in Vengeance 24_A Broken Alpha Heiress' Revenge

Riley’s POV

 +8 Pearls

 The fluorescent lights of the Healer’s Ward burned into my eyes. I could barely see through the blood and tears that blurred my vision, but I didn’t stop..

 I couldn’t.

 I stumbled down the corridor, mming into walls and brushing past startled wolves. Some of them gasped, others recoiled at the sight of me–bloodied, limping, barely upright–but I didn’t care.

 Let them look

 Let them see what the Ebonw Pack does to its own.

 There was only one thought in my mind: get away from Ronan. As far as possible. Before he changed his mind and decided he hadn’t had enough. 

 I ran harder, heart pounding, lungs burning. My injured leg screamed with every step, but I ignored it.

 So I didn’t see the man </bing out of the private consultation room.

 Not until I mmed straight into him.

 The impact jolted me back, and I nearly fell to the floor–but a strong arm snapped around my waist, steadying me before I hit the ground.

 “Riley.”

 That voice.

 Familiar. Sof. Careful.

 Terrifying.

 I looked up and found myself staring into Maddox’s eyes.

 His amber gaze reflected the panic in mine, like he’d already seen the fear before I even knew it was there.

 He reached for me like I was something fragile.

 But all I felt was revulsion.

 I shoved him away with all the strength I had left.

 He barely budged, but he let go. I turned without a word and tried to walk away, only to feel his hand mp down on my

 Wri

 Firm. Unyielding

 Just like him in the courtroom five years ago.

 ago.

 “You’re hurt,” he said, voice low, gaze flicking to the blood on my forehead. There was a flicker of something–guilt? Concern? I didn’t care,

 He had no right to look at me like that.

 No right to act like I mattered.

 Who did this to you?” he asked, eyes narrowing. “Tell me, Riley, I’ll make them pay.”

 I almostughed.

 He was serious. He thought this was how it worked.

 1:35 PM ·

 +8 Pearls

 But I remembered it all–how he had stood across from me in the Court of Elders, not beside me. How his voice, once soft and warm, became the de that slit my throat,

 He was the one who defended Scarlett. Who called me a liar. Who listed every false usation like it was scripture, until they caged me like a rogue and threw away the key.

 He could’ve been my shield.

 Instead, he helped gut me alive.

 Now he wanted to protect me?

 I kept my eyes on the floor, silent,

 “You’re still mad at me, aren’t you?” His voice cracked.

 He didn’t wait for an answer. “I had my reasons, Riley, I didn’t want to hurt you. I had no choice–please, just let me exin.” 

 Exin?

 As if an exnation could give me back the years I lost.

 As if words could fix a shattered leg, a deaf car, a missing kidney.

 As if anything could erase the humiliation of sining in that courtroom, looking into his eyes, and realizing I waspletely

 alone.

 I tried to pull away again, but his grip didn’t loosen.

 So I lifted my gaze and looked him in the eye.

 Cold. Empty. Done.

 “Let go,” I said tly.

 He didn’t. His hand only tightened slightly, like he thought I’d crumble if he held on long enough.

 “I’ll take you to a healer,” he murmured. “Let them patch you up, okay?”

 His voice was almost a whisper, soft and trembling, like he was shared I might disappear.

 It made my skin crawl.

 i didn’t want softness. I didn’t want sympathy. Not from him.

 “Did you not hear me?” I said, louder now, icecing every word. “Let. Co.”

 Something in my tone must’ve hit him, because he flinched like I’d struck him.

 I saw the pain in his eyes.

 Good

 He deserved it.

 But it wasn’t enough.

 I had reached my limit. My fury boiled over.

 Vithout thinking. I yanked my head to the side–and mmed it into the wall.

 Blood erupted down my face. Pain exploded behind my eyes.

 Still, I didn’t stop.

 “Let go I hissed, blood running down my chin. “Or do I keep going?”

 3:35 PM

 0

 +8 Pearls

 He was frozen, horrified.

 “You think I won’t? I mmed my head again. Thud.

 And again. Thud.

 The sound echoed through the hallway. Sharp. Sickening.

 I didn’t care.

 If hurting myself was the only way to make him let go, I’d do it again.

 And again.

 His face had gone pale as bone,

 “You’re insane,” he choked. “You’d hurt yourself–just to get away from me?”

 Was that really so hard to believe?

 I said let go,” I growled, the taste of iron on my tongue.

 Blood dripped from my forehead onto his arm. I saw itnd. Watched him flinch.

 He finally released me.

 I stumbled back, nearly copsing. But I caught myself before he could touch me again.

 “Don’t you daree

 I didn’t wait for a reply.

 I turned and limped away, dragging my useless leg behind me. Every step felt like knives under my skin, but I didn’t stop. I wouldn’t stop.

 Behind me, I heard nothing. No footsteps. No pleading.

 But I knew he was still there.

 Following Watching

 Like a ghost too cowardly to speak.

 I didn’t want to go home–not yet.

 The Vale estate would only bring more cruelty, more silence, more me.

 So I copsed onto a bench outside the Healer’s Ward and stared nkly at the road beyond the trees, where the moonlight painted the pavement silver.

 I didn’t cry.

 There were no tears left in me.

 I was just fired.

 Behind me. Helt his presence again. Maddox, Watching. Hovering-

 I didn’t look back.

 But when a strange woman approached me with a quiet voice and a small medical bag. I knew it was him.

 “I saw your wound,” she said softly. “Mind if I help?”

 I stared at the supplies–gauze, disinfectant, cotton swans.

 3:35 PM c

17kNovel

in Vengeance 24