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At the Duskgrave Estate.
Lucien Duskgrave stood silently in front of the floor–to–ceiling window, a thick stack of documents in his hand.
Duke, his ever–efficient Beta assistant, had worked through the night to dig into Riley’s past. Every record. Every file. Every secret.
Lucien had read it all.
His expression was grim.
Every word on the page felt like a de. Riley’s twenty–three years of life had been nothing short of a tragedy written in blood..
She had grown up in the rogue orphanage system, never knowing the warmth of family. Then, at fifteen, she was found and brought back to the Ebonw Pack, only to suffer three more years of cold silence and calcted neglect.
She was a prodigy–top of her ss at Mooncrest Academy for three consecutive years. A dominant force in physicspetitions, a record–breaking score of 741 in her final exams–enough to make her a star even at Ashmoor Academy, the most prestigious institution in the werewolf world.
And yet, all of it was stolen.
False usations. A prison sentence.
Her dreams, her dignity–ripped from her by those she trusted.
Lucien was never one to be easily shaken. His world was one of strategy, discipline, and bloodlines. But even he couldn’t stop his brow from furrowing as he read her file.
Behind him, Duke felt the Alpha’s aura darken like a storm front. He said nothing, but the weight in the air was suffocating.
Riley… What kind of strength did it take to survive all that? So small. So thin. Yet she’d endured twenty–three years of hell.
Before either of them could say a word, Matriarch Duskgrave arrived, nked by Mrs. Beck and Mia.
Lucien immediately tucked the documents toward Duke. “Put these away. Don’t let Grandmother see.”
“Yes, Alpha,” Duke said swiftly, disappearing with the file.
“Grandmother,” Lucien greeted, “what brings you here?”
Matriarch Duskgrave’s eyes sparkled with joy. “Where’s Riley?”
“She’s still asleep,” Lucien replied.
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“It’s already ten. That child’s still not up?”
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Matriarch Duskgrave frowned and headed upstairs, concern written all over her face.
Lucien didn’t think much of it. Riley had drunk too muchst night–it made sense she’d still be sleeping.
But momentster, Matriarch Duskgrave’s panicked voice rang down the stairs.
“Riley! What’s wrong, child?! Don’t scare me like this!”
Lucien’s heart seized. He bolted upstairs.
Riley was curled tightly on the bed, her skin flushed crimson, her body radiating a dangerous heat. Her lips were dry and cracked, her breath ragged. She clutched the bedsheets in agony, as if fighting off something ravaging her from the inside.
Matriarch Duskgrave stood nearby, frozen in distress. Mrs. Beck and Mia were on the verge of tears.
Seeing Riley like this–it was as if knives had pierced through their chests.
Lucien didn’t hesitate. He strode forward, scooped her into his arms, and charged down the stairs.
She was burning up–literally. Her body heat scorched his arms like fire.
“To the hospital,” he ordered sharply.
The household sprang into motion.
In the car, Mia suddenly spoke, voice urgent. “Not the First Hospital. Go to the Second.”
Lucien nced back.
“Alpha ric, Maddox, and Ronan Duskcliff are all tied to the First. If they see her again, things could spiral. That pack has brought her nothing but pain. Let’s not risk it.”
Duke mmed the gas pedal down, sending the vehicle speeding toward Mooncrest’s Second Hospital.
They made it in under twenty minutes.
Coincidentally, Theo Hale–now one of the lead physicians at the First Hospital–had just finished an academic conference at the Second. He wasughing with a few fellow doctors, exchanging thoughts about new treatment techniques, his usual careless arrogance masked by his medical brilliance.
As they exited the hospital lobby, Lucien swept past them, cradling Riley tightly and Mrs. Beck followed, gasping for air.
Theo’s steps halted midugh. His brow furrowed.
Was that…
No, it couldn’t be.
Matriarch Duskgrave, Mia,
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That woman–those long dark strands flowing from Lucien’s arms, the way she trembled–looked too much like Riley.
But the Second Hospital? The Ebonws never used this facility. They’d always gone to the First.
He shook his head. Probably just a mistake. He’d been overworkedtely–his eyes were ying tricks on him.
He turned back to his group, brushing it off with a chuckle.
Meanwhile, in the emergency room, Riley was already being examined.
After a flurry of activity, one of the doctors approached Lucien with a furrowed brow.
“You’re her husband, correct?”
Lucien blinked, caught off guard. “I’m not-”
“He is!” Matriarch Duskgrave interjected before he could finish. She stepped forward, face pale with worry. “I’m her grandmother–inw. Doctor, how is my granddaughter–inw doing?”
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