Lucien's POV I forgot she couldn't hear me. Riley had her back to me, completely unaware of what I'd said. The weight of her silence struck me like a sharp snap of cold wind-I'd spoken, and she hadn't even flinched. That's when it hit me: she didn't hear me. Of course she didn't. Without a word, I walked over and took her hand. She turned at the contact, her eyes flickering up to mine just as I mouthed, "Don't panic. Sit down-we'll take this slow." She nodded, her fingers trembling slightly in mine, and followed me to the couch. The moment we sat down, her attention snapped back to Theo Hale like a wolf tracking prey. Her gaze never left him-never even blinked, like she was terrified that if she did, she'd miss some vital truth that might finally explain everything. Theo settled across from us and cleared his throat. He tried to keep his voice steady, but I could hear the strain buried beneath it. "Riley... I know you want answers. I wish I had more to give. I don't know who took your kidney. I don't know who has it now. But I do know this-it didn't happen randomly. Someone targeted you long before you ever went to prison." He laid the file folder on the table. One by one, he began pulling out sheets, placing them neatly between us. "These records-they're from a compatibility screening. A renal match evaluation, done eight years ago. I need you to look. Was this your test? And if it was... who brought you in for it?" Riley reached out with shaking hands, as if the papers might explode on contact. Her eyes devoured the information. Eight years ago. I saw the moment she realized what that date meant. The way her pupils dilated. The way her spine stiffened. "Eight years ago, she returned to the Ebonclaw Pack-to the family that had abandoned her. That was when her so-called parents took her to the Mooncrest Central Hospital. Told her it was just a physical. Routine check-up, they'd said. A precaution. They were concerned for her." She believed them.She thought-gods, she thought they cared. But it was all a lie. I watched her freeze, then begin to tremble-first slightly, then uncontrollably. Her entire body shivered as the realization sank in. They didn't bring her back out of love. They brought her back to harvest her. She was just a donor to them. A walking organ bank. The tears came next-hot, furious tears that burned tracks down her cheeks. And in that moment, I swore I could feel her heartbreak like it was my own. Her voice, when it came, was hoarse. Raw. "Eight years ago... the day after I came back... they took me to Mooncrest Central. I thought it was just a full-body checkup... but it wasn't. Was it?" Her voice cracked. "They planned this from the start..." The whole room held its breath. She looked up at Theo again. "They didn't love me. They never did. But this? This is what I was worth to them?" Her voice faltered, drowned in disbelief and betrayal. Her lips quivered, her fists clenched in her lap. She wasn't crying out of sadness-no. This was grief sharpened into rage. Into hate. And gods, it took everything in me not to burn the Ebonclaw Pack to the ground right then. Everyone was quiet-Duke, Mia, even Matriarch Duskgrave who'd joined us in silence. No one knew what to say. They were all staring at Riley like she might shatter. I, on the other hand, felt the pressure building in my chest like a storm. My blood ran ice-cold. My breathing slowed to a lethal rhythm. They hurt her. They carved her apart. And they did it with smiling faces and parental concern. I've seen monsters in my time-but Abaric Vale and his families redefined the word. Still... I couldn't lose control. Not yet.I forced myself to stay focused. "One year ago," I said, my voice cutting through the room like a blade, "who in the Ebonclaw Pack was hospitalized?" All eyes turned to Theo. He blinked, ran a quick mental scan. "No one. Not that I know of..." Then he paused. "Wait. Scarlett. She was overseas a year ago. Only returned recently." My jaw clenched. Coincidence? No. I didn't believe in those. Not in this game. "We'll know soon enough," I said coldly. "Get the travel records." Duke shot up from the couch, almost knocking it backward. His fingers grazed the worn edge of the medical documents. "I'll find out everything." I glanced at him. "No," I said. "You need rest. This goes to Caelum." Duke hesitated mid-step, surprise flickering across his face. But I didn't look away. Didn't blink. I sat forward, elbows on my knees, my voice low and unwavering. This wasn't just another mission now. This was war. And I would raze every stone of the Ebonclaw Pack before I let them touch Riley again.