Chapter 24

Riley's POV

I sat in the comfort of my room, the afternoon sun spilling through the window as I dipped my brush into the soft blue paint. The colors felt warm in my hand, and for a while, I let the silence of the room carry me away. Norman had left early for one of his many business meetings. He didn’t say when he’d be back, just that it could take a while.

I tried not to feel lonely, but I couldn't avoid it. The house felt too boring, too quiet without him. I needed to get something to while away time, else I might just die from the whole boredom. The only thing I could do now to pass the time and calm my thoughts was paint. All thanks to Norman's busy schedule, I had taken a liking to painting for a while now. It had become my escape. For me, it was a place where nothing could go wrong, where no court elders were judging me, and no one was questioning why I existed.

The brush glided over the canvas. Stroke after stroke, I painted the image that had haunted my dreams for days now—a giant wolf. Its fur was as dark as midnight, and its eyes glowed like the moon. It stood tall, proud, and powerful. I had seen it standing in a forest in my dream, looking right at me as if it knew me. That dream hadn’t left me since, and now, here it was, finally coming to life in color on my board.

As I shaded the wolf’s eyes with a golden hue, a soft knock echoed through the room. My heart skipped a beat. I dropped my brush in the jar of water and stood quickly, wiping my paint-covered fingers on my shirt. A smile crept onto my face. It had to be Norman. He probably forgot something or came back early. I rushed to the door, heart fluttering at the thought of seeing him.

But when I opened the door, it wasn’t Norman.

Kirk stood there, leaning slightly to one side, a small smile playing on his lips. His brown eyes were bright, and his hands were tucked into his jacket.

“Hi, Riley,” he said in that deep voice of his, as if he knew he was the last person I wanted to see.

What now?

I blinked, the smile quickly leaving my face. “What do you want, Kirk?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he just stood there, watching me like I was something fascinating, like I was some piece of ancient art on display—and that grated on my nerves.I tried to shut the door, but his hand moved fast, gripping the edge of the door firmly. My wolf stirred inside me—nervous, alert.

Kirk raised his eyebrows slightly. “You’re not even going to invite me in?”

“You weren’t invited in the first place,” I replied, narrowing my eyes. “Let go of the door.”

But he didn’t. He pushed it open slowly, stepping into the room like he owned the place. His eyes scanned the walls, the small table with scattered paints, and finally the canvas sitting in front of the window.

“Nice place,” he said as he walked further in, still smiling. “Simple. But... peaceful.”

I folded my arms across my chest, standing firmly in one place, ignoring his compliment of the room. I didn't need him here and I didn't bother hiding that fact from him.

“You need to leave.”

Kirk finally turned to face me again, taking his time. His smile widened just a little. “I came because I wanted to see you.”

“I don't remember asking why you are here and besides, you’ve seen me now,” I said, not hiding my disapproval. “Goodbye.”

“No,” he said, his voice soft now, yet firm. “I came because I wanted only one thing.”

He paused.

“You.”

I stared at him, not sure I’d heard right. “What did you just say?”

He took a step toward me. “I want you, Riley. You can feel it too, can’t you? The pull? You’re not just Norman’s mate. You’re mine. Damon’s too. But between us three... I feel the strongest bond.”

My heart started to pound in my chest. I shook my head. “You need to leave, Kirk. Right now.”

But he didn’t stop. He moved even closer. I could smell his cologne—sharp, woodsy and quite intoxicating. He reached out, his hand brushing against my shoulder. I felt my wolf stir again, reacting to his touch. Not in fear, but something else. Something that confused me.

“Don’t fight it,” he whispered, his fingers moving slowly down my arm. “I know you feel it. Just like I do.”

I felt frozen in place. My wolf pulled at me, unsure of what to do. Kirk was one of my mates. That much was true. The bond wasn’t fake. But my heart... It belonged to Norman. And this? This felt wrong.

I took a breath and stepped back. “Stop.”

Kirk paused, looking surprised. But he came closer once again, this time grabbing my hips.

I pushed him. Hard.

He stumbled back, not expecting it.

“If you ever do that again, I’ll make sure Norman hears about it,” I said, my voice shaking slightly. “You don’t get to walk in here like you have any claim on me.”

Kirk straightened up slowly. “You do feel it, Riley. You’re just scared.”

“I’m not scared of you,” I said, narrowing my eyes. “But I am angry. I told you no. That should be enough.”

He held my gaze for a moment, then nodded, slowly backing up toward the door.

“I’ll leave,” he said. “But this isn’t over.”

“Yeah, it is,” I said firmly.

And then he was gone.

I slammed the door shut and locked it. My body shook as I leaned against it. I turned back to my canvas, but now the wolf I had drawn looked different—less like a creature from my dreams, and more like something real. Something complicated.

Just like the life I was living now.