Chapter 162
162
Third Person’s POV
The moment Lucien’s voice fell, the front doors of the manor burst open with a loud bang. Theo Hale strode in, rainwater still clinging to the hem of his coat, a thick file clutched tightly in his hand
His eyes swept urgently across the grand entry hall, scanning for Riley like a wolf who’d caught her scent.
“Where’s Riley?” he demanded, his voice sharp with adrenaline.
Mia , who had just been arranging a vase on the entry table, blinked at him in surprise. “Doctor Theo, the young miss is still resting.”
“She needs to wake up–now,” Theo said, stepping forward, his tone urgent. “It’s important. I need to speak with her.”
Mia hesitated, her eyes flickering toward Lucien as if seeking guidance. Though she was not a servant of the house, even she knew when a command could not override the Alpha’s will.
Lucien’s gaze locked onto Theo with the chilling stillness of a predator. His voice was quiet, but there was no mistaking the authority that laced every syllable. “If this is about the Ebonclaw Pack’s fall, you can leave . I’ll handle it myself.”
Theo stiffened. That tone–so superior , so unyielding – always set his teeth on edge.
He’d grown up surrounded by powerful people, but none exuded this particular kind of dangerous calm. Wealth, strength, command–Lucien Duskgrave had it all. And Theo hated how insignificant the man made everyone else seem in comparison.
Still, Theo lifted his chin in defiance. “You were the one who took down the Ebonclaw Pack, weren’t you ?”
Then, after a beat, he added pointedly, “Aren’t you afraid Riley will hate you for it?”
The entire room stilled.
Lucien, Duke, Mia, even Mrs. Beck all turned toward Theo with unreadable expressions. Their silence was heavier than the rain still dripping from his coat.
A flicker of doubt crossed Then’s mind. Maybe Riley didn’t hate Lucien for what he did. Maybe she understood.
He swallowed hard and forced his voice to steady. “I’m not here to argue. I’m here because I found something. About her missing kidney”
The room froze.
Lucien’s eyes, cold as steel, sharpened into lethal focus. A storm began to churn behind them–a threat far greater than the
one outside .
Even Duke , who’d been halfway to falling asleep upright , jolted fully awake , spine straight as a lance
Mrs Beck gasped , while Mia covered her mouth with both hands .
From the stairwell above, Matriarch Duskgrave–who had just begun her descent for breakfast–stopped mid –step. Her hand trembled slightly on her cane
Lucien’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. “Mia Wake her”
But before she could move, a quiet sound from the stairs interrupted them.
Kiley stood on the landing her expression pale, her eyes wide and glassy .
Her bearing hadn’t returned yet, but she saw Theo’s mouth and knew everything.
kalory ”
The words “missing kidney ” echoed like a curse through her mind. That wound–deep and brutal–was one she had buried. but never healed from A part of her had always wondered what had happened, who had done it, and why
162
Now, finally, she might have an answer.
+8 Pearls
She descended slowly, her steps heavy with disbelief, her entire body drawn tight like a bowstring . When she reached the bottom, she didn’t speak. She simply walked straight up to Theo and grabbed his arms with both hands.
Her nails dug into his flesh.
“Tell me,” she whispered, her voice cracking with urgency. “Tell me the truth, Theo. Is it real? Do you know where it went? Who took it? Who has it?”
Her words came out in a desperate rush , eyes burning with the fire of a year’s worth of torment and unanswered questions.
Theo winced at the pressure of her grip, but he didn’t pull away “Riley, calm down. I’ll tell you everything, I swear. But you have to take a breath-
“Don’t tell me to calm down!” she snapped, though her voice trembled more from pain than anger.
Yet, when her eyes locked with his–when she saw the concern there–she forced herself to inhale . To hold herself together. She couldn’t break down. Not now.
Not when the truth was finally within reach.
Theo looked down at her, his chest tight. Goddess, what had they done to this girl? Even standing there, broken and trembling, she had the strength of a warrior. But that didn’t make the injustice any less monstrous.
And then , Lucien spoke.
His voice was softer now. But it held something else, too–something gentler. Protective.
“Come here, bunny.”
It was the first time he’d ever used a pet name for her.
The entire room turned toward him .
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