Lucien’s POV
I forgot she couldn’t hear me
+8 Pearls
Riley had her back to me,pletely unaware of what I’d said. The weight of her silence struck me like a sharp snap of cold wind–I’d spoken, and she hadn’t even llinched. That’s when it hit me she didn’t hear me. Of course she didn’t.
Without a word, I walked over and took her hand.
turned at the contact, her eyes flickering up to mine just as I mouthed, “Don’t panic. Sit down–we’ll take this slow”
She nodded, her fingers trembling slightly in mine, and followed me to the couch.
The moment we sat down, her attention snapped back to Theo Hale like a wolf tracking prey. Her gaze never left him–never even blinked, like she was terrified that if she did, she’d miss some vital truth that might finally exin everything.
Theo settled across from us and cleared his <b>throat</b>. He tried to keep his voice steady, but I could hear the strain buried beneath it
“Riley I know you want answers. I wish I had more to give. I don’t know who took your kidney. I don’t know who <b>has </b>it now. But I do know this–it didn’t happen randomly. Someone targeted you long before you ever went to prison”
Heid the file folder on the table. One by one, he began pulling out sheets, cing them neatly between us.
“These records–they’re from apatibility screening. A renal match evaluation, done right years ago. I need you to <b>look</b>. Was this your test? And if it was… who brought you in for it?”
Riley reached out with shaking hands, as if the papers might explode on contact. Her eyes devoured the information.
Light years age.
I uw the moment the realized what that date meant. The way her pupils dted. The way her spine stiffened.
“Eight years ago, she returned to the Ebonw Pack–to the family that had abandoned her. That was when her <b>so</b>–called parents <b>took </b>her to the Moone rest Central Hospital. Told her it was just a physical Routine check–up, they’d said<b>. </b><b>A </b>precaution. They were concerned for her
She believed them
She thought–gods, she thought they cared.
But it was
freeze, then begin to tremble–first slightly, then uncontrobly. Her entire body shivered <b>as </b>the <b>realization </b>
They didur bring her back out of love.
They brought her back to harvest her
She was just a donor to them. A walking organ <b>bank </b>
at burned: cks down her checks. And in that moment, I swore I <b>could </b>feel her
heartbeak like it was my own
“Fight years ago the day after I came back they took me to Mooncrest Central I thought it was just a full–body checkup… It it wasn’t Was it Her voice cracked “They <b>nned </b>that from <b>the </b>start.
149 PM P P.
She looked up at Theo again. They didn’t love me. They never did. But this? This is what I was worth to <b>them</b>?”
Her voice faltered, drowned in disbelief and betrayal. Her lips quivered, her fists clenched in herp. She wasn’t crying out of <b>sadness</b>–no. This was grief sharpened into rage. Into hate.
And gods, it took everything in me not to burn the <b>Ebonw </b>Pack to the ground right then.
Everyone was quiet–Duke, Mia, even Matriarch Duskgrave who’d joined us in silence. No one knew <b>what </b>to say. They were all staring at Riley like she might shatter<b>. </b><ol><li>on the other hand, felt the pressure building in my chest like <b>a </b>storm. My blood ran ice–cold. My breathing slowed to a lethal rhythm.</li></ol>
They hurt <b>her</b>.
They carved her apart.
And they did it with smiling faces <b>and </b>parental concern.
I’ve seen monsters in my time–but Abaric <b>Vale </b>and his families redefined the <b>word</b>,
Still… I couldn’t lose control. Not yet.
I forced myself to stay focused.
“One year ago.” I said, my voice cutting through the room like a de, “who in the Ebonw Pack was hospitalized<b>?</b>”
All eyes turned to Theo.
He blinked, ran a quick mental scan<b>. </b>“No <b>one</b>. Not that I know of…” <b>Then </b>he paused. “Wait. Scarlett. She was overseas a year ago. Only returned recently.”
My jaw clenched.
Coincidence? No. I didn’t believe in those. Not in this game.
“We’ll know soon enough,” I said coldly. “Get the travel records.”
Duke shot up from the couch, <b>almost </b>knocking it backward. His fingers grazed the worn edge of the medical documents. “I’ll find out everything”
I nced at him.
“No,” I said. “You need rest. This goes to Caelum.”
<b>Duke </b>hesitated mid–<b>step</b>, surprise flickering <b>across </b><b>his </b>face.
But I didn’t look away. Didn’t blink.
<b>I </b><b>sat </b>forward, elbows on my knees, my voice <b>low </b><b>and </b><b>unwavering</b>.
This wasn’t just another mission now.
This was war.
And I would raze every stone of the Ebonw Pack before I let them touch Riley again.
Send Gifts
294