Chapter Twelve

I didn't have much choice in letting them stay unless I wanted them to kill themselves on their way home. I checked with my dad- my mom was in their room sulking.

"Shower's down the hallway if you want to use it," My dad instructed our guests, "Kitchen's over there, help yourself to whatever you want. And Logan is it? You can take William's room. Katherine, I'm sure Kaine would let you sleep in her room. Please, just make yourselves at home." Dad walked away towards his and mom's room.

Willy came into the room and glared at Logan, "That's not fair that you get my bed! I didn't invite you over!"

Logan chuckled, why did he have to have such a sexy chuckle? "I wasn't going to take your bed anyway. I'll sleep on the couch."

"Well I for one want a bed," Kat announced, "That is, if you don't mind?" She asked me.

"No, go ahead. I'll just crash in Willy's room."

William was only slightly happier with this than bunking with Logan.

We all took turns taking showers. I still had mud, blood, and leaves scattered in my hair and stuck to my skin. After his shower, William left to his room and was most likely sister-proofing.

While Logan showered I got Kat some clothes to sleep in and we tried our cells a couple more times with no luck.

We sat on the couch and talked while Kat waited for her brother to finish up.

"I don't know how you do it," Kat sighed wistfully.

"Do what?"

"Stay so composed. I haven't seen you cry or scream or break down at all. You've been through so much in such a short time. Christ, you were shot with an arrow and you act like that happens weekly. Honestly? I wasn't even shot and I was almost hyperventilating. You're so brave."

I snorted, "No, I'm not brave, I'm unemotional and weird. Besides, you do have to deal with this shit weekly and you're not a nut-job." From the way the Pack acted and from what Logan told me about Kat being kidnapped it's very evident that they're used to dealing with danger.

Kat shook her head, "Exactly. I've grown up with this stuff. You've been a part of the supernatural community for a month and you already have a target on your back. That usually takes at least six months to achieve."

"Well don't I feel special," I muttered sarcastically. Then something clicked after processing Kat's last statement, "Why do they want me all of a sudden? I've been a werewolf my whole life, so why now? It's not like I've shouted it to the heavens. The only people who know are you guys and my family."

Kat looked at the wall behind my head and I knew she was thinking. Then her eyes widened and refocused on my face, "The Russian Pack knows."

I grabbed for the phone and started to dial the number for the Russian Werewolf Hotline before I remembered the phone lines were down. I put the phone back on the cradle.

I latched onto the idea nonetheless, "Do you think they'd try to hurt me?" I've only spoken to Roman once, but he seemed friendly enough.

Again, Kat shook her head, "I don't think Roman would order that. Especially if he knew your father."

I still wanted to explore every concept of the idea though, "Do you think some of his Pack might have done it on their own?"

"I don't see why they would. They don't know you, why would they want to kill you?"

I sighed, "You're right. I'll just call Roman in the morning and see if he has any ideas though."

I heard the shower turn off and I tried really, really hard to think about math and not what Logan's body looked like when it's wet.

I almost succeeded.

I focused back on Kat and tried to make small talk and get my mind off Logan. "So, do you know what college you're going to?" I myself had only sent out a couple applications because obviously I'd been a little tied up lately.

"I have my picks, but they have to go through my family first. At the rate it's going I'll be stuck in community college when I really want to be at Yale studying cryptology." She looked very frustrated.

I was frustrated too, "So you just go where they tell you? I know you have a backbone! If you want to go to Yale, then go." It absolutely amazes me that a person like Kat won't fight for her decisions.

Kat looked hurt, "Kaine, you're completely clueless about some things." She leaned forward and her eyes flashed with conviction, "Logan told you about just one kidnapping. There have been too many attempts to count on both our hands. You have no idea what sick things mutts dream up for us. My mom is married and they still go after her. Not only do they want me and her because we're females, but because we're Pack and more importantly we're loved by Clayton Danvers. That's why mom doesn't want to kick you out. If some mutt finds you, you'll be kidnapped and raped and beaten and probably killed since you'd put up a helluva fight." She eased back against the couch and laughed mirthlessly, "No matter how good of a fighter you are, they'll beat you," She shivered and her voice cracked on the last two words.

"You really don't know how horrible it is to be helpless. You can't fight, no one hears your screams, and you know someone's looking for you, but all you can think is that they won't make it in time."

She's right, I don't know how it feels, "Kat, I've seen you fight, you'd never be helpless."

She stared at me like I'd sprouted another head, "There will always be someone bigger and stronger than you that will take you down." She sighed, "But you're missing the point, my parents want me to go to college around here so they can protect me. Yeah sure I'm smart enough to get into the Ivy Leagues, but I'm not going to learn anything if I'm six feet under or getting raped."

"While I'm sure you're carrying on a lovely conversation, I was wondering if perhaps you'd be kind enough to provide me with some clothes." Logan said from directly behind me. I couldn't help but think that he had defied orders to stop sneaking up on me.

I turned around to face him; all he had on was a towel. I blushed which caused him to laugh and twirl around, "Enjoying the show are you, Arden?"

"Incredibly so," I threw back.

At least he had the decency to stop and look bashful.

"So I agree, then you blush?" I tease.

Beside me Kat giggles and stands up to go get her shower. With Logan's back to her, she winked at me and disappeared down the hallway.

What the hell did that mean? I stared confusedly after her.

"Kaine," Logan snapped me out of my short trance, "Clothes would be nice at this point. There's a breeze in here."

To prevent my parents from having a heart attack at the sight of a practically naked teenage boy in their house, I told Logan to stay put. My dad gave me a pair of sweats and a t-shirt for Logan before telling me my mom needs rest and not to bother them. Then he shut the door in my face.

Feeling oh so loved, I made my way back to Logan, threw the clothes in his face and said, "Kick Willy out of his room to change. Please don't come out till you're dressed."

One final heart-melting smile and he left.

By then it was 10:00 but I was still wired. And hungry. In our small kitchen the rain could be heard hammering relentlessly against the roof. It was an almost peaceful, albeit loud, sound.

During my absence, my parents had let our food supply run dangerously low. I searched the freezer and finally scrounged up two frozen pizzas. I popped them into the oven and gazed outside.

The view in the window set in the kitchen door was chaotic. Rain flew in horizontal sheets, trees were almost lying down in the wind, and more power lines whipped in the wind gusts. Anything not covered or held down was scattered or flying around. While I couldn't see that far outside, the reflection of the kitchen I could see fine.

I spun around to face Logan, "Ha!" I felt satisfied I had caught him this time, "Gotcha!" I gloated. A bit like a kid I must say.

He held his hands up in surrender and laughed, "And the student has become the master." He sniffed, "Pizza? Enough for me?"

I nodded, "You, me and Kat. I think."

We stood there staring at each other until I questioned him, "So when we first met, why where you such an ass?" I had been curious about that ever since he went all nice on me.

Logan fidgeted and avoided my gaze, "I just had some… uhhh… issues. You know, bad week."

"Uh-huh. And I'm supposed to believe that based on what? Good eye contact? Come on Logan, I'm just curious."

His clear blue eyes met mine, "I may have been a tiny bit scared," He admitted.

"Scared," I repeated. Logan didn't seem like someone who got frightened easily, "What the hell would you be scared of?"

He looked down at his bare feet, "You," he mumbled so low I almost didn't hear him.

"Me," I repeated dumbly.

"Yeah."

"Why?"

He looked up at me and asked, "What do you think of me?"

I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes, "I guess I'd call you a friend. What does this have to do with me?" I knew I wasn't telling him the complete truth of the feelings I had. I felt connected to him, even though I barely knew him. I didn't think it was that much stronger than friendship though.

Logan's eyes looked suspicious and mildly hurt, "That's all?"

I avoided the question, "Why, what do you fell about me?"

He looked uncomfortable again, "The truth?"

I nodded.

"Okay then," He stared into my eyes and as much as I hated it, I shivered. "I feel a very deep connection with you. That's why I was an ass. I was scared of what it all meant. I'm only seventeen for God's sake, to think I may have found a m-" His eyes widened and he cut himself short.

I was confused and embarrassed and frightened of where this was going all at once. "A what? You found a what? What the hell do you think you've found?" I knew what the answer would be but I had to make him say it.

Logan looked suddenly determined, "A mate. That's I think I've found."

No. "No, no, no, no, no! I'm seventeen, I don't know you, I don't even want a boyfriend!" What the hell was he thinking?

"Naw shit Arden! You seem like a cool person and all, but like you said, we're seventeen." He still wouldn't goddamn let go of my gaze and I couldn't break free for the life of me.

"Well how do we fix it?" Was my genius response.

Logan laughed drily, "Fix? You can't, it's inevitable. We might not feel it now, but eventually we'll love each other."

God, "We have no choice? Whatsoever?"

Logan shook his head no, "Not according to any research Kat had done," He sighed.

I climbed up on a bar stool and Logan shortly joined me on the one next to me, "So we're stuck."

"Yup."

"Destined to love each other," God that sounded so cheesy.

"As cheesy as it sounds, yup." He read my mind.

And I started laughing. Pure, uncontrolled, hysterical laughter. Laughter at how ridiculous this whole situation was; about my whole new life. The melt-down Kat said I never had came crashing down on me. My laughter turned to tears and I buried my face into my still dirty hands.

I never, ever, ever cry. I was completely shocked when the first tear did drip down my face. Tentatively, I felt Logan's strong arms wrap around me.

"Awww," He murmured above my head, "I can't be that bad."

I tried to laugh, but it didn't work out to well, "It's," sob, "Not all you," sniffle, "Someone's trying to kill me," I was starting to control my tears, "And I'm just really overloaded right now."

He rubbed my back.

"I'm sorry Logan," I said as I realized I was getting snot on his/my dad's shirt.

"S'okay. Least I can do after unleashing all that on you. And I did break your nose," He chuckled at the memory.

I pulled back and glared- obviously it didn't have quiet the intended affect, "And I broke you hand. Don't you dare go easy on me next time just 'cause you broke my nose!"

He looked amused, "You're emotions change too fast."

"I'm never like this," I assured him.

Logan's eyes turned serious, "So what are we going to do?"

Good question, "What can we do?"

"You could take about three steps back from each other to save my retinas," Kat said from the doorway with a look of disgust.

Before Kat came in, I hadn't realized how close Logan and I were sitting. Now we jumped apart like we'd been tazed.

"And now you," She looked at me sternly, "Should take your shower while I talk to my brother," She managed to glare at the both of us.

I did take my shower and made sure to scrub every piece of dirt and caked on blood until I was squeaky clean. I tried to get it so my eyes didn't look quiet so blotchy but when I returned to the kitchen I knew I hadn't done a very good job.

Logan was taking the pizzas out and Kat was waiting to cut them.

"There's some pop in the fridge," I said, not really knowing what to say.

"Thanks," Kat answered and poured some of the liquid into the mismatched glasses in the cupboard. "We probably won't have school tomorrow with all the damage done from the storm."

Logan grunted agreement.

We ate our late night snack in awkward silence. As soon as we wolfed it down (no pun intended), Kat went to my room to get to sleep.

"I'll wash dishes," I said while I started to clean the table.

"You want me to rinse?" Logan wiped the table with a damp dishcloth.

I shrugged, "Nah, you can go get the couch set up. Blankets and pillows are in the hall closet by the bathroom."

It took me ten minutes to wash the dishes and make my way to Willy's room. I snuck in quietly, knowing by the snores I heard outside that William was sleeping. And there he was, taking up every possible inch of that bed. When I tried to move him, he refilled the empty section with some appendage or another. There wasn't even room on the floor due to the excess amounts of clothes and shit everywhere.

"Damn," I mumbled quietly and thought of what to do. The only choice I really had was to either camp out in the hallway or the living room. The hallway was narrower than my bed and there was a 99% chance of getting trampled by an unwary midnight bathroom traveler. Living room it was.

When I entered said room, I was greeted by the drool worthy sight of Logan shirtless. Knowing what I did about the mate thing did absolutely nothing to stop what attractedness I had for his abs.

I closed my mouth before he could see me and dumped my assortment of pillows and blankets on the recliner and started to settle in.

"Just couldn't stay away?"Logan grinned, his eyes remained closed.

"Oh shut it." I said harshly, "My brother's a bed hogging slob," I muttered.

Logan just kept on grinning.

"Would you please wipe that grin off your face?" I was starting to feel the effects of sleep deprivation.

"Does it bother you?"

"Yes," I growled.

"Then just don't look. Or is that too hard for you?" Apparently, confessing his behavior hadn't done anything to his assish personality.

I growled again, "One, I could kick you out of the house right now and make you sleep outside, so watch it. Two, what if I like the sight of your abs." He and I both blushed here at my involuntary omission, "And three, I have an irrational fear of people smiling at me in the dark, so stop it."

He snorted, "Really? What the hell would cause that fear?"

"I don't know why I have it, only that I do. It's creepy." I finally got semi-comfortable in the chair and closed my eyes.

"Hmmm…" I noticed the grin was slowly receding.

A few minutes of silence passed and I thought maybe he was asleep.

Until he suddenly asked, "What do you do for fun?"

The question took me by surprise but I already had an answer, "Practice my fighting techniques. Kickboxing is especially fun. Oh and I like to target shoot with my bow."

"Anything nonviolent? Like what normal seventeen year olds do?"

I gave a short laugh, "I'm not normal."

"Tell me about it," I thought I heard him mumble before he said in a louder voice, "That's beside the point."

I thought for a moment, "I like to go to the movies, and I read."

"Oh."

"What about you? What do you do in your free time?"

"Read, volunteer at the nursing home, wrestle my dad, that sorta stuff."

"I hope you're not as smart with the old ladies as you are with me," I thought aloud.

He just laughed, "Nope. I reserve that for you."

"Humph, good to know." I yawned and my mind started to get fuzzy from lack of sleep.

"I think we should be friends," Logan proclaimed suddenly. "That way when our… feelings… do grow, it won't be that big a stretch," he finished awkwardly.

I thought about faking sleep so I didn't have to continue this conversation, but I had a nagging question. The kind that usually gets me in trouble. "Why did you tell me all that stuff anyway?"

Logan hesitated, "I… I just thought you had a right to know. You're as much a part of this as I am. And you would probably kick my ass if you found out I lied."

I gave a tired grunt, "Damn right I would."

"Kaine," Logan changed the topic, "Do you want the couch? It's probably more comfortable than the chair."

"Awww, chivalry isn't dead. I think I just might have to keep you around Mr. Danvers. But no thank you, I'll be fine right here." I could picture the blush running up his cheeks and almost laughed. As much as we tease each other, I think we're both kind of… shy about this stuff.

I had no idea what his response was, or if he even said anything because I collapsed into sleep.

Four things greeted me when I woke up the next morning:

Number one is that I woke up on the floor. Thinking back, I remember leaving the recliner for the more appealing, flatter floor.

Secondly was the sight of Logan on the couch above me, still shirtless. I'd never tire of that sight.

Third was the time; 6:30. As I put my head back onto the pillow, I remembered school. Then I saw the yellow Post-it note on the pillow by my head. It read:

No school due to storm damage. We still have to work though –sigh-

~Dad

I heaved a happy sigh and put my head back to the pillow again. Then I noticed the fourth thing.

The lilac smell.

Last time I smelled lilacs I was getting shot at, so I leaped from my makeshift bed and got ready to fight. There's nothing like an adrenaline kick to get you up and going in the morning; works better than caffeine.

"Logan!" I hissed.

I heard him moan and roll over.

"Logan!" I said a tad louder.

"What?" He groaned. Apparently, he wasn't a morning person either.

"Shh! They're here."

That got his attention. He rolled up and out of the couch and crouched next to me.

"Smell that?" I asked.

He mutely nodded his head and motioned for me to get behind him. Of course, I didn't. Then he started to stalk forward and I stayed beside him. We went down the hallway and found the scent was strongest in front of mine and William's room.

Without thinking, I threw open Willy's door and dodged out the way in case someone was waiting for me. Behind me, I heard Logan do the same with my door where his sister was.

When I looked into William's room I just stared stupidly at his bed where he should have been. Instead of my annoying, pain in the ass brother, all that was on his red bed sheets was a pool of blood and a tuft of dirty blonde hair.

I screamed.