Chapter 81
She treasured that word-“Mom“-with all her heart.
But in the end, it had all been wishful thinking. Her mother never wanted her. Never valued her. That was why, after being released from prison, Riley had never called Luna Zara anything but “Mrs. Vale.”
And that single word-“Mom“-now spoken to someone else, shattered Mrs. Vale.
Tears finally broke free from Mrs. Beck’s eyes the moment Riley uttered it.
Luna Zara flinched. The wistful warmth in Riley’s voice had, for a fleeting second, made her think the girl was calling out to her.
She looked at Riley, dazed, eyes glimmering with confusion and pain. But Riley never spared her a glance.
“Riley… I’m your mother,” she whispered to herself.
Why would she rather call a stranger that word than her own birth mother?
The realization that she had truly lost Riley’s love sliced through Zara’s chest like claws. It hurt worse than any blade.
Riley’s tears kept falling.
“Living hurts,” she said softly. “I don’t want to keep fighting.”
Matriarch Duskgrave stepped forward, her voice quivering with panic. “Child, please, don’t do anything rash! If you jump, my heart will shatter. You’re still so young, and there’s so much beauty left in this world. Just hold on.”
“Sweetheart,” Mrs. Beck added, near tears herself. “Don’t cry for people who don’t deserve you. If you want, I’ll be your mother. You can be my daughter.”
“Please, Miss Riley,” Mia begged, sobbing. “Please come down. Don’t leave us.”
Riley looked at the three women. Gratitude and sorrow mixed in her gaze,
“I know you care about me,” she whispered. “But I’m so tired. I’ve fought so long, and no matter how hard I try, the world always finds a new way to hurt me.”
Matriarch Duskgrave bit her lip. “I swear to you, child, if you come down now, I won’t let anyone hurt you again. I’ll make sure every last one of them pays for what they did.”
Riley gave a broken smile. “Justice? There is no justice. Not for people like me. Even if they pay, my life won’t be restored.”
Her voice cracked. “I’ll never be whole again.”
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“I’m sorry… for everything.”
And with that, she closed her eyes and leaned back.
Like a puppet with its strings cut, she fell.
“No!”
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The three women screamed in unison.
At the last second, Maddox lunged forward, catching Riley around the waist and yanking her back through the window.
She collapsed in his arms, unconscious.
Matriarch Duskgrave, Mrs. Beck, and Mia rushed forward, encircling Riley with protective arms and whispered prayers.
Maddox trembled as he held her close, afraid she’d slip through his fingers. It was only then that he realized how frail she’d become. Bones pressed through skin. She weighed almost nothing. Like a ghost.
Tears spilled from his eyes and fell onto her bruised and bloodied face.
Kael Vale stood frozen. The image of Riley falling haunted him like a waking nightmare. Her despair etched itself deep into his bones.
Luna Zara crawled toward Riley, choking on sobs.
“Riley… my daughter…”
But Mia blocked her path, eyes blazing.
“Don’t you dare touch her,” she hissed. “Don’t you even pretend to care. She ended up like this because of you–all of you from the Ebonclaw Pack! You don’t deserve to call her your daughter. None of you do. Get away from her!”
She shoved Luna Zara back.
The Luna collapsed on the floor, weeping.
Just then, footsteps pounded from the hallway.
Scarlett burst into the room, flanked by the head medic and two enforcers from the Pack Judiciary.
Scarlett pointed at Riley, eyes gleaming with malice. “That rogue tried to kill someone! She should be arrested immediately!”
As long as Riley was behind bars, Scarlett could silence Tessa, eliminate every loose end, and keep her perfect life.
She smiled inwardly, already savoring the image of Riley in chains.
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The head medic glared at Riley as if she could rip her apart right there..
“She attacked a patient under our care! She stabbed multiple Pack members! Take her away before she murders someone!”
The enforcers stepped forward, pulling out enchanted restraints.
But before they could grab her, Luna Zara stood up despite her injuries.
“Don’t touch her.”
Her voice was low, but full of unshakable resolve.
For once, she wasn’t afraid.
She would not let her daughter suffer again.
Kael followed suit, his injured arm dripping blood.
“My sister didn’t try to kill anyone.”
Though exhausted and pale, his tone was firm.
Scarlett’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Mom? Kael? She stabbed you! She stabbed both of you!”
“Enough!” Kael snapped. “I said no. She stays. We’ll handle this as a family. Your lies have done enough.”
The enforcers hesitated.
The tension in the room was suffocating.
Scarlett trembled with fury, hiding her rage behind a mask of worry.
Kael turned to the enforcers. “This is a Pack matter. Stand down.”
Slowly, the enforcers lowered their weapons.
Scarlett’s plan–for now–was ruined.