Freeing the Feline by Lacey Thorn Page A

mention the fact that maybe, just maybe, this wasn’t her secret to tell. Still, what you did… You shouldn’t ask for information you’re not ready to handle,” he said to Amia then looked straight at Reno. “And you should never pretend a friendship just to get what you want.”
    “Logan.” Clara turned to glance back at him.
    “It’s not okay,” he said before she could say anything else. “I don’t care what reason they had. It’s not okay to treat people this way. And it’s got to stop.”
    “You’re right,” Amia said. “We should be straight up and honest. Tell people how we feel. Hold nothing back.” Each sentence was filled with more anger, as if she was spiraling and couldn’t control it.
    Logan didn’t like the look in Amia’s eyes as she spoke. He moved around the couch and headed toward Clara. He didn’t get there in time, and Clara did nothing to defend herself. Amia swung her fist and hit Clara on the cheekbone. He heard his mate give a cry of surprise then she was falling back. He caught her and swung her behind him to face Amia.
    “What the fuck?” he yelled.
    Reno stepped in front of Amia and bared his teeth at Logan.
    “Bring it on,” Logan challenged. “At least I’m watching and will see it coming.”
    “Back down, pup,” Reno uttered.
    “I’m not your fucking pup, pussy.”
    “Enough,” Tah roared, but it was Abby and the Professor who stepped forward.
    “That’s enough,” Abby said quietly. “Diane, check Clara’s cheek. Amia, in that chair.” She pointed to where she expected Amia to go. “Not a word,” she ordered Logan and Reno. “I’m ashamed of you, all of you.”
    Logan felt like a kid getting chastised.
    “I want the three of you out of this office. Now.”
    “Abby.” Tah stepped forward, but his mate was having none of it.
    “You take them and get this worked out before something else like this happens.”
    Logan moved to squat in front of Clara. Her cheek was going to bruise, and he felt the anger building in him.
    “I’m fine, Logan,” Clara said, and it pissed him off to know she felt as if she’d deserved Amia’s punch.
    He brushed his knuckles softly over her check, just under the already forming bruise. “I’ll get you some ice.”
    “I’ve got it,” the Professor said, sounding angrier than Logan had ever seen him. The little man was practically vibrating with it. He paused to whisper something to Abby and squeezed her hand, then slammed out of the room.
    “I’ve never been so upset in my life. What is wrong with you guys? We’re a family. Family, damn it!” Abby yelled.
    She looked as if she might burst into tears. He hated to see Abby upset. They all did. Tah was the Alpha of their pride, but Abby was the heart.
    “Why don’t I take Amia back to our room for a bit,” Reno suggested.
    Logan understood what he was trying to do—ease the tension by removing Amia. But it was too late for that. Abby was livid and turned all her anger onto Reno as soon as the words were out of his mouth. Logan shook his head and couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for Reno. Even Tah stepped back and looked at Reno with incredulity. Abby vibrated with fury. She stepped right up to Reno and glared up at him.
    “Are you challenging me?” she demanded, hands on hips, looking as if she might start breathing fire any minute.
    Damn! Logan had never seen Abby like this.
    “I said I wanted the three of you out of here. Now. You need to fix whatever is going on. Work. It. Out. Now.”
    “I need to check on my mate,” Reno grumbled, but Logan saw him cast a glance at Tah.
    “You’re mate is fine. Probably nursing some bruised knuckles to go with her bruised heart.” Abby turned to face where Clara and Amia were sitting slightly apart from one another. “Amia, Clara and I are going to sit down and chat, and no one, and I do mean no one, will leave this fucking room until we have it hashed out and settled. Do I make myself fucking clear?” She