Kids from One Alpha

Chapter 43: Confusing Feelings
In his office, Logan reviewed the reports from the most recent Moonshine attack. Everyone had submitted the necessary reports.
He moved on to the medical records of the Moonshine prisoners. Everything there was in order too. Each of those records was
signed by Serena. It still infuriated him that she had gone against his will to heal their enemy. At the same time, he
was overcome with a sense of admiration for her. She was willing to help others, no matter who they were or what they’d done.
There was a certain beauty in it.
Shaking his head, he went on to review her most up to date renovation records. She was meticulous. If Logan could have had
every wolf in the pack, even Adriana, be as precise and detailed in their reports, he’d never have to track anyone down for follow
up. Whenever he was filing reports, he found the majority of the time was spent chasing down people that hadn’t done it right!
Even Adriana’s updates about the hospital renovations weren’t as thorough, and she didn’t give him daily updates. He amused
himself, thinking that he could have Serena teach the whole pack a lesson in proper report making and filing. Sighing, Logan
leaned back in his desk chair, tilting it back until it groaned against its springs. He looked up at his office ceiling, resting his eyes
for a moment from going over mind-numbing reports.
When he’d checked in at home earlier, no one had been there. His mother was out, Holly was gone, and Serena and the twins
were somewhere else. It surprised him that the three of them had gone out. He knew they’d been picked up from daycare,
because of the time, but it seemed late for her to go somewhere with the kids.
After his momentary break, Logan went back to his reports. He pulled a map out of his pack territory, marking the locations of
recent Moonshine attacks. He wanted to know if there was any kind of pattern or logic to their attacks. If there was, he might be
able to predict the location of the next attack.
He made dots on the map for where the attacks had happened, adding in notes of nearby targets of interest, like the shed that
the Moonshine wolves had tried to steal from. Each point they’d attacked did have a nearby building or area that could be
pilfered and stolen from, even if that was a trade convoy traveling in or out of the territory
So, they were stealing resources. That was their focus. Most of the places they’d hit were points closes to the border between
Moonshine and Night Sky territory. There were a few other targets along the same lines that hadn’t been hit yet. Logan wanted to
set up heavier patrols in those areas. They never hit the same area more than once, probably assuming that the guards would
be increased in an area that had already been attacked to avoid another.
To thwart them, Logan had to outthink them, get ahead of them. If there was an

attack, bulking up those areas would limit injuries and counter surprise attacks. Carson, he reached out with the pack mind link.
What is it? Carson responded. His response was slow.
I need your help assigning heavier patrols to areas where I think Moonshine might launch their next attacks, he explained.
Can we meet tomorrow, I’m busy, Carson said. Logan was surprised by that response. Pack security was a top priority. Logan
knew that a night attack from Moonshine, especially after so many wolves had been imprisoned, would be unlikely. There was no
logical reason that they couldn’t wait until the morning, but Logan wanted to know what was so important to his Beta that he
didn’t feel the same urgency. Busy with what? Logan pressed. He expected his Beta to give him a direct response, shifting his
tone to that of the Alpha, not a friend. I’m having dinner with Serena and the kids, Carson responded. Logan didn’t say anything
back. He was too stunned by Carson’s response. He’d had no idea that his Beta was interested in Serena.
Okay, tomorrow, he said back, his mental voice sounding stiff, even to him. He cut off the link.
Shaking his head, Logan tried to concentrate on his work again, but he couldn’t! He was uncomfortably bothered by the fact that
his Beta was having dinner with Serena,
and with the kids! It wasn’t like they were off limits to anyone in the pack, he just hadn’t seen it coming. There was an odd sense
of betrayal mixed in with disbelief! He kept trying to justify it to himself, telling himself that his only interest in Serena was the
kids. He’d grown so fond of them and loved getting to act silly and goofy around them. He tried to tell himself that the betrayal he
felt was in regards to the kids spending time with someone outside his family. He’d begun to see them like family, in a sense. The
way they lived in his house and how involved his mother was with them. All those justifications were enough to settle his mind
and the confusing thoughts that coursed through him. Still, he couldn’t concentrate on his work anymore, so he left his office and
headed home. His mother was still up, waiting for him, or for someone, to come home. “Oh, other people so live here,” she said
with a chuckle when Logan entered. “Everyone else is still out?” Logan asked, kicking his shoes off by the door. “I forgot how
quiet this house can be without the kids and when it is just me,” Flo said. Logan gave a strained smile and nodded.
“It is a big, empty house,” he said with a nod. Flo touched her son’s shoulder. “That is easily fixed,” she said. “You could have
your own little pups running around too.”
“Mom,” Logan said, pushing her arm away. “There’s plenty of time for that.” “Until there isn’t,” she reminded him. Logan shook his
head. “Where is everyone?” “Serena is on a date with Carson. I guess she brought the kids,” he told his mother. She arched an
eyebrow. “Good for her,” she said. Logan swallowed the growl that rose in his throat. “As a single mom, I’m sure she doesn’t get
a lot of chances to socialize unless her friends are willing to let her bring the kids.” Logan said. “Yea, I guess that is good,” he

said. He walked past his mother and to the kitchen. He got himself a glass of water, but his mother had followed him. “Where is
Holly?” she asked. Logan paused in his drinking. He felt guilty suddenly, knowing where another woman and her kids were, but
not knowing where his own girlfriend was! “Working, I assume,” he said. Flo put her hands on her hips. “Logan, if you don’t feel
for Holly the same she feels about you, you shouldn’t string her along,” his mother warned. “I’m not,” he assured. “Nothing
between us has changed. The way I feel about her hasn’t changed.” It wasn’t a lie. He’d been colder towards her based on her
behavior, but she hadn’t done anything to humiliate anyone else, and she’d been nicer to the kids. He’d felt his old feelings and
attractions rekindled when he saw her actually trying to be okay with a complicated situation. He still wasn’t ready to declare her
his mate, but he knew he would have to, and soon. “I’m exhausted;” Logan said, leaving his mother in the kitchen. He really
didn’t want to talk to her more. Already, his mind was confused with thoughts and feelings about Holly and Serena, and now
Carson too. It was so unusual to feel confused, betrayed, guilty, and humiliated all at the same time. If he’d tried to explain what
he was feeling, Logan knew that none of it would make sense. It was easier for him to focus the feelings on the kids. He was
fond of them and he wanted to keep being influential in their lives. He had to remind himself that just because Carson was now in
their lives didn’t mean he couldn’t be. They were still living with him, after all. Logan changed for bed. He knew he should have
texted Holly to ask where she was. He should have been more concerned about her being out, maybe even feeling jealous of the
fact that she hadn’t told him where she was. The concerns he should have had about Holly just weren’t there! Sighing, Logan
laid down and stared up at the ceiling of his bedroom. He stayed awake until he heard Holly come back. She came to join him,
but he pretended to be asleep. She curled up to him. Logan heard his mother go to bed, but he still stayed up until Serena and
the kids got home, telling himself that it was to make sure they’d got
back safely, even though he didn’t fully believe it.