A KISS UNDER THE GOLDEN MOON

CHAPTER 10. RILEY'S STORY

THIS CHAPTER BRIEFLY DESCRIBES EPISODES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, PLEASE BEWARE.

Riley's POV

I am ready for the questioning. I knew this moment would come. I can't hide forever. Adam said his Alpha is a fair man, and I can only hope that he listens to me before he decides to cast me away.

"You are correct. That is not my name. I was born Nichole Elizabeth Camden, but I don't recognize that name anymore. That girl is long gone, and I am here instead. Riley Thompson." I respond. Adam knew a little about my past life, but I couldn't tell him everything, I was ashamed of what he would think of me. The Alpha is studying me, and nobody is making a sound.

"Why?" A simple question, it should have a simple answer, but I can't find the words to start.

"Is a long story, I haven't told Adam everything. It is something I am ashamed of." I am afraid Adam will reject me after hearing the full story.

"Go ahead, Riley, I won't judge you." Adam says, holding my hand, but even so, the words don't come easy. The room is getting smaller, and I am starting to feel trapped. All eyes are on me, attentive and questioning. I sigh before I start.

"It was about 5 years ago, my sister had found her mate. The Beta of our pack, but it wasn't going to be that easy. Our Alpha had to approve every union. Sometimes, he would approve without even thinking about it, but others, he had to think about it, eventually, he would accept and everyone would be happy, but it was different for my sister, Alpha Gordon hadn't found his mate yet, so he decided that they could mate as long as I accepted to be his mate." My voice is starting to break, and I am trying to contain the tears. Adam gives me a reassuring squeeze. I never told him much before, I only said that I had to escape my pack and changed my name to save my life, and he accepted me with no more questions.

"Our mate will still love us. He is not leaving us." My wolf encourages me to continue.

"Did you accept?" Alpha George asks.

"I didn't, but it didn't matter. Alpha Gordon wanted me, and he took me anyway." I finally break. the memory of that night all haunts me. I was only 19 and I hadn't been with anyone before.

"You don't have to say anything anymore. we can stop right here." At least Alpha George is being reasonable, but I feel that I need to continue. The safety of this pack depends on it.

"I need to, Alpha. When I heard the Black Thorn pack attacked, I knew time was catching up to me, I am afraid that this is not a coincidence. They must've found out that my mate is from this pack and want revenge." Everyone is looking at me waiting for more information. I can feel Adam stiffen nervously next to me. It is now or never. I have to speak. "Gordon didn't let me out of the room much. He....mmm, he needed an heir, but it wasn't happening, and he was getting impatient. When he saw things weren't happening, he started getting abusive. Every night, he would hurt me, and at one point, my body was covered in bruises, and my face was unrecognizable." I have to take a pause.

"If I ever encounter him, I am going to kill him!" Adam says with anger. I can tell he is not taking this well. I just hope he still wants me after I'm done.

"One night, I couldn't take it anymore. I waited for him to fall asleep, I knew he had guards stationed all through the Alpha floor and Beta floors. He didn't trust his Beta anymore, I escaped through a window, climbing a balcony and the trellises that were hung around the house. I was afraid to die, but dying was not such a bad outcome if I never had to see Gordon again. Once out, I ran to the forest as far as I could, I was really hurt from the beaten earlier, but I pushed through the pain. It didn't matter, though. The alarms went off as soon as I reached the tree line. The guards were sourounding me almost immediately, and Gordon went after everything I loved and cared about most, the only beings I had, my mother and my sister. He threatened to kill them if I didn't go back to him. My mom didn't beg. She also didn't cry, she fought, she kicked and she hurt him pretty bad, this angered him. In the end he killed her without hesitation, he snapped her neck. It was a nightmare. At that point, I lost all my strength to fight. I gave in, my sister was all I had left, I had to live, for her." The memories of that night will haunt me forever. I only started to feel alive again when I met Adam. It felt like I was given an opportunity to start over for real. Amy and Steve brought me back to life, but Adam made me feel again.

"I think it is enough for one day, Alpha. This is stressing my mate, and frankly, I don't need to hear how she was tortured and used by an asshole." I think Adam will never forgive me.

"Adam, please. If telling my story will help Alpha George trust me, then it is a small price to pay." I ask him with tears in my eyes. I can see the anger and resentment in his eyes and is breaking me.

"Fine, but I'm not staying. I'm leaving." He turns around and leaves the room furious.

"He just needs time to process. What you just shared is a lot, and we really had no right to invade your privacy like that. I'm sorry, Riley." Liam says apologetic.

"I am sorry too.I judged you, and I shouldn't have. I was just afraid for my pack." Liam's brother says sincerely.

"Riley, is your sister still alive?" Alpha George asks.

"My sister killed herself. He had her locked in the dungeons while he dealt with me, but she killed herself so I could be free. Her mate helped me escape a few days later. We left together, but we were caught just before we reached the pack border. He tried to defend me, but he was too weak. My sisters death left him pretty bad. I didn't want to go back, so I fought, My dad was a warrior of the previous Alpha, he taught my mom, my sister, and I how to defend ourselves before he died in battle. I was willing to die fighting before going back to that hell. In the end, they succeeded. They kicked me and punched me, leaving me in pretty bad shape, nearly dead. I woke up a few days later in the forest with a witch and a vampire taking care of me. They had been through their own hell, and we became a family." I don't know why, but I feel relief to finally have said everything I have been holding off for years. The only sad part is that my mate doesn't think I'm worthy of him anymore.

"Why do you think the attack is no coincidence." Alpha George makes another question.

"The Black Thorn is an ally of my old pack, The War Moon pack. I am almost sure that Gordon knows I'm alive and he is getting his allies together to get me. They are no strangers to Black magic. Maybe it is best if I leave your pack, I am obviously putting everyone in danger." I finish.

"You mean your Alpha was Gordon Ram? He is crazy. He has been attacking small packs to grow his own. He might be trying to get bigger terroritories.We need to contact our allies." Liam says.

"Is enough for now. Liam, get Riley settled in the Beta floor. You and Adam need to start work immediately. Riley, I would like to meet your witch friend, maybe she can help us out." Alpha George starts giving orders, and everyone starts moving. I exit the office and follow Liam.

"This is Adam's room. He will be here to check on you shortly. This is your home now, Riley. You are not alone." Liam says, guiding me to a huge room with high ceilings, a large elegant bed in the middle, a cozy fireplace, and a comfortable sitting area. Once he leaves and I can't stop the tears. My mate will never want me again.

The door opens abruptly, and Adam comes in, looking serious and upset.