Logan's POV
The door to my chamber creaked as I pushed it open, my thoughts still a haze after my brief conversation with Xaden. The weight of the mission ahead gnawed at my insides, tightening every muscle. I had just one objective—rescue Aaron. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that he wouldn’t make it easy. He never did. Not when we were younger, and certainly not now.
Sitting down on the worn couch, I reached for my phone. Xaden had been quick to provide weapons. He was always prepared, always thinking one step ahead. But me? I needed more than just weapons—I needed strategy. The plan had to be flawless. But first, I had to get the armies ready.
I dialed the number for the army commander, tapping my foot impatiently as the phone rang. When the line finally clicked, a voice crackled through the speaker. “Logan,” he said, his voice low, authoritative. “We’re ready to move on your word.”
“Good,” I muttered, already pacing in tight circles. “Get the men into armor. We strike at dawn.”
“You sure about this, Logan? Aaron’s not going to surrender without a fight.”
“I know,” I spat, clenching my jaw. “But neither will I.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line before the commander spoke again, his voice softer this time. “Understood. We’ll have them ready.”
The conversation ended, and I stood in the center of the room, staring at the walls, listening to my heart beat faster with every passing second. The clock was ticking. We couldn’t waste time. Aaron wouldn’t wait for us. If anything, he’d make sure we felt the weight of every decision we made. It wasn’t just a rescue mission; it was a fight for survival.
I moved swiftly, the sound of my boots echoing through the stone hallway as I made my way to the command room. The large wooden doors groaned under my grip as I flung them open. The room was filled with soldiers, each one standing at attention. Their faces, hardened by battle, reflected a mixture of respect and uncertainty. They knew what was at stake, but this was more than a typical skirmish.
I lifted my hand, commanding their silence. The room fell still.
“You all know why we’re here,” I began, my voice cutting through the tension like a knife. “Aaron’s ours. And we’re going to get him back. No excuses. No hesitations. I won’t be the one to fail, and I sure as hell won’t let any of you fail either. We move out at first light.”
A murmur of agreement rippled through the ranks. But then, one man stepped forward. A soldier I had known for years, his face pale and drawn. I could see the unease in his eyes.
“Logan…” His voice trembled slightly, but the weight of his words would not be denied. “I—I can’t go.”
I blinked at him, my brows furrowing. “What do you mean, you can’t go?”
“I can’t go. My wife… she’s pregnant. I—”
I cut him off before he could finish his sentence. “You’re telling me you’re going to run from your own brother?”
The room grew cold. The air thickened with tension as everyone turned their attention to the man standing before me. He was shaking now, his fists clenched tight, his words caught in his throat. I could almost hear his heart beating in time with mine—faster, more erratic.
“I’m sorry, Logan,” he whispered, his eyes downcast. “But I can’t risk it. Not with her.”
My heart boiled. Fury surged through me, hot and violent. I took one step forward, then another, until I was standing in front of him, towering. The smell of fear radiated from him, and it only stoked the flames of my anger.
“Let me make this clear,” I growled, my voice low and dangerous. “Soldiers don’t run. They don’t hesitate. They don’t turn their backs when things get hard. They stay and they fight.”
Without another word, I shifted, my body morphing into my wolf form in a fluid movement. The change was brutal, a violent snap of bone and muscle that left me snarling with the power of the shift. I lunged forward before he could react, sinking my teeth deep into his throat. The taste of blood filled my mouth, and I felt a sick satisfaction as his life force drained away.
The room was silent, all eyes on me, but I wasn’t finished. I pulled away from his limp body, my fur matted with his blood. His lifeless form slumped to the floor with a thud.
I stood tall, my chest heaving, and I glared at the others.
“Who else wants to leave?” I growled. “Who else thinks they’re too weak to stand with their brothers?”
They all stood still, not a single person daring to step forward. My eyes burned into them, a challenge none of them were willing to accept. One by one, their gazes dropped, and I knew I had their loyalty. They weren’t going to abandon me.
“Good,” I said, the venom still heavy in my tone. “Soldiers don’t run. Soldiers stay and fight. If you can’t handle that, then leave now. But know this—once we start, there’s no turning back.”
The room was heavy with the weight of my words. The only sound was the faint rasp of my breath, still shaky from the raw violence that had just taken place. I could still feel the rush of power in my veins, the taste of vengeance still lingering on my tongue.
A voice broke the silence—a low, uncertain whisper.
“Logan… you didn’t have to do that.”
I turned to see one of the men, his eyes wide with disbelief. The others, too, were watching me, their faces a mixture of respect and fear.
“Didn’t have to do what?” I asked coldly, my voice dropping an octave. “He was weak. He was a liability. We don’t have time for weakness.”
Another soldier, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword, spoke up, his voice steady. “He was scared, Logan. He’s just human.”
“Exactly,” I replied with a sharp smile. “And fear is a luxury we don’t have. If you’re scared, if you hesitate, then you’re already dead. We’re at war. And wars don’t have room for cowards.”