<b>Chapter </b><b>92 </b>
Skye’s POV
Hours passed.
The sun climbed higher, then began its gradual descent toward the western horizon. Still Adrian remained, motionless except for the asional <b>shift </b>of his shoulders with each breath.
Pack members brought water, food, offers ofpany–all of which he acknowledged with the barest nod before returning to his silentmunion with the
grave.
As twilight painted the desert in shades of purple and gold, I approached hesitantly, carrying a nket and a sk of hot tea. The desert nights were cold, and Adrian had been sitting exposed to the elements all day.
“Adrian,” I called softly, not wanting to startle him. ‘It’s getting dark.”<fn072c> This update is avable on f?ndnovel</fn072c>
He didn’t respond, didn’t turn to look at me. I moved closer, cing the nket gently <b>across </b><b>his </b>shoulders. His skin felt cold to the touch, as if the warmth had leached from his body along with Nadia’s life.
“You shoulde inside,” I suggested, keeping my voice gentle. “You need rest<b>.</b>”
For several minutes, he remained silent. Then<b>, </b>so quietly I almost missed it, “I can’t leave her alone.”
The simple statement broke something inside me. This powerful Alpha, this leader who had carved a home from barren <b>desert </b>and faced down enemies without flinching, sounded utterly lost.
I sank to the ground beside him<b>, </b>close enough that our shoulders touched. “She’s <b>not </b>alone,” I said softly. “She’s with her <b>ancestors </b><b>now</b><b>, </b>with all the wolves
who came before.”
Adrian turned to look at me then, and the raw anguish in his <b>eyes </b>stole my <b>breath</b>. “She <b>was </b>with me since <b>we </b>were children,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “Every step of the way. Every trial, every victory. She <b>was</b><b>…</b><b>” </b>
His words faltered, strangled by emotion too powerful to voice. I reached out instinctively, taking his <b>cold </b>hand in mine. “I know,” I murmured, though I couldn’t possibly understand the depth of his loss. “I know.”
Something fractured in Adrian’s expression then–the careful control he’d maintained throughout the <b>day </b>splintering like ice in spring thaw. He leaned toward me, his foreheading to rest against my shoulder as his body began to shake with silent <b>sobs</b>.
I wrapped my <b>arms </b>around him, holding him as the dam finally broke and <b>grief </b>poured forth in violent waves. <b>His </b>tears soaked through my shirt, hot against my skin as his arms clutched desperately around my waist.
I had never seen a man <b>cry </b>like this–raw, unrestrained, the sound tearing from his throat like something wounded. Adrian, who had always embodied strength and control, shatteredpletely in my embrace.
to
stroked his hair, murmuring soothing nonsense <b>as </b><b>I </b>would the orphaned pups back at thepound. What could I possibly say that would ease this pain<b>? </b>What words could bridge the chasm left by Nadia’s absence<b>? </b>
Eventually, his sobs quieted, though his grip around my waist never loosened. When he finally spoke, his voice was ragged, barely recognizable.
‘<b>I </b>couldn’t protect her,‘ he whispered against my corbone. <b>“</b><b>I </b>should have…”
“Shhh,‘ I soothed, still stroking his hair. “She chose her path. She knew the risks.”
Adrian pulled back slightly, his amber <b>eyes </b>swimming with tears as they met mine. <b>“</b>I can’t lose anyone else<b>,</b>” <b>he </b>said, his <b>voice </b>breaking <b>on </b>the words<b>. </b><b>Not </b>you. Not like <b>I </b>lost her.”
<b>Before </b><b>I </b>could respond, his hands moved to frame my face, his touch <b>gentle </b>despite the desperation in his <b>eyes</b>.
<b>“</b><b>Skye</b><b>,</b><b>” </b>he whispered, <b>the </b>sound of <b>my </b>name like a prayer on his lips. <b>“</b>Promise me you’ll never leave me. Promise <b>me </b>you’ll never let <b>yourself </b><b>get </b><b>hurt</b>.<b>” </b>
my heart clench painfully in my chest. This wasn’t <b>my </b><b>strong</b>,
The intensity in his gaze, the naked vulnerability in his request–it stole my breath, made my
someone else he cared about. confident Alpha speaking, but a man terrified of losing
I promise,” I whispered back, knowing even as I said it th
Adrian pulled me closer, burying his face in the curve of my
C uncertain world.
such promises were impossible to
Work his arms wrapping around me so tightly I could feel his heartbeat against <b>my </b>chest.
We stayed like that as darkness fellpletely, two broken people finding brief sce in each other’s embrace while a fresh grave cast its long shadow across our future.