Scarlett never imagined that her entire lineage would be uncovered so thoroughly. This time, fear truly gripped her-a visceral, cold dread that Lucien Duskgrave's reach extended even to secrets buried over twenty years ago. Her mind churned with a single desperate thought: she couldn't stay here any longer. She had to run. Now. With a sudden pivot, Scarlett bolted, every muscle screaming to flee. But before she could escape, an iron grip like a bear's clamped down on her shoulder, the pressure intense enough to crush bone. Ronan Duskcliff's voice grated through clenched teeth. "Scarlett, you haven't explained yourself yet. Where do you think you're going?" Pain blossomed across Scarlett's shoulder, tears stinging her eyes. "Ronan, you're hurting me." That one sentence ignited a torrent in Ronan's chest-years of suppressed fury and grief breaking free like a flood. "You feel pain?" he snarled. "When you pushed Tessa into the Black Forest, did you think she wouldn't feel pain?" "When you conspired to imprison Riley, bribed the rogues in that hellhole of a prison to torment her-did you think Riley wouldn't feel pain?" "And you, Alaric, and Dean Elira Blackthorn," he spat, his finger stabbing the air toward the cold woman standing nearby, "when you plotted to carve Riley's organs from her living body, did you think she wouldn't scream?" Rage burned in his eyes as he flung the documents hard into Scarlett's face. "Lying bitch! You've been deceiving me all along!" Tears spilled uncontrollably down Ronan's cheeks-whether for his own foolishness or for the betrayal of Riley, he could no longer tell. Then, with a sharp slap, he struck Scarlett hard, sending her crashing to the floor. "Scarlett-" In unison, Dean Elira, Caden Blackthorn, and Alpha Alaric gasped and rushed to Scarlett's side.But Ronan had no time for them. His eyes, burning with regret and pain, sought Riley. Words to pour out, apologies to make-but the wounds he'd inflicted were too deep. Moments ago, he had sworn to defend Scarlett. But it had all been a lie, born from his blindness. Scarlett's acting had fooled him, made him a victim of her manipulation. Desperation drove him to reach out, to pull Riley into an embrace heavy with regret. But Riley's brow furrowed in disdain. She recoiled from the touch, repulsed. Her injured legs trembled, making it impossible to escape quickly. Just as Ronan's arms were about to envelop her, a strong, graceful hand shot out and encircled her waist with steady, unyielding strength. A rush of sharp cedar and faint tobacco scent surrounded her as she was drawn into Lucien Duskgrave's protective embrace. Without hesitation, Lucien's boot shot forward, delivering a brutal kick that sent Ronan sprawling across the floor. "My people," Lucien's voice dropped icy and low, "you don't get to touch." Ronan lay sprawled, struggling to rise, pain and desperation etching his face. "Riley... I didn't mean to... Please forgive me..." Riley was silent, buried against Lucien's chest, her breath steady despite the chaos around her. Ronan's pleas fell on deaf ears, his hope collapsing into despair. She would never forgive him. His chance with the girl he loved was lost forever. The sight of Riley and Lucien locked together in quiet solidarity stung Ronan like a poison. Summoning his last shred of strength, he staggered to his feet, fists clenched tight. "Let go of Riley!" he roared. Lucien didn't even glance at him as he held Riley closer and began to step back.Ronan's fury exploded-bloodshot eyes blazing as he charged forward. "I said, let go of Riley-" Before he could reach them, Alpha Duskcliff's booming voice cut through the tension like thunder. "Enough!" Alpha Duskcliff's hand swung, delivering a hard slap to Ronan's cheek. "Ungrateful whelp, how long will you keep embarrassing yourself?" Mrs. Duskcliff's disappointed voice followed. "Ronan, you have failed us." From the shadows, Tessa sneered coldly, venom dripping from every word. "I'm ashamed to call you my brother. Having you as a brother is a curse that has lasted eight generations. From now on, you're no longer my brother-and I'm no longer your sister." "No, no, it's not like that. It's not my fault. Scarlett used me. I'm just another victim," Ronan cried, shaking his head wildly, desperate to justify himself. But Riley's forgiveness was gone, vanished like smoke on the wind. His family's rejection only deepened his agony.