Riley’s POV

+8 Pearls

The fluorescent lights of the Healer’s Ward burned into my eyes. I could barely see through the blood and tears that blurred my vision, but I didn’t stop..

I couldn’t.

I stumbled down the corridor, mming into walls band /bbrushing past startled wolves. Some of them gasped, others recoiled at the sight of me–bloodied, limping, barely upright–bbut /bI didn’t care.

Let them look

Let them see what the Ebonw Pack does to its own.

There was only one thought in my mind: get away from Ronan. As far as possible. Before he changed his mind and decided he hadn’t had enoughb. /b

I ran harder, heart pounding, lungs burning. My injured leg screamed with every step, but I ignored it.

So I didn’t see the bman /bing out of the private consultation room.

Not until I mmed straight into him.

The impact jolted me back, and I nearly fell to the floor–but a strong arm snapped around my waist, steadying me before I hit the ground.

“bRiley/bb./b”

That voice.

Familiar. Sof. Careful.

Terrifying.

I looked up band /bfound myself staring into Maddox’s eyes.

bHis /bamber gaze reflected the panic in mine, like he’d already seen the fear before I even knew it was there.

He reached for me like I was something fragile.

But all I felt was revulsion.

I shoved bhim /baway with all the strength I had left.

He barely budged, but he let go. I turned without a word and tried to walk away, only to feel his hand mp down on my

Wri

Firm. Unyielding

Just like him in the courtroom five years ago.

ago.

“You’re hurt,” he said, voice low, bgaze /bflicking to the blood on my forehead. There bwas /bba /bflicker of something–bguilt/b? Concern? I didn’t care,

He had no right to look at me like bthat/b.

No right to act like I mattered.

Who did this to byou/b?” bhe /bbasked/b, eyes narrowing. “Tell me, Riley, I’ll make them pay.”

I almostughed.

He was serious. He thought bthis /bbwas /bhow it worked.

1:35 PM ·

+8 Pearls

But I remembered it all–how he had stood across from bme /bin the Court of Elders, bnot /bbeside me. How his voice, once soft and warm, became the de bthat /bslit my throat,

He was the one who defended Scarlett. Who called me a liar. Who listed every false usation like it was scripture, until they bcaged /bme blike /ba brogue /bband /bthrew away the key.

He could’ve been my shield.

Instead, he helped gut me alive.

Now he wanted to protect bme/b?

I kept my eyes bon /bthe floor, bsilent/b,

“You’re still mad at bme/b, aren’t you?” His voice cracked.

He didn’t wait for ban /banswer. “I had my reasons, Riley, I didn’t want to hurt you. I had no choice–please, just let me exin.b” /b

Exin?

As if an exnation could give me bback /bthe years I lost.

As if words could fix a shattered leg, a deaf car, a missing kidney.

As if anything could erase the humiliation of sining in that courtroom, looking into his eyes, and realizing I waspletely

alone.

I tried to pull away again, bbut /bhis grip didn’t loosen.

So I lifted my gaze and looked bhim /bin the eye.

Cold. Empty. Done.

“Let go,” I said tly.

He didn’t. His hand only tightened slightly, like he thought I’d crumble if he held on long enough.

“I’ll take you to a healer,” he murmured. “Let them patch you up, okay?”

His voice was almost a whisper, soft and trembling, like he was shared I might disappear.

It made my skin crawl.

i didn’t want softness. I didn’t want sympathy. Not from him.

“Did you not hear me?” I said, louder now, icecing every word. “Let. Co.”

Something in my tone must’ve hit him, because he flinched like I’d struck him.

I saw the pain in his eyes.

Good

He deserved it.

But it wasn’t enough.

I had reached my limit. My fury boiled over.

Vithout thinking. I byanked /bmy head to the side–and mmed it into the wall.

Blood erupted down my face. Pain exploded behind my eyes.

Still, I didn’t stop.

“Let go I bhissed/b, blood running down my chin. “Or do I keep going?”

b3:35 /bPM

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+8 Pearls

He was frozen, horrified.

b“/bbYou /bthink I won’t? I mmed my head again. bThud/b.

And bagain/b. Thud.

The sound echoed through the hallway. Sharp. Sickening.

I didn’t care.

If hurting myself was the only way to make him let go, I’d do it again.

And again.

His face had gone pale as bone,

“You’re insane,” he choked. “You’d hurt yourself–just to get baway /bfrom me?”

Was that really so hard to believe?

I said let go,” I growled, the taste of iron on my tongue.

Blood dripped from my forehead onto bhis /barm. I saw itnd. Watched him flinch.

He finally released me.

I stumbled back, nearly copsing. But I caught myself before he could touch me again.

“Don’t you daree

I didn’t wait for a reply.

I turned and limped away, dragging my useless leg behind me. Every step felt like knives under my skin, but I didn’t stop. I wouldn’t stop.

Behind me, I heard nothing. No footsteps. No pleading.

But I knew he was still there.

Following Watching

Like a ghost too cowardly to speak.

I didn’t want to go home–not yet.

The Vale estate would only bring more cruelty, more silence, more me.

So I copsed onto a bench outside the Healer’s Ward band /bstared nkly at the road beyond the trees, where the moonlight painted the bpavement /bsilver.

I didn’t cry.

There were no tears left in me.

I was just fired.

Behind me. Helt his presence again. Maddox, Watching. Hovering-

I didn’t look bback/b.

But when a strange woman approached me with a quiet voice and a small medical bag. I knew it was him.

“I saw byour /bbwound/b,” she said softly. “Mind if I help?”

I stared at the supplies–gauze, disinfectant, cotton bswans/b.

3:35 PM c