Riley’s POV


    Finished


    ric’s ambition knew no bounds. He didn’t just want my kidneys–he nned to donate my entire body after death, have meid out on some cold b as a cadaver for medical students, wrapped in the lie of altruism.


    And the timing was perfect for his performance. That night–Scarlett’s Ascension-


    there. Every Alpha, Luna, Beta, and councilman witnessed it firsthand: Alpha t the entire Mooncrest elite was


    His daughter, Scarlett, would be saved from kidney failure.


    He’d beuded as a hero.


    A “noble father.” A “phnthropic Alpha.”


    “selfless


    sacrifice.”


    His image would skyrocket, and the Vale Group’s grip over Mooncrest would tighten. The shareholders would eat it up- every drop of it. Then he’d turn that favor into pressure. Use them to force Luna Zara into handing over her shares.


    Once he had that, once the pack’s heart and finances were under his thumb, he could break her mind, piece by piece. And the world would only pity him more–a tragic, devoted mate who stood by his Luna through her descent into madness.


    Eventually, she would die.


    And Elira ckthorn–Scarlett’s mother–would take her ce at his side.


    Kael? He was never part of the endgame. Talented or not, ric nned to cut him outpletely. Every drop of inheritance would go to Elira, Scarlett, and the bastard child he kept overseas.


    Kael would work himself to the bone for the Vale name… and never see a single coin for it.


    That was the brilliance of ric’s scheme–five birds with one blood–soaked stone:


    Save Scarlett.


    Be a legend.


    Shatter Zara.


    im Elira.


    Erase Kacl.


    And the best part? I was supposed to die for it.


    It would’ve worked too—if not for Tessa


    That night the banquet was crowded beyond belief. She hated the press of bodies, the scent of wine and sweat, so she snuck upstairs to find an emply restroom.


    She wasn’t meant to bear anything


    But she did


    Every word


    Scaricu ry. Their whispered n to lead me to “adental brain death, sign off the paperwork<b>, </b>and carve my busty sport in trupi of the whole damo cary under the banner of science and sacribire


    Thans mares i <b>ped </b>the say have been gentle even natte aurat that gut, she beard enough to know whes thing bared car spes


    She pushed


    3:56 PM P P.


    Finished


    Scarlett noticed.


    And so, Tessa had to die.


    Scarlett lured her into the ck Forest with some excuse, some sweet lie–and when they got deep enough, the Rogues sprang the trap. She’d had them waiting there for hours. It was Elira who covered the scene, dousing the air in a rare alchemical tincture to mask the real scent trail… and redirect it to me.


    Everything would’ve gone as nned, if Tessa hadn’t dropped that earring.


    Alimited edition one–Kael’s gift.


    And if they hadn’t forgotten the surveince camera tucked high in the trees near the southern ridge.


    But ric didn’t care.


    He had faith.


    He believed Zara and Kael were just blind enough–just loyal enough—to ignore every red g. That all he needed were a few carefully ced words… or better yet, a few of Scarlett’s tears.


    And gods help me, he <b>was </b>right.


    That’s all it took.


    One trembling sob, and my own blood offered me up like amb to the ughter.


    It wasughable.


    So Scarlett pointed her finger at me.


    And that, ironically, is what saved me.


    Had she not shifted the me so quickly, I would’ve been pronounced brain–dead within the hour. My organs harvested. My body dissected. A footnote in ric’s legend.


    Instead. I was thrown in prison.


    Tried. Sentenced Locked away.


    Tomured.


    Humiliated.


    But I stayed alive.


    And that made all the difference.


    Because in that cell–cused and spat on, starved and broken–4 still breathed.


    <b>In </b>the twisted, brutal maze of their lies, prison became my salvation. The lesser evil


    Because the other path? It was worse far far worse


    So when <b>i </b><b>finally </b>crawled out of that bell, the truth still clinging to my bones like dried blood. I emerged not whole bit


    And now, aiandling here in Lucien’s Janor wish the sath burning through every le they ever buits, I shouls) feel triumphant


    But dush


    <b>Besmet </b>Bve years a day get ir ie chcia


    The screantang in slegs


    3:56 PM P P ?


    Or live screaming behind bars.


    0


    And now that I know everything–every betrayal, every de–they carved into my back…


    That’s what hurts most of all.


    Finis