LOGAN
I moved fast the moment my warriors told me what happened.
"Clara took her to the punishment hall," one of them said.
My stomach dropped.
Bella. Already in trouble.
I should have expected it. She had the talent for chaos… but this time, the panic in my chest wasn't just worry.
It was Jack.
Go. Now.
His voice thundered inside my head.
Mate is scared. Mate is hurt. MOVE.
"I'm going," I muttered as I picked up speed.
My heart was racing. My palms were sweating. Every step felt too slow.
Jack growled again, louder this time—
She's crying. She's calling for us. Faster, Logan. Faster!
I didn't think. I just ran.
And when I reached the double doors of the punishment hall…
I didn't push them open.
I ripped them apart.
They slammed against the walls with a boom that shook the whole room.
And then I saw it.
Bella.
Tied to the pole.
Her mouth covered.
Her eyes red from crying.
Her whole body shaking.
Clara stood in front of her, whip raised high.
For one second I froze.
Then Jack roared inside me so loudly I could barely hear myself think.
STOP HER! NOW! MATE IS HURTING!
"STOP!"
My voice exploded through the room, loud enough to make everyone jump.
Clara spun around. The whip slipped from her hand and clattered to the floor.
Bella jerked, her head lifting. She made a muffled sound—my name, even through the gag.
She was begging for me.
And something inside my chest cracked. Hard.
Clara pointed at Bella.
"Logan, do you know this girl? She lied. She said she was your guest. She claimed she was your—"
"Release her."
My tone left no room for argument.
The guards jumped and started untying her right away.
"Logan!" Clara snapped. "She broke the law!"
"Clara," I said slowly, "you are not allowed to punish anyone. And she didn't break a damn thing."
"But—"
"That woman," I cut her off, pointing right at Bella, "is my mate."
Silence.
The guards froze.
Clara's face drained of color.
"What?"
I walked straight to Bella as they finished freeing her. She dropped to the floor, weak, shaking, her knees barely holding her up.
She looked… broken.
And it killed me.
I crouched down, wiped her tears with the handkerchief in my pocket, and whispered, "It's okay. I'm here."
Then I scooped her into my arms.
She grabbed onto me instantly—holding me so tight I could feel her nails dig into my shirt.
As if she needed me to breathe.
As if she thought I would disappear.
My chest squeezed with something raw and painful.
Jack purred inside me.
Mate is safe. Good. Hold her. Don't let go.
I didn't plan to.
I turned toward the door, ready to carry her out, but Clara stepped in front of me.
"What is happening, Logan?" she demanded. "Are you serious? She's your mate?"
"Yes."
"What about us?" She looked desperate. "What about our engagement?"
I swallowed hard. I hated hurting people. Especially someone I cared for.
"It changes everything," I said gently. "The engagement will still happen… but not between us."
Clara's mouth dropped open.
"No. No, Logan, listen to me—you're cursed. You could die. I'm the one meant to save you and the pack. You know I love you. And I know you love me too."
"I do," I said softly. "but not the way you want. You're my friend, Clara. You've always known I wanted to marry for love."
Jack growled again, low and warning.
Tell her to step back from our mate.
"Clara," I continued, "I know you care. And I'm grateful. But I won't let you throw your life away for me. You deserve someone who loves you back. That's not me."
She shook her head. "Logan—"
"I'm sorry."
I stepped past her and didn't look back.
Not once.
I carried Bella through the halls until I reached my room. My hands were shaking by the time we got there.
I laid her gently on the bed and removed the gag from her mouth.
Bella didn't even give me a second to breathe.
The moment the gag was gone, she launched straight into panic mode.
"Where were you?" she sobbed, clutching the bedsheet with shaking hands. "They were going to kill me!"
I let out a small breath, trying to keep things light. "I don't think they would've gone that far."
That was the wrong thing to say.
"Oh, what do you know?" she screamed. "She wanted to flog me—with a horse whip!"
Her whole body shook as she turned to face me. "She wanted to flog me! Even my parents bless their souls never hit me!" Her sobs came loud and messy, tearing straight out of her chest.
"Bella, calm down," I said carefully. "You're being dramatic."
The look she gave me could've cut skin.
"Dramatic?" She pointed at me, hands trembling. "You don't know what you're saying." Her breathing went ragged. "God, I want to go back. I can't do this anymore."
She clawed at her hair, kicking her legs wildly, panic swallowing her whole.
Before I could stop her, she slapped herself hard across the face.
"Hey—stop," I said quickly, moving closer.
"leave me alone!" she shouted, still sobbing, her hand lifting again.
I grabbed her wrists.
"That's enough!" I yelled. "You're going to hurt yourself!"
She ripped her hands from my grip and shoved me back. "Let me go!" she screamed. "How am I supposed to calm down when I don't even understand what the hell is going on?"
Then her voice broke completely.
"I just want to see my grandma," she whispered, collapsing in on herself. "I miss my grandma so much."
Jack growled in my head.
Fix it. Calm her. She's scared. Do something, Logan—
But before I could speak, Bella's eyes flew to mine—wide, red, pleading but angry.
"Well you can't see her now," I said gently but firmly. "You're not in America. Or… whatever you call it."
I sat beside her, voice low.
"This is Endorlave. My kingdom. And if you want to keep your neck, you need to listen to me."
She gasped and clutched the bed sheets.
"So now you're threatening me?" she shrieked. "I knew it! You want me dead!" She clasped her hands together and wailed toward the ceiling. "Holy Mary, please save your daughter! They want to kill me!"
"Oh for the love of—Bella, stop." I dragged a hand down my face. "Nobody is killing you."
Jack snorted.
She is dramatic… but adorable.
"Bella," I said, softer, "I'm trying to help you. You need to make a choice. My engagement party already started. I need a fiancée."
She froze, staring at me like I'd grown a second head.
"I guess…" she muttered, shoulders slumping, "…I don't really have a choice."
I nodded. "Good. Because I keep my promises. I will help you find your grandma. I'll get you home."
She frowned. "How? I don't even think she's in… whatever world this is."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
She climbed off the bed and began pacing like the floor had personally offended her.
"What do I mean? I just watched a man turn into a wolf. Not a costume—an actual wolf. And you people keep asking if I'm human like I'm supposed to be a fish or something. One minute I'm a witch, the next minute I'm a mystery. I'm confused. This feels like I fell into a very expensive, badly written movie."
I blinked. "…I don't understand. In your world, you don't have all that?"
"No," she said flatly. "They only exist in books and movies."
"So you're saying… only humans exist where you come from?"
"Yes. Because that's normal."
I snorted. "That sounds incredibly boring."
She scowled.
"Regardless," I continued, "you're in the Kingdom of Endorlave. Humans live here, yes—but so do werewolves, witches, fae, and far worse things. And me?" I straightened. "I'm Alpha Logan. Alpha of my pack. Alpha of all werewolves. And King of every supernatural being in this realm."
She stared at me.
"So," she said slowly, "you're telling me… you're a wolf. And what I saw earlier wasn't my brain malfunctioning."
"Correct," I said. "Seeing is believing. I can show you."
She hesitated. "I don't know… maybe—"
"I'll show you," I said, already letting go.
"Wait—don't—"
Too late.
Jack pushed forward inside me.
My bones cracked—
My spine lengthened—
Fur began to crawl over my skin—
Bella's mouth opened.
Then she screamed.
Not a scream—a siren.
A full-body, soul-leaving-the-chat scream.
Her eyes went so wide I thought they might actually pop out and roll across the floor. She staggered back, pointing at me like I was the devil himself.
"HELP ME! JESUS! EVERYTHING IS WRONG!" she shrieked.
Before I could finish shifting—
She fainted.
Just—boom.
Straight down.
I caught her before she hit the floor, the transformation halting instantly as I shifted back, cradling her in my arms.
A few minutes later, she blinked awake in my arms.
"What happened?" she whispered, holding her head. "Why is everything spinning?"
"You fainted," I said softly. "Are you okay? I didn't think you'd get that scared."
She looked up at me… then screamed again.
I sighed.
She shoved me away so fast I nearly fell.
"STAY AWAY FROM ME!"
She crawled backward on the floor like a terrified kitten.
Jack sighed.
She fears us. Fix it.
I stood slowly. "Bella… we don't have time for this. Get up. The maids are coming to prepare you."
She pushed herself up, still watching me like I had seven heads.
"Prepare me for what?"
"The party," I said. "It already started."
She blinked slowly.
"Oh… that," she murmured, arms wrapped around herself, eyes narrowing as if trying to read my thoughts.
I exhaled, keeping my voice low and steady. "Calm down. I won't hurt you. I swear."
"You promise?" she asked, still watching me like I was a predator.
"Yes," I said, letting a faint smile tug at my lips. "With my kingdom, my word is law."
Her posture softened just a fraction. "Okay… now, you were saying something about the engagement?" she asked, finally loosening up.
"Have you changed your mind?"
"No. I'm in. Just keep your promise. Get me back to my world."
"I will," I said. "But listen—there will be important guests. Including my parents. If they ask about your parents, tell them you're an orphan. We met last week during the moon festival. And don't answer anything else."
"Okay… I got it."
A knock sounded.
"Who is it?" I called.
"It's me, Alpha," a woman said.
"Come in, Maggie."
Three maids entered carrying dresses, bath items, and perfumes.
"She's the one," I told them. "Take good care of her."
Bella swallowed hard but followed them toward the door.
But when they opened it—
All of them froze at once.
Fear flashed across the maids' faces before they lowered their heads in a hurried bow.
Bella didn't. She just stood there, confused, glancing between them.
Something was wrong.
I frowned. "What is it?" I asked. "Is someone there?"
No one answered.
The door opened wider, and the figures stepped fully into the room.
That's when I saw them.
My parents.
And Clara.
Every muscle in my body tightened.
They didn't look surprised to see me—only furious. Controlled. Dangerous.
Bella stiffened beside the maids. I saw her hands curl into the fabric of her dress, her breathing hitching as she sensed the shift in the air.
My father's voice cut through the silence, sharp and cold.
"Logan," he said.
"We need to talk."
Jack stirred inside me, a low warning growl vibrating through my bones.
This… was not good.