LOGAN: Alliance of Shadows, Book 2

Pack Loyalty

I was beginning to love my new family.

They gave me their love, time, and attention, something I had never truly experienced before. They trusted me with freedom, as long as I let them know who I was with and what time to expect me back at the packhouse. It was a simple rule, but it made me feel valued—like I mattered.

When I first started calling Luna Clara and Alpha Henry Mom and Dad, it had been an emotional moment. They had cried, their expressions a mix of joy and disbelief, and I knew then just how much it meant to them. It felt strange at first, the words foreign on my tongue, but the warmth in their reactions made it feel right.

Neil had been looking out for me too, quietly stepping in when I needed support. After he spoke to Dad about my struggles with school, they decided to order a cognitive assessment. At first, I had no idea what that even meant, but when the results came back, everything changed. I was moved into higher-level classes to match my abilities, so I wouldn’t feel bored or overlooked anymore. It was a big adjustment, but it came with an unspoken promise—that my potential would never be ignored again.

Despite the changes, I was still allowed to help my friends when they needed it. Tutoring them became a way to stay connected, even as I navigated my new workload. I had to stay on top of my own studies, though—Mom was quick to remind me that slacking wasn’t an option.

For the first time, I felt like I was truly seen. It was a comfort to be recognized for my abilities rather than brushed aside, and that sense of belonging wrapped around me like a protective shield.

Lorne could be a bit of a handful at times, but he was still a baby, so it wasn’t so bad. One day, I overheard Mom and Dad talking quietly about him, their tones tinged with a mix of concern and hope. They spoke about how he was growing stronger, fighting against the odds stacked against him.

When I asked about it, they explained that Lorne was a late-life baby—a miracle in many ways, but fragile. He was battling to survive every day. Dad gently asked me not to tell Neil, saying he didn’t want to cause unnecessary worry or drama. “Just in case Lorne surprises us all,” he added.

Spoiler alert: he absolutely did.

Learning the truth about Lorne felt like being hit with a wrecking ball—again and again. Guilt gnawed at me, especially when I thought about how vulnerable he was. From that day on, I became fiercely protective of him. I even brought it up with the Howlers, asking them to help keep an eye on Lorne when he started venturing outside. They didn’t argue; in fact, they agreed instantly. It wasn’t an Alpha order—just a heartfelt request they didn’t hesitate to honor.

Neil and I grew closer after the day I called him brother. There was an unspoken shift between us, like a wall had come down. He began teaching me things I’d struggled with before, patiently guiding me through unfamiliar tasks. One afternoon, he even told me that I could keep my Alpha title, so long as Dad was okay with it. That moment meant the world to me—it was as if Neil was acknowledging not just my place in the pack but my growth as a leader.

Kaden, on the other hand, seemed to be in his own little world these days. His Mate, Akita Stone, had come into his life, and their bond was undeniably strong. Their happiness was infectious, and while I was glad to see Kaden thriving, I couldn’t help but notice how much time they spent together.

It was around that time that I finally met Dreson. He had an easy confidence about him, the kind of guy who didn’t need to say much to make an impression. For some reason, it took me longer than it should have to piece everything together—that he and Leif were both boys, and they were together just like a man and a woman would be. When the realization finally hit, it became a moment my friends wouldn’t let me forget.

Their laughter echoed endlessly as they teased me about it. “Three tries, Lo,” Maria had said through her giggles, shaking her head in mock disbelief. “Three tries to explain, and you still didn’t get it!”

Despite my embarrassment, their teasing felt lighthearted. Another reminder that, no matter how awkward I might get sometimes, these were my people.

Unfortunately, our cleverness wasn’t enough to keep us out of trouble. Almost three months after Izzy and Neil’s wedding, one of Shadow Storm’s scouts stumbled upon our obstacle course and reported it to the adults. What followed was an entire afternoon of tense questioning – an interrogation aimed at prying out every detail about the course, but the nine of us held strong. No matter how many tactics they used, we refused to break.

When they finally gave up and left us alone, I lifted my head slightly, scanning the room. They had separated me from my packmates, no doubt hoping to weaken our resolve, but they didn’t understand us. We had spent months training together, drawing knowledge from every resource we could find—online guides, dusty corners of the pack library, even the town library. Bit by bit, we had transformed our weaknesses into strengths, and I had made sure we succeeded.

No amount of separation could fracture what we had built.

Heaven’s voice broke the silence as she started humming a nursery rhyme, the melody soft and steady. It was our subtle signal, a way to communicate even though we couldn’t form a pack-link yet. Her tune carried across the room, grounding us in the familiarity of our bond.

The door creaked open, and Neil stepped in. His gaze swept over us, pausing as he took in the sight – nine kids sitting quietly with our hands bound behind our backs, the ropes just tight enough to hold us in place.

He sighed heavily, shaking his head, his frustration palpable but tempered by something softer.

“Have any of them said anything?” Neil asked, his tone edged with curiosity.

Jasper ran a hand over his face, clearly exasperated. “Man, I’ve questioned Rogues that broke faster than these kids. Are you sure the youngest of them is only three?”

Neil crossed his arms, his expression calm but firm. “Pretty sure,” he replied evenly.

A chuckle escaped me, breaking the momentary tension. “You’re wrong,” I said, unable to resist.

Neil’s glare locked on me, sharp and expectant. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Heaven and Ember are the youngest of us, and they turned four this month,” I explained, my grin widening at the shift in his expression.

Colton’s laughter filled the room, the sound infectious and impossible to ignore.

Jasper sighed heavily, shaking his head in disbelief. “What now, Neil?”

Neil tilted his head slightly, the hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. “Let them keep their little training routine,” he said. “They seem like they’ve got it down pat, so we might as well step back and see how it goes for them.”

The laughter from Colton didn’t let up, earning him a pointed glare from Neil. It did little to deter his amusement, though. I grinned, holding Jasper’s gaze as I added confidently, “Trying to break us won’t work, Jasper. We trained for that, too.”

“I’ll be damned,” he muttered under his breath, his disbelief plain on his face. I couldn’t help but grin as I shifted my weight, lowering myself until I was sitting comfortably on my ankles. Slowly, with all eyes on me, I leaned back and eased my bound hands forward until they were free, resting casually in front of me.

“Dude, we have to let them train now,” Jasper said, his voice filled with incredulous pride. His gaze flicked between me and the others. “I’ve got full-grown wolves that can’t even come close to what Logan just pulled off.”

Neil barked out a laugh, the sound breaking the silence. “How often do you guys train?” he asked, leaning against the wall, curiosity lighting his features.

“Whenever we can,” Paul answered from the doorway, his presence adding weight to the conversation. The room they were in had been locked once – but not anymore.

It didn’t take long for them to realize why. Jacob had proven to be a mastermind when it came to unlocking doors and solving puzzles. He could take a locked room and turn it into an open opportunity, a skill that had come in handy more times than we cared to admit. The three men sighed in defeat as the realization hit, their expressions shifting from surprise to reluctant acceptance.

“How the… did you guys know they could do that?” Colton asked, his frustration palpable. He raked a hand through his hair, looking like he was moments away from pulling it out altogether.

Neil shook his head, his disbelief mirrored in his voice. “No, I had no idea.” His eyes landed on me, narrowing slightly. “Logan, explain.”

The others filtered into the room, their faces calm and resolute. I waited patiently as Paul came over to me, his survival knife deftly cutting through the ropes. The quiet snick of the blade felt like a victory in itself. Standing with my friends, I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out as we took in the stunned looks on the adults’ faces.