*Hadley* I am awakened by Logan rubbing his nose along my jaw and his warm breath hitting my face. “Are you awake bubbles ?” “Hmm almost”. I mumble, my whole body feels heavy and relaxed ... honestly everything just feels perfect and I want to just stay in this warm happy moment. “You don’t look awake darling”. He chuckles softly, a big warm hand slipping up to rest on my stomach under the duvet. “You do look totally cute though”. I reach out blindly, letting my hand slide up his chest, caress his neck and come to rest on his cheek. “And you are amazing ... I just feel too good right now to want to get up”. “We don't have to get up, we are all alone and I already let the dogs out while you were sleeping”. He leans down and kisses me softly, then mumble against my lips. “We can snuggle up ... watch a movie or just ... talk”. “I’d like that, a lot”. I mumble back, before kissing him softly. Then my mouth moves to kiss and nibble down his neck, breathing in his scent. “Ouch, did y
Chapter 19 2 days later *Logan* I suddenly get that feeling -.. you know that someone is watching you ... so I turn and realise that Jax, AJ and Marshall are all standing in the doorway, staring at me. I turn off the vacuum cleaner and smile at them. “Hey guy, how was the trip ?” “You are vacuuming ?” AJ says, staring at the machine in my hand. “And he is wearing clean clothes”. Marshall scratches his neck. Jax gives me a look over. “And he has a hickey on his neck and is smiling like an idiot ... you two better have kept it to your bed”. I lift my finger, breathing in to say something, then stop myself trying to keep in the giggle. “A gentleman never tells ... we have watched Netflix all weekend”. “Yeah everything needs to be ... cleaned, with like ... no let’s just burn the place”. Jax shakes his head. “Where is she by the way ?” AJ looks around the room. “Logan, you did not like ... break her or something”. I stare at him. “Break her ? What the l.. what ?” He just gives
3 days later *Logan* “Sit down Logan ... you are stressing everyone”. Jax says pointing to the couch. “No one is going to hurt her”. “What if they ... if she gets upset ? If they ask her something bad, about me or about Ryan ?” I sit down, but feel how my food kinda bounces. Jax sighs. “She can handle herself, Hadley is a strong girl ...”. “Could we ... not call her a girl? It kinda makes her seem so young”. I mumble cutting him off. “... and she has Marshall with her”. He gives me a look. “Logan ... She is young, you have to come to terms with that. There is nothing wrong in your relationship, but if you want others to accept it, you need to first”. I breathe in slowly, dammit he is right. She needs me to be there fully and to be that I need to stop obsessing about the age thing. How do I expect others to be okay with it if I am not even okay with it myself ? “You are right Jax”. I nod. “We are both adults, we love each other and we have chosen to be together ... it is no on
4 days later *Hadley* “I don't like that host ... she seems to be hell bent on making him look bad”. I am squeezing AJ's hand, as we are watching Logan do a local evening talk show. Since my talk show appearance I have almost gotten only positive responses, but half of those still feel that Logan is too old and just using me, they seem to blame him and feel oh so sorry for me … the other half love us together, and keep telling me how lucky I am. I know the negativity hurts Logan, but he tries not to show it, especially not to me. “Yeah, she seems to be out for him ... he shouldn’t have gone on that show”. Jax mumbles biting his thumb. I shake my head. I wish he hadn’t said yes. But he didn’t want to go all the way to New York or LA and he had felt it was time he went public too and addressed some of the rumours and accusations. I just hate seeing him being pushed like this. “So Logan ... you wasted no time seducing Hadley after she finally got out of Ryan’s grasp ... “. The hos
*Hadley* I watch Jax grow pale as he talks on the phone, for some reason it makes my stomach knot up and I just know something bad has happened. As soon as he moves the phone from his ear I am over him. “Jax, what is it .. it’s Logan right ?” “Yeah”. He swallows hard as he nods. “Shit ! It seems he was attacked by three guys in the parking lot … he was trying to defend someone … he got beaten pretty badly”. “Was that him calling ? Do we need to pick him up somewhere ?” I feel panic rise inside and an instant need to hold Logan or to be in his arms. Jax breathes out slowly, his eyes shifting to AJ and then back to me. “Hadley, it wasn’t Logan ... he ... he can’t call ...”. A weird sound escapes his throat and I realise it's a sob. “It’s very bad sweetie, he is in a coma”. “No ...”. The panic explodes through my mouth in the form of hyperventilating gasps. “We need to go, I need to see him”. AJ instantly is beside me, holding me, which is good, because elseway I would probably
*Hadley* “Are you okay sweetie ? You want me to take you outside ?” AJ asks softly. He has picked me up and is currently sitting on a chair with me on his lap, my face buried in his shoulder. I shake my head, it had just been too much seeing Logan like that, with all the tubes and wires that are attached to him, his face, all battered, swollen and badly bruised. “I just ... too much ... I am okay now”. “Tell me if it gets too ... hard, no one will blame you for stepping outside for a moment”. He says softly. I lift my head and slowly turn it, shit I had not been able to imagine this. I mean he is almost unrecognizable. How could anyone hurt him like this, my sweet and warm hearted Logan ? It makes no sense. A doctor comes in and Marshall goes to shake his hand, explaining who everyone is and then asking. “So, what are we looking at ... how bad is it ?” “We managed to stop the bleeding from his liver and kidney, and the collapsed lung is functioning again. There are a couple of
*Logan* I remember the pain ... then darkness and I wonder if I am dead ... it is warm and nice, and suddenly I realize I am wandering through a sunny wheat field. My fingers are slowly running through the plants. This doesn’t look like Texas, more like ... Iowa or something, or I guess, even though I am not sure. But then I remember her Hadley. I need to find Hadley, my mate, my love and I start desperately searching for a way out of the field, but it seems to just go on forever. The wind is picking up and clouds gathering on the blue skies ... like nature itself is angry with me for wanting to leave. I don't know what it is or why, but I feel like something is coming ... not really like evil, but something I do not want to meet with, so I start walking faster and faster until I am running, feeling chased by ... what ... the wind, a feeling. Am I going crazy here ? My mind is trying to figure out what happened. I had been doing that interview, and it had honestly been rather h
*Logan* The moment I step through the door, the world shifts beneath my feet, and I find myself standing in a dense, misty forest. I turn around but the door is gone, and I wonder if that believe I am safe from whatever it is that is coming. I doubt it. The air is cool and damp, a stark contrast to the warm wheat field I have just left behind. The trees tower over me, ancient and whispering secrets in a language I cannot understand. It's both eerie and beautiful, like something out of a fairy tale, and I can't help but feel that Hadley would love it here, with her siren's heart that beats in tune with the mystical. I start walking, my feet moving of their own accord on a path covered in a carpet of moss and fallen leaves. It feels like I'm being guided, drawn forward by an invisible thread tied around my heart. I'm searching for Hadley, even though I know she isn’t here, but there's also something else, an underlying mission I can't quite grasp. The forest grows darker, the mist t
*Hadley* As the sun dips below the horizon, casting a warm glow over our backyard in Texas. Logan is playfully chasing our two-year-old son, Jasper, as he giggles and runs around in circles. I watch from the porch, a smile on my face. My hands resting on my pregnant belly. "Hey, troublemakers," I call out to Logan, catching his attention. He grins and walks over. "What's up, love of my life?" Logan asks. Taking a deep breath, I share, "I have something to tell you." I run my hand over my belly. Logan's eyes light up. "What is it?" With a smile, I reveal, "I went to the doctor today, and… we are going to have twins." Logan's joy is palpable. "Twins? That's amazing, love! Our family is growing rapidly." “Something doesn’t scare you.” I ask, raising a brow. He smiles and shakes his head. “Not the least, the more the marrier.” “Da da.” Jasper says pulling at Logan’s hand. “What twins?” Logan swings him up in his arms. “That, champ, means you are gonna have two brothers or sist
*Logan* I stretch out on the lounge chair in our backyard, the warm Texas sun bathing my skin in a golden glow. The gentle breeze rustles the leaves of the oak tree overhead, and for the first time in what feels like forever, peace settles in my bones. Blue lies at my feet, his ears twitching occasionally as he naps. Almost completely recovered now I can’t believe I actually died, like full on kicked the bucket… Calix sent me six feet under, well metaphorically, luckily no one buried me. The others explained how Hadley brought me back. "Hey, lazy wolf," Hadley's melodic voice breaks through the serene silence. I tilt my head back to see her standing at the back door, a playful smile dancing on her lips. Despite all we have been through, that smile never fails to make my heart race. "Hey yourself, songbird," I reply, grinning. "Come join me. The sun feels amazing." She walks over, it is like she has gained a new confidence in herself, a connection to her true self and her sirene
*Hadley* The words hang in the air, echoing in my mind, "I'm sorry." I struggle to breathe, my legs feel weak, but I force myself to stand, to face what's next. "What happened?" I manage to ask, my voice barely above a whisper. The doctor sighs, looking down at his hands. "He experienced severe cramps and stopped breathing. We did everything we could, but there was nothing more we could do. I'm truly sorry." “I need to see him,” I say. I know my heart won’t accept this unless I see it with my own eyes. The world blurs for a moment, my vision swimming with tears. Nick steps forward, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Hadley, maybe you shouldn't…" "No," I cut him off, my voice sharper than intended. "I need to see him." Nick hesitates, then nods. LZ looks at me, his eyes filled with sorrow, but he doesn't protest. Together, we step into Logan's room. The machines have been removed, leaving the room eerily quiet. Logan looks like he's sleeping, a peaceful expression on his face that
*Hadley*Ryan's grip tightens on LZ, and in that moment, I feel my world teetering on the edge of oblivion. LZ's eyes meet mine, a silent goodbye I refuse to accept. It's like the universe pauses, waiting for my move, a move I don't know how to make… until something deep inside me stirs.It's a weird sensation, like a hum in my blood, a melody that's been silent for too long finally bursting forth. I have never felt anything like it, I did not know I was capable… but it's as if every part of me recognizes this power, knows it's been mine all along, just waiting.I don't think; I react. My hand shoots up, not really knowing what I'm aiming for, only that I need to stop Ryan, save LZ, do something. The air around us seems to vibrate, and then, like breaking through the surface after being underwater for too long, I feel it unleash.Words, or maybe it's just pure sound, spills out of me. It doesn't make sense, but it doesn't have to. It's power, raw and ancient, a siren's call that no on
*Hadley*In the split second it takes for fear to crystallize in my veins, Nick, in his majestic wolf form, surges forward. His massive body barrels into the space between me and the descending enemy, intercepting the attack with a collision that echoes through the warehouse like a thunderclap.The force sends the enemy sprawling, thrown off course by the sheer might of Nick's intervention. His protective stance, a formidable barrier between me and harm, is a silent vow of safety in the chaos.Nick doesn't pause to savor the moment; his head swivels, amber eyes scanning for the next threat, always vigilant. I'm momentarily stunned by the primal power he embodies, the line between man and beast blurred in his protective ferocity.“Thanks,” I mumble softly. The wolf gives me a nod, and what looks like a wolfish grin.The battle rages on around us, a maelic dance of shadows flickering in the dim light. We're a team, moving with a synchronicity born of desperation and a mutual drive to sa
*Hadley*The parking lot is a cold, unforgiving space where my impatience battles with the freezing night air. I'm pacing, my footsteps echoing off the concrete, each step a sharp jab of frustration aimed at the sluggish passage of time. LZ's voice, steady and understanding, breaks through my internal storm. "I get it, Hadley. I do. But diving headfirst into danger without a plan is not going to help Logan. We need to be smart about this."I'm about to retort, the words perched on the tip of my tongue, when the sound of an approaching vehicle cuts me off. It's the old pick-up, rugged and worn, pulling into the space beside us with a sense of urgency that mirrors the frantic beating of my heart. Marshall jumps out, his presence a solid reassurance. "I've got Logan covered," he promises, and something in his tone, a fierce determination, eases a fraction of the tightness in my chest.I don't hesitate, climbing into the vehicle first, followed by LZ. The interior smells of leather and ol
*Hadley* The chaos unfolds with a speed that leaves my heart racing, the medical team's swift movements a blur around Logan's bed. I'm frozen, watching through a haze of fear as they work to stabilize him, the beeping of the machines escalating into a frenzy that mirrors the panic in my veins. LZ's grip on my shoulder is both a comfort and a reminder of the reality we're facing. "He has to be okay," I whisper, more a plea than a statement. The thought of losing Logan, of a world without his strength and love, is unbearable. But something suddenly hits me and beneath the layers of fear and desperation, anger starts to simmer…a fierce, burning rage against Ryan for orchestrating this nightmare. Once the immediate frenzy subsides and the doctors manage to stabilize Logan again, I pull LZ aside, away from the prying eyes and ears of the hospital staff. “What is it, Hadley?” He asks, clearly having read something on my face. "This is Ryan's doing, it has to be" I say, my voice low
*Logan* The sand beneath my feet is cool, a stark contrast to the heat racing through my veins. It’s been an endless journey, moving through those dreams that felt more like trials, each one a step closer to... what? Healing? Or my ultimate downfall? The fields, the forests, the ghostly city… all of it seemed like a twisted path laid out by fate, or perhaps by my own fractured psyche. My wolf, my on and off companion in this inner world, has been silent lately. He warned me, urged me to face my demons, to heal not just the flesh but the soul. I thought I was making progress, even felt strength coursing back into me. But now, that strength wanes, leaving a weariness so profound it feels like chains around my limbs. And then, suddenly, there's Hadley. My beacon in the darkest night. Her presence on this desolate beach is a balm to my tattered heart. “Logan,” She calls, waving at me. “There you are my love. Come here.” The sight of her, the sound of her voice, it's everything. I r
*Hadley* I am back at the hospital, sitting in the dimly lit hospital room, the soft beeps and whirs of machines composing a symphony of dread. The sterile scent of antiseptics does little to mask the underlying odor of despair that seems to cling to the walls. Logan, lies motionless on the bed, his once vibrant face pale and drawn, a stark contrast to the fierce, unyielding spirit he possesses. The rhythmic rise and fall of his chest is the only indication that life still clings to him, albeit by a thread. I reach out, my hand trembling as I brush a lock of hair from his forehead. His skin is cool under my touch, and I suppress a shiver. "Logan," I whisper, my voice breaking the oppressive silence. "Please, you have to fight this. You can't leave me alone." But he remains unresponsive, seemingly locked in a battle I cannot see, fighting demons in a realm I cannot reach. I had asked the nurse, because the last couple of days he has seemed to fade away i stead of getting better. But