GIFTED RILEY by Lacy Mierr

Chapter 71: A World Without Him

*Riley*

No! No! There was no way, it couldn’t be. Nicolas couldn’t be gone. I wasn’t not going to accept it, I’m wasn’t!

“Nic?” I screamed into the silence. “Nicolas, please talk to me. Please tell me you’re okay.”

I strained to hear any sound coming from him, a grunt, a low whisper, anything. But there was only an eerie stillness that surrounded me.

I refused to believe that he was gone. Nicolas would never leave me. He would never abandon me.

My entire body shook with pure desperation. I’ve never cried so much in my life. Even when I was horribly bullied. I was so scared and so desperate to make sure Nicolas was safe.

He’s alive right? He had to be. Maybe he just couldn’t hear me. Maybe if I called out louder, then he would answer.

“Nicolas,” I tried again, my voice, cracking with emotion and growing even more desperate and pleading.

I waited, and then it came. It was a quiet sound at first, but at least it was something.

“Nicolas, is that you? Say something, please.”

And then the voice got louder. Laughter. It grew louder and louder. It was dark and twisted and sounded nothing like Nicolas’ warm

laughter.

Malik.

He kept on laughing, taunting me with every chuckle that escaped his lips. I slapped my palm against my ears violently.

“Stop!” I screamed at him. “Stop!!!!”

But that only made him laugh even harder.

Nicolas, I thought to myself. He had saved me, he had changed my life. And how did I repay him? I was used as bait to trap him and now he was… dead.

I gasped, sobbing loudly. Why do bad things always happen to me? Why did the world hate me so much that she would keep letting me suffer, and allow the only person that cared for me, the only person that fought for me, the only person who ever truly loved me?

I didn’t want to lose all hope, but I couldn’t help it. There was nothing.

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Chapter 71 A World Without Him

left for me in this world. I shut my eyes, reminiscing on all the

moments we’d spent together. The gentle words, the tender kisses, his comforting touch.

Nicolas was a part of me, and thinking that he was dead, a part of me died. Malik had won.

No! I can’t give up. Nicolas would want me to keep living and find. happiness without him.

And Vera, she wouldn’t stand for any self-pity or giving up. She would smack some sense into me if she saw me like this.

Why was I feeling so dejected, when I should be burning with anger? Angry that Malik had s n a t c h e d away someone so precious from me. Furious that he had used me as a pawn in his schemes, held me captive, and ruined my life!

I despised him with every fiber of my being. I wanted nothing more than to see him suffer for the hurt he had inflicted upon me.

I felt my anger rising, warmth filling my body. I was suddenly not as weak as I felt earlier. Something was swirling inside of me. It was like nothing I’d ever felt before. It radiated warmth and strength, fueled by my anger and desire for revenge.

I peeled my eyes open. Everything looked brighter, I could hear their footsteps louder. And then I felt her. She propelled me forward, away from my crouched position against the wall. I fell on my knees, the

intensity of it all was too much for me.

My palms were shaking. my bones felt like they were turning inside. and out. It was like my body was transforming. What was happening to me?

“I’m awake.” Rain said simply

Before I could comprehend her words, a surge of excruciating pain coursed through my body. I arched my back in agony as my bones. began to contort and shift.

My wolf’s voice came again. “It’s time.”

I didn’t know what was happening to me. My body was growing bigger, my back was no longer straight. I looked down and saw that claws had replaced my toes, and my body was covered in fur.

And then, a familiar scent filtered in. Nicolas. Despite the transformation overtaking me, I could still sense him nearby. I could hear his breathing, weak but still alive.

It was time indeed. With my wolf now leading the charge, I pushed against the door with my massive, fur-covered head, once, twice and it fell with a loud bang.

I followed Nicolas’ scent into the room opposite the one I was locked in. And then I saw him. He was unconscious on the bed. I’d never seen

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him so helpless and weak.

“We have to protect him,” Rain said to me. “He’s our priority.”

She was right. I had to save him now. I made my way to him, nudging him with my paw. When he didn’t budge, I pulled his clothes with my fangs, dragging him out of the bed.

Before I could pull him out, the door creaked open.

“A white woll.” Malik exclaimed excitedly. His eyes widened in disbelief as he gazed at my form. “I knew you were special Riley. That’ s why I didn’t kill you. Who knew you had such a huge, rare wolf in you?”

I snarled at him, bracing myself for an attack. He retreated into the hallway, smirking at me devilishly as if he couldn’t wait to cut off my fur and use it to make a coat.

“I’m impressed. This is quite a rare experience for me, “Malik continued as he backed away from the room. “In all my years as a hunter. I’ve never encountered a white wolf. Why would I give up the opportunity of having a white fur rug in my living room?”

I wanted to attack him, grab him with my langs and bite into his skin, feel his bloop drip down slowly.

He suddenly pulled out a gun from behind him, aiming it at me.

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