Claiming My Wolf
Chapter 45

~~Logan’s PoV~~

I wait by my phone all night for Micah’s call, but when it comes, it’s not the news either of us wanted.

“The guy didn’t show,” he growls into the phone. “I wasted the whole night waiting until finally they told me he’d been held up by something and couldn’t get away. They promise he’ll show up tomorrow instead.”

That was frustrating, but there really wasn’t anything we could do about it other than wait and try again tomorrow. “Thanks, Micah. I might not be able to get to my phone right away tomorrow because of the party, but leave a message when you know anything.”

“Right. Happy birthday, man,” he tells me. “Sorry I’m going to miss it.”

“Yeah, me too.” It’ll be weird not having Micah there, we’ve been at each other’s parties our whole lives.

After we hang up, I go down to talk to my dad, just to see if there’s any news, but he’s in an emergency meeting with Beta Aldric and the defense team. They figure someone might try to attack tomorrow during the party while we’re all distracted, so my dad wants extra security. There’s not much I can contribute to that discussion, so I leave them alone and go back to my room.

For about the hundredth time this week, I pick up my phone to call Sadie and then put it down again. Things are weird between us right now, and I don’t know how to fix it. I miss talking to her. It’s actually kind of crazy how much I miss it, considering we really haven’t known each other that long.

The next day is a rush of activity. I still have to go to school, of course, but it feels like every single person in the whole pack wants to come up and wish me a happy birthday. I know they all mean it sincerely so I’m as gracious as I can be about the whole thing. When school ends, I’m relieved to go home, but the pack house is even worse, full of people setting up for the party and wanting a bit of my time. By the time I get to my room to change for the night, I’m already exhausted.

I put on my best shirt, a deep green color that my mom used to say looked good with my eyes, and a pair of black dress pants, spend a little bit of time on my hair, and head back downstairs. I’m impressed with what Blair and Tonya have put together, and when they spot me and come to see what I think, I tell them honestly that it’s amazing.

They’ve set up big tents in the back yard of the pack house with lights strung all around. There’s tables full of food and a big dance floor with a DJ and even a photo booth, for some reason. If it had been left up to me, it would have been a plate of hamburgers and Spotify hooked up to some speakers. I’m glad I asked them to look after it.

People start arriving and of course they all want to talk to me too. I try to keep an eye out for Sadie, but it’s impossible, there’s just too many people. The Millers all come over to congratulate me but Sadie’s not with them.

“Did Sadie come?” I ask Ava quietly before they step away. She said she would, but maybe she changed her mind.

“She’s here,” Ava tells me. “I think she just went to get some food.”

That reminds me that I’m hungry too, so I manage to break away and head for the food table and that’s where I see her.

She’s wearing a mid-length silver dress that shines under the lights, her dark hair done up in a big braided pattern. I have no idea what it’s called, but it looks nice. I want to tell her so, but I hold myself back.

“Hey,” I greet her casually, trying to pretend I haven’t been looking for her all night.

“Hey yourself.” She gives me a warm smile. “You’re certainly Mr Popular tonight.”

I shrug. “One night a year, I guess.”

She laughs. “I don’t know about that. They all really love you. The whole pack, I mean.”

They do. It’s one of the best things about being in a pack, and I hope she can see that. “I care about them all too. More than anything.”

Her smile falters just a bit. “Yeah, I get that. Well, happy birthday, Logan.”

s**t. I just realized what that sounded like, and I try to stop her from walking away, but someone else grabs my shoulder, wanting to say happy birthday, and I have no choice but to turn and smile politely even though I’m kicking myself internally.

Finally it’s time for my wolf to appear and as I stand up in front of the crowd, feeling all their energy and attention focused on me, for the first time I really stop and appreciate this day for what it is. This is the day I’ve been waiting my whole life for, the day I’ll finally be a fully-fledged werewolf.

The sun dips below the horizon and I feel a strange tightening feeling in my head, and then I hear him.

Logan. The voice in my head is deep, even deeper than my own, and full of authority. I’m here.

What’s your name? I answer, full of joy.

Shadow. The goddess has great plans for you, for us both.

Really? I wasn’t expecting him to say anything like that, but I’m excited to hear it, of course. But first, I want to give him a warning. There’s something wrong with the mate bonds right now. So even if you think you see our mate, it’s probably not true.

He’s silent for a moment as my eyes scan the crowd, letting him take a look. Finally he answers me. I don’t see her.

That’s a relief, I guess. At least I don’t have to deal with disappointing anyone.

I strip down to my underwear and complete my first shift for the pack, which is what everyone’s here to see. There’s a great cheer among everyone as I take my wolf form, and I let Shadow take control, running through the woods to the lake where I can see myself reflected. My wolf is big and midnight black, and I feel almost complete.

But only almost, because there’s still something missing.

And suddenly, I know exactly what it is.

When I get back to the party, some people are dancing and others, mostly those with little kids, are leaving. I shift back and get dressed again before going to find Sadie. She’s with her friends again, and once again I intrude to ask to speak to her alone.

We go into the pack house library and she gives me a teasing smile. “If you keep doing that, people are going to think there’s something going on between us.”

“Maybe they should think that,” I hear myself saying.

Sadie’s eyes widen, her smile vanishing into uncertainty. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I’ve been an i***t, Sadie, and I’m sorry. You were right.”

“About what?” She’s still not sure what I’m trying to say, which is totally my fault. I guess I’m not saying it very well.

“I want there to be something going on between us. I like you, Sadie, and I’m tired of pretending I don’t.”

And then I k**s her, and somehow it’s even better than it was the first time. I can feel Shadow’s contentment in my head too. Maybe that means she’s my mate and maybe it doesn’t. But for the first time, I don’t really care.