Page 30 of The Alpha's Shattered Bonds

I nodded. “Sure.”

He settled into the chair beside my bed. His next words surprised me. “What do you mean you came back to clear your parents’ names?”

I’d expected him to leap into talking about our bond. But the fact that he’d slowed down and listened to me put me a little at ease. I took a breath.

“Did you know the Shadow Moon Pack was invaded by the Black Moons a few months ago?” I asked.

Logan nodded. “I heard they defeated the Black Moons.”

I nodded in agreement. “I was staying with the Shadow Moon Pack at the time, with my friend Selina and Alpha Alexis. After the invasion, Alexis sent out scouts, hoping to capture remnants of the invaders. A few weeks ago, he succeeded. During his interrogation of this Black Moon prisoner, he discovered information about my parents.” I couldn’t help dropping my gaze as I shied away from seeing the animosity I was sure would flare in Logan’s gaze at the mention of my parents.

“The Black Moon prisoner told Alexis that my parents had been framed. He said that there was a traitor within our pack who had gotten my mother and father’s blood to the Black Moon witch. They used blood magic to ensure my parents’ wards and alarm failed.” Expecting his mistrust, I pre-emptively added, “Tyler has a letter detailing all this from Alpha Alexis.” I frowned, feeling the heat rising to my cheeks. “Given the new tie between us, I’m sure Tyler won’t mind that I’ve disclosed this information to you, and if you want proof of it, ask Tyler for the letter.”

“Seraphina,” he intoned. My gaze moved up to meet his. Logan’s forehead was wrinkled, but his brown stare watched me with earnestness. “Your word is all the proof I need.”

His comment, although refreshing, only reminded me of when I’d told Tyler this news and about Alexis’s letter. I heard Tyler’s low voice,“I have always trusted you. I will always trust you… if I’d only trusted you to guide me, my heart would still be whole.”My heart pounded in my chest, the memory and my wolf howling within, longing for Tyler.

Logan released a heavy sigh. “Now it’s my turn. Will you hear me out?”

I nodded, my chest filling with nerves.

“In light of this bond between us… and what you’ve just told me, I need to say how sorry I am. I’m sorry I made life here for you so hard.”

I worried the blankets between my fingers. I shrugged. “It’s in the past.” I didn’t want Logan to feel like he had to make up for how he’d mistreated me in the past, especially with the weight of this mate bond between us. I knew from the way he’d shielded me from that killing curse in the forest that he was a loyal, dutiful warrior. I could imagine how easily he could get it into his head that he had to make up for the way he’d treated me by being a steadfast mate to me now.

So, I pressed on, eager to assure him that his bullying hadn’t had as big an impact on my life as he thought. “I’ve moved on, Logan. I made friends at Silver Moon University and in the Shadow Moon Pack,” I said, honestly.

But instead of looking reassured by this, Logan’s face grew even more burdened. “You mean I drove you away? That I and the other packmates forced you to live elsewhere?”

I shook my head, hating the worry on his face.

With more honesty, I said, “Perhaps your bullying and that of some of the other packmates influenced me to go to Silver Moon University. But once I was there, I loved it. There, I’ve made lifelong friends, and these past two years have been some of the happiest of my life.” Once again, I ignored the tug of my wolf, who, at that moment, decided to raise her head and whimper at the fact that for the last two years, she’d been deprived of Tyler. Her restlessness said that she hadn’t been any happier than now.

Concern pooled like a potent potion in Logan’s gaze, and I felt how off-track I’d gotten. I forced myself to affirm what I really needed to.

“I know you and I don’t belong together, Logan. Not because of the past but because I don’t belong here. Because after I clear my parents’ names, I’m leaving again.”

“The bond in my chest says otherwise, Seraphina,” he said instantly, holding my stare. “We’re fated mates. We’re meant to be together.”

I shook my head, fighting against the tumult of emotions swirling in my chest.

“No. I need you to understand what I’m saying. This isn’t about you and me. I can’t—” I paused, searching for my next words, a strange tide of emotion strangling me as I thought of Tyler.

But I clung to my resolve again. I hadn’t come here for Tyler. And I hadn’t come here for Logan.

No matter what the Moon goddess thought, I didn’t want a fated mate. The bond between me and Logan thrummed with an intensity I was unprepared for, a relentless pull that stirred something deep inside me. Yet, the idea of surrendering to itfelt like relinquishing my freedom—a freedom that had become precious after spending so long away from this place and battling everything that had happened here in the past.

“I can’t be in a relationship,” I said, my voice almost a whisper. “Once Tyler and I have found the truth about my parents, I’m leaving.”

The thought of leaving sent a tingling sense of hope coursing through me. My wolf growled softly, sensing the threat of being tethered to Logan. I couldn’t allow myself to become entangled in this bond, not when I was still trying to navigate my feelings for Tyler. The idea of being bound to someone—of losing the ability to choose my own path—chilled me. I’d tasted independence, and I wanted to savor it.

Logan leaned forward, a hopeful glow in his eyes. “But after we’ve proven that your parents were innocent, you can have friends here, too, Seraphina. You were born here. You grew up here,” he said with fervor. “Besides, the way you’ve fought to help the Silver Moons these last few weeks and on the mountain shows you’re one of us.”

I frowned, not sure of what to say to the heartfelt look in his eye. I’d been fighting to cure the illness so that we could focus on who the traitor was in our midst. I’d helped because doing so would unearth the truth and allow me to leave Tyler and the pack behind once and for all.

Frustration and annoyance fired through me, something that must have been obvious in my expression as Logan raised his hands and said, “You look like you’re going to use your magic on me.” His lips twitched, the motion recalling the way he’d looked at me on the mountain. He had almost smiled at mewhen I’d joked about not noticing him watching me these last few weeks. Confusion whipped through me as the bond between us thrummed with warmth… but my wolf pulled away as she felt the tug, hating the feel of the tether.

I crossed my arms over my chest, huffing. “It’s tempting to shut you up,” I griped.

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