The panoramic scene continued to materialize before him, but he was unable to direct the movie. The loss of control didn’t deter him from watching, however. Goddess, she was beautiful. Her long curly blonde hair whipped across her heart-shaped face. Shaking the locks aside, she screamed uncontrollably until her words turned into rolling sobs. Immobilized, he watched as the monster’s clawed hand reached around her neck.
In an instant, the jagged talon transformed her cries into soft gurgling. A bubbling line of blood spewed from her pink skin as he sliced open her throat. Logan’s heart pounded against his chest; he thrashed against invisible bindings. A mixture of shock and acceptance flashed across her eyes right before she sagged to the ground. Gasping, Logan struggled, trying to reach her. But nothing came. No movement. No sound. The familiar black tunnel closed inward, ending the terrifying nightmare.
Logan’s eyes flew open, and he realized he was still in the shower. He shuddered, wondering when the scene would play out in reality. The visions had plagued him his entire life, but he’d normally taken them in stride, knowing they didn’t personally affect his own future. Even though he couldn’t identify the alluring woman, he couldn’t shake the feeling that her life intertwined with his. Was she a wolf who’d join his pack? An enemy? The emotion that had been deeply woven into the vision told him that he knew her. He cared for her. She was dying and he’d been restrained, unable to save her life.
Logan sighed in disgust. Dismissing the ominous premonition didn’t seem feasible. The lingering apprehension wrapped around him like a lead vest. Goddammit. Who was she? And why the hell couldn’t he save her? He didn’t need this shit right now. No, it wasn’t exactly the optimal time in his life to solve a disturbing, enigmatic vision. But like every other damning event that had slapped him lately, he’d compartmentalize the issue and deal with it.
The jarring of the door handle and a rush of cool air cued him to the fact that he was no longer alone. Fuck, he hated this house. Even though he’d moved into Marcel’s country home out of necessity, it still felt uncomfortable. To his dismay, too many people lived with him. Granted, he’d brought it on himself by inviting them. Dimitri, his beta and longtime friend, had moved in at his request. And then there was Luci, Marcel’s girlfriend, who also shared their home. Both Logan and Luci had witnessed Marcel’s last dying breath. She’d collapsed into his arms immediately afterward, and since that moment in time, he’d felt responsible for her. So when he moved into Marcel’s bayou mansion, he’d allowed her to stay.
But it was Katrina who shared his bed. She wasn’t his mate but he’d felt oddly comforted by her warm body on cool winter nights. Out of grief, they’d clung to each other like a life raft in a storm. As if a kindred spirit, she’d been both sexually adventurous and giving, sharing herself with both Dimitri and him. He’d always been abundantly clear, however, that they couldn’t continue on forever. Even if it had felt right at the time, she wasn’t his mate. And it no longer was comfortable.
“Logan,” Katrina called into the shower.
“In here,” Logan responded.
He’d have to tell her tonight that it was over. It wouldn’t be easy, but she needed to go back to her life in Philadelphia, and he needed to pay attention to business. It was time to go back to the city.
As warm silky skin slid against his own wetness, he fought the arousal that loomed to distract him from his task. Allowing her to wrap her body around his, he kissed her damp hair.
“Hey, Kat. We need to talk.”
“Hmm…talk, huh?” She reached around to caress his ass with both hands, slithering against his semi-erect cock.
Logan pulled away slightly, not disconnecting his touch but enough to cup her face. Taking a deep breath, he narrowed his eyes on hers.
“You know I love you. But it’s time for you to go home. We can’t keep doing this.”
“Doing what? This?” She smiled, reaching down between his legs to wrap her fingers around his shaft.
In a flash, he grabbed her wrists, bringing them against his chest.
“Yeah, that. Seriously, it’s time. Now that I’ve established dominance, it’s time for me to go into the city. I’ve got work to do. And you, my lovely vixen, have a business to run.”
She sighed, leaning her forehead against him. It wasn’t as if she didn’t know what he was saying to be true. Reality was a bitch. A hard sigh escaped her lips at the realization that he was sending her home.
“Kat, we both miss Marcel. It’s been hard on both of us. But you’ve got to go spend time with Tristan. Tend to your shop. And when things settle down, if you still want to come back here, you know you’re always welcome. But for now, we’re just using each other. It’s not healthy…for either of us.”
She shook her head in denial. “It’s not like I don’t know you’re right. It’s just…I miss him so damn much.”
“I do too, baby, but this isn’t the answer.” Logan pressed his lips to her wet cheek. “It’ll be okay. Go home. Comfort Tris. He needs you as much as you need him.”
“When are you leaving for the city?” She lifted her head as he gently released her arms.
“Tonight. Dimitri and I are leaving in a few hours,” he told her with a small smile.
“I’ll miss you. And Dimitri,” she contemplated, accepting that her time in New Orleans was coming to an end.
The past months since her brother’s death had been awful. The only thing that had made anything slightly tolerable was the hot nights she’d spent with Logan and his beta. Instead of openly grieving, she’d buried her feelings deeply. As sister to the slain Alpha, she chose to be strong for the pack, for Logan.
“I’ll miss you too, but it’s time. I didn’t choose this, but it’s my path. I’ve got to move on for the sake of my wolves,” he explained. “And you need to let go of him. Marcel’s gone. You need to be able to grieve. As long as you are here, you’ll never move on.”
The steel band that wrapped her heart in grief tightened. Wolves didn’t die, especially not her strong Alpha brother. It was as if Logan’s words made it real. She knew he was dead, saw them lower his body into the grave, smelled his scent in the earth every time she went for a run. He was truly gone.
Sensing her retreat within her own mind, Logan pulled her into his arms, cradling her head to his breast. “It’s okay to let go,” he whispered.
A gasp of devastation gushed from her chest before she had a chance to swallow it. The wave of depression washed over the walls of sanity she’d tried so hard to build. Digging her fingers into his shoulders, she sobbed, the anguish of losing her sibling no longer held at bay. Goddess, she missed her big brother. She knew in that moment that as much as she loved Logan, it was Tristan she needed. He was the only one who’d comprehend the heartache that tore her apart.
Logan held tight to his longtime friend, comforting her as best he could. He’d call Tristan tonight and have her home by morning. They both needed closure, and getting her to face her loss was the only way to commence healing.
“That’s it, Kat. It’s all right. Let it out.”
Realizing how she’d lost it, she tried to pull away from him, but he held her tighter still. “Don’t hide.”
“But I can’t…” she cried, desperately wanting to curl into a ball.
“You don’t need to be the strong Alpha’s sister. It’s just me. And I’m the Alpha who comforts you now. Tomorrow, you’ll be with Tris, and it’ll all be okay. I promise.” Purposefully, he let his power flow; calming waves emanated from his body to hers, wrapping her in a loving cocoon of peace. Refusing to let her retreat, he embraced her until she finally quieted. As her last tears fell, she looked up at him with awe, with the understanding that her friend was no longer her brother’s beta. No, he was their equal.