Approved for Her Rejected for Me novel Chapter 23

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Chapter 6

Riley’s POV

Early the next morning, the driving app sent me a notification.

Five hundred thousand, a “tip” from last night’s passenger.

I stared at the cold, emotionless digits and felt nothing but irony. Taking even a cent felt like forgiving the scars he’d carved into my past.

I donated all of it to charity immediately.

Then I changed into black clothes, pulled on a black mask, and carried my mother’s favorite orchids and my father’s favorite bottle of liquor to the cemetery.

For the past five years, I’d always come before sunrise so I wouldn’t run into Grayson.

But today, I stopped at the entrance. Someone was already sitting on the stone steps in front of my parents’ grave.

A familiar silhouette. He held a bottle, murmuring to himself, the air heavy with alcohol and

something even heavier, a grief so thick my wolf curled in my chest.

I hid in the shadows and listened.

“Dad, Mom… I saw Riley yesterday.” His was a hoarse, ragged whisper.

“I thought she’d died in the accident. But she was alive the whole time… just didn’t want to see me.”

He took a long drink, shoulders trembling.

“Her face… burned like that.” He shut his eyes. “Mom, if you’re watching from up there, you’re

going to blame me, aren’t you…”

His voice cracked so hard my breath stilled. For the first time in years, the wolf inside me lifted its head. Then slowly lowered it again.

“I didn’t mean to leave her,” he whispered. “I thought… I really thought the firefighters would get her out. That’s why I took Briar to the hospital first…”

He covered his face with both hands, knuckles white.

“I didn’t know it would end like that. I swear I didn’t. She doesn’t want the Monroe name anymore…

Chapter 6

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Dad, Mom, I ruined her.

I tilted my head back, staring at the overcast sky, willing the tears to recede into my chest.

Mom used to say, “When you’re sad, look up. Your tears will fall back inside. But if you want to cry, baby, Mom will hold you.”

But now, there was no one left to catch my tears.

I took a slow breath and walked toward the grave.

Grayson’s head snapped up. His breathing stuttered, his Alpha aura flaring and collapsing like a

storm losing control.

I didn’t look at him. I simply knelt, setting the orchids and the bottle in front of my parents’ photo

“Dad, Mom… I’m here. Don’t worry about me. I’ve been doing well.”

I hadn’t been. But a wolf’s spine must stay straight, and so must mine.

I gently wiped the dew from their portraits.

“Alright. I’m heading out. I’ll come again next year.”

I stood to leave when Grayson finally moved. He grabbed my hand like he was terrified of losing something all over again. His fingers were burning hot.

“Riley…”

“Let go,” I said calmly.

His grip loosened for half a second, then tightened again instinctively.

“Riley… please. Forgive me.” His voice trembled. “Everything was my fault.”

I was quiet for a moment. Then I gave the simplest answer. “Alright. I forgive you.”

Hope flickered in his eyes like a drowning man catching air.

I added, “Now let go. And don’t come looking for me again. We’re strangers.”

His face went blank, frozen by a cold he couldn’t fight.

“Riley…” He sounded lost. “Dad and Mom would want to see you. Can’t you just… have dinner at home? Just once.”

Chapter 6

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I looked at the smiling faces on the grave.

“One dinner. After that, I’m gone for good.”

He didn’t answer, but I could see the naive hope in his posture with the belief that if I returned

once, I would return again.

The car entered Stormhowl territory, and the familiar buildings pressed tight against my chest.

He led me out of the car, his hands trembling nearly imperceptibly.

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