LOGAN: Alliance of Shadows, Book 2

Truth Unveiled

"What is my name, child?" The man’s voice returned, deep and resonant, cutting through the stillness like a blade.

This time, I knew the answer he wanted, the one he seemed to demand with every visit. He wanted me to say his name, but all the stories I’d read and all the things I’d gone over with a fine-toothed comb said that speaking the name of a Vampire gave them power. If he had enough strength to appear in my head when I wasn’t awake, then I didn’t think he needed the added boost.

Instead of responding, I posed a question of my own. My own voice steady despite the weight of his presence, I asked, “What am I?”

“Dear child, you are the Chosen One. A Harbinger of Truth and Justice who will bring many things lost to darkness into the light,” he replied, his tone laced with both finality and conviction. His words hung in the air like a prophecy, each syllable striking something deep within me. “Now, go, child. Your pack needs you.”

Before I could question him further, a force stronger than anything I could resist seized me. It gripped me like an invisible hand, dragging me backward into the consuming darkness. I wanted to resist, to stay in the light of his presence for just a moment longer, but it was as though the void itself had swallowed me whole.

The cold, suffocating dark enveloped me. A rush of emotions—fear, determination, and an unyielding need to understand—surged through me. His words echoed in my mind, their weight pressing down on me as I faded into the unknown.

******

The voices of my friends swirled around me, a mix of excited whispers and murmured encouragements. Their chatter echoed faintly, as though coming from a distant place, tugging at the edges of my awareness. I wanted to speak—to let them know I could hear them—but my voice felt trapped, and my body refused to obey.

Focusing on the sensations around me, I searched for a way to regain control. Slowly, I directed all my willpower toward making my fingers move.

A warm hand gripped mine tightly, grounding me. The familiarity of the touch sent a wave of comfort through me, and I recognized her at once.

“Logan, squeeze my hand if you can hear me.” Maria's voice, usually vibrant and full of energy, was softer than I’d ever heard it. Her tone, paired with the gentle pressure of her hand, was reassuring, yet fragile.

I clenched my teeth, summoning every ounce of focus I had. My fingers twitched, then curled ever so slightly around hers.

“He’s waking up!” Maria’s excited cry broke the quiet tension, her voice cutting through the room like sunlight through clouds.

Around me, the whispers of my friends turned into a buzz of chatter. Words overlapped in a blur of relief and excitement, their joy palpable even in my hazy state.

Maria’s voice rose again, filled with urgency but still laced with care. “Devon, you’re the fastest, so you run and get Doctor Kade right away!”

“Okay!” Devon’s quick response was followed by the sound of retreating footsteps, the thud of each step echoing faintly.

A few minutes passed in a haze, my senses sluggishly returning one by one. Then, a new scent reached my nose—sharp and unfamiliar, cutting through the fog in my mind. I breathed it in reflexively, and like a spark igniting dry tinder, my awareness surged.

My eyes snapped open, panic seizing me as something was abruptly pulled from my throat. A harsh cough tore through me, and the vile taste of bile filled my mouth. My body convulsed as I gagged, and before I could register what was happening, strong hands gently turned me onto my side.

“Easy does it, Logan. That's it. You're doing good, kiddo,” a steady male voice murmured close to my ear, his tone calm and reassuring.

The spasms subsided as vomit spilled out, leaving my body weak and trembling. My breaths came in ragged gasps, and tears blurred my vision. Strong but careful hands kept me steady, grounding me in the chaos of my own body’s rebellion.

As my focus slowly sharpened, I became aware of a man kneeling beside me, his face framed by the stark white of a lab coat. His expression was calm yet intent, his movements purposeful. He raised a bottle to my lips, tilting it gently.

“Small sips,” he instructed, his voice firm but kind.

The water, though warm, was soothing as it trickled down my throat. The raw ache subsided with each sip, and my scattered thoughts began to clear. The chaos within me quieted, replaced by a fragile sense of calm. I clung to it, letting the man's steady presence guide me through the haze.

“Logan, can you tell me how old you are?” Doctor Kade asked as he set the bottle aside, his tone patient and measured.

“Is that a trick question?” I croaked, my voice still raspy but strong enough to carry my sarcasm.

My friends burst into laughter, their tired faces lighting up with amusement. They knew me well enough to expect my wit, even under less-than-ideal circumstances.

Paul, who was leaning against the wall, fought to speak through his laughter. “Doctor Kade, Logan is very, um... sarcastic when he wakes up,” he explained, barely containing his grin.

The man chuckled, shaking his head in good-natured understanding. “Thanks for the warning, young Beta. Let's keep this short, shall we?” He held up his hand. “How many fingers do you see?”

I rolled my eyes before answering with a perfectly straight face. “Three and a half.”

His little finger was sticking up just enough to justify my answer. Realizing this, Doctor Kade let out a soft laugh and muttered, “Bugger,” under his breath, clearly amused by my response.

“Alright, Logan,” he said, regaining his composure, “can you tell me your friends’ names?”

Without hesitation, I rattled them off: “Heaven, Ember, Wynter, Samuel, Devon, Jake, Maria, and Paul.”

The door opened suddenly, drawing everyone’s attention. Aunt Liz stepped in alongside Luna Izzy, their presence bringing a quiet strength to the room. While the adults moved off to the side for a hushed discussion, I let my gaze return to my friends. They surrounded me, their tired faces filled with relief.

Licking my dry lips, I studied them for a moment, taking in the exhaustion etched into their features. They had stayed by my side, and their loyalty weighed heavily on my heart in the best possible way.

“How long have I been out?” My voice came out cautiously, barely above a whisper.

Paul hesitated, shifting his weight from foot to foot—a habit of his when nerves got the better of him. His gaze didn’t meet mine as he finally replied, “Logan, it's September the thirteenth.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My heart sank into the pit of my stomach, a heavy, suffocating ache twisting inside me. Almost two months had slipped away—two months I’d never get back.

I had missed their birthdays, moments I should have celebrated with them. But as I looked at their faces, I saw no anger, only relief that I was still here.

The ache in my chest grew sharper when I thought of my mother. I had lost precious time with her—time I couldn’t afford to lose. Her strength was waning, and I knew deep down she didn’t have much left.

“Logan, baby,” Aunt Liz’s voice broke through my despair like a lifeline. Her arms wrapped around me, pulling me close as she kissed the side of my head. “Your mother is still here. She’s holding on for you.”

Her words, gentle and filled with unshakable love, carried a bittersweet hope.

“However,” she added softly, her grip tightening just slightly, “before we can take you to her, you need to tell us what happened that day.”

I swallowed hard, the memories clawing their way to the surface. “I’ll tell you,” I murmured, my voice trembling despite my resolve.

She turned to the others. “Okay, kids—”

“No,” I interrupted, my voice rising in desperation. I shook my head, breathing heavily as panic bubbled up inside me. “Please, don’t make them leave the room. They already know everything anyway.”

I took a deep breath and told the adults everything. By the time I was done, everyone was furious.

Paul snarled, “He actually threatened us?”

“That stupid son of a b***h!” Aunt Liz cursed. “I’m making it my personal mission to have him put on the Rogue list.”

“As am I,” Luna Izzy hissed before leaving the room.

The doctor shook his head. Eyeing me, he asked, “Logan, have you ever fought back against your father before?”

“No, Sir. I was too scared,” I admitted. Ember had fallen asleep on my lap while I played with her hair. “My friends are my pack, and I had to protect them. So, when he said that he would hurt them, I lost it.”

When he left, and we were all alone in the room, I looked over at my friends. "Guys, I'm going to need some time alone. I missed out on so much. I'm sorry."

“We get it, Logan,” Jake said softly.

Maria was back at my side, "It's not your fault."

“Is there anything we can do to help you feel better?” Paul asked quietly.

I was about to tell them no, that there was nothing they could do. Suddenly, the image of Raymundo flickered in my mind. “Actually, I want to do some research on Vampire Covens that may have lived around here in the past. I saw him when I was in a coma.”

Maria smirked, “That's not a big deal.”

“Yeah,” Paul agreed. “Right now, you have to focus on healing your mind and body and spending time with your mom. You leave the research to us, okay? We'll let you know if we find anything.”

"Thanks, guys. I appreciate it," I murmured, thankful I found such amazingly loyal friends.