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No matter what happens, please take care of yourself, Mom’s voice noftened through the phone, her worry reaching across the miles between us.<fn367b> Content originallyes from Find?Novel</fn367b>
Twill Mom, I promise.
How could I exin that taking eme of mysell meant different things to her and to me?
Aller hanging up. 1 sank onto the bed with a heavy sigh. The impossible weight of expectations pressed down on me my mother wanting me back with Leon, my loyalty to Adrian and our pack, my own desires.……. ? youlilici make everyone happy, no matter host much. I wanted to
The door opened with a soft click, and Adrian stepped into the room. His eyes found mine immediately, concem etched across his features
ΠΕΡΙ
“What’s troubling you?” His thumb gently smoothed the furrow between my eyebrows. “You look like you’re carrying the weight of all wolf pecks on your
shoulders<b>.</b>”
I leaned into his touch, craving thefort he offered<b>. </b>Telling him about my mother urging me to reconcile with Leon would only create unnecessary tension. Adrian had enough to worry about with the trials ahead.
st anxious about the next trial.” 1 deflected. “The asked Garrett to gather whatever information he can find.”
Adrian’s eyes studied me for a moment longer. Then he sat beside me, his warmth seeping into my side.
“Youre overthinking everything” His voice was gentle but firm. “Alpha King Thomas is hosting <b>a </b><b>banquet </b>tomorrow night for all Alphas who passed the second trial. I’m taking you with me?
I lifted my <b>bandaged </b>arms with a rueful smile. “I don’t exactly look presentable for a royall gathering<b>.</b>”
“I’ll change your dressings, he promised, tacking a <b>strand </b>of hair behind my ear. “By tomorrow night, your arms will look much better, Werewolf healing has its advantages.
“Even if <b>my </b>arms heal, we didn’t exactly park formal wear for this trip, I reminded him.
“Pardon the interruption, lovebirds.” Alpha Xavier’s voice startled us both. He leaned against our doorframe, his perpetual smile <b>firmly </b>in ce. “I couldn’t help overhearing your dilemma, and fashion happens to be my <b>specialty</b><b>.</b>”
I raised an eyebrme at him “That’s very kind, but
“Adrian helped me during the first trial,<b>” </b>Kavim cut in. I’ve been waiting for a chance to return the favor, Consider this my small contribution to your Alpha King campaign.”
Adrian <b>nodded </b>his thanks. “We appreciate it.
Xavier’s smile returned full force. This show up looking gorgeous tomorrow night. Leave everything else <b>to </b>your friendly neighborhood Alpha.”
After Xavier left, Adrian pulled me closer. See? Problems solved. All you need <b>to </b>do is dazzle everyone at the banquet tomorrow.”
Later that afternoon, Xavier returned with garment bags and an unexpected request.
“Each Alpha is permitted one femalepaniog, he exined, fidgeting with his cufflinks. “Lidt bring any female pack members with me. I was wondering if… if Lydia might consider apanying me to the banquet tomorrow?”
<b>Lydia </b>looked up from ber notes, shock evident even behind her half-<b>mask </b>
<b>1/3 </b>
“You’d be doing me a favor, Xavier insisted, though something in his expression suggested otherwice. “Tid hate to be the only Alpha wit contracker
“You should ps.” I encouraged Lydia after Xavier excused
She touched het mask self–consciously. “I don’t know, Skye..
might be fun,”
What’s there in think about? He’s offering you a night of luxury and good food,” I smiled, nudging her shoulder gently. “Besides, you’ve been working non- stop since we arrived. You deserve a burak”
The next evening, as Lydia helped rip up my dien. ight her watching me in.
“I thought Xavier was just a yboy Alpha,” I admitted, adjusting the emerald gown that perfectly matched my eyes. “Hut he seems <b>different </b>than I
Lydia’s hands willed on my ripper. Her reflection looked tem between hope and resignation.
itted to th
“He’s charming,” she acknowledged. But I’m not his mate, Besides… Her fingers drifted to the edge of her mask,
I knew what she wasn’t saying. The <b>scars </b>hidden beneath her <b>mask </b>were a constant barrier she believed no one could see past.
You don’t need
need to be someone’s mate to enjoy theirpany, I suggested carefully. “Xavier seems genuinely interested in you.”
“Let’s focus on you,” she interrupted, stepping back to admire her handiwork. “You look stunning.”
And I did.
The floor–length <b>emerald </b>gown hugged my curves before flowing out at my <b>knees</b>. My silver hair was swept up in an elegant twist, with a few strands framing my face. The dress’s long sleeves cleverly <b>concealed </b>my healing arms while the plunging neckline drew attention elsewhere.
Lydia looked <b>equally </b>breathtaking in a midnight blue dress that made her pale skin glow. Even with her mask, she was beautiful.
When we emerged from the bedroom, Adrian froze mid–consensation with Xavier. His lips parted in a silent gasp as his eyes took <b>me </b>in, darkening from amber to molten gold<b>. </b>
For several heartbeats, he seemed incapable of speech, his gaze traveling slowly from my face down the length of my body <b>and </b>back again.
“Skye,” he finally breathed, crossing the room in long strides. He took my hand <b>and </b>pressed it to <b>his </b>chest, where I could feel his heart thundering beneath my palm. ‘You MTR… His voice faltered as he shook his head in wonder. “I <b>don’t </b>have words worthy of how you look tonight.”
He lifted my
<b>hand </b>to his lips, pressing a kiss <b>against </b>my knuckles, <b>his </b>eyes never leaving mine. The intensity in them made my breath catch…
“No Alpha in that room will be as <b>proud </b>as I am to have you by my <b>side</b>,” he whispered, pulling <b>me </b>closer until our foreheads touched. “My beautiful, brave
Beta
Lirached
I up to straighten his bow tie, letting my fingers linger.
“You clean up pretty well yourself, Alpha ”
The drive to the banquet hall felt too short. By the time we arrived, the event was in full swing, with Alphas <b>and </b>theirpanions mingling <b>under </b>crystal chandeliers.
Adrian’s <b>hand </b>settled possessively at the small of my <b>back </b><b>as </b>we entered. Almost immediately, my wolf stirred restlessly, sensing something–or someone-
before I did.
A burning gaze drew my attention across the room. There, standing tall and rigid with Maya finging to his arm, was Leon. His eyes locked with mine, his expression thunderous.
This is going to be <b>a </b>long night‘, my wolf growled.