Logan had smelled her first, while conducting a routine perimeter check. He'd stopped to drink at one of the sweeter fresh water springlets near his home and nearly pissed his pants when he'd caught the faint scent her wandering path had left. Female human. His agitation rose. Humans were dangerous. Unpredictable. He noticed the subtle undertone of 'fertile' next and his agitation shifted a tiny amount to become mixed with excitement. The monster he kept caged inside of himself felt that since now he could provide the basic needs of shelter and sustenance, it was high time to find a mate.
A 'mate?' Christ. I've been alone too long, I'm starting to think like an animal. I'm not an animal.
The thought of becoming what they had tried to make him into in the lab stung him. He wouldn't give in. He wouldn't lose, not even if it took his dying breath. He clamped down harder on the beast inside of him, ignoring the indignant grumbling. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and sifted through the information. This female was in rough shape, but young and generally healthy. There were no other human scents nearby. His nose told him that she had paused here briefly a few hours ago before moving on, and the obvious path that she left showed how little she knew about woodcraft. He followed it without making a conscious choice.
His thoughts were racing when he caught up to her.
What should I do? Times are different, but I like to think I have a little bit left of my honor. What is it about her scent that calls to the me? It's like she's the one I didn't know I was waiting for. Mine. My mate. I need to show her, prove my worth as a mate. I need to show her that she's mine.
The beast had slipped the leash, and almost completely eclipsed the civilised manners and habits he worked so hard to master. Her pitiful appearance was jarring. It woke his protective instincts, and the burning inside of him that she ignited was tempered with them. She was so young! She was frail, and the clothes she wore hung loosely on her gaunt frame. He watched her slow trudging for nearly an hour, and noted with pride that every time she fell she got back up and started walking again. His mate was a fighter. She could protect our young. Logan went back and forth with himself in his mind, weighing the options as he saw them. If he took her in, there would be no denying a physical relationship. He had to be honest. He'd been sporting a constant and painful erection since his first whiff of her, even after taking care of himself, furtively, shamefully, twice. She looked like she needed taking in though. Badly.
During his third attempt at relief from the aching need in his groin, the choice was made for him. "GRRRRRRAAARRRR!" Oh fuck.
"Oh FUCK." Logan felt like a schmuck of unbelievable proportions for not noticing that they were now deep in the territory of an irritable young male bear who had moved in this season. He berated himself as he ran full speed, claws at the ready. He was too late. The bear swiped a huge paw at her and for a brief second she was caught in it's talons. There was a series of sickening pops as muscle tissue and tendons succombed to pressure they weren't made to withstand. He heard her head thwacking wetly against a proud pine. Oh god. He was too late. No, no, not his mate!
He roared his intentions to the bear and killed it with one graceful sweep as it turned. He had to reach her. This was his fault. His mate was gone before he could claim her, and it was all his fault. He should have called to her sooner. He should have taken the bear out already, instead of tolerating the iffy companionship. He should have realized where she was wandering. A thousand recriminations burned through his head. She lay there with a peaceful expression, in a growing pool of blood from both the impact of her head and the ugly wound on her shoulder and chest. Her heartbeat was soft. Logan gathered the young girl in his arms. His heart gave an odd pang with the ease. She was tiny. Made out of skin and bones and soft scents. He cradled her carefully in his arms and ran as fast as he had ever run in his life towards his home. It would be ok. It had to be ok. He couldn't take it if it weren't ok.
She was almost gone by the time he laid her gently in his bed, heedless of the blood they were both covered in. Her blood. Logan's breath came in ragged sobs and he curled up next to her. His whole world was ending. His whole existence was shattering, because this slip of a girl whom he had never met, was now dying in front of his eyes. He listened to her heart beating more softly now, and brought a shaking hand to her face. 'Goodnight, Darlin' Angel.' He cupped her cheek and gasped as the pull began. He didn't let go, not until unconsciousness swallowed him and his arm dropped unknowingly between them.