Casts 82_Crowned by Fate

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 Skye’s POW

 “Nadie, don’t

 “Please,” the interrupted, her even intense. Listen to me, Skye. I wind you to take my ce.”

 The erquest struck me like a physical blos. Me? But I can

 “You can,” she insisted, “And you will. Adrian needs somtime he can trust of his side.”

 She shifted slightly, wincing at the movement,

 “He prefers ocean–scented shampoo and body wash–I order it specially from a plier in Oregon. Pine sage is his favorite candle scent, though he’d never admit to having such a soft preference.”

 I stared at her in confusion as she continued.

 “He works too much. Somedy need to renting him to step. He takes his coffee ck in the morning but with cream after noon. He pretends to read reports before bed, but really he reads poetry Frost is his favorite. Her voice grew more urgent

 “He struggles with back pain from an old injury, but he’s too proud to admit it needs regr attention. The heating pad in his office–make sure it’s always mable.”

 Tears burned my eyes as I listened to her reciting these intimate details–a catalog of small but precious knowledge about the man she had loved for years.

 How deeply must she have loved him, howplete her devotion, to have noticed and remembered such tiny particrs of his daily life?

 “Nadia.” 1 whispered, my voice breaking, “only you know these things. Only you can do this. You’re going to recover-

 “No.” She squeezed my hand. “I know my body, Skye. I can feel the poison spreading. This is myst wish. Please. Promise me you’ll take care of him. Promise me you’ll be the Beta be needs”

 Her eyes held mine, pleading silently. How could I refuse her this, when she had sacrificed everything even swallowing poison meant for me?

 “I promise,” I whispered, tears spilling over. “But Nadia, I don’t know if I can=”

 “You can,” she assured me with surprising certainty. “I’ve watched you these past month. You have the strength, the intelligence. The pack already respects you.“ Her Lips curved in a faint smile. “Once all this is over, tell him. Tell him how you feel. Life is too short for hesitation.”

 Before I could respond to this startling advice, she nodded toward the door. “Now, please ask the others toe in. I need to speak with them too.

 Wiping my tears, I rose to call in the others.

 They entered quietly, forming a silent half–circle around Nadia’s bed. Venus took her position at the head, her single hand gently stroking Nadia’s dark hair.

 “Venus,” Nadia began, her voice weakening but still clear, I’m sorry I’ll miss your wedding to Marcus. I had such n to help organize a beautiful ceremony for you both.” She attempted a smile. In my dresser drawer, theres a ne my mother gave me. Consider it my wedding gift to you. Promise you’ll wear it when you marry

 Venus gripped Nadia’s hand tightly, nodding a tears streamed down her face. “I promise,” she whispered.

 Nadia turned her attention to Garrett, who had sunk to his knees beside her bed, his head bowed as if in prayer.

 “Garrett,” she said, her tone lightening artificially, “you’re too quiet, too withdrawn. I wonder who your mate will be, though I suppose III never know now.” She coughed slightly, grimacing before continuing. “Your birthday is in two months. I already bought your gift–that vintage circuit board from the 1970s you’ve been searching fur. I found it at that electronics collector’s auction in Austin.”

 Garrett made no attempt to hide his pears, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs as he clutched Nodia’s hand against his cheek.

 Ryder,

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 the fast of her bed, clearly fighting to maintain his cosignant, The kidu training in your responsibility now. Don’t Mack off And no more wolf ligne, understand?”

 “Stop IL” Ryder choked out, his fists clenched at his sides. “You get better and train on yourself. now. There must be another solution

 calling the best doctors from Stormhoud Park tlicht. 

 Without waiting for a respdate, he turned and bolted from the trem, his footstept echoing down theeridot

 “Lydia,” Na?a continued, ‘do you remember that verying you did for mest year? Turns out you were right

 Lydia’s eyes narrowed above her mask. “What we call destiny,” the replied tofily, “is often just a chain of choices.

 Her words struck me like a knife to the heart.

 Had this been inevitable from the moment Nadia chose in

 me in the wedding? When she drank the poisoned coffre meant for me?

 Or perhaps even exilier, when she first epted me into the pack despite her misgisings?

 Had every choice she made been leading inexorably to this moment?

 Finally, Nadia’s gaze settled on Adrian, who stood at the foot of her bed.

 “Alpha Adrian,” she said, her voice suddenly formal and serious. My greatest regret is that I won’t be by your side to help you be Alpha King.” She took abored breath. Do you remember what I said when Ryder and I followed you from Stormhow!? I promised we would build a new pack together, and that one day you would be Alpha King, making all North American wolf packs better, more just.”

 Her grip on my hand tightened as she continued, “Skye will fulfill the promise I couldn’t keep. She’ll be an excelent Beta–I believe this with all my heart.”

 Adrian moved closer, taking her other hand in his. For a long moment, he said nothing.

 “I would trade it all, he finally said, his voice barely audible, “every ambition, every dream, if it meant keeping you with us.”

 “I know,” she whispered. “That’s why you’ll make a great Alpha King someday. She looked around at all of us, gathered at her bedside. “Promise me something–all of you. Don’t seek revenge. Don’t let Kane destroy more than he already has. Build something better instead.”

 Her eyes began to close, her breathing growing morebored. “I’m tired now,” she murmured. “So tired.”

 As if by some unspoken agreement, we all moved closer, forming a protective circle around her.

 In that moment, we were no longer Alpha, Bets, council members–we were simply a pack, united in grief, in love, in the knowledge that one of our strongest bonds was about to break

 Nadia’s breathing grew shallower, her pulse visibly weakening beneath the thin skin of her throat. Yet somehow, she managed to open her eyes onest time, finding Adrian’s face with uncanny precision

 “I was never y your mate,” she whispered, “but you were always my

 bome.

 Her eyes closed, and with one final, peaceful exhale, Nadia was gone.

 Author’s Note

 Writing this chapter broke mr. I was a mess, tears streaming, because I couldn’t save her. Nadia was my favorite, a girl who carved out a piece of my heart.

 i think many writers will understand this: when you create a character, they start to breathe on their own, carrying their own purpose, Sometimes, all you can do is follow where they Arad, even when it hurts.

 their own fate.

NovelLamp

Casts 82