So, I agreed to Galeâs request and tried my best to persuade you to allow us to keep the force.
Butâ¦â
Riley was consumed by a mix of sorrow and guilt.
âI never saw Galeâs true intentions.
She used that military force to instigate chaos with the Xeric Pack against the Thorn Edge Pack!â
Caleb and I remained quiet, digesting the irony.
Our past goodwill had been twisted into a weapon against us, leading to this predicament.
What a cruel twist of fate!
âIâm so sorry!â Riley realized her mistake.
Regret filled her face, tears streaming down her cheeks.
She sobbed and admitted, âItâs my fault.
I trusted Gale too much, and she manipulated me.
Itâs all my fault!â
I felt a weight in my heart.
Riley was merely a tool in this scheme, yet the consequences were dire for the Thorn Edge Pack, with many of our kind losing their lives.
Forgiving Riley wasnât easy, given the scale of the tragedy.
Moreover, I had a role in this, having convinced Caleb to allow the armed force into Roz District.
That decision played a part in the chaos that unfolded.
If we hadnât let them in, perhaps the Thorn Edge Pack could have been spared the surprise attack and the resulting losses.
Needing to move past the heavy subject, I inquired further.
âRiley, why are you here? After the uprising, didnât the Thorn Edge Pack fight back and detain Roz Town residents? How come Carlos didnât hold you captive?â
Debraâs POV:
The sound of my question deepened Rileyâs sobs, her hands hiding her face in anguish.
âThat night, during the uprising, my son Luca was taken by the Xeric Pack.
Desperate to save him, I followed them and found myself lost in the forest.
â
I was stunned.
âWhy would the Xeric Pack take Luca? What would they stand to gain?â
After all, werenât both Riley and Luca members of their own pack?
Could it be that they doubted Rileyâs loyalty, fearing she might foil their plans, so they used Luca as bait to lure her away?
Riley, still crying, shook her head, her words stuttering through her tears.
âI donât know.
After I trailed them into the forest, a witch from our pack attacked me.
The next thing I remember is waking up here.
â
She took my hand, eyes full of regret.
âDebra, Iâm so sorry.
This is all my fault.
Iâve brought harm to everyone, especially the Thorn Edge Pack!â
Seeing her anguish tugged at my heart.
Riley had been a pawn in Galeâs scheme, manipulated by personal motives.
Without her unwitting involvement, Galeâs plan for revenge would not have unfolded so swiftly.
But Riley was also a victim in all this.
In truth, she cared deeply for the people of Roz Town.
Her intentions had been pure but exploited by Gale.
Galeâs fear of her interference in the uprising had led to Lucaâs abduction.
It was a calculated move to keep Riley at bay.