Riley’s POV
+8 Pearls
“1–it was just a misunderstanding!” one of the women stammered, her face stiff <b>with </b>a fake smile. “We heard she seduced Alpha Lucien and acted in the heat of the moment. It wasn’t personal! We meant no <b>real </b>harm–surely you <b>can </b>forgive that
<b>Another </b>immediately chimed in, nodding fervently. “Yes, yes, exactly. We were misled. Please, Miss Vale, we didn’t <b>know </b>who
you were…
Their mates–those smug highborn Alphas who <b>had </b>stood by <b>as </b>I was dragged and beaten–now stepped forward with practiced ease, their faces full of hollow remorse.
“Alpha Lucien,” one said with forced humility, “we’ve already scolded them. They understand they were wrong.”
Lucien didn’t respond.
So I did.
I took <b>a </b>single step forward. The echo of my heels on the <b>marble </b>silenced them faster <b>than </b>a roar ever could.
“Scolded“” I repeated, my voice low, measured. “That’s your idea of justice? They shredded my robe. Left me bloodied and <b>exposed </b>in front of a pack of strangers. And you think a few hollow apologies will erase that?”
The women paled.
Their husbands faltered, unsure whether to beg or bargain.
Lucien stayed silent beside me, a looming shadow of power—but he didn’t interfere. Because he knew. This was mine.
“You should have thought of consequences,” I continued, gaze like a de, “before you raised your hands against <b>an </b>Alpha’s daughter. Before youughed while I bled.”
The first woman’s face crumpled. “Please, Miss Vale–<b>have </b>mercy. We know we were wrong!”
I tited my head, letting the silence stretch. Letting their fear ferment.
“<b>You </b>all seem so sorry now,” I mused. “But I’m a believer <b>in </b>bnce.”
They looked hopeful for a heartbeat.
Then I spoke again.
“<b>You </b>like using your hands so much? Then you’ll pay <b>with </b>one finger each. Ship them, too–let the rest of the world see <b>what </b>happens when wolves attack their own.”
Screams erupted instantly.
The women clutched their husbands in terror. <b>The </b>men began <b>shouting</b>, begging, stumbling over <b>one </b>another to shield their wives from the guards who stepped forward at my <bmand </b>
“No–please! That’s too much“”
-Star didn’t
“We’ll pay any fine! Just not <b>that </b>
But I was done with tes
I was done with weak men and their excuses
Chor of the husbands dropped to lus kuces before Lucien–Alpha of Stormridge judge at war councils, and now, my silent
endurer
J45 PM p p
+8 Pearls
“<b>Alpha </b>Lucien, please, this punishment is too cruel! My wife <b>was </b>ignorant. I’ll offerpensationnd, silver, <b>whatever </b>you
Lucien arched an eyebrow. He hadn’t moved. Hadn’t even unsheathed a w.
But his voice, when it came, was ice:
“You said anything?”
“Yes!” <b>the </b>man gasped. “Anything”
A pause.
“Even bankruptcy?” Lucien asked.
Dead silence.
Every breath in the banquet hall vanished.
Even the chandeliers seemed to dim.
The man froze, as if struck by lightning. The light in his eyes died a <b>slow</b>, sputtering death.
Wives could be reced.
But an Alpha’s empire? That was irreceable.
I saw the moment greed triumphed over love. The <b>subtle </b>clench of his jaw. The way <b>his </b>hand slipped from his wife’s.
I gave a sharp nod. “Do it.”
The guards surged forward. The women screamed, struggled, cried. Tears streaked their powdered faces, leaving <b>trails </b>of ruined vanity behind
They were dragged to the side of the ball and forced to kneel beside a long, polished table.
1 followed.
One of the guards held down a trembling arm. Another ced a de–silver–ted, ceremonial<b>, </b>glinting cruelly under the lights <b>onto </b>the polished wood beside it.
1 picked it up.
It wasn’t Lucien’s hand that reached for justice.
It was mine.
I walked <b>toward </b>the first man, the one who had groveled <b>seconds </b>before, his eyes wide, sweat beading at his <b>temple </b>Toller
hum the de
He stared at me as though I were a ghost..
“Discipline your mate” I said coldly. “This <b>time</b>, you’ll take <b>responsibility</b>”
He reached for the knife with a trembling hand, but pulled back at the <bst </b>second, too afraid to act
His wife subbed “Don’t–don’t do it! Just let them punish me, not you!”
He looked at her
Then looked at me
Then slowly–pathetically–offered the kude back
I met Lucien’s eyes, then turned to the guards, “Do it.”
The woman shrieked as they forced her arm down again. I didn’t look away–not once- as the de came down
There was a cry. A ssh of crimson.
A silence deeper <b>than </b>death.
Lucien stepped beside me, his scent like <b>pine </b>and winter steel, calm and quiet and deadly.
“You didn’t flinch,” he murmured.
“I couldn’t afford to.” I replied.
He said nothing for <b>a </b>while.
Then, softly. “They’ll never forget this <b>night</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
“No I said. “But neither <b>will </b>”
Because this was the <b>night </b>I stopped being their prey.
The night Riley Vale reimed her ce in the bloodline.
And I wasn’t done yet.
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