Finished
For years. Ronan Duskcliff had believed with absolute certainty that Riley was the one who had harmed his sister. He hated her so deeply that he had been willing to use every resource at his disposal to destroy her, going so far as to see her imprisoned for a crime she didn’tmit.
But now, Tessa’s reaction–so raw and visceral–hit him like a silver–forged hammer straight to the chest, shattering the foundation of everything he had believed over the past five years.
His fists clenched tightly at his sides, knuckles pale from the pressure.
If Riley truly hadn’t been the one to hurt Tessa… then what had all those years of revenge been for? What did that make him?
Kael Vale, Alpha of the Ebonw Pack and Riley’s biological brother, stared at Tessa with wide eyes, disbelief carved across his face. He had always favored Scarlett, tuning out Riley’s protests, even helping drag her down when she was at her weakest. He had stood in court and testified against his own sister, iming with full confidence that Riley was the attacker.
Now, the world spun beneath his feet, and his legs nearly gave out.
Maddox, a respected member of the Lycan Tribunal, looked equally stunned. As aw wolf, his duty was to seek truth and uphold justice–but when it came to Scarlett, he’d let personal bias blind him. He had even tried to convince Riley to take the me for what happened to Tessa. He couldn’t fathom back then that sweet, delicate Scarlett could be the real monster.
He’d epted the Ebonw Pack’s narrative without question.
Now he saw how wrong he’d been.
Sweat beaded on Maddox’s brow. His gaze flitted nervously between the others, guilt tightening around his throat.
Riley watched all of them, her sharp eyes recording every flicker of their shame. She had once believed their pain would bring her a sense of satisfaction.
It didn’t.
Instead, bitterness welled up in her chest like poison. Even if her name was finally cleared, those five years- those blood–soaked, soul–crushing five years–would never leave her. The damage done would haunt her forever.
She didn’t want just justice. She wanted them to suffer too.
If she had to drown in that pain, they would drown with her.
She turned toward Tessa again, voice steady and unforgiving, “Tessa. Tell them. Was it Scarlett who lured you into the ck Forest that night?”
Kael, Maddox, and Ronan all froze, holding their breath.
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Finished
Suddenly, none of them wanted the answer.
Because if it was yes, then every belief they’d clung to would copse. They would be forced to face a truth. they’d never prepared for–and their own roles in that cruel deception.
Kael stepped forward, his voice sharp. “Riley, that’s enough. Tessa’s only just woken up. She needs rest. Let’s go home.”
He reached out to grab her, but Riley slipped out of his grasp like smoke.
Maddox, ever the peacemaker, gave a nervous smile. “Riley… Kael’s right. This isn’t the time. Let’s not upset her. We’ve already–disturbed her enough for one day, don’t you think?”
Her eyes turned to ice. “Oh, I see. You’re scared. Scared to know the truth. Scared that your precious Scarlett isn’t the pure little saint you convinced yourselves she was. Scared to admit you’ve all been yed for fools.”
Their jaws clenched. But neither Kael nor Maddox said another word.
They couldn’t. Not after everything.
She turned then to Ronan, who had been watching silently, struggling with the war inside him.
Her gaze pierced through him, sharper than any de.
Ronan Duskcliff, don’t you want to know who really hurt your sister? Or are you going to stand there like a coward and protect the wrong person again?
His face turned ashen. He was caught in a storm–guilt, doubt, rage all swirling together. If what Riley implied was true… then his hatred had been misced all along. The punishment he’d dealt her had been unjust. Unforgivable.
But if he knew the truth… could he live with it?
Riley saw his hesitation and nearlyughed. So this was the kind of brother who imed she could never repay the sin he thought she’dmitted. And now, standing at the edge of truth, he balked.
He couldn’t even stand up for his own sister.
She took a bold step back and moved beside Tessa, forming a silent but resolute alliance.
“Tessa,” she said clearly. “Tell them. Was it Scarlett who lured you into the ck Forest that night–the one who caused youra?”
Her voice rang with the weight of justice long denied.
The moment of reckoning hade.
Tessa’s eyes fluttered shut–deliberate. Definite.
One clear answer.
Scarlett began to shake uncontrobly. Her limbs trembled, and she seemed to copse inward, curling like
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prey that had just been spotted by a predator.
The room fell into a deafening silence<b>. </b>
The truth, after five years buried, had finally begun to surface.
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