Riley’s POV


    Finished


    From <b>that </b>moment on, everything unfolded just the way they had nned–like a spell perfectly cast, dark, twisted, and horrifyingly seamless.


    Elira ckthorn survived the transnt.


    And not only that–her daughter, Scarlett, the child she <b>had </b>with Caden ckthorn, was brought into the Ebonw household by ric himself, right under Zara’s broken heart and blind trust.


    Caden, unable to bear being apart from the daughter he and Elira had created in secret, changed his surname to ckthorn, iming to be Elira’s younger brother.


    Elira, ever the skilled maniptor, introduced him to <b>ric </b>with a perfect mix of motherly concern and calcted charm.


    “I just worry so much about Scarlett,” she <b>had </b>said, her voice trembling with practiced fear. “She’s still so young. I’m afraid she’ll be mistreated in this <b>unfamiliar </b>home. My <b>brother</b>, Caden, has always been protective <b>of </b>her. If he could work for the Ebonw estate, maybe as her driver it would give me peace of mind.”


    <b>And </b>ric, the so–called Alpha, nodded without <b>hesitation</b>, never questioning the story, never seeing the truth.


    And just like that, <b>Caden </b>was <b>brought </b>into the pack.


    Every day, he picked up and dropped <b>off </b>Scarlett from the Halston Academy,


    Every <b>day</b>, he stood at <b>Elira’s </b>side.


    Every day, he yed the role of the devoted uncle, the ever–loyal driver.


    But the truth was–they were a family.


    A true family.


    <b>And </b>they were living happily under the roof of the very woman they had all helped destroy.


    <b>Elira’s </b>health <b>stabilized</b>, her career soared, and her ce by ric’s side was secured.


    And not long after, she got pregnant <b>again</b>–<b>this </b><b>time </b>with a boy.


    That child is now twenty, studying overseas under a new <b>name</b>, protected <b>and </b><b>pampered</b>, <b>receiving </b>millions in monthly “allowance from the man who still believed <b>him </b>to be <b>his </b>only biological son.


    ric had <b>no </b>idea <b>that </b>the boy bore no trace of his blood


    That none of the children he <b>raised </b><b>as </b><b>his </b>heirs <b>were </b><b>his </b>own


    That the woman he thought he’d conquered had belonged to another <b>man </b>all along.


    And worst of


    The only <b>five </b>minutes he ever <b>had </b>to offer her in bed–Elira had mocked behind his <b>back </b>for years.


    The longer I stared at the documents, the more twisted the story became


    But I couldn’t look away


    The truth was like blood–I needed to see every drop spalled, every lie uncovered


    This wasn’t just setgeaner


    was justur


    astemp p.


    ric, you thought you had won.


    That you <b>had </b>outyed Zara, Kael, <b>and </b>me.


    <b>That </b>you had rewritten your ce in this pack’s history with lies, betrayal, and cruelty.


    But look at you now,


    Your one and only son sits rotting in a prison cell, framed by your <b>own </b>hand,


    All the wealth you siphoned off over the years–gone. Hidden under the name of a


    Your legs, broken. Your <b>name</b>, disgraced.


    a woman who never


    loved


    you.


    Finished


    You deserve it.


    You deserve every second of your downfall.


    The satisfaction that surged in my chest was so intense it bordered on euphoria.


    One moment, Iughed–uncontrobly, breathlessly–relishing the image of ric being reduced to a pathetic<b>, </b>humiliated. shell of a man.


    But then theughter twisted, tangled with pain.


    A tightness gripped my heart, and I remembered everything Zara had lost–her mate, her father, her daughters.


    I remembered the coldness of the Rogue caves, the hunger, the humiliation.


    The way Scarlett used to <b>smirk </b><b>when </b><b>the </b>guards kicked me <b>down</b>, the way Elira’s hand lingered too <b>long </b>on <b>ric’s </b>shoulder.


    Tears blurred my vision. My knees buckled.


    I would have hit the <b>floor </b>if not for someone catching me.


    Familiar hands


    Steady, warm, and strong


    Hooked up


    Lucien


    His deep green eyes were filled with concern, <b>the </b>kind of w


    “Tmn fine.” I whispered, forcing a <b>shaky </b>smile.


    I wasn’t


    But I would l


    Because now I had the truth


    And the truth was a weapon


    <b>that </b>made my throat tighten.


    Once I steadied myself, I met Lucien’s gaze again, this time with a spark of cold resolve


    I want to go to the infirmary” I said quietly. “I want to see Zara


    He didn’t ask why. He didn’t need to


    be to let her


    The full truth


    About Scarlett. About ric. About everything.


    Let her taste the betrayal.


    Let her look into her mirror and see the ghosts of every wrong she ever overlooked.


    Lucien opened his mouth to speak, but just then, hism crystal pulsed to life–a message from the Council


    The Eastern Bordends Expansion n was being reviewed again.


    They needed him. Urgently


    <b>I </b>could see the apology in his eyes before he even said a word.


    “I can’t go with you,” he muttered, <b>jaw </b>clenched. “They want me in the council tower now.”


    “I’ll be fine.” I said, my voice calmer now.


    He turned to Caelum–who had remained quiet until now, <b>leaning </b>against the wall like <b>a </b>silent sentinel.


    “Caelum.” Lucien ordered, from this moment forward, you’re her shadow. You <b>don’t </b>let her out of your sight.”


    Caelum didn’t even flinch.


    He simply nodded.


    And with that, the tides turned


    Send Gifts