bChapter /b306

    It had been one month since Riley was taken from them.

    On that bleak dawn, the pack had gathered in silence as her body was wheeled into the shadowed forest. toward the Moonlit Pyre. Carmen remembered the way Lucien had fought, how his growls had shaken the earth, how even Duke and Caelum Knox had struggled to hold him back. But tradition was stronger bthan /beven an Alpha’s grief. Bywi, /iby blood, by vow to the Moon, the dead belonged to Her.

    And so, with their hearts breaking, they had let Riley go.

    From afar, they saw it–the faint curl of smoke rising above the trees, drifting upward into the gray bsky/bb. /bThat was the sign, the elders had said. The Moon had imed Riley. Her spirit now ran beneath eternal silver light, free atst from mortal pain.

    But the smoke brought no peace.

    The Duskgrave household locked itself in grief, their mountain vi in Stormridge cloaked in silence. Mrs.Beck wept nightly, her voice hoarse from calling Riley’s name. Matriarch Duskgrave had not once worn her jewels since that day, her hair unkempt, her once–proud smile withered. And Lucien–Alpha Prince of Stormridge, heir to one of the oldest bloodlines–vanished into his chambers. He had not stepped outside his door since the funeral. His wolf prowled within him endlessly, restless and wounded, its cries echoing through the stone halls at night like a ghostly howl.

    Carmen knew. She had heard him, each time. His torment carved itself into her own bones.

    But Carmen was not like the Duskgraves. She could not sit idle, drowning in sorrow. She had work to ido/ii. /iNow, a monthter, sunlight streamed through the tall windows of Duke’s residence, spilling across the sofa where Carmen sat. The golden rays touched her skin, painting her in a fragile glow like a veil of spun silk. To any passing eye, she might have looked at peace, her face warmed with a faint blush, her ibody /irestored from the shadows of despair.

    Only Carmen herself knew how false that picture was.

    She had spent thest month under Duke’s roof, refusing to return to Ashmoor Academy. Duke, ever watchful, had taken her in without hesitation. He fed her, cared for her, even kept her distracted with endlessforts. At first, her body had been so frail she could barely stand. Now, her strength had returned, and with it, the fire in her blood.

    Duke’s voice carried from the kitchen, warm and steady. “Carmen, lunch is ready.”

    She turned her head, watching as he emerged with careful hands, setting dish after dish upon the table. His gaze softened when it fell on her, heavy with affection, with relief.

    “Come, eat.”

    Carmen rose silently and joined him at the table. She ate in silence, her motions slow, deliberate. Duke’s eyes lingered on her with quiet devotion, and when he noticed her bowl empty, he leaned forward to ce another serving onto her te

    For a moment, it might have looked like an ordinary afternoon between two people bound bypanionship.

    13

    bChapter /bb306 /b

    But beneath bthe /bsurface, the truth bwas /bdarker.

    Dukeb,/bb” /bCarmen said suddenly, her voice cutting through the stillness.

    He froze, chopsticks poised in the air. “What is it?”

    She looked at him directly, her eyes clear, unwavering. “You’ve cared for me for a month. My bhealth /bis restored. It’s time I returned to Ashmoor Academy.”

    Duke stiffened. “Carmen… what if I arrange a leave of absence instead? There is no need to rush back?

    She shook her head firmly. “No. I want to graduate as quickly as I can.”

    “But-

    “You’re afraid I’ll go after Elira and Caden, aren’t you?” she interrupted, her tone calm, almost too calm. “Don’t worry. I promised Riley before she left. I won’t seek them out.”

    Duke studied her face carefully, searching for cracks in her resolve. “Are you telling me the truth?”

    “Yes.” Carmen nodded quickly, her lips tightening. After a pause, she added softly, “If you still don’t trust me, you can drive me to school every morning and bring me home each evening.”

    Duke fell silent. He weighed her words, torn between suspicion and hope. Atst, he gave ba /bslow nod. “Very well. If that’s what you want.”

    Relief flickered across his face. He believed her. He wanted to believe her.

    Carmen lowered her gaze, allowing hershes to shield the storm that brewed within her ieyes/i. Beneath the mask of obedience, her wolf snarled, restless and vengeful. She would not let Riley’s death go unanswered.

    The truth was, her month of healing had not been only about her body. Each night, while Duke slept, Carmen slipped into the glow of herputer screens, her fingers flying across the keys. She left no trace, masking her trail with the cunning of a rogue hacker. With each keystroke, she unraveled threads, followed whispers, and hunted shadows.

    Bit by bit, she pieced together the trail of Elira ckthorn and Caden Wilson.

    The ones who had destroyed Riley.

    The ones who had shattered Lucien.

    The ones who still drew breath when they should already be ash beneath the Moonlit Pyre.

    A sharp light glinted in Carmen’s eyes as she ate another bite, her expression calm, betraying nothing. Duke thought she was healing, thought she was at peace.

    But inside, Carmen’s wolf bared its teeth.

    Soon, she promised Riley in the silence of her soul. Soon, I will finish what you could not. Soon, their blood will stain the earth, and you will have justice.

    She swallowed the thought with her food, hiding her fury beneath the same mask she had worn for a

    b2/3 /b

    bmonth /b

    The bMoon /bmay have taken Riley, but Carmen still walked the earth. And Carmen bdid /bbnot /bforgive

    b3/3 /b