Luna Zara’s voice sharp as ss<b>, </b>“I always thought that Riley’s been using ck magic to amplify her wolf’s scent. I’ve seen the signs for weeks. The instability, the surges. <b>She’s </b>ying with fire.”
Zara reached into her coat and pulled out a sleek silver syringe, the liquid inside swirling <b>with </b>dull blue shimmer. “That’s why I carried a wolf suppressant shot. I knew the day woulde when she’d lose control.”
Alpha ric watched the scene unfold, expression unreadable. Then, with a huff of breath, he waved his hand dismissively. “So what if she’s <b>a </b><b>white </b><b>wolf</b>? She’s missing a kidney. Her wolf will <b>always </b>be weaker than the rest–<b>half </b>of <b>what </b>it could be. Barely <b>alive</b>. Hanging by a <b>thread</b>.”
There <b>was </b>no awe in his voice. No fear. Not even disappointment.
Just disgust.
“Take her outside, ric barked. “Toss her out. She needs to cool off <b>and </b>wake up from whatever delusions she’s living in”
“Alpha–please, Mia begged. “She’s unconscious. The suppressant will stop her wolf from healing the trauma. If she bleeds. lout in the cold-”
-She brought this on herself,” he snapped. “Let her taste the consequences. Maybe next time she’ll think twice before using <b>tricks </b>to fake strength she doesn’t have.”
Zara and Kael didn’t object.They simply knelt beside Scarlett, brushing her hair back with shaking hands, murmuring softforts like they couldn’t even hear the begging behind them,
A few guards hauled Riley’s limp body to the door. Cold wind howled through the hall <b>as </b>the estate gates opened. A few minutester, the sound of her body hitting the wet stone path echoed back into the entryway like thunder.
Rain poured like liquid knives from the night sky as Riley stumbled out of the Ebonw Pack estate. Her legs were barely able to support her weight, her body burning with fever, blood still dripping from the gash on the back of her head where Luna <b>Zara’s </b>blow hadnded.
The estate gates loomed behind her, silent and cold. No one <b>followed </b>her. No one called out her name.
She was discarded.
Just as she reached the edge of the property, the sound of frantic footsteps pulled her from her haze.
“Miss Riley!”
<b>Mia</b><b>, </b>soaked to the bone, her white hair stered against her wrinkled face, broke through the rain like a ghost of hope. She’d been waiting outside all this time, in the storm, in the cold–because she never once gave up on Riley.
At the sight of her, Riley’s tears finally broke loose. “Mia… I’m sorry… It’s all my fault… I dragged you into this…”
But Mia didn’t waste breath on scolding or pity. She rushed forward, catching Riley just before her knees buckled again..
“You silly pup, Mia murmured, her <b>voice </b>hoarse. “You think I care about consequences when my girl’s bleeding out in the
rain
She crouched, her fraif body shaking. “Up. On my back. I’ll get you to a healer. Now.”
Riley tried to refuse–Mia was too old, too thin–but before she could protest again<b>, </b>Mia had already knelt in the mud, offering herself <b>as </b><b>a </b>shield against the storm.
Tears antxed with rain on <b>Riley’s </b>cheeks as she leaned forward and <b>gently </b>wrapped her arms <b>around </b><b>Mia’s </b>neck.
The old housekeeper rose slowly, every step a battle, every inch forward a <b>war </b>against time and age. The rain battered them from all sides, soaking their clothes, chilling their bones<b>, </b>but Mia refused to fall.
With her spine bent and feet slipping through the muddy road, she carried Riley down the long path leading away from the
Ebonw estate
Her breath came in shallow gasps, her teeth clenched against the cold.
+8 Pearis
“Just <b>a </b>little longer, sweetheart,” she panted. “Hold on for me.”
Riley was slipping again. The fever roared in her blood. Her vision wavered. Her body felt like it was floating–disconnected, heavy, fading
Cars roared past the roadside, their lights gleaming off the rain–slicked asphalt. Mia reached the curb <b>and </b>began waving both arms desperately.
“Please!” she cried. “Stop! Someone help us!”
But none did.
Vehicle after vehicle sped past, sshing water across them, drenching them further. Riley’s <b>blood </b>mingled with the dirty puddles, painting the road with streaks of crimson.
<b>Mia </b>stumbled forward <b>and </b>almost fell, <b>but </b><b>she </b>gritted her teeth and pushed on, her knuckles white where they clung to Riley’s legs.
Just as her legs began to buckle beneath her, a sleek ck Rolls–Royce rolled up to the curb. It came to a smooth, deliberate
halt
The rear <b>window </b>lowered
Inside sat a man whose very presence exudedmand. His cold, aristocratic features were barely visible in the shadows, but his silver–gold eyes gleamed through the <b>dark </b>like a predator’s in moonlight.
Lucien Duskgrave.
The Alpha Prince of the Stormridge Pack
His gaze swept over them–first Mia, then the broken girl clinging to her back. Recognition shed in his eyes when he saw Riley’s bruised and bloodied face.
His expression didn’t change. It rarely did
But his door opened.
Mia practically copsed in front of him. “Please, sir–she’s dying. Her family has disowned her. She has no one else. You’re the only one who stopped.”
Lucien <b>said </b><b>nothing</b>.
He looked <b>down </b>at Riley again.
Her scent hit him like a whisper from the past–wildflowers and ozone, with something deeper buried beneath. Something ancient. Something pure.
The White Wolf.
He tilted his head, almost curious.
Without a word, he gave a single nod.
His Beta, Duke, stepped out from the driver’s seat and helped Mia seule Riley gently <b>into </b>the backseat,
Lucien slid in beside her, watching <b>as </b>her fevered body trembled uncontrobly. Her head lolled against the leather, blood still seeping from the wound beneath her damp hair.
She looked nothing like the fierce creature he’d glimpsed at the <b>banquet</b><b>. </b><b>And </b>yet… she was unmistakable.
He reached for a nket stowed beneath the <b>seat </b>and draped it over her shivering form, watching closely as she curled into it
ith <b>a </b>soft, pained whimper.
“Drive,” he said calmly.
The engine
eroared to life.
+8 Pears:
Inside the car, silence hung heavy, broken only by Riley’s uneven breathing. <b>Rain </b>battered the windows as they sped toward the hospital.
When they arrived, Riley was immediately rushed into emergency
care.
Lucien remained in the shadows of the corridor, his arms crossed, eyes unreadable.
Mia clung to the nurses, begging them to hurry. Her heart pounded as a doctor finally emerged from the double doors, his scrubs soaked in sweat and urgency.
“She’s <b>lost </b><b>a </b>dangerous amount of blood and is suffering from severe infection. We need consent to operate. Who’s the legal guardian?”
Mia hesitated. “I–I’m just her housekeeper… Can I—‘
The doctor shook his head. “We need family. Or a mate bond. Otherwise, she’s legally unapanied.”
<b>Mia’s </b>hands trembled as she pulled out her phone. She tried Kael Vale’s number first.
Blocked.
<b>Then </b>Luna <b>Zara’s </b>
Straight to voicemail.
<b>She </b>dialed <b>again</b>–Scarlett, <b>ric</b>, even the Ebonw <b>Pack </b>front line.
None answered.
Desperate<b>, </b>she called Kael onest time.
He picked up.
“What?” he snapped, still nursing the bandage on his forehead.
“Please, Alpha Kael–Riley’s dying. She’s hemorrhaging. They need consent to operate-
“She brought this on herself,” Kael snarled. “I told you, she’s not my responsibility anymore.”
<b>The </b>line went dead.
Mia stood in the hallway, drenched and shaking. She turned to Lucien with tears in her eyes. “Please,” she whispered. “Sir… if there’s anything in you that still believes in honor, please save her.”