Chapter 28

The hunger stayed with her long after the rabbit was gone.

Riley felt it under her skin, coiled tight, waiting.

She had thought stepping away from the barn, from Kieran's knowing eyes, would help. Maybe the cold air would clear her head.

It didn't.

It only made her realize how close she had come to losing herself.

She had wanted to crush that rabbit in her hands.

Not out of anger.

Not out of malice.

But because she had wanted to feel what it was like.

She pressed her fingers into her palms, nails digging into her skin.

She needed to stop this.

She needed to stop herself.

A crunch of leaves behind her.

Riley spun, her pulse spiking

Kieran.

He was watching her carefully, standing just a few feet away, his hands in his jacket pockets.

"You shouldn't be out here alone," he said. His voice was even, but there was something sharp in his eyes.

Like he knew exactly what had just happened.

Riley exhaled, forcing herself to stay calm. "I needed air."

Kieran stepped forward. "You needed control."

She flinched.

Because he was right.

Again.

She hated that he was always right.

She turned away from him, staring into the darkness of the trees. "You don't have to babysit me, Kieran."

"No," he said, voice low. "I don't."

But he was still here.

Still watching.

Because they both knew she wasn't safe anymore.

Not from Tobias.

Not from the pack.

Not even from herself.

The next day, they left the barn behind.

It wasn't safe to stay in one place for too long.

Tobias's wolves were hunting them.

They stuck to the deep woods, moving carefully. Nova was quiet, which wasn't like her.

Riley could tell she was scared.

She wasn't the only one.

The thing that had attacked Kieran was still out there. The creature that spoke in her voice.

She could feel it.

Like a whisper in the back of her mind, waiting for her to hear it.

They didn't speak much as they moved.

Not until they heard footsteps.

Not the pack. Not wolves.

Something else.

Riley stopped.

Kieran's body went tense. His golden eyes flickered toward the trees.

Then a shadow moved.

A figure stepped into view.

Callum.

Riley's stomach tightened.

Nova stiffened beside her. "Oh, hell no."

Callum raised his hands. "Easy." His smirk was intact, but there was something careful in the way he looked at Riley.

Like she was different now.

Like he knew something had changed.

Kieran moved before Riley could.

His body was a blur one second standing still, the next pinning Callum against a tree.

Callum let out a sharp breath, but he didn't fight back.

"You shouldn't be here," Kieran snarled.

Callum smirked. "Neither should you, Wolfe."

Riley's pulse pounded.

She stepped forward, ignoring the way Nova grabbed her sleeve to stop her. "Why are you here?"

Callum's golden eyes flicked to hers. "To help you."

Nova scoffed. "Yeah, I'll pass on that."

Riley ignored her, her gaze locked on Callum. "Help me how?"

Callum smirked. "By telling you what no one else will."

Kieran let out a low growl. "Riley, don't listen to him."

Callum exhaled sharply. "I'm not the enemy here."

"You work for Tobias," Kieran snapped.

Callum's smirk faltered.

"Not anymore."

Silence.

Riley studied him. "You're lying."

Callum met her gaze. "Am I?"

She hesitated.

Because he didn't sound like he was lying.

Nova muttered, "Riley, don't even think about it."

But Riley was thinking about it.

Because no matter how much she hated Callum, no matter how much she knew she shouldn't trust him

He knew things.

And she needed answers.

Desperately.

She took a step forward. "What do you know?"

Kieran's eyes flashed. "Riley"

She shot him a look. "I can handle myself."

Kieran didn't look convinced.

Callum smirked, straightening his jacket. "There's a place. A safe house. No wolves, no hunters. Just answers."

Riley frowned. "Answers to what?"

Callum's gaze darkened.

"To what you are."

Her pulse skipped.

Nova made a disgusted noise. "Oh, come on. You're falling for this?"

But Riley wasn't listening anymore.

Her mind was already racing.

Kieran had tried to protect her.

Nova had tried to distract her.

Elias had told her only pieces of the truth.

But no one had given her the full story.

And if Callum knew

She had to find out.

She turned back to Kieran. "I'm going."

His jaw tightened. "No, you're not."

Riley squared her shoulders. "Yes. I am."

Kieran's golden eyes burned. "You don't trust him."

"No," she admitted. "But I trust myself."

Kieran took a slow step forward. "I'm not letting you walk into a trap."

Riley lifted her chin. "Then come with me."

Kieran's breath hitched.

Callum grinned. "Oh, I like this plan."

Nova groaned. "Riley, this is a terrible idea."

Maybe it was.

Maybe this was the worst decision she had ever made.

But she was done waiting.

Done hiding.

Done being afraid of the truth.

She met Callum's gaze.

"Take me there."

Callum's smirk deepened.

And just like that

She had made her first mistake.

The safe house was in the old district, hidden between abandoned buildings and overgrown alleyways.

Riley should have known.

Should have felt the trap closing in.

But she had been too focused on the hunger in her chest, the burning need for answers.

She only realized something was wrong when Callum pulled open the door

And Tobias was waiting inside.

Riley's blood ran cold.

Kieran snarled, moving fast but wolves stepped out of the shadows, blocking the exit.

A trap.

A perfect, unavoidable trap.

Callum let out a mocking sigh. "You really should have seen this coming, Riley."

Her heart pounded.

Tobias smiled. "Welcome home."

"Welcome home."

Tobias's words slithered through the air, wrapping around Riley like chains.

She couldn't move.

The room was too small, the walls pressing in. Wolves lurked in the corners watching, waiting.

Her gaze snapped to Callum.

"You" Her voice shook with fury.

Callum smirked, leaning against the doorframe. "What? You thought I turned against Tobias?" He let out a mock sigh. "Riley, you wound me."

Betrayal burned through her like wildfire.

She had walked into this.

She had let this happen.

Kieran was breathing hard, his golden eyes locked on Tobias, rage flickering beneath the surface.

Riley swallowed, forcing her voice to stay steady. "What do you want?"

Tobias's smile didn't fade. "The same thing I've always wanted."

His gaze darkened.

"You."

Riley's stomach twisted.

Because for the first time, she wasn't sure if he meant to kill her

Or use her.

Tobias stepped forward, his wolves closing in.

Riley's pulse roared in her ears.

There was no running.

No escaping.

The trap had snapped shut.

And this time, she wasn't sure she would make it out alive.