Riley
"Come on, kids. Let's have a real celebration." I called, my right arm on the car door as I fixed my gaze on the kids. Sierra's eyes widened with excitement, and I laughed as she rushed down immediately. They had whined all through our ride back about going somewhere else to celebrate, unaware of I and Clinton's surprise for them.
"Yaaah!" She squeaked, "I really thought it was over."
My laughter slowed to a giggle, "Oh, just you wait! It's gonna blow your mind."
"Is it a party?" Sean asked as she climbed down as well, Shane in tow.
I narrowed my eyes and ran my hands over my mouth. "Zip. Come on now, you'll find out once we are in."
Glancing up, I met Clinton's heated gaze and I slowly looked away. I turned back to my kids and we walked towards the front door or more like the kids running towards it.
I heard Clinton walk up behind me, but I didn't slow down my pace. Soon he caught me up, and I felt his hot stare on my skin again.
K
Turning around to talk to him about it, I stopped when I saw Beta Philip approaching us. We both stopped and I cocked my left brow at the serious expression he had.
"Alpha, Riley," he acknowledged us, beaming at me before facing his alpha once again. "I received a text from the Crimson Shadow Pack."
My heart instantly lurched in my throat. My pulse raced as my grip on my handbag tightened. Did I hear him correctly? Turning towards Clinton, my breath hitched when his expression confirmed my questions.
Worried, I turned my attention back to the beta who threw cautious glances between Clinton and I.
"What's the text all about?" Clinton asked, his tone harsher than I had ever heard him.
"I'd rather show it to you." Beta Hebrew said, sighing as he passed his phone to Clinton. Immediately, his face darkened and his grip on the device tightened.
A low, piercing growl erupted from his mouth, and a shudder passed through me. I stretched out my right hand, holding my breath as he placed the device in my hand.
A gasp left my mouth as my eyes skimmed over the text. Blood shot through veins, hot and angry. I couldn't comprehend why they were doing this. Haven't they hurt me enough? Or do they want to find out how much I've gotten in my life?
Bastards.
I'd love to have them see what I have become, that I could still live without them but then the kids crossed my mind, and my mind raced as fear surged through me. I couldn't let them else, all my hardwork would have been in vain.
"Riley, are you okay?" I turned and offered Clinton a smile that I knew didn't reach my eyes.
"I'm okay."
"What reply did you give them?" Clinton asked, his tone going back to its hardness, without taking his eyes away from my face.
"I haven't replied yet. I thought I should let you know, I wouldn't do anything that could bring trouble to Riley."
I shot him a grateful look, glad that he cared this much about me. My heart slowly lowered its race. They won't find them, they all are still mine and will be.
"I'm so grateful, Beta Riley."
He smiled and waved it off. Clinton's gaze fell on his beta and he grabbed the mobile phone from me and returned it to him. "Have whoever sent the message know that the said Riley is no longer with us. She'll be gone tomorrow anyway."
"Mom, Alpha Clinton!"