LOGAN: Alliance of Shadows, Book 2

The Cost of Silence

A/N: I have recently noticed that there may be some repetitive sections in certain chapters. I've been so busy with work and school lately that i didn't notice the mistakes before, but i endeavour to be better :)

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“Why do you look so lost, kiddo?”

I turned to the man talking to me and gave him a small, sad smile. Uncle Stephen’s voice was steady and warm, like he already knew something was on my mind but didn’t want to press too hard. I didn’t want to drag anyone else into my family’s problems, but the question sat between us, waiting for an answer.

“It’s nothing, Uncle Stephen. I was just thinking about how different everyone here is compared to my old home.”

“How so?” he asked, his footsteps soft and unhurried as we walked together toward my house after Jake’s birthday party.

One thing I learned quickly after arriving at the pack lands was that, if your parents were close with someone, that person became your Auntie or Uncle automatically, treating you like family whether they shared your blood or not. It was strange at first, but I liked it. It made me feel included, like I belonged.

“Well,” I started slowly, unsure how much I wanted to share. “I’ve never been to a birthday party before I met your kids. I’ve never had friends either.”

Uncle Stephen’s frown deepened, and the lines around his eyes softened with something that almost looked like sympathy. “Didn’t have any friends? Why not?”

“Madre didn’t want me to hurt the kids ‘cause we didn’t live on pack lands,” I explained, glancing down at the dirt path under my feet. “The others... they weren’t like me. But I don’t have to worry about that stuff with Paul and the others. As long as we don’t hurt each other, we have all kinds of fun.”

His expression shifted, like he was piecing something together in his mind. He stayed quiet for a moment, and I wondered if I’d said too much. Maybe he thought I was weird, the way the kids in my old town used to. Finally, he said, “I’m glad you’re having fun now, Logan. You deserve it.”

His words settled in my chest, warm and steady. For a moment, I didn’t know what to say.

Jake’s birthday party hadn’t been any different from the other birthdays I’d helped them celebrate. The kids weren’t just loud; they were wild, running around with no fear of being scolded for tearing their clothes or getting dirty. It was chaotic in a way that made the entire day feel alive. And for the first time, I hadn’t felt like an outsider watching from the edges. I was part of it.

“I never really thought about it,” I admitted after a long pause. “How different life could be when you have people who care about you.”

Uncle Stephen stopped walking and turned to face me, his expression thoughtful. “That’s what it’s all about, kiddo. Having people who’ve got your back. And here in the Alliance, we take care of each other.”

He hesitated, his gaze flickering to the path ahead. “Liz… she’s concerned about you and your mother, Logan,” he began, his voice gentle but steady. “I don’t mean to pry, but is everything okay at home? Your father’s… not being mean, is he?”

He laughed, a low, soft chuckle that felt like a quiet invitation to speak freely. “What do you think of things now?”

I grinned, unable to help the warmth bubbling up as I thought about the day. Images of Paul and Gavin smashing a piece of cake into Jake’s face popped into my mind, followed by the memory of Wynter and the twins sneaking off with a stash of candy. They had so much energy after eating it that Aunt Liz and Aunt Daisy practically had to herd them into the fenced-in yard to burn it off. Chaos, loud and unrestrained, but the good kind—the kind that made you feel alive.

“I didn’t know having friends could be so much fun,” I admitted, the grin lingering on my face.

“It certainly makes life better having them around, doesn’t it?” he asked, his tone gentle yet knowing. The silence that followed felt natural, unhurried. Then, his voice softened, as though he were carefully choosing each word. “Logan, I overheard Wyn mention something about your father being mean. If he ever hurts you or your mom, you have to tell someone. The pack will be there to help you, okay? I know your old man isn’t the nicest person—I grew up with him. He was mean even as a child. That doesn’t mean you and your mom have to put up with his crap, though.”

His words settled into my chest like stones. Not heavy with doubt but they were weighted with truth. They made sense. They even comforted me. But I couldn’t risk it. I’d learned that the hard way. The last time I told someone about what my father did, they tried to stand up to him. Madre pleaded with him after the man left, begged him to leave me alone, but instead, she paid the price. She bore the bruises I couldn’t protect her from.

Rather than lie, I forced a smile, hoping it looked genuine. “If he does, Luna Izzy already told me she’s gonna kick him out of the pack.”

“Good to hear. Our Luna is a good woman,” he said, his laughter carrying warmth that felt like an unspoken promise.

There was no way I could tell him what was happening behind closed doors. The truth felt like a caged animal, clawing at the edges of my mind, but I couldn’t let it escape. Not now. Not ever. If Austin even caught a hint that I was biding my time, his fury would be swift and unforgiving.

I was already treading the razor-thin line of what he was willing to tolerate. Every moment felt like walking on eggshells, every breath calculated to avoid crossing an invisible boundary. One wrong step—one perceived slight—would ignite his rage, and there’d be no stopping him.

Any little mistake would trigger my sire in the worst of ways, unleashing the monster that lurked beneath his controlled exterior. He wore the mask of calm well, but I knew better. I’d seen the cracks, felt the storm brewing just beneath the surface. The aftermath of his anger was always devastating, each encounter leaving scars deeper than the last.

As we neared the house, I felt the fear creep up my spine, each step heavier than the last. Forcing another smile, I said, “Good night, Uncle Steve. I can get home from here.”

“Are you sure?” He asked, eyeing me suspiciously.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I darted ahead, eager to put some distance between us and the fear that waited for me inside.

Once I was through the door, the muffled sound of Madre sobbing reached my ears, tugging at my chest. It was a sound I’d grown too familiar with, yet it still felt like a dagger every time I heard it. I slipped off my coat and boots with deliberate care, mindful of the snow clinging to them. The last thing I wanted was to track wet footprints across the floor. He hated when the house got dirty, and I couldn’t risk giving him another excuse—another reason to make Madre cry.

My eyes flicked toward the hall closet as the sound of his heavy stomps grew louder, each thud reverberating through the silence like a warning. My lip trembled as I froze in place, instinct screaming at me to run or hide. But I knew better. I knew that if I tried to hide, it would only make him worse. The memory of past mistakes lingered, etched in my thoughts as a reminder that there was no escape—not yet.

“Where the hell were you, brat?” Austin snarled, his voice sharp and venomous as he stormed into the hallway.

“I was at my friend Paul’s house,” I sobbed, my voice trembling as I tried to explain. “It was his brother’s birthday today, and they invited me.”

His hand struck my face with a hard slap, the sound echoing in the hallway. Pain radiated across my cheek as I stumbled, falling to the floor.

“No! Please, Austin,” Madre’s voice broke through the tension, desperate and pleading. “Don’t hurt him, I beg you. Please, do not hurt our pup.”

I sniffled, my body shaking as I lay on the cold floor. Slowly, I looked up, my vision blurred by tears. Madre stood nearby, clutching his arm with trembling hands. Her face and arms were marred with slowly-healing cuts and bruises, each one a testament to the violence she endured. Despite her fear, she held onto him, her voice cracking as she tried to shield me from his wrath.

He snarled, backhanding her with such force that she crashed into the closet door, the wood splintering under the impact. “Shut the hell up, you stupid b***h! A boy needs discipline, and I’m going to give it to him.”

Madre cried, her voice trembling, “Please, he is so small, Austin. Do not hurt our son, please. He is just a child.”

“Who let him go to the Grey house, Mari?” Austin’s voice was sharp and accusing, his eyes narrowing as he loomed over her. “I said not to let him do anything that will have that i***t Alpha and his precious Mate breathing down my neck.”

She sobbed, her body shaking as she stepped in front of me, shielding me with her own. “I told him that he could go with the other children, Austin. I was just trying to let him have a bit of fun. Besides, letting him out to play will keep the Alpha away, won’t it? They could get suspicious if we do not allow our pup some freedom.”

His hand lashed out again, the slap echoing through the hallway. “No is no, Mariana. When I give an order, I expect my obedient b***h of a Mate to do as she’s told.”

The sight of her bruised and battered, standing between me and his rage, made my chest tighten with fear. I knew this couldn’t go on, but I felt so helpless to stop it.