Riley’s POV

    The sharp, searing pain ripped me out of unconsciousness.

    My body convulsed, cold sweat beading and rolling down my forehead, my skin pale as death.

    As my vision cleared, the first thing I saw was Dean Elira ckthorn’s twisted, hate–filled face, looming over me like a predator ready to devour its prey.

    Beside her, Caden stood with his arms crossed, smirking down at me with mocking disdain.

    And then–another boy. Younger. A stranger to me. Yet the malice in his eyes as he looked me over was

    unmistakable.

    He clicked his tongue, gaze raking over my body.

    “Well, well. So this is the Ebonw Pack’s trueborn daughter. Not bad. Even beaten down like a dog, that face is still worth ying with.”

    A sick thrill glimmered in his eyes as he stepped toward me, rubbing his palms together.

    “It’d be a waste to let her die just like this. Why not let me have some fun first?”

    Neither Dean Elira nor Caden stopped him.

    On the contrary, Elira’s eyes lit with cruel satisfaction.

    “Go on,Otto. My son. But be careful–don’t kill her too quickly. Death would be too merciful for what she’s done to your sister.”

    The boy–Otto Wilsonughed darkly, boasting about his experience with women overseas, as if I were nothing more than another toy.

    Selene Ashford stood nearby, clutching her phone, her eyes gleaming with anticipation as she barked, “Do it! Show her what happens to those who cross us.”

    Otto reached for me-

    And then Maddox’s voice cut through the room.

    “No! Riley is mine. You don’t touch her.”

    Otto froze, his expression twisting with fury. In a blink, he pped Maddox so hard the sound echoed through the room.

    “You? A crippledwyer? You think you can tell me what to do?”

    Maddox fell to the floor, his cheek zing red

    Dean Elira sneered down at him. “Pathetic. Once awyer, now not even a man. You can’t bprotect /bbher/bb, /bbyou /bcan’t even protect yourself. Everything you studied–worthlessb.” /b

    Laughter rang around me, cruel and merciless.

    Maddox’s face turned iron–blue with rage, but he could do nothing. He could only watch helplessly bas /bOtto dragged me toward the bedroom.

    He threw me onto the bed, his weight crushing down on me.

    I choked back a scream, fighting against the agony burning through my body. My wounds throbbed, bmy /bvision blurred with fever, but I forced myself to move, to fight.

    My hand fumbled along the nightstand until I felt something cold–metal. Amp.

    With thest of my strength, I seized it and swung.

    Themp crashed against Otto’s skull. Blood poured instantly, streaking down his face, making him look

    even more monstrousb. /b

    He roared in rage, striking me across the face, again and again.

    Each p split my skin, blood filling my mouth. My vision swam, but I refused to cry out.

    Dean Elira and Caden stormed in at the sound of Otto’s screams. Their eyes zed with fury when they saw his bleeding head.

    “You little bitch!” Elira hissed, moving toward me-

    But before she could reach me, a heavy pounding rattled the door.

    “Who is it?!” Elira snapped, her face twisting.

    The pounding grew louder, more insistent.

    Caden’s brow furrowed. “Could it be Lucien Duskgrave’s men?”

    Selene paled. “Impossible–they couldn’t have found us this quickly—”

    The banging only intensified.

    “Open the door. Now.”

    That voice. Cold. Authoritative.

    My heart jolted. Duke. Lucien’s right hand.

    Panic swept through the room.

    “They’ve found us!”

    “Then grab weapons!” Caden snarled.

    Knives were pulled from the kitchen.–Maddox clutched a rolling pin in trembling hands.

    Otto didn’t stop–he tore at my clothes,ughing like a rabid animal.

    21 Wed, 27 Aug ODV

    “Even if I die, I’ll taste you first. Let’s see what Lucien’s precious mate feels like“

    The door shuddered beneath relentless kicks-

    And then with a thunderous crash, it burst open.

    Caelum Knox. Duke. Theo Hale. Jace Hale. Carmen.

    They stormed inside, shadows of death in their eyes.

    Dean Elira, Caden, Selene–every one of them froze, their faces draining of color.