LOGAN: Alliance of Shadows, Book 2

Fragile Shields

My eyes widened as I caught sight of my father and mother arguing again, their voices low but tense. A wave of dread washed over me, but I quickly pushed it aside. I knew I had to draw his attention away from her. Without hesitation, I ran over to my mother, wrapping my small arms tightly around her hips.

“Madre, I missed you when I woke up!” I exclaimed, my voice bright and full of affection.

Her face softened instantly as she looked down at me, her anger melting away. “Oh, look at you, mi corazón. How handsome you are in your new clothes!” she gushed, her hands moving to straighten my shirt. She pulled out a napkin, dabbing at a smudge on my cheek as her gaze filled with love and warmth. “My precious heart, will you forgive your Madre for not being there when you woke?”

I grinned and giggled, leaning into her embrace as I wrapped my tiny arms around her neck. “Sí, Madre, no es problema,” I said with a laugh, trying to make her smile.

Behind us, my father’s sneering voice cut through the moment. “Where’d you get the money for the clothes, Mariana? And tell that brat to speak so I can understand him.”

“I… I… the…” Mami started.

He mocked her, his eyes darkening with anger and the promise of retribution. “Don’t f*****g lie to me, Mari. Where did you get the money? If you talk now, your punishment later might not be so bad.”

“Austin, per favore, I beg you. It… it was the man who took us here that helped,” she pleaded, her voice carrying the fear of his angry vow.

He took a step closer, his eyes glittering with his dark emotions. “Really? That’s interesting. See, if I ever hear tell of you saying s**t like last time, I’ll make you regret meeting me.”

The tremor in her hands gave her away, even as she tried to remain steady. Anger bubbled up inside me, fierce and protective. I turned to face him, my small frame trembling with defiance as I narrowed my eyes.

Even though I knew I was too small to make much of a difference, I couldn’t stand by and do nothing. I had to protect her.

“Kaden bought them for me,” I lied smoothly, the words slipping out without hesitation. “Do you like them, Papa?”

At the mention of Kaden, the sneer vanished from his face. I didn’t know why, but it gave me a sliver of relief. Over the years, I’d gotten too good at lying to protect Mami, to shield her from his wrath. He believed me, just as I’d hoped, but I knew the lie would only hold if I got to Kaden first. He would have to help me keep this story straight.

“Is that right?” he asked, his tone skeptical but laced with the familiar darkness that had long ago trained me to think on my feet.

I nodded eagerly, hoping my excitement would sell the lie. But as I turned my head slightly, a familiar chill crept up my spine. I glanced over my shoulder, drawn by an almost instinctive sense of unease.

Kaden was striding toward us, his expression dark and unreadable. His piercing gaze settled on my father, and the scowl deepened, radiating quiet fury. Being a Werewolf, he must have overheard what I said. My heart thudded painfully in my chest as I prayed he would go along with the lie. If he didn’t, there was no telling what my father might do to Mami—or to me.

Before turning his eyes to me, Kaden let his gaze linger on my father for a moment longer, his expression unreadable but heavy with unspoken warning. Then, he turned to me and smiled warmly, tousling my hair gently. “Hey, kiddo. Good to see you back on your feet. Are you having fun?”

“Yes, I made some friends already,” I replied, eager to focus on something positive.

“That’s awesome to hear.” His tone softened for just a moment before his steely gaze returned to my father. The low growl that followed made the air around us feel heavier. Leaning in slightly, Kaden whispered with deliberate menace, “Austin, I strongly suggest you make yourself scarce.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my father’s face pale briefly. His bravado faltered for a fleeting moment before he recovered, slipping back into his usual snarky demeanor. “Whatever, Omega,” he shot back with a dismissive tone, though there was an edge of uncertainty in his voice.

This time, Kaden growled audibly, the sound low and rumbling like distant thunder. “Don’t start a fight you won’t win, Austin. I may be an Omega, but I am far from weak. And just so you remember,” his voice dropped even lower, ice-cold and sharp as steel, “I’m still on the Untouchable list. You might want to think carefully before you react.”

The term “Untouchable list” sent my thoughts spinning. What did it mean, and why was Kaden on it? The questions swirled in my mind, but I didn’t dare speak. My confusion must have shown on my face, though, because Kaden turned his attention back to me and winked knowingly. The gesture reassured me, even as the tension lingered in the air like an unbroken storm.

That was when my father told Mami not to wait for him. His voice was clipped, and his words carried the same dismissiveness I had come to expect from him. Without sparing a second glance, he turned and walked away.

Mami let out a small, barely audible sigh before turning to Kaden. “Thank you,” she said softly before she went to help out in the kitchen, her shoulders straight but her steps quieter than usual.

Once she was gone, Kaden knelt down in front of me, his face darkened by a deep scowl. My grin disappeared as quickly as it had come, and I dropped my gaze to the ground. Shame and worry crept over me, and I unconsciously dug the dark blue tip of my sneaker into the soft dirt, drawing shapes to distract myself. I didn’t want to get into trouble, but I knew I was already there.

“Eyes up, little one,” Kaden whispered, his voice calm but firm.

I swallowed hard, my throat tightening at the seriousness in his tone. Two of his fingers slid gently under my chin, tilting my head upward. I hesitated, still unable to meet his eyes. My gaze hovered somewhere just shy of his face, and I think he knew why I couldn’t look directly at him.

He sighed then, a sound that felt heavy with disappointment but also understanding. Without a word, he pulled me into his chest, his strong arms wrapping protectively around me. His hand moved in slow, soothing circles against my back, and for a fleeting moment, the tension eased.

When he released me, he leaned back slightly, raising one eyebrow expectantly. I owed him an explanation, and he wasn’t going to let me off the hook that easily.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I lied and said you did things you didn’t.”

Kaden’s stern expression softened as he smiled at me, his eyes filled with understanding. “I know why you did it,” he said gently, his voice steady but firm. “But next time, come to me first so I can help you. As for the clothes, you only told half a lie. Your mother didn’t have enough money, so I asked the Grand Alpha to grant her a living allowance. That way, she could buy whatever you needed.”

Finally, I mustered the courage to meet his gaze, if only for a fleeting moment, before dropping my eyes to the scuffed toes of my shoes. “I’m still sorry, Kaden,” I murmured, the guilt weighing heavy in my chest.

His response came with a warm chuckle as he ruffled my hair, his hand lingering just long enough to reassure me. “Just don’t let it happen again, all right?” he said, raising an eyebrow playfully.

“Yes, Sir,” I replied instinctively, despite knowing he disliked being addressed so formally. I saw the faintest twitch of amusement on his face but didn’t dare mention it. Calling him “Sir” had become a habit I couldn’t quite break, even though I knew better.

“Go play with the other kids and try to stay out of trouble, deal?” His voice returned to its usual calm tone as he turned and walked back toward the door, resuming his post with a watchful presence.

Nodding, I told him I would try. I glanced around, looking for any familiar faces in the crowd. The same ache reached out for me, caressing my happiness with dark

I lingered for a moment, watching him settle into his role, his sharp eyes scanning the gathering for any signs of trouble. His presence, steady and deliberate, made me feel safe in a way I hadn’t felt for a long time. I tucked my hands into the pockets of my pants and turned toward the group of kids playing near the edge of the clearing.

Laughter bubbled up from the group as two boys chased each other, their footsteps kicking up clouds of dust. A girl with curly hair was showing off a glittering rock she had found, and the others oohed and ahhed in admiration. I hesitated, the idea of joining them suddenly overwhelming. My feet felt heavy, rooted to the spot as I thought about how different their lives must be from mine. Carefree, light, untouched by the shadows that followed me around.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, my sneakers crunching on the loose gravel beneath me.

I glanced back toward the door. Kaden was still there, standing firm and alert, like a silent guardian. His presence grounded me, a reminder that no matter how out of place I might feel, I wasn’t entirely alone.