Riley's POV Alaric's ambition knew no bounds. He didn't just want my kidneys-he planned to donate my entire body after death, have me laid out on some cold slab as a cadaver for medical students, wrapped in the lie of altruism. And the timing was perfect for his performance. That night-Scarlett's Ascension Banquet-the entire Mooncrest elite was there. Every Alpha, Luna, Beta, and councilman witnessed it firsthand: Alpha Alaric's "selfless sacrifice." His daughter, Scarlett, would be saved from kidney failure. He'd be lauded as a hero. A "noble father." A "philanthropic Alpha." His image would skyrocket, and the Vale Group's grip over Mooncrest would tighten. The shareholders would eat it up-every drop of it. Then he'd turn that favor into pressure. Use them to force Luna Zara into handing over her shares. Once he had that, once the pack's heart and finances were under his thumb, he could break her mind, piece by piece. And the world would only pity him more-a tragic, devoted mate who stood by his Luna through her descent into madness. Eventually, she would die. And Elira Blackthorn-Scarlett's mother-would take her place at his side. Kael? He was never part of the endgame. Talented or not, Alaric planned to cut him out completely. Every drop of inheritance would go to Elira, Scarlett, and the bastard child he kept overseas. Kael would work himself to the bone for the Vale name... and never see a single coin for it. That was the brilliance of Alaric's scheme-five birds with one blood-soaked stone: Save Scarlett. Become a legend. Shatter Zara. Claim Elira. Erase Kael.And the best part? I was supposed to die for it. It would've worked too-if not for Tessa. That night, the banquet was crowded beyond belief. She hated the press of bodies, the scent of wine and sweat, so she snuck upstairs to find an empty restroom. She wasn't meant to hear anything. But she did. Every word. Scarlett. Alaric. Their whispered plan to lead me to "accidental" brain death, sign off the paperwork, and carve my body apart in front of the whole damn city under the banner of science and sacrifice. Tessa wasn't stupid. She may have been gentle, even naïve at times-but that night, she heard enough to know monsters when they bared their teeth. She panicked. Scarlett noticed. And so, Tessa had to die. Scarlett lured her into the Black Forest with some excuse, some sweet lie-and when they got deep enough, the Rogues sprang the trap. She'd had them waiting there for hours. It was Elira who covered the scene, dousing the air in a rare alchemical tincture to mask the real scent trail... and redirect it to me. Everything would've gone as planned, if Tessa hadn't dropped that earring. A limited edition one-Kael's gift. And if they hadn't forgotten the surveillance camera tucked high in the trees near the southern ridge. But Alaric didn't care. He had faith. He believed Zara and Kael were just blind enough-just loyal enough-to ignore every red flag. That all he needed were a few carefully placed words... or better yet, a few of Scarlett's tears. And gods help me, he was right. That's all it took.One trembling sob, and my own blood offered me up like a lamb to the slaughter. It was laughable. So Scarlett pointed her finger at me. And that, ironically, is what saved me. Had she not shifted the blame so quickly, I would've been pronounced brain-dead within the hour. My organs harvested. My body dissected. A footnote in Alaric's legend. Instead, I was thrown in prison. Tried. Sentenced. Locked away. Tortured. Humiliated. But I stayed alive. And that made all the difference. Because in that cell-cursed and spat on, starved and broken-I still breathed. In the twisted, brutal maze of their lies, prison became my salvation. The lesser evil. Because the other path? It was worse. Far, far worse. So when I finally crawled out of that hell, the truth still clinging to my bones like dried blood, I emerged not whole... but alive. And now, standing here in Lucien's house with the truth burning through every lie they ever built, I should feel triumphant. But I don't. Because five years ago, they gave me two choices: Die screaming in silence. Or live screaming behind bars. And now that I know everything-every betrayal, every blade-they carved into my back... That's what hurts most of all.