Riley’s POV


    “How many times have y


    on Peads


    <b>you </b><b>made </b>a scene in the one <b>month </b>since you were released from prison?” Karl’s voice rang sharply. through the <b>hospital </b>room<b>, </b>cold and full of <b>judgment</b>. “The whole family has been spoiling you, tolerating you, loving you- yet you keep pushing us away, again and again<b>.</b><b>” </b>


    His words were like <b>sharp </b>needles, pricking at my ears.


    “Why did Mom inject you with the <b>suppressant</b>, huh? Wasn’t it because you attackeil Scarlett at the banquet like a feral roppan You shoved her in front of the whole Pack and disgraced our <b>family</b>. Then you had the audacity to strike her again after we got home.”


    “You were in the wrong, Riley. Don’t tell me <b>a </b>mother doesn’t have the right to discipline her own daughter”


    I sat there, staring at him in <b>silence</b>. My mouth curled into a slow, bitter smile, but my eyes remained icy. What was the point <b>in </b>arguing? In this house–this pack–<b>they </b>never cared about the truth. Scarlett <b>was </b>always the saint in their eyes. The victim. The golden child.


    <b>And </b>me? I was the rabid white wolf no one wanted to im.


    So I said nothing.


    But someone outside the room <b>couldn’t </b>bear it an


    The door burst open, and Mia stormed in. Her usually kind face was tight with fury, her eyes bloodshot, breath unsteady.


    She shoved past Zara and <b>Kael</b>, heading straight for me. The insted container in her hands mmed down on the bedside table with <b>a </b>sharp thud.)


    “I’ve had enough,” she growled. “Enough of this cruelty.”


    My chest clenched as I watched her trembling hands and the quiver in her voice. I knew what wasing–Mia never raised her voice. Not unless it truly mattered.


    “Last night, if it weren’t for that kind gentleman who helped carry her out of the estate, your daughter would’ve died from infection <b>and </b>blood loss. <b>She </b>hasn’t eaten a bite, hasn’t sipped a drop of water since waking. <b>And </b>what do you do? <b>You </b>show up here to yell at her? To scold her for fighting <b>back</b>?”


    She looked like she might shatter from sheer rage.


    <b>“</b>What kind of Alpha <b>family </b>treats their blood like this?”


    <b>Kaci </b>opened his mouth, but she cut <b>him </b>off


    “Don’t you dare. <b>You </b>think the whole Pack loves her? That you’ve tolerated her? What a joke.”


    “She <b>was </b>tortured in prison for five years. I saw the scars on her back with my own eyes. Not one of you visited her. Not once.. And thest time your father beat her with a belt until she bled, who stopped him? No one.”


    She turned to Zara, voice rising with righteous fury. “You forced your own daughter to cut off a finger to repay a debt she never owed! And you still stand there <b>and </b>say it was for her own good?”


    <b>Zara’s </b>face had turned ashen, her lips parted in silent horror.


    Even Karl was stunned, looking at me like I was a stranger.


    “Every time she’s wronged, you defend Scarlett without asking a single question,” Mia continued. “You scold Riley, punish her, <b>humiliate </b>her. And now you dare to say it’s out of love)”


    I couldn’t speak My throat was tight.


    I reached out and gently touched Mia’s hand. “It’s okay,” I whispered. “They’re not worth your anger


    Because they weren i


    +8 Pearls


    I had cried enough tears for them in my life.


    Zara <b>finally </b>seemed toe back to herself. Her voice was shaky as she tried to exin, “Mia… we didn’t mean to hurt her. Riley is just… so impulsive, so disobedient. We’re trying to help her-


    “Help her?” Mia <bughed</b>, and the sound <b>was </b>raw, “Look at her now. Is this what ‘help‘ looks like to you?”


    She pointed to my bandaged arm and bruised corbone.


    “You never loved her. Zara. At least admit that. You didn’t raise her–you never bonded with her–and maybe that’s <b>understandable</b>. But <b>not </b><b>loving </b>her doesn’t give you the right to destroy her.”


    Zara went pale and turned her eyes to me, seeking something–guilt, sorrow, even recognition.


    I gave her <b>nothing</b>.


    Not a nce.


    <b>Not </b>a flicker of emotion.


    Instead, I turned my eyes to <b>Mia</b>–the only one <b>who </b>had ever protected me. And I <b>looked </b><b>at </b>her like she was my mother.


    Because, in every way <b>that </b>mattered, she was


    And Zara? She <b>meant </b>nothing to me anymore.


    I watched as realization began to dawn in her. The regret. The fear,


    <b>That </b>was when she truly started to panic..


    “Riley… no matter what, I’m still your mother,” she whispered, reaching for my hand.


    I pped hers away. “Legally, I have nothing to do with the Vale family.”


    The <b>words </bnded like a thunderp. Zara froze, eyes wide with disbelief.


    Kael’s face contorted with anger. “Riley, must you say such cruel<b>, </b>pointless things?”


    I turned to <b>him</b>, <b>calm </b>as ever. “Pointless? I don’t think you understand. The Pack registry–the official family ledger–has never listed my name. Isn’t that right, Zara?”


    His gaze snapped to her. “Mother? That’s not true.. right? She came back eight years ago. Her name should’ve been added. long ago.


    Zara’s lips trembled. Her hands fluttered uselessly at her sides,


    She couldn’t deny it.


    She <b>wouldn’t </b>dare lie.


    Karl’s


    s jaw clenched as the truth hit him like a hammer. “You never added her to the Pack–record? She’s not even registered


    <b>as </b>one of us?”


    Zara crumbled<b>, </b>sobbing <b>into </b>her hands. “I’m <b>sorry</b>, Riley… I’m so sorry”


    I stared at her, unmoved.


    <b>Sorry </b>didn’t mean anything when <b>the </b>betrayal was carved into your bones.


    <b>And </b>I’d spent my whole life learning to bleed quietly.