The Day He Forgot He Hated Me by Evangeline Marrow 161

The Day He Forgot He Hated Me by Evangeline Marrow 161 Summary

In Chapter 161 of “The Day He Forgot He Hated Me,” the atmosphere within the packhouse is filled with warmth and anticipation as dinner approaches. The aroma of roasted meat and herbs mingles with laughter and chatter, creating a sense of normalcy that the characters have longed for. Asher and the narrator prepare for the evening, sharing tender moments that highlight their growing connection. The excitement of the dinner resonates throughout the packhouse, setting a hopeful tone for the gathering.

As the characters settle down for dinner, the mood shifts when Emily, a new member of the pack, struggles to open up about her past. Despite the light-hearted banter, an underlying tension emerges as questions about her history arise. Emily’s discomfort is palpable, and the group grapples with the delicate balance between wanting to know her better and respecting her boundaries. The conversation takes a turn when Arlo inadvertently reveals Emily’s previous status as a rogue, causing a wave of shock and concern among the group.

The revelation about Emily’s past creates a heavy silence, filled with mixed emotions. Gage’s protective instincts clash with Arlo’s desire for transparency, leading to a heated exchange that puts Emily in an uncomfortable position. As the narrator steps in to reassure Emily, the discussion transforms into a moment of vulnerability, allowing Emily to express her fears and the stigma associated with her past. The characters rally around her, emphasizing that her history does not define her within the pack.

As the dinner progresses, the initial tension begins to dissipate, replaced by laughter and camaraderie. Emily starts to feel more at ease, sharing her love for reading and bonding with the group. The chapter concludes on a hopeful note, with the characters enjoying each other’s company and the warmth of their newfound connections. However, a lingering sense of unease remains as the narrator senses an ominous presence outside, hinting at future challenges that may disrupt their fragile peace. The chapter encapsulates themes of acceptance, the struggle with identity, and the importance of community in overcoming past traumas.

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**TITLE: The Day He Forgot He Hated Me by Evangeline Marrow**
**CHAPTER 161**

The rich aroma of roasted meat mingled with fragrant herbs wafted through the packhouse, teasing the senses long before dinner was officially served. It snaked its way down the corridor, intertwining with the cozy warmth radiating from the crackling fire that Asher had kindled earlier. For the first time in what felt like ages, the dining room buzzed with life. Laughter echoed joyfully, and the sound of footsteps reverberated through the halls as Gage and Arlo busied themselves helping Emily find her place among us.

Meanwhile, Asher and I were upstairs, preparing for the evening. I stood before the mirror, brushing my hair and stealing glances at him as he meticulously buttoned up his black shirt. It fit him perfectly, hugging his chest in all the right places, and an involuntary smile crept onto my lips.

“Are you staring at me?” he asked, a smirk playing on his lips as he caught my gaze in the reflection.

“I’m merely admiring,” I replied, standing up to smooth down the fabric of my dress. It was far from extravagant—just a simple, soft dark green number with long sleeves that harmonized beautifully with the earthy tones of the packhouse.

He stepped closer, his hands resting gently on my waist. “You look stunning,” he said, his voice low and sincere.

“And you look way too pleased with yourself for someone merely going to dinner,” I teased back, arching an eyebrow.

He chuckled lightly, pressing a brief kiss to my cheek. “After everything we’ve endured, we deserve a night of normalcy. Just dinner. No shadows lurking, no relics to haunt us, and certainly no explosions.”

“I’ll gladly accept that,” I replied, my smile softening.

Together, we descended the staircase, the tantalizing scent of food growing more pronounced with each step. The long wooden table was set with care, adorned with flickering candles that cast a warm glow, surrounded by lush greenery and small bowls brimming with berries and fresh bread. The chef, a seasoned wolf from our pack, stood proudly as he placed the final dish on the table.

“This looks magnificent,” I said, beaming at him.

His face lit up with a grin, his gray hair shimmering in the firelight. “It’s been too quiet around here lately, Luna. Tonight felt like a celebration was in order, especially with new faces joining our family.”

“Thank you,” I replied, my heart warming at his kindness.

Emily was already seated, sandwiched between Gage and Arlo. I could sense her apprehension, even though she tried to mask it. Her light brown hair was loosely gathered at the nape of her neck, and she wore a soft blue dress that seemed to have been borrowed from Petra’s old wardrobe. Her eyes flitted between us, revealing uncertainty yet a desire to be polite.

“Hey, you two finally decided to grace us with your presence,” Gage joked, gesturing for us to take our seats.

“We were waiting for the royal invitation,” Asher quipped as he pulled out my chair.

The atmosphere soon filled with the gentle clinking of cutlery and soft conversations as everyone began to fill their plates. The fire crackled behind us, casting golden light that danced across the table.

“So,” I began gently, turning my attention to Emily with a warm smile. “How did you three come to meet?”

Emily looked up, clearly caught off guard by the question. “Oh… um. It’s a bit of a long story,” she stammered.

Arlo interjected quickly, “It’s really not that long.”

She shot him a sharp glance, and he raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

Asher glanced between them, sensing the tension. “You don’t have to share if it makes you uncomfortable, but we genuinely want to know more about you. You’re part of the pack now.”

Emily hesitated, her fork hovering in mid-air. “I just… don’t like discussing my past. It’s not exactly a pleasant topic.”

“That’s understandable,” I said softly, trying to bridge the gap. “I completely get it.”

But the silence that followed hung heavily in the air, awkward and palpable. Gage attempted to fill the void with stories of their recent trip, recounting how they had stumbled upon a few of the old relic sites, but I could tell that Asher shared my concern. Emily was skillfully dodging every inquiry about herself.

After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Asher ventured, “Do you still have any family out there?”

Emily froze, her fork pausing mid-motion. “No,” she replied, her tone sharp and final.

“Sorry,” I said quickly, sensing the tension. “We didn’t mean to pry. We just…”

“It’s fine,” she said, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “It’s all behind me now.”

I noticed Gage’s jaw tighten slightly, a telltale sign of his growing discomfort. He always had a fierce protectiveness towards those he cared about, and I could see he was struggling with this conversation.

Asher softened his approach. “We just want to get to know you, that’s all. You’re important to both of them, which makes you important to us.”

“I know,” Emily replied, her voice steady but laced with uncertainty. “And I really appreciate it. I just… I don’t talk about my past. Not anymore.”

An uneasy silence settled over the table like a heavy blanket. Arlo shifted in his seat, stabbing at his food with a bit more force than necessary.

“Emily’s past isn’t really the point,” Gage interjected flatly. “She’s here now. That’s what matters.”

I nodded in agreement. “You’re right. But I also believe that our pasts shape who we are. You don’t have to divulge everything, just enough for us to understand.”

Gage sighed, setting down his fork with a clatter. “Can we not have this conversation right now?”

Arlo shot him a sharp look. “Why not? They’re going to find out sooner or later.”

“Arlo,” Gage warned, his voice low.

“No,” Arlo insisted, his voice rising in intensity. “I’m done tiptoeing around it. She was a rogue, alright? That’s where we found her.”

The room fell into a stunned silence. Emily’s complexion drained of color, and her eyes darted around the table, wide with fear like a cornered animal. Gage slammed his hand on the table, frustration etched across his features. “You didn’t have to say that.”

“She’s our mate, Gage,” Arlo said, leaning forward earnestly. “They had the right to know.”

“She’s not dangerous!” Gage shot back, his voice sharp.

“I never said she was,” Arlo retorted. “But hiding things as if you’re ashamed of her is worse.”

Suddenly, Emily pushed back her chair, standing abruptly. “Stop it. Both of you.”

The tension in her voice silenced the room once more. I rose as well, raising my hands slightly in a placating gesture. “Hey. Enough. Nobody’s angry here.”

Turning my attention to Emily, I continued, “You were a rogue? That’s fine. Really. Do you think I would hold that against you after everything I’ve faced, everything I’ve endured?”

Her eyes softened a fraction, confusion flickering across her features.

“You don’t need to hide that from us,” I said gently. “We’ve all lost homes, packs, families. Some of us were born into chaos and had to create something new out of it. That’s exactly what this pack represents.”

Asher nodded in agreement beside me. “You are not defined by your past, Emily. None of us are.”

Emily’s shoulders sagged, a shuddering breath escaping her lips. “It’s just… not easy to talk about. Rogues aren’t trusted. I’ve spent years running from that label.”

“And now you don’t have to,” I reassured her softly. “You’re here. You’re safe.”

Gage exhaled heavily, rubbing the back of his neck with a hint of frustration. “We weren’t trying to hide it because we were ashamed. We just didn’t want it to change anything. She’s already been through enough.”

“It doesn’t change anything,” I asserted firmly.

Arlo nodded in agreement. “Exactly. I just wanted to put it out there so no one could use it against her in the future.”

Emily slowly sank back into her chair. “Thank you,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

The mood lightened slightly after that, though an undercurrent of unease still lingered in the air. The twins remained close to Emily, as if silently daring anyone to judge her.

To ease the tension, Asher leaned back, a playful glint in his eyes. “So, Emily. Aside from babysitting these two, what do you enjoy doing?”

Her lips curled into a slight smile. “You mean when I’m not rescuing them from getting lost or picking fights?”

“Exactly that,” he replied, chuckling.

She laughed softly, and the sound eased some of the tightness in my chest. “I like to read. I used to sneak into old libraries before I met them. It was the only safe place I knew.”

Arlo beamed. “See? She’s smarter than both of us combined.”

Gage groaned, rolling his eyes. “I already knew that.”

By the time dinner came to a close, the tension had dissipated, replaced by laughter and playful banter. It wasn’t perfect, but it felt genuine. For the first time since her arrival, Emily’s smile reached her eyes, illuminating her features.

As we began to clear the dishes, I caught Asher’s gaze across the table. He gave me a small, approving nod. The night hadn’t unfolded perfectly, but it had gone better than I could have hoped.

Once everyone had left the table, I lingered behind for a moment, watching the candlelight flicker across the polished wood. The shadows danced softly, reminiscent of old memories drifting away into the ether.

Asher slipped an arm around my shoulders, drawing me close. “See? No explosions tonight.”

“Not yet,” I replied with a quiet smile. “But something tells me peace is never a long-lasting affair for us.”

He pressed a gentle kiss to my temple. “Then let’s savor it while we can.”

Outside, the night wind whispered through the trees, a haunting melody that sent a shiver down my spine. Somewhere deep within the forest, something stirred, a reminder that tranquility was merely temporary.

In the stillness that lingered after dinner, a faint metallic scent wafted into my senses. Blood. Not from within the packhouse, but from the treeline.

And it wasn’t human.

Conclusion

As the evening unfolded, the tension that had gripped the dining table gradually gave way to a sense of belonging, woven together by shared laughter and gentle camaraderie. Emily, once a figure shrouded in uncertainty and fear, began to reveal glimpses of herself, her laughter mingling with the warmth of the pack. In that moment, it became clear that the past, while a part of her story, would not dictate her future within this newfound family. Asher and I exchanged knowing glances, a silent promise that we would protect this fragile peace, nurturing the bonds that were beginning to form. The night had transformed from one of apprehension to a celebration of acceptance, a testament to resilience and the power of community.

Yet, beneath the surface of joy, a whisper of foreboding lingered in the air. The fleeting tranquility we had fought so hard to achieve felt precarious, as if the shadows lurking just beyond the treeline were waiting for the perfect moment to shatter our fragile harmony. As I leaned into Asher’s comforting embrace, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was merely a brief interlude in a much larger symphony of chaos yet to come. The metallic scent that permeated the night reminded me that danger was never far away, and while we savored this moment of peace, we had to remain vigilant. Together, we would face whatever darkness awaited us, fortified by the bonds we had forged and the understanding that even in the face of uncertainty, we were never alone.

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

**What to Expect in the Next Chapter?**

As the moonlight spills into the packhouse, the fragile peace established during dinner is bound to be shattered. The ominous scent of blood lingers in the air, hinting at the lurking dangers that threaten to intrude upon our newfound normalcy. Will the shadows of the past catch up with Emily, or is something more sinister on the horizon? The tension that settled over the table may have dissipated, but the external threats looming just beyond the treeline suggest that our characters are far from safe. Asher and I will have to confront what lies outside, while grappling with the unresolved questions about Emily’s past and the implications it carries for our pack.

Moreover, the dynamics within the group are set to evolve as secrets unravel and tensions rise. Gage and Arlo’s protective instincts towards Emily will clash with the need for honesty and acceptance, creating a rift that could either strengthen their bond or tear them apart. As the night unfolds, we can expect confrontations that will challenge loyalties and force our characters to confront their fears. Will Emily find the courage to embrace her identity as a member of our pack, or will the weight of her past prove too heavy to bear? The stakes are rising, and the shadows are closing in—it’s a recipe for chaos, and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.

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.