Riley’s POV

I slidy’t spare the driver banother /bnce.

? +8 Pearls.

Turned around and walked straight back into the Ebonw estate, heels echoing against the marble like a deration of bwar/b.

He barked at me like a nutt, thinking just because he bdrove /bfor bAlpha /bric, he could speak down to me. Guess he forgot- Tm not a slog. I’m the daughter they buried and now suddenly need.

Tetum weat

Which bhe /bdid.

It didu beven take a full minute before I heard his panicked footsteps behind me. Gone was the arrogance he was all smiles now, practically bgroveling/b.

“Miss, please–Alpha and Lama are waiting for you at the summit. If you don’te now, we’ll bete.”

didn’t answer.

it down on the leather couch, poured myself a cup of jasmine tea, and sipped it slowly. Deliberately.

The driver hovered like a fly in summer heat, pacing and fidgeting like a rogue in heat season.

“Please.” he tried again, nearly begging, “it’s my fault. I spoke out of turn. But the summit’s already begun–if we don’t leave dow, we’ll miss it entirely.”

I finally looked up, locking eyes with him.

“Know your ce.” I said quietly. “You’re a driver, not a Pack Elder. If it’s bnot /byour concern, stay out of it.b” /b

He paled “Yes, Miss. I understand.”

No, he didn’t. But at least he pretended to.

I

finished thest sip of tea and checked the clock. 8:00 PM sharp. The summit must’ve already started.

I let another thirty minutes tick by just to be petty. Then I rose, set the cup bdown /bgently, and said, “Let’s go.”

He looked like he’d just been pardoned from a death sentence. Practicaly sprinted to the SUV to open the door for me.

This time, I didn’t argue. Slipped into the bback /bseat, one leg crossed over the other, and leaned back with my eyes closed. Nyra stirred faintly inside me.

“You should’ve made him crawl,” bshe /bbgrowled/b.

“No.” I answered silently. “Thatester. After I’ve bwon/b.

Third Person POV

At the same time, the summit was already halfway through

The Ebonw delegation bsat /bclustered in the front row of the Silverfang Auction Hall–Alpha ric, Luna Zara Kael Vale, and of course, Scarlett

Atari’s jaw was locked tight, face stormy with barely leashed bfury/bb. /b“Where the hell is that ungrateful brat? It’s been over thirty

Zata twisted her hands in herp. “ric, bdo /byou have her number? Just call her.”

If I had it, don’t you think I would’ve already tried he snapped. “You don’t have it?”

“Thought you had it, she hissed, visibly flustered.

340 PM

Kael bgroaned /bband /bpulled out his phone. “I’ll call the driver.”

The line connected quickly.

“Where are you?” bKael /bbarked. “The summit started half an hour ago.

The driver’s voice was hesitant. “We just left the estate, Young Alpha…”

“You what?”

Kael’s voice exploded like a whip crack.

“We told you to pick her up before the summit began!”

“She…refused to leave. bI /btried-”

“I don’t care what she did,” bKael /bgrowled. “She better be here before the final lot is announced.”

He hung up without waiting for a response.

Across the row, Scarlett was paying attention to something else entirely.

Her gaze bhad /bbeen fixed all night on one man–the Stormridge heir from Northhaven.

Lucien Duskgrave.

+8 Pearls

He stood alone, detached from both council and crowd, like a phantom who tolerated no presence but his own. There were whispers everywhere, of course.

That he was

was cursed.

That he couldn’t bond with a mate.

That every Luna chosen for him either ran, died, or lost her mind before the mating bond could fully seal.

They said he was born during a blood eclipse–an omen of doom–and marked by a red peony on his chest, one that no healer could erase and no silver could bscar /b

The blood peony. The mark of the Lonely Alpha.

They said he was destined to live without love. To rule without mercy. That even the Moon Goddess herself turned her face from him.

Scarlett had believed the stories.

Until now.

Until she saw him in the flesh.

He was breathtaking

Angr cheekbones piercing silver eyes, a jaw carved like it belonged to a god of war. And that suit–gods, that suit.

It wasn’t just expensive. It was bdivine/bb. /b

Midnightb–/bck. Hand–stitched. And across his chest, a single, blood–red peony embroidered with bsuch /bprecision it looked

Scarlett’s breath caught.

No one who dressed like that no one who looked like bthat /bcould be bas /bmonstrous as the rumors imed. Could they!

Jealousy twisted in her gut like poison.

+8 Pearls

Riley.

That monster… was supposed to marry B

Riley, the forgotten daughter. The girl who’d spent half her life in chains, then returned like a ghost the Pack wished would disappear again.

Why should she be gifted a bman /blike bthat/bb? /b

Scarlett’s lips pressed into a thin line.

If the Stormridge Prince was truly as cruel as bthey /bsaid–so be it. Let Riley rot in that marriage.

But if the rumors were wrong… if this Prince was powerful and desirable… then Riley didn’t deserve him.

No.

Scarlett wouldn’t stand by band /blet Riley get a single shred of happiness.

Not when she’d spent her whole life bstealing /bscraps of attention that rightfully belonged to her.

She grabbed her phone and typed out a message quickly.

The driver nced at bRiley /bthrough the rearview mirror. She was leaning back in the bseat/bb, /beyes closed, serene andposed.

But in his eyes, a cold glint flickered.

He had just received the message.

And it came from Scarlett.

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