The moment the Spencer estate disappeared behind them, Isla finally breathed.
The breath broke halfway out of her.
A sob followed it.
She pressed a hand over her mouth, but another escaped.
Then another.
Within seconds, her shoulders were shaking so violently she could barely draw air.
Logan sat beside her in the back of the car, his expression unreadable.
“I’m sorry.” Isla wiped desperately at her cheeks.
“I don’t know why I can’t stop.”
“You were imprisoned, starved, beaten, drugged, and nearly sold by your own family.” His voice was cold, but not with her.
“Any sane person would break down.”
Isla stared at him.
No one had ever said that before.
Cassian always told her she was too sensitive.
Melinda called her ungrateful.
Hilda laughed whenever she cried.
But Logan didn’t tell her to stop.
Something tight inside her loosened.
Not trust—not yet.
But enough to let her breathe.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Don’t.”
Her fingers curled against her torn dress.
“But you came.”
His gaze shifted to her.
“No one ever came for me before.”
For one suspended moment, the hard lines of his face softened.
Then he looked away.
“I felt the pup’s distress.”
Isla blinked.
“You felt it?”
“My blood is in the child.
When its heartbeat changed, my wolf sensed the danger.” His jaw tightened.
“It shouldn’t be possible this early.”
A chill moved down her spine.
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know.”
It wasn’t a comforting answer, but it sounded honest.
Isla placed a hand over her stomach.
Despite everything, her baby had called for help—and Logan had answered.
Her child would never have to wonder if its father cared enough to come.
A sharp cramp suddenly twisted through her abdomen.
“Ah!”
She folded forward, clutching her stomach.
Logan caught her shoulder before she struck the seat in front of her.
“What happened?”
“Melinda.” Isla struggled to breathe through the pain.
“She injected me with something.”
The air in the car changed.
Logan’s fingers tightened around her shoulder, and for a terrifying second, she felt the full force of the Alpha beneath his skin.
“What did she give you?”
“I don’t know.
She said it would make sure I didn’t displease Alpha Reid.”
A low, vicious growl vibrated through the car.
“Turn around,” Logan ordered the driver.
“Take us to the penthouse.
Call the pack healer and tell her to be waiting.”
The car surged forward.
Another wave of pain rolled through Isla.
She bit her lip, but a broken moan escaped anyway. This chapter was copied from novelping.com without permission.
Logan pulled her closer before she could collapse.
One arm braced her against his chest while his other hand covered hers over her belly.
“Breathe.”
“I’m trying.”
“Try harder.”
She would have snapped at him if his scent hadn’t surrounded her.
Cedar.
Smoke.
Something wild and dark.
Serena, who had been restless since the injection, suddenly quieted.
The pain didn’t disappear, but it became bearable.
Isla closed her eyes and allowed herself to lean against him.
Just until they arrived.
Just for the baby.
The pack healer was already waiting when Logan carried Isla into the penthouse.
“I can walk,” Isla protested weakly.
“You nearly collapsed twice.”
“That doesn’t mean—”
“Save your strength.”
He carried her into an enormous bedroom and placed her on the bed.
The healer immediately began examining her.
She was an elegant middle-aged woman with silver threaded through her dark hair.
Unlike everyone else Isla had seen around Logan, she didn’t appear intimidated by him.
“What did they inject her with?” Logan demanded.
The healer lifted one eyebrow.
“If you stop growling for ten seconds, I might be able to tell you.”
Logan fell silent.
Barely.
After giving Isla medication and checking the baby’s heartbeat, the healer straightened.
“She’ll recover.
Someone injected her with a concentrated heat inducer.”
Humiliation burned across Isla’s face.
She stared down at the blanket.
“What did it do to her?” Logan asked.
“It overstimulated her nervous system and agitated her wolf.
She’ll experience fever, restlessness, and heightened sensitivity until the remaining drug leaves her blood.”
“Will there be lasting damage?”
“No.”
Only then did some of the tension leave Logan’s shoulders.
“And the pup?”
“The heartbeat is strong.
The child is safe.”
He exhaled slowly.
“There is one complication,” the healer continued.
“Her wolf and the pup both responded to your scent in the car.
It stabilized them.”
Logan’s expression hardened.
“What are you suggesting?”
“She needs to remain close to you tonight.”
“No.”
The healer began packing her instruments.
“Then the drug may continue agitating both mother and child.”
“I’ll stay in the next room.”
“Not close enough.”
Logan looked as though someone had ordered him to swallow poison.
The healer’s attention turned to Isla.
Her expression softened.
“This is your decision.
He doesn’t need to touch you.
Nothing sexual will happen.
You only need to remain close enough for his scent and Alpha energy to regulate your wolf.”
Isla appreciated that she had asked.
“How close?”
“The same bed would be best.”
Isla glanced at Logan.
His face revealed nothing, but a muscle ticked in his jaw.
“If you don’t want to, I can use the guest room,” she said.
“We agreed this marriage was only for the baby.
I don’t want either of us misunderstanding what this is.”
“This isn’t about our agreement.”
“Then what is it about?”
“My rules.”
The healer gave an unimpressed sigh.
“Your rules can survive one night.”
She closed her bag and walked toward the door.
Before leaving, she looked at Logan.
“If her fever rises or she experiences severe pain, call me.
Otherwise, keep her calm.”
The door shut behind her.
Silence filled the bedroom.
Isla pushed the blanket aside.
“I’ll take the couch.”
“No.”
“I’m not throwing you out of your own bed.”
“You were starved and drugged.
You’re not sleeping on a couch.”
“Then where will you sleep?”
Logan removed his jacket and draped it over a chair.
“Here.”
Her pulse stumbled.
“With me?”
“Apparently, tonight, my bed belongs to you.”
He loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt with brisk, efficient movements.
When his hands reached his belt, Isla turned sharply toward the wall.
Serena stirred inside her.
‘You can look.
I won’t judge.’
‘Be quiet.’
The mattress dipped behind her.
Logan switched off the lamp, plunging the room into darkness.
“Come here,” he said.
Isla hesitated.
Then another cramp tightened low in her stomach.
Logan’s arm slid around her waist and drew her back against his chest.
Heat enveloped her instantly.
His scent filled her lungs, and the restless pressure beneath her skin began to ease.
“Better?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Then sleep.”
She closed her eyes.
Minutes passed.
But sleep refused to come.
Every place his body touched hers felt too warm.
Too sensitive.
Isla shifted once, trying to put a little distance between them.
Logan’s arm tightened.
She shifted again.
“Stop moving,” he growled.
“I’m trying.”
A helpless sound caught in her throat as another wave of heat swept through her.
Logan went completely still behind her.
His eyes opened in the darkness.
Her scent had changed.
And his wolf wanted closer.