Free Web NovelChapter 131: Chapter 131 The Ultimatum
Elena’s POV frёeωebɳovel.com
Months had passed since we settled into the Nightwalker Pack territory. I sat across from Caleb at our breakfast table, watching him chatter excitedly about his new school friends and favorite classes. His enthusiasm was infectious, yet it couldn’t quite fill the hollow ache that had taken permanent residence in my chest.
Damien remained Alpha of the Obsidian Pack, which meant our time together had dwindled to sporadic visits when pack duties allowed. The distance between us stretched wider each week. He kept pushing for Caleb and me to return to his territory, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave. This was where Briar had been taken. This was where any search party would bring her home.
The logic might have been flawed, but my heart refused to accept any other possibility.
After walking Caleb to school and watching him disappear into his classroom with his usual group of friends, I lingered outside longer than necessary. The sight of children running and laughing should have brought me joy, but instead it reminded me of everything missing from our lives.
My phone buzzed against my palm. Damien’s name flashed across the screen, and without hesitation, I declined the call. These conversations never ended well anymore. Every discussion became a battlefield of unspoken accusations and mounting frustration.
The pack businesses needed supply orders processed, so I made my rounds collecting lists and requirements. The routine kept my mind occupied, which was exactly what I needed. Back at the packhouse, I spread the paperwork across my desk and began the tedious work of coordinating shipments and inventory.
A stack of job applications caught my attention. Recent college graduates were flooding back to the pack, all seeking employment in their chosen fields. The medical positions were particularly challenging to fill. Werewolf healing abilities meant we didn’t require the extensive training human doctors needed, but finding qualified candidates remained difficult.
The packhouse felt cavernous during the day. I’d reduced the cleaning staff to twice weekly visits, preferring the solitude to constant reminders of how empty our home had become. Just Caleb and me rattling around in spaces that once bustled with family life.
Lunch was a solitary affair interrupted by another phone call. Leo’s name appeared this time, and I knew immediately that Damien had enlisted him as a messenger. The pattern was becoming predictable and irritating.
I let that call go to voicemail too.
Afternoon pickup at school led to the playground, where Caleb raced around with his classmates while I made polite conversation with the other mothers. Their nervous energy around me was palpable. Whether they feared saying something wrong or simply felt awkward around their pack leader, I couldn’t be sure. Either way, the interactions felt stilted and artificial.
Our evening routine provided the only genuine comfort in my day. Dinner conversations where Caleb recounted every detail of his school adventures, followed by movie time curled together on the couch. Homework sessions where I helped him with math problems and reading assignments. Bath time and bedtime stories that reminded me why I fought so hard to maintain some semblance of normalcy for him.
After tucking Caleb into bed with his favorite story, I retreated to my own room for a long, scalding shower. The hot water worked against the knots of tension that had settled permanently between my shoulder blades. Stress manifested in physical ways I’d never experienced before becoming Alpha.
Steam clouded the bathroom mirror as I wrapped myself in a towel and padded into the bedroom. A dark silhouette near the window made me jump, heart hammering against my ribs.
"Jesus, Damien. You nearly gave me a heart attack." I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to steady my breathing.
"Figured this was the only way to get your attention," he said, his voice carrying an edge I’d rarely heard before.
I moved to the closet, pulling on a tank top and sweatpants while maintaining as much dignity as possible given the circumstances. "I’ve been swamped with pack responsibilities. You know how it is."
"Cut the bullshit, Elena." He stepped closer, invading my personal space in a way that felt more confrontational than intimate. "You’re avoiding me, and we both know it."
I perched on the edge of the bed, suddenly exhausted. "Running a pack alone is harder than I expected. There’s always something that needs attention."
"You chose to do it alone. You could come home anytime, but you refuse." His words carried months of accumulated frustration.
"You don’t understand what it’s like..."
"You think staying here will bring Briar back faster." His statement hit like a physical blow. "You believe if she’s found, they’ll bring her here first."
I couldn’t meet his eyes, which was answer enough.
"The search teams are still out there. They haven’t given up, and they never will." His voice softened slightly. "But that doesn’t mean we stop being a family. Briar wouldn’t want us to fall apart. She’d want us to stay together, to love each other, to keep hoping." freёweɓnovel.com
"Why are you really here tonight?" I asked, dreading his answer.
"I’m done with the games, Elena. You and Caleb come home with me tomorrow, or we end this. Completely. Rejection, separate packs, clean break."
The word ’rejection’ sent ice through my veins. The mate bond recoiled at the very suggestion, and I realized how far I’d pushed him. How much damage my grief had inflicted on our relationship.
Despite everything, losing Damien terrified me more than I wanted to admit.
"Okay," I whispered.
"Okay what?"
"We’ll pack tomorrow morning."
He crossed the room and pulled me into his arms, holding me like he was afraid I might disappear. As much as I resented ultimatums, losing my entire family wasn’t an option I could live with.
When Briar came home, she’d need us united.
