GIFTED RILEY by Lacy Mierr

Chapter 34: Was It Just Lies?

*Riley*

I put down the drink I had been sipping while watching out the window of the ballroom, running outside to greet the familiar face. Mya was smiling as she watched me approach, which only boosted my confidence in greeting her.

“Mya! What are you doing here?” I bounced towards the she-wolf I was considering as my friend. She didn’t seem as well-dressed as I was for the day, but that didn’t make her look any less pretty. Every one of the wolves in the castle was beautiful. I was fairly jealous of my human genetics.

She smiled, most likely noticing my enthusiasm to talk to someone I know at this party. “I didn’t see you at practice today, so I was worried you were sick. I came to look for you, but you were nowhere to be seen.” She gave me a once-over as if she was checking on my health herself. Obviously, I was fine.

“Sorry, I’ve been really busy today,” I tried to explain with a worried frown. I didn’t want to seem like I was trying to avoid her in any way. I wasn’t going to push away the one person who wasn’t forced to be friendly around me.

“I know. While I was walking past the convention hall, I finally found you dancing with the king. Nice moves, by the way,” Mya said with a

Chapter 34: Was it Just Lies?

chuckle. “You two are very cute together.”

I flushed, embarrassed that I was caught with the lycan king by her. However, it felt really nice to know that someone was paying attention. Happy that I had someone who cared about the small things like this. with me. “Thank you,” I responded in a shy manner.

“So, what’s this whole thing about then?” The she-wolf asked while tossing a thumb back toward the ballroom. I turned to look back where she was pointing, even though I knew what she was asking about.

“Oh, it’s just a Welcome Back party for Luna Adele. She’s just returned and it’s supposed to be some meeting between her friends,” I explained while waving away the party. It wasn’t anything important for anyone except Adele, who was getting back in touch with everyone she needed

to.

Mya turned to her with raised eyebrows, “I didn’t know you were a friend of Luna Adele.”

“I’m not sure I am. I was just invited because I’m the Lycan king’s plus one. He is her son, after all.” I didn’t mean to insinuate any relationship. between me and Adele. I didn’t want her to catch wind of it and think

I’d been spreading any rumors.

“I think there’s more than that,” Mya cut in with a wiggle of her eyebrows. “There must be something important between you and Nicolas for her to be inviting you personally as well.”

Chapter H-Was It Just Lies?

I smiled at the woman, liking her optimism, “I have to get going. Mya. I’ll see you whenever I see you next!” She muttered her goodbye so I turned to move back to the party I had abandoned.

As soon as I entered the venue again, I made my way to the bathrooms. The few drinks I had made their way through me quicker than I imagined they would and nature was calling.

That was when I found Vera getting it on with Knox, leaning against the corner just at the end of the hall from the powder rooms. Did Vera finally give in enough to accept the bond with him? I hoped so. I really wanted to see a happy ending between the both of them.

Now that I paused to think about it,didn’t Nicolas say that it was Vera who called him away from the dance floor? Now that the Beta was seen here, where was the lycan king? A sinking feeling began to set into my gut. I tried pushing it away. There was nothing wrong with it, I don’t even know if he purposefully lied to me now or not.

Vera broke away from Knox, flinching when she noticed they had an audience. It didn’t take long for her to notice the pondering expression on my face. Her hands raised in mock surrender, “This is none of your business,” she reminded. “I just saw Nicolas head for the gardens if you want to take a look there for him.”

I nodded, “Thanks for letting me know!” Then I took a glance between the two flustered wolves with a smirk. Knox had his forehead pressed to her collarbone, refusing to look back at where I was standing.

The Beta opened her mouth as if she finally wanted to explain what I

Chapter 38 Was

had walked in on. Or maybe she was going to try to throw more snarling my way to get me to leave.

Either way, I didn’t stay to listen to any of it. I turned away and started to make my way to the gardens I was directed to. I wanted to find out wherever Nicolas had gone so I could settle the dark feeling.

The gardens were beautiful at any time of day. It was a place in the castle that I was tempted to spend all day in if I was allowed to do that. All hours of the day and the night. Even now, as I passed with

determination to find the lycan king, my hands reached out to touch the beautiful flowers as I passed.

I had to go through many twists and turns in the maze-like garden before I finally found my mate. He was standing in one of the openings, shifting on his feet with his eyes set on someone else.

I took a few more steps away from the brush that was sticking in my way, finally seeing what his eyes were set on. My teeth gritted against. one another while my eyes narrowed at the scene in front of me. It was a she-wolf right across from him, with her breasts got on his chest. Did he lie to me to meet this woman on the side?

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