Approved for Her Rejected for Me novel Chapter 21

Chapter 4

Riley’s POV

From the moment my Royal Academy acceptance was swapped, my life split cleanly in two,

Inside Stormhowl Pack, I became invisible.

No one saw me. No one wanted to. And I stopped trying to be seen.

I hid my wolf deep inside, buried my pride, and lived each day in cold, mechanical cycles of studying

and training for one goal, to leave Stormhowl Pack as soon as possible.

But I underestimated Briar. And I underestimated how far Grayson would go to protect her.

That night, I stood in the living room watching Briar laugh in Grayson’s arms, holding the acceptance letter that should’ve been mine.

I turned to leave quietly. But she stepped into my path, shaking the envelope in my face.

“Don’t be sad, Riley. I’ll make Stormhowl proud for you.”

Her sweetness was a blade. Her gentleness, poison.

My wolf clawed at my ribs. My chest felt ready to explode.

I snapped, grabbing her wrist.

“That spot was mine! Give it back!”

She yanked her hand away, smiling wider. “Why should I? You can’t even keep your own family. You think you deserve a future?”

I lunged reflexively, but Grayson was already between us, arms around Briar.

The movement was painfully familiar. Only now, it wasn’t for me.

“Enough, Riley.”

His voice was so cold it made me shake.

“Stop causing trouble.”

I stared at them, his arm around her, their bodies close, and something cracked violently inside my

chest.

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It was then I realized, in his eyes, I would never be worth even a single strand of Briar’s hair.

Everything exploded at once. I glared at them, every word trembling with fury.

“You ruined my future. I’ll make sure every elder in this Pack hears the truth.”

I turned for the door, ready to run to Pack Law Enforcement, but Grayson slammed a hand down on

my shoulder.

“Riley,” he warned quietly, “don’t push me.”

That phrase, don’t push me, snapped the last restraint in me.

I bolted for the exit. Briar shrieked and grabbed at me, and the two of us tumbled into the yard in a

tangled mess. She darted toward my car first, scrambling into the driver’s seat.

I jumped in right after.

In the chaos, the engine roared to life. The car lurched forward toward the mountain road that

coiled toward the cliff.

My wolf clawed and howled inside me, but my head was nothing but a storm of rage and despair.

“Stop the car! Riley, stop!” Briar screamed. “You’re insane!”

My eyes burned. “You stole everything from me. I’m taking it back today.”

She sobbed and dialed Grayson.

“Grayson! She’s trying to kill me!”

Soon headlights blazed behind us. Grayson speeding after us, panic in every movement.

“Riley! Stop the car! Don’t push me!!!”

He had never screamed at me like that. But in his voice, there was only terror for Briar.

None for me.

I pressed harder on the pedal. At a sharp turn, Grayson cut us off, swerving his car sideways to block.

the road.

I couldn’t avoid him. Our car screamed, skidding and flipping before slamming near the edge of the

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cliff. Gasoline fumes instantly filled the air.

“Briar!!”

I opened my eyes blearily and saw Grayson tearing at the wreck, ripping open the passenger door. He pulled Briar out, cradling her limp body like she was made of glass.

“Riley! Listen to me! Firefighters are coming! I have to get Briar to the hospital, she’s losing too

much blood!”

He didn’t look at me. Not once.

I touched my forehead, my fingers came away slick with blood. But to him, that didn’t matter.

He ran off with Briar, disappearing into the night. I watched his silhouette grow smaller and smaller until it vanished completely. Like the whole world was turning its back on me.

By the time firefighters arrived, flames burst from the engine.

When they dragged me out, the right side of my face had already been burned beyond recognition.

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