All Chapters of Marked in Shadows: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

As soon as I returned to the pack, several elders rushed over urgently."Alpha, you're finally back. Several packs want to terminate their partnerships with us. It's an emergency!"One reported, "Alpha, the southern region was attacked by rogues. There were heavy casualties.""Also, many pack members have applied to leave the pack during this time and are waiting for your approval."My head throbbed from the overwhelming pile of issues. How the hell had things fallen apart so badly just because I was gone for a while?I swept away the documents handed to me."What have you all been doing while I was gone? Couldn't you have held onto those partnerships until I returned? The southern region was attacked, and you didn't immediately send warriors to eliminate them? Did you have to wait until so many wolves died before taking action?"The folder hit the floor with a sharp thud, and the room fell dead silent.After a long while, a junior staff member finally whispered, "These matters

The moment Sabrina heard Alyssa's name slip from my mouth, fury flared in her eyes."Alyssa? It's always Alyssa! I just don't get it. Matteo, she's just a Beta. Why are you so obsessed with her?"Sabrina rushed up to me. Seeing the defeated look on my face only made her angrier.She hissed, "Matteo, don't tell me you've actually fallen for her. We grew up together! Does 20 years of history mean nothing compared to one Beta?"I did not answer. When I realized the person who had walked in was not Alyssa, my heart sank, and the world felt unsteady beneath my feet.However, the longer I stayed silent, the angrier Sabrina became.She started to break down, her eyes reddening as she demanded, "I knew it! You two were together behind my back, weren't you? She's nothing but a cheap bed warmer! You said you only loved me, but look at you now. Look at how devastated you are over her. You've fallen in love with her, haven't you?"Fallen in love with Alyssa? Yes, I had fallen in love with h

I rushed back to the company.As soon as I arrived, I saw employees whispering to each other while casting contemptuous looks toward the breakroom. Sabrina hugged her soaked body tightly, shivering in the corner. She was already somewhat delirious at that point, yet she still clung to her stubborn pride.She cursed at the people passing by."I remember every single one of you who threw coffee at me. Once Matteo cools down, he'll get back together with me, and when that happens, none of you will escape! You'll all be banished from the pack."Also, that witch, Alyssa? She'd better wait. How dare she seduce Matteo? I curse her to die a miserable death!"She screamed like a lunatic, her voice echoing throughout the entire company.Things were different. Without me as her shield, she was like a piece of trash that everyone despised.Some employees could not stand listening to her anymore and started defending Alyssa."Who the hell do you think you are to talk about Alyssa like tha

Penelope called Alyssa, and I stood nervously to the side waiting for her to answer. Those brief 30 seconds felt like decades passing by.Finally, the call connected, and Alyssa's voice came through from the other end."Hello, Penelope."Hearing the voice of the person I had been longing for, I tried hard to resist the urge to rush forward and snatch Penelope's phone, waiting anxiously instead.Penelope explained why she was calling, and my heart felt like it was about to leap out of my chest.Alyssa was silent for a moment before saying, "Okay, I'll see him one last time."Those few simple words gave me hope. Since Alyssa was still willing to see me, that meant there was still a chance for us.I immediately booked the earliest available flight and was about to leave when Penelope stopped me.She said, "Matteo, you don't look too good. You probably haven't rested in a long time, right? Why don't you get some sleep first? Alyssa already agreed, so she won't stand you up."I did

I did not know how long I stayed at the coffee shop. It was not until midnight, and the staff started closing up, that I was finally asked to leave.The streets at night were eerily quiet, with only a handful of people still wandering around.My heart felt completely hollow. I could not help thinking about how ridiculous I had been all those years.I had devoted all my time and energy to a woman who did not deserve my love while ignoring the one who actually loved me.Alyssa had once given me her whole heart, but I was too blind to see it. If only I had recognized my own feelings sooner and stepped in when Sabrina was bullying her.If only I had not let Alyssa down.Nonetheless, it was too late for any of that.I sat dejectedly on the curb by the side of the road. As if the universe wanted to mock me further, lightning flashed across the sky and rain began pouring down, sending everyone on the street running for cover.The downpour beat mercilessly against my body, and I felt l