Riley’s POV

My ws were inches from tearing into his throat.

+5 PeanS

The bastardy slumped against the corridor wall, dazed from the impact. Blood trickled down his temple, mixing with dirt and ceramic shards. I didn’t even remember grabbing the potted nt, but the crash of it shattering against his skull still rang in my ears like thunder.

He groaned, trying to get up.

I stalked closer, my hackles raised, breath hot and heavy.

He daredy a hand on Mix. He dared raise a cane at the old woman bwho /bhad shielded me–someone I didn’t even know. He dared call me nothing.

I wasn’t bnothing/bb. /b

I was the damn white wolf of the Ebonw Pack, and for once in my life–I wasn’t going to run.

A snarl built in my chest, low and deadly. My muscles coiled.

I was ready to end this.

“Riley, stop!”

Mia’s voice cut through the haze blike /ba whip.

1 bfroze/bb. /b

“Put your ws down,” she choked bout/bb, /bclutching her bruised check, beyes /bwide with panic. “You know thew. No bloodshed among Pack unless ordered by Council. You show those ws now–band /bthey’ll lock you up again. For good this time.”

Her bwords /bhit harder than the blow to my back.

The Rogue Tribunal. The istion cells. Cold steel bchains /bdigging into my wrists.

No. Not bagain/bb. /b

My snarl died in my bthroat/b. I forced the shift back, bones creaking, limbs trembling as fur receded. My vision blurred, but I stayed upright.

My breath came in ragged gulps.

I bwas /bshaking

Mia reached out, steadying me with bboth /bhands, then out on my clothes. “It’s over. Let’s bgo/bb.” /b

Still dazed. I turned and pushed open the hospital room door–just in time to walk into a nightmare.

The air inside was thick with panic. I saw her–Scarlett–ws digging into another girl’s throat. Her name hit me a bsecond /b

Tema

Her lips were blue, her eyes ssy. Her hands scratched helplessly at Scarlett’s wrists, trying to breathe.

switch flipped inside me

1 charged forward with a scream, grabbing Scarlett by the hair and yanking her back with every ounce of fury I had left. “Let go of her, you psycho!”

Scarlen shrieked, her grip finally loosening. We both stumbled back, crashing into each other, wing, kicking. bGone /bwas her usual trembling and sweet act–what surfaced now was Ieral, vicious, real

Her nails raked down my arm, slicing skin bopen /blike ribbons.

“Crazy b*tch!” she screamed, scratching, kicking, iling

“Keep going.” I snarled, “and I swear, I’ll bshow /byou what a real Luna looks like.”

+8 Pearl

Mia and Mrs. Beck lunged in, each grabbing one of Scarlett’s arms and bholding /bher down as she thrashed and howled like a cornered animal.

I dropped to my knees beside Tessa.

She wasn’t moving.

Her face had gone ashenb. /b

No breath. No heartbeat I could feel.

No..

No.

Tessa?” My voice cracked as I shook her. “Tessa–wake up!”

Nothing

“Tessa!” I screamed, hands flying to her face, bthen /bher chest. “Breathe! Please–breathe!”

My whole world cracked open. The only person who could prove my innocence.. was slipping away before my eyes.

“Mia!” I turned, bsobbing/b. “Call the doctors! Get help! Now!”

Mia let go of Scarlett instantly, bolting for the door

But the doorway bwas /balready blocked.

Three men.!

Towering. Dangerous.

And one of them, leading the charge, looked like he was carved from rage itself.

Dark brows bdrawn /btight. Eyes like knives.

His voice hit me like ba /bp.

“Riley Vale, what the hell are byou /bdoing to Tessa?!”

I blinked up, stunned by the venom in his tone.

Ronan Duskcliff

His fury mmed into the room like a shockwave. Behind him were bguards/b–armed, tense.

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words wouldn’te. The sob stuck in my throat turned into a whimper.

He didn’t wait for an exnation.

He stormed forward, grabbed me by the arm, and ripped me away from bTessa’s /bbody.

stumbled backward-

Straight into another chest.

Hand bFamiliar /bBurning hot

My breath caught

I looked up.

And met Maddox’s eyes,

Cold. Piercing. Nothing like the ones that used to gaze bat /bbme /bwith gentle curiosity.

His hands tightened on my shoulders–not withfort, but judgment,

Pain bloomed across my chest deeper bthan /bbany /bbwound/b. The look in his eyes wasn’t anger.

It bwas /bdisappointment.

“Riley…” His voice was low, full of thunder. “What happened to you?”

I could barely hear myself. “I didn’t–It wasn’t me. She–Scarlett–she was-”

+8 Pearls

“Is this really who you are now?” Maddox’s voice cracked. “Where’s the girl I knew? The girl who once believed in justice? In kindness Bring her back to me, please

I looked at him through the veil of my tears, my skin still stinging from Scarlett’s ws.