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Scarlett put on her best mask of <b>worry</b>, her voice trembling as she stepped forward and tugged gently at Lady <b>Seraphina </b>Duskgrave’s sleeve
“Lady Seraphina, she’s my sister. Her name is Riley Vale. Maybe–maybe there’s some misunderstanding here?”
Hearing <b>this</b>, the fury <b>in </b>Seraphina’s eyes only intensified.
So this shameless hussy was Scarlett’s sister? That made everything worse.
Scarlett had long been her confidante. Ever since they grew close, Scarlett had frequently, almost innocently, spoken of being mistreated and bullied by her elder sister.
Seraphina had already harbored distaste for the infamous Riley Vale. But when she realized the same woman who had <b>once </b>dared raise her <b>hand </b><b>against </b>Scarlett <b>was </b>now also the one in the photo Matriarch Duskgrave had <b>sent </b>her <b>husband</b>—it was as if oil <b>had </b>been poured <b>onto </b><b>an </b>open me.
She loathed Riley Vale with every fiber of her being.
And she knew Andi.
That mboyant little peacock might act harmless, but he was one of the North’s most sought–after stylists. Some of the Stormridge Pack’s most iconic looks <b>had </be from his hands.
Though stylists like him were impossible for most to <b>book</b>, the Duskgrave family <b>could </b>get anyone. Yet <b>today</b><b>, </b>it wasn’t Lady Seraphina he’d dressed–it <b>was </b>Riley.
The rage twisted in her gut like a curse.
Was <b>that </b>old bat. Matriarch Duskgrave, really so disappointed in her after all these years? Seraphina had been married to Lucien’s father Ford for over two decades, living under the weight of judgment, enduring cold nces <b>and </b>hushed rumors. And yet, she had never won the matriarch’s favor,
And now this?
That woman was grooming a new Luna–a <b>young</b>, fertile one.
A recement.
Her eyes dropped to Riley’s t <b>stomach</b>. She imagined her swelling with <b>his </b>heir.
Her vision went red.
She couldn’t bear it. Wouldn’t
No woman would give the Duskgrave bloodline <b>an </b>heir if she couldn’t.
That right belonged to her–and her <b>alone </b>
She hadn’t been barren by choice. It was that cursed brat Lucien–only five years old when he pushed her down the stairs.
her pregnancy and her womb in a single, <b>vicious </b>moment. The doctors said it had been <b>an </b>ident.
She knew better
She would not let <b>Riley </b>give him another.
cream that was more beast that <b>woman</b>. Seraphina lunged <b>forward </b><b>and </b>grabbed Riley by the hair, yanking her head.
down hard
“You think fucking your little tail will make men crawl after your she shrieked “Il teach you what happens to whores who mistake <b>lust </b>for power
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Riley gritted her teeth, pain shooting through her scalp. <b>She </b>grabbed at Seraphina’s hands. “Let go! I don’t even <b>know </b>your husband
But no one was listening.
Andi tried to intervene but was instantly surrounded by a pack of feral <b>Lunas</b>. They scratched at him with manicured ws, drawing blood across his cheeks and arms until his face was streaked with crimson.
“Back off” he shouted. “Do you even know who she is? She belongs to Lucien Duskgrave! If you touch her again, he will bury you and your pack with a singlemand!”
His voice boomed down the corridor.
Everything went still for a <b>second</b><b>. </b>
And then Seraphinaughed.
A loud, manicugh.
“She belongs to Lucien? My stepson? The one who hasn’t looked at a single woman in thirty years suddenly <b>has </b><b>a </b>little Omega peta
Her eyes gleamed. wild and unhinged.
“Oh, you’re good,” she hissed, pulling harder. “But not good enough.”
The crowd surged again.
Insults flew like daggers.
“Filthy bitch!”
“Bedwarmer
“<b>Gold</b>–digging mutt
Riley fought to stay on her feet, but Seraphina’s grip was ruthless. Someone mmed <b>a </b>heel into the back of her calf–sharp,
She stumbled
Thud
She hit the ground hard, her knees mming into the marble floor <b>with </b>a sickening <b>crunch</b>.
Before she could catch her breath, two hands grabbed her arms and wrenched her upright <b>again</b>, forcing her into <b>a </b>kncel
Seraphina released her hair Riley’s long <b>dark </b>strands <b>fell </b>across her face in tangled <b>waves</b>, blood trickling down her lip.
She could feel every sneer every side look piercing her <b>like </b>arrows. Her wolf whampered inside, not from <b>weakness</b>–but
rom the weight of injustice. The need to <b>rip </b>and tear surged <b>just </b>beneath the surface.
<b>But </b>she held back
Seraphina stood tall towering over her eyes alight <b>with </b>vicious triumph
m—SLAP
Her hand cracked across Riley’s left cheek. The sound echoed like a whip anap through thedor
Riley’s head snapped to the side. Her check blossomed red instantly
HPMP P
SLAP–the other cheek <b>this </b>time,
Riley’s head reeled
Her face burned. Her ears <b>rang</b>. Her mouth tasted of blood.
SLAP
SLAP
SLAP
Again. <b>And </b><b>again</b>.
And again<b>. </b>
By the fifth strike<b>, </b>Riley no longer felt the <b>pain</b><b>. </b>Only numbness.
Her eyes stared nkly at the ground.
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Her knees dug <b>into </b>the cold stone. Her hair hung like a curtain, sticky with blood and sweat. The hallway around her buzzed and blurred, voices blending <b>into </b>a cruel, faceless mob.
And Seraphina?
She smiled.
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