Alpha’s Late Apology Novel – I was loading my cart for a big grocery run when my phone suddenly buzzed with a friend-request notification. The profile picture was a landscape shot I’d taken years ago, the one I’d forgotten even existed. And just like that, I knew who it was. We hadn’t spoken in five years. No calls, no messages, no accidental likes. A clean, surgical break. I had no idea why he chose to appear now, or what he wanted.
I typed into the verification prompt: [what’s up?.] The moment it sent, his reply popped up. [I’m back. Can we meet? There’s something important I need to tell you.] Something important? I stared at the words, a sharp, humorless laugh rising in my chest. Between us, what could possibly still count as important? I pushed the thought aside, pulled out my debit card, and paid for my groceries. The first thing I did after stepping out of the store was block his WhatsApp account, permanently. … I was stopped at a red light when my phone rang again.
Peggy. She sounded like she was walking on eggshells. “I heard… he’s back?” I cut her off before she could finish. “This has nothing to do with me.” There was a long sigh on the other end. Peggy’s tone thick with helpless concern. “Aurora… no matter what, you two will run into each other eventually. When that day comes…” “It won’t,” I interrupted again. “I won’t cross paths with him ever again in the rest of my life.” I hung up. Another notification appeared almost immediately. This time from my old college classmate, Caleb. [Dear Aurora Larkspur, we would be honored if you’d attend the Alpha Academy’s 100th-year anniversary celebration.
We’re also hosting a class reunion and sincerely hope you can join us.] [Of course, if you don’t want to come, I completely understand. Everyone knows what you’ve been through…] I exhaled and told him I probably couldn’t make it. I was about to leave the northern territories of the werewolf realm for a new start down south. Caleb sent several heartfelt messages trying to comfort me. I scrolled through the long paragraphs, feeling something strange, almost amused.
I’d already let go. Yet the people around me clung to the past more tightly than I ever had. Maybe it was because the love Theon and I once shared had been so fierce, so unforgettable. And our breakup… left a mark on everyone who witnessed it. But I truly had moved on. These days, I had to force myself to remember what Theon even looked like. Once, though, he had been everything. My closest companion, my first love, the person I trusted more than any packmate or relative. We grew up together.
We walked into love together. I had given him all of me, my heart, soul, and future, only to end up shattered by the very story I cherished. My phone alarm chimed, pulling me out of the memories. There was something important I needed to do. I parked at the foot of the hill, lifted the bag I’d prepared, and made my way toward the small pack chapel nestled among the trees. A nun spotted me and immediately brightened. “Miss Larkspur, you’re here again!” I smiled and handed her the gifts I’d brought before heading to the backyard path. A narrow trail wound through dense forest.
Past a patch of shrubs, an open green clearing emerged, and at its center stood a solitary black gravestone. One corner of it was decorated with Lego bricks, a little monument I updated every few weeks. I set my bag down and began arranging the items on the stone steps beside it. “The clerk at the toy store said these are the most popular toys this year,” I murmured softly. “I don’t know what kids like over there, but Labubu seems to be a big trend here. I bought you several.” “And this blind box… apparently there’s a rare figurine inside.
I’m sure you would’ve loved it.” When the toys were lined up, I unpacked the snacks. “I guess you don’t need to brush your teeth over there, right? That means you can eat chocolate before bed now. No cavities to worry about.” A weak laugh escaped me. But halfway through, my vision blurred, and tears slipped down my face before I could stop them. I gently wiped the carved letters on the stone. [My beloved son: Declan Brightmoor.] Below it, in smaller engraving. [With love, your mother: Aurora Larkspur.] The line beneath ‘Father’ remained a jagged, empty scar.