Yael was still throwing threats into the air when Riley suddenly snapped.
"Regret? What the hell are you talking about?"
Her voice cut through the space like claws on glass.
Even from a distance, I could almost feel the shift in the air. A female baring her teeth in public. No hesitation. No fear.
Yael froze for a second. He had probably heard the rumors about her. The neglected Luna. The rejected wife. The one who once tried to end her own life because her Alpha husband chose another female over her.
Maybe he thought she had finally broken.
But Riley wasn’t broken.
She was done being afraid.
The truth was, she already believed these n had blood on their hands. Elena’s blood. And when a pack mber is threatened, sothing ancient rises in us. Loyalty becos sharper than reason.
They couldn’t touch her here. This was public territory. Too many witnesses. Too many eyes.
Two grown Alphas wouldn’t dare strike a female in the open.
Right?
From the way Riley stood chin lifted, shoulders squared it almost looked like she hoped they would try. As if she was ready to fall to the ground and drag their nas through every court in the city. Ruin their wealth. Strip their titles. Lock them behind bars.
That’s what happens when soone has nothing left to lose.
The Blackwell brothers preferred shadows. Secrets. Quiet control.
Riley did the opposite.
She stepped forward, circling them slowly, like a hunter who didn’t bother hiding.
"Yael," she said coldly, "you act strange about that woman. And you " she looked at Vito with open disgust, " the way you control your fiancée is disturbing. What are you two doing? Running so kind of human trafficking ring?"
Vito’s diplomatic smile almost cracked.
"Mrs. Pearson, surely you’re joking."
She leaned closer. "Whitney, has he been restricting you? Say the word and I’ll report him. I’ll have him arrested before sunset."
Whitney lowered her eyes, playing her role carefully. "No, Mrs. Pearson. He’s my fiancé. He just worries too much."
Vito exhaled slowly, relief flickering across his face. "You see? There’s no need for such accusations."
Riley laughed lightly, but there was no warmth in it. "Good. Then I’ll be visiting Whitney every single day. You don’t get a say in that."
Vito went quiet.
He had walked into that trap without realizing it.
Riley didn’t look bothered at all. Calm. Relaxed. Almost playful. As if none of this mattered to her.
She didn’t know the "missing girl," so why should she care?
At least, that was the mask she wore.
Then she turned to Whitney and smiled brightly. "We’re done here. Let’s go eat barbecue. I saw a place nearby."
Vito imdiately opened his mouth, but she cut him off with a sharp wave of her hand. "Hush. Let Whitney decide. Does she want barbecue?"
Whitney stiffened under his stare. "C–Could we not do barbecue? Anything else is fine."
"Pizza?"
Whitney paled.
"Roast chicken?"
A quick shake of the head.
"Exotic cuisine?"
Another no.
Riley didn’t rush her. "Alright. Soup? Sothing light."
Whitney nodded softly. "Yes. Soup sounds good."
Vito swallowed whatever protest he had left.
"It’s a girls’ day," Riley added. "You’re her mate, not her shadow."
He said nothing.
Just then, Harlan appeared, his presence calm but unmistakably dominant. "Riley, what are you doing here? I booked us a table at a Western restaurant after this."
She didn’t even look at him properly.
"Don’t you have anything better to do? Are you a shadow too?"
Without waiting for a reply, she shoved all her shopping bags into his assistant’s arms, linked her arm with Whitney’s, and walked away.
Vito glanced at Harlan with mild disbelief. "Is she always like this at ho?"
In the past, Harlan would have exploded. His pride alone wouldn’t have allowed such disrespect.
But lately, sothing in him had shifted.
A slow smile ford on his lips. "This," he said quietly, "is fun."
Vito stared at him like he had lost his mind.
Both of them had.
And now they were following behind their mates, carrying bags like obedient escorts.
In the shadows, Yael watched, his expression dark and heavy.
Whitney almost looked back.
Riley squeezed her arm gently. "Don’t. Just walk with . Even if I can’t free you yet, I can at least give you one good day."
Whitney hesitated. "Is Elena...?"
"She’s safe," Riley replied firmly. "But what about you?"
Whitney gave a small smile. It wasn’t bright. It wasn’t free. But it was real. "It’s fine. He won’t kill ."
Outside the venue, sunlight poured over them. Whitney tilted her face up, eyes closing as warmth touched her skin.
For the first ti in a long ti, she looked alive.
"Is the soup place far?" she asked softly.
Riley grinned. "Five minutes."
And for those five minutes, Whitney walked without feeling watched.
They didn’t just eat. Riley dragged her through shops, pulling her into dressing rooms, choosing clothes with wild excitent.
Whitney owned many outfits. Expensive ones. Carefully selected by Vito or delivered by staff. Most still had tags attached.
She never had events to attend. Never had friends to et. No reason to dress up.
Today was different.
At first, she moved stiffly, unsure of how to act. But slowly, the tension left her shoulders. A spark returned to her eyes. She even laughed once.
A real laugh.
Behind them, Harlan and Vito carried bag after bag.
Vito couldn’t stop watching Whitney. She smiled more with each passing hour. Freely. Without fear.
He rembered their wedding photos. The way she forced a tiny smile only after he threatened her.
Now she smiled without being told.
The realization unsettled him.
Harlan watched Riley too. There was sothing fierce and alive about her today. She shone.
But when she turned and caught him staring, she shoved a pile of clothes into his arms.
"What are you smiling at?" she snapped. "Trying to be a clown?"
He didn’t argue.
He just kept carrying her bags.
And for once, neither Alpha tried to control the mont.
They simply followed.
Because sotis, when a female decides she has nothing left to lose, even the strongest leaders step back and let her lead.
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