LOGAN: Alliance of Shadows, Book 2

Pack Mentality

As I glanced over at my cousins, I noted how easily Paul and Jake fell in with them. Wolves and Vampires mingled without issue, their conversations blending seamlessly as if there had never been tension between the factions. Seeing them interact so naturally reassured me—at least for now, there was peace between them.

I caught mention of my birthday and instinctively growled, making Selene jump.

“Sorry,” I muttered, forcing myself to relax.

She frowned. “Why did you growl? They just want to throw you a party.”

I swallowed, pushing down the lingering tension. “A week after my eighth birthday, I watched my mother pass away. Since then, birthdays have been a sore spot—mine, specifically.”

Her expression shifted, but instead of offering empty sympathy, she pivoted with surprising thoughtfulness. “What about a small get-together instead?” she suggested. “The girls and I could plan something for you.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “You’d do that for me?”

“Of course,” she said, smiling. “My older brother Alan hates big gatherings too. So, when his birthday comes around, we keep it simple—just a family dinner and a movie night.”

Her words settled something in me, grounding me in a way I hadn’t expected. Suddenly, I felt it—her blood calling to me, urging me to claim her. My Vampire instincts flared, recognition striking me with undeniable force.

I shook my head, pushing the thoughts away. Now wasn’t the time. Needing a distraction, I glanced around, searching for my little brother. My gaze landed on him as he walked over to Hunter. "Damn, Lorne must be hungry," I whispered.

Selene looked up at me and frowned. "Why do you say that?"

"Cause he just bee-lined for Hunter," I replied.

"So what? You said you trusted them," she countered.

Laughing, I said, "It's not that. See, Hunter draws kids in like a magnet. He prides himself on his perfect control, Selene. He would rather die to protect a child than resort to straight-up abuse."

"He sounds like a martyr," she replied.

I smiled. It wasn't a lie to call all eight of my Vampire cousin’s martyrs. All of them had walked away from their father's rule after he disowned them.

They reached out before Colton took us home on that fateful day when I was nine. Micah called it fighting the good fight, but I knew they wanted the truth just as much as I did—answers about what had happened centuries ago.

Among them all, Hunter was the one I was drawn to most. While the others were entertaining, it was Hunter I turned to for advice, the one whose judgment I trusted above the rest. If push ever came to shove, I knew without hesitation—he would be the first to lay his life on the line.

Recently, one of his scouts spotted Austin in the forest. Hunter wasted no time bringing the issue to my attention. When I asked him to keep an eye on Austin’s every move, he didn’t hesitate, nor did he deny the request. Instead, he called it a favor, making it clear that one day, he’d expect me to return it.

Of all my cousins, he quickly became more than just family—he felt more like another best friend.

Maria’s sharp call broke the moment, warning me that Trouble was on the move. With a reluctant sigh, I pulled rank and sent my pack after them.

What followed was nothing short of hilarious. Stanley, usually composed, completely lost it when Jake warned the Vampires to never run up against Triple Trouble alone. In all the time I’d known Stanley, I had never seen him so excited. He thrived on pranks, so facing my three was either going to fuel his chaotic energy or make him regret ever drawing his first breath.

As the pack disappeared in pursuit of the Trio, I turned back to Selene, drawn to the sound of her laughter. My mouth went dry as I caught the way her green eyes shimmered beneath the chandelier’s glow.

Why did she have to be so damn cute? Why did she have to have the body of a goddess, a windchime laugh, and a nature so accepting it made resisting her impossible?

Reaching out, I pulled her into my arms, hearing her gasp at the sudden closeness. “We’re definitely doing the dating thing now, Selene.”

She blinked up at me. “What changed?”

“My Vampire recognized you as my Mate a while ago,” I admitted, my voice quieter now. “But I was too stubborn to do anything about it. I’m sorry, Selene. You were right all along. You’re my Mate, and I shouldn’t have been so rude to you the day you got here.”

Her fingers tightened in my shirt, claws pressing into my skin—a sharp contrast to the warmth in her voice. She mumbled something incoherent, calling me stupid and telling me she was happy all in one breath.

Knowing how Mom was with Lorne, I sent a mental message to Hunt, just in case he needed a reminder. He quickly responded, assuring me he would handle it and keep my brother away from sugary treats. Mom had always been strict about diet, never allowing excessive sugar or salt. With Lorne’s boundless energy, adding sweets into the mix was a recipe for disaster.

Leaning against the wall, I observed the scene until Maria and Paul urged me to join the fun. Their insistence was lighthearted, but I hesitated before giving in. Even as I moved, my attention remained fixed on Selene.

It wasn’t because I didn’t trust her, and it wasn’t because I doubted my family or friends. I watched her because, despite my efforts, she had an awful sense of direction and was easily distracted.

Later that evening, walking home with my brother fast asleep on my back and the others trudging ahead of me, I was stopped by Jake. “What?”

“Let me carry him,” he said, his voice tired but firm. “In the event we get ambushed or something, he’ll be safer in the middle of the group.”

Shaking my head, I laughed softly. He was right. The weaker members of an actual wolf pack (including pups and Omegas) were kept in the middle of the stronger pack members. I nodded, carefully transferring Lorne to Jacob’s back without argument. “Thanks. That was an interesting evening, huh?”

“Yeah, it was. It was so much fun playing Battle Royale with your cousins, too.” He replied.

Though we were all tired, the day had been filled with fun. Well, unless you counted my cousin Stan. Triple Trouble wasted no time ganging up on him after he made an offhand remark about never seeing a blond-haired Black girl before.

Ember’s face paled, her laughter fading as unshed tears gathered in her eyes. That was all it took for the twins to react. With a younger sister of their own, they were fiercely protective of the girls we grew up with—something I had always admired about them. Wynter wasn’t far behind, her sharp intuition kicking in the moment she spotted Ember’s reaction. And once she got involved, things only escalated. Together, they formed a tag-team fueled by disaster and chaos.

The kid gloves came off when Ember got upset, and I gave the signal—the one phrase that granted full permission for whatever damage they decided to inflict.

“Green light.”

Stanley realized his mistake a second too late. Before he could even think about backtracking, Triple Trouble was already closing in, forcing him into a full retreat.