Chapter 14

Riley's pulse pounded in her ears, drowning out the world around her.

Kieran was talking no, arguing with Callum, his voice sharp with fury, but Riley barely heard a word.

Because Callum was right.

This was her choice.

And she didn't know what the hell to do.

She could still feel it, the heat curling under her skin, the hunger pressing against her ribs, the instincts that were getting harder to fight. If she lost control, she knew there would be no coming back.

But could she trust Callum to help her?

Kieran stepped in front of her, his expression hard. "Riley, don't listen to him."

Callum let out a dramatic sigh. "There you go again, trying to make choices for her." His golden eyes flicked to Riley, sharp with amusement. "A little controlling, don't you think?"

Kieran growled, his hands clenched into fists.

"Enough," Riley snapped, stepping between them before Kieran could throw a punch. "This isn't about you two, this is about me."

Callum smirked. "Glad someone finally said it."

Kieran exhaled sharply, turning his attention back to Riley. "You can't trust him."

Riley crossed her arms. "And I'm supposed to just trust you instead?"

Kieran flinched.

For a second, guilt twisted in her chest. But she wasn't going to back down.

Not after he had lied to her.

Not after she had nearly lost herself because of it.

Kieran shook his head. "You don't know what he wants."

Callum raised a brow. "That's easy. I want her."

Riley stiffened.

Kieran lunged.

Before he could reach Callum, Riley grabbed his arm and yanked him back harder than she should have been able to. Kieran stumbled slightly, eyes flashing with shock.

She had moved on instinct.

Just like before.

Her breath hitched.

Callum smiled like he had just won.

"See?" he said softly. "You're already stronger than you were yesterday."

Riley forced herself to breathe, to focus, to ignore the way her body felt right when she had moved.

"What do you want from me?" she demanded, voice tight.

Callum's smirk didn't waver. "I want to help you. I want you to survive."

Kieran took a step closer to her. "He wants to use you."

Callum tilted his head. "Says the guy who kept her in the dark."

Riley hated that he had a point.

She swallowed hard, turning her gaze back to Callum. "And what if I say no?"

Callum's smirk disappeared.

"Then," he said, "you'll lose yourself."

The words settled in her chest like a stone.

Callum wasn't threatening her.

He was warning her.

And that terrified her more than anything.

She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.

Then, slowly, she said, "Fine."

Kieran stiffened. "Riley"

"I'll hear what he has to say."

Callum's smirk returned, slow and satisfied. "Good choice."

Kieran grabbed her wrist again, his touch warm, desperate. "You don't have to do this."

Riley looked up at him, at the worry etched into his golden eyes, at the way he was silently begging her to trust him again.

But he had already lost that chance.

She gently pulled her hand away.

"I think I do."

And with that, she turned to Callum.

She had made her choice.

And now, there was no turning back.

The moment Riley pulled away from Kieran, something shifted.

The air between them, once tense but full of unspoken understanding, now felt fractured. The look in his golden eyes wasn't just frustration, it was a betrayal.

And yet, Riley forced herself to stand tall, to ignore the sinking weight in her stomach as she turned fully to Callum.

"Talk," she said. "But I'm not promising anything."

Callum's smirk widened. "That's all I need."

Kieran let out a sharp breath. "Riley, don't do this."

She didn't look at him. She couldn't.

Because if she did, she might hesitate. And right now, hesitation was dangerous.

Callum stepped closer, his golden eyes gleaming in the dim morning light. "You're changing," he said, his voice smooth, coaxing. "It's not just instincts, it's your body reshaping itself. You've felt it, haven't you? The strength? The speed?"

Riley clenched her jaw.

Yes.

Of course, she had felt it.

The heat under her skin, the pull in her muscles, the way she had moved without thinking like something inside her already knew what to do.

But admitting it to Callum felt like handing him a weapon.

So she stayed silent.

Callum, of course, saw right through her. "You can fight it all you want," he murmured, "but it won't stop. It wants to take over."

A chill crawled up her spine.

She knew that.

She had felt that.

And that was what terrified her the most.

"Let me help you," Callum continued. "Let me show you how to use it, how to control it before it controls you."

Kieran stepped between them, his voice a low growl. "Control it? Or use her for whatever twisted plan you're hiding?"

Callum sighed, looking almost bored. "Still so paranoid, Wolfe. It's exhausting." He turned back to Riley, expression softening. "I don't need to use you, Riley. You're already powerful. You just don't know it yet."

Kieran's hands clenched into fists. "She's not going anywhere with you."

Callum raised an eyebrow. "That's not your choice."

He turned to Riley again, watching her closely.

"This is your decision," he said, voice softer now. "Come with me. Train with me. I'll help you figure out what you are."

Kieran's voice was tight. "You can't trust him."

Riley inhaled sharply, forcing herself to focus.

She knew Callum was dangerous. She knew he had his agenda.

But she also knew that if she didn't get answers soon, she would lose herself.

She had already started slipping.

Already started changing.

She had felt it the night before when her claws had appeared without warning.

And she had felt it again today when she had thrown Kieran back without even meaning to.

If she didn't learn how to control this soon, she wouldn't be Riley anymore.

And that thought terrified her more than anything.

So she exhaled slowly, and

"I'll go."

Kieran froze.

For a second, the world itself seemed to stop.

Then

"No," Kieran said, his voice hoarse, raw. "No, you don't have to do this."

Riley turned to him, her throat tight. "I do."

Kieran's golden eyes searched hers, desperate. "Not with him."

Riley swallowed hard. "Then who?"

Kieran opened his mouth, then closed it.

And that silence that hesitation was the final nail in the coffin.

Because he didn't know.

He didn't have another way.

And Riley was done waiting.

She turned back to Callum.

"I leave alone," she said firmly. "No tricks. No backup. Just me."

Callum smirked. "I wouldn't dream of taking anyone else."

Kieran grabbed her wrist again, harder this time, his breathing uneven. "Riley, please."

Riley felt her chest tighten, her resolve waver

But it was already too late.

She had made her choice.

So she gently pulled her wrist free and took a step back.

Away from Kieran.

Away from safety.

His expression broke.

But he didn't try to stop her again.

Because he knew.

He knew.

She turned one last time, meeting his golden eyes.

Then she walked away.

And she didn't look back.

Every step Riley took away from Kieran felt heavier than the last like the earth itself was trying to drag her back.

But she didn't stop.

Couldn't stop.

Because if she hesitated now if she let herself turn around and see the look on Kieran's face one more time she might not have the strength to leave.

Callum moved beside her, his steps unhurried, casual, as he had already won.

And maybe he had.

Because Riley was going with him.

She was choosing this.

Her throat tightened, but she forced herself to keep walking, to ignore the storm brewing in her chest.

Behind her, she heard Nova's voice, sharp and disbelieving.

"Riley, what the hell?"

Riley swallowed hard. "I have to do this, Nova."

Nova let out a short, bitter laugh. "With him? Are you serious?"

Riley stopped.

Turned.

Met Nova's eyes, which were blazing with frustration and something else something close to hurt.

Riley's fingers curled into fists at her sides. "I don't have another choice."

Nova stepped forward, shaking her head. "That's bullsh*t and you know it."

"Nova"

"You do have a choice, Riley. And you're making the wrong one."

Riley flinched.

Because deep down, a small, treacherous part of her agreed.

But that didn't change the fact that she was still changing, still losing herself. And no one, not Kieran, not Nova, not even Elena had given her a real answer on how to stop it.

Callum had.

That made all the difference.

"I have to go," Riley said, her voice quieter now.

Nova stared at her for a long moment, jaw clenched.

Then she exhaled sharply and muttered, "Fine. Go."

The words felt like a slap.

But Riley didn't argue.

Didn't apologize.

She just nodded once, then turned back toward Callum.

He was watching her carefully, his golden eyes gleaming with something unreadable.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

No.

But she nodded anyway.

And then, just like that

She was gone.

Walking into the woods with the one person she had sworn to never trust.

And leaving everything else behind.