Chapter 239
Chapter 239
Third Person’s POV
Mia’s patience finally snapped. With a sharp step forward, she shoved Ronan Duskcliff hard.
He hadn’t expected it, and the force sent him sprawling onto the cold, unforgiving floor.
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Mia’s hands immediately went to Riley’s, cupping them with care. Her eyes darkened when she saw the damage-her palms were raw, flushed a furious red, and already swelling.
Rage sparked in Mia’s chest. She turned her gaze on Ronan, and the look she gave him could have frozen a full-grown wolf in its tracks.
“If you truly wanted to atone, you’d stop haunting my Miss like a curse,” she hissed, her voice cutting as steel. “You know she despises you. And yet you keep clawing your way back into her life. That’s not penance-that’s cruelty p>
She thrust Riley’s wounded hand toward him, as if daring him to look. “Tell me, Alpha’s son-was this punishment for yourself… or just another way to hurt her p>
Ronan’s gaze locked onto her palm, and a pain sharper than silver spread through his chest. He shook his head, desperate, speechless-his wolf howling inside him, but finding no words to bridge the gulf he’d created.
He stared at Riley, eyes flooded with plea and regret, yet she wouldn’t spare him so much as a glance.
His chest tightened, breath growing shallow. His wolf thrashed against its cage of guilt, but even so, not a single apology made it past his lips.
To Mia, the sight was nothing but empty theater.
Where had all this so-called love been before?
Riley had proven her innocence time and again since leaving the prison, yet Ronan had never believed her -not once. Instead, he’d stood beside Scarlett, shielding her like a favored mate.
That wasn’t love. That was poison in silk’s disguise.
Mia’s gaze swept over him with cold contempt before she wrapped a steadying arm around Riley and walked her past him.
Ronan’s hand shot out, grasping for her-but he caught only air.
He tried to follow, to force one last chance at redemption, but his stomach twisted violently and his chest burned as if pierced by a blade.
With a hollow thud, he collapsed to the ground, his wolf’s eyes still locked on Riley’s retreating figure.
“Riley p>
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8:14 pm ADD
Chapter 239
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She never turned back. She left him there in the dust of the hospital corridor, the bonds between them in
ruins.
Outside Mooncrest Hospital, Riley walked beside Mia, her steps mechanical, as though moving through fog.
They were almost to the bus stop when something by the trash bins caught Riley’s attention.
A man-no legs, only stumps beneath ragged trousers-was picking through heaps of refuse with trembling hands.
At last, he unearthed a mold-speckled bun, clutching it as though it were gold, devouring it in desperate bites.
His clothes were filthy, hair matted into knots from months-perhaps years-without washing. He kept his head bowed, long strands hiding most of his face.
Flies swarmed in the damp autumn air, but he seemed oblivious.
Riley’s gaze softened despite herself.
In the wolf packs, some pups were born into gold-lined dens, destined for strength and status. Others were born into hunger and blood, every step a fight to survive.
This man-though young from what little of his skin she could see-had already lost more than most could bear. No legs meant no hunt, no run, no freedom. Only scavenging, just to keep breathing.
Autumn’s chill wasn’t yet biting, but winter would be merciless.
A bitter smile ghosted across Riley’s lips. Her own life was shattered beyond repair-what right did she have to pity another?
And yet… perhaps because she knew what it was to walk through darkness with no hand to hold, she could not look away.
She stepped into a nearby convenience store and returned moments later with bread and water. She’d left herself only enough coins for bus fare; the rest she placed in the paper bag.
Kneeling slightly, she set the offering before him. “That bun’s gone bad. You’ll get sick. Take this instead p>
Inside the bag was not just food and water-but money.
The man froze mid-bite.
He went rigid, as though struck by lightning, and did not lift his head. Beneath the tangle of hair, his eyes -hidden-were wide with something fierce and raw: fear, shame, disbelief.
Riley bent further, voice gentle as snowfall. “It’s alright. Take it p>
Still, he didn’t move. His thin frame trembled, and for a moment she wondered if he’d been beaten enough times to fear even a kind hand.
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Don’t be afraid. I mean you no harm p>
She reached to take the ruined bun from his hand.
pup.
The man’s gaze flicked to her fingers-slender, pale, and bloodless from cold-and something in him cracked. His wolf’s heart clenched with a sudden, unbearable ache, and tears broke free before he could stop them.
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