Riley’s POV
Lucien’s words echoed in my chest long after he stopped speaking.
I’ll <b>find </b>it. <b>Even </b>if I have to tear the world apart to do <b>it</b>.
+8 Pearls
For the first time in years, someone was <b>willing </b>to fight for me. Not just beside me–but for me. And it wasn’t out of guilt or pity. It was because he believed I was worth saving
The idea <b>was </b>foreign. Beautiful. Terrifying.
When Lucien stepped away to make a <b>call</b>. I found myself staring at the closed office door down the hall. <b>Behind </b>it, Warden. Maeryn Voss–the legendarybat instructor of Ashmoor–waited. She’d seen through me with a single nce. She’d read the truth of my wolf like a battlefield wound.
I stood.
<b>My </b>legs still trembled slightly, but I walked anyway<b>. </b>I wasn’t done <b>hiding</b>—but I was done running
I knocked once.
“Come in,” came the clipped voice from the other side.
<b>The </b>room was warmer than I expected–lit by a flickering firece and lined with ancient weapons, maps, and shelves stacked with dusty tomes. Warden Voss stood near the window, back straight, cane resting lightly in her grasp. She didn’t look surprised to see me.
“Riley Vale,” she said. “I figured you mighte.”
I swallowed, stepping inside. “I just wanted to <b>say </b>thank you. For…. telling me the <b>truth</b>. For treating me like I wasn’t broken.”
She raised an eyebrow. <b>“</b>You’re not broken. You’re battle–worn. That’s different.”
I let <b>out </b><b>a </b>shaky breath. “I want to fight. I don’t <b>want </b>to wait around anymore. Even if my wolf is weak, even if I’m missing a piece… I’m tired of being powerless.”
Her gaze softened, just a fraction.
“You remind me of someone I trained long ago,” she <b>said</b>. “He was raw. Furious. Always walking the edge of self–destruction. But <b>that </b>fire It kept him alive.”
“Lucien I guessed.
gave a short, amused nod. “That pup was chaos in a <bbat </b>ring. <b>You </b>should’ve seen the bruises he left <b>behind</b>. But he had something <b>most </b>others <b>didn’t</b>–<b>resolve</b>. You have it too. And <b>once </b>your wolf <b>is </b>whole, I’ll <b>train </b>you myself”
My heart skipped
<b>“</b>You inean uF
Marryn’s expression turned serious “I don’t make promises I won’t keep. But I don’t train cowards, either So if you’re serious if you’re willing to face the truth of what was <b>taken </b><b>from </b>you–and fight to reim it–I’ll be waiting”
She gudded oner “Then get <b>yourself </b>ready Vale girl. The battlefield’s no ce for hesitation
“Tilbe
I unanager a small situle. Til br back?
As left her office, the ache in my chest was still there but it was different now <b>Not </b>the hollow <b>throb </b>of loss
ssure of purpose
Lucien was already waiting <b>near </b>the car, his coat met, there was no need for words.
He opened the passenger door for <b>me</b>.
+8 Pearls
dusted with fine <b>snow</b>. He looked up as I <b>approached</b>, and when our eyes
The <b>ride </b>down from Ashmoor was quiet, but not <b>heavy</b>. The silence between us had shifted. It wasn’t filled with ghosts
anymore.
Just the flicker of something new.
Maybe hope.
We <b>drove </b>through the thickening dusk, <b>pine </b>trees blurring past the windows, the sky turning a <b>deep </b><b>shade </b>of indigo. And when the towering silhouette of the Duskgrave estate finally came into view, nestled in shadow and stone, I didn’t feel the usual spike of dread that came with approaching unfamiliar territory.
I felt something strange.
Safe
Lucien parked the car and nced at me before cutting the <b>engine</b>,
“You’re quiet,” <b>he </b>said.
“I was just thinking…“I turned to him. “Thank you. For taking me to Ashmoor. For not giving up when I would’ve.”
He studied me for a moment, then gave a rare, crooked smile. I told you, Riley, You’re not alone anymore.”
I opened the door, the cold air wrapping around me like a second skin. And as I stepped onto the Duskgrave grounds for the second time, I realized something
This wasn’t the end <b>of </b>anything.
It was just the beginning
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