GIFTED RILEY by Lacy Mierr

Chapter 41: Homecoming

*Riley*

It was all too surreal. I looked at all the faces before me. There were familiar faces, and… strange ones. I wasn’t sure what to do, or what my role here was. My feelings were all over the place.

I stood rooted to the spot for a moment, trying to figure out what to do next. There was still some anxiety, yes. But I was also nostalgic, and hateful for what this place had turned me into. But also, I was petrified. We had to put a permanent end to these hunters.

From where I stood, I spotted a wounded guard trying to make his way into the hall. He looked unsteady and his injuries were severe. The guard stumbled, barely holding up his weight.

I rushed toward him, but before I could reach him, his knees gave way and he fell to the ground. I made my way to him frantically. I reached down to help him up, not minding the muddy ground, while ignoring the stench of blood and sweat that stung my senses.

My knees buckled under his weight, but I was determined not to show any weaknesses.

As he stretched to his full height, his familiar eyes met mine. “Aaron?”

“Riley?” he smiled. He winced and I could tell that the stretch of his lips hurt. “We missed you.”

“You should speak for yourself Aaron,” I said. I tried to smile back, but my face felt like it had forgotten how.

Aaron was my friend, probably the only friend I had here. We had worked together on several occasions when I had to move heavy things. that I had no business moving or when I did things for the rest of the pack. He was always there to help me when he could.

It was hard, looking at a ‘friend’ in a place I detested so much. A place. I suddenly wanted to protect with everything I had in me. What were these confusing emotions? And how the hell do I get rid of them before they eat me alive?

He shook his head at my lame attempt at a joke. “I missed you, and I’m so happy to see you,” Aaron said.

I opened my mouth, but before I could respond, I felt Nicolas’ presence behind me. I didn’t have to turn around to see that he was there, Aaron’ s body language had completely changed. He lowered his head, moving himself away from my support.

“Alpha Nicolas,” he greeted.

I liked knowing that Nicolas was so powerful and everyone gave him the respect that he so obviously deserved. But I didn’t want the people. close to me to feel like they couldn’t speak to me or be around me

Chapter 41: Homecoming

because they feared what Nicolas might do.

Aaron tried to move again, but he winced in pain. I offered my shoulder, urging him to take the help, but instead, he held my arm. gently. That was the least he was willing to let me do for him.

“It’s okay Aaron, I got you.” I offered my shoulder again, but the look he shot me told me all I needed to know. I let it go, helping him to at bench just in front of the hall.

Nicolas was by my side in a flash. “We’re here to offer the help we can, but we need to know what the hell happened here,” he said, already interrogating Aaron.

Aaron didn’t have a choice. He had to answer. “The hunters attacked us last night.”

Nicolas’ gaze met mine for a brief moment. He wasn’t satisfied with that answer. “We know that much. What I need to know is how it happened, how they managed to take down a full pack of wolves.”

Aaron stared down at the ground painfully. “That’s what I don’t know. We were prepared for them, this shouldn’t have happened. But somehow, they managed to take us down. We suffered heavy losses.”

My mind began to race. They had suffered heavy losses. What did that mean? That Noah was dead? My sister? My entire body shook in fear of what I would sec.

“Is my…” I began, but before the words could leave my mouth, Nicolas wrapped his hand around mine, comforting me. He knew, he knew how hard this was for me. How confused I was. I didn’t know whether to show concern or if I had to play the role of Nicolas’ mate.

What role did I play here? F**k! I hated feeling like this. Like my emotions were about to swallow. Luna Adele said I had to be strong, but at this point, I wasn’t sure I had it in me.

“We tried to care for our wounded but…” Aaron trailed off, letting my imagination run wild.

I couldn’t hear any more of this. I needed to make sure, to see for myself that they were all okay. I made my way inside, hearing the heavy sound of Nicolas’ boots behind me.

I was glad he was letting me take the lead, while still staying by my side. I wasn’t ready for whatever was behind that door, but I didn’t have a choice. Not knowing was way worse.

With as much courage as I could muster, I placed my hand on the blood-stained door and pushed it open. I questioned all my choices the moment I pushed the door open.

The large, grand hall I once knew was a complete mess. Neatly placed. chairs were replaced by scraps of wood sc**d across the floor. There was blood everywhere, the entire room was stained with blood. I thought outside was bad, but this was horrific. It was daunting.

The room was scanty, there were barely any wolves there. And the

people who mattered to me were nowhere in sight. What would happen. when I saw them? Would we hug each other? Sigh in relief that everyone is safe and well?

I guess I’d have to wait and see,

A figure was limping weakly toward me. I recognized the face. It was Haley, one of Ava’s friends who had bullied me relentlessly. The one who had caused most of my nose bleeds. In fact, she was the last person to shove me before I left this place.

My first instinct was to run, to protect myself. But then I caught myself. Why would I do that? I had the upper hand in the situation. Haley would never dare raise a hand against me again.

Haley’s eyes widened when they made contact with mine. She bowed her head humbly. “You’ve changed so much.”

I had thought of this moment for so long, the moment when everyone who had once bullied me would see who I’d finally become. But, I didn’t have time to relish in the moment.

I needed to go to my father’s house. Things weren’t looking good and I had to know, now!

With every step I took, dread gripped me tighter, squeezing the air from my lungs. I hid my hands underneath my dress. I couldn’t stop them from shaking and I didn’t want Nicolas to see.

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I could hear m u f f l d cries echoing through the distance and it made my heart race. I froze in the doorway, paralyzed by the terror of what was behind the door. N i o a s ‘s reassuring touch on my back did little to calm the storm raging inside me.

Mustering what courage I could, I entered, and the sight before me shattered my world into pieces. No! No! No! Oh g d, no! This couldn’t be real!

My father lay there, the once formidable beta of the Evermane pack, unmoving and devoid of life. Two figures knelt before his lifeless form, but my eyes blurred with tears. Denial and anguish flooded my veins ast I stumbled forward, desperate for a different reality.

I needed to get a better look. Maybe it wasn’t him. But before I could, a familiar voice cut through the air.

“You!”