+B Pearls
The moment Scarlett Valeid eyes on Riley descending the hallway, her blood surged with fury.
She hated seeing her like <b>this</b>–ethereal, glowing, untouchable.
Everything about Riley tonight <b>was </b>wless, her luminous <b>skin</b>, the soft waves of her pale hair, theyered gown of blush silk that caught the corridor’s light like <b>moonlit </b><b>mist</b>. A living daydream<b>. </b>
Scarlett’s <b>nails </b>curled into her palm.
Riley <b>had </b>inherited every advantage–beauty, bloodline, and now,
en presence..
And she had tried everything to ruin her.
To humiliate <b>her</b>. To erase <b>her</b>. To <b>shred </b>her face and strip her pride.
<b>And </b>yet here Riley stood. Untouched. Radiant,
As if five years in a prison cell had done nothing but sharpen her into something more dangerous,
Scarlett’s lips curled with spite. She’s here for Lucien, she thought. That must be <b>it </b>
The idea made her stomach churn.
Riley cast her a single nce–brief, expressionless. Then looked away as though Scarlett was nothing but a dust mote.
No sneer. No retort. No recognition.
That indifference was worse <b>than </b>contempt.
Riley tightened her grip on <b>the </b><b>velvet</b>–wrapped gift box in her hands and turned to herpanion. “Let’s go, <b>Andy</b>”
Scarlett’s rage ignited.
How dare she ignore her. Like the past never happened. Like Scarlett was the one <b>who </b>didn’t belong here.
She waited until Riley’s footsteps drew closer, then let her mask drop.
The corridor <b>was </b>e
empty. Perfect.
Her voice cut through the silence, sharp and <b>poisonous</b>.
“Well, well Dressing like a Luna already, are we?<b>” </b>
Riley didn’t stop
Scarlett’s voice pose
“Whoring yourself <b>out </b>at a Matriarch’s birthday party, hoping some <b>Alpha </b>will forget <b>your </b>prison <b>record</b>? You might fool strangers Kiley, but we know what you really are”
Her words echoed through the hallway like a p
But Riley didn’t flinch
Scarlett’s breath came faster She <b>wanted </b>a reaction. Needed one
Biley’s silence was unbearable.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.
She was supposed to scream Cry Break down Just like always
+8 Pearls
Just like when the family would turn on her. When Scarlett yed innocent, <b>and </b>the others shielded her like a wounded pup.
But Riley had changed. She <b>wasn’t </b>ying that game anymore.
Scarlett snapped.
With a snarl, she lunged forward and yanked Riley by the hair.
“You think you’re better than me now??” she screeched, her ws digging toward Riley’s scalp. “Let me remind you what really are—nothing but a stain on the <b>Vale </b>name!”
<b>you </b>
<b>Riley </b>staggered, caught off <b>guard</b>, but didn’t cry out. Her fingers went instantly to Scarlett’s wrist, trying to break the grip.
“Let her go!” Andy shrieked.
The petite Betaunched forward, grabbing a fistful of Scarlett’s curls and yanking them back with all <b>his </b>strength. “You absolute lunatic! She’s the <b>Luna’s </b>guest, not your chew toy!”
Scarlett screamed in pain and released Riley, stumbling backward.
At that exact moment, a male voice thundered from down the corridor.
“What the hell is going on here?”
All three turned.
Ronan Duskcliff stood like a storm at the end of the hall–tall, broad–shouldered, his Alpha aura pulsing in <b>waves </b>of restrained violence.
Andy blinked. His anger dissolved instantly into girlish awe.
Good gods. <b>That </b><b>man </b><b>was </b>carved from marble and dipped in danger.
He immediately let <b>go </b>of Scarlett’s <b>hair</b>, smoothing down his sleeves and trying <b>not </b>to stare.
Scarlett’s eyes brimmed with tears <b>the </b>moment she recognized Ronan’s voice.
In a heartbeat, she switched gears–from fury to fragility.
“Ronan,” she whimpered, staggering toward <b>him </b>like a frightened doe, “I didn’t mean to–I was just trying to talk to her, and she got so angry–I think I ruined her hair and she…”
Her voice cracked, and tears spilled like a broken dam. She threw Riley a trembling nce of fear. “Please don’t be mad at Der It <b>was </b>my fault 1-1 <b>was </b>too loud ”
Haley narrowed her eyes
ssic Scarlett
<b>Konan </b>frowned His gaze flicked from Scarlett’s tears to Kiley’s unbothered calm<b>, </b>and his jaw clenched.
<b>You </b>went too far. Miley” he <b>said </b>coldly “This is <b>a </b><b>family </b>event. What the hell were you thinking?”
Andy’s mouth fell open
What
“You have got to be <b>joking</b>” he snapped “She was the one who attacked us! Pulled her <b>hair </b>like some feral wolf! <b>And </b>now you’re ming Riley?”
<b>Ronan </b>eyes slid to Andy with <b>disdain</b>. “This isn’t your pack. Stay out of it.”
Then he turned back to Riley His tone dropped, sharp andmanding
“Apologize to Scarlet”
Andy took a step forward, fists clenched. “You arrogant-!”
<b>But </b>Riley raised a hand, Calm. Controlled.
-No,” she said quietly
Ronan’s eyes darkened. “No<b>?</b>”
Riley met <b>his </b>gaze, steady and sharp.
+8 Pearls
You <b>came </b>in halfway through a scene and assumed the ending. If you want to talk about honor, Alpha Duskcliff, perhaps learn what actually happened first.”