Chapter 81: Realization
Logan headed out to the back deck. He saw Charlotte sitting in a lawn chair, the twins running around
and playing. Serena appeared from behind a tree, pouncing on the ground in wolf form.
Her overpowering, mouthwatering scent hit him like a punch in the gut! Logan gave a soft grunt, but it
was enough to catch Serenaâs attention.
In her wolf form, she froze, staring at him. Logan stared back, wide eyed and too shocked to move or
form a single word! He recognized her now! She was the wolf he had encountered in the woods, the
one he didnât know and who he thought was his mate! More than that, his memory clicked into place
from where he knew her!
A somewhat fuzzy night in a tree house after a masquerade party. His senses had been dulled that
night, but after seeing her pictures in the living room and smelling her in the woods, there was no
mistaking that she was the woman he had spent the night with!
âKids, look who has come for a visit,â Thomas called to the twins. They looked over at the deck.
âUncle Logan!â they cried, running towards him. Logan still hadnât been able to move Serenaâs eyes
hardened as she started at him. Automatically, Logan went down on his knee to hug the kids, but he
still couldnât pry his eyes off Serena. His mind was on overload, and it wasnât until she disappeared into
the bushes that he was able to focus on the twins.
âI missed you two,â he said, hugging them. âWe missed you too!â Olivia said. âWe went fishing, and the
fish Oliver caught attacked us!â She threw herself dramatically over Loganâs arm. He smiled, enjoying
her antics, even though it felt tight. He needed to talk to Serena, that was all he could think about, but
she still hadnât emerged from the bushes. He kept glancing up, but she wasnât returning. She knew he
knew! All her secrets were coming out now, and Logan had never imagined he was one of them! âThat
sounds like a lot of fun,â Logan said. âCan you go fishing with us next time?â Oliver asked. âIâd like that,â
Logan said. âOlivia, Oliver, how old are you now?â Olivia looked closely at her fingers, forming them
and holding her hands out to show Logan how many years old they were. âThis many years,â she said.
âYou were at our birthday, donât you remember?â âYea, that big storm,â Oliver said, leaning in a little
closer to Logan. Logan sighed, yes he remembered. He had been their hero that day, and every day
since! Shaking his head, he looked closely at Oliver and Olivia. They looked very much alike, but Oliver
was his spitting image! He remembered when his mother had thought Oliver was his childhood ghost!
All the evidence had been there, but he had been too wrapped up in his own drama to really notice!
Serena came back out from behind the bushes. She was in her human form now, dressed. She was
brushing her fingers through her hair to get the tangles out.
Logan looked up at her. Her face was hardened, but her eyes were somber. She wouldnât look at him.
As she slowly walked towards him, the atmosphere in the yard changed, enough so that Thomas and
Charlotte became aware of the tension, âI didnât know you were coming,â Serena said curtly. Logan
scoffed. He stood up and gently pushed the kids towards their grandfather. He stepped off the deck so
he could stand right in front of Serena. On the outside, he was well in control of his anger. He wasnât
going to prove to her that he was the monster she thought he was, not in front of her kids or her family.
Lips and jaw tight, he glared at her. âPack business,â he said through gritted teeth. âYour father wanted
to surprise the kids. Looks like Iâm the one who is surprised.â Serena sighed heavily, shaking her head.
âThis isnât what it looks like,â she said quickly, still not looking at him. That almost caused Logan to lose
control! He growled under his breath and took a heavy, deep breath. Closing his eyes, he sighed,
forcing himself to remain calm. He was so close to losing his temper again. How could she have lied to
him about so much!?
Now, he felt like his anger was justified. She had lied to him about something completely life changing,
and she had done it knowing how open heâd been with her. Heâd confided in her about so much,
including his concerns about being a father, and she had said nothing! Loganâs hands clenched into
fists at his side. âLogan, come play with us!â Olivia shouted over the deck rail. Loganâs spine tensed. He
glanced over his shoulder at the twins.
âYour mother and I need to have a chat, first,â Logan said tightly. Serena sighed, finally looking at him.
He couldnât figure out what it was that he saw in her eyes. It was a mixture of sadness, anger, hatred,
and sorrow. For a moment, Logan softened at her expression.
âIs something going on, here?â Charlotte asked, coming over to the two of them. Thomas was keeping
the kids on the deck. Neither Charlotte nor Thomas could know what was going on, but they could tell
there was something.
Nothing, mom,â Serena said, shooting her mother a sharp look âNothing that needs to be talked about
here.â Logan scoffed. âWe are going to talk about this,â he insisted. Serena raised an eyebrow at him,
âYou really want to do this here?â she asked, nodding towards the twins. Charlotte had backed off, but
she still spoke in a hushed voice. âLogan, I can feel your temper is on the brink of breaking.â
Taking another deep breath, Loganâs nostrils flared as he exhaled. He held as still as possible, worrying
that if he moved, he would unleash his temper. Serena was right, though, this wasnât the kind of
conversation to have around her family or the kids,
He took a few more deep, calming breaths. When he opened his eyes again, Serena had her arms
crossed and she was giving him a stern look. The kind of look a mother gives a misbehaving child. It
was beyond condescending, and Logan felt his temper flare again! âYouâre a bitch, you know that?â he
asked her. Serena looked taken aback. âI donât know what you think you know, Alpha,â she said, using
his title as an insult âI know plenty,â he said. âNo, you donât,â Serena said. âYou only think you know, but
you canât understand any of this, not until you calm down and we can talk about this rationally.â
âRationally?â Logan asked, his voice rising. Serena winced. Logan swallowed his anger, looking back.
Thomas and Charlotte had taken the kids inside. Thankfully, they had determined that the twins didnât
need to see what was about to unfold. âIn case you havenât noticed, rationality holds no place in this
conversation,â he said. âNor will it ever explain your actions!â âI donât have to explain my actions to you.â
Serena said. âI donât owe you anything!â Logan growled at her. Stepping forward, he grabbed Serenaâs
shoulders and gave her a gentle, restrained shake. He couldnât believe that she was trying to defend
her actions! There was a part of him that wanted to shift into wolf form and sink his teeth into her throat!
He was beyond livid, and the lid he was keeping on his anger was so precarious!
Everything she said just made it worse. Logan looked around the yard quickly, his hands tightening on
her shoulders. He worried sheâd try to run away and then heâd never get his answers! This wasnât the
best venue for the kind of conversation they needed to have. Her parents or brother could intervene at
any moment. The twins could come out wanting to play. He definitely didnât want them to witness
anything. âCome with me,â Logan hissed. Serena shook her head. âIâm staying here,â she insisted.
Logan growled, moving his hand to her elbow. He
wanted to talk to her in a more private setting. This house was her territory, and she had the upper
hand. They needed to go somewhere neutral.
âCome on,â he repeated, pulling her arm at the elbow. Serena growled, but she followed so it wouldnât
draw attention. Logan had the feeling her family was watching them. Any parent would, wanting to be
protective if their child got in a situation they couldnât handle.
Logan wasnât a monster. He wasnât going to hurt Serena or do anything crazy. He just needed answers,
and he knew that he probably wasnât going to like all of them. It was better to be somewhere isolated
where he could be angry about what he was about to find out without everyone else judging him. Logan
brought Serena to his car. He practically shoved her into the passenger seat. When he got in the
driverâs seat he locked the doors so she couldnât run off.
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