Third Person’s POV
The moment Lucien’s voice fell, the front doors of the manor burst open with a loud bang. Theo Hale strode in, rainwater still clinging to the hem of his coat, a thick file clutched tightly in his hand
His eyes swept urgently <b>across </b>the grand entry hall, scanning for Riley like a wolf who’d caught her scent.
“Where’s Riley?” he demanded, his voice <b>sharp </b>with adrenaline.
<b>Mia</b>, who had just been arranging a <b>vase </b>on the <b>entry </b>table, blinked at him in surprise. “Doctor Theo, the young miss is still resting.”
“She needs to wake up–now,” Theo said, stepping forward, his tone urgent. “It’s important. I need to speak with her.”
Mia hesitated, her eyes flickering toward Lucien <b>as </b>if seeking guidance. Though she was not <b>a </b>servant of the house, even she knew when amand could not override the Alpha’s will.
Lucien’s <b>gaze </b>locked onto Theo with the chilling stillness of a predator. His voice was quiet, but there was <b>no </b>mistaking the authority thatced every syble. “If <b>this </b>is about the Ebonw Pack’s fall, you can <b>leave</b>. I’ll handle it myself.”
Theo stiffened. That tone–so superior<b>, </b>so unyielding<b>–</b>always set his teeth on edge.
He’d grown <b>up </b>surrounded by powerful people, but none exuded this particr kind of dangerous calm. Wealth, strength,mand–Lucien Duskgrave had it all. And Theo hated how insignificant the man made everyone else seem inparison.
Still, Theo lifted <b>his </b>chin in defiance. “You were the one who took down the Ebonw Pack, weren’t <b>you</b>?”
Then, after a beat, he added pointedly, “Aren’t you <b>afraid </b>Riley will hate you for it?”
The entire room stilled.
Lucien, Duke, Mia, even Mrs. Beck all turned toward Theo with unreadable expressions. <b>Their </b>silence was heavier <b>than </b>the rain still dripping from his coat.
A flicker of doubt crossed Then’s mind. <b>Maybe </b>Riley didn’t hate Lucien for <b>what </b>he did. Maybe she understood.
He swallowed hard and forced his voice to steady. “I’m not here to argue. I’m here because I found something. About her missing kidney”
The room froze.
Lucien’s eyes, cold <b>as </b>steel, sharpened into lethal focus. A storm began to churn behind them–a threat far greater <b>than </b>the
one <b>outside</b>.
<b>Even </b><b>Duke</b>, who’d been halfway to falling asleep <b>upright</b><b>, </b>jolted fully <b>awake</b><b>, </b>spine straight <b>as </b>a <bnce </b>
Mrs Beck <b>gasped</b>, while <b>Mia </b>covered her mouth with both <b>hands</b>.
From the stairwell above, Matriarch Duskgrave–who had just begun her descent for breakfast–stopped <b>mid</b>–step. Her hand trembled slightly on her cane
Lucien’s <b>voice </b>cut <b>through </b>the <b>tension </b>like a de. “Mia Wake her”
But before she could move, a quiet sound from the <b>stairs </b>interrupted them.
<b>Kiley </b>stood on thending her expression pale, her eyes wide and <b>ssy</b>.
Her bearing hadn’t returned yet, but she saw Theo’s <b>mouth </b>and knew everything.
<b>kalory</b>”
The words “missing <b>kidney</b>” <b>echoed </b>like a curse through her mind. That wound–deep and brutal–was one she had buried. but never healed from A part of her had always wondered what had happened, who had done it, and why
Now, finally, she might have an answer.
+8 Pearls
She descended slowly, her steps heavy with disbelief, her entire body drawn tight like <b>a </b><b>bowstring</b>. When she reached the bottom, she didn’t speak. She simply walked straight up to Theo and grabbed his arms with both hands.
Her nails dug into his flesh.
“Tell me,” she whispered, her voice cracking with urgency. “Tell me the truth, Theo. Is it real? Do you know where it went? Who took it? Who has it?”
Her words came out in a desperate rush<b>, </b>eyes burning with the fire of a year’s worth of torment <b>and </b>unanswered questions.
Theo winced at the pressure of her grip, but he didn’t pull away “Riley, <b>calm </b>down. I’ll tell you everything, I swear. But you have to take a breath-
“Don’t tell me to calm down!” she snapped, though her <b>voice </b>trembled more from pain than anger.
Yet, <b>when </b>her eyes locked with his–when she saw the concern there–she forced herself to <b>inhale</b>. To hold herself together. She couldn’t break down. Not now.
Not when the truth was finally within reach.
Theo looked down at her, his chest tight. Goddess, what had they done to this girl? Even standing there, broken and trembling, she had the strength of a warrior. But <b>that </b>didn’t make the injustice any less monstrous.
And then<b>, </b>Lucien spoke.
His voice was softer now. But it held something else, too–something gentler. Protective.
“Come here, bunny.”
It <b>was </b>the first time he’d ever used a pet name for her.
The entire room turned toward <b>him</b><b>. </b>
Send Gifts