Page 4 of Burned By My Mate (Twisted Oak Pack: First Responders #3)

FOUR

Logan

I wake up before dawn, restless.

It’s not unusual for me—I’m used to early mornings, but this time, it’s different. My bear has been pacing in my head all night,on edge, listening for any movement in the bedroom next door.

My mate never stirred. It was like as soon as her head hit the pillow, she was out. Part of me loves that she feels safe enough here to rest, but then I also wonder what she’s been through the last few days or hours to make her so tired.

Even though I know Emerson is safe under my roof, my instincts refuse to settle.

She’s here. My mate.

And she has no idea what she is to me. She has no idea who, or what, I am.

I drag a hand down my face and sigh before throwing off the covers. Lying in bed isn’t going to do me any good, so I head for the kitchen.

Fifteen minutes later, the scent ofbacon and coffeefills the air, but my thoughts are miles away.

Who the hell burned her house down?

The footprints that Harris found weren’t hers. That much was obvious, but that means someonetargeted her, or her house anyway.No way that it was just a coincidence.

Twisted Oak is asmall town.We don’t get a lot of crime here, and what little trouble we do get usually traces back toRed Fog.A group of lawless shifters who live outside of town, stirring up problems when they get too close.

The fact that thetracks led in their directionmakes my stomach knot. They don’t usually go after strangers, though. So why Emerson?

I rub my temple, trying to piece it together, but my thoughts scatter when I hearsoft footstepsbehind me.

I turn, and my beargoes still.

Emerson stands in the doorway,barefoot and half-asleep, her red hair a tangled mess, wearing nothing but one of my T-shirts that barely skims her thighs.

My grip tightens on my coffee mug.

Shepauseswhen she sees me, blinking like she forgot where she was for a second. Then shesniffs the air.

“…Is that bacon?”

I smirk, setting a plate on the counter. “And eggs. Coffee’s ready too.”

She hesitates, like she doesn’t want to admit she’s grateful, but her stomach betrays herwith a low growl.

My smirk widens, and she glares at me, muttering something under her breath before grabbing a cup of coffee and plopping down at the counter. I slide a plate toward her.

“Eat.”

She eyes me warily. “Are you always this bossy?”

“Yes.”

She rolls her eyes, but she digs into the eggs anyway. I watch as shetakes the first bite—her lashes flutter slightly, her lips parting just a little.

I grip my coffee mugtighter and force myself to look away, taking a slow breath before sitting down next to her.

“So,” I say, trying to distract myself. “What’s your plan?”

She sighs, chewing slowly. “Figure out my next steps. Find a place to live, or at least stay.”

Her voice iscalm, but I don’t miss the slighttensionin her shoulders.

She’s trying to be strong, but she’s scared. Worried. She’salone.

And it’s killing me.

I lean forward, my forearms resting on the counter.

“You can stay here,” I tell her.

“Not long term.”

“Yes, long term.”

“Logan,” she sighs, and I bite back my bossy response.

“Before you do anything, we need to talk,” I say quietly.

I need to tell her about my bear. I need to tell her about shifters, and fated mates, and the mating bond.

She frowns. “About?”

I hesitate. How much do I tell her right now?

She has no idea what she’s stepped into.

Or that I’m about toflip her entire world upside down.

I set my coffee down. “Twisted Oak is… different. It’s mostly safe, but there’s a group that causes trouble from time to time. They come from outside of town—from a place called Red Fog.”

Her frown deepens. “That’s the third time someone’s mentioned Red Fog. Who are they?”

I exhale slowly.

“They’re shifters,” I say carefully. “Dangerous ones. They don’t belong here, but sometimes they push their way in.”

She blinks. “Shifters?”

Shit.

I fucked up.

I try to cover my mistake quickly. “They’re a gang. That’s what we call them.”

Her eyes narrow slightly, like she knows I’m holding something back.

Not good, my bear growls, but I ignore him.

I need to handle thiscarefully.

“And you think they’re the ones who burned my house down?” she asks, setting her fork down.

I nod. “We found tracks leading toward their territory.”

She grips her coffee mug tighter. “But… why me? I don’t know anyone here, or there. I just moved in.”

That’s the part I still don’t have an answer for.

Unless…

My stomach clenches.

Unless they’re just burning houses down to cause panic, fear, and to destroy our pack.

My bear lets out a lowsnarl.

Idon’t like this, he growls and I nod.

Me either.

I meet her gaze, voice steady. “Until we figure it out, you need to stayhere.”

She stiffens. “I can’t?—”

“You can,” I cut in, my tone firm. “And you will.”

Her green eyes flash. “You don’t get to make that decision for me.”

My bear snaps inside me.

She doesn’t understand. I won’t let herwalk out that door. I won’t let anyonetouch her. I lean in, locking eyes with her.

“You can be mad at me all you want, but I’m not letting you go back out there unprotected.”

She glares at me, but I see thehesitation.The flicker ofuncertainty.She knows I’m right.

She exhales sharply.

“Fine.”

Relief floods me and my bear all at once.

“But just until I figure things out,” she adds.

I nod.

We’ll see about that, my bear says, and I smile determinedly.

I push back from the counter and stand, grabbing my keys.

“Where are you going?” she asks.

“To work.”

She blinks. “Wait—you still have to work after last night?”

I huff a dry laugh. “Fires don’t wait for a convenient schedule.”

Shesoftensslightly, like she hadn’t considered that.

“Lock the doors behind me,” I say, grabbing my jacket. “And if anything feels off, you call me. No second-guessing.”

I pass her the paper with my phone number on it and she takes it.

I expect a fight, but to my surprise, she nods.

“Okay.”

I pause, studying her.Her messy hair. Her sleepy eyes. The faint trace of vulnerability beneath her sharp attitude.

She has no idea what she means to me, but soon, she will.

I head for the door, my bear still restless. Something tells me things are about toget a lot worsebefore they get better.

And I need to beready.