Page 9 of Shadow of Fury

“Wow.” Logan shook his head in shock, “They all just left? Abandoned the pack in the middle of the night like traitors?”

“You can’t blame them. Not once it became clear the Pack Alpha would use his power for anything that fit his purpose. If they’d gone through the proper channels, asked to leave, he’d have forced them to stay and they knew it.”

Logan stopped walking and stared at his friend warily. It was clear from Dominic’s words that he was aware Byron Kemp wasn’t above abusing his power but how much did Dominic actually know? He wished there was a way to ask because he was starting to understand that the evil he had witnessed was just the tip of the iceberg with his father.

“Is that why your dad had a falling out with him? Because he was abusing his power?”

Dominic shrugged and continued walking, forcing Logan to do the same to keep up, “Maybe. I don’t know.”

“But…”

“You know my dad, Logan. He’s loyal to the pack. He’d never talk shit about the Pack Alpha so instead he just doesn't say much anymore. He goes out and does his job as Head Enforcer. He follows orders and goes home at night and drinks too much. It’s not a good coping mechanism but I guess I inherited it right along with my loyalty to the pack.”

“Is that why you never told me about all of this?” Logan scrubbed his jaw.

Dominic shoved his hands into his pockets, “Maybe.”

“Maybe. Probably. You don’t know.” Logan grunted, “You’ve become a vague son of a bitch, you know that?”

“What do you want me to say, Logan?” Dominic snapped, blue eyes blazing with a sudden rush of anger. “You left. I know you were going through hell after Lark died and I know I can’t understand what you lost back then because I haven’t found my mate but…”

“But?” Logan prompted when his friend trailed off.

“But I never could have turned my back and left the pack like you did. This place is my home. This pack is my family. It deserves my blood, sweat and tears and I’ll fight for it until I take my last breath, but you? You just walked away…”

“I had to go, Dom, and I had to take Viv with me. I couldn’t leave her with them.”

Dominic’s eyes flashed, “Don’t even get me started on the way you wrapped Vivian up in that mess.”

“Dom…” he groaned but his friend held up a hand.

“Look, I just figured when you reached out and said you wanted to stay in touch that what you really meant was that you felt guilty and you wanted to ease your conscience. So no, I didn’t tell you how bad things had really gotten because truth be told, I didn’t think you’d care.”

“Of course I care.” Logan winced. “I’m here aren’t I?”

“Because he made me lie and say he was dead. You wouldn’t have come back for anything else and we both know it.”

Logan swiped a hand over his face, pain ricocheting through him with every blow Dominic landed. He couldn’t blame Dominic for being angry with him though because what he said was true. It hurt, but it wasn’t a lie. He had felt guilty for leaving, for running away, and he’d wanted Dominic to keep him in the loop to ease that guilt. His oldest friend knew him better than anyone so he let him call him on his bullshit and took it.

“I wish I could tell you why I left but…”

“You can’t.” Dominic finished for him. “I figured as much.”

They exchanged a look that Logan felt down to his soul. His friend did understand, even if he didn’t want to. He might not know the details but he understood what Logan had been running from and why only his father’s death would have brought him back.

They walked on for another couple blocks in silence. It wasn’t exactly comfortable but it was companionable and that was more than Logan figured he deserved. When Dominic stopped and motioned to a small apartment building, Logan frowned.

“You live here?”

“Yeah, in 2B. Have for a few years now.” His friend nodded. “You want to come up?”

“No, thanks. I should get back to the house and check on Viv.”

Dominic’s eyes went wide, “You brought Vivian back with you?”

“Yeah, of course. She wouldn’t let me come alone.”

A scowl darkened Dominic’s face, “And you returned that favor by leaving her alone up at that house with your parents?”

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