LOGAN

Crimson-tinged water swirls the drain at my feet, standing out in contrast to the dingy white tile of the shower floor. At least this motel is slightly less shitty than some of the places we've stayed at while on the road for the past few months. Part of keeping a low profile means settling for seedy accommodations, the types of places where you can get away with paying in cash rather than putting down a credit card. Without knowing what types of resources the groups we've been hunting have at their disposal, we've erred on the side of caution to avoid leaving a paper trail.

My team and I have been away on this mission for almost four months now. We've been systematically hunting and eliminating splinter groups left behind from the shadow pack, a bunch of extremists that aimed to overtake every shifter pack in the country. The alliance of shifter packs that I'm a part of went to war with them about six months ago and won, but even in the wake of taking out their leader, splinter groups started cropping up with the same agenda in mind. That's why we were sent out on this mission- to eliminate the sects of loyalists before they have the opportunity to amass more numbers and become a real threat.

It's not a glamorous assignment. It's a bloody, brutal business, which is why a special team was selected for this mission; warriors who not only have the skills, but the stomach to handle it. We hit the last of the known splinter groups today, which means that our time on the road is finally coming to an end. Thank fuck. I'm ready to get back home for some R&R before we're sent out again.

The water at my feet finally runs clear, signaling that I've rinsed the last of the blood off my skin, and I hurriedly begin soaping up my body and shampooing my hair. That's another downside to these shoddy motels- with the whole team returning to shower at the same time, hot water is a precious commodity. I've learned to perfect the art of the five-minute shower, even though all I really want to do is stand under the scalding stream for a good half hour to clear my mind and relax my aching muscles.

It's a good thing I don't give into that temptation, because the water is tepid by the time I rinse the last of the shampoo out of my hair. After shutting it off and climbing out over the lip of the bathtub, I towel off and throw on the clean pair of boxer briefs I left on the edge of the sink before stepping back into my motel room to rummage through my duffel for some clothes. I'm in the midst of pulling on a t-shirt and a pair of sweats when a knock sounds at the door; three quick raps, then a pause before a fourth. Our team's code that it's one of us.

Tugging my t-shirt down my torso and running a hand through my damp hair, I stride over to the door, removing the chain lock before turning the knob and pulling it open. The rusty hinges creak, and I'm greeted by a pair of mischievous green eyes on the other side.

"Hey, boss!" Emory chirps, flashing me a bright smile.

I tip my head in greeting. "Em."

She brings a hand out from behind her back, clasping the neck of a half-empty whiskey bottle. Raising it between us, she tilts it back and forth, the amber liquid sloshing inside. "Have a celebratory drink with me?"

I lean a shoulder against the doorframe, considering. This isn't the first time Emory has stopped by my room while on the mission, but as the team leader, I've always put business first and politely refused her advances. Not that it's stopped us from flirting shamelessly. My eyes unwittingly drop down her body, taking in her bare legs, the curve of her hips, the swell of her breasts. She's in nothing but socks, a little pair of cotton shorts, and a thin grey tank top, her hard nipples pushing at the fabric. Her skin is deliciously tanned from long days in the sun, and her dark hair falls down over her shoulders in loose waves, the ends skimming her collarbones. She's got the kind of lips I want to sink my teeth into- full and plump, begging to be kissed, and her striking green eyes are framed by thick dark lashes, peering up at me in question while she awaits my answer.