Logan shook with anger, but he knew Ian would probably be a big enough asshole to make him walk around the compound naked. He unsnapped his pants and stepped out of them, throwing them on the chair. He stood naked in front of Ian, his whole body red with rage. “I hate you, damn you! Fucking wolf!”
Ian thinned his lips, but said nothing. He pulled out the wingback chair next to Logan. “Drape yourself across the chair, Logan. Ass in the air. ”
Logan flushed again and shook his head. “No, you’re not going to do this. ”
“It’s not up for discussion, Logan. ” Ian pulled his belt off and held it in his hand thoughtfully. “Drape yourself across the chair and I’m giving you ten. Fight me and you won’t sit for a week. ”
Between wanting to defy him and knowing with certainty he couldn’t stop what Ian was about to do to him, Logan was torn. If he didn’t cooperate, Ian would probably tie him down. Hating himself for giving in, hating Ian for making him, he bent awkwardly over the chair, suspecting the concession Ian had made earlier was as much behind what he was doing as being mouthed off to. Ian had to reassert his dominance. Ian stepped up behind him and put a hand between his legs, boosting him up on his toes by his balls to where one hand held him firmly in place across the chair. Doubling up the belt, he snapped it sharply againstLogan’s ass, not holding back much. Logan hissed in a breath. He couldn’t stop him, but he damn sure wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing how much it hurt. Before he was ready, another came and another, crisscrossing his buttocks till he couldn’t hold back the tears in his eyes. Almost choking, he endured it until Ian finished and pulled him to his feet. His hands went back to rub his ass, and he tried to stalk away, but Ian held him in place with a tight hold of his arm.
“What have you learned, Logan?”
Logan groaned and bit his lip. He struggled hard for a moment and mumbled something.
“Louder. ”
“Not to talk back to you. ”
“That’s right. Are you going to do it again?”
“No. Sir. ”
“Do you understand why you shouldn’t?”
“Hell, no. Sir. ”
Ian sighedat Logan’s sarcasm. “Put your pants back on, Logan. ”
Logan walked stiffly over to retrieve them and put them back on, forcing himself not to squirm over the pressure on his abused ass. He looked up to see Ian holding out his collar. “Put it on. ”
He squeezed his eyes shut, but managed to avoid snatching the collar. Just barely. He put it back around his neck and fastened it.
Ian put his belt back on and walked toward the door. “I’m going to the council meeting. When I get back we are going to have a talk about your duties here at the compound. If you want so badly to assist against the Hunters, I’ll consider it . ”
Logan gazed at him in disbelief. “You just whipped my ass because I suggested the same thing. ”
“No, Logan, I whipped your ass because you were rude to your mate and more importantly, to your beta. You called me names and told me you hated me. The pack has a hierarchy. You should understand that as a military man. If you talked like that to a superior officer in the Hunters, what would have happened? There would have been punishment involved, I think. ”
“Yeah, I’d have lost a stripe, been on report, but I wouldn’t have been humiliated by beingstripped naked and whipped like a dog. I’m just curious, why is it you’re trying to destroy everything you said attracted you? Is it because I fucked you in the ass?”
Ian stared at him for a moment, obviously thinking about what Logan said, before he took a step back. He raised his head and regarded him directly. “Okay, Logan. Decide what you want. Be very sure. You can’t be my mate and talk to me like that or refuse to accept and acknowledge your submissive position. You’re right. You’re an adult, and you can decide what you want. I hope you decide you want me. I love you, and I never want to lose you, but if you want to reject me as your mate, you have the right. ” He turned and walked to the door, leaving Logan standing open-mouthed behind him.
“Wait a minute! What do you mean I can reject you?I can’t leave here, and you know it. ”
“You’re Werekin, Lo
gan, and you have every right to stay here, with or without me. I can arrange separate quarters for you and someone else to give you the feedings you’ll need. No doubt there would be plenty of volunteers. Like I said, you need to make a decision. ”
Ian didn’t return until bedtime. Logan was already in bed, feigning sleep when Ian came in the front door to their rooms. Ian walked into the bedroom softly and sat down on the side of the bed, lowering his head in his hands. “I know you’re awake. You need to just say it and get it over with. ”
Logan was still angry. He kept his back turned against Ian. “Say what? Are you expecting me to tell you I want out? We had a fight. I’m pissed. That doesn’t mean I don’t love you. ”
“It doesn’t?”
“No. Unless you want me to go?”
“No! I mean, I love you too, sweetheart. ” Ian stood and paced around the room for a few minutes before falling heavily in bed beside him, taking a deep, shuddering breath. “I know this is all hard for you to adjust to, but you sounded pretty positive about hating me. I thought you wanted to reject our mating. ”
“Where the hell would I go? It’s not like the local drug store carries wolf blood. ” “No, you’d have to stay in Mountainwood, but I told you other wolves can feed you. Don’t stay with me only because of that. ”