Third Person’s bPOV /b

A few more days passed. That morning, the rain in Mooncrest bfinally /bstopped.

bBack /bin the Stormridge Pack from Northhavenb, /bMatriarch Duskgrave could hardly stay seated.

“Mrs. Beck, is it bstill /braining in Mooncrest?” bshe /basked impatiently.

“No more rain,” Mrs. Beck replied with a bsmile/b, clearly reading the Matriarch’s excitement.

++8 Pearls

“Then let’s go! If we leave now, we’ll arrive by noon. I can finally see my future granddaughter–inw this afternoon!” bshe /bbeamed.

Just thinking about the girl who had managed to make Lucien–the stoic Alpha Prince–fall in blove /bmade Matriarch Duskgrave feel byounger/b.

A she wolf who could melt Lucien’s cold heart must be obedient, well–mannered, and incredibly brare/b.

“Everything’s ready, Matriarch. Let’s set off, Mrs. Beck said, gently helping her up.

The two departed immediately. The whole journey, Matriarch Duskgrave couldn’t bstop /btalking about Riley–her voice light bwith /bjoy, lips curled into a constant smile.

But once they arrived in Mooncrest, joy quickly turned to disappointment–Matriarch Duskgrave fell ill from the sudden climate change.

She was old, after all, and her body couldn’t handle the strain.

Mrs. Beck grew anxious. “bMatriarch/b, shall we call the young Alpha to pick you up?”

“No!” she waved a bhand/b. “What if Rileyes with him and sees me like this? Pale, bedriddenb//bweak–what kind of bfirst /bimpression would that be? She’ll think Lucien’s ba /bclingy boy tied to bhis /bgranny. What if she backs boff/b? Lucien’s not the kind to fall in love twice!”

Mrs. Beck blinked. “It can’t be that serious”

“It is. We can’t lose her. We finally have a Luna candidate. I’ll never forgive myself if I scare her away.”

With that, she insisted, “Let’s go to Mooncrest First bPack /bHospital. Once I’m recovered, we’ll call Lucien. I want to meet her at my best.”

Mrs. Beck had no choice but to help her toward the hospital, while the Matriarch muttered, “Curse these old bones, messing up bsuch /ba precious moment.”

Riley’s POV

The past few days had been… peaceful.

My head injury had almost healed. I should’ve been discharged already, but I wasn’t ready to go back to that suffocating ce -the Ebonw Pack estate. Not yet.

So I stayed.

Iy there, staring nkly out the window, bjust /bwatching the gray sky bpart /bto reveal fading sunlight.

Two nurses came in to change my bandages

When they peeled the gauze away, I didn’t flinch. Pain didn’t register anymore. I’d long since learned to ignore it.

As they worked, they chatted, assuming I wasn’t listening

“A muracle, truly”

“Right? Five years.

a patient.

143 PM

b? /b

“She can’t move yet, but her mind’s

back.”

“Won’t be long before she fully recovers.”

I turned so fast, one of them jumped.

“Did I hurt you?”

0

I locked beyes /bwith her. “The girl you’re talking about… is her name Tessa ckmaw?”

They blinked in surprise. “How did you know?”

I couldn’t breathe.

Tessa was awake.

Iughed. Then I cried.

“Are you bokay/b?” one asked, clearly startled.

“I’m happy.” I choked out. “Just… happy for her.”

They finished dressing my wound and left, exchanging a nce, but asking nothing more.

Tears streamed down my face..

Five byears /bof liesb. /b

Five years of bpain/b.

Five years in prison for a crime I didn’tmil

Scarlett pushed her. Not me.

But I was the one who took the fall.

Now, bTessa /bbwas /bawake. She could speak. She could tell the truth.

I had to see her.

I had just stood up when bMia /bwalked in carrying a thermal lunch container.

“Miss Riley, where are you going?”

I turned to her, my voice trembling with emotion.

+8 Pearls

“Mia, Tessa’s conscious. She can prove I didn’t lure her into the ck Forest with fake messages that night at the Halston Academy bbanquet/b, It bwas /bScarlett.”

Mia gasped. “Are you sure?”

“I heard the nurses. I need to see her.

“But Riley the Duskcliff bfamily /bstill bmes /byou. If they find you near her room, they night think you’re trying to harm her

again

1 faltered. For a second.

Then realization hut me like thunder.

If I knew then Scarlett might know too.

And Scarlett She’d kill to keep Tessa silent.

I have to get there before she does. Tessa needs protection. She’s not safe”

+8 Pearls

Rong with you.

343 PM

Mia looked at me, worry in her eyes, but she nodded. “I’m

We ran

But just as we reached Tessa’s room, someone blocked the door.

I froze.

The Ebonw Pack’s driver. Scarlett’s personalckey.

The same man who drove me to the auction. The one who’s served her bsince /bshe was a pup.

If he was here… then Scarlett was already inside..

My brage /bboiled over.

1 stepped forward, voice like steel. “Move.”

He didn’t.

He just stared down at me with scorn in his eyes and sneered like I was dirt under his booL

Scarlett was ahead of me.

Again.