The Day He Forgot He Hated Me by Evangeline Marrow 103

The Day He Forgot He Hated Me by Evangeline Marrow 103 Summary

The morning at the packhouse was unusually quiet, with a cold winter chill in the air. The narrator was restless, haunted by the image of a silver ring and their mother’s cold stare. Arlo arrived early to investigate the ring’s origins, using crystals and incantations to trace its energy. The glowing line on the map led to the west wing of the packhouse, specifically to Gage’s room, indicating someone within the pack was channeling power to the narrator’s parents.

Asher, Arlo, and the narrator quietly approached Gage’s door, where they found Gage and Lilly together. Arlo’s crystal revealed that Lilly was carrying shadow energy, linking her to the dark forces attacking the pack. Lilly confessed she had been approached after leaving the pack and was promised strength, but claimed she didn’t intend for harm. Despite her protestations, it became clear she was lying, and she revealed that the narrator’s parents had fully embraced the darkness, becoming shadows themselves.

When Lilly tried to use a dark pendant to continue the connection, Asher tackled her, and Arlo secured the pendant in a jar, breaking the immediate link. Arlo explained that Lilly’s pendant had been the conduit allowing the shadow energy to flow through the ring and into the pack. With the pendant and ring together, Arlo performed a ritual to sever the connection, bringing relief but warning that the narrator’s parents would sense the break and act quickly.

Gage was devastated by Lilly’s betrayal, feeling he had been fooled by someone he trusted. The group prepared for a counterattack, knowing the enemies were hiding near the outer ley lines. Despite being advised to rest, Gage insisted on joining the hunt alongside Asher and the narrator. As thunder rumbled ominously, the narrator understood that the discovery of the spy marked the beginning of a dangerous and urgent pursuit.

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CHAPTER 103

The following morning, the packhouse was unusually still.

Outside, the sky was a pale, icy gray, carrying the unmistakable chill of early winter. Most of the pack remained wrapped in sleep, but I was wide awake, unable to find rest. My eyelids barely met throughout the night.

Every time I closed my eyes, the image of the silver ring haunted me — and alongside it, my mother’s cold, unforgiving gaze.

Arlo had promised to begin tracing the ring’s origins at dawn, so I waited in the war room long before he arrived. The large table was spotless once again, the map spread out neatly across its surface. A faint aroma of herbs and metal lingered in the air, remnants of the energy tools Arlo had used earlier.

A few minutes later, Asher entered, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “You’re up early, considering how fast you passed out last night,” he murmured quietly.

I offered him a weary smile. “Same to you.”

He shrugged. “I couldn’t sleep. The bond kept buzzing all night. Something’s close.”

Before I could respond, Arlo appeared, carrying his pack and a small wooden box. His expression was serious, eyes already sharp and focused. “Morning,” he said briskly. “Let’s uncover what this ring is hiding.” He set the box down and carefully pulled out several crystals, arranging them in a circle. The moment they touched the table, a subtle hum filled the air. Then he unwrapped the ring and placed it in the center.

A faint blue light flickered from the stone embedded in the ring.

Arlo inhaled deeply and whispered a few quiet incantations. The crystals glowed brighter, and thin lines of light spread out like cracks in glass, tracing paths across the map toward various points. Many lines faded quickly, leading nowhere, but one burned with a steady pulse, like the beat of a heart.

It stopped just outside the main house.

Asher leaned in, his voice low. “That’s still inside pack territory.”

Arlo nodded slowly. “Yes. The ring’s energy is connecting to someone here. It’s not leading away—it’s being fed from within.”

A cold shiver ran down my spine. “You mean someone in the pack is helping them?”

Arlo didn’t look up. “Yes. Someone close.”

My gaze fixed on the glowing spot on the map. It marked the west wing—the area where most of the senior warriors lived.

I didn’t want to believe it, but that was where his room was.

Arlo began jotting down notes, tracing the energy flow with a quill. “The connection… whoever it is, they’re using the ring like a bridge. It’s not direct magic, but it’s enough to channel energy back to your parents. Someone’s carrying a piece of their power.”

Asher frowned. “Could it be an object? Maybe something hidden?”

Arlo nodded. “Possibly. Or someone might be wearing a charm or necklace linked to them.”

My stomach twisted painfully. “Lilly,” I whispered.

Asher turned toward me, eyes sharp. “You think it’s her?”

I nodded slowly. “She appeared right when the shadows grew stronger. She’s always had a way of getting what she wants—and she hated me. If my parents offered her something—power, money, revenge—she’d take it without hesitation.”

Arlo remained silent for a moment, then followed the line of light again until it pulsed faintly over Gage’s room. “There’s only one way to be sure,” he said finally. “We check.”

We moved quickly and quietly down the hall. The packhouse was beginning to stir—voices echoed softly, doors creaked open, and the scent of breakfast drifted through the air. But we didn’t pause.

When we reached Gage’s door, laughter spilled out—a soft, sweet sound, deceptively innocent.

I glanced at Asher. He gave a single nod and stepped forward.

Asher knocked firmly. “Gage? It’s us.”

There was a brief pause before footsteps approached. Gage opened the door, half-dressed, surprise flickering across his face. “Hey. What’s going on?”

Behind him stood Lilly, wrapped in one of his shirts, her hair tousled but her smile flawless. “Everything okay?” she asked, her voice light.

Arlo wasted no time. He lifted one of his crystals and held it between them. The glow intensified the moment it pointed toward her.

The color drained from Gage’s face. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Arlo’s tone was calm but icy. “It means she’s carrying shadow energy.”

Lilly blinked, feigning innocence. “Excuse me?”

The crystal pulsed brighter, almost painfully.

“Drop the act, Lilly. What did they promise you?”

Her smile faltered for a split second—just enough for me to catch the truth.

Gage turned to her. “Lilly?”

She took a step back, her expression twisting. “You don’t understand,” she said quickly. “They came to me after I left the pack. They said they could help me. They said I could be strong.”

Arlo’s voice sharpened. “So you helped them send the shadows here?”

She hesitated, eyes darting between us. “I didn’t know what they’d do! They said it was just energy work—to balance the ley lines again. I didn’t think they’d attack anyone!”

Asher growled low in his throat. “Liar.”

Lilly flinched. “I’m telling the truth!”

Gage looked torn, pain and anger warring in his eyes. “You should’ve come to us,” he said. “You knew we were fighting something dark. You could’ve told me.”

Tears welled in her eyes, but they felt hollow. “I thought I could fix it before you found out,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean for it to go this far.”

Arlo shifted the crystal again. The glow turned a harsh red. “She’s still lying. There’s more.”

Lilly’s eyes hardened, the softness vanishing, replaced by a cold, sharp edge. “You think you can stop them?” she hissed. “You have no idea what they’ve become. Your parents aren’t just calling shadows anymore, Trinity. They are shadows.”

I froze. “What do you mean?”

Her smile twisted cruelly. “They gave themselves over completely. The darkness is part of them now. You can’t kill them—not without killing yourself.”

A chill ran through me.

Before anyone could react, she shoved Gage aside and reached for the pendant around her neck. It glowed black—a deep, sickly light that seemed to weigh down the air itself.

Asher moved swiftly, tackling her before she could finish whatever she was attempting. The pendant flew off her neck, clattering across the floor. Arlo grabbed it with a cloth and shoved it into a glass jar, sealing it with a binding rune.

The ominous light faded.

Lilly lay on the ground, breathing hard, the fight draining from her as quickly as it had come. Gage stood frozen, staring at her like she was a stranger.

“I didn’t mean for it to go this far,” she whispered again, her voice weaker now. “They said I could be free. They lied.”

Arlo knelt beside her. “They always lie. That’s how they work.”

He turned to me. “She’s been the link. They used her pendant to send energy through the ring. That’s how they’ve kept their power connected to the pack.”

I looked down at Lilly, a heavy weight settling in my chest. “Can we cut it off?”

“Yes,” Arlo said firmly. “Now that we know the link, we can break it.”

Back in the war room, Arlo placed the ring beside the pendant, drew several quick symbols around them, and murmured an incantation. The lights flared—one bright white, the other dark and smoky—before both extinguished.

The atmosphere shifted. For the first time in days, I could breathe freely again.

Asher stood, helping me to my feet. “It’s broken?”

Arlo nodded. “For now. But your parents will know. They’ll feel the bond snap, and they’ll move quickly.”

Gage remained silent, his eyes fixed on Lilly as two warriors came to escort her to the holding cells. She didn’t resist, simply lowering her head and allowing herself to be led away.

When the door closed behind her, the room fell into a heavy silence.

Gage ran a hand through his hair, looking utterly lost. “I didn’t see it,” he said quietly. “I thought she’d changed. I thought she was just lonely.”

I reached out, touching his arm gently. “She fooled all of us, Gage. My parents are clever—they used someone you trusted. But now we know.”

Asher’s jaw tightened. “And now we hunt them.”

“Don’t take it so hard, man. They did the same thing to me,” Arlo said, glancing away. The memory of Nicole and her love for Spencer flashed through my mind—an experience I never wanted to relive.

The twins really weren’t having any luck.

Arlo packed away his crystals, his voice grim. “They’re hiding somewhere along the outer ley lines, near the ridge. The energy trails lead that way. If we move fast, we might catch them before they strike again.”

I nodded, a fierce fire burning in my chest. “Then we move tonight.”

Gage looked at me, his eyes filled with guilt and fury. “I’m coming too.”

“You need to rest. We’ll need you later.”

He shook his head stubbornly. “They used her to get to me. I’m not sitting this one out.”

Asher met his gaze and nodded once. “Then we go together.”

Outside, thunder rumbled across the sky, though no clouds were in sight. A faint, ghostly hum vibrated beneath the ground, carrying whispers I could almost hear.

My parents knew we’d found their spy.

And now, the real hunt was about to begin.

Conclusion

The revelation of Lilly’s betrayal has cast a long shadow over the pack, stirring feelings of hurt, mistrust, and fierce determination. Though her actions cut deeply, the strength of the bond between those who remain loyal shines through, uniting them in the urgent fight ahead. The weight of deception is heavy, but it also fuels their resolve to protect their home and uncover the truth behind the darkness that threatens to consume them all.

As the fragile calm settles briefly, the characters brace themselves for the challenges looming on the horizon. The breaking of the sinister connection offers a moment of respite, yet the knowledge that the enemy is still near sharpens their focus. Together, they prepare to face the impending storm, bound by loyalty, courage, and the unyielding hope that light will ultimately prevail over shadow.

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

The next chapter promises to plunge deeper into the tangled web of trust and betrayal within the pack. As the truth about Lilly’s role unfolds, the emotional stakes heighten—especially for Gage, who must grapple with the painful realization that someone he cared for was part of the enemy’s plan all along. The fragile bonds between friends will be tested as suspicion and guilt threaten to fracture the unity they desperately need.

Meanwhile, the looming threat of the shadows and the dark power your parents wield casts a shadow over every decision. The hunt to track down those who hide along the ley lines will bring danger closer than ever, forcing each character to confront not only external enemies but also their own fears and loyalties. With the atmosphere thickening and the pack on edge, every step forward could ignite new conflicts and reveal unforeseen alliances. Prepare for a chapter charged with tension, where every choice carries weight and the line between friend and foe blurs.

Sara Lili

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.