Chapter 146
Chapter 146
Riley’s POV
The car door shut with a heavy thunk, sealing away the cold, the chaos, and the brother I no longer recognized.
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Lucien slid into the seat beside me, the leather creaking beneath him, and the air instantly filled with the quiet dominance of an Alpha. His presence always shifted the energy of a room–or in this case, a car. But tonight, I didn’t flinch. I didn’t shrink away. I was too exhausted to keep pretending I wasn’t broken.
He didn’t say anything at first. He didn’t start the engine. He just sat there beside me, one elbow propped against the window, his face half–shadowed by the dim overhead light.
My hands were clenched in my lap, bloodless and white. My nails were digging into my palms so deep I thought they might draw blood.
“Riley, Lucien said at last, his voice low, calm. Not the cold tone he used in court. Not the aloofness he wore like armor. This was something gentler. “ Are you okay p>
I shook my head, barely. “I’m fine p>
He exhaled through his nose, clearly not buying it. “You don’t have to be. Not right now p>
My lips trembled, and I bit down hard to steady them. “He said I was evil. That I hurt his family. That I ruined her life p>
Lucien’s jaw tensed.
“He doesn’t remember,” I whispered. “He doesn’t remember what they did to me. Or maybe he does, and he just doesn’t
Silence stretched between us.
Then, without warning. Lucien reached out and pulled me against him.
I stiffened–just for a second – but then my body gave out, slumping into the solid warmth of his chest. His scent – pine, wind, and something faintly smoky–wrapped around me, grounding me in a way I hadn’t expected.
“ You were brave,” he murmured near the crown of my head. “ I saw the way you looked at him. You weren’t afraid. Not anymore”
“I’m tired of being afraid.” I whispered.
He rested his chin lightly on my hair. “Good. Because I don’t want you hiding anymore p>
His words echoed inside me.
I don’t want you hiding anymore.
For a moment we just sat there. His heartbeat was steady beneath my check, the kind of rhythm that made you forget the world could hurt you
Then he pulled back slightly, enough to meet my eyes. His gaze was steady, serious.
“Have you thought about going back to school p>
The question caught me off guard “What p>
“Ashirpoor Academy.” he said. “You always wanted to go there, didn’t you p>
My breath hatched I hadn’t heard that name in years. Not since before everything went wrong
Before prison
Before Scarlett
Chapter 146
Before I lost everything.
“My voice faltered. “That dream died a long time ago p>
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Lucien’s eyes darkened. “Dreams don’t die. They just get buried under the weight of pain and fear. But they’re still there, You’re still that girl who wanted to be a combat instructor. I know you are p>
I looked away, my throat tightening. “Even if I wanted to, it’s too late. My record–my name–it’s ruined p>
He smiled, slow and sure. “Luckily, you know someone who has friends in high places p>
1 blinked. “You mean … p>
“Ashmoor’s head combat trainer used to be my professor,” he said. “ Alpha –level, war–tested, and loyal to a fault. If I asked she to take a look at you, she would. No questions asked p>
My heart began to beat faster, “You’d do that for me p>
“Riley, you have to believe in yourself. Even with a vital organ missing, you were still able to summon your wolf. You’re stronger than you think. You belong on the battlefield–not trapped inside the Vale family p>
Lucien leaned in slightly, eyes burning with something fierce. “Riley, I would tear down kingdoms for you p>
I didn’t know what to say. The Riley from six months ago would have cried. She would’ve sobbed and begged for this chance. But I wasn’t her anymore.
I had steel in my spine now. Pain in my blood. And a future I’d thought I would never get back.
“Do I have to say yes right now?” I asked quietly.
“No,” he said. “But if you want it–if you want to fight for it–I’ll be there. Every step of the
way p>
I looked down at my hands. The same hands that had bled for a family who never wanted me. That had fought to survive behind bars. That had stitched together hope, thread by trembling thread.
I nodded once.
“I want to fight”
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