Page 73 of Shadow of Fury

“She was just a kid then.”

“Yes, but oftentimes fate sets things in motion long before the bond sparks. You should recognize that truth yourself now, don’t you think?”

“Touche.” Logan snorted.

“My point is, Dominic has cared about Vivian for as long as I can remember. Those feelings are what will form the basis of their bond and it’ll help it grow into something bigger, something more, so that they can learn to love one another and make a life together.”

Logan stared out over the field, not saying what he was thinking. He knew Dominic better than anyone and he knew that his friend revered the mating bond. He would claim Vivian because it was what fate intended and he might even learn to love her. But he didn’t love the baby that was growing inside of her. That baby was proof that she’d been with another man even though she was meant to be his. Dominic was angry and hurt by the secret Vivian had been keeping and it was going to take a lot of fate’s magic to make their mating work.

Darren must have sensed Logan’s change in mood because he patted him on the back, “Come on. It’ll start getting dark soon and I’m not as young as I used to be. I’d like to be back on level ground before it gets dark.”

“Yeah, of course, let’s head back.” Logan agreed.

“I’m sure your mate is wondering where you are.” Darren smiled as they fell into step together.

“I told her where I was and what I was doing but you’re right, I’m sure there’s some mating ceremony decision that she wants me to make.”

“Ah, wedding planning. It’s good you two are going the traditional route and performing the ceremony on the first new moon. It’ll be good for the pack to see you mated and settled.”

“Wren wasn’t wild about doing it so soon after the funeral and what with all the horrible truths about my father that have come to light, but the pack needs a reason to celebrate.”

“And you want to show your mate off as the new Pack Queen.” Darren nodded knowingly.

“I want the pack to see that we’re not my parents. We’re happy together. We’re in love. And we want the best for our friends and family.”

“I think that’s exactly what the pack needs. You’re going to be a great Alpha and that mate of yours is strong and tenacious. She’ll be a great Queen too.”

“She will.” Logan agreed.

His heart reached out through the bond to search for Wren. He felt the connection between them even at a distance now and it grew stronger every day. They weren’t starting over, but they were starting something completely new. A life together where there were no more secrets and no more lies to come between them.

Despite all the heartache and horrors that they’d faced, they had found one another and now, there was nothing that could tear them apart.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Wren held tight to Logan’s hand as he pulled the SUV to a stop in the large circle driveway. Her heart was pounding with dread and she felt sick to her stomach. She hadn’t wanted to come here but Vivian had insisted. She’d only been out of the hospital for a few days and was under strict orders to take it easy so Wren would have felt like an absolute wench if she refused her soon to be sister-in-law but still, if she’d been the one behind the wheel she would have turned the car around at the first sight of those big, imposing columns leading to the front door of the Kemp family home.

Logan had promised not to leave her side and the reassuring pressure of his hand in hers was enough to keep her from falling apart the moment she was faced with entering the house where Lark had spent her last night alive.

“We don’t have to stay long. Viv said she had a wedding present for us. We’ll get it, check if she needs anything and then get out of here. Promise.”

Wren turned to Logan with a thankfulness she wasn’t sure she could put into words, “Okay.”

He had to release her hand to get out of the car but she sat exactly where she was and waited for him to come around and open the door for her. He helped her out and laced their fingers together. He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head before whispering in her ear.

“You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met. You can do this.”

“So can you.” She nodded, knowing that being in his childhood home was traumatic for him as well.

As they turned to head towards the door, it swung open and Vivian stepped out to greet them. She was wearing an oversized tee and leggings again which Wren realized now was the only thing she had ever seen the younger woman wear. She wondered briefly if the clothing choices were an effort to hide the pregnancy that neither she nor Logan seemed to want to talk about, but she didn’t dare ask. They weren’t that close yet, though she did hope that someday she and Vivian would be able to forge a true sisterly bond. In an effort to keep that possibility alive, she didn’t search the billows of the too-big shirt to see just how rounded Vivian’s stomach might be and instead focused on her bright smile and twinkling hazel eyes.

“Eeek!” she squealed with delight, “You’re finally here!”

Logan harrumphed as his sister wrapped an arm around his neck and squeezed, “We’re here, as requested, but you don’t look as exhausted as you made yourself seem on the phone.”

“Don’t I?” Vivian pulled back, lips curving upwards despite a clear attempt not to grin.

“You know you could have just come into town to meet us and…” Logan started but Vivian had already abandoned him to focus on Wren.

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