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I f the monster didn’t get me, then Logan burrowing into my fur, her naked body only separated from me by a blanket, certainly would.

Between dreaming of fucking her into the moss and waking up to her scream of pleasure through the bedroom door, I knew without a doubt that I was so completely fucking doomed.

She’d sunk her claws into me so deep I’d be torn apart if she pulled away from me now.

So fucking dumb.

She wasn’t even mine. It was honestly embarrassing that I’d let myself fall for another of Caden’s women.

There had to be something wrong with me that I self-sabotaged like this.

The shitty thing about it was that I wanted her even more now.

Them calling me in here had kindled some pathetic little flame of hope.

The dream had felt way too real.

Her touch was the same as she pressed close and wrapped herself around me. It replayed over and over in my head.

Thank you , I thought at Caden.

For?

Trusting me to be here. I whipped my tail and flexed my paws. This is nice .

It was more than nice. I hadn’t felt this comfortable in decades.

Only a few days around Logan and all my loner tendencies were falling away.

I didn’t want to be alone. It was just safer, and, I guess, a form of penance I’d forced on myself.

I’d paid it willingly, albeit miserably, for the last sixty-odd years.

Caden didn’t know that. Letting me back in was something I’d never fully expected of him, and even if it was in dire circumstances, I was so fucking grateful that he had.

Logan’s fingers curled into my fur. She was sound asleep, at least if her breathing was any indication, and it made my heart flip-flop that she reached out while she was vulnerable.

Fuck.

Stop thinking like that.

There was no direction where this ended well.

I could try to steal Logan and ruin things for the rest of eternity with Caden.

I could leave and find someone else, giving up on ever being with the woman of my dreams, or having a relationship with Caden because I couldn’t control my desire around Logan.

I imagined it would only get worse with time.

Or I could stick around, pitifully loving her from the sidelines.

...Love.

Brain, you put that fucking thought right back where you found it.

Fuck.

Bad idea. So bad. The literal worst fucking idea. Loving Logan would be agony. I had to scale that slippery slope. It was bad enough when I just wanted to fuck her.

She made a soft sound and her face rooted against the back of my neck, her cheek rubbing against my fur.

Fuck it all to hell.

I squeezed my eyes shut and they popped right back open when Caden set a hand on my shoulder.

You okay?

Doing super.

Seth…

I’m fine. It’s…

How honest could I possibly be with him?

Can you promise not to make me ride in the trunk if I tell you?

He didn’t respond for a while and I was pretty sure he had to know what the issue was, but eventually he thought, I promise.

I won’t try to take her. I swear to every god out there that I don’t want to ruin what the two of you have. I want us to be friends again but I want Logan way more than I should and I know I can’t have both.

Caden didn’t move his hand from my shoulder, but he didn’t speak either. Logan murmured something unintelligible between us. Caden’s thumb brushed my fur and I perked up.

I know you want her. You’re not exactly subtle.

I wilted. Sorry.

I don’t blame you. I want us to be friends again, too. His thought was so quiet I almost didn’t register it. I love her enough that if she wanted you instead, I would let her go. I’d hate every fucking second of it, but I can’t do to her what I did to Rachel.

There’s no fucking way Logan wants me more than she loves you.

Caden sighed and I heard him press a kiss to Logan’s skin. I don’t know what I’d do without her.

Gods willing, you’ll never have to figure that out.

I rolled over so I could see him and Logan protested in her sleep. Scooting closer, I draped one paw over her and she buried her face in my chest. Luckily she was asleep so she wouldn’t notice the massive ka-thump my heart just gave.

Do you ever miss living around other shifters? I asked.

Logan makes me happier than anything in my old life. He wasn’t quite looking at me and kept his attention on the woman asleep between us.

What about the whole immortal thing?

He grimaced. Don’t remind me. I’ve agonized over it a thousand times. She out-stubborned me on the matter .

I laughed, or what passed for a laugh in cat form. I’m not surprised in the least.

Even with the tension between us, I was glad I’d told him. It was nice to get it off my chest, and if we died, I didn’t want secrets hanging heavy between us.