Ronan Duskcliff’s gaze wasced with <b>primal </b>dominance as it pinned <b>Riley </b>Vale to the wall.
→ +8 Pearls
His eyes–cold, calcted, and merciless–burned into her like she was not a person, but territory. Something he <b>had </b>marked once<b>, </b>and now <b>had </b>returned to <b>reim</b>.
“You’ve bullied Scarlett before,” he said lowly, each word like ice splintering into her skin. “Don’t act innocent in front of me, Riley. I <b>know </b>exactly <b>what </b>kind of she wolf you are.”
He took a step <b>closer</b>, his broad frame crowding her space, the air <b>tightening </b>with his scent–rich cedar and fury.
“If you apologize to her right now,” he continued, “I might pretend this little outburst didn’t happen.”
“But if you don’t. His lips curled into a cold <b>smile</b>. “I have ways to make you regret it.”
Riley stared up at him, her expression unreadable.
Not hurt. Not angry. Just..quiet.
That only made him angrier.
Once, years ago, <b>this </b>same girl would <b>have </b>looked at him with fire and tears. Would <b>have </b>pushed back. Fought him with <b>that </b>same brilliance that made her unforgettable.
But now? Now she didn’t even care.
Five years in the Rogue prisons had stripped her of illusions–but forged her <b>into</b>: steel.
She didn’t flinch at Ronan’s usations.
Didn’t tremble at his threats.
In her <b>mind</b>, he <b>was </b><b>just </b>another Vale man who thought his opinion <b>defined </b>her <b>worth</b>. And she was done letting them.
<b>But </b><b>Andy</b>, standing nearby, was nowhere near asposed.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” he snapped, stepping forward with fists clenched. “You <b>speak </b>like you’ve got fangs growing from your skull instead of sense. Did you even see what happened?”
<b>Andy </b>jabbed a finger toward Scarlett, who was <b>hiding </b>behind Ronan like <b>a </b>wounded pup. “Your precious little damsel attacked Riley. Grabbed her hair like a feral wolf <b>And </b><b>you </b><b>want </b>her to apologize?”
Ronan’s gaze flicked to <b>Andy </b><b>with </b>disgust.
“You’re not even <b>pack</b>. This doesn’t concern you.”
Before Andy could reply. Riley ced a hand gently on <b>his </b>arm.
“It’s not worth it” she said softly. “The Matriarch’s celebration is about to begin”
She turned her <b>voice </b>cool as ever. “Don’t waste your <b>breath </b>on people who stopped mattering <b>five </b>years <b>ago </b>
Konan stiffened
Not because of the words—but because of the way <b>she </b>said them. As if he never <b>mattered</b>.
That cut deeper than he cared to adnat
He didn’t want her forgiveness. But being ignored: Being discarded!
That he couldn’t tolerate
His handshed uus–faster <b>than </b>Riley anticipated—and caught her by the wrist,
30PMP P.
One sharp tug, and she stumbled back against the corridor wall, the impact jarring the <b>breath </b>from her lungs.
The gift box in her arms tumbled to the floor.
+8 Pearls
The embroidered cloth inside–a delicate heirloom piece she’d spent weeks stitching for Lucien’s grandmother–<b>spilled </b>across the tiles.
“Apologize<b>, </b>Ronan snarled, pressing her against the wall, fury thick in his voice. “Now”
Riley’s eyes widened in shock, then narrowed with loathing. She pushed against him, but his body was like stone <b>unyielding</b>.
<b>Andy’s </b>shriek split the air.
“You’ve gone rabid! Let her go!” He lunged forward <b>and </b>shoved Ronan with all his strength.
Ronan <b>didn’t </b>even budge. He turned, expression dark, and mmed a boot into Andy’s ribs.
Andy hit the floor with a <b>groan</b>, curling <b>in </b><b>pain</b>.
Riley gasped, torn between fury and fear. But before she could move to help, a shadow passed over the fallen embroidery.
Scarlett bent down, picked it up–delicately, almost lovingly–and inspected it.
Riley’s blood ran cold.
“Put <b>that </b>down, she said sharply, voice trembling with restraint.
Scarlett smirked.
“I was just trying to help,” she said sweetly, but her ws dug into the delicate threads, warping the shapes Riley <b>had </b>painstakingly stitched. “Is this…a gift for the old <b>Luna</b>? How quaint.”
“Scarlett, Riley warned, stepping forward.
But Scarlett pulled <b>back</b>, clutching the <b>fabric </b>closer.
Riley didn’t think. She lunged.
The p echoed like a whip crack
Scarlet reeled, staggered, one <b>hand </b>flying to her <b>face</b>.
A perfect red imprint bloomed across her cheek, blood <b>beading </b>at the corner of her mouth.
Her eyes widened in stunned disbelief Not at the pain–but that Riley <b>dared </b>strike her in front of Ronan
Her tears came <b>instantly</b><b>, </b>as <b>though </b>summoned onmand
“<b>Ronan </b>she fat me,” she sobbed. “I tried to help, and she just–she <b>snapped</b>!”
Ronan growled low in <b>his </b>throat, struding toward them.
But Riley didn’t <b>look </b>at <b>him</b>. Her eyes were locked on the embroidery now crumpled in Scarlett’s grip
Scarlett’s agris clenched ughter crushing the stitches further
Riley saw red
With <b>a </b><b>smart</b><b>, </b><b>she </b><bunched </b>herself forward, <b>ws </b>out, tackling Scarlet to the floor.
ubes tumbled
blur of <b>ulk </b>surls, and ws.
343 PM P P .
“GET OFF HER! Ronan roared.
He grabbed Riley around the waist, yanking her off like she weighed nothing.
Riley thrashed in his grip, snarling like a wolf finally pushed too far<b>. </b>
“You <b>bastard</b>! Let go of me!”
He dragged her to a side room and kicked the door shut <b>behind </b>them.
“Bang!”
Send Gifts
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