I have a surprise for you!!! I'll be posting Rescued by a Wolf Pack, a bonus short story starring BronzeFlicker, in STAWP Bonus Stories later tonight! "What if Saffron never tried the Omega act? POW was Just Alpha Patton? And Logan and Saf got together a whole lot sooner? In this alternate universe bonus story, something unexpected changes Sold to a Wolf Pack history." 

Saffron

"Why won't this door open?" POW shouts from the other side, sounding more and more pissed off by the second.

"Because... um... I can't?" Logan shoots me a panicked look and I cringe in embarrassment. We were literally making out while his dad was standing on the other side of the door. What if he heard something, like heavy breathing, or the sound of us kissing? I mean, it's bad enough we're in here alone, and that Logan was in the room while I was showering. Even if POW won't really care, especially after the whole Zara and Jasper blanket fiasco, that doesn't make it any less embarrassing.

"Why not?" POW snaps, banging on the door again for good measure.

"I'm doing wall squats," Logan calls out. "I mean door squats."

"You're what?" POW sounds momentarily confused, but then I can almost see him shrugging in acceptance. "Look, I need to talk to you. In my office. Now."

"We'll be right there." Logan grins in triumph.

"Just you, Logan."

"Sure. Yeah." Logan shrugs. "Give me two minutes?"

"Fine. Finish your exercise or whatever you're doing and then come see me."

I know POW's referring to the wall squats, or door squats, or whatever, as exercises... but the moment he says it, Logan snorts and then tries to cover it up with a coughing fit. My cheeks, meanwhile, flood with color, and the more Logan laughs, or coughs, the worse they get.

"Yes, Father," Logan finally yells, and to my relief, POW's footsteps fade down the hall.

For a second, I think Logan plans to kiss me again, or get some more of that exercise, but he suddenly looks very serious. "Saf, you have to learn to link now. We don't have much time."

"I can't." I shake my head, sending my still damp hair flying.

"Yes, you can."

"Not when my wolf is telling me to... to..."

"Just ignore her." Logan shrugs, like it's no big deal. "Whatever she wants to do, just say no."

"It's not that easy. What if she takes control and hurts someone... or... or..." makes me rip my clothes off and throw myself at Logan.

"She wants to hurt people?" he asks in concern.

"Well, no..." I sigh. "But I can't risk it. That's why I keep her locked up."

"Locked up?" Logan frowns.

"She's in a cage," I say, and at his horrified look rush to explain. "She's way back in my mind where she can't get out and take control."

"Has she done that before? Taken control of you? Made you do things?" Logan sounds worried, and I quickly shake my head. "Then why? What did she do to make you this afraid of her?"

"Nothing, but she keeps wanting..." I hesitate, and then blurt out, "you."

"Thanks." Logan smirks. "My wolf wants you, too."

"Oh," I swallow nervously, trying to pretend like my heart isn't racing a mile a minute at his declaration.

"Look, just try linking, okay? Nothing is going to happen. I promise."

"But what if she..." I look away, feeling sick with nerves as I whisper, "jumps you."

"Jumps me? You mean..." Logan suddenly grins.

My cheeks instantly flood with color and I just want to disappear. I don't think I've been this embarrassed in my entire life, and I'm not sure how I'll survive.

"Saf," Logan leans closer and gently caresses my cheek, "If your wolf wants to jump me, or do anything else you wouldn't do, you can just say no."

"But what if I can't? What if—"

"Then I'll be here to stop you," Logan interrupts. "I'll make sure you don't do anything but link."

"Promise?"

Logan nods. "Promise."

"Okay." I nod and slowly approach my wolf. I don't mean physically, since I'm still in the same spot I was in seconds earlier, but somewhere inside my head where thoughts and dreams and imagination live.

My heart beats wildly and I become aware of my body even as I try to clear my mind. I can feel Logan standing next to me, and I'm keenly aware that I'm alone with him behind a closed door. If my wolf has her way, I might do something I'll never live down.

"No." I whisper, shaking my head. I won't let that happen. Logan won't let that happen.

"It's okay, Saf." He takes my hands in his and gives them a squeeze. "You can do this. I'm right here. I promise."

That's actually what worries me most—that he's here to tempt me—but he's also here to stop me in case anything goes wrong. I know I can trust him to hold me down and make sure I don't do anything crazy, I'm just not sure I could live with the embarrassment if that ever happened.

With that in mind, I quickly cross the room to get as far away from him as possible. I know I have to trust him, and I do, but I want to take extra precautions. That way, if my wolf does take over, I at least have enough distance between us to try to regain control.

I mean, yes, hopefully he's right—hopefully, if I just say no, my wolf will listen—but what if she doesn't? What if I'm not like Logan? What if I'm more like Dad? And what if whatever is wrong with him—whatever makes him lose control and hurt me every time his wolf takes over—is also wrong with me?

Then Logan will stop me, I remind myself.

Holding onto that trust, I clear my mind and approach the cage that holds my wolf. The moment she sees me, she jumps to her feet and runs toward me, tail wagging.

Mate, she shouts again, projecting image after image of me and Logan.

No, I tell her.

Why? she whimpers.

Because right now we need to learn to link... before POW makes some sort of announcement.

My wolf whimpers, and I feel a wave of longing she has for Logan.

No, I repeat. We're just going to link. Please.

I wait for more images, or to feel like I'm losing control again, but then my wolf nods.

Log— I start to say his name over the link, but next thing I know, Logan's voice is bouncing around in my head and he's running across the room and throwing his arms around me.

You did it, Saf. You did it! He cries, picking me up and spinning me around. You can link!

I can link, I hug him back and do a little happy dance.

Now that I can link and I'm no longer an Omega, I can finally be a normal member of the pack. I can even get a job and pay POW back and— "Logan, what about the job at Joe's Pizza?" I ask nervously. "What if Lee couldn't reach me so she gave it to someone else?"

"It's a good thing we put my number in the job application." Logan grins. "She already called, and I said you could start Monday."

"Monday." I grin, throwing my arms around Logan again. "I have a job. I can pay back POW."

"What's a POW?" Logan asks against my neck.

"Oh, um..." I blush and let go of him. "It's kind of this nickname I came up with."

"For money?" Logan asks.

"Money?"

"Yeah, you said pay back POW. Is POW slang for money? You know, like dough? Or moolah?"

"No, it's kind of a nickname I sort of came up with..." I look away. "For your dad."

"What? Why POW?"

"It kind of stands for..." I shuffle my feet and quickly blurt out, "Pissed Off Wolf."

"Pissed off wolf?" Logan bursts out laughing. "That's priceless."

"Can we just not talk about it?" I blush. "And please don't tell him."

"I won't." Logan grins. "So why do you need to pay Father back?"

"Oh." I blush, and the lie just spills out. "It's just, I owe your Mom. For this dress."

"I'm sure that was a gift." Logan grins. "And anyway, our pack has tons of money. Anything you want, it's yours."

1. Rate this chapter on a scale from ♥ (1) to ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ (10)

2. What should happen in the next chapter?

3. Who can guess what POW wants to talk to Logan about? 

4. Tell me what you're reading this week. 

5. Would you rather (a) get rejected by your mate in front of the entire school -or- (b) get beat up by the meanest girl in school while everyone watched?