CHAPTER 31: RILEY’S MEMORIES

The moment Riley’s memories crashed into me, a sharp pain exploded behind my eyes. It felt like someone clawed through my mind. My wolf stirred, restless, pacing inside me from everything we had witnessed.

Lena’s sobs cut through the haze. They were so raw, so broken, they made my chest tighten.

I held my head with both hands as I slowly sat up on the pack clinic bed. My senses were still unstable, my hearing too sharp, my skin too hot, my instincts too loud.

With effort, I reached out and wiped the tears from her cheeks.

"Mom... I’m okay now," I whispered.

But I wasn’t. Not really.

In Riley’s memories, I saw everything, her heartbreak, her loneliness, her silent wounds. I saw how she kept trying to please a father who never cared. And I saw Lena’s life too... a woman trapped under the shadow of a cold, dominant male who treated her like she was nothing.

In a strange way, our stories were the same. She clung to a bond that wasn’t real. I once lost myself to a mate who never saw my worth. I broke free. She never did.

Riley didn’t die because she was weak. She died because she had been surrounded by wolves who used her fear against her. Her silence allowed them to push and crush her spirit.

But she was not weak.

They were cruel.

Suddenly, Lena pulled me into her arms. "Riley... you’re all I have left. If something happened to you, I wouldn’t survive it."

Her voice shook, and it pierced straight into my chest. She wasn’t just a broken mother, she was a wolf who had endured far too much.

Soft. Gentle. The kind of wolf the world always tries to trample.

I hugged her back and rubbed her back slowly.

"I promise, Mom. I’ll be careful now. I won’t let anything happen to me again."

This time, I wasn’t just living for myself. I carried Riley’s hopes... and Lena’s too.

She studied my face, like she still wasn’t convinced. The pack medic already said I was physically fine except for the injuries on my hands. But emotional wounds were harder to explain. Harder to hide.

She insisted I stay for observation. I didn’t fight her.

I leaned my head against her chest like a child and whispered, "As long as you’re with me, I don’t care where I am. Can I sleep beside you tonight, Mom?"

Her eyes softened. Tears gathered, but a small laugh escaped her.

"You’re such a silly girl," she murmured as she stroked my hair. "You haven’t been this close to me in so long."

I held her tighter.

"I want to stay close from now on. If it doesn’t annoy you."

She shook her head quickly. "Never."

For a moment, I let myself forget the chaos. I let myself feel small. Safe. Like a pup again.

She fed me by hand. I hadn’t eaten in almost a day. My wolf was starving. I didn’t resist. I ate everything.

As I watched her, anger simmered low in my belly.

How could someone like Lena, a pure-hearted wolf from a respected family, be tossed aside like dirt? How could Grant reject her for a wolf with no honor, no loyalty?

It made me sick.

And Riley... poor Riley. She spent her whole life trying to earn affection that was never meant for her. She bent until she broke.

Grant’s favorite words had always been: "Not enough."

Not strong enough.

Not smart enough.

Not worthy.

But he never once stopped to ask himself if he had ever given her a real chance.

He never even looked at her properly. Never recognized the wolf she could have been.

Riley was gone.

But I wasn’t.

And Grant—and his shameless side-mate, would not enjoy their peace for long.

For now, I acted soft. Calm. Obedient. Lena needed peace, and I didn’t want her to worry.

When she finally left to gather some things for me, I slipped out of the clinic quietly.

There was someone I needed to see.

Grandma.

I had to let her know I was alive.

Had to give her hope.

By tonight, everyone would think I was dead. That lie would keep her safe. But if I didn’t see her now, she would fall apart. She hadn’t seen me in days.

Her room was just upstairs, but slipping inside without trouble wouldn’t be simple. Ever since the orchid incident, Mrs. Lambert guarded Grandma like an overprotective wolf, watching every stranger.

Still, I made up my mind.

I wouldn’t hide.

I took the elevator up and walked straight to her door.

Mrs. Lambert spotted me immediately.

"Ms. Elena!" she gasped.

I blinked innocently. "Were you talking to me?"

Her eyes locked onto the red mark on my forehead. She stiffened.

"You... who are you? You look like someone I know. Exactly like her."

"I’m Riley Ashbourne," I said softly. "Do I look familiar?"

She stared harder. "Yes. You’re almost identical to Ms. Elena. Except for that mark."

I smiled gently. "Just that?"

She nodded slowly, overwhelmed.

I stepped closer.

"If I look so much like her... can I sit with Old Madam James for a bit? You said she still misses Ms. Elena."

Mrs. Lambert hesitated, glancing at my bandaged arms.

"You’re injured... are you alright?"

I rolled up my sleeve slightly.

"I almost didn’t make it. But I survived."

She looked shocked, but I was already slipping past her.

The moment I saw Grandma, frail, still, her eyes barely open, my heart tightened painfully. I wanted to run to her. Wanted to bury my face in her hands and cry.

Wanted to tell her:

I’m here, Grandma. I came back. I didn’t leave you.

But I couldn’t.

Not yet. Not with everything on the line.

So I forced myself to stay steady.

"Mrs. Lambert," I whispered, "what happened to her?"

She sighed. "She fell a few days ago. Hit her head. She’s hardly moved since."

She glanced at me again. "But you? Someone so young... why would you..." Her eyes trailed to my scars.

I forced a small laugh.

"I had a rough time. But almost dying makes you rethink life. I won’t try anything like that again."

Mrs. Lambert nodded. "Good. Life is worth fighting for, even when it hurts."

She sat down and started talking without stopping, rambling like an aunt fussing over her pup. I let her. After everything I’d experienced alone, even her chatter felt warm. Familiar.

She reminded me of home. Of simpler days.

Of a time when she would follow me around, scolding me for running too fast, cooking my favorite meals, crying before my Luna ceremony.

I didn’t realize how much I missed her until now.

Sometimes... life isn’t about the big moments.

It’s the small ones.

The gentle care.

The familiar voice.

The warmth of someone who remembers you, even if they don’t know who you are anymore.

Mrs. Lambert finally noticed she was rambling.

"Oh my, I’m sorry. You just... you remind me so much of Ms. Elena."

I smiled. "I didn’t mind. And I promise, no more dark thoughts."

She beamed. "Good girl. Stay strong."

"I will," I said softly. "Actually... I’m a little thirsty. Do you have any fruit?"

"Of course!" she said and hurried out.

As soon as she left, Grandma’s eyes opened wider, soft and searching.

I moved to her bed and sat down.

My voice trembled.

"Grandma... don’t be scared. It’s me."

I took her hand gently.

"Elena," I whispered.

"I’m back."