Because he was a vampire. That still didn’t make any sense.
And he was walking outside with a wolf shifter.
That he was now mated to.
If Nick’s life got any more bizarre, demons would start jumping out of shadows.
Sun beat down as they headed for the parking lot. It was warm but hadn’t reached that sticky part of the day yet. The sky was that washed-out orange and pink, and fat, puffy clouds drifted lazily by overhead.
Nick needed to get up early more often. It was stunningly beautiful outside at seven-ish in the morning.
But considering he’d had only about three hours of sleep, he’d gladly go back to bed.
With Logan wrapped around him.
Preferably naked.
Logan kept one hand on Nick’s lower back, like he was Nick’s private security. If his mate kept giving him so much attention, Nick just might burst from happiness.
Halfway across the lot, Logan placed a hand on Nick’s arm, stopping him from walking.
A guy stepped out from behind the building. Nick’s nose wrinkled. The smell was off. Almost like Logan, but…oily. Maybe it was his angular face and calculating eyes.
Nick felt filthy just being near him. The kind of filth where he needed a shower.
Logan stiffened. “Don’t say anything. He’s not friendly.”
Nick clocked the stranger’s walk. He had that slouching, cocky way of moving that said, “I’d mug you for your lunch money just to watch you cry.” His jacket hung loose, his hands buried deep in the pockets.
Cramps twisted through Nick, making him wince. That shouldn’t be happening. He’d fed. He’d drank enough of Logan’s blood to sedate a horse. Maybe it was just stress. He pressed a hand to his stomach, hoping not to draw attention, but the ache flared again, hotter, meaner.
He didn’t have time to figure it out. Logan shifted his shoulders, blocking Nick from view.
“Get into the truck, baby.” Logan hadn’t told Nick to hurry, but he heard the request in his voice.
Nick moved swiftly but didn’t run. That would’ve brought attention on him. Once inside, Nick softly clicked the door closed.
From the cab of the truck, he watched it unfold.
Logan kept his voice low, but Nick caught every word.
“You’ve got some nerve showing up here, Mack.”
Mack shrugged. “Just passing through town. Thought I’d say hi to family while I was here.”
If this was family, Nick wanted nothing to do with the family reunion.
“Here’s your warning.” Logan’s voice dropped, turning dangerous. “Next time I see you, it’ll take more than three wolves to get me off of you.”
Nick’s stomach cramped again, hard enough for his vision to go fuzzy. It felt like a million centipedes crawling around in his intestines. He pressed his forehead to the dash, breathing in short, quick gasps.
A minute later, Logan was behind the wheel, slamming the door then driving out of the lot without looking back.
Nick tried not to panic, but every bump in the road made the cramp worse. He ground his fist into his abdomen, breathing through his teeth.
Logan reached out and took Nick’s hand but didn’t say a word. He just squeezed, his thumb rubbing over Nick’s knuckles like he could will the pain away.
It didn’t help.
