“Yes, you did, and there’s no need to apologise. The rules we’ve implemented, the things my pack and others think are okay to do... make me ashamed to be a shifter.” He squeezed Cole’s fingers, then lifted them to his mouth and kissed his knuckles. “I hated the way we were treated before the packs took over, but now we’re just as bad. There needs to be a happy medium, a mix of shifters and humans in the government and all the positions that hold power.” Sighing, he set their joined hands in his lap. “But I don’t want people to die. There was enough of that last time.”
“They aren’t going to give up their power now they have it.”
“I know.”
“There must be people who want to fight back. Among all the people who helped me escape, who helped the others before me escape, surely some of them must think about taking it back?”
They were headed into dangerous territory. “I don’t know, and I don’t want to. Not that they’d tell me anyway. I might help with the cause, but I’m still a shifter.” He rubbed his thumb over the back of Cole’s knuckles, marvelling at how soft his hands were. “There are a lot of shifters who don’t deserve to call themselves pack. They do what’s best for them, not the good of everyone. But there are far more who just wanted to be able to live like we used to. Equal treatment for both humans and shifters alike.”
“It’s a shame you can’t all band together and form a coup.” His tone had an edge to it, and Logan turned to look at him.
“I know it sounds simple, but it’s not. Far from it. No shifter wants to betray their alpha or their pack.” Logan struggled with it for a long time. Still did. “It’s not an easy instinct to overcome.”
“Pity.”
The mood between them was turning sour, and this was not how he wanted to spend their last night together. “I leave tomorrow,” he said, voice soft, coaxing. “Let’s not spend tonight fighting about something we have no control over.”
“Tomorrow?” Cole looked stricken. “But—”
“Shh.” Logan put his fingers to Cole’s lips. “I’m healed. My pack expects me back. Staying longer would only arouse more suspicion. And we can’t afford that.” He stood and held out his hand. “Come run with me?”
Cole nodded and placed his hand in Logan’s, grip painfully tight. “Okay.”
THE NIGHT SKY was clearer than Cole had ever seen it. The moon, full and bright, had never looked more beautiful. He felt the pull—exactly like Logan said he would. It started behind his rib cage, spreading out to the tips of his fingers and toes until his whole body was practically vibrating.
His skin felt too tight, and he rubbed at his arms, trying to relax.
And failing.
“Hey.” Logan took his hand as they walked down the path to the beach. “It’s okay to be nervous.”
“Nervous?” Cole laughed a little hysterically. “I’m terrified.”
“It’ll be okay,” Logan soothed. “Instinct will guide you.”
Cole huffed. “Instinct. That’s easy for you to say.”
“Sorry.” Logan squeezed his hand. “Trust me. It’ll be okay.”
“Mhmm.” Cole smiled as Logan’s words hit home, because he did. Trust Logan. With his life. “I trust you.”
They reached the beach and came to a halt.
Logan turned to him. “I trust you too.” He leaned in and placed a soft, lingering kiss on Cole’s mouth.
Cole leaned into it, wanting to prolong the moment, not just to put off the inevitable but because kissing Logan was a balm to his soul.
But Logan stepped back and pulled off his T-shirt, then gestured for Cole to do the same. “Unless you want to walk back naked after?”
Oh.
Cole hurried to strip off his T-shirt, then watched as Logan eased out of his shorts.
He wasn’t wearing underwear.
Standing there naked under the moonlight, Logan seemed otherworldly. His skin glowed, muscles taut and perfectly defined, making him seem every bit the supernatural creature he was.
That I am.
