Chapter 18
But happiness was not for everyone.
The early morning light streamed over Shadow Pack territory, as Caleb and Hunter paced back and forth, their jaws set with frustration. Marissa’s sudden departure had sent their lives spiraling, and neither had gotten any answers from anyone. Hunter kicked a loose rock in his path, his frustration boiling over.
“Where could she have gone?” He muttered, running a hand through his hair.
“It’s like she vanished into thin air.”
Caleb’s eyes were hard as he glanced toward the packhouse where their father, Alpha Nathan, had spent the last hour dodging their questions. “If he knows where she is, he isn’t telling us,” Caleb said bitterly. “He’s as silent as a stone.”
Hunter clenched his fists, his wolf stirring angrily within him. Marissa had always
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been there, close enough to reach out to, to protect. Now she was just… gone. He wasn’t sure whether to feel anger,
sadness, or the gnawing fear that something had happened to her. “She wouldn’t have just left without a
reason,” he said, his voice a low growl.
“And I don’t believe for one second that Father doesn‘ t know where she is.”
Caleb nodded, his gaze steely. “We’ll find. out one way or another.”
As if on cue, Alpha Nathan emerged from the packhouse, his face unreadable as he took in the sight of his sons waiting by the door. His eyes flickered with a hint of annoyance, though he didn‘ t try to avoid them this time.
“Father,” Hunter began, his voice firm, “we need to know what happened to Marissa. She’s gone, and no one is telling us anything.”
Alpha Nathan’s expression remained calm, though his gaze hardened. “What
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Marissa does is her business, not yours,” he replied curtly. “It’s time you two focused on your duties to the pack.”
Caleb stepped forward, his jaw clenched.
“We’ve always focused on the pack. But Marissa is part of it, too. And if she left- He took a steadying breath. “If she left, she must have had a reason. Don‘ twe deserve to know?”
Alpha Nathan’s eyes narrowed, a warning glint in them. “You deserve to know what I tell you,” he replied, his voice carrying at hint of finality. “Marissa’s path is no longer tied to yours. Let it go.”
Hunter’s wolf surged in anger at his father’s words, the dismissive tone grating against every protective instinct he had. But one look at the hard line of Alpha. Nathan’s mouth told him it was pointless to argue. The Alpha had made his decision, and nothing they said would change it.
“Fine,” Hunter said through clenched teeth. “If you won’t help us, we’ll find
Chapter 18
out on our own.”
As the two turned to leave, a figure stepped into their path. Ivy stood there, a satisfied smirk curling on her lips, though it wavered as they brushed past her without so much as a glance. She quickly caught up, trying to keep her tone light.
“Caleb, Hunter,” she said sweetly, sidling up between them. “You two look so serious. Is everything all right?”
Neither brother responded, their focus solely on their own thoughts. Hunter‘ s mind was already racing with ideas on how to track Marissa, while Caleb was wracking his brain for anyone in the pack who might know something.
Ivy’s smile faltered, annoyance flashing in her eyes as she realized they were ignoring her. For weeks, she had played this game with them, letting them believe. she was close to both, knowing it would make Marissa jealous. But now Marissa was gone, and the brothers‘ attention was
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slipping from her grasp. That wouldn’t do. Not at all.
“Caleb?” She pressed, brushing a hand over his arm. “You seem tense. Maybe I can help?”
Caleb barely glanced at her way. “Not now, Ivy. This isn‘ t the time.”
Her mouth twisted with irritation as she quickly fell into step beside Hunter instead.
“Hunter, come on. You‘ re always in a good mood when you‘ re with me,” she said, trying to recapture his attention.
“Maybe I can… cheer you up?”
Hunter‘ s gaze darkened as he stopped and turned to her, his voice sharp. “I’m not interested in being ‘cheered up, Ivy. And honestly, neither of us has time for this.”
As the day wore on, Ivy paced through the Shadow Pack grounds, her mind racing. She could practically feel the weight of
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their indifference pressing on her, fueling her anger. For so long, she’d played her part, being the one to sit on the sidelines, always ready to pounce on their attention, to remind them that she was there. But now, her patience was wearing thin.
By the time night fell, she had devised a plan. If they wanted to keep ignoring her, to keep chasing after the ghost of Marissa, then Ivy would remind them exactly who was here, who had always been here. And she wouldn’t be kind about it.
The next morning, Ivy made her way to the training grounds, where she knew the brothers would be. They were sparring, their movements sharp and practiced, each blow carrying a hint of frustration as they threw themselves into the fight. Ivy watched from the sidelines, studying their every move, her anger simmering beneath. a carefully constructed smile.
She approached them as they took a break, her voice falsely sweet. “Caleb, Hunter,”
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she called, her tone light. “You both seem so tense. Maybe I could help?”
Caleb barely looked her way, his focus fixed on Hunter. “Not now, Ivy. We re busy,
Ivy’s smile faltered, her teeth gritting as she forced her voice to remain steady.
“Busy? Or just… avoiding reality?” She let the words hang, watching as both brothers turned to her with hard, unamused expressions.
“Reality?” Hunter echoed, his eyes narrowing.
And what would you know
about that?”
“Oh, I know plenty,” Ivy replied, her voice laced with a smugness she didn’t bother hiding. “I know that Marissa s gone, and that she didn’t even bother to tell either of you. So maybe it’s time to
move on.
Hunter s expression darkened, but he said nothing. Caleb, however, met her gaze with an ice–cold stare. “And that’s where
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you‘ re wrong, Ivy. Marissa may be gone, but we’re not about to ‘move on‘ just because it suits you.
Ivy’s face flushed with anger, but she hid it behind a brittle smile. “Suit yourself,” she sneered. “But you‘ re both wasting your time. She’s gone. And maybe it’s time you two accepted that.”
Caleb watched her a moment longer before turning his back, dismissing her without another word. Hunter‘ s gaze lingered, a faint spark of warning flashing in his eyes, before he followed his brother.
Ivy clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she watched them walk away. Fine, she thought. Let them keep chasing after Marissa‘ s shadow. But Ivy had a plan, and she was just getting started.
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