Dark Moon Falls

Chapter Five - Logan

Logan made all the necessary calls while Dara finished tending to Madison's wounds, covering the gashes in her stomach with a poultice after stitching them up. Dax never left Madison's side, whining whenever Dara tried to shoo him away to give her more room to tend to her patient. Sheriff Templeton said he'd have some guys look around, and Elias put the pack on alert, telling Logan that he'd call Levi Gunner, leader of the Pack Hunters, and have him keep an eye out as well. Logan was glad for that. He hadn't spoken to Levi since…well, since he left the Hunters. There were still some things he just didn't want to face. Not yet. Maybe never.

He slid his phone back into his back pocket as he walked down the hall and entered his guest bedroom. The woman he found on his front porch—Madison—was sound asleep, her breathing seeming shallow, but steady. Logan stood in the doorway a moment before going all the way inside, staring at the woman on his guest bed. She seemed so peaceful, unlike the almost dead woman he discovered sprawled on his porch earlier. Her blond hair framed her oval face, bringing out the softness of her complexion, her full red lips parted slightly as she slept. Her ample breasts rose and fell with her steady breathing, drawing his eyes as parts of him stirred that had laid dormant for too long. Even her scent had permeated the cabin, making Logan's wolf restless with pent-up desire.

Logan shook the thoughts he shouldn't be having about a woman he didn't even know out of his head as he moved further into the room. “How is she?" he asked as he walked over to the bed, glancing at Dax sprawled out on the bedspread, his thin legs draped over the woman's lower legs.

Dara stood, wiping her hands with a towel she picked up from the nightstand. She glared at the German Shepherd on the bed, the dog not looking at all apologetic. With a sigh, she shook her head and turned back to Logan. “She'll be fine. Sore, of course, but the poultice should work. It'll need to be replaced, the wound cleaned. I'll leave you some supplies." She glanced back at Dax. “I gave her something to make her sleep, so she should be out for quite a while. Try to keep dog hair from getting into the wound."

Logan nodded. “Dax tends to have a mind of his own, but I'll do my best." He glanced over at Madison, still not sure what to do with the woman. Something about her called to him, made him want to take care of her even though he knew he didn't need the hassle. His life was better when he was alone. “Thanks for coming out. I appreciate it."

Dara just nodded as she started to gather her supplies. “You know, whoever is after her will trace her to your doorstep." She stood, her bag held with both hands in front of her. “I know you're this badass former Hunter and all, but you're out here alone, and according to her, there are at least four men who could be after her if she killed the one who injured her. Perhaps, you should think about moving her to the hospital or at least into town where you have backup. These men have already killed others without remorse if what this woman said is true." She sighed. “You need help, Logan."

He gave her a weak smile. “I'll think about it," he assured her. “As soon as she's able to move, I'll convince her to go to the sheriff for protection." All he had to do was get her to Barnett, and then, the woman and her past would be his problem, instead of Logan's. He glanced back at Madison, now sleeping peacefully. He didn't see her as a problem, however, even though he should. “Come on, I'll walk you out."

Dara moved past him, her bag in her hand. As soon as she left, he moved to the kitchen and started a fresh pot of coffee. It would be a long night. Whoever hunted Madison could very well be lurking outside, waiting for the cabin to go dark so they could finish what their friend started.

Once the coffee was finished, he poured a cup and moved to his chair, which faced out the front window to the inky night outside. How far behind Madison her attackers were, he had no idea. Should he start setting traps now? Should he rush her to the sheriff, getting her out of his cabin, out of his life? He glanced back to the hallway as if he could see her lying in the bed, sleeping. Did he want her out of his life?

He turned back around in his chair as he lifted his coffee cup to his lips. Yes. Yes, he did want her out of his life. He sipped his coffee, the hot liquid burning his lips as it passed. He preferred his solitude, preferred not being responsible for people. As long as this woman was in his cabin, he must take care of her, see to her safety. He didn't need to be saddled with that burden. A sigh escaped him as he stared out into the night. The truth was, he didn't know if he could protect her, not after he had failed so miserably before.

He took another sip of his coffee, this one just a tad cooler than the last. Or had his tastebuds just become used to the heat? As he pulled the cup away from his mouth, he stared into the dark liquid in the cup, but he didn't see it. Instead, he saw a day a couple of years ago when the Hunters went after a rogue who had been killing indiscriminately, leaving a path of dead bodies all throughout Dark Moon Falls and the surrounding towns. The Pack Hunters had set a trap, using The Wolf Inn as the setting for their snare. However, being the hot spot of the town, the night drew more of a crowd than they expected.