GIFTED RILEY by Lacy Mierr

Chapter 6: Meet Cute

*Nicolas*

He was taking too long. Hufling, I headed for the exit, determined that each step would bring me closer to finding her.

“Your Highness, he has returned,” Alpha Marshall said, halting my exit. I sniff and nearly gag from the smell. Cutting back inside I use my height to catch sight of her. If she had any beauty, I was unable to see

it.

As she closed in, I realized that she reeked of Noah’s scent and yet her eyes bore into mine as if she hungered for me. It was not me that caused her hips to sway as she approached, for I’ve been told for decades of how cold my gaze was.

No, I could tell that it was my title that excited her, enough that she would mock her mate just to try her luck at getting it. Waste of time.

She bows low, her a*s bouncing more than it should.

“I am Ava, Your Highness,” she introduced herself then stood again. I’ m not impressed.

“This is the daughter?” I cut my eyes between the alpha and beta. “The one who smells of another and acts as a harlot in front of her so-called mate. Alpha Marshall, I know my mate is in Evermane. you will bring her to me at once!” I snap.

“I-I have brought you all of the she-wolves. There is no one else.” He stammered, his stern façade faltering.

“You’re lying.” Vera said, coming to stand by my side. She kept her eves on Marshall but tilted her head in my direction as she spoke.

“Apparently the beta has two daughters. This one, and one he wished he hadn’t.” she said.

Marshall heard her and panic filled his eyes.

“That girl is always doing her own thing. She’s never fit in here,” he tried to explain.

“This is a joke to you.” I said.

Vera whispers a spell and Marshall gasps as he’s dropped to his knees. bound together by some invisible rope. The others in the room look ready to attack but don’t dare to.

“Of course not, but surely she can’t be your mate.” He strains against Vera’s hold on him.

“Bring her to me!” I ordered.

“My king. are you sure your mate is here?” he grunts.

“Now.” I add, not bothering with his question.

Marshall huffed out a breath and glanced at Oscar who shook his head.

“I don’t know where she is. She’s not responding to our call,” he finally explained

I stood to my full height and stalked over to him. He clearly wasn’t sensing my desperation, looking around the room, it appeared only Vera seemed to understand two very important factors that no one else had One, my patience was gone and two, I was not leaving here

without my mate.

Reaching down I placed my hand over his heart. With a twist I dig into. his chest and rip his heart out. Vera releases her hold on him and he drops to the ground.

“No!!” Noah cries out.

“Oh my goddess!” Ava sobs, turning towards her father who is too stunned to comfort her.

Hold the alpha’s heart I make my way over to Oscar. I hand him the heart of his alpha.

“Find your daughter, or you’ll join him.” I promise then make my exit. without bothering to look back.

*Riley*

Freedom really does smell sweet. There was something about knowing I was leaving everything and everyone behind that encouraged cach step. I wasn’t even fazed that I couldn’t say goodbye to anyone.

With Noah being the only one who was supposed to care about me, who else was I supposed to say goodbye to? The Lycan king? As if I could be a s*x sl*ve for him. His cruelty was well known and I had already had enough of that so far in my life. I didn’t need any more of

il.

I halted my grand escape when I heard a noise. I may have no wolf but my senses were still heightened beyond normal humans and what they were telling me was that I was no longer alone.

If it weren’t me, the intruders would have been a love sick couple out for an adventure, but it was me, Riley, wolf less, unloved, unwanted and unlucky.

I turned as three men emerged from the tree line. They ranged from various sizes but all still bigger than me.

They fanned out and surrounded me, their faces grim. The one in front of me had blood on his hands and clothes and looked very pissed.

“And here I thought it would be harder to find than this,” he spat at me, his voice dripping with hate.

‘You’re looking for me? I don’t know you,” I said, trying to keep them all in my line of view.

He held up his bloody hands.

“Remember him?” he snarled.

Oh this wasn’t good.

“Listen, whatever you think I did, I had nothing to do with that.”

“Shut it she-wolf. Where their deaths were quick, you will not be so lucky,” he started towards me. I held my hands up to halt him.

“Wait, you have the wrong person. I don’t even have a wolf. I can’t shift. If I did wouldn’t I have done so already? I’m harmless, useless,” I quickly explained.

He looked at his two fellow hunters and when he looked back at me, I knew I had messed up. In the span of a few seconds I went from being a threat to being the prey.

Taking a chance, I risked a daring escape. Arms grabbed me from the

back and tossed me to the ground. I hit my head hard but recovered when the bloody leader straggled me. Knowing what they wanted from me now, I fought him. Going for his eyes, n*cks, stretching his arms. The world couldn’t be this cruel.

“Get off of me!” my yell falling on deaf ears. I heard my shirt rip and felt the sun beaming down on my exposed stomach. I bucked against him. Suddenly my arms were captured and pinned up over my head leaving me completely defenseless.

That’s when the panic took over, I foolishly thought I could over power them, they were only humans, but I wasn’t prepared for this kind of assault, wolves didn’t do this.

I closed my eyes, unable to watch as I prepared to lose yet another part of me I could never get back.

An animalistic growl popped my eyes open just in time for me to see the leader slam against a tree, dead instantly.

The ones on my arms released me but didn’t get far as the massive black wolf struck out his paw, claws extended and shredded him to ribbens. The last wasn’t spared as the wolf leapt towards him and landed directly on him, crushing him..

The battle was quick, the gore was raw and I was shaking as the wolf turned its head towards me. Piercing eyes peered into me, both freezing me and igniting something I couldn’t comprehend at the

moment.

He was the biggest wolf I had ever seen, and I held all of his attention. I swallowed and licked my dry lips in terror.

Instead of attacking me, the wolf shifted and stood panting in his powerful unashamed n*ked form. I openly gawked at him then

Chapter 6 Meet Cube.

panicked and shut my eyes. I was just about to apologize when a voice.

echoed around me.

“Mine.”