Chapter 11
In the quiet of the Shadow Walker Packhouse, Alpha Marcus Nightshade paced back and forth, his thoughts swirling like a storm.
He couldn’t quite understand why the weight of regret pressed so heavily on his chest. How could he possibly regret losing someone who had never truly been his, to begin with? Brianna had always been a shadow in his life–never fully claimed, never fully trusted. And yet, now that she was gone, he found himself consumed by a strange emptiness.
If anyone should regret it, it should be her–the woman who had walked away from the life he had offered, from the comfort of the Pack House, and chosen hardship instead.
The words stung him, but the truth gnawed at his conscience.
Time seemed to stretch on in the sterile silence of the room, until Lucas, his son, finally stirred from his fitful sleep.
His eyes fluttered open, the telltale signs of hunger evident in the way he groaned.
Lucas’s first words echoed through the room, a heart–wrenching reminder of what had been lost. “Daddy, I’m starving. I really want some of that sweet–and–savory meatball stew Brianna used to make…”
Alpha Marcus’s chest tightened.
The mention of Brianna’s name cut through him like a blade.
He swallowed the lump in his throat, refusing to let Lucas see how deeply her absence affected him.
“Don’t worry, buddy. I’ll make sure you get something to eat.”
Without hesitation, he called in the team of top–tier chefs he had hired–men and women whose skills had earned them accolades, whose food had been praised by critics across the country.
But when the first bowl of stew was presented to Lucas, it was met with a disdainful frown.
“This is awful…”
Lucas spat out, pushing the bowl away.
“You call yourselves professional chefs? Make it again!”
Marcus’s frustration simmered just beneath the surface.
These were the best chefs money could buy, and yet, their work had been rejected by a child who wasn’t satisfied by anything but the taste of Brianna’s cooking.
Still, the chefs did not dare protest, simply apologizing and retreating back to the kitchen.
One after another, they brought out bowls of stew, each version more painstakingly preparéc than the last.
But Lucas’s expression never softened.
After the tenth batch, his patience had worn thin.
He took a spoonful, gagged, and burst into tears.
4:58 pm
“I’m starving, Daddy. I want Brianna to make it. Only hers tastes right!”
His sobs filled the room, raw and heartbreaking.
Marcus’s heart twisted at the sight of his son in such distress.
He had never been one to deny Lucas anything, and yet, this was a request he couldn’t fulfill.
Brianna was gone.
The woman who had been both mother and caretaker to his son, who had held his family. together, was no longer there.
And the powerful Marcus Nightshade, Alpha of the Shadow Walker Pack, had no idea how to fix
- it.
Lucas’s wails grew louder, piercing the air like a dagger to his soul.
Marcus couldn’t take it anymore.
“Alright, I’ll call her. Just stop crying.”
His voice cracked as he gave in, feeling utterly defeated.
Lucas sniffled, the sobs slowing to a halt as he clutched his blanket tighter.
It was the quietest the room had been in hours.
Marcus stepped into the hallway, his heart pounding in his chest.
He knew what he had to do.
He had never been the one to reach out first in their marriage–always letting Brianna make the first move, always expecting her to be the one to fix things.
But now, things were different. His pride didn’t matter. Lucas’s happiness did.
He pulled out his phone, the familiar digits of Brianna’s number appearing on the screen. His
thumb hovered over the call button, a pit of uncertainty forming in his stomach.
After everything that had happened–the years of distance, the betrayal, the silence–it felt like an impossible decision.
And yet, it had to be made.
With a deep breath, Marcus pressed the button.
The phone rang.
And rang.
His chest tightened with each passing second.
Just when he thought she might not answer, her voice crackled through the receiver.
“What do you want?”
Brianna’s voice was soft and distant, and yet it held a weight to it that made Marcus’s heart stutter. It was as if she were a ghost of the woman she once was–someone he hadn’t truly appreciated until she was no longer there.
His throat tightened, but he pushed past the lump.
“Look, about what happened… I’m willing to let it go. You can come back to the pack. Lucas wants your cooking. He’s been asking for that stew. Just come back and make it for him.”
4:58 pm G D
On the other end of the line, Brianna’s silence spoke volumes.
Alpha Marcus’s hands clenched around the phone, waiting for a response.
Brianna’s voice finally broke the stillness–it was cold and firm.
“I already told you. I’m not coming back. Never. Isn’t Ava staying with you now? Just have her follow my recipe.”
The words stung like a slap to the face.
Marcus’s mind reeled with the weight of her rejection, but he didn’t let it show.
His son was depending on him. He had no choice.”
“I’m not asking you to come back for me,
Alpha Marcus said, his voice low, almost a whisper.
“Or just for him. Lucas… he needs you.”
Brianna’s breath was audible through the phone.
For a moment, Marcus thought she might relent, but instead, there was a long pause before she spoke again.
“I’m sorry, Marcus. I can’t…
Brianna’s POV
