Chapter 57

Harper’s POV

“I want you to let me mark you to prove you love me,” Logan hisses.

He didn’t just say that.

Right?

I stare at Logan and study the completely serious expression on his face as a sense of dread rises within me. A sharp pain flares in my shoulder, and I press my fingers to it, noting the heat that radiates there.

My mark hasn’t bothered me much lately, but at the mention of being marked again, I stumble back. My back hits the table, and memories of pain fill me. Burning, aching, and agonizing pain that makes me regret ever being marked in the first place.

Not only that, but I hesitate at the idea of being marked by Logan. This situation in itself shines a new light on Logan and the way he views our relationship. I don’t know if I want to be with someone who thinks they can control me, especially if they give me ultimatums like being marked when I’m not ready.

Who does something like that to their mate?

We don’t know each other that well, but I thought Logan at least cared about me enough not to force me into our mating.

“I-I don’t know…”

I feel the growing weight of eyes on me.

Logan’s eyes. Lucas’s eyes. Everyone’s eyes.

It’s all too much, and I don’t know what to do. I haven’t even gotten the first mark removed, and at this point, I’m not sure I ever will. Logan knows that it’s an issue, yet he’s still trying to get me to let him mark me.

Do I really want to create a bond with someone like this?

I want to ask Logan to rethink his ultimatum, but Lucas growls and pushes between the two of us. He moves in front of me, holding an arm out as if he’s trying to protect me from Logan.

Lucas’s POV

Everything in me revolts at Logan’s words, especially as the slight scent of fear fills the air around us. Harper’s eyes widen, and her hands grip the table, turning white. I can hear her heartbeat begin to grow faster as she looks between me and Logan.

“I-I don’t know…”

Her voice shakes and her pupils shrink.

“He can’t force her to mate with him,” my wolf growls, his hackles rising as he turns his attention to Harper— Harper, who is currently slipping into a state of what seems to be fear.

Before I can stop him, my wolf pushes forward in rage. We move between Logan and Harper, moving her behind me in case Logan has any other ridiculous ideas.

“What do you think you’re doing, Logan?” My wolf growls, using my voice to be heard. I let him take control while focusing my other senses on the rattled woman behind me.

Something touches my lower back, and when it tightens into the back of my shirt, I realize Harper is holding onto me.

“What am I doing?” Logan asks. “I’m trying to keep my mate from making a mistake!”

“By forcing her to mate with you? What kind of man does that?” My wolf demands. He pushes out body forward but doesn’t move any further when Harper’s grip on our shirt tightens. If she wants us here, we won’t leave her.

Not with a possible hostile right here.

“It’s not your concern, Lucas,” Logan says, glaring up at me.

“As Alpha, it is. If you’re trying to force a mating bond or a physical mating, it is my duty to protect Harper,” I snarl, pushing him back. Logan stumbles back and nearly falls before he catches himself and stands straight.

The lunch crowd took a hint and cleared out, leaving just the three of us in the dining hall. Harper stays right behind me, not moving away from my protection, and my wolf growls in satisfaction.

He and I both like that she trusts us.

“You cannot just force a woman to listen to you like this,” my wolf tells Logan. “No matter what you want, she has a choice in the matter and shouldn’t be given an impossible choice like this. You know what Harper has been through.”

Logan pauses at that, but he doesn’t back down.

“I need time to think,” Harper speaks, leaning to the side and looking between the two of us. “I-I’m leaving now.”

Before Logan and I can say anything, she scurries away and runs from the room. My wolf gives way after one last snarl at Logan and lets me take control again.

“Now look what you’ve done,” Logan accuses, pointing to the doorway.

“I haven’t done anything except point out that you’re treating your mate with disrespect.”

The rage that fills Logan’s eyes as he stalks toward me is brighter than any anger that I’ve ever seen in him. I understand that mates care for each other, but with the way Logan is treating Harper, he keeps contradicting himself. It’s aggravating.

“What you’re doing, Alpha,” he hisses, “Is showing me just how much you care for my mate. I need to warn you not to have improper intentions toward your fiancé’s sister. She’s mine—”

My fist swings forward, colliding with his face before I know what’s going on. He flies back and slams into the wall.

Then, he darts forward, grabs me, and shoves me back. Logan tries to punch me, but I dodge and duck under his arm. With a spin, I jam my elbow in his ribs. He gasps then doubles over while still trying to hit me.

“Give it up, Logan. You won’t be winning a fight against me, especially if it comes from a place of anger,” I tell him, dodging two more punches and spinning him around when he goes to run into me.

Grabbing him by the back of the neck, I push Logan face first into the wall. He grunts and tries to free himself, but like I said, he can’t win against me. He’s never been strong enough to take me on.

“Everything I’ve done is to help Harper. If she retrieves her wolf, she’ll have the other half of her soul back, which is something she desperately wants,” I tell him. He glares at me again, and I see the flicker of fear in his eyes. “Or are you so afraid Harper will find her wolf that you worry you two are not true mates?”

Logan’s eyes widen, and he growls.

“This isn’t any of your business!”

Finally, I release Logan and watch as he runs away.

“Coward,” my wolf rumbles, and I can’t help but agree. Anyone who treats their mate like Logan just did is a coward. And now I wonder if I’m right about him. Is he scared that Harper will find something wrong with their bond?

It also makes me wonder what I feel for Harper. Lately, each time I’m near her, I find myself drawn to Harper. It’s like she’s a magnet that pulls me in, and I don’t know what to do about it. I shouldn’t feel this way for anyone other than my mate, yet here I am, wanting another woman.

I want Harper.