Chapter 5 It was an August evening - warm , heavy with the scent of blooming night jasmine . The sky above was streaked in amber and lilac , and the last glow of sunlight clung stubbornly to the clouds . The air felt thick , like it hadn't quite cooled off from the heat of the day . I pushed open the iron gate . And there he was . Standing under the streetlight like a memory I hadn't shaken off . Logan . Still that same handsome face . Still that refined air like he belonged to an ancient bloodline - which , of course , he did . He was the future Alpha of the Crescent Claw Pack , after all . When his amber eyes met mine , I saw that familiar spark . Like he was seeing me for the first time - again . Damn it . Still so good - looking . My heart didn't want to admit it , but the truth was , I'd fallen for him years ago . " Rae , " he said softly , " did you eat ? " I nodded . " Why are you here , Logan ? " He hesitated . " Rae , I'm sorry . About earlier . I shouldn't have left you waiting at the council registry . " I gave him a dry smile . " It's fine . I'm used to it . " O Truth was , the moment I hung up the call on him today , his wolf got uneasy . That's why he showed up here - because something in him said I was slipping through his fingers . He looked me over again , confused . I wasn't crying . I wasn't angry . Just quiet . Too quiet . " Are you mad at me , Rae ? " he asked . " Because I bailed on the ceremony ? Because I left you at the Hall ? " There it was . The question he already knew the answer to . He knew I'd be hurt . He just thought it wouldn't matter . Because I always forgave him . Because I was just that silly girl who trailed after him for years - thinking love meant loyalty , even when it hurt . He knew I liked him too much . So he pushed . And I always let him . But not tonight Seeing the chill in my expression , he thought it was just another one of my moods . Something he could fix with a hug and a sweet word . He reached out to ruffle my hair - like he used to - but I pulled away before he could . " Emma's health is bad , " he explained " Really bad She needs surgery from a human specialist overseas . The timing's tight- she has to get it done within forty - eight hours or she might never fight properly again . " I laughed once , sharp . " There's no one else in this whole damn world ? No healting witch ? No hired escort ? Just you ? And screw our mating ceremony , right ? " T / 35 Chapter 5 +25 BONUS He frowned . " Don't twist this . Rae , I only see you . Emma's like a sister . She's not bonded to anyone , and I don't trust strangers to handle her care . I'll be back soon . I swear . " He looked down at me . " When I come back , I'll give you a proper bond ceremony - one the whole region will talk about . " I swallowed hard . He had no idea what this delay meant for a she - wolf . Being unbonded after a public announcement ... it wasn't just ' shameful- it was dangerous . Packs watched these things . Mate politics weren't a joke . But before I could say it , his phone rang . That ringtone . Emma's . She used to brag about it - how she had her own custom tone on Logan's phone since high school . One day I'd heard it , and he just shrugged . " She set it herself , Rae . You can pick one too . I'll know it's you . " But I never did . Because I didn't want what was already handed out to someone else . And in that moment , it hit me . I was never the one . She had his attention . His protection . His passwords . I had what ? Patience ? Thinking about it now , I must've looked pathetic . Maybe I was the outsider all along . Even now , after everything - my stupid heart still skipped when I first saw him tonight . But not anymore . 1 stood silent while he picked up . " Logan ? " came Emma's voice , soft and whimpering . " Where are you ? The plane's boarding . " He smiled gently . " I'm coming , Emma . Just sit tight . Don't move around too much . I'll be there in a minute . " After a few more soft reassurances , he hung up and looked at me . Then at his watch Tve gotta go Rat- " Beep Beep A horn cut me off Logan moved fast . Pulled me into a tight hug before I could react . " Wait for me , Rae Let me come back and claim you " And then he ran Chapter 5 Didn't look back . Didn't wait for my answer . I didn't stop him either . There would be no ' next time . ' From the car , Logan glanced back one last time - saw me standing alone beneath the streetlight . Something tightened in his chest . His wolf stirred , uneasy . The urge to leap out , run back , and say " Screw it . I'm not going , " nearly overtook him . He even opened his mouth , the word " Stop " right on the edge of his lips- But his phone rang again . Emma . Logan said nothing . And the moment passed . +25 BONUS 9/3 Chapter 6