Lucien’s POV
My grandma shot me a <b>re </b><b>sharp </b>enough to skin flesh from bone.
+8 Pearls
If looks <b>could </b>kill. I’d have dropped right there in front of the entire pack, <b>the </b>proud Alpha Regent of Stormridge felled by a slip of a she–wolf with tearstained eyes and a mouth too honest for her own good.
But I didn’t flinch.
“I’m sentencing you to redo the embroidery,” I said coolly, lifting a brow. “You’re not to leave the estate until the piece is
finished.”
Riley’s eyes shot up to mine, shimmering and damp, like twin moons on the verge of drowning. Something flickered inside me at the sight–something warm and unwee, curling under my ribcage and tightening <b>its </b><b>hold</b>.
Damn it.
I tugged at my cor, the silk of my shirt suddenly too close, too stifling. My tie felt like a leash <b>I </b><b>didn’t </b>remember fastening. I could feel my pulse in my throat.
She didn’t argue. Didn’t pout. Just gave me the smallest nod, lips parting <b>as </b>she rasped out a soft, “Okay.”
Like I’d offered her freedom instead of a sentence.
The corner of my mouth quirked, unbidden. Not a full smile–gods forbid–but a crack in the armor nheless.
She really <b>was </b>easy to fool.
She is still as innocent as when I first saw her in the hospital corridor.
1 narrowed my eyes slightly, letting them roam <b>across </b>her features. Delicate. Pale. A wolf too breakable for this world–but she’d survived hell and somehow walked out looking untouched.
Deceptive, that kind of strength.
The <b>Matriarch </b><b>was </b>watching me from her seat like a hawk, and I could almost hear her <b>thoughts</b>: <b>That </b>boy is finally catching on. Took him long enough to mark what’s his.
She wasn’t wrong. Though my way of marking wasn’t the <b>usual </b>fang–to–<b>neck </b>disy. I preferred mine through inked contracts and locked doors, a <b>quiet </b>kind of <b>iming </b>
A binding <b>she </b>didn’t even notice until the threads wrapped <b>around </b>her throat.
1
Eventually, I was dragged off by a <b>throng </b>of <b>councilmen </b>in <b>charcoal </b>suits, the <b>kind </b><b>that </b>reeked of politics <b>and </b>pertune. Numbers Trade deals Pack alliance <b>talks </b>I listened, responded, made the right expressions.
But my mind wasn’t there
It was on her
When I finally turned back toward the banquet hall, something made me pause
There
the second–floor terrace, curled like a <b>lost </b>cub against the <b>iron</b>–railed <b>balcony- </b>
was her
Riley
She was alone. Her body slumped forward, chan resting on folded arms, her hair catching the moonlight like silver thread. She looked small Breakable
My chest tightened again, the same damned tug I’d been feeling since the first time I caught her scent in that corridor
I walked to her in silence, not caring that I’d left <b>my </b><b>guards </b>and andes confused behind me
+8 Pearls
Up close, I could see the red mark on her cheek, left by resting too long against her sleeve<b>. </b>Her breathing was shallow but even. She hadn’t stirred.
I hesitated
Touching her <b>always </b>came with consequences–for both of us.
But then the wind shifted, and I caught that <b>faint</b>, lingering scent of blood and crushed herbs–her scent–and the decision made itself
I took off <b>my </b>coat, wrapped it <b>gently </b><b>around </b>her shoulders, <b>and </b>bent down.
She, murmured something I couldn’t <b>make </b>out, then leaned instinctively toward me, curling slightly as if seeking warmth.
My arms moved without thought. I lifted her easily, <b>cradling </b>her to my chest, careful not to jostle her sleeping form.
She fit against me perfectly.
Like she belonged there.
Like the gods had carved <b>that </b>spot out just for her.
As I turned to leave the balcony, footsteps approached from the far end of the hall. I didn’t have to look to know who it was.
“Alpha Regent, my assistant–Duke, the nosy bastard–grinned far <b>too </b>widely for his own good. “You’re really <b>taking </b>care of Miss Riley, huh? If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were-”
“Careful.” I warned, voice <b>low</b>.
He paused mid–step. “What? I was just going to say you were fond of her.”
I tilted my head, casting <b>him </b>a look that made younger wolves flinch. “<b>And </b>I was just about to say your bonus this quarter <b>has </b>been revoked.”
His jaw dropped. “Wait, what-
“For speaking without permission<b>.</b><b>” </b>
“Alpha Regent,” he groaned. “I <b>just </b>reced my boots. You know I was counting on-
“Speak again.” I said, arching a <b>brow</b>, “<b>and </b>I’ll revoke your sock stipend too.”
He <b>shut </b>his mouth instantly, <b>sulking </b>like a pup denied dinner.
I smirked
The memory of Ronan Duskcliff with Duke’s <b>sock </b><b>shoved </b>in his mouth was still fresh in my <b>mind</b>, and spirits above, it was satisfying. The arrogant <b>mutt </b><b>had </b>finally gotten <b>a </b><b>taste </b>of helplessness.
Maybe next time, he’d think twice before trying to ruin what belonged to me.
Because Kiley!
She did
Even if she <b>didn’t </b>realize it yet
1 slutted her gently in my arms, her head resting against my chest now, a soft sigh escaping <b>her </b>lips <b>as </b>it she could sense the heartbeat beneath her ear
Intened my hold and kept walking
Let the world stare Let them whisper.
Stormindge i future Laura had been humiliated, exiled, and forgotten.