Author’s POV

bInside /bthe Study Ebonw Pack

The study was thick with tension.

Kael Vale stood in front of bAlpha /bric and Luna Zara, his voice rising with disbelief. “Dad, Mom–byou /bknow exactly bwhat /bkind of reputation the Stormridge heir has. How can byou /bstill force Riley to marry into that Pack? She’s your bblood/b. Even if you’ve never shown her the same love, how can you send her into something that could destroy her?”

ric mmed his palm on the desk with a resounding thud. “Enough! Watch your tone. What do you mean destroy her! bWith /bher background, being epted by Stormridge is a gift. A rare one. She should be grateful.”

Kael stared at his father like he no longer recognized the man. His lips trembled. “Her body’s already broken, Dad. Prison destroyed her health. You’re giving her bto /bba /bbmale /bknown for violence, aggression–and you expect her to survive that?”

bJust /bimagining Riley–frail and wounded–thrown into the hands of a brutal Alpha made Kael’s heart twist with both fury band /bJdread.

ric’s expression darkened further. “If she doesn’t go… bwhat/b, you want Scarlett to marry him instead?”

Kael froze.

He turned his gaze toward the girl standing silently beside them–Scarlett, with her downturnedshes and soft trembling lip. She looked up at him, eyes filled with sorrow, and he flinched.

y to be sacrificed.

He didn’t want Riley

But sacrificing Scarlett?

“I… I just… Kael faltered.

“There is no just.” ric cut him off, his voice a bit calmer bnow/b, but no less firm. “In a few days, thend auction at East Borough will begin. Stormridge bPack /bis hell–bent on acquiring bthat /bterritory. Even if Ebonw and ckmawbine forces, we still might not outbid themb./bb” /b

He leaned forward, voice heavy. “The regional council has already designated East Borough as a central economic zone. When it’s developed, all majormerce will shift there. Whoever owns it–controls it. And if Stormridge wins it… Ebonw will lose its foothold in Mooncrest”

ric’s jaw tightened as he continued, “We can’t fight the Stormridge Alpha, So we do the only thing we can–we join them. bAn /balliance through marriage is the most direct path.”

bKael’s /bknuckles were bone white from how hard he clenched his fists. The guilt gnawed at him.

Zara wiped away a tear, voice low and trembling. “Kael… Do you think this is easy for us? We’re not heartless. We haven’t slept. for days thinking about bthis/b. But the Pack–ourpany–feeds hundreds of wolves. We can’t afford to be sentimental.”

“I’m her mother,” she whispered. “I carried her for nine months. I know how fragile she is… I love her, bKael/b. Just as much as you do. But sometimes love bmeans /bsacrifice.”

“Stormridge might not be as bad as the rumors say,” she added weakly. “Maybe… maybe their Alpha heir isn’t as cruel as they

im

Kael bsaid /bnothing.

He understood the logic. He understood the stakes. But that didn’t make it right. The silence hung heavy over the room–until Scarlett’s soft sob broke throughb. /b

Til go,” she said, voice hoarse. “I’ll marry binto /bStormridge in Riley’s ceb.” /bThe three of then turned toward her.

Scarlett stood with tears bpooling /bin hershes, but she forced a smile. “If marrying him will help the Ebonw Pack then I’ll do it. I’m not even your real daughter. When Riley came home, I should’ve stepped aside.”

Her voice cracked “But I bloved /byou both too much. I bcouldn’t /bleave. I know bnow/b… I should’ve done something sooner.”

Karl’s heart twisted.

Scarlett smiled again, even as her tears fell freely. “Even if you bdon’t /bsee me as your daughter after this… I’m bwilling /bto do. what’s best for the family.”

Zara broke down, pulling Scarlett into her arms. “Don’t say such things! You’ll always be my daughter, my baby girl. I would never let you marry someone so dangerous. You have a future with Ronan. You’re already promised.”

She stroked Scarlett’s hair gently. “bDon’t /bworry. When the East Borough project stabilizes, we’ll bfinalize /byour marriage with the ckmaw heir. You were bmeant /bto be his Luna.”

Scarlet blushed, eyes shyly bright with banticipation/b,

Watching the mother–daughter disy, ric finally smiled. “Go back to Ronan. Spend time with him. Your mother band /bI need to speak bwith /bKael”

Scarlett and Zara left the room hand in hand.

Kael stood frozen, watching them go.

Riley was to be offered up–again.

She had always been the one who could bendure/b.

She was always bthe /bbone /bexpected to endure.

bKael’s /bheart twisted painfully

Behind him, ric slumped into his chair and rubbed his temple. “bKael/b, I know you care for your sister. bBut /bthis is bigger than you or her. The survival of Ebonw rests on this marriage. None of us have a choice.”

Kael closed his beyes/b,

“I know…