Crown and Shackles: The Princes Mate (Story Updated)

Fractured Hearts, Fragile Beginnings

"Enough!" Logan's voice exploded through the clearing like a thunderclap.

Every wolf dropped instantly, bowing their heads-except me. I stood there, frozen, biting down on my lip so hard I tasted blood. My chest was tight, my heart racing. I shut my eyes and silently begged for this moment to disappear.

Then his voice cracked through the silence, hoarse and confused.

"What's going on?"

"King Logan," Sam began cautiously. "We met the rogues, but-"

King Logan? I blinked. Since when? What happened while I was gone?

"I gave an order," Logan growled. "Why have you delayed?"

"We ran into an issue, and-" Sam tried.

"I don't want your excuses!" Logan snapped, tone sharp and cold. "I told you to take them out!"

That voice-it didn't sound like the wolf who used to hold me at night and whisper dreams into my hair. No. This was someone else. Hardened. Changed.

He cheated, I reminded myself. He broke me. Don't forget that.

"But Logan-"

"I said eliminate them!" he roared-and lunged forward.

I barely saw it happen. But Sam did.

He threw himself in front of me.

The impact of Logan's claws hit Sam in the shoulder, sending him to the ground with a cry of pain. The momentum knocked me back, and I landed hard on my backside with a painful thud.

"NO!" My mother, Taylor, and the others screamed.

Logan skidded to a stop.

And then our eyes met.

His face paled. Horror flooded his features. His mouth parted, his body trembling.

"Ally?" he breathed.

He stumbled back into a tree like he didn't trust his own eyes. The feral edge vanished from his expression. For the first time in a month, I saw something familiar in him-something real.

Then, like the universe had perfect timing, another contraction slammed through my body.

I curled forward, clutching my belly. "Seriously?! Does no one realize I'm in labor?!"

Logan blinked rapidly, taking in the situation, then shifted instantly into his human form and dropped to his knees beside me.

"You're alive," he whispered. "You and the pup... I thought you were both gone."

He was crying. Real tears.

Before I could even think about responding, another wave of pain hit.

I screamed.

"What happened?! Are you hurt? Is it the fall?" Logan asked frantically.

"No, you complete lunatic-I'M IN LABOR!"

His eyes widened. "Right! Yes. Yes! Okay. Help! Someone get the doctor, *now!*"

He picked me up like I weighed nothing and looked to Sam-still down, bleeding from the shoulder.

"Secure the others," Logan ordered. "I'm taking Ally to the pack house."

"You can't!" I cried out, breathless. "They're my friends... my mother!"

Logan stopped. "Your... mother?"

His jaw clenched. "Fine. No one touches them unless I say so. Bring them to the house."