LOGAN: Alliance of Shadows, Book 2

Broken Bonds

My father was gone for months at a time. He never stayed long when he did return, usually just enough to throw money in Madre's face and sneer at her to "feed her brat." In a twisted way, his absence was a blessing. It meant we could breathe a little easier, if only for a while.

But then, it happened.

He came home one morning in early July, and the fragile peace we had cobbled together was ripped apart like scraps of old paper. This time, it wasn’t just Madre who became the target of his hatred and cruelty.

I hid in my room, curling myself into the smallest space I could find, my heart pounding as I listened to his voice rise in fury. I hoped—prayed—that it would stop at yelling, that maybe, just this once, he wouldn’t resort to beating her like he always did. But then his heavy footsteps thudded closer, and the door to my room slammed open.

He stormed in, his face twisted with anger as he towered over me. He began shouting, spitting venom about how I had dared to have people over while he was gone. I hadn’t, of course, but the truth didn’t matter to him. He loomed closer, and his words turned into threats—ugly promises of what would happen to my friends if he ever found out I had told them anything.

Something inside me snapped.

The threat against my friends stirred a protective streak I hadn’t even realized I possessed. A fierce anger rose up, hot and unrelenting, pushing back against the fear that had kept me silent for so long. I was sick of being afraid. Sick of seeing my Mami hurting—sick of the bruises, the tears, the broken fragments of our lives that he left in his wake.

We had learned to endure his abuse, but I couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t let him keep doing this to us. Even though I knew I wasn’t strong enough to stop him on my own, I had to try.

Knowing full well that I was smaller and weaker than my father, I still lunged at him. Fear didn’t matter anymore—nothing did. All I knew was that I had to fight back.

He snarled as he grabbed me by my shirt, yanking me off the ground with terrifying ease. For a moment, I felt weightless before he hurled me against the far wall. Pain shot through my back and shoulders as I crumpled to the floor, but I refused to stay down. Groaning, I forced myself back to my feet and charged at him again, a surge of raw defiance pushing me forward.

I didn’t stop—not even when Madre ran into the room, her voice panicked and pleading. No, her presence only made the fury inside me burn hotter. The sight of her fading bruises, barely healed from the last time, fanned the flames of my anger.

As I passed my bedroom mirror, something in my reflection caught my eye. My gaze flickered to it, and I noticed my eyes—solid black. My wolf had awakened, and I could feel its thirst for blood pulsing in my veins.

Everything else became a blur. I barely registered Madre’s voice as she stepped between us, defending me with desperate pleas. “Austin, please! Leave him alone! Walk it off!” she begged, her tone shaking with a mix of fear and resolve.

He muttered something under his breath, his words venomous, but for the first time in my life, I saw Mami shift. Her protective instincts flared, and she stood her ground. Madre squared her shoulders and pushed him back, each movement steady despite her trembling hands. She planted herself firmly between us, blocking his path as much as she could.

For that moment, she wasn’t just my mother—she was my protector. And no matter how terrified I was, the sight of her strength made something unshakable settle deep within me.

Then, he spoke the words that would bring the entire pack’s fury crashing down on him.

“I, Austin Victor Pierce, reject you, Mariana Valencia Lopez, as my Mate. I hereby sever our Mate bond.”

Madre crumpled to the floor, her screams piercing the air, raw and primal. This wasn’t like the other times she had cried out. No, this was something far worse—a soul-ravaging scream that sent chills down my spine and froze me in place. It was as though something within her had been violently torn apart, leaving nothing but anguish in its wake.

He stood there, watching her with cold indifference, his face devoid of any emotion. My horror deepened as he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. “Besides, I found someone better than you in every way. I don’t need you for anything anymore.”

Then his dark blue eyes shifted to me, sharp and glinting with cruel intent. “As for the boy,” he continued, his tone venomous, “I don’t need a brat that’s just like his mother.”

His words struck me like a physical blow, and panic began to set in. Madre was no longer able to shield me, her body curled in agony on the floor. Desperate, I searched my room for an escape, my eyes darting to the open balcony window.

It was my only chance. My thoughts swirled with urgency, drowning out my fear as only one thing remained clear in my mind—I had to get to my Luna.

I heard him yelling at me, his voice sharp and furious, but I forced myself to ignore him. My focus narrowed as I vaulted over the rail, air rushing past me. Gasping, I hit the soft ground hard and stumbled to my knees, pain shooting through my legs. Gritting my teeth, I pushed the pain aside and scrambled to my feet.

I ran as fast as I could toward the packhouse, my lungs burning with each breath. The ground blurred beneath my feet, and the ache in my chest grew heavier with every step. Dizzy from the lack of air, I finally collapsed to my knees in front of the packhouse door, my palms scraping against the rough ground.

A familiar calm washed over me like a soft breeze, and I felt a tiny hand brush the hair back from my face. Whimpering, I forced out four hoarse words. “Em... get Luna Izzy...”

“Lo-Lo,” she whispered, her voice trembling with fear. The sound sent a fresh wave of panic through me—I knew exactly why she was scared. Her wide eyes weren’t on me; they were locked on him, his shadow stretching over us like a dark cloud.

Ember sucked in a sharp breath just as his evil laugh cut through the air, chilling me to the bone. My vision swam before fading into darkness, but then something else surged to the forefront of my senses.

I could hear her little heart pounding like a drum, its rhythm loud and steady in my ears. The coppery scent of her blood filled the air, sharp and overwhelming. Worse, I could feel it—every pulse through her tiny body, as if it were my own. A dull ache spread through my jaw as my teeth throbbed, and a searing pain followed as my eye-teeth elongated.

The world shifted again. A gush of wind swept past, followed by the sound of snarls and growls. The pack had come, their voices filled with concern as more figures arrived to see what was wrong.

The warmth of Ember’s soothing hand was suddenly gone, replaced by a firm, all-too-familiar grip that made my heart sink.

“Kaden...” I whispered, my voice weak. “The Bond... He broke it...”

Kaden cursed under his breath, his tone sharp and urgent. “Stay with me, Logan!”

Angry voices erupted around me like a storm, their echoes swirling in a chaotic blend of rage and accusation. But the sound began to fade, growing distant as the darkness tugged at me, pulling me deeper into its suffocating embrace. I felt heavy, like the weight of the entire world was pressing against my chest, stealing the last of my strength.

Through the haze, my father’s voice cut sharply, venom dripping from every word. “He’s lying!” he bellowed, his tone filled with contempt and anger. Each syllable felt like a blow, aimed not just at me but at the truth itself, as he tried to twist reality to save himself. I wanted to speak, to protest, but the shadows had taken hold, rendering me silent.

Then another voice rose, slicing through the chaos like a beacon of authority. Firm, commanding, and unwavering, it silenced my father’s protests with undeniable finality. “Enough. You are no longer welcome here. Austin Victor Pierce, I order you to be thrown out of the pack.”

The Grand Alpha’s decree sent a ripple through the crowd, one of shock and relief. Though I was slipping away, his words settled into me like a lifeline, a small spark of hope amidst the suffocating darkness.

The commotion faded further—distant growls, hurried footsteps, and cries of outrage—all muffled as I sank deeper. The last remnants of consciousness flickered as the shadows closed in completely. Yet, even in the depths of darkness, the Grand Alpha’s words lingered, like a thread of light against a void. Justice had been delivered, and for the first time, the fragile hope of peace seemed possible.