Riley’s POV

+8 Pearls

I stared at the ceiling, numb and hollow. The sterile scent of antiseptic clung to the hospital room, and the cold IV fluid. snaked into my arm. My entire body ached, but the pain barely registered–bjust /banother echo beneath everything else.

Theo’s voice bcame /bfrom the side of the bed, low and clinical. “You’re awake.”

I didn’t answer.

bA /bsoft rustle of paper, the sound of a stool being dragged closer.

“You don’t have to act like this,” he bsaid/b. “You scared ba /blot of peoplest night.”

Still, I stayed quiet,

Theo let out a breath, his tone shifting. “How do you feel?”

“How do I look?” I asked tly, turning my head toward him.

He flinched. “Like hell”

I didn’tugh. I didn’t even smile. I let the silence stretch until he broke it againb. /b

“Your injuries weren’t life–threatening. The finger was reattached. You’ll need some time to bheal/b… but physically, you’ll

recover.

Physically.

He didn’t mention the emotional bdamage/b. Or the kind of wound that wasn’t visible under a hospital gown.

He hesitated, then said, “When I was treating your back, I noticed an old scar. About the length of a hand. Lower left side. Riley you’re missing a kidney.”

I didn’t react

He continued, slower this time. That scar–it’s been there for at least a year. Probably longer. I don’t know what happened in that prisonb, /bbut it wasn’t just bruises band /bcold floors, was it?”

I turned away from him.

Theo pressed, “Do you even know when it happened?”

“Does it matter?”

“You should’ve told bsomeone- /b

I cut him off. “You think they didn’t know?”

He went still.

I looked at him, my voice steady despite the tightness in my throat. “The reason bI /bcouldn’t shift all these years… it wasn’t because I bwas /bweak or broken. It was because they took a part of me. A piece of my body. And maybe… a piece of my wolf.”

He swallowed hard, clearly shaken.

“You stood there and asked why I didn’t dodge the belt,” I whispered. “Theo, I couldn’t even run.”

He looked away, ashamed. But then–like always–he couldn’t leave it alone.

“You’re not exactly easy to help,” he muttered.

Iughed, dry and bitter. “And you’re not exactly helpful.”

His jaw clenched. “You’re always the victim, huh?”

bI /bstared at him. “Get out.”

He blinked. “What?”

“Out.”

His mouth twisted into a sneer. “You know what? Maybe everything that’s happened to you–maybe it fits.

I closed my beyes/b.

The door mmed shut behind him.

Author’s POV

Back at the Ebonw estate, the morning sun filtered through the tall windows, illuminating the spacious kitchen in golden. light

Mia was carefully packing wolfbone congee and a few other tonic dishes into insted containers. She had been up since dawn preparing food that would bnourish /bRiley’s body–what little was left of it, anyway.

Just as she breached /bbfor /bthe silver lotus band /bbloodroot soup, a delicate bhand /bbshot /bout and bgrabbed /bthe bowl.

Mia looked bup /band froze. Scarlett.

Scarlett raised the bowl and smirked. “This looks nice. I’ll take it.”

Mia quickly stepped forward. “Miss Scarlett, that’s for Miss Riley. She’s still recovering.”

Scarlett’s eyes narrowed. “And who are you to tell me what I can or can’t eat in my own houseb?/b”

Mia hesitated. She knew better bthan /bto challenge her openly. But she bhad /bto try.

“Miss Riley needs bit /bmore. The doctor said her internal bnce is still unstable-”

“Oh, because the broken little bird needs special treatment now?” Scarlett snorted. “Please. She’s not even a proper Ebonw. She didn’t bshift /buntil yesterday. If that.”

Mia flinched.

“You think just because the Alpha let her stay here that she’s earned anything? My father still says she’s ban /bembarrassment.”

“She’s still his daughter,” bMia /bmurmured.

“Barely.” Scarlett sneered. “And don’t bforget/b, I’m the one he chose to inherit the northern estates.”

Before Mia could respond, heavy footsteps echoed down the hall.

ric and bZara /bentered.

“What’s this noise?” ric’s voice was sharp as a whip crack.

Scarlett immediately switched gears, voice trembling, eyes shining with unshed tears. “Father, Mia said I wasn’t worthy of eating the family bfood /bbecause I’m adopted.”

Mia’s jaw dropped–1 never said—”

Zara’s face twisted with disgust. “Is that true, Mia?”

I swear–1 just bsaid /bMiss Riley needed it for recovery-

ric mmed a hand on the counter. “You dare question who’s worthy in this household? Scarlett is my daughter in all the ways bthat /bmatter Riley? That little criminal should be grateful she hasn’t been bcast /bout like the stray she is.”

He snatched the bowl from bMia’s /bhands and shoved it into Scarlett’s.

bAnd /bwith that, she sauntered off.

Mia stood frozen in ce, trembling.

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