로그인Riley’s POVThe moment the words left my mouth, I froze.I had not planned to tell him. Ezra had always been impossible for me to read. He could burn down my world for me one second and turn around to kiss another girl the next. Also I knew that he was such a dangerous fuckboy. He had so many more options besides me. Telling him how I felt would only humiliate myself in the end.Yet I still let it slip out.I had spent so long trying not to hand him the softest part of me that now, with the words already hanging between us, I felt almost dizzy with panic.Ezra slowly turned around to face me.The moonlight cut across his face, but I still couldn’t read it. His expression had gone so still that it scared the hell out of me.“You said…you love me?” he asked, his voice slightly hoarse.My throat felt tight. I swallowed and forced myself to breathe.There was no way back now.“Yeah,” I said quietly, clenching my fists. “Yeah, I do.”He kept staring at me.My heart was beating so hard it h
Riley’s POVMy mother’s scream still rang through the room.She stumbled backward, both hands flying to the blood splashed across her dress, her whole face twisted with horror.“Oh my…Oh my god!” she cried. “Why would you do that? Ezra, why! Have you lost your mind? This is Yilia! Riley’s future mother-in-law and you just—you just killed her?!”Her voice cracked on the last word. Her eyes were filled with horror and anger as she looked at him. But this time I stepped in before Ezra could answer.“Ezra saved me,” I said, clenching my fists. “Before he tells you why he killed that woman, why don’t you talk about why you handed me to a goddamn rapist first?”The room went still.My mother turned toward me, her eyes wide and wet. For a second I saw shock there, then fear, then that familiar, desperate instinct to twist the truth.“Riley—”“Don’t. Even. Try.” My voice came out loud and sharp. “Don’t give me that old speech about how you think he's a good person and will make a good husband
Riley’s POVFor a few seconds after Leon’s body went still, neither of us moved.Ezra was the first to reach me.He pulled me into his arms so hard that I almost crushed into me, and I clung to him just as fiercely.My whole body was still shaking. I wasn’t afraid. It’s just…I couldn’t control my body anymore when I was in his arms.Ezra buried his face against my hair and held me tighter.“…He died too easily. I’m going to chop his body into pieces,” he said hoarsely. “Then I’ll feed him to the fucking dogs.”I let out a weak, breathless sound that might have been a laugh.Then I lifted both hands to his face and made him look at me.“He’s dead. It’s over. Let it go,” I said.He didn’t say anything. He just stared at me with that dark gaze. And I could feel his wolf pacing and growling restlessly.“What’s the matter?” I asked quietly with a frown. His anger didn’t disappear. It grew stronger.His eyes were still burning. His chest was rising too fast. There was blood on his skin—Leon
Riley’s POV“You…you fucking bastard,” I said shakily.So that was it.My mom still gave in and let these monsters have me. She had chosen money over me one last time and walked away.The grief of it hit harder than the ropes digging into my wrists.Leon must have seen something change in my face, because his smile widened. He had already stripped off his jacket and was now working at the rest of his clothes with shaking, eager hands.There was something wrong in his eyes now, something frantic and sick and almost feverish. His gaze gave me the chill.I pulled hard against the ropes and snarled, “Get the hell away from me.”“I told you it’s our wedding night. And we’re already engaged. You just lie down and enjoy this,” he said in a soft voice.“I said get the fuck away from me!” My voice shook with rage. “You think doing this would change anything? No, I’m telling you now. Even if you touch me, you will still be that pathetic loser that everybody laughs at in town!”That did it.His
Riley’s POVI stood frozen outside the door, one hand still pressed to the wall.A million dollars of debt.But I really didn’t get it. My mother was the Queen of Lycans. She wore silk and jewels and walked through the palace like she belonged there. She sat beside King Soren at banquets, smiled for portraits, and had maids trailing after her every hour of the day.So how could she still be in debt?How could a queen still owe anyone anything?Inside the room, Yilia was still pacing, her voice sharp and ugly.“You don’t get to back out now, Queen Everly,” she snapped. “You took the money. You promised me.”My mother didn’t answer right away. I could smell her hesitation with a wall between us.“I…I still have to think of my daughter,” she said eventually, choking slightly. “And after tonight… I have to say that I really don’t think Leon is a good match. This has gone too far. So…you are on your own now.”Hope jumped in my chest.Then Yilia exploded.“My son is the best man on earth!”
Riley’s POVI looked down at Leon icily.He was sprawled on the polished floor, one hand pressed to his chest where Ezra had kicked him. His hair was ruined. His expensive suit was twisted, and his whole face cracked open with panic.A few minutes ago he had still been pretending he could talk his way out of this. Now he looked exactly like what he was—a shameless fraud.And of course I felt nothing for him.It’s funny that he still thought I might save him.Leon dragged himself up on one elbow and glared at Ezra.“You entitled prick!” he snapped, though his voice shook badly enough to ruin the effect. “What do you have beside your title, huh? Nothing! Y—You were just born in a nice family and that’s all. I’m not scared of you. Actually, stay the hell out of this. Because I’m her fiancé. You have no right to interfere in this.”Ezra stared at him. And then laughed.It was a short, cold sound that sent a chill down my spine.“Fiancé?” he repeated with despise. “No. You’re not.”“Yes I
Riley’s POVI was in a great mood when I left the clinic.Odin and Olivia’s surgeries were perfect. Olivia woke up still acting like a diva, complaining all about the disinfectant smell in the surgery room, whining that the painkillers weren’t strong enough—basically just continuing to be a pain in
Riley’s POVMy eyes widened a little, stunned.I never thought that warrior would pick me as his opponent.Not because I was scared of him. But warriors and healers aren’t even on the same playing field when it comes to strength or combat skills.Like Danica once said, healers are usually protected
Riley’s POVAfter that day, Odin and I kept going into the mountains for training. We were syncing up better with every session, which also boosted Odin’s confidence in our team.As for the kiss, it never happened again.And we both silently agreed not to bring it up.With less than a week left bef
Riley’s POVWhat?I could barely believe what I just heard.Ms. Bright just said I was in Ezra’s team?But that couldn’t be right. Something’s wrong!For a second, the entire field was completely silent. Then chaos erupted. Everyone started whispering to each other, some girls even screamed. Everyo







