Crowned by Fate
<b>Chapter </b>172
Skye’s POV
“What did you just say?” I stepped forward, the warm mineral waterpping at my ankles as I entered the pool.
Maya leaned back against the smooth rocks, her red bikini deliberately drawing attention. “Justmenting on the… quality of guests these days.” Her eyes flickered to Lydia, who stood slightly behind me, her face mask firmly in ce even at the springs.
“I thought we settled this earlier,” I said, maintaining myposure despite the growl building in my chest. “Looks like a public apology wasn’t enough. Do you need to receive a legal notice before you’ll stop?”
Maya’s eyes turned vicious. “Wasn’t it you who forced me to post that apology?” She turned to the female warrior beside her. “I’m not spreading rumors. You all saw how intimate she was with Alpha Adrian just now, didn’t you? Last week she was kissing Leon, and today she’s all over Adrian. What do you call a woman like that if not a slut?”
“Absolutely shameless,” agreed the taller warrior with a sneer. “Jumping from one Alpha <b>to </b>another. No dignity whatsoever.”
Another woman with copper–colored hairughed. “Just look at her figure, not even close to Maya’s<b>. </b><b>If </b>she <b>wasn’t </b>actively seducing men<b>, </b>why would Leon ever look at her?”
“That’s why she had to leave Frostshadow,” the third woman added with a smirk. “No one wanted damaged goods there either.” <fn4def> Original content can be found at find?novel</fn4def>
Lydia stepped forward, her voice surprisingly steady despite the tension in the air. “That’s enough.” She ced a protective hand on my shoulder. “Skye has shown more dignity and courage than any of you could hope to possess. Unlike some people, she doesn’t need to tear others down to feel important.”
Maya’s jaw clenched at Lydia’s intervention. “Oh look, the masked witch speaks.” Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “Mind your own business.”
The taller woman beside Maya suddenly pointed at Lydia, her eyes narrowing with recognition. “Wait, I know you. You’re Lydia, aren’t you? The witch who seduced Alpha Rodrigo and killed his Luna.”
I felt Lydia stiffen beside me. The usation hung in the steam–filled air like poison.
“What are you talking about?” I demanded.
The woman, clearly a warrior from her muscr build, sneered. “She knows exactly what I’m talking about. I’m from Ironwater Pack. We all know what she did.”
Maya gasped with theatrical surprise, covering her mouth with her hand. “Oh my! So seducing men is your Oasisborn Pack’s tradition?” She nced at herpanions with mock horror. “First Alpha Rodrigo, now Adrian…”
Lydia’s shoulders curved inward, her usual confident posture crumbling under their cruel words. Through the slits in her mask, I could see her eyes darken with pain and humiliation. Her fingers trembled slightly as they clutched the edge of her swimsuit.
“Shut up,” I said, my voice dangerously low. “You know nothing about her.”
The Ironwater warrior wasn’t finished. She circled closer, like a predator sensing weakness<b>. </b>“I heard you got your face mutted. That’s why you wear that mask, right? Too ugly to show yourself. No wonder you hide behind it, freak.”
<b>10:30 </b>Fri, <b>Oct </b><b>3 </b>M…
Lydia took a step back, her breathing bing uneven. Every instinct in my body screamed to protect her.
“That’s enough,” I growled.
A
“What’s wrong, monster?” the warrior continued, emboldened by Lydia’s reaction. “Can’t handle the truth? Everyone knows witches use dark magic to seduce men. Is that how Adrian keeps his pack together? Through your spells and potions?”
Something snapped inside me. Before I could think, I lunged forward, my hand shooting out to grab the warrior’s throat. My nails lengthened slightly, not fully shifting but enough to draw pinpricks of blood as I mmed her against the rock wall.
“You want to see a monster?” I snarled, my face inches from hers. Water sshed violently around us. “Keep talking and I’ll show you
one.”
The woman’s eyes widened with genuine fear as my grip tightened. The other two warriors moved to intervene, but I whipped my head toward them, eyes shing with rage.
“Stay back,” I warned. “All of you get out now. Anyone who says another word, I’ll snap her neck before you can blink.
Maya’s smug expression faltered, reced by uncertainty. She clearly hadn’t expected me to be so aggressive, nor so physically agile.
The warrior in my grip gasped for air, her hands wing at my wrist. I released her with a shove, watching as she stumbled back, clutching her throat. Three angry red lines marked where my nails had dug into her skin.
Maya hesitated, then motioned to herpanions. “This isn’t over,” she muttered as they gathered their things.
“It is for tonight,” I replied firmly.
When they finally left, the tension in my body slowly unwound. I turned to Lydia, who stood motionless, her masked face unreadable.
“Are you okay?” I asked softly.
She nodded, then sank down into the water. “I should be used to it by now,” she said, her voice hollow. “The rumors follow me everywhere.”
I settled beside her in the warm water. “I guess I can’t get used to it,” I said simply.
Lydia looked at me, the gratitude in her eyes visible through the slits of her mask. “Thank you for defending me. Not many would.”
“That’s what pack means,” I said simply. “We protect each other.”
We sat infortable silence for a while, letting the mineral–rich waters soothe our bodies.
“I need to use the bathroom,” I said after some time had passed. “Will you be alright alone for a minute?”
Lydia nodded. “I’ll be fine. The ce is empty now anyway.”
I wrapped a towel around myself and padded across the stone floor to the bathroom area. The change in temperature from the hot springs to the cooler bathroom made goosebumps rise on my skin. I pushed open the door, stepping into the elegantly designed space.
The bathroom was surprisingly luxurious, with marble countertops and soft lighting. I had just started toward one of the stalls when I
<b>10:30 Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>3 </b>M
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sensed rather than heard movement behind me. Before I could turn, a strong arm wrapped around my waist, and a cloth pressed firmly against my nose and mouth.
The sweet, chemical smell invaded my senses instantly. I tried to struggle, to call out, but my limbs felt suddenly heavy. My mind screamed danger, but my body wouldn’t respond.
My vision began to blur around the edges, darkness creeping in like spilled ink. I fought to stay conscious, to identify my attacker, but the chemical was too strong.
“Adrian…” I murmured his name as everything went ck.