At the Ebonw pack house, tensions reached their breaking point.


    * 3.75%


    X


    Finished


    Kael Vale’s eyes burned red, his chest heaving with fury as he red at Alpha ric. Every word he spoke trembled with rage. “You let Riley carry the weight of a false usation. You let her rot in a rogue prison for something she didn’t do. She was tortured. Her leg was shattered. They took her kidney. And you-” his voice cracked, “you just let it happen. Don’t you fear the wrath of the Moon Goddess?”


    ric trembled with rage, his hand pointing at Kael as his voice rose. “How dare you speak to me like this? Everything I’ve done was to protect the Vale name. That girl was weak, troublesome. If she had to be sacrificed, then so be it!”


    “Sacrificed?” Kael let out a bitterugh. “She lost a leg. A kidney. She lost everything while we livedfortably. And you feel no shame?”


    ric’s face twitched at the mention of her missing kidney, but he forced himself to remain stoic. “She probably picked a fight in prison. Maybe she got injured and the healers had no choice. Either way, it’s her own fault. She was always reckless.”


    Kael stared at him in disbelief. “You don’t even care if she lives or dies, do you?”


    “Enough!” ric snapped. “Right now, our business alliances matter more. Did you get Alpha Lucien’s contact like I asked? Set up a meeting. That’s what’s important.”


    Kael rose slowly, his eyes filled with bitter resolve. “I used to admire you, Father. I believed in your strength, your judgment. But not this time. This time, I’ll find the truth myself. I’ll clear Riley’s name, even if it means walking away from this family.”


    ric’s face turned dark. “You walk out that door and investigate this, don’t ever call yourself my son again! And forget about inheriting anything from the Vale legacy.”


    Kael didn’t look back. He walked out with unwavering determination. All he could think of was Riley–the sister he had failed. He needed to find her. He needed to make things right.


    He had barely reached the hallway whenScarlett Vale, their family’s darling, walked in carrying a silver thermos.


    “Father, I made your favorite bone broth,” she said sweetly, stepping into the room with a radiant smile. Her eyes caught Kael’s, and her smile faltered.


    Kael’s eyes narrowed. The events of the previous day were still vivid in his mind. His instincts screamed that something was wrong.


    But Sedarlett, ever confident in her role as the golden daughter, offered a soft smile. “Brother, you’re here too. Would you like to join us?”


    Kael didn’t answer. He marched forward, grabbing her by the shoulders.


    “Riley’s gone,” he said, voice like thunder. “Are you happy now?”


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    Scarlett froze, her face turning pale. “I… I don’t know what you mean…”


    Finished


    “Don’t lie to me!” Kael growled, his grip tightening. “You wanted her gone. Now you have what you always wanted–Riley out of the picture, and the spotlight all to yourself.”


    Scarlett burst into tears, trembling as she whispered, “How can you say that? I’m your sister… You’ve always known I love this family.”


    And Kael had believed that, once. He’d defended her, trusted her, even when Riley was dragged away in


    chains.


    He’d believed her innocence.


    But yesterday, he’d seen the cracks. The way she’d looked when cornered. The way she hadn’t denied what truly happened the night of the rogue ambush.


    Kael shoved her back, pinning her lightly to the wall. Scarlett cried out in pain as her back hit the stone.


    From the bed, ric roared, “Let go of her!”


    He struggled to rise, and in doing so aggravated his wound, gasping in pain as he reached for the cane by the bedside.


    “Unhand your sister!” ric bellowed, and with a surprising burst of energy, pped Kael across the face.


    The impact sent Kael’s head reeling sideways.


    Just then, Theo entered the room.


    He’d returned from ate consult and had stopped by to check on the Vale Alpha after hearing of the family’s injuries.


    Instead, he found chaos.


    He quickly stepped between them, pulling Kael back with a frown. “Kael, your father’s still healing. What’s going on?”


    Kael’s breath was ragged. He said nothing for a moment, then quietly told Theo about Riley’s disappearance, his fears, and what had happened during the previous day’s confrontation.


    “Riley has one kidney,” Kael said, barely above a whisper. “Her wolf form shouldn’t even be possible. But we’ve all seen it. She’s a fighter. She’s survived what should’ve broken her. And now… she’s missing. I don’t know how much more she can take.”


    Theo’s expression shifted. His mind reyed the fleeting image he’d seen that morning–Lucien carrying a girl through the ER doors at Mooncrest Second Hospital. Her scent had been familiar. So had the fall of her hair.


    “Riley,” he murmured to himself.


    Could it have been her?