GIFTED RILEY by Lacy Mierr

Chapter 17: Permission Not Granted

*Nicolas*

Vera seemed very confident when she gave her proposal and though her reasoning was sound. I couldn’t allow it.

“No.” I finally answered.

She chuckled, clearly expecting nothing less from me.

“What a surprise.” she rolled her eyes and took a seat in my favorite chair. She tossed her boots up on my desk and looked over at me.

“You know she must learn to protect herself. The people of Evermane kept her untrained but I do not believe she is weak, Nicolas. She believes that she is though.” she explained. I had seen it myself.

“She will have one of my most trusted betas with her at all times,” I said matter of factly.

“I am your most trusted betas and I refuse the job. She has no wolf Nicolas, she has been bullied her whole life even from her own family. Plus, it will help her fit in better,” Vera tried to reason with me. But hearing that my Luna was out of place didn’t sit right with me.

Chapter 17. Permission Not Granted

“Who has not made my mate feel welcomed?” I barked, unable to contain my frustration.

Vera glanced at me and saw more than I wanted.

“She has. I’m sure you have noticed the distance she keeps everyone at. She speaks to us, yes, but what does anyone know about her? Has she accepted her fate as your Luna yet?”

“Then you believe she will be Luna too? Mind telling her that?” I tried my hand at sarcasm.

“You need to be patient with her. It seems she has had a rough life and now she’s been uprooted here,” Vera paused, “Which is why I think giving her some training would be good,” she tried again.

“As patient as you have been with Knox?” I turned the tables on her. She cut her eyes at me and exhaled sharply, her white hair blowing up and over to the side of her face.

“That is totally different, and not what we are talking about,” she said, always refusing to explain why she has kept Knox, my g m m a and her potential mate hanging.

Seeing that I was unable to get a rise out of her, I returned to the subject at hand.

“Her training implies that I am not capable of keeping her safe. It is an

Chapter 17 Permission Not Granted

insult to me!” I snapped.

“Or maybe you should stop and think about her instead of what your loyal s e r v a n s will think,” Vera retorted, clearly p**d at me for mentioning Knox.

“So moody today my alpha king, meaning you can’t think straight. I suggest this for you. Perhaps she’ll be too worn out to kick you from her bed,” she said, trying to ease both of our rising tempers.

I cul eyes.

her, but didn’t mind the way her head was going. Not having what I wanted was hard for me, and I definitely wanted Riley.

Still I didn’t want any harm to come to Riley, but could I be causing her harm by keeping her weak and defenseless? If she had a wolf at least she would have some kind of protection but in this state she was completely at the mercy of others.

Working my jaw I sent a glare towards Vera.

“I do not like this plan and she does not kick me out,” I repeated just so she could truly understand how against it I was.

“I will take it easy on her,” Vera said, finally dropping her boots from my desk.

“You will do no such thing!” I roared

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Chapter

Vera smiled at me just as I realized what I had said.

“So you give your approval then?” she asked, looking too c**y for my liking.

I had no choice but to admit defeat. I gave a grunt of approval.

“But she must not get hurt,” I added.

“Then you’ve taken your approval away? That sets a new record for you,” she frowned at me.

“I said you can train her Vera, what else do you want from me?” I

snarled at her.

“How am I going to train her if you forbid her from getting hurt? The only way she can overcome what has happened to her in the past is to better her present so she can see a future for herself.” Vera said, making sure to catch my eye.

“What do you mean?” I had a feeling but when it came to Riley, I couldn’t seem to think correctly.

“You even said it yourself, she is weak. It will take time for the head. and heart to gain strength. She will need that time, but her body, a strong body is a fundamental first step. If she can find strength in knowing she’s not helpless then perhaps she can let you in. She has no wolf remember and it has been lorded over her head. I’m telling you,

she needs this,” she finished her grand speech.

It was a good one because I could finally see her point. Though there are other ways for her to feel more a part of her new life, if asked, I know Riley would choose to train. Riles is the perfect name for her as she gets under my skin.

Vera took my silence as an answer and stood to pat my shoulder.

“I know you have a busy day ahead, but stop by and check in on us. I have a feeling you will be impressed by what I see in her,” she said. Having won her case she took her leave,

My day was busy but throughout all of my tasks, I kept hearing Vera’s invitation to watch Riley train. It was well after noon when I finally made my way to the training hall. Being both king and alpha it was hard to go anywhere unnoticed but I managed to find a hidden spot with the perfect view.

There in the center of the training pad was Vera, in a fighting stance and Riley, looking small and awkward footed. Vera made a gesture for Riley to attack, to which she did with no hesitation. Vera grabbed her arm, spun inward towards Riley and easily flipped her onto the ground.

My body jerked forward on its own seeing Riley tossed around so easily but I stopped when she rolled over and got right back up. This time she copied Vera’s stance and was bold enough to gesture Vera attack her

Chapter 17. Permission Not Granted

Again she was flipped over from Vera’s skillful moves but again, she bounced right back up.

I chuckled as I leaned against the wall. Perhaps there was more to Riley then I first thought.