Chapter 163: Close Demands

When I made my demand, I saw Grant hesitate.

His brows pulled together. “RIley… it’s freezing outside.”

I laughed, sharp and tired.

“Cold?” I said. “So now you remember what cold feels like?”

He stiffened.

“Don’t forget what you did when I was ten.”

The memory came back without warning.

That winter, they’d brought me back to the pack estate for the New Year. Lincy accused me of breaking Grant’s prized vase. Monica made it sound like a crime against the whole family.

Normally, Grant wouldn’t have cared about a stupid object.

But I didn’t defend myself. I stayed quiet. And silence, in this house, had always been taken as guilt.

They dragged me outside and forced me down into the snow.

My knees burned. My hands went numb. The ground stole the warmth from my bones inch by inch.

If Lena hadn’t arrived when she did, I don’t know how long they would’ve left me there.

The cold wasn’t the worst part.

It was learning how easily I could be made small.

I looked at Grant now, my voice steady.

“You’re always quick to remind me that my mom is your only bonded mate. But you let Lincy do whatever she wants. If no one stops her, she’ll keep destroying things. And one day, she’ll hurt my mother.”

I didn’t tell him the truth then.

I didn’t tell him my mom was already fragile. Already carrying another life. Monica didn’t need more ammunition.

So I swallowed it and kept going.

“You couldn’t discipline Lincy,” I said. “But you made a child kneel in the snow. I’m not irreplaceable to you. I never was.”

That hit him.

Guilt settled over him like a weight. I felt it shift the air between us.

Grant turned to Lincy, his voice low and final.

“Your sister is right. You’ve been out of control for years. This is a pack home, not a playground. You will learn your place.”

Lincy’s face collapsed.

The guards moved quickly, clearing the broken pieces from the floor and dragging her forward.

She screamed. “Dad! You can’t do this to me! I’m your daughter! RIley, you witch! I’ll never forgive you!”

She struggled, kicking, clawing.

I stepped in and pushed her down myself.

They forced her onto the shattered remains she’d caused. The moment her palms hit the ground, blood bloomed red against white tile.

She screamed.

“Go on,” I said calmly. “Scream louder. It doesn’t change anything.”

She looked up at me, eyes wild with pain. “You monster!”

I crouched in front of her.

“Does it hurt?” I asked quietly. “Good. Don’t forget this feeling. What you and your mother did took years from me. This is only the beginning of balance.”

She gasped, shaking. “Laugh while you can. Dad loves me. The more you torment me, the more he’ll hate you.”

I smiled.

“Let him,” I said. “I don’t need him as a father anymore.”

I leaned closer.

“But you and your mother? You’ll repay everything. Losing money already broke you. Imagine what comes next.”

Her breathing hitched.

“If your mother hadn’t drugged my father,” I continued, “you wouldn’t exist. You were never meant for this life. You borrowed it. I’m just returning you to where you belong.”

She tried to speak. I grabbed her hair and pulled her head back.

“Feel this,” I whispered. “Remember it. Because this pain is mercy compared to what almost killed you.”

Her eyes widened.

“It was Camilla,” she whispered. “Nolan was just her scapegoat.”

“Yes,” I said. “You went after the wrong person. Nolan paid the price. The authorities followed the trail back to you.”

I straightened slowly.

“And you’re still alive because I stopped it there. The one who truly wants you dead isn’t me.”

Her body shook.

“You almost died,” I said coldly. “Next time, you might not see it coming.”

I turned away.

“Keep her down,” I ordered the guards. “She doesn’t stand until I say so.”

Grant came back out after settling my mother. His eyes went straight to Lincy’s bloodied hands.

“Her hands…” he murmured.

I barely glanced at her.

“She’s not dying,” I said. “If you’re worried, send her away. Just don’t bring her back here.”

My tone must’ve startled him, because he nodded quickly.

“I was only asking,” he said. “RIley… this is far enough.”

I didn’t answer.

Because in a pack like ours, mercy had always come last.

And tonight, balance mattered more.

I grabbed Grant by the arm and dragged him back inside, slamming the door shut behind us.

“Dad,” I said through clenched teeth, “are you pretending not to see what’s happening, or are you really that blind?”

He stiffened.

“Mom is carrying a child,” I continued. “At her age, that’s dangerous. You know it is.”

My chest tightened, heat pooling there, sharp and restless.

“Don’t forget what Monica did the last time Mom was expecting,” I said. “She almost lost me. Do you honestly think Monica doesn’t know about this pregnancy? Sending Lincy here wasn’t an accident. It was provocation.”

Grant opened his mouth, but I didn’t stop.

“What if this stress costs Mom the baby?” I demanded. “Is Lincy the only child you care about? Does the life growing inside Mom mean nothing to you?”

The words hit harder than I meant them to.

A flicker of guilt passed through me. Even Mom wasn’t completely sure who the child belonged to.

But right now, she was still Mrs. Gardner.

And until proven otherwise, that bond stood.

I didn’t give Grant time to recover before dropping the next truth.

“Lincy is one daughter,” I said quietly. “But Mom is carrying two lives.”

Grant froze.

“What did you say?” he asked, stunned. “RIley?”

“She’s having twins,” I said. “Didn’t she tell you?”

She hadn’t been speaking to him much lately. Barely tolerated his presence. It made sense he knew nothing.

Shock melted into joy on his face. He’d always loved children. The idea of twins lit something soft in him.

He rushed to my mom’s side and kissed her cheek. “Thank you,” he said warmly.

She rolled her eyes and pushed him away. “Get away from me. You make me sick.”

Grant only smiled, as if her rejection didn’t bother him at all.

I turned to him, my voice flat. “And Lincy?”

He didn’t hesitate.

“She stays where she is until she understands what she’s done.”

“Fine,” I said.

It was almost laughable how easy it was to steer him once you knew where to press. No wonder Monica had controlled him for so many years.

But now, the balance had shifted.

And it rested with me.

Camilla wouldn’t move yet. Not while things were uncertain. But if she waited too long, I’d give her a reason.

Lincy was useful.

And I intended to use her.

Still, unease curled beneath my calm. Monica was never careless. Two decades of manipulation didn’t happen by chance.

Had she already figured out Mom’s condition?

Was today planned… or just conveniently timed?

The chaos felt like a cover.

The real goal was pressure.

I frowned without realizing it.

Lewis noticed immediately.

He stepped closer and handed me an orange, neatly peeled. Every stringy bit removed. Just the way I liked it.

“Try this,” he said softly. “It’s sweet.”

I was still tense, but the small care eased something tight inside me.

“Okay,” I murmured, taking a bite.

Then the air shifted.

Monica appeared at the doorway.

The fox had finally arrived.

I straightened, ready for whatever act she’d prepared.

But instead of speaking, she suddenly dropped to her knees.

The sound startled me.

My heart slammed hard, old fear rising fast and sharp, memories of dying bleeding into the present.

Before she could move closer, my body reacted on instinct.

I leapt straight into Lewis’s arms, clinging to his neck, breath coming fast.

“Lewis,” I cried, gripping him tight. “Help me.”

His hold closed around me instantly.

Solid. Steady.

Protective.

And the room went very, very still.

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