Riley’s POV
My ws were inches from tearing into his throat.
+5 PeanS
The bastardy slumped against the corridor wall, dazed from the impact. Blood trickled down his temple, mixing with dirt and ceramic shards. I didn’t even remember grabbing the potted nt, but the crash of it shattering against his skull still rang in my ears like thunder.
He groaned, trying to get up.
I stalked closer, my hackles raised, breath hot and heavy.
He daredy a hand on Mix. He dared raise a cane at the old woman <b>who </b>had shielded me–someone I didn’t even know. He dared call me nothing.
I wasn’t <b>nothing</b><b>. </b>
I was the damn white wolf of the Ebonw Pack, and for once in my life–I wasn’t going to run.
A snarl built in my chest, low and deadly. My muscles coiled.
I was ready to end this.
“Riley, stop!”
Mia’s voice cut through the haze <b>like </b>a whip.
1 <b>froze</b><b>. </b>
“Put your ws down,” she choked <b>out</b><b>, </b>clutching her bruised check, <b>eyes </b>wide with panic. “You know thew. No bloodshed among Pack unless ordered by Council. You show those ws now–<b>and </b>they’ll lock you up again. For good this time.”
Her <b>words </b>hit harder than the blow to my back.
The Rogue Tribunal. The istion cells. Cold steel <b>chains </b>digging into my wrists.
No. Not <b>again</b><b>. </b>
My snarl died in my <b>throat</b>. I forced the shift back, bones creaking, limbs trembling as fur receded. My vision blurred, but I stayed upright.
My breath came in ragged gulps.
I <b>was </b>shaking
Mia reached out, steadying me with <b>both </b>hands, then out on my clothes. “It’s over. Let’s <b>go</b><b>.” </b>
Still dazed. I turned and pushed open the hospital room door–just in time to walk into a nightmare.
The air inside was thick with panic. I saw her–Scarlett–ws digging into another girl’s throat. Her name hit me a <b>second </b>
Tema
Her lips were blue, her eyes ssy. Her hands scratched helplessly at Scarlett’s wrists, trying to breathe.
switch flipped inside me
1 charged forward with a scream, grabbing Scarlett by the hair and yanking her back with every ounce of fury I had left. “Let go of her, you psycho!”
Scarlen shrieked, her grip finally loosening. We both stumbled back, crashing into each other, wing, kicking. <b>Gone </b>was her usual trembling and sweet act–what surfaced now was Ieral, vicious, real
Her nails raked down my arm, slicing skin <b>open </b>like ribbons.
“Crazy b*tch!” she screamed, scratching, kicking, iling
“Keep going.” I snarled, “and I swear, I’ll <b>show </b>you what a real Luna looks like.”
+8 Pearl
Mia and Mrs. Beck lunged in, each grabbing one of Scarlett’s arms and <b>holding </b>her down as she thrashed and howled like a cornered animal.
I dropped to my knees beside Tessa.
She wasn’t moving.
Her face had gone ashen<b>. </b>
No breath. No heartbeat I could feel.
No..
No.
Tessa?” My voice cracked as I shook her. “Tessa–wake up!”
Nothing
“Tessa!” I screamed, hands flying to her face, <b>then </b>her chest. “Breathe! Please–breathe!”
My whole world cracked open. The only person who could prove my innocence.. was slipping away before my eyes.
“Mia!” I turned, <b>sobbing</b>. “Call the doctors! Get help! Now!”
Mia let go of Scarlett instantly, bolting for the door
But the doorway <b>was </b>already blocked.
Three men.!
Towering. Dangerous.
And one of them, leading the charge, looked like he was carved from rage itself.
Dark brows <b>drawn </b>tight. Eyes like knives.
His voice hit me like <b>a </b>p.
“Riley Vale, what the hell are <b>you </b>doing to Tessa?!”
I blinked up, stunned by the venom in his tone.
Ronan Duskcliff
His fury mmed into the room like a shockwave. Behind him were <b>guards</b>–armed, tense.
I opened my mouth to speak, but the words wouldn’te. The sob stuck in my throat turned into a whimper.
He didn’t wait for an exnation.
He stormed forward, grabbed me by the arm, and ripped me away from <b>Tessa’s </b>body.
stumbled backward-
Straight into another chest.
Hand <b>Familiar </b>Burning hot
My breath caught
I looked up.
And met Maddox’s eyes,
Cold. Piercing. Nothing like the ones that used to gaze <b>at </b><b>me </b>with gentle curiosity.
His hands tightened on my shoulders–not withfort, but judgment,
Pain bloomed across my chest deeper <b>than </b><b>any </b><b>wound</b>. The look in his eyes wasn’t anger.
It <b>was </b>disappointment.
“Riley…” His voice was low, full of thunder. “What happened to you?”
I could barely hear myself. “I didn’t–It wasn’t me. She–Scarlett–she was-”
+8 Pearls
“Is this really who you are now?” Maddox’s voice cracked. “Where’s the girl I knew? The girl who once believed in justice? In kindness Bring her back to me, please
I looked at him through the veil of my tears, my skin still stinging from Scarlett’s ws.