LOGAN: Alliance of Shadows, Book 2

Unyielding

Within minutes, I was deep in the thick of the trees, far from the house and anyone who might track me.

When I shifted back into human form, I dug into my pack, fingers brushing past essential supplies until they landed on a few packs of candy. Just as I tore one open, Paul trotted up beside me, his dark brown wolf pressing its head against my shoulder in greeting. His black-tipped ears flicked as he studied me, always observant. Months ago, when he turned sixteen, he somehow convinced his parents to let him dye streaks of green into his hair. Now, in his wolf form, those streaks blended with the earthy tones of his coat, giving him an oddly effective camouflage.

I handed him a pair of shorts from my bag, grinning as he grabbed them in his teeth before shifting back with ease. “Were you followed?” I asked, tossing a few pieces of candy into my mouth, the sugary taste grounding me after the rush of my escape.

Paul shot me an unimpressed look. “I’m not a novice, Logan,” he growled, snatching the Skittles from my outstretched hand with practiced ease.

His next question caught me off guard. “So, looking forward to your birthday this year?”

I shivered despite the warm, late-August air. No. I wasn’t looking forward to turning sixteen. That Vixen would be here. I wanted more time, just a few more years of freedom before I had to settle down with a Mate of my own. That is, if she didn’t outright reject me once she learned the truth about my heritage.

“How’s your mom doing?” I asked, steering the conversation away from my looming birthday.

Paul laughed, shaking his head. “She’s pissed at Dad for forgetting their anniversary, so she’s making him clean the basement.”

I snorted at the image. Classic Aunt Liz to use household chores to get Uncle Steve to own his mistakes.

We finished off the last of the candy, tucking the wrappers into my bag before I pushed to my feet. The shift came effortlessly, muscles stretching as my body transformed. The warm wind rushed against my fur, ruffling it as Paul followed suit, his own shift just as fluid.

‘I’m so freaking jealous of you, man. You’re more powerful than the rest of us, but you never hold it over our heads,’ he said through the mind link, his thoughts carrying a mix of admiration and honesty.

‘Why would I? You and the others mean the world to me,’ I replied, the thought firm, unquestioning.

I took a moment to think about it as we found a comfortable pace for our run. The light of the fading sun filtered through the trees as it set behind the mountains.

Our paws barely stirred the forest floor, a near-silent whisper of movement as we weaved between towering trunks and vaulted over fallen logs and boulders. The crisp air rushed past us, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine.

When we finally reached our destination, I glanced up just as the full moon crested the horizon, its pale glow spilling across the landscape, turning the water to silver and sharpening the edges of the world.

Panting, we lowered ourselves to drink from the cool lake, the surface rippling at our touch.

Finding the bag of clothes that we kept in one of the caves, we shifted and started joking around like we usually did.

We were still laughing when an ear-piercing scream shattered the quiet night. The abrupt sound cut through the air, unnatural in the stillness around us.

“What was that?” Paul asked, his amusement vanishing as he dropped the bag to the ground, ears perked in alertness.

“Not sure,” I said, shaking my head, my body already tensed. “Let’s go check it out.”

He nodded, understanding the importance of moments like this. Incidents like these justified our pack’s presence—ensuring the Shadow Storm pack remained aware of potential dangers gave us leverage.

Paul remained on the ground in wolf form, muscles coiled, ready to react. I took to the treetops, my movements swift as I blended into the shadows above, scanning the terrain ahead.

My heart lurched as my grip slipped on the branch, the sudden drop sending a rush of adrenaline through me. Sweat slicked my skin, trickling in slow rivulets down my face. Jaw clenched, I hauled myself back up, muscles straining as I steadied my footing before launching toward the next tree, where the rope bridges began.

Just as I neared the halfway point, the sharp scent of blood cut through the crisp night air.

I crouched, scanning the terrain below. My gaze locked onto Selene—motionless on the forest floor. Of course. It was just my luck to have her tailing me when she had no sense of direction.

I inhaled deeply, sorting through the shifting layers of scent on the breeze. Two others lingered close, their presence undeniable.

As they reached the clearing below, Selene jolted awake, gasping for breath. Whipping around, she hissed at the two men—though neither looked at her. Their focus remained locked on each other, a silent tension crackling between them.

Closing my eyes for a brief moment, I dropped from the branch, landing in a crouch, the earth firm beneath me.

“Good evening,” I said, my voice calm yet measured.

Paul skidded to a halt as he burst out of the underbrush, his claws kicking up dirt and grass in his wake. His ears twitched, nose lifting as he gauged the situation before trotting toward me, his movements steady but alert.

“I was patrolling the border when I heard the scream, Alpha Logan,” the Werewolf said, his tone edged with caution.

I sucked my lower lip between my fangs, a grin tugging at the corners of my mouth. “Okay. What are you doing out here, Viktor?”

A Rogue Vampire until recently, Viktor had been welcomed into the Ruby Fang coven. Since settling in, he’d carved out his own space—a gallery where he displayed an eclectic collection of art, each piece reflecting the restless mind behind them.

He met my gaze with a knowing smile and a light laugh. “I was out looking for inspiration and caught the scent of blood, my Lord. I merely came to check on the injured person. No harm intended.”

My eyes locked onto Selene’s shocked expression as she shakily rose to her feet, dusting the dirt from her jeans with trembling hands. My mind raced, scrambling for the right words. Lying wasn’t an option—I had abandoned that habit long ago, after Madre died. If she decided to reject me after this, so be it.

“Don't be frightened, Selene,” I said, keeping my voice even.

“I—I'm not scared!” she shot back, her scowl fierce despite the lingering tremor in her stance.

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Selene, there's something you need to know. Now that you’ve seen Vampires here, there’s something about me that might change everything. The truth is… I am a hybrid between the two factions.”

Paul’s muzzle dropped open so fast I half-expected him to dislocate his jaw. He had always respected my silence about my heritage, never pushing for answers, yet knowing I purposely kept the knowledge out of common ears. Only those who were closer than close were privy to my intentionally-kept secrets.

Selene looked back at me, absorbing the weight of my revelation. A flicker of fear crossed her eyes so brief it was almost imperceptible. Then, finally, she spoke. “So, you’re a Vampire and a Werewolf? How the heck does that even happen?”

Feisty little thing, that’s for sure, I thought before replying to her. “Hollywood got a lot wrong about Vampires, but that’s neither here nor there at the moment. On another note, Selene, do you honestly think I’m your Mate? I mean, we’re more than a little different at this point.”

“I don’t think you’re my Mate. I know you are,” she snapped, frustration laced in her voice. “Who cares about our differences? It only means I got one hell of a strong Mate is all.”

Holy heck, she was persistent. I exhaled slowly, meeting her gaze. “Well, I won’t know for sure until my birthday, and right now, having a Mate is the furthest thing from my mind.”

She let out a shocked, high-pitched “What?” and narrowed her eyes, staring me down as if daring me to take back my words.

“If it does turn out that you're my Mate,” I continued, keeping my tone steady, “then you need to understand that I belong to both factions. I don’t get to pick and choose – not when I was destined to be the child of balance. Now that you know the truth about me, you can choose to reject or accept me as I am. I don’t care either way.”

Selene stared at me, her silence stretching long enough to make the air feel heavier. Then, as if summoning a burst of courage, she declared, “Logan Pierce, you are a bitch.”

The words hit like a slap, leaving all four males frozen in pure shock. Calling a male wolf a b***h was no small insult, and she knew it. I heard the other two wolves groan in unison, their discomfort palpable, but I brushed it off.

I blinked, trying to process how she could go from tears to asserting herself verbally within minutes. Honestly, I wasn’t even mad. “What did you call me?”

“I called you a b***h because you’re acting like one,” she repeated, her voice unwavering.

Paul remained silent, his gaze flicking between us. He knew why I struggled with relationships. He knew the thought of having a Mate felt like a weight I couldn’t bear. Madre’s death had left scars that ran deeper than anyone could see. My friends understood the fear that lingered in me, but their worry wasn’t about betrayal. They feared I’d turn on myself.

Selene’s voice cut through my thoughts, sharp and smug. “I didn’t waste eight damn years chasing your ass around for nothing. I’m not going to reject you, Pierce.”

Damn. What the hell do I do now?