Claiming My Wolf
Chapter 36

~~Sadie’s PoV~~

Logan’s already waiting for me when I get back to the pack house, and he gives me a warm smile when he sees me. He’s smiling a lot more lately and it really suits him.

“Do you want to help me make some popcorn?” he asks as we walk together to the big kitchen where all the meals are prepared for everyone in the house. “I kind of suck at cooking.”

“Making popcorn isn’t exactly cooking,” I point out with a laugh. “I don’t think you can really do it wrong.”

“Challenge accepted,” he grins, and we both laugh as he pulls a popcorn popper out of the cupboard and goes in search of the kernels to get started.

This is the first time we’ve been alone together in almost a week, since that night in the woods where he dropped me back off at my house and kissed my cheek. We’ve been so busy since then and Micah’s been with us all the time, so there hasn’t been any chance to find out if he had actually wanted to k**s something other than my cheek that night.

He hasn’t done anything since then to indicate that he sees me as anything other than a friend. He’s friendly with me at school, but he’s friendly with everyone else too. Everyone’s really happy about how much he’s changed in the last couple of weeks. Ava told me yesterday that it must be because of me, but I think that’s an exaggeration. I think it has a lot more to do with him feeling like he’s got a purpose again with all the things going on and the mission we’re planning.

He finds the popcorn now and brings it over, measuring some out into the popper, then switches it on while he looks for butter and garlic salt. I’m not so sure about the garlic salt, but he promises I’m going to love it.

Garlic isn’t something you offer to someone you’re planning to k**s later, I can’t help thinking. I guess that’s not something he has in mind.

When he’s found everything, he comes back over and puts it all down on the counter while the popcorn kernels keep spinning around in the hot air popper. “I’m doing the right thing here, aren’t I?” he asks me, looking really serious all of a sudden.

“With the popcorn?” I ask in confusion. I feel like I’ve missed something.

He smiles again, shaking his head. “No, sorry. I just mean with Micah, sending him out on his own. I feel pretty sure about it, but then I think if something goes wrong…”

The worry and the guilt in his voice tugs at my heart, and I put my hand on his on top of the counter to comfort him. “He knows the risks,” I point out. “He’s making the choice, and you’ve done everything you can to support him. There are always going to be things in life you can’t control, especially if you’re going to be in charge of this whole pack someday.”

His lips tighten and that flash of pain runs through his eyes, the same one I’ve seen before. “I know that, but I’ve made the wrong choice before. I don’t want to…”

I don’t know what comes over me, but I’m so eager to get him to stop doubting himself, to make sure that not another word leaves his mouth, that I place my lips on his to shut him up.

Logan tenses in surprise, and for a second I think he’s going to pull away from me. But he doesn’t.

He k****s me back instead, sending little flickers of electricity running through my whole body. His hand cradles the back of my head as he pulls me a little bit closer, and I feel almost like I’m drowning. I need air, but I don’t want it. I don’t want him to stop.

His tongue runs gently along the seam of my lips and I open them just enough for his tongue to find mine, sending another cascade of little tingles down my spine. My arms go around his neck as his free hand grabs my waist and it’s the best k**s I’ve ever had, without a doubt.

At least it is until I start to smell something burning.

Logan must smell it at the same time because he pulls back from me with wide eyes. “Oh, f**k!”

We both turn to where the popcorn maker is billowing out clouds of grey smoke. He frantically unplugs the machine while I grab the spray hose from the sink, dousing the overheated kernels before they can set off the fire alarm and send the whole house into a panic.

When the smoke clears, Logan and I look at each other, and we both burst out laughing.

“I told you I could ruin it,” he manages to say, which only makes me laugh harder.

“How is that even possible?” I tease him.

He examines the machine and gives me a sheepish look. “I think I forgot to open up the chute for the popcorn to come out of.”

That sets us off laughing again, which is when Micah walks in.

“What’s so funny?” he asks, just as his nose starts twitching. “And what the f**k is that smell?”

Logan and I just laugh harder, leaving Micah confused. “Let’s just have some chips,” Logan suggests, grabbing a bag from the cupboard and a bowl from the counter. “It’s much safer.”

With our snacks in place, the three of us head to the pack house lounge where there’s a big screen TV and a bunch of comfy chairs and couches. I’m hoping that Logan will sit beside me, especially after that k**s we just shared, but he grabs one of the big chairs, so Micah and I follow suit, each of us in our own chair.

We all talk and make jokes through the movie, which is just what I wanted, something that doesn’t require too much brain power to follow. Logan’s as friendly to me as always, but he never quite meets my eye.

“Fine,” I lie. “Come on, let’s go.”

I hope that when the movie’s over he’ll ask me to stay a bit longer. I want to k**s him again, I can’t deny that, but I also want to just talk to him about it. What is he thinking about what happened between us?

But when the credits finish rolling, he stands up and flicks on the lights. “We should all get some rest,” he says, speaking to Micah more than me. “We’ve got an early start.”

We’re planning on taking a trip off the pack territory, the three of us, so it’s not suspicious that Micah’s leaving. Then once we’re gone, he’ll renounce his link to the pack. They both talk about it like it’s something very dramatic, so I have to admit I’m curious to see what happens.

Micah nods. “I’ll walk you home, Sadie.”

I look over at Logan to see if he’ll object to that, but he just nods. “Sounds good. See you both in the morning.”

And then he just walks away without another word.

“Everything okay?” Micah asks, watching me closely, and I realize I must have been frowning after Logan’s retreating form.

“Fine,” I lie. “Come on, let’s go.”

It’s dark out now so Micah doesn’t say much on the walk home, he’s too busy keeping an eye out for trouble. He really does care about keeping me safe. He’s a much better guy than he initially showed himself to be.

When we get to my house, I’m ready to say goodnight and head in, but he stops me. “Sadie, there’s something I want to say to you before tomorrow. I don’t know how things are going to go, and I think I’d regret it if I didn’t say it.”

I’ve never heard Micah sound like this before. He almost sounds nervous.

“Sure, go ahead,” I tell him, trying to put him at ease.

He takes a deep breath. “I know I was a complete a*****e to you when you got here, and I wouldn’t blame you if you hate me.”

Is that what he’s worried about? “You already apologized to me,” I reminded him. “And I’ve forgiven you. We’re good, right? I thought we were good.”

“We are,” he quickly agrees. “But I just thought maybe… we could be something more than good?”

I don’t understand. “What do you mean?”

He grimaces, like that wasn’t the answer he was hoping for. “I mean, I like you Sadie. As more than a friend.”

What? This is completely out of the blue. Have I been so focused on Logan that I’ve missed any signs Micah was giving me?

But before I can figure out what to say, he leans down and k****s me.