MasukRiley’s POVEzra didn't even say another word. He charged directly at us.The heavy stone corridor seemed to shrink as his massive frame closed the distance. The torches flickered violently under the crushing weight of his Alpha aura.Silas didn't even have time to draw his weapon.Ezra shoved Silas backward with a brutal shove to the chest. Then, his large hand shot out and grabbed the thick fur collar of the general's cloak wrapped around me.With one violent, vicious yank, he ripped the heavy garment right off my shoulders.The freezing draft of the underground laundry hit my wet clothes again. I gasped, wrapping my arms around my shivering torso.Ezra threw the cloak onto the dirty floor. He kicked it aside like a piece of trash."You just can't help yourself, can you?" Ezra snarled, his green eyes burning with anger. He took a step toward me, trapping me against the cold stone wall. "First the rogues, and now my own generals? Do you just spread your legs for any man who tosses a
Riley’s POVMy breath caught in my throat."Clean up the blood," Ezra commanded coldly.He turned his back on me and marched out of the courtyard. His heavy boots crunched on the snow, walking away without a single backward glance.Ezra’s heavy footsteps faded into the distance. The iron gates of the courtyard slammed shut.The maids looked at the broken glass and then at Clara’s horrified face. For a long moment, nobody moved. Then, Greta let out a shaky breath and stood up." The King was just in a hurry to get to the stables. Maybe to go hunting. And this woman was in his way," Greta scoffed, her voice trembling slightly. She looked around at the other terrified maids, desperate to keep her control. " He just said it—he told her not to bleed on his floor.""Yeah," Clara agreed quickly, nodding frantically. "He told her to clean it up. He hates her."Greta turned her mean, narrow eyes back to me. I was still on the freezing stones, holding my crushed hand against my chest. Blood dri
Riley’s POVI woke up to an empty bed.The silk sheets were tangled and cold. My entire body ached, covered in dark bruises and fresh bite marks. The heavy smell of Ezra’s pine scent and rough sex lingered in the air, but he was gone. He didn't stay to hold me.Before I could even sit up, the heavy oak doors banged open.Two royal guards marched in. I quickly scrambled up and covered my body with sheet but they didn’t look at me."Put it on," one guard ordered coldly and threw me a clothes. "The King is waiting."My hands shook as I pulled the thin, ugly fabric over my bruised skin. It was the uniform of the lowest scullery maid.They dragged me down the grand staircase and threw me onto the marble floor of the main hall.The hall was packed. Dozens of maids, cooks, and palace servants stood in a wide circle.They all turned to stared at me when I stepped in.Ezra sat on a wooden chair at the top of the stairs. He wore a crisp black military uniform. His face was carved from solid ice
Riley’s POVThe fake smile on my face felt like a physical mask of clay. My heart was bleeding out in my chest, but I refused to let it show.Ezra stared at me. The gentle, protective demeanor he had shown Elara vanished instantly. His green eyes darkened into black, bottomless pits. The air in the room cracked with the sheer force of his Alpha power."Watch?" Ezra repeated. His voice was a low, terrifying vibration that rattled the glass windows.He slowly took his hand off Elara’s waist. He took one step toward me."You think you are getting an invitation?" Ezra sneered, his lips curling into a cruel, mocking smile. "You don't deserve to step a single foot into that grand hall. You are a dirty, rogue-fucking rogue."I swallowed the lump in my throat, keeping my chin high. "Then why bring me here? Let me go.""You are here for one reason," Ezra growled, stepping so close his broad chest almost touched mine. "You are a tool. You exist right now for the sole purpose of snapping this cu
Riley’s POVThe heavy carriage finally stopped.The door was ripped open. Ezra grabbed my arm and dragged me out into the freezing courtyard.We were in the capital. The massive stone walls of the Full Moon Pack palace towered over me, casting long, dark shadows across the snowy grounds.I stumbled over the cobblestones, my boots slipping on the ice. I fully expected him to drag me toward the back of the castle. I thought he was going to throw me straight into the royal dungeon. Down into the dark, damp, rat-infested cells where I was locked up three years ago.But he didn't.Ezra dragged me up the grand marble staircase. We walked right through the towering front doors.Dozens of maids and royal servants stopped in their tracks. They gasped, dropping their trays and laundry baskets. Their eyes went wide with absolute shock as they watched their ruthless King dragging a dirty, bruised woman in rogue clothes through the pristine hallways.I kept my head down, my face burning with pure
Riley’s POVThe heavy carriage rolled on for three days.For three days, I didn't see the sun. I was trapped in the dim, velvet cage.Ezra didn't talk to me. He didn't ask where I had been for the last three years, or how I managed to survive in the wild. He didn't say a single word about his upcoming wedding, or the blonde girl, or the fiancé.He only used his body to punish me.Every time I tried to speak, he silenced me with a bruising kiss. He pinned my wrists to the cushions and took me with a fierce, angry hunger that left me completely exhausted. He claimed me over and over again, leaving dark marks all over my skin, making sure his heavy pine scent completely drowned out everything else."What are you going to do with me?" I gasped out one night, pushing against his sweaty chest. "When we get to the Full Moon Pack... are you going to throw me in the dungeon? Are you going to execute me?"Ezra didn't answer. He just grabbed both of my wrists in one hand, pinned them above my he
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 POVOlivia’s face went white.“N-No! Wait—” she shrieked as two of Ezra’s men strode toward her.They didn’t hesitate for even a second. One grabbed her by the arm. The other reached for her shoulder like they really meant to drag her all the way back to the blasted camp and toss her into t
Riley’s POVCamila’s alliance took a brutal hit.Even from the ridge, I could tell they were finished for the day. The ones who managed to escape were half-dragging, half-carrying each other through the trees. Some were limping. Some were bleeding so badly their clothes were soaked dark.And right
Riley's POVI stood there, my hands and legs still shaking from the fight.We poured everything we had into this and barely came out alive. And those robbers were just going to steal it?"Shame on you!!!" Odin's face twisted with anger. "This is against the rules! I'm going to report you all to the







