced across the detailed topographical maps spread before them. The weight of Zoe's new weapons harness felt foreign yet oddly reassuring against her body, each blade positioned exactly where Logan had calculated for optimal balance and access. The leather straps crossed her torso and thighs with tactical precision, transforming her from museum curator to something far more deadly.
