𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋 just moved from London to Beacon Hills to start over with her mother, Grace. Little did she know that she will be entering a world of the supernatural such as werewolves, banshees, were coyotes. However, she has a superna...
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❝𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐋 𝐃𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐑!❞ ✶· ༘ -͙˚ ༘ ⑅ the end ⑅· ༘ -͙˚ ༘✶ ──────────────────────
𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐘 stood still as a statue, the breeze gently fluttering the hem of her black skater dress. Her gaze was fixed on the freshly carved name etched into the granite headstone before her: *Grace Marshall*. With trembling fingers, she placed a single white lily—a flower that symbolized purity and remembrance—on the tombstone. The bloom seemed stark against the somber grays and greens of Beacon Hills Cemetery.
The world around her was still, cloaked in the quiet grief that accompanied the aftermath of the Nogitsune's rampage. Though the small town had resumed its daily rhythm, the supernatural community was left reeling, struggling to come to terms with the lives that had been lost. Riley, in particular, felt the weight of it all pressing down on her shoulders. For her, this loss was different. This wasn't just another casualty—this was her mother, her only family.
"Goodbye, Mom," Riley whispered, her voice barely audible against the gentle rustle of the cemetery's trees. Her fingers brushed lightly over the engraved letters, as if trying to keep some physical connection to the woman who had loved her unconditionally, who had fought for her, and who had ultimately given everything to protect her. "I'll always love you. You'll never be forgotten. I promise."
A single tear escaped, tracing a path down her cheek, but Riley made no move to wipe it away. She let it fall, embracing the pain, the emptiness—the reminder that she was alone now. A soft crunch of gravel behind her made her tense, but the familiar scent that accompanied it told her exactly who was approaching.
Scott.
Riley didn't turn around. She didn't have to. He came to stand beside her, his presence a silent comfort in the midst of her sorrow. The two of them stood shoulder to shoulder, staring at the tombstone in front of them, neither speaking for several long moments. It was a silence filled with unspoken words, shared pain, and a bond that was as strong as it was complicated.
"The service was beautiful," Scott murmured softly, breaking the silence at last.
Riley nodded, the movement almost imperceptible. "Thank you," she whispered in response, her gaze still fixed on the engraved letters.
The quiet stretched between them again, heavy and tense. Scott took a deep breath, his shoulders rising and falling as he struggled to find the right words—words that might somehow ease the hurt etched into Riley's expression.
"I'm sorry," he said finally, his voice low and filled with regret.
Riley turned her head slightly, looking at him through a veil of unshed tears. "Why are you sorry?"
"I'm sorry about your mom," Scott continued, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart ache. "It's hard for anyone to lose a parent, but it's even harder for you... losing the only family you have. I can't—" He swallowed, his throat tight. "I can't pretend to know what you're feeling, because I don't."
