Accidental Mates

2

Logan

“Yes sir, I understand. Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone near her.” Logan McKenzie promised as he ended the call. After rinsing his coffee mug in the sink and putting it in the dishwasher, he headed up the stairs to his room, all the while thinking of the newest threats to his charge. As he reached the landing he automatically ducked to keep from hitting his head on the overhang. When he first moved into the house, he asked Calvin to have it remodeled to accommodate his six foot three inch frame, but Calvin refused. The reasoning being that one day Logan might want to find a mate and she wouldn’t want to live in a house built by a giant. Calvin also mentioned that if he, himself had to learn to live in a house built for someone half his size, Logan would have to suffer with him. But Logan didn’t want a mate. He planned never to force a female to deal with the demons he carried inside. That didn’t stop Laura from trying to get him to participate in the trials though, she started pestering him to join weeks before the trials are actually held. But he always had, and always will refuse.

Calvin Langston hadn’t always been his Mane, there was a brief moment during his childhood that he was the son of the Mane. He was in line to inherit his father’s pride. But that all changed when Logan was twelve.

He would never forget the night his traitorous uncle murdered his whole family to take control of the McKenzie pride. Logan was only able to escape because he had snuck out to drink with his best friend. He was on his way back when he witnessed his uncle’s followers drag his parents from their home and his uncle order their throats ripped out. Logan was running before his parents’ bodies hit the ground. He knew if he stayed, he would be next. After three days of running for his life, Logan found himself on Langston territory. After hearing his story, and a few strong words from Laura, Calvin took him in and promised him a place in their pride for as long as he wanted it. Fifteen years had passed since that night, Logan was no longer the scared cub Calvin had found in the woods, instead he was the warrior determined to avenge his family.

Logan has always been grateful for Calvin’s kindness, even if he was the outsider in the pride. Where every other male shifted into the normal tawny color expected in a lion, Logan’s lion was solid black. Nothing special for him, considering he inherited the black lion along with his black hair from his father. Not that it bothered him, considering it was easier to hide in shadows when he blended into them.

And Logan was exceptionally good at blending into the shadows. He promised himself that he would become the best fighter he could and return home to reclaim the McKenzie pride and avenge his parents’ deaths.

However, his plans were put on hold about three years ago. He was out for his morning run when he came across a group of young males spying on Calvin’s young daughter and her best friend while they were swimming. The girls were oblivious to the attention they were attracting and Logan would have continued on his way if he hadn’t heard the plans the youths were making to ambush the girls as they left the lake.

Although there were five of them, Logan had no problem sending them on their way with a few minor injuries. After all, he didn’t want to hurt them, just teach them a lesson. After the last male left, amid promises that he would be sorry, Logan decided to stick around to make sure the girls got back safely. Afterwards, he told Calvin what had happened and Laura made her request that made Logan put his plans of revenge on hold: protect her daughter until she was safely mated, a task that would take years of diligence as she was only sixteen at the time. But when the woman who saved your life asks something from you, you don’t deny her. Especially when she tells you that you’re the only one she could trust to protect her only child.

So here he was once again on the outcropping of rock that he had used more times than he could count to keep an eye on the girls as they swam. He was close enough to them that he could get to them within a moment’s notice if they needed him. Unfortunately, that meant occasionally he heard things that he didn’t want to hear. He didn’t like listening in on their conversations, but knowing their plans had helped him prevent more than one incident that could have ended in disaster. Like the party the girls had been invited to just a month prior that Logan had learned was actually a plot to kidnap Cassie. Logan was able to warn Laura in time for her to make an excuse to keep Cassie busy with her that night.

Cassie seemed very agitated today. She was talking so fast that Logan had a hard time making out the words, even her best friend Liz had to tell her to slow down. After a couple deep breaths, Cassie continued talking and what Logan heard her say made his blood run cold.

How could her parents ask her to go through the trials so early? They knew how bad those trials could get sometimes. Some of the males have no sense of decency and will do whatever it takes to make the female mate them. Cassie, like all unmated females was not allowed to be alone with an unmated male that wasn’t a close relative. Not when all it took was a single touch to form a lifelong mate bond. A mate bond that once formed, was unbreakable. Logan could see how Calvin thought he had no choice, but if he had only asked, Logan would have happily fought in his place. Maybe he would pay Calvin a visit tonight while the females had their weekly herbal tea. Now that Cassie was going to be mated, she would start drinking it as well to prevent her from immediately going into heat after the trials.

Logan glanced down when he heard the girls rise from their spot by the lake. As Liz gave Cassie a hug, he wished that it was his arms around her, comforting her instead of her best friend. After 3 years of following her and keeping her safe, Logan found he had developed a certain affection and protectiveness over the girl. What started as a duty to his Mane had become something more. He no longer felt obligated to watch over Cassie because of a promise made to her mother, but because he felt like it was something he had to do.

Later that night, when the females had gone, Logan found himself knocking on Calvin’s office door. Calvin looked up from the reports spread out on his desk and when he saw Logan he smiled and waved him to a chair.

“I’m sorry to bother you sir, I didn’t know you were busy.”

“Nonsense! I’m never too busy for a little chat! And stop calling me sir, you’re making me feel old! Now tell me what’s bothering you”

“Well, I don’t mean to question your decisions, especially when they concern your own daughter, but do you think it’s wise to put her through the trials before she’s shifted? What if something goes wrong? If this is about her safety, I can assure you, nothing will happen to her as long as I’m around.”

“Don’t worry about questioning me, a good leader can accept criticism without getting upset.” Calvin rubbed a hand across his face before looking back at Logan. “ This has nothing to do with your ability to protect my daughter. You have done an excellent job these last few years and there are no words to express how grateful Laura and I are to you. No, this time the target is me. There have been rumors that a few of the younger, more ambitious males are planning to challenge me. We don’t know the timeframe yet, but we know it’s soon. And Logan, we both know I’m not as young or as healthy as I used to be and there’s a good chance I’d lose the fight.” He held up his hand as Logan started to speak “No, don’t volunteer to fight them for me. A leader that can’t fight his own battles shouldn’t be a leader. But I won’t stand by while a couple of imbeciles fresh off their mother’s apron strings runs the pride I care so much about into the ground!” Calvin slammed his fist on his desk then smiled sheepishly.

“Sorry, I got a little carried away. My point is, I can’t wait any longer. Laura and I discussed it and we think this would be a good time because Liz will be going through the trials too. So at least they will have each other for support. And of course we want you with us in case things get out of hand. Liz’s older brother Mark will also be there to help out if we need it. Laura told me Tessa Richards was going to be in the trials as well but she won’t have a chaperone because her twin Philip will be a suitor. Those twins are known for causing trouble so let’s make sure we keep an eye on them. As for the suitors themselves, so far we have fifteen young males that have requested time with the girls. Since each male is allowed five minutes with each female, this could be a long day. Can I count on your support?”

“Of course. I want Cassie to have the best possible chance of finding her mate. No one is going to ruin her trials if I can help it.”

Calvin stood and walked around his desk. “That’s what I like to hear!” He said while clapping Logan on the shoulder. “Once we get the mating ceremony out of the way, we will have to discuss your future plans. I know you always wanted to challenge your uncle to reclaim your birthright. If that’s still something you want to do, you will have my full support and any resources or men you may require.”

Logan was stunned. He had always dreamed of recovering his father’s pride, but he always assumed when the time came, he would be on his own. “Thank you sir, that means a lot to me”

Calvin rolled his eyes, “I told you to stop calling me that! And did you really think I’d send you off to fight alone after everything you have done for us? You might not be blood boy, but you’re part of my pride and always will be!”

Calvin followed Logan to the door, and after saying good night, the younger man turned and made his way into the night. Calvin stood and watched him go, wishing things could be different and he was able to name Logan as his successor. Calvin took pride in being able to read someone’s character, and after watching the boy grow into a man, he knew Logan would be a Mane worth remembering.