LOGAN: Alliance of Shadows, Book 2

Silent Warnings

Paul grinned at me as soon as we slipped out of view of the Pierce family home—a house that, as I’d learned, had been in their family for an incredible five generations. The thought of such deep roots lingered for a moment before Paul’s chatter about his siblings broke through, pulling me away from the lingering tension we’d left behind.

Paul motioned toward a massive boulder, where Gavin stood waiting, his posture steady and watchful. “You remember my brother, right?” he asked, his grin widening.

“Duh,” I replied with deliberate sarcasm. It was a side of me I kept carefully hidden from Austin, ensuring he never discovered it. He saw me as the perfect picture of compliance. I didn’t dare show him my playful edge, knowing full well he would twist it into something punishable, silencing Mami and me even further.

Paul didn’t seem to notice my shift in tone, and I blinked in quiet amazement at the realization. His grin faltered for a moment before morphing into a scowl. “He’s here to keep an eye on us while we explore. Momma’s busy with Jake, Wynter, and Heaven. Quartz is helping at the pack hospital, and Jack’s training.”

Gavin smirked as we approached, his stance casual but alert. “Took you two long enough to come out.”

Paul rolled his eyes theatrically, gesturing toward me. “Yeah, well, you try having a nerd for a friend. He wanted finishing his homework first – on the weekend, for crying out loud.”

Gavin’s eyebrows lifted slightly, his expression shifting into mock astonishment as he placed a hand over his heart. “They actually exist? Maybe he can teach us the Way of the Nerd.”

Paul let out a dramatic gasp. “How rude can you be?”

I couldn’t help but laugh softly at their antics. The banter between the brothers flowed naturally, reminding me of the warmth I always imagined siblings might share—the kind of bond Austin would never understand.

We walked along a well-worn path and talked about random things. For the first few minutes, everything was fine. Suddenly, Gavin said, “Yo, Logan, what’s eating you?”

I stopped, “What?”

There was no humour in his eyes as he stared me down. I felt the heat of his gaze and found myself struggling between wanting to tell him and knowing what would happen if I did. I quickly realized it was hard to lie to friends.

Stealing a glance at Paul, I noticed he was quietly watching us. I could tell he was torn between not saying anything and spilling what he'd heard to his older brother. Tensing as I suddenly recognized my father's heavy footsteps coming closer to us. My eyes slid closed as he stopped, bringing his hand to rest on my shoulder before giving me a not-so-gentle squeeze.

To anyone else, it was nothing. To me, it was a warning – one I knew well.

We walked along a well-worn path, our steps steady as we filled the air with talk about random things—small, inconsequential topics that distracted from heavier thoughts. For a few minutes, everything felt normal, almost peaceful.

Suddenly, Gavin broke the rhythm, his tone sharp and deliberate. “Yo, Logan, what’s eating you?”

I froze mid-step, turning toward him. “What?” My voice came out clipped, the single word betraying my hesitation.

There was no humor in his eyes, just an unwavering focus that seemed to pierce straight through me. His steady gaze felt oppressive, like a spotlight I couldn’t escape. I wrestled with the impulse to confide in him, knowing full well the consequences of letting my guard slip. The pressure was unbearable—trust battling fear in a silent war—and I quickly realized how hard it was to lie to friends.

Glancing over at Paul, I caught him quietly watching the exchange. His face betrayed a mix of discomfort and indecision. I could see the conflict flickering in his expression as he teetered between keeping silent and spilling everything he knew to his older brother. The tension hung heavy between us, pressing down like storm clouds ready to burst.

Then, the sound of heavy footsteps shattered the moment. My stomach dropped. I recognized the deliberate weight behind each step even before I saw him. My father.

My eyes slid shut as he stopped beside me, his presence radiating authority and menace. A hand landed on my shoulder, the squeeze firm enough to send a chill down my spine. To anyone else, it might seem a casual, harmless touch. But to me, it was a warning—a coded message I understood all too well.

“Logan, are these boys some new friends of yours?” My father’s voice cut through the air, cold and calculated. His hand tightened its grip on my shoulder, the pressure a sharp reminder of his unspoken authority. “Don’t be telling them any of your silly stories, understand?”

“Oui, Papa,” I murmured, my voice low as I cast a pleading glance at Gavin. I didn’t have to say anything more—his eyes met mine, and I could tell he understood.

With practiced ease, Gavin stepped forward and gave my father an easy smile. “We were just going to explore the pack lands, Mr. Pierce.”

For a moment, my father’s grip dug in deeper, his fingers pressing hard enough to make me wince. Then, just as abruptly, he released me. “I see. Behave yourself, Logan. Don’t let me hear you got in trouble, got me?”

“I won’t get into any trouble, Papa,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. The words felt automatic, a script I’d played out many times before.

When he was gone, I turned my gaze to Gavin and whispered, “Thank you.”

He sneered, the corner of his lip curling slightly. “Don’t thank me, kid. That’s just a little boy playing at being a man. If you want to see how real men treat their women, you should take a look at the Mated pairs around here.” His words were sharp, biting, carrying the weight of his disdain.

“His dad’s a total douche,” Paul cut in, his voice blunt as he gave the rock at his feet another solid kick. The dull thud echoed around us, breaking the tension for just a moment. “I heard him yelling at his mom earlier when I went in to get Logan. His mom, though? She’s awesome. I like her.”

Gavin’s grin widened as his eyes landed on a young boy emerging from a different path. “Great, you made it!” His voice carried a note of excitement that cut through the lingering tension.

The boy nodded quietly, his gaze scanning the area. “Any of my sisters pass by this way?”

“Nope, just us, Toby,” Paul replied with a groan, giving the rock at his feet a frustrated kick. The sound echoed faintly, grounding the group in the quiet atmosphere of the clearing.

Gavin bumped fists with the boy, his grin never fading. “Toby, this is Logan Pierce,” he said, gesturing toward me. “Logan, this is my best friend, Tobias Matthews. He’s a Sorcerer.” Gavin’s tone shifted slightly as he spoke the word, a subtle note of pride coloring his introduction.

We reached a brook, and Paul dared us to jump across it. While the others shrugged it off, I decided to take the dare. It wasn’t my best idea, the realization only hitting me when I slipped on the wet grass, losing my balance. My heart raced as my eyes squeezed shut, bracing for the impact I was certain was coming. But instead of hitting the ground, a hand wrapped firmly around my wrist, pulling me back to steady footing.

I blinked in surprise and looked up to see Paul, who was already helping me to my feet. His face showed nothing but concern as his eyes locked on mine. “Are you okay, Logan?” he asked, his voice unusually serious.

I gave a small nod, still catching my breath.

Gavin’s grin widened as he clapped me on the shoulder. “Know what, Logan? You actually tried before you said you couldn’t do it. That kind of attitude will get you far.” His tone carried an edge of encouragement, lightening the mood.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of exploration and laughter with Gavin and Toby. By the time hunger gnawed at us, we were running back to the packhouse, our energy high despite the long day. For the first time in my short life, I felt a deep sense of belonging. It was as if I had finally found the kind of place – and the kind of people – that made me feel like I truly fit in.

As we walked out to look around some more, Paul turned to me with a mischievous grin that immediately made me question his sanity. “Hey, Logan, I dare you to sneak some snacks from the kitchen.”

I hesitated, weighing my options. On one hand, I might get caught. On the other, if I was going to risk it, I could at least get the chance to see Luna Izzy again. Slipping quietly through the kitchen’s side door, I froze as I nearly bumped into a little blonde girl nibbling on a sugar cookie.

She grinned up at me, “You want snackies?”

My mind raced. My eyes darted around for an escape route, “I... I...”. Crap. I was so busted.

“It’s okay, Logan,” Luna Izzy said softly, her voice full of warmth as she glanced up at me. The little girl lowered her gaze shyly before sliding a plate across the table toward me. “Go ahead, sweetie. Take one for each of your friends, too.”

“It was Paul’s idea, I swear,” I blurted, my voice barely above a whimper. My strategy to pin the blame on him was already fully formed—just in case I got caught red-handed.

Luna Izzy’s laugh rang out, light and reassuring. “Logan, you’re not in any trouble. Come take four cookies, and we’ll pretend you were never here, okay?”

Relieved, I managed a sheepish grin, biting my lower lip as I nodded. “Thank you, Luna.” She was unbelievably kind, and her calm reaction caught me off guard.