Looking down, I realize he’s right, and I charge in the direction of the stairs to get changed and get my mate. I’m going to fuck her so thoroughly I will erase every trace of that fucker from her skin. She’s mine, and she’s going to remember that.
31
Ava
We spend the first half of the concert dancing, sweating, and having lots of fun, even if the crowd is crazy tonight and is pushing us toward the stage from all directions. They’re all screaming the lyrics so loudly my ears are ringing. Even with the earplugs I brought from the hotel, I still feel like my eardrums are bleeding, and my brain is being scraped with sandpaper.
When I can’t take it anymore, I tell Chloe I’m not feeling that good, and we weave our way out through the throng of sweaty bodies accompanied by one of the bodyguards. A multitude of people mingle in the small room that serves as the backstage area. They nurse drinks and shoot the shit as they wait for the guys to finish their set. Chloe introduced me to so many peopleearlier, from the band’s publicist to their stylist, and I quickly forgot all of their names.
One of the bodyguards brings in a group of long-legged beautiful girls, their eyes ravenous, glinting with excitement as they shuffle nervously on their feet. I wonder if Chloe and I looked as desperate as them when we were brought to the band’s tour bus a few months ago. Who am I kidding? Of course, we did.
The guys finish their set with an encore of their most popular song, and a deafening chorus of screams and applauses erupts from the crowd, making me grind my teeth together and push my fingers into my temples, trying to stop the imminent headache from taking over completely. I don’t think I’ll attend a concert too soon or ever again if this is what it’s going to be like. They’re all sweaty and high on the crowd’s excitement as they file in from the stage, their bodies brimming with pent-up energy. Chloe squeals as Knox stalks forward, lifts her, and circles her legs around his waist. He pushes his tongue into her mouth and kisses her like she’s the last drop of water in the desert and he’s dying of thirst.
A small smile lifts the corners of my lips at their enthusiastic display of affection. And I’m not sure why, but the sight gives me a weird tug in my chest as if the mating bond is telling me Logan is close. I ignore it, dismissing it as wishful thinking. I’ve been missing Logan like crazy, even if I just saw him two days ago. It’s disgusting how clingy I’m becoming, but I can’t help it.
I turn around, but as soon as I take a step away from the band members, a hand wraps around my wrist, whirls me around, and pulls me into a sweaty, naked chest before soft lips seal over mine.
Cinnamon mixed with fresh sweat. Jude takes advantage of my shocked gasp and pushes his tongue through the seam of my lips, groaning in my mouth. My wolf claws at my mind desperately as the sense of wrongness washes over me, andbefore I can push Jude away, he’s ripped from me and tackled into a wall by a big, muscular body.
Chaos erupts in the next second, and my heart trips over itself at the sight of Logan pinning Jude to the wall with a hand around his throat. My eyes drink him in ravenously. He looks amazing, with his black jeans and simple dark green Henley hugging his muscular body. And yes, I am aware of the incredulity in the way I’m ogling him while he chokes the life out of the Deadly Sin’s lead singer.
The band members and two bodyguards try prying Logan off Jude but are unsuccessful. They don’t know they’re dealing with a dark creature, not a human. Jude manages to sneak an uppercut, but Logan seems unfazed as he growls menacingly, “She’s mine!” at him and starts a round of body shots that would send any man into a coma.
My wolf is pleased with how Logan is claiming me, but I can only imagine how this is going to end if Logan doesn’t stop—with a dead singer. I finally snap out of it and take long, purposeful strides toward them, grabbing Logan’s shoulder while dodging his vicious elbow that almost breaks my nose as he cocks his fist. I use all my strength to pull him away and scream loudly,“Stop!”into his mind. He lets go of Jude, who leans on the wall, sputtering and gasping for air.
Logan’s chest is heaving, anger rolling off him in noxious waves as he turns toward me with a crazy, animalistic glint in his eyes. He’s more wolf than man as he crushes me to his chest, and his whole body shakes while he bands his arms around me. Immediately, I melt into his punishing hold. The air between us crackles with the singing energy of the mating bond.
“Let her go!” Jude booms as he spits out blood and takes a step toward us, holding his ribs protectively. Nasty bruises are already forming on the side of his face, blood seeping from his split lip.
“Come any closer, and I’ll rip your spine out and strangle you with it,” Logan growls at him, his tone dripping with menace and iciness. His nostrils flare, and I can sense how close he is to losing control of his shift.
Three more bodyguards come running into the room, joining the other two, and form a protective barrier in front of Jude.
“Are you okay, Ave?” Chloe asks. She pops her head over the side of Logan’s shoulder, concern evident in the lines etched around her eyes and in her high-pitched voice.
“Yeah,” I answer.
“I’m so sorry, Logan. I didn’t know he was going to do that. I didn’t kiss him back, I swear.”
“Fucking hell, Ava. If you would have shot me with a bullet dipped in aconite, it would have hurt less than seeing you with another man.”
His words land like a punch to my solar plexus. Fuck.“Let’s get out of here, and we can talk.”
“I can’t move. My wolf will end up shifting and killing him.”He dips his head and buries his nose in my hair, inhaling deeply, sending a shiver down my spine and my pulse in overdrive.“Fuck, baby, how I missed your scent. How I missed you. You’re mine, Ava. Fucking mine!”
“I know, baby. I know,”I tell him.“I’m yours and only yours.”
“Let’s get some fresh air, Lo,” a voice I vaguely recognize says, and then Malik approaches us and grabs Logan’s shoulder. “Hey, Ava. Long time no see.” He winks and gives me a roguish grin. “You look beautiful.” He looks like sex on legs with his leather duster and silver mane glinting in the overhead lights, his cat-like eyes fixating on me.
Logan glares at him.
My cheeks flush red. “Hey, Malik. Thanks.”
“If you don’t leave in the next five minutes, we’ll call the police, and I’ll press charges for assault,” Jude bites out, crossing hisarms in front of his chest.
“We’ll go, right, Logan?” Malik’s fingers flex around his shoulder, and Logan finally disentangles himself from me. The dangerous edge in his eyes softens, and his muscles relax as if Malik sedated him through his touch. Then I remember he is a warlock and probably used magic to calm him down.
I step back from Logan’s hold. “Wait for me outside. I’ll be right back.”
