Novel & Cerita Home Before Dark Riley Sager

“I know that this is crazy, Sage, but I need you to go with Hunter, please.” Any energy I have drains from my body as I nod my head reluctantly and follow Hunter back to the bar. I’m sure I look pale and wan. Maleah meets us both right away, her face set in concern. “Hey, guys, what’s wrong?” She asks. Hunter shakes his head. “Sage’s not feeling well right, babe. Can we go home?” Mal nods her head, concern marring her features. “Girl, you’re as pale as paper. No more drinking, okay?”

Thiago’s entire posture shifted in an instant, alert and protective. He opened the door slowly, revealing a figure that made my breath catch in my throat. Riley. He looked worse than the last time we’d seen him—dark circles beneath bloodshot eyes, clothes wrinkled and damp, hair wild like he’d run through a storm. “Riley?” I asked, rising to my feet. “I—I didn’t know where else to go,” he stammered, barely getting the words out. “Please… I need your help. Angela… she’s missing.”

" Lily was reluctant to go back home without seeing Avery's husband. She took her phone and dialed Avery's number, but it went straight to voicemail. Aunt Elizabeth drove her car to the Martins residence, fuming with anger. At the Taylor residence, when Sage's grandmother heard the sound of a car, she went outside. She was smiling from ear to ear. She opened the door for Avery, then she hugged her tightly. Xavier walked towards them carrying Sage in his arms. Grandma took Sage from her son and kissed her on both cheeks. Sage giggled and kissed her grandmother on her cheek. Her grandmother laughed and said, "Welcome home, my precious Sage." Sage smiled brightly at her grandmother, and then th

she continued quietly, “I’m relieved. I’m happy that he freed both of us from this while we still had time.” Richard’s anger faltered. “Then why do you look so troubled?” Riley hesitated. “I’m worried about something else,” she admitted. “What?” he asked gently now. She looked toward the hallway where her mother had disappeared, then back at her father. “I didn’t like the look in his eyes before he left,” she said slowly. “There was something… dark. Desperate.” Richard frowned. “About what?” Riley didn’t answer right away. Her fingers tightened around the ring. ‘I hope he doesn’t break the girl more and ruin things further for himself’, she thought silently.

River I’d just finished reviewing the last of Silas reports when my phone vibrated on the desk. A message from Amir. Sage is leaving the house. Dressed casually. Alone. I leaned back in my chair, phone still in hand, gaze narrowing as I read the message again. A part of me tensed instinctively. Sage wasn’t the type to wander aimlessly, especially not at night. But he was young. Still nursing the wound Kaiden had left behind. Perhaps he just needed to breathe, to shake off the weight pressing against his ribs.

He licked his lips with nervousness, "He... uh... yearns for me!" “Yes...” Abigail came up to him and grasped his hands, “He could never forget you and Sarah. He is still in pain. He needs to be healed. Let's get back home, Riley.” “Home?” Riley’s eyes moistened at this word. “Yes, home…” Abigail smiled. Riley also smiled a little and nodded, “Let’s go.” They headed straight to the mansion. ………………. On the other end, Xander reached the mansion and called out, “Dad… where are you?”

Alpha Ryan's Pov The tension in the room was evident as I recalled the events of that fateful meeting. It had started with Sage’s announcement that she would be taking Lily and heading back home. Without missing a beat, I locked eyes with Sage, my voice measured. “Lily is our chosen mate; she's not going anywhere.”

“Whatever comes… we’ll face it.” Riley tilted her head, her smile enigmatic, deadly. “We’ll see.” And with that, she melted back into the shadows, leaving the faint metallic scent behind and the promise of chaos hanging heavy in the air. Avery stood frozen, Lydia writhing beneath her skin, Marcus’s hand tight around hers. The mansion felt alive now, every shadow a potential threat, every breath weighted with anticipation. Something ancient was stirring, something dark was circling, and Riley had just made it unmistakably clear: Avery was not safe.

Then I stood, crossing to Riley’s bed once more. Her small fingers twitched in sleep. She looked so much like her father, gentle where I was hard, innocent where I had long since forgotten how to be. I brushed my thumb over her cheek. “You’re not going to grow up afraid of your own blood,” I whispered. “Not of him. Not of me. You are not going to grow in this darkness.” Behind me, Lisa waited, silent but resolute. “When do we leave?” she asked. “Soon,” I said. “Before he notices I’m gone. Before this house turns into a grave.”

I replied, wiping my dagger blade clean on my pant leg before sliding it back into my belt sheath. "Riley is coming down the hallway stairs right now, so let's go inside the kitchen room and tell him that our perimeter is completely secure," Silas suggested, leading the way back toward the house while I took a deep breath of the night air, feeling completely confident in my place beside my mate as we prepared for the final battle.