Chapter 2
It was late in the evening and Marissa closed her door, pulling on sound- dampening earplugs, shutting out the celebration‘ s music below. The decision. to return and accept her arranged mating to a powerful Alpha was final. But leaving Shadow Pack wasn‘ t something she could just rush; she had duties to complete, things to set in order, all without raising suspicion.
She turned to the tall window, where the forest stretched beyond the pack’s territory. Hours later, satisfied she had finished everything she could, she stretched and took out her earplugs, feeling the peaceful quiet settle around her.
Just then, her phone buzzed with a message. Ivy.
“Why don’t you ever like my stories?” It read. A minute later, another message popped up, “Oh, I’m sorry, Marissa! That
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was sent by mistake. Don’t be mad?”
Marissa shook her head, sensing the hidden jab. She knew Ivy wanted her to see something. Curiosity piqued, she tapped open Ivy’s pack stories, letting the images fill her screen.
The first image was Ivy surrounded by presents from Hunter and Caleb. Her grin was wide, eyes glistening with innocence, wearing the new satin dress Hunter had given her, soft pink and delicate as rose. petals. And beside her, Hunter and Caleb stood protectively, each with an arm around her.
There was more: Hunter’s gift, a pair of crystal–studded shoes, and Caleb‘ s, a dagger set with intricate gold designs, usually only gifted within the pack’s inner circle. The last image held her attention. Ivy, framed by both men, with the caption,
“Guess who got to feel like a princess
today!”
Marissa felt an old bitterness rise but
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quickly quelled it. Ivy could have it all if that’s what they wanted. In a week, none of this would matter.
She tapped a heart emoji on the story, feeling oddly light. From now on, her ties to Hunter, Caleb, and Ivy would mean nothing.
The next morning, Marissa wrapped up her duties at the pack‘ s intelligence office, making sure her work was in good order. When she returned home, she opened the box of photos that chronicled years of memories with Hunter and Caleb. She sorted through the worn edges and faded faces. They’d shared everything together -school adventures, their first shifting ceremonies, even holidays, and family trips. Memories from a past she could no longer cling to.
With a deep breath, she took the stack to the old stone fireplace, where she placed each photo onto the flames, watching as their edges curled and blackened before
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crumbling into ash.
She’d just tossed the last picture onto the fire when Hunter and Caleb entered, stopping dead at the sight. Hunter‘ s eyes flashed, and he crossed the room in a heartbeat, gripping her wrist.
“Marissa, what are you doing?” he growled, his gaze darting from her to the burning memories.
Caleb‘ s brows knitted with distress as he
reached to rescue a half–burned photo, only to pull his hand back as the flames hissed up, licking his fingers with blistering heat.
“Why would you burn them? These are our memories!” Caleb’s voice cracked, red creeping into his eyes as he struggled to keep his emotions in check.
Marissa met their looks calmly, slipping her wrist from Hunter s hold. “They‘ re old memories, Hunter. Time to let go.
Hunter’s icy glare shifted, softened by a
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flicker of uncertainty. They were like this now, but she knew that one of these days, they would choose Ivy over her again- as if they didn’t know her first–Ivy, who had wormed her way into every corner of their lives. They could wound her for Ivy s sake, but when a few photographs went up in flames, they suddenly cared.
She almost wanted to laugh. But instead, she lifted her chin, knowing she was making the right choice.
Now, she wondered how the two would react the moment they learn about her arranged mateship.
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