"Oh, I forgot the things I knew

It was I who'd abandoned you

Forgive me, I was lost in doubt

Who would never've left my side

Picked me up when I thought I would die

You helped me, and I was found"

Footprints ~ Sia

Note:

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After four glasses of Long Island Iced Tea, three bowls of salty peanuts, followed by bad jokes and not-so-witty remarks, everything Mike was blabbering about sounded hilarious. And truthfully, after eleven o'clock, Johanna was kind of laughing at him, rather than with him.

"So, you wanna grab a bite to eat later?" Mike asked, leaning against the counter.

Johanna shook her head. "Nah, I'm good," she declined. "Thanks, though." Thanks for nothing, you scumbag! She fake smiled.

Grateful for the loud music, which overpowered her stomach's roars —telling her, "hello? I'm starving here!"— Johanna's belly still felt uncomfortably hollow; and, for some reason, her cheeks felt warm. Now that she thought about it, Johanna hadn't had actual food in almost a month. And God, she was getting hangry, cursing herself for not leaving sooner.

Johanna felt extremely nauseous, and the fact that her stomach was aching from her heightened appetite, wasn't helping. What were in those iced teas? Stumbling out of her seat, Johanna took a couple steps —her vision blurry and her head taking a swim— before almost crashing into a table. Quickly turning back, Johanna sat down —hugging her herself as she whimpered. Great, she was stuck here.

"It's nice to see you again, Sweetheart," Mike grinned. "And guess what? I know the best place where we can hang out afterwards. It's a little place not too far from here... called my apartment."

Her eyes widening, Johanna shook her head. Oh hell no!

"Look, man," Johanna snapped. "I already told you once—" she lazily held up three fingers. "I'm not goin' anywhere with you, okaaaay? I have a boyfriend," she lied; instantly regretting it. Not only did Johanna hate lying, but also, she was really bad at it.

"Oh yeah?" Mike challenged. "Then where is he? Because I remember you telling me that you were single, just a couple hours ago."

Oh crap, that's right. Gritting her teeth, Johanna had had enough going back and forth.

"Okay fine! I am single," Johanna spat. "But shouldn't that tell you how uninterested I am in a skeevy, little perv like you? I had to pretend this whole time to be nice to you, hoping that you'd eventually shut up and serve me food —or something other than stupid peanuts! And here's me being honest..." Johanna announced, before taking a deep breath. "I'd rather fling myself off of the Empire State Building, than having to go anywhere with you! So chew on that, douchebag!"

Blinking a couple times, eyebrows raised and disdain slowly molding onto his face, the Mike Johanna had seen in the last few hours —egotistical, arrogant, and a bit smug— was a totally different man now; his eyes dark, jaw clenched, and nostrils flaring.

"Just wait until my shift is over, Sweetheart," Mike threatened, leaning towards her. "Because you don't even have the slightest clue as to what I'm capable of. The alley out back, which was great for the last girl, is gonna be the perfect place for—"

"Perfect place for what?" A man snarled, the deep rumble in his voice coming from behind Johanna; making her jump. By now, she was trembling, and when she whipped her head around, her heart skipped a couple beats.

"Logan!" Practically leaping from her barstool, Johanna fought the urge to break down in tears as she landed into his arms; which were tightly wrapped around her tiny frame.

"How'd you find me?" Johanna asked in wonder, thrilled to see Logan again, and relieved he had arrived just in time.

Logan's eyes were glowing, his gaze harsh, but his voice was gentle. "I'll always find ya, Darlin'. I always find what's mine," Logan stressed, glaring at Mike.

Smelling her anxiety, Logan gave Johanna a quick peck on her forehead —making sure to firmly hold her steady so she wouldn't fall— focusing his full attention on Mike.

"Now, what's this about an alley?" Logan demanded, standing tall, like a grizzly bear. "Because I don't think you know what I'm fully capable of, bub."

Not wanting to appear intimidated by Logan's height —as well as his burly physique— Mike scoffed, overcompensating by continuing his unrelenting incivility; completely ignorant as to who he was really dealing with.

"Hey, man. I was just hoping to see if I liked your girl enough to mess around with her," Mike sneered, holding up his hands in mock surrender, looking away; oblivious to Logan —who had made sure Johanna was safely sitting down— before slowly stalking towards him, like a wolf ready to attack.

"She's a pretty little thing," Mike chuckled, wiping down a glass. "And that attitude o'hers, is gonna get her into trouble. But hey, if you like em' mouthy, and you wanna toss her after you're done with her, there's a dumpster out back—" without any warning, Logan's fist clenched, and in one fluid motion, it swiftly landed on Mike's jaw with a sharp clink. Before Mike could recuperate, Logan grabbed him by the shoulders and slammed him against the counter —pressing him down by the neck; Logan ignoring the few customers —and bartenders— who had shouted.

Before thinking twice, Mike attempted at escaping Logan's grasp, only angering Logan even more; lifting Mike's head up by his hair.

"If you ever so much as think about harming my girl again, or any other innocent girl for that matter, I'm gonna come back here, hunt you down, and finish what I started," extracting his claws, Logan positioned his fist right between Mike's eyes; just inches from his skin. "You got that, bub?"

Mike's eyes immediately shut as the blades got closer, and his hands were desperately trying to shield his face.

"I swear, man! I won't mess with your girl, okay?"

"Or any other innocent girl?" Logan demanded.

"Or any other innocent girl! Just please, leave me alone, you freak! I have a grandma to take care of!"

Logan snorted. "Oh yeah? Well, your grandmother should be ashamed of you! What would she think of her grandson, spiking a young woman's drink?" Mike's eyes widened, his Adam's apple bobbing as he took a gulp. Once the few bartenders heard that last part, they backed off —the remaining customers engrossed in the heated conversation; while some hurried towards the exit.

"Wow..." Logan scoffed. "And you think I'm the freak? Did ya really think I'm that stupid, that I wouldn't figure out what ya did?" Logan gripped the man's neck —his fingers digging into his skin— which made Mike shake his head.

"Well..." Logan paused calmly... a little too calm. "Do ya at least wanna know how I knew? Come on... ask me," Logan ordered.

When Mike remained silent, Logan quickly punched him on the bridge of his nose; Mike eventually screaming out a "How?"

"Glad you asked," Logan smirked, darkly. "It's because I can smell everything. The alcohol on my mate's breath, the roofie you slipped into her drinks, and even your fear! Which is disgusting, just like you, you perverted, cowardly, piece of sh—"

"Logan!" Johanna called, now standing near the door.

Turning around, Logan could see the fear in Johanna's eyes; hearing her heart racing. Shoving Mike to the floor —his entire face smeared with blood— Logan strode back to her.

"I'm so sorry, Anna. Are you all right, Darlin'? Did he hurt you? Because I swear to God, if he did..." It had honestly been a while since Logan was sent on an actual mission, fighting, calming his wild side; as he was now itching to blow off some steam and continue teaching that creep a lesson.

"I'm fine, Logan." Johanna attempted to smile, despite her hands still trembling and her breath a little shaky. Frankly, Johanna kinda liked seeing Logan in action. Seeing him defend her. She just didn't like conflict of any kind —most times making her nervous— and didn't want Logan to get in trouble if the cops were going to get involved soon.

Looking over his shoulder, Logan rolled his eyes, —before picking up his mate, one arm supporting her back and the other under the bend of her knees— as he finally acknowledged that there was an audience staring back at him; while Mike remained curled up on the floor, groaning.

"Okay, good. Then..." Logan grunted, clearing his throat; quickly glancing to see if anyone had called the police. "Let's get you home, Darlin'."

Johanna softly nodded, desperately trying not to embarrass herself as Logan carried her outside.

Though, during the slow walk to his truck, Johanna might've called Logan gorgeous —out loud— sighing contently as she wrapped an arm around his neck; loving the way her body molded to Logan's as he held her. But even if she did, Logan didn't make a big deal out of it, extremely patient with her as he buckled her in and made sure she was comfortable.

Home.

Logan was taking her home.

And Johanna liked the sound of that.