<b>Chapter </b><b>183 </b>


    <b>$</b><b>902 </b>


    Skye’s POV


    Leon’s eyes flicked to me but didn’t stay. Instead, he looked away and tugged at the cor of his shirt, as if the morning air had suddenly


    turned too warm.


    Adrian kept holding me tightly, not saying a word, until Ryder’s voice broke the silence with a pointed cough. “Alpha Adrian.”


    Adrian loosened his hold, just enough to look at me. Then he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders without a word.


    From the doorway, Beck was watching closely. His gaze bounced between Adrian and Leon, his brow furrowed in mild confusion. Clearly, he was trying to figure out the dynamic between us. After a pause, he took a step forward, extended his hand, and said, “Good to finally meet you, Alpha Adrian.”


    Most Alphas might’ve ignored a rogue’s greeting, but Adrian didn’t hesitate. He took Beck’s hand with a firm grip. “Thank <b>you</b>–for protecting herst night.”


    “Wait a second,” Leon said, his eyes narrowing as he pointed at Beck. “I know you. Four years ago—you were one of those rogues we locked up in Frostshadow. You and your little gang.”


    His tone dripped with disdain.


    I stepped between them, already seeing the tension build. “Beck helped me,” I said firmly. “If he hadn’t been therest night, Victor would’ve taken me again.”


    Beck tilted his head, catching on. “We’re pack now, right?” he said smoothly. “Helping each other’s what we do.”


    Ryder blinked. “Wait, what? Pack? What do you mean by that?<b>” </b>


    I turned to Adrian and Ryder. “I made a deal with Beck. If he helped me, I’d speak for them. I told him they could join Oasisborn. I didn’t have time to ask anyone… I just did what I thought I had to.”


    Beck’s face tensed. “Does our deal still stand?”


    Adrian raised a hand, his voice still level. “We honor our debts in Oasisborn. If Skye made a promise, we’ll respect it. But joining the pack isn’t a free pass. You and your men will be on a probationary period–three months. You break any of our rules, and you’re out. No exceptions<b>.</b><b>” </b>


    Leon let out a snort ofughter, loud and mocking. “Oasisborn really is turning into a dump. What’s next? Inviting rogues to sit on the


    council?”


    Beck’s smile turned sharp. “Funny<b>, </bing from you. Frostshadow likes to call itself the pack of honor, but four years ago you locked us up with no proof. We weren’t even armed. You didn’t care.<b>” </b>


    “You were suspects!<b>” </b>Leon snapped. “Don’t <b>act </b>like you were innocent.”


    “We were passing through,” Beck shot back. “You assumed, you punished, and you never apologized.”


    Leon’s hands clenched into fists<b>. </b>“You want to go again, right now<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    11:28 <b>Sat</b>, <b>Oct </b>4


    Beck took a step forward. “Try me.”


    :


    190


    Adrian moved between them fast. “Enough,” he said. Ilis voice wasn’t raised, but it cut through the noise like a de. “We’re not doing


    this. Not here.”


    The tension exploded. Ryder started arguing with one of Beck’s guys, voices ovepping and hands flying in sharp gestures. Leon was still fuming, ring at Beck like he wanted to throw the first punch. The rogues were shifting in ce, half–ready for a fight.


    I stepped into the middle. “Stop!” I shouted.


    Everyone froze,


    “Tomorrow is the final trial for the Alpha King election,” I said, “We don’t have time for this. We need to get back and prepare.”


    I turned to Adrian and tugged at his arm. “Let’s go. Adrian, book the flight.”


    Adrian nodded, but before we could move, my knees buckled. The world tilted. My head spun. I barely stayed upright.


    Strong arms caught me–two sets, not one.


    Leon on my left. Adrian on my right.


    Their eyes locked above my head, the tension back in full force. Adrian shifted, pushing Leon’s arm away, taking full control of my weight.


    “She’s safe now,” Adrian said coldly. “You can go.”


    Leon straightened, his mouth set in a hard line. “If you had done your job, I wouldn’t have needed toe in the first ce. You think I wanted to be here?”


    Ryder stepped up, bristling. “Maybe try showing some respect to our Alpha. What did you even do? Show upte and talk big? You’ve been useless since this whole thing started.”


    “I hate to say it, but they’ve got a point. For a pack with a hundred–year legacy, Frostshadow’s been coasting. That Maya girl of yours? All


    she’s done is stir up drama.”


    Leon’s face turned a deep red. He looked ready to snap.


    I reached for Ryder’s sleeve and gave it a tug. “That’s enough,” I said quietly. Then I turned to Leon. “Thank you foring. Whatever your reasons were, I appreciate it.”


    +


    Leon let out a low scoff. “I shouldn’t have bothered.”


    And with that, he turned and walked off alone.


    I watched him walk away in silence. He didn’t look back, and his shoulders stayed rigid as he disappeared down the dirt path. I didn’t know why, but there was something about his back that looked a little lonely.


    But I didn’t have time to think about it. I drew in a breath and turned back to Adrian.


    “Let’s go.”


    <b>11:28 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b>Oct 4


    Adrian didn’t move. <fn0cfd> Checktest chapters at find[?]ovel</fn0cfd>


    “No,” he said. His voice was calm, but there was fire behind it. “We’re not leaving yet.”


    I frowned. “Why not?”


    His eyes darkened.


    “I need to find Victor.”


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