Fighting for Power (Howl of the Elements: Book One)

Chapter 26

***picture of Elliot***

Chapter 26:

Logan had spent a long time catching up with his sister. He had longed for this moment, and it finally arrived. Natalie's boyfriend, Elliot, had joined them after a while. It took a while for Logan's nephew to warm up to him, though, but he had expected that. The little boy, Xavier, was nearly two years old and had no memory of Logan since he was just a newborn when they had fled.

It also didn't escape Logan's awareness how close Layla and Shawn were being on the other side of the chamber. A foreign feeling tugged at his chest when he had noticed that. He had never felt this way before, so it just added confusion on top of it.

Everyone began to get tired, and Logan gave Natalie a hug goodnight before slowly walking away to find an unoccupied area to rest. His thoughts were set on wanting to talk to Layla, but he decided it would be best to leave her alone. If she wanted to be with Shawn, then that was her choice. He had no say in the situation. They were mates. It wasn't his place to step in and make a mess of things.

Finding an empty area at the far edge of the chamber, he lowered himself down and laid down on his back with his hands under his head. He was exhausted, yet he knew he would have a hard time sleeping. There was way too much on his mind, and the floor of a cave was not one of the most comfortable places to try to sleep.

A shadow cast over him, and he glimpsed up to see Layla standing over him. She had a large, ragged piece of cloth in her arms and a smile sprawled across her face. Instantly, the fluttering feeling of butterflies hit Logan's stomach, and he leaned himself up onto his elbows.

"Uh, hey," he managed to mumble.

"Hey yourself. Care if I join ya?"

Not expecting that response, Logan sat there silently not knowing what to say. Layla began to fidget nervously the longer she waited for his answer.

"I'm guessing that's a no. Sorry for disturbing you. You can keep the blanket, though," her tone held little emotion as she shoved the cloth towards him and turned around to walk away.

Logan's mouth gaped open and he quickly stuttered out a reply, "I wasn't saying no. I was just...just not sure if that would be the best idea since...you know..."

Layla stopped walking and glanced over her shoulder, "What do you mean?"

"Shawn's here. You were just snuggled up to him. He's your mate, Layla. You and I shouldn't sleep next to each other. That would just be wrong. Go back to your boyfriend," Logan couldn't meet her eyes as he snapped out the last words.

Although he wasn't looking at her, he could feel her deathly glare as she spoke, "I thought we kind of had something, but I guess I was mistaken. You're right. I should go back to Shawn, and if that's what you really want then I'll do it. I wasn't committed to him yet, but maybe now I will be."

She stomped away, leaving Logan to his own thoughts that were now kicking him in the ass for what he had just said. Being next to Layla was all that he wanted at the moment, but his words had held some truth. The two of them were not meant to be together, and it would just cause issues if they got any deeper into this messed up situation than they already were.

***

After the town meeting, Rocco still wasn't any closer to finding his son than before. There was only one other option he could think of at the moment, and that is why he had called Callie to his house. She had just arrived, and one look at her showed that she had lost all of her confidence with Logan's absence.

Her face was pale, and her posture showed vulnerability. Logan had been her source of moving up the power ladder. Being his mate had given her an automatic Queen Bee status amongst the younger generation, but with him leaving everyone now just looked at her with pity. She had become the laughing stock of the other teenage girls. They were always whispering in each other's ears whenever she would walk by.

"You wanted to see me, sir?"

"Yes, have a seat," Rocco gestured to one of the overstuffed brown leather chairs across from where he was sitting in his living room.

Moving slowly, Callie did as she was told and sat down. She folded her hands across her lap and looked nervously at her alpha.

"Right now the only thing I can think of to get our Logan to return home is you," the corner of his lips twitched upwards as his plan started to unfold in his head.

"Me?" she squeaked, her face held an obvious look of shock.

"Yes, you. You are his only weakness here. Right now my son resents me, but I know he still adores you deep down. We will use that weakness to our advantage. I want you to go out searching for him. Display the biggest vulnerable act you can manage, and maybe he will see it or his wolf will instinctively lead him to you. Say or do whatever it takes to get him back. Will you do it?" Rocco leaned back in his own chair and studied her reaction.

Callie hesitated for only a moment before saying, "I'm not sure if it will work, but I will do anything to have Logan back. I will give it my best shot."

"Good. Go get some sleep, and we will pack you up some food and supplies in the morning for you to head out right away," he nodded towards the door as his indication that it was time for her to leave.

Smiling for the first time in a while, Callie fiercely nodded her head in agreement and practically skipped out of the door. Her excitement about the possibility of finding her boyfriend was bursting out from her. This was her chance to regain her title of being the future alpha female. There was no way in hell that she was going to mess this up this time.

A/N: With the book winding down to an end, is there anything that you readers would like to see happen? Comment below and if it plays in with what I have planned, I might include it into the story :)