Lucien’s POV
The moment I stepped into the grand hall, the scent of blood hit me like a thunderp.
Not just any blood–no,
+8 Pearls
This was the kind of blood <b>that </b>reeked of <b>humiliation </b>and <b>pain</b>, the kind that came from a she–wolf being torn <b>apart</b>, not just physically, but soul–deep.
My wolf snapped awake, howling inside me. My instincts surged like wildfire as I strode toward the center of the chaos.
Several <b>high</b><b>–</b>ranking noblewomen <b>were </b>standing there, pale and jittery. One of them offered me a nervous smile.
<b>“</b>Alpha Lucien we were just ying around. It was just a harmless—”
“Just a <b>joke</b>,” another chimed in weakly.
I didn’t <b>spare </b>them a nce. My eyes locked onto the battered body crumpled on the cold marble <b>floor</b>.
Riley
Her dress <b>was </b>in shreds, her pale skin marked with bruises and w scratches, blood matting her hair, face swollen beyond recognition–and yet, I knew her.
No matter what they did to her, I would always recognize her.
My white <b>wolf</b>.
My <b>heart </b>clenched, rage flooding every inch of my body.
Without hesitation, I shrugged off my custom–tailored coat <b>and </b>knelt beside her. As gently as I could, I draped it over her trembling, blood–soaked body.
<b>Gasps </b>rippled <b>through </b>the <b>room </b>behind me.
They’d never seen me like this.
Lucien Duskgrave–cold, controlled, untouchable–cradling a woman soaked in filth and blood like she was the most precious thing in the world.
Because she was.
I scooped her into my arms. Gods, she was light. Too light. Like all the strength had been drained from her bones.
Then, she stirred.
blood
Hershes fluttered, blood sticking them together, and she cracked open her eyes to look at me. Her lips curved into a fragile smile
“Alpha.” Her voice was barely audible. “<b>You </b><b>came </b>for me.
That smile–gods, that smile–stabbed through my chest like an iron de.
My <b>throat </b>burned. I swallowed hard and whispered, “Yeah. I’m here.”
I could feel every <b>shiver </b>of her broken body through my shirt. Her shoulder des were so <b>sharp </b>they felt like knives under her skin. My hold on her tightened instinctively.
Then, I looked up
And the room went silent
+8 Pearls
I <b>didn’t </b><b>need </b>to raise my voice: One look was enough to silence even the most arrogant nobles. My fury bled into the air <b>like </b><b>a </b>storm cloud thick with lightning.
My gaze <bnded </b>on <b>Lady </b><b>Seraphina</b>–the woman who once tried to manipte her way into my <b>pack </b>and my lineage.
She froze under my stare. Her eyes widened with recognition, then horror. She <b>knew</b>.
She had gone too <b>far</b>..
“Seal the hall,” I said, my voice icy and <b>calm</b>. “No one leaves until 1
I turned to the pack enforcers standing at the edges. “Anyone whoid a hand on my girl better pray their limbs are worth enough to cover her pain.”
My Beta. Duke, was already rying the order through hisms.
<b>And </b>that’s when Seraphina broke.
She let out a shrill scream and rushed at ine like a cornered beast. “Lucien, please! She seduced your father! I only did <b>this </b>to protect the honor of—”
“Seduce?” Lechoed with a cold, bitterugh.
I turned and walked toward her, step by step, forcing her to retreat until she mmed into the banquet table behind her.
“Looks like Lady <b>Seraphina </b>needs a refresher,” I said, “on how to tell the difference between truth and lies.”
I leaned in close, letting my words <b>fall </b>like des
“Just like thest time… when I had to remind <b>you </b>of the difference between a <b>miscarriage </b>and a surgically removed womb.”
She gasped, stumbling as her hands gripped the tablecloth. Her manicured <b>nails </b>tore deep grooves into the velvet, and her scent was drowned in fear.
I didn’t spare her another nce. I turned back to Riley, still cradled in my arms, and walked toward the side exit.
The ck marble beneath my feet was now streaked with blood–her blood–and each step I took felt like it etched <b>itself </b>into my bones<b>. </b>
As I approached the head of the table, my <b>grandmother</b>, Matriarch Duskgrave, rose from her seat, her face stormy with pain and fury
“<b>Grandmother</b>,” I said quietly, “May I borrow your ceremonial cloak?”
Without <b>hesitation</b>, she unsped the heavy embroidered <b>cloak </b>from her shoulders and held it out to me. Her voice trembled with anger as she said, “Take it. And Lucien… make sure no one who <b>harmed </b>our girl <b>walks </b>out of here untouched.”
“I will.” | promised.
I draped the cloak around Riley, covering herpletely. The rich crimson <b>fabric </b>with golden embroidery wrapped her like
second skin Only a sliver of her pale <b>ankle </b>showed–white as <b>snow </b>against bloodstamed <b>silk</b>.
Sdence fell again. <b>No </b>one dared <b>move </b>
I turned and walked out the <b>grand </b>hall’s double <b>doors</b>. The final glint of chandelier light caught on Seraphina’s twisted face
betour the doors <b>shut </b>bnd me
She stood there shaking, lips moving wordlessly, until she finally turned to her husband.
1 Turin’s wrong” she stanumered, voire shaking “That woman she’s your mistress, isn’t she? That white wolf you’ve been <b>hiding </b>shar <b>your </b>whore?”
Because the truth had already burned its way into every wall of that cursed hall
And now. vengeance would follow
Send Gifts
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