GIFTED RILEY by Lacy Mierr

Chapter 43: A Fly On The Wall

‘Nicolas*

Riley was the perfect Luna for me.

Beautiful, kind-hearted, loving, and my favorite part, she was fiercely loyal. Her only flaw was that she was terrible at hiding her emotions. And damn, she had a lot of emotions.

I knew how nervous she was the moment we arrived at the Evermane pack. Riley felt things stronger than anyone I’d ever met, maybe because she’s been through so much. But I would give her props for handling herself. She was just as strong as my mother said she was.

It was obvious that she was breaking inside, she was scared, confused, and any other negative emotion you could think of. But she managed to push those aside and put her family first.

I wanted to be there for her, to take some of the weight off, take on some of the horrible emotions she was feeling. But apart from the occasional tap on the back or a comforting hand wrapped around her, there wasn’t much I could do.

I felt utterly useless, and I hated it. I wanted to do more for her, but I could only do the best I could and hope to the moon goddess that it was enough.

Chapter 43 A Fly On The Wall

Honestly, I would have much preferred it if she didn’t come at all. Standing here, watching her break over and over again for people who had hurt her repeatedly. She didn’t need this, she shouldn’t have to deal with this. But my mate was too righteous to put herself first.

There was something surreal about watching her here after all this time. had passed. I wondered what was going through her head, how she was feeling.

What made everything even worse was the fact that the weasel was here, right now. The poor excuse of a man who couldn’t be honest enough to save his life. I couldn’t remember his name – I didn’t think he was necessary as he wasn’t worth the space in my head.

He was looking at Riley as if she held all the answers he had been searching for.

“You’re back,” he said. I almost scoffed.

What a drastic change in attitude. He hadn’t looked so happy the last time he saw her. Which made me wonder, did he think there was still a possibility that she would want him back?

Not a chance in hell!

Even though I knew he was a coward and he would never be man enough for Riley, the thought of that animal being within close proximity to her irritated me. I didn’t hate him, he wasn’t worth my emotions, I just hated what he did to my partner.

any

of

Riley didn’t deserve that, he was a fool for letting her go. But how dare he? How could he treat my partner in that manner? He would pay for it every day of his miserable life and there would be no relief for him.

My palms itched with the overpowering urge to crush his throat the moment I saw him approach Riley. I wanted to squeeze his skinny little neck and feel his blood run through my fingers as I drained the life out of him.

But Riley wouldn’t like that. Like I said, righteous.

She turned to face me with those baby blue eyes, eyes that I couldn’t resist. I knew what she wanted to ask. I wished she wouldn’t

say the words because I knew she would beg and I wouldn’t have a choice but to let her have her way.

“Can you give us a moment alone?” the words landed softly, with a vulnerability that had my chest tightening.

Damn it! “No, I cannot.”

“Nic…” she began, her voice barely a whisper.

I grabbed her arm stubbornly, not willing to let her go. “I refuse to leave you alone with him.”

The bastard couldn’t look me in the eyes. Good. At least he had a little

Chapter 43: A Fly On The Wall

bit of intelligence left.

“Nicolas, please,” she pleaded, pulling her arm away from my grip. “Just give us a moment. I’ll be out soon, just wait for me out here.”

As expected, she begged me with those magnificent blue eyes of hers. I wanted to refuse, but my heart tugged painfully at the thought of saying no to her.

“Trust me,” she said to me through mind link.

And just like that, all the fight left my body. Who was I kidding? There was no way I could say no to her.

“Fine,” I grunted, glaring at the coward, making sure he knew I could snap him like a twig. I pulled her, leaving a brief kiss on her lips. “I’ll be right outside,”

She nodded, returning the kiss. I moved aside watching with pained eyes as she made her way into her room and the weasel closed the door behind them.

What was I doing? There was no way I could leave her in there with him. But it was what she wanted and I wanted her to know that I trusted her and I respected her choices.

Finding another solution, I tried to listen in. I focused my hearing, but there was no sound coming from the room. What could they possibly

quiet?

Had that weasel managed to seduce her? Never! He wasn’t man enough

for her.

I was getting angrier by the minute. For the first time in my life. I desperately wished I was a fly on a wall. What I would give to know what was going on in tha t blo od y room.

It wasn’t helping that my wolf was complaining severely. How could I let her talk to her terrible ex alone? Well, because I respect her and I want to make us work. Not just for my pack, but for myself, and her.

My head told me I was doing the right thing, giving Riley her space, and her independence. I knew it was important to her.

But deep down in my gut, a different story was brewing. It churned with every nightmare my brain decided to cook up, each one wilder than the last. I tapped my feet impatiently.

I trusted her, but not him. I had to find a way into that room without upsetting Riley,

Just then, a servant approached, holding a silver platter piled high with steaming kettles. Tea! That was my in.

I raised my hand, gesturing to the s e r v a n t. “Hey,” I called out, maybe a little too loud. I held out a hand, probably faster than was strictly polite. “Come, give that to me,” I said, taking the tray from the servant.

Chapterfly On The Wall

Riley asked me to give them a moment, but she didn’t say I couldn’t offer them refreshments.