《Crowned by Fate》


 Casts 1

    <h1 ss="text-2xl font-bold mb-4 ">Chapter 1: Mate or Monster</h1>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    ¡°The Hunt Festival is our most sacred tradition. Tonight, we celebrate our strength, our speed, our very nature as wolves.¡± Alpha James began. His voice carried across the clearing. ¡°Tonight, we hunt as our ancestors did. We prove ourselves worthy of our lineage.¡±


    Our breath formed clouds in the frigid skan air as the entire Frostshadow Pack gathered around the massive bonfire.


    Alpha James stood before us. His powerful frame was silhouetted against the mes. Leon, his son, stood at his right. He was tall and proud. Those piercing blue eyes that seemed to look through everyone.


    Now, pack members began shifting around me. Human forms melted into powerful wolf shapes. Some were massive, like Leon¡¯s dark brown wolf. Others were smaller but no less intimidating.


    Soon, the clearing contained only three groups. The elders who chose not to hunt. The children too young to participate. And me. The adult without a wolf.


    ¡°Skye,¡± Alpha James approached. ¡°Since this is your first Hunt Festival as an adult, you may use this.¡±


    He extended his arm, offering me a hunting rifle.


    Whispers rippled through the remaining crowd. This was unprecedented. Weapons weren¡¯t typically allowed in the Hunt Festival.


    ¡°Thank you, Alpha,¡± I said. I epted the rifle with steady hands despite the humiliation burning in my chest.


    ¡°Good luck,¡± he said, but his eyes held pity.


    As the wolves disappeared into the forest, I felt the weight of sympathetic stares. They all believed I would fail. That I would return empty-handed.


    I gripped the rifle tighter. I¡¯ll prove them wrong.


    Midnight found me deep in the forest. I was alone with the rifle and my determination. The full moon illuminated the snow with an otherworldly glow. It turned thendscape into a sea of silver and shadow.


    My breath formed crystals in the air as I tracked a snowshoe hare through the underbrush.


    Not the most impressive prey, but it would be something. Better than returning empty-handed.


    I positioned myself behind a fallen log. I sighted down the barrel as the hare paused to nibble at exposed bark. My finger tensed on the trigger.


    Then it hit me. A scent so powerful it made me dizzy.


    Pine and snow and something wild that I couldn¡¯t name. The smell invaded my senses. It was overwhelming in its intensity. I¡¯d never experienced anything like it before. My nose had never been this sensitive.<fn0c69> Find the newest release on Find1Novel</fn0c69>


    My heart pounded against my ribs as realization dawned. This was what they¡¯d described. This was what happened when you found your mate.


    But this can¡¯t be happening.


    Without my wolf, I shouldn¡¯t be able to detect a mate¡¯s scent. Yet here I was. I was drawn by an invisible thread I couldn¡¯t exin or resist.


    The scent pulled me deeper into the forest. It led me away from the familiar hunting grounds of the Frostshadow Pack.


    Perhaps this was a sign my wolf was finallying.


    The scent grew impossibly stronger. It made me dizzy with its intensity. I closed my eyes, trying to steady myself.


    When I opened my eyes again, all thoughts of mates and wolves vanished in an instant.


    I found no mate. Only a monster¡­


    Not twenty feet away stood a massive grizzly bear, its breath visible in the cold night air.


    In the moonlight, I could see the silver tips of its brown fur, the massive paws that could tear me apart with a single swipe.


    I had wandered far from the pack¡¯s hunting area, far from any help. And without my wolf, I was just a human girl facing one of nature¡¯s most dangerous predators.


    ¡°Oh God, no¡­¡±


    The bear dropped to all fours and took a step toward me.


    I turned and bolted, my boots slipping on the snow-covered ground. Behind me, I heard the bear¡¯s huffing breath, the sound of its massive body crashing through the underbrush.


    My foot caught on an exposed root hidden beneath the snow, and I went down hard.


    The rifle¡ªthe gift from Alpha James that I¡¯d nearly forgotten¡ªtumbled into the snow beside me. As the bear¡¯s growl grew closer, my fingers closed around the cold metal of the gun.


    Rolling onto my back, I raised the rifle with shaking hands.


    I fired.


    Once. Twice. Three times.


    The reports echoed through the silent forest, each shot jolting through my arms. The bear roared, but kepting.


    I squeezed my eyes shut, certain I was about to die.


    Then came a sound I hadn¡¯t expected¡ªthe bear¡¯s pained bellow, followed by a heavy thud.


    Had I actually hit it? Had I brought down a grizzly bear?


    My eyes snapped open. In the silver moonlight, I saw not just the fallen bear, but the massive brown wolf standing over it, fangs bared in a silent snarl. Blood matted the fur around its muzzle, evidence of its attack on the bear.


    I knew that wolf.


    ¡°Leon,¡± I whispered.


    The wolf¡¯s head turned toward me, those blue eyes locking with mine.


    I should have felt relieved. Grateful.


    Leon had saved my life.


    ¡°Thank you, Leon!¡± I called out, pushing through the snow toward him. My voice cracked with emotion. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t shown up, I would have been dead for sure. You¡¯ll definitely be the champion of this Hunt Festival!¡±


    But as I approached, something in his ice-blue wolf eyes made me pause. There was no warmth there. Instead, his gaze was cold, almost¡­ distant.


    Before I could decipher his expression, Leon began to shift. The transformation was fluid and graceful¡ªfur receding into skin, bones and muscles rearranging themselves under the pale moonlight.


    I¡¯d seen people shift before, of course, but something about watching Leon transform made heat rise to my cheeks.


    Leon stood at least six-foot-two, his tall frame dominating the clearing. His golden hair, now tousled from the shift, caught the moonlight like spun silver. The defined muscles of his chest and abdomen rippled with each breath, testament to years of training and his Alpha bloodline.


    No wonder Leon was the fantasy of nearly every girl in the pack. Even Maya, the most popr girl in our pack, knew he wasn¡¯t her mate but still hovered around him like a moth to a me.


    Looking at him now, strong andpletely naked, I finally lowered my gaze in embarrassment.


    But it wasn¡¯t just my face burning; a strange heat stirred in my lower abdomen, a sensation I had never felt before. Warmth and dampness gathered between my legs.


    That¡¯s when the scent hit me again¡ªstronger, more intoxicating than before. Pine and snow and wildness, but now with another note. Something metallic. Blood.


    Could he really be my mate?


    I wondered, my heart racing as the scent enveloped me. Wait, something¡¯s different. This blood smell¡­ it¡¯s not the bear¡¯s.


    Slowly, I lifted my eyes back to Leon and froze in horror. There, on his left shoulder, was an unmistakable wound¡ªa bullet hole that was slowly closing.


    In my panic, I had shot wildly at the bear¡­ and hit Leon instead.

 Casts 2

    <h1 ss="text-2xl font-bold mb-4 ">Chapter 2:</h1>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    ¡°Leon, I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to,¡± I stammered, taking a step toward him, hands outstretched in a helpless gesture. ¡°I was so scared of the bear¡­¡±


    He regarded me with those piercing blue eyes. His expression remained unreadable as he said tly, ¡°It¡¯s fine. We should head back.¡±


    Without another word, he gathered some nearby vines and wove them into a makeshift rope with practiced skill.


    I stepped forward, reaching out to help him.<fndb58> Official source is F¦Énd£Îovel</fndb58>


    ¡°Let me¡ª¡± I started.


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Leon said, his voice cool as he pushed my hands away. ¡°Just take care of yourself. That¡¯s enough.¡±


    I stepped back, feeling the sting of his rejection. My cheeks burned with embarrassment as I watched him secure the rope around the grizzly¡¯s massive carcass and begin dragging the impressive trophy through the snow.


    Guilt gnawed at my insides. Was he angry with me?


    It had to be because I had shot him. I wanted to apologize again, but the words stuck in my throat as I watched his rigid back moving away from me.


    I followed silently behind Leon, the only sounds in the wilderness being our footsteps and the soft scraping of the bear¡¯s body across the snow.


    That unique scent continued to gue my senses.


    Questions burned in my mind, threatening to consume me from within. Finally, I gathered my courage.


    ¡°You showing up here wasn¡¯t a coincidence, was it? Did you¡­ did you sense me too? Are we¡­ are we mates?¡±


    Leon halted so suddenly I crashed into his solid frame, my body pressing against the hard nes of his chest.


    The impact sent a jolt through me, but it was the unmistakable hardness pressing against my thigh that made my breath catch.


    His cock, rigid and unyielding, sent a flush of heat coursing through me, pooling low in my belly.


    His breath, warm and ragged, carried the scent of pine, blood, and raw masculinity. My heart pounded.


    He¡¯s my mate.


    The thought seared through me, undeniable, intoxicating.


    I tried to step back, nerves sparking, but Leon¡¯s hand shot out, gripping my waist with possessive strength, pulling me closer.


    My pulse thundered as his fingers slipped beneath the waistband of my pants, delving into the sensitive heat between my thighs. A shiver raced through me, my body arching instinctively into his touch. I closed my eyes, a soft moan escaping as his fingers explored, teasing the edges of my desire.


    In that moment, I was his, ready to give in to his desires, longing for things I couldn¡¯t name.


    But then, nothing.


    His hand withdrew abruptly, and he shoved me back.


    ¡°Mate?¡± His voice was a low, guttural growl, dripping with disdain. ¡°You could never be my mate.¡±


    I staggered backward, my boots sinking into the snow as a searing pain tore through my chest. It felt as though something essential was being ripped from my soul, leaving behind a raw, gaping wound.


    I¡¯d always had a crush on Leon. What girl in the pack hadn¡¯t?


    He was the Alpha¡¯s son. With his golden hair and ice-blue eyes, he looked like prince from a fairy tale.


    Yet my feelings for him had only ever been admiration, maybe attraction¡ªcertainly not love or obsession. So why did this hurt so deeply?


    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte,¡± Leon said, his voice devoid of emotion. ¡°We need to get back to the pack. Thepetition is almost over.¡±


    Without waiting for my response, he turned away and resumed dragging the massive grizzly through the snow.


    I stood frozen for a moment, trying to catch my breath as the pain continued to pulse through me in dizzying waves.


    Forcing myself to move, I followed after Leon, nearly running to keep up with his long strides.


    By the time we reached the Frostshadow Pack¡¯s campground, most hunters had already returned.


    The massive bonfire at the center of the clearing illuminated an impressive disy of the night¡¯s hunt¡ªrabbits, deer, and even a few elk arranged to showcase each wolf¡¯s prowess.


    Leon unceremoniously dropped the grizzly near the fire, the massive carcassnding with a heavy thud that drew all eyes in our direction. Murmurs of awe rippled through the gathered wolves as they took in the size of the bear.


    Without a word, Leon stalked away toward the supply tents, presumably to find clothes.


    I lingered near the periphery, unsure where to ce myself in this celebration.


    The rifle hung heavy in my hands, a reminder of my failure¡ªnot only had I failed to bring down prey of my own, but I¡¯d shot the pack¡¯s future Alpha.


    ¡°What did you catch, Skye?¡± Maya¡¯s voice dripped with false sweetness as she approached, dragging a decent-sized elk behind her. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you came back empty-handed.¡±


    I clenched my fists, the pain in my chest momentarily overshadowed by a re of anger. ¡°Mind your own business.¡±


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t even be in thispetition. A person without a wolf participating in the Hunt Festival is like a blind person entering an archery contest. It¡¯s just pathetic.¡±


    The words struck a nerve, and I felt my eyes begin to burn with unshed tears. Before I could respond, an arm dropped around my shoulders.


    ¡°Say another word about my sister,¡± My brother Ethan growled, ¡°and Leon and I won¡¯t be taking you joyriding anymore.¡±


    Maya¡¯s smile faltered. She stuck out her tongue childishly, but retreated with her elk, throwing onest smug look over her shoulder.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± I murmured, leaning into my brother¡¯s warmth.


    Ethan squeezed my shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t let her get to you. Maya¡¯s just jealous because you¡¯ve always been smarter than her.¡±


    I tried to smile, but the pain in my chest had returned, a dull, persistent ache that made it hard to focus on anything else.


    Leon returned to the bonfire, now dressed in dark hunting clothes, his hair slightly damp as though he¡¯d hastily washed away the blood from the hunt. My eyes followed him involuntarily, drawn to him despite the agony his words had caused me.


    Alpha James began his inspection of the night¡¯s bounty, moving methodically from one kill to the next with appraising eyes.


    Finally, he stood beside the massive grizzly, cing one hand on its thick fur.


    ¡°The champion of this year¡¯s Hunt Festival,¡± he announced, his voice ringing through the clearing, ¡°is my son, Leon!¡±


    Cheers erupted around us. Some wolves even threw back their heads in celebratory howls.


    Ethan stepped forward to p Leon on the back.


    ¡°Where did you find such a beast?¡± my brother asked, admiration clear in his voice. ¡°You¡¯ve got the luck of the Ancestors this year!¡±


    Leon didn¡¯t respond to Ethan. Instead, his gaze traveled over the crowd until it found me standing at the edge.


    After a moment of charged silence, Leon turned to his father. ¡°Alpha,¡± he said, his voice carrying across the now-quieting crowd, ¡°I have something to announce.¡±


    The clearing fell silent, all attention riveted on the Alpha¡¯s son.


    My heart began to race, a sense of foreboding washing over me like the first chill wind before a blizzard.

 Casts 3

    <h1 ss="text-2xl font-bold mb-4 ">Chapter 3: Public Humiliation</h1>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    ¡°Tonight in the forest,¡± Leon announced, his voice carrying across the now-silent clearing, ¡°I discovered that Skye is my mate.¡±


    Gasps and excited murmurs spread through the gathered wolves. Shock registered on every face, some delighted, others confused, and a few clearly displeased. Elder wolves exchanged knowing nces while young girls whispered furiously.<fn4750> For original chapters go to find?novel</fn4750>


    For a fleeting moment, hope fluttered in my chest.


    Had Leon changed his mind since our encounter in the forest? That punishing pain that had been radiating through my body since his first rejection eased slightly, allowing me to breathe.


    Then Leon raised his hand, silencing the growing tide of congrattions and surprised exmations.


    ¡°But,¡± he continued, his voice dropping lower, heavier, ¡°I cannot ept this mate bond.¡±


    The words fell like an avnche, burying that brief spark of hope. The clearing went deathly quiet. Even the crackling bonfire seemed to hush.


    ¡°Skye has no wolf,¡± Leon said, his ice-blue eyes now fixed directly on mine, his tone clinical and detached. ¡°And during tonight¡¯s hunt, she shot me with the rifle Alpha lent her.¡±


    More gasps rippled through the crowd. Some turned to look at me with fresh horror, as though I¡¯dmitted some terrible crime. The weight of their stares pressed down on me from all sides.


    ¡°As future Alpha,¡± Leon continued, unwavering, ¡°I need a strong Luna, someone who can protect our pack and produce powerful offspring. Our pack hasn¡¯t produced an Alpha King in twenty-eight years.¡±


    He looked around, meeting the eyes of the older pack members who nodded in solemn agreement.


    ¡°The next Alpha King election, I must give everything I have. For the good of our pack, I must reject this mate bond.¡±


    Every word was a fresh cut, deeper than thest. I felt my body grow cold, then hot, then numb. The blood in my veins seemed to freeze, making it difficult to even draw breath. If Ethan hadn¡¯t returned to my side, I might have copsed under the weight of Leon¡¯s public rejection.


    Around me, the pack¡¯s reaction was immediate and mixed. Whispers spread like wildfire. Some nodded in approval of Leon¡¯s pragmatic decision, while others looked ufortable, stealing pitying nces in my direction.


    Maya¡¯s voice rose above the murmurs, clear and triumphant. ¡°He¡¯s right! A Luna without a wolf would make us theughingstock of all packs. How could she possibly lead us?¡±


    Several others nodded, emboldened by Maya¡¯s outspoken support.


    This can¡¯t be happening. Not like this. Not in front of everyone.


    Alpha James stepped forward, his expression grave. He ced a heavy hand on Leon¡¯s shoulder, his eyes searching his son¡¯s face.


    ¡°Leon, are you certain this is what you want?¡± he asked, ¡°Perhaps we should wait. Skye might yet develop her wolf. It could be just a matter of time.¡±


    Leon shook his head, resolute. ¡°I can¡¯t take that risk, Father. I won¡¯t make a decision that could harm our pack¡¯s future.¡± His expression softened slightly as he nced toward me. ¡°Skye is a good person. I never wanted to hurt her. I¡¯ll always protect her like a sister.¡±


    Like a sister.


    The words twisted the knife deeper. I didn¡¯t want his protection. I wanted¡­


    Ethan looked torn, his gaze shifting between Leon and me. After a moment of visible internal struggle, he squeezed my shoulder gently.


    ¡°I should talk to him,¡± he muttered. ¡°This is¡­ this is too sudden.¡±


    Before I could respond, Ethan had crossed to Leon¡¯s side. They exchanged quiet words before walking away from the fire together, heads bent in serious conversation.


    The sound of shattering pottery cut through the whispers. My mother stood at the edge of the clearing, a te of freshly baked cookies now scattered across the snow at her feet. Her face had gone pale, eyes wide with shock and dismay. But no one paid attention to the broken te or the wasted cookies¡ªall eyes remained fixed on the unfolding drama.


    My parents rushed to my side. Mom wrapped her arms around me, pulling me close against her chest as though I were still a child. Dad stood rigid beside us, his jaw clenched and eyes burning with barely contained fury.


    ¡°How dare he,¡± he hissed, his voice low and dangerous. ¡°How dare he do this to you, publicly, without warning.¡±


    Through the haze of tears that had begun to blur my vision, I caught sight of Maya in the crowd. Her lips were curved in a satisfied smirk, eyes gleaming with vindictive pleasure at my public humiliation. She leaned toward her friends, whispering something that made themugh, their eyes darting toward me.


    The pain in my chest transformed, crystallizing into something harder, sharper. A resolve, cold and unyielding as skan ice.


    If Leon didn¡¯t want me, fine. If the pack thought me weak because I had no wolf, fine. I would show them all exactly what Skye Anderson was made of¡ªwith or without a wolf.


    But first, I needed to escape the pitying stares and malicious whispers. I needed to breathe air that wasn¡¯t heavy with the scent of pine and snow and wilderness¡ªhis scent.


    I gently extracted myself from my mother¡¯s embrace, wiping away tears with the back of my hand.


    ¡°I need to be alone,¡± I whispered, my voice surprisingly steady despite the storm raging inside me.


    Mom nodded, understanding in her eyes. Dad looked ready to argue, but a look from Mom silenced him.


    With as much dignity as I could muster, I turned and walked away from the bonfire, away from the celebration that had be my public shaming. I forced myself to keep my head high, my back straight.


    I am more than their judgment. I am more than his rejection. I am more than the wolf I don¡¯t have.


    The mantra repeated in my mind as I disappeared into the shadows of our pack¡¯s territory, leaving behind the firelight and the eyes that had witnessed my greatest humiliation.


    Behind me, I could still hear Maya¡¯sughter, carried on the wind like the distant howl of a wolf.

 Casts 4

    <h1 ss="text-2xl font-bold mb-4 ">Chapter 4: The Tragedy Seven Years Ago</h1>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    The walk home from the Hunt Festival was a blur. I barely registered the snow crunching beneath my boots or the wind whipping against my tear-streaked face.


    My chest felt like it had been hollowed out, leaving nothing but a raw, pulsing emptiness where my heart should have been.


    Mom guided me through the door of our cabin. The familiar scent of pine furniture and cinnamon that usually broughtfort now seemed distant, like it belonged to someone else¡¯s life.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get you warmed up,¡± she whispered, her voice gentle as she helped me out of my snow-damp clothes and into soft nnel pajamas.


    I crawled into bed without a word, curling onto my side and pulling my knees to my chest.


    My mate, my wolf, my dignity¡ªall gone in a single night.


    Mom sat on the edge of the bed, her fingersbing through my silver hair with the same tenderness she¡¯d shown when I was a child. The gesture, so familiar and loving, only made the tearse faster.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t your fault, Skye,¡± she murmured, her voice breaking slightly. ¡°None of this is your fault.¡±


    I began to cry quietly, my body shaking with each silent sob. Mom didn¡¯t try to hush me or offer empty titudes. She simply continued stroking my hair.


    I don¡¯t know how long I cried, but eventually, the sound of the front door opening and closing announced Dad¡¯s arrival. His heavy footsteps approached my room, and soon I felt the mattress dip as he settled on the other side of the bed. Hisrge, calloused hand came to rest on my leg, warm and steady.


    ¡°My little warrior,¡± he said softly, using the nickname he¡¯d given me when I was small and insisted on following him and Ethan into the woods for training.


    As my sobs gradually subsided into asional hups, I became aware of what was missing. Or rather, who.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Ethan?¡± I asked, my voice raw from crying.


    The brief silence that followed told me everything I needed to know before either of my parents spoke.


    ¡°He¡¯s with Leon,¡± Mom finally said.


    ¡°Seriously?¡± In the moment I needed him most, my brother had chosen his best friend over me. His Alpha over his sister.


    ¡°Of course he is,¡± I whispered.


    Dad¡¯s hand tightened slightly on my leg. ¡°He¡¯s torn, Skye. He doesn¡¯t¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t make excuses for him,¡± I cut in. ¡°Not tonight.¡±


    Mom and Dad exchanged a look over me, their silentmunication as clear as if they¡¯d spoken aloud. They wouldn¡¯t push, not when I was already shattered.


    I must have drifted into a fitful sleep, because the next thing I knew, I was being pulled awake by the sound of voices in the hallway outside my room.


    ¡°¡ªthink she would be?¡± That was my father, his deep voice thrumming with barely contained fury.


    ¡°I understand your anger,¡± came Leon¡¯s measured response, ¡°but I had my reasons. This has nothing to do with personal feelings.¡±


    I stiffened beneath my nkets, every muscle tensing at the sound of his voice. The mate-bond, though rejected, pulsed painfully in response to his proximity, like a broken limb that hadn¡¯t been properly set.


    Careful not to make a sound, I shifted closer to the door, straining to hear their conversation.


    ¡°I must win the next Alpha King election,¡± Leon continued, ¡°and I absolutely have the strength to do it. You were there when my mother died¡ªherst wish was for me to be Alpha King. I cannot fail her.¡± There was a brief pause before he added, his voice hardening, ¡°Skye hasn¡¯t manifested her wolf, and her shooting skills are worse than an average human warrior¡¯s. How could I ept her as my mate? These are simply facts.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not her fault!¡± my father snarled ¡°Her wolf will appear when it¡¯s ready, and that shooting incident waspletely idental. I¡¯ll train her inbat myself¡ªshe can protect the pack just as well as any wolf warrior.¡±


    ¡°A Luna without a wolf cannot protect the pack,¡± Leon replied, his voice maddeningly calm, ¡°nor can she ensure strong offspring.¡±


    ¡°Then tell me,¡± my father demanded, his voice dropping to a dangerous low, ¡°what reason do we have to stay in this pack? If my daughter can¡¯t get respect and protection here, why shouldn¡¯t we leave?¡±


    Leave?


    Leave the only home I¡¯d ever known?


    The thought was simultaneously terrifying and strangely liberating.


    ¡°Dad, please don¡¯t be so impulsive,¡± Ethan¡¯s voice cut in.


    ¡°Remember who you are¡ªyou¡¯re the Beta of Frostshadow Pack. How can you talk about abandoning the pack so casually? I know this is unfair to Skye, but helping Leon win the next Alpha King election is also my life¡¯s goal.


    I¡¯ll help her find her Second Chance mate, I promise. This heartache is temporary. Don¡¯t you want to see Frostshadow Pack be stronger? Don¡¯t you remember how devastating our losses were in the great battle against the vampires seven years ago? Leon¡¯s mother, our Luna¡­¡±


    The conversation fell into tense silence.


    I clutched my nkets tighter, the mention of the vampire war awakening memories we all tried to keep buried.


    So many pack members lost, including Leon¡¯s mother, who had sacrificed herself to save several wolf pups, including me and Ethan.


    I suddenly felt ashamed of my tears, as if my pain was somehow selfish in the face of what our pack had endured.


    Was I being childish to feel so betrayed?


    Was I letting down the entire pack by not epting Leon¡¯s rejection with quiet dignity?


    ¡°Skye?¡± Leon¡¯s voice called softly through the door, startling me from my thoughts.


    I mmed the door shut with all my strength. Leaning my back against the door, I slowly slid down until I was sitting on the floor.


    I heard him sigh heavily, followed by the sound of retreating footsteps.


    As Iy there in the darkness, staring at the ceiling, I thought about the Alpha King election.


    Every four years, Alphas from approximately fifty packs across North Americapeted for the title. Just three months ago, a new Alpha King had been crowned.


    The Alpha King advocated for his own pack and allied packs, establishing policies that favored them. Every pack wanted their Alpha to hold that position, which required not only winning votes but also proving superior strength. A powerful female Luna could enhance an Alpha¡¯s fighting abilities.<fn561a> Content originallyes from FindN()vel</fn561a>


    I understood the importance of the Alpha King election. What I couldn¡¯t understand was why Leon had to publicly humiliate me.


    Tomorrow, everyone would treat me like a loser, a joke. The thought of facing the pack¡ªof seeing Maya¡¯s smug face, of enduring the pitying nces and whisperedments¡ªmade me feel physically ill.


    A thought shed through my head ¡ª maybe I should just get out of here.

 Casts 5

    <h1 ss="text-2xl font-bold mb-4 ">Chapter 5 Just A Breeder</h1>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    ¡°Time to get up, Skye,¡± Ethan¡¯s voice called, muffled through the wood.


    I groaned, rolling over in bed. My head throbbed like someone had taken a sledgehammer to it, and my eyes felt gritty, swollen fromst night¡¯s tears.


    ¡°You okay?¡± Ethan asked, poking his head into the room.


    ¡°Fine,¡± I lied, my voice raspy.


    He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. ¡°Listen, the new Alpha of Stormhowl Pack, Maxwell, is visiting today. As the Beta¡¯s family, we¡¯re expected at the banquet tonight.¡±


    ¡°You think I¡¯m in any shape to y dress-up and smile for some visiting Alpha?¡±


    ¡°You gonna hide in here forever? You¡¯re stronger than that, Skye. Show up looking like a million bucks and prove to everyone you¡¯re not broken.¡±


    He stepped forward, cing a sleek ck gift box on my bed.


    ¡°Picked this out for you. Wear it tonight.¡±


    I stared at the box, the ache in my chest ring. Ethan was right, I couldn¡¯t let them see me crumble


    ¡°Fine,¡± I muttered. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡±


    That evening, I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing the fitted sky-blue dress Ethan had chosen. It hugged my curves, the silky fabric catching the light. I¡¯d tamed my hair into loose waves and dabbed on enough makeup to hide the evidence of my breakdown.


    I looked¡­ presentable.


    At the banquet hall, the air buzzed with chatter and the clink of sses. The long table wasden with roasted meats, fresh bread, and pitchers of wine. My parents nked me as we took our seats, Ethan across from us.


    I scanned the room, my stomach twisting when I spotted Leon near the head of the table, his golden hair gleaming under the chandeliers. Our eyes met for a split second before I jerked my gaze away, focusing on the te in front of me.


    Alpha Maxwell, a broad-shouldered man with a salt-and-pepper beard, stood to raise a toast.


    ¡°To the Frostshadow Pack, and to Leon, a fine young wolf who¡¯ll make a hell of an Alpha one day.¡±


    Then he grinned at Leon. ¡°Tell me, have you found your mate yet?¡±


    My fork froze halfway to my mouth. Leon¡¯s gaze flicked to me, cool and unreadable.


    ¡°I have,¡± he said evenly. ¡°But I don¡¯t think she¡¯s suitable.¡±


    Whispers rippled through the room, and I felt every eye turn to me. Before I could process the sting, Maya¡¯s voice cut through, sharp and gleeful.


    ¡°Alpha Maxwell, allow me to introduce the unsuitable woman sitting right across from you. Skye has no wolf and could never produce strong heirs for our pack.¡±


    The room went silent. My face burned, and I gripped my fork so hard my knuckles whitened.


    ¡°Maya, enough,¡± Alpha James snapped, his tone sharp enough to make her flinch.


    Maxwell¡¯s eyes slid to me, appraising. ¡°Shame, she¡¯s beautiful.¡±


    I wanted to disappear. To sink through the floor and nevere back.


    Maxwell turned back to Leon, his tone casual. ¡°Here¡¯s a thought. You don¡¯t have to reject your mate. I could send you a strong, beautiful female warrior from my pack to be your Breeder. It¡¯d strengthen the alliance between our packs. What do you say?¡±<fn8e99> This text is hosted at ?ovelFind</fn8e99>


    The word ¡°Breeder¡± hit me like a p.


    A Breeder? Some woman to bear Leon¡¯s children while I¡ªwhat? Sat by and watched?


    My father¡¯s voice cut through the haze. ¡°Alpha Maxwell, that suggestion is inappropriate.¡±


    But Alpha James, to my horror, leaned forward, his expression thoughtful.


    ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not a bad idea. Skye¡¯s always cared for Leon, hasn¡¯t she?¡± He looked at Leon. ¡°What do you think, son?¡±


    Leon¡¯s eyes met mine again, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of hesitation. Then he spoke, his voice steady. ¡°It could work. If Skye¡¯s willing, she could still be the future Luna, and we¡¯d ensure strong heirs for the pack.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not willing!¡± I spat, my voice shaking with rage. ¡°Not now, not ever!¡±


    I didn¡¯t wait for a response. I turned and stormed out, the chatter of the banquet fading behind me as I pushed through the heavy doors into the cold night air.


    ¡°Skye, wait!¡± Leon¡¯s voice chased me, and before I could get far, his hand closed around my arm, pulling me to a stop. ¡°This is the best solution. You¡¯d be Luna. What more do you want?¡±


    I yanked my arm free, ring up at him. ¡°What more? You think I¡¯d share my mate? Stand by while you sleep with some other woman and have her kids? What kind of woman do you think I am?¡±


    His jaw tightened. ¡°She¡¯d just be a Breeder, not a wife. Once she¡¯s pregnant, I wouldn¡¯t touch her again.¡±


    Iughed, a bitter, broken sound.


    ¡°You¡¯re unbelievable. I¡¯d rather ept your rejection than live like that.¡±


    His eyes darkened, but I didn¡¯t give him a chance to respond.


    I turned and ran, my heels sinking into the snow as I fled toward theke, tears blurring my vision.


    Theke was a mirror of stars, its surface barely rippling in the frigid night.


    I copsed onto the shore, my sobs echoing in the stillness. The pain in my chest was unbearable, a jagged wound that refused to close.


    ¡°Miss, I hate to interrupt, but you¡¯re sitting on my clothes.¡±


    I froze, whipping around to see a man emerging from the water, his form half-shadowed in the moonlight. My heart raced, and I took a step back, instantly on guard.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± I demanded, scanning the darkness. A rogue? I couldn¡¯t make out his face.


    ¡°Easy,¡± he said, his voice calm, almost amused. ¡°I¡¯m with Stormhowl Pack, here with Alpha Maxwell.¡±


    I frowned, my hands still clenched. ¡°Then why aren¡¯t you at the banquet? And why the hell are you swimming? The water¡¯s practically ice.¡±


    He chuckled, a low, warm sound.


    ¡°Could ask you the same thing. Why¡¯s a pretty girl like you crying by ake in the middle of the night?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡±


    He swam closer to the shore, and as he started to climb out, I caught a glimpse of bare skin below his waist. My face burned, and I thrust his clothes toward him, spinning around to give him privacy.


    ¡°Here,¡± I muttered.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± he said, and I heard the rustle of fabric as he dressed.


    Desperate to change the subject, I blurted, ¡°Your pack¡ªStormhowl. You¡¯ve got a lot of strong, beautiful female warriors, right?¡±


    ¡°Plenty,¡± he said. ¡°Why?¡±


    My chest tightened, the image of Leon fuck some perfect warrior woman shing through my mind. I regretted asking.


    ¡°No reason,¡± I mumbled.


    He stepped closer, his voice softening. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful too, you know. Whypare yourself to anyone else?¡±


    I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, Ethan¡¯s voice cut through the night.


    ¡°Skye!¡± Ethan jogged toward me, his eyes narrowing at the man behind me. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°Just a warrior from Stormhowl,¡± I said quickly.


    Ethan grabbed my hand. ¡°You ran off, and Mom and Dad are freaking out. Come back with me.¡±


    I let him pull me away, ncing back at the stranger. His face was blurred in the darkness.

 Casts 6

    <h1 ss="text-2xl font-bold mb-4 ">Chapter 6: Marry A Busty Stranger</h1>


    Adrian¡¯s POV


    I never wanted toe here.


    If it weren¡¯t for my mother, I wouldn¡¯t have agreed to apany Uncle Maxwell to Frostshadow Pack. She begged me to support him, said it was time to ¡°put the pack first¡± and ¡°let go of the past.¡±


    Let go of the past? She meant my father.


    It¡¯s only been a few months since we buried him, and already Maxwell was sitting in his chair, wearing the title of Alpha like it had always belonged to him. The Stormhowl council stood behind him. So did my mother.


    ¡°You¡¯re still young, Adrian,¡± she told me. ¡°Stormhowl needs stability after the Rogue attacks. Your uncle can offer that now. He has more experience.¡±


    I¡¯d heard it all before. Over and over. Stability. Strength. Survival.


    But the truth was simpler¡ªmy mother loved Maxwell, having fallen for her husband¡¯s brother. She wanted peace. Even if it meant betraying everything my father stood for. Even if it meant handing the pack over to Maxwell and asking me to smile through it.


    So here I was, not as the rightful Alpha of Stormhowl, but as a quiet, obedient guest following Maxwell¡¯s lead like one of his guards. Just another son of the dead Alpha.


    The Frostshadownds were nothing like Stormhowl¡¯s warm, sunlit beaches. ska¡¯s winter felt hollow and gray, as if the cold here didn¡¯t just bite your skin but settled deep into your bones. The snow fell slow and heavy, quieting the world like a nket no one asked for.


    I skipped the banquet.


    Maxwell said Alpha James was throwing a celebration tonight, something about the end of the hunting festival. A banquet full of roasted meat, fine wine, and political smiles.


    No thanks.


    I headed to the frozenke at the edge of Frostshadow territory. It was far from the warm lights of the great hall. No one would look for me here. I stripped off my clothes and dove into the water, letting the shock of it cut straight through me. Cold, sharp, pure.


    It used to be my father who taught me to swim through icy currents. He¡¯d say, ¡°If you can survive this, you can survive anything.¡± I remembered the way he used tough, loud and free, echoing across the surface of the water.


    Now, all that was left were the ripples and my breath.


    When I resurfaced, I heard footsteps crunching on snow. My muscles tensed, instincts sharp. A figure in a blue dress stood near the shore, her arms folded tightly across her chest. Her silver hair shimmered in the moonlight like frost.


    She didn¡¯t see me at first. She was crying, soft and quiet, her shoulders trembling. I frowned. No one should be out here alone like that. Especially not someone dressed like they belonged at the banquet.


    ¡°Miss,¡± I called, swimming closer to the bank, ¡°I hate to interrupt, but I think you¡¯re sitting on my clothes.¡±


    She jerked back, startled. Her gaze snapped to mine, and I watched suspicion sh across her face. She was quick to move, eyes narrowing, shoulders tightening. Smart.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± she demanded.


    ¡°Stormhowl Pack,¡± I said, keeping my voice even. ¡°Here with Alpha Maxwell.¡±


    She didn¡¯t rx. Not one bit. Good.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you at the banquet?¡± she asked. ¡°And why are you swimming? The water¡¯s freezing.¡±


    ¡°I could ask you the same thing,¡± I said. ¡°Why¡¯s someone like you crying alone by ake in a dress like that?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s none of your business,¡± she snapped.


    I chuckled, shaking water from my hair as I stepped out onto the snow-covered shore. She squeaked and spun around, holding out my clothes blindly over her shoulder.


    ¡°Here,¡± she muttered.


    ¡°Appreciate it,¡± I said, pulling my shirt over my head.


    After a moment, she asked, ¡°Your pack has a lot of female warriors, right?¡±


    That caught me off guard.


    ¡°Plenty,¡± I replied slowly. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°No reason,¡± she said too fast.


    There was pain in her voice she tried to bury. I didn¡¯t push. Still, something about her stirred something quiet in me. She didn¡¯t know me. I didn¡¯t know her. But for a brief second, we were just two people running from something bigger than ourselves.


    ¡°You¡¯re beautiful, you know,¡± I said. ¡°Don¡¯t waste timeparing yourself to anyone else.¡±


    She turned slightly, as if to say something, but before she could, a male voice rang out.


    ¡°Skye!¡±


    The girl flinched and turned around. A tall man jogged toward her¡ªdark-haired, sharp eyes. Brother, maybe. He didn¡¯t look happy to see me.


    ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± he asked, eyeing me.


    ¡°Just a warrior from Stormhowl,¡± she replied quickly.


    He grabbed her hand. ¡°You ran off, and Mom and Dad are freaking out. Come back with me.¡±


    She let him lead her away, and just like that, she vanished into the trees like a dream slipping through my fingers.


    I bent down to grab my shoes and felt something under my heel.


    A broken hairpin.


    Sliver with a green gemstone. Cracked where I had stepped on it.


    It must have been hers.


    I tucked it into my coat pocket. If I saw her again, I¡¯d return it.


    Back at the guesthouse Alpha James had prepared, I barely had time to towel off before Maxwell burst in, reeking of alcohol and self-importance.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got good news!¡± he announced.


    I stayed seated, schooling my face into polite interest. ¡°What is it?¡±


    He grinned, plopping down across from me. ¡°You¡¯ve been single for too long, Adrian. I¡¯ve found someone for you. Beautiful. Strong. From Frostshadow.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re matchmaking now?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s perfect,¡± he said, thrusting his phone at me. ¡°Name¡¯s Maya. She¡¯s their top female warrior.¡±


    The woman on the screen wore red lipstick and a skin-tight bodysuit that left little to the imagination. Her eyes burned with arrogance. Everything about her screamed ambition.


    ¡°No,¡± I said tly. ¡°I¡¯m not interested. Unless she¡¯s my mate, don¡¯t waste your time.¡±


    Maxwell¡¯s smile faded. ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid. This is bigger than you. It¡¯s a political alliance. Frostshadow needs support, and so do we. You think the Rogues are done?¡±


    I stood, walking to the window. Snow was falling again. Quiet. Endless.<fn135d> Discover more novels at Find[?]ovel</fn135d>


    ¡°I already gave you the Alpha seat,¡± I said. ¡°I won¡¯t give you my marriage, too.¡±


    He scoffed. ¡°You think you still have a choice? You can¡¯t lead Stormhowl from the shadows forever. This is the best offer you¡¯ll get.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not marrying someone to please you,¡± I said without turning. ¡°Now leave. I need rest.¡±


    He muttered something under his breath, then moved toward the door. ¡°I¡¯ll speak with your mother. She¡¯ll understand how important this is.¡±


    He left, mming the door behind him.


    I leaned against the window, watching the snow nket the trees. A war raged inside me¡ªone of loyalty, grief, and resentment. This wasn¡¯t the life I wanted. Maybe it was time I stopped waiting for things to go back to how they were.


    Maybe, my best option¡­ was to leave Stormhowl Pack.

 Casts 7

    <h1 ss="text-2xl font-bold mb-4 ">Chapter 7: Goodbye Notes</h1>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    I woke the next morning with swollen, red eyes.


    I needed to leave. Today.


    The thought gave me a surge of energy. To hell with the Breeder. I wasn¡¯t going to stay here and keep taking insults from Leon and Maya.


    First, I needed to eat. I had barely touched the food at the banquetst night.


    As I went downstairs, a strange, nauseating smell reached my nose. I followed it to the kitchen and found Mom there.


    ¡°Good morning, Mom,¡± I said as I stepped into the room.


    She jumped slightly and turned around quickly, pushing something into a drawer.


    ¡°Oh! Skye, you startled me.¡±


    I wrinkled my nose. ¡°Do you smell that? It¡¯s kind of¡­ gross.¡±


    Her eyes shifted to the side.


    ¡°Oh, that. I found some rotten eggs while making cookies this morning. I had to throw them out,¡± she said softly. She ced a steaming mug of apple cinnamon tea and a te of gingerbread cookies in front of me. They were shaped like wolves, bears, and rabbits. ¡°I made your favorites.¡±


    The cookies were still warm, fresh from the oven. I picked up a little wolf-shaped one. My throat tightened.


    It was obvious Mom hadn¡¯t slept. The shadows under her eyes told the story. While I cried myself to sleep, she had stayed up baking my childhood favorites. Guilt stirred inside me, battling with my resolve to leave.


    The cookies were still warm, fresh from the oven. I picked up a little wolf-shaped one. My throat tightened.


    It was obvious Mom hadn¡¯t slept. The shadows under her eyes told the story. While I cried myself to sleep, she had stayed up baking my childhood favorites. Guilt stirred inside me, battling with my resolve to leave.


    Then she sat down beside me and hesitated for a moment before speaking.


    ¡°Skye¡­ I think maybe you should consider Alpha Maxwell¡¯s proposal fromst night.¡±


    The cookie slipped from my hand.


    ¡°Mom,¡± I said, my voice sharp with disbelief, ¡°how could you even say that? I thought you were the one person who truly understood me.¡±


    She looked startled, flustered.


    ¡°I only said it because I want what¡¯s best for you,¡± she rushed to exin. ¡°Sometimes, when you love someone, you have to make sacrifices. And you¡¯re not alone, Skye. You still have us¡­ don¡¯t you?¡±


    I bit down on my lip, trying to keep my voice steady.


    ¡°Even if everyone thinks I¡¯m selfish, I can¡¯t share my love with someone I don¡¯t choose. I won¡¯t.¡±


    Mom quickly reached out to soothe me, her voice softening.


    ¡°Okay¡­ okay. I¡¯m not forcing you. I just want you to be happy. That¡¯s all I care about.¡±


    I nodded silently, the words lodged in my throat.


    I was halfway through my second cookie when a familiar voice rang out through the open kitchen window, tearing the moment apart.


    ¡°Ethan! Training¡¯s about to start. Everyone¡¯s waiting for you!¡± Maya¡¯s voice was sharp andmanding.


    Heavy footsteps came down the stairs. Ethan rushed into the room but paused when he saw me at the table. Uncertainty crossed his face.


    ¡°Skye, I¡ª¡± he began, taking a step toward me.


    ¡°Ethan, hurry up!¡± Maya¡¯s voice cut through again.


    Our eyes met. I saw guilt, worry, and something like regret. But he looked toward the window, toward the waiting pack, toward his Alpha.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got to go,¡± he said, stepping back. ¡°We¡¯ll talkter, okay?¡±


    I nodded, keeping my face down as I sipped my tea. He rushed out the door. Once again, the choice had been made. And once again, it wasn¡¯t me.


    My resolve solidified.


    What was left for me here?


    No training.


    No real ce.


    Just watching from the sidelines while others lived the lives I wasn¡¯t allowed to have.


    I was the burden. The one without a wolf. The weak link everyone had to protect.


    I was nothing here. Maybe even less than nothing.


    Mom sat beside me and gently ced her hand over mine. ¡°How are you feeling today, sweetie?¡±


    I tried to smile. ¡°Just tired. Didn¡¯t sleep well.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s understandable,¡± she said, stroking the back of my hand with her thumb. ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot.¡±


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll go rest for a bit,¡± I said, finishing the tea. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, Mom. You should help with the meat smoking. I know there¡¯s a lot to do after the festival.¡±


    She hesitated, watching my face. ¡°Are you sure? I can stay with you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± I said, forcing cheer into my voice. ¡°Besides, Ethan and Dad brought down two deerst night. That¡¯s a lot of meat.¡±


    She finally nodded. ¡°Alright. But I¡¯ll check on youter.¡±


    As soon as she stepped outside, I ran upstairs. My heart beat faster. I didn¡¯t have much time.


    From my window, I saw the pack gathering around the smoking sheds. They would be busy for hours. The smell of curing meat would fill the air soon.


    No one would notice me leaving.


    I moved quickly. My deerskin backpack, stitched by Mom with detailed beadwork, was ready in minutes. I packed warm clothes, toiletries, and the money I had saved from summer jobs.


    My fingers brushed over the bone flute Ethan had made me for my tenth birthday. He had spent so long carving it, getting the sound just right. I couldn¡¯t leave it behind.


    I also grabbed my most prized possession¡ªthe silver dagger Dad had forged for me after the vampire war. He called it Tink, because of the sound silver makes when it hits stone.


    ¡°You¡¯ll always be protected,¡± he had said, ¡°even when I can¡¯t be there.¡±


    I hadn¡¯t understood it then, but now I did. I ran my fingers along the carved handle and ced it in the bag.


    I checked the window again. Mom was hanging strips of venison on the racks. Dad wasn¡¯t in sight. He was likely in the smokehouse with the senior pack.


    I returned to my desk and pulled out a nk sheet of paper. There was so much I wanted to say. Apologies. Exnations. Reassurance.


    But when I held the pen, no words came.


    How do you condense a lifetime into a single note?


    I kept it simple.


    I love you all, but I can¡¯t stay. Please don¡¯t worry about me, and please don¡¯t try to find me. I¡¯ll be okay. ¡ªSkye


    Tears burned behind my eyes as I ced the note on my pillow. But I blinked them back. I needed to be strong.


    I pulled on a white knit cap to hide my silver hair, so different from the golden tones of most pack members. Then I slung my bag over my shoulder and stepped quietly out the back door.


    The keys to my birthday present¡ªa redpact car Dad had given me just yesterday¡ªfelt cold in my hand.<fne2ca> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find~Novel</fne2ca>


    I started the engine and eased down the long driveway.


    I didn¡¯t look back.

 Casts 8

    <h1 ss="text-2xl font-bold mb-4 ">Chapter 8: She Is Gone£¿£¡</h1>


    Leon¡¯s POV


    The training ground echoed with grunts and the dull thuds of bodies hitting frozen earth. Around me, Frostshadow Pack¡¯s young warriors paired off inbat exercises.


    I should have been focused, correcting stances and offering guidance as the Alpha¡¯s son. Instead, my mind kept drifting back to the hunting night.


    My fingers grazed between her thighs, feeling her excitement mirror my own.


    My body craved to im her, to press her against the frozen earth, to feel her surrenderpletely. But reason wed me back¡ªher fragility, herck of a wolf, the pack¡¯s future.


    Choosing a female warrior as my Breeder seemed like the perfect solution.


    I couldn¡¯t understand why Skye was so furious. She¡¯d been spoiled by her family,pletely clueless about responsibility.


    What shocked me the most, though, was that she actually epted my rejection.


    ¡°Leon! You¡¯re wide open!¡±


    The warning came toote.


    Ethan¡¯s shoulder mmed into my chest, sending me sprawling onto my back. For a moment, all I could do was stare up at the pale winter sky.


    Ethan loomed over me, extending his hand. ¡°That¡¯s the third time today. Where¡¯s your head at?¡±


    ¡°Just tired,¡± I muttered.


    Around us, the other warriors had paused their training to watch. Maya didn¡¯t bother hiding her interest, her blonde hair pulled back in a tight braid, her gaze tracking my movements with barely disguised hunger.


    ¡°Again,¡± Imanded, resuming my stance.


    As Ethan and I circled each other, my mind drifted to a memory fromst month.


    Skye had been watching our training session from the sidelines, wrapped in that oversized blue coat she loved. When Ethan executed a perfect takedown on one of our newer recruits, she¡¯d jumped up, pping and cheering like it was the most impressive thing she¡¯d ever seen.


    ¡°Soon I¡¯ll be right there with you guys,¡± she¡¯d called out, her silver hair catching the light of the season¡¯s first snowfall. ¡°Just wait until I shift!¡±


    But she had just turned eighteenst week, and she still hadn¡¯t shifted.


    I¡¯m three years older than Skye, I had already shifted when I was fifteen.


    My distraction cost me again. Ethan¡¯s leg swept mine from under me, and I found myself staring at the sky for the second time.


    ¡°Seriously, Leon,¡± Ethan said.


    ¡°Water break!¡± I called out to the group, needing a moment to collect myself.


    Seven years ago, I watched as a vampire¡¯s ws tore through my mother¡¯s chest. I was only fourteen, frozen in horror as she ced herself between the vampire and a group of pups¡ªEthan and Skye among them. Herst words to me, blood bubbling from her lips: ¡°Be Alpha King. Protect them all.¡±


    The memory had burned away any childish notions of romance or infatuation.<fn10b7> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find~novel</fn10b7>


    Since then, I¡¯ve had only one purpose: to fulfill my mother¡¯s dying wish.


    I¡¯d dated briefly in the years after, more to satisfy the physical urges that came with shifting than out of any emotional connection.


    When I sensed that Skye was my matest night, disappointment had been my first reaction.


    A Luna needed to be like my mother¡ªintelligent, powerful, graceful, and willing to sacrifice everything for the pack if necessary. Skyecked these qualities.


    I¡¯d followed her into the forest deliberately, watching from the shadows as she encountered the grizzly. I¡¯d waited, hoping that in that moment of extreme danger, something would awaken in her¡ªher wolf, perhaps, or at least some instinct for survival.


    Instead, she¡¯d fallen like a porcin doll, firing wildly in panic. If I couldn¡¯t trust her to handle a single bear, how could I trust her to face vampires, hunters, or rival packs?


    ¡°Leon!¡± Maya¡¯s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.


    ¡°Here!¡± she said, sitting down beside me and handing me a bottle of water.


    I epted it with a nod, taking a long drink before handing it back. Maya lingered, her eyes searching my face.


    ¡°You did the right thing, you know,¡± she said, ¡°The pack needs a Luna who can fight alongside you, not someone who needs protecting.¡±


    Her words were a mirror of my own thoughts, yet hearing them aloud made me ufortable. I grunted nomittally and turned away, but Maya wasn¡¯t finished.


    ¡°My mother says there hasn¡¯t been atent wolf in our pack for three generations. It¡¯s a bad sign.¡± She leaned closer, voice dropping to a whisper. ¡°Everyone agrees you made the right choice.¡±


    ¡°Training resumes in two minutes,¡± I announced loudly, ignoring her question.


    As evening approached and training concluded, an unexpected visitor arrived at the training grounds.


    Skye¡¯s mother hurried toward us, her face drawn with worry.


    ¡°Ethan,¡± she called, ¡°is Skye here with you?¡±


    Ethan frowned, looking to me before shaking his head. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t seen her all day. Why?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s gone,¡± his mother said, her voice trembling as she held out a small piece of paper. ¡°I found this on her pillow after I finished with the meat smoking.¡±


    Ethan took the note, his expression darkening as he read. The ink had blurred in ces¡ªtear stains. My stomach clenched with a sudden, inexplicable dread.


    ¡°What does it say?¡± I asked, moving closer.


    Before Ethan could answer, my father¡¯s voice filled my mind through our pack bond.


    ¡°Leon, we¡¯ve detected rogue wolves near our eastern border. Gather your training group and investigate immediately.¡±


    The blood drained from my face. I locked eyes with Ethan, knowing he¡¯d received the same message. Without a word, we both sprinted toward the forest, still in our training clothes.


    Behind us, I heard Skye¡¯s mother call out in confusion, but there was no time to exin.


    If Skye had left the pack¡¯s protection, if she was out there alone with rogues nearby¡­

 Casts 9

    Leon¡¯s POV


    The night air cut through my lungs like frozen des as I ran through the forest. Ethan kept pace beside me. Tracking should have been simple in the fresh snow. But Skye¡¯s trail was strangely faint, like we were chasing a ghost.


    Anything? Ethan¡¯s voice broke through the sound of our crunching boots.


    I shook my head with frustration. ¡°It¡¯s like she¡¯s not even here.¡± I had never seen a trail this hard to follow. Even humans left some trace. They left sweat of fear. But Skye¡¯s trail was like snow itself. It was cold, flecting, and almost invisible.


    ¡°Maybe she hasn¡¯t shifted yet, Ethan said with tension in his voice. ¡°That could mess with her scent.¡±


    I kept thinking about my father¡¯s warning. He had told us about rogues near our border. These rogues were wolves without packs orws. They lived in chaos with no honor or restraint. And now Skye was out there alone. She might cross path.


    A wolf¡¯s howl cut through the trees. It was sharp and foreign, not from Frostshadow. Ethan and I locked eyes. We turned toward the sound and ran faster. If rogues had seen her or worse¡­


    ?


    The howl came again. It was closer now and joined by another. My heart pounded as we reached the top of a ridge. Below us in a clearing, we saw the glow of a fire. We slowed down and crouched low with our senses alert. The scent of smoke mixed with something musky and wild.


    Voices¨Clow, rough¨Ccarried on the wind, along with a sound that turned my blood to ice: a woman¡¯s moans, punctuated by soft sobs, drifting from a weathered tent near the fire.


    Ethan¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°What the hell¡­¡±


    We moved quickly and silently to close the distance. Two figures sat by the fire. They were rogues in human form. The fir


    light cast shadows on their


    faces.


    The tent¡¯s canvas glowed faintly, casting sharp silhouettes: two bodies, entwined, moving rhythmically. The woman¡¯s gasps grew louder, her voice raw,


    desperate. My mind spiraled, a sick dread coiling in my gut.


    Skye?!


    No, it couldn¡¯t be. But the thought rooted me, my heart a block of ice.


    ¡°Cover me,¡± I whispered to Ethan, my voice barely audible. He nodded, his hand on his de.


    We surged forward. The rogues by the fire jolted, scrambling to their feet, but I ignored them, my focus on the tent. I ripped the p open, dagger ready, and froze.


    A red¨Chaired woman¨Cplump, flushed, her skin slick with sweaty sprawled beneath a rogue. Her breasts heaved, thighs spread wide, his cock buried deep as he thrust with a grunt. She screamed at the sight of us, shrill and piercing, her eyes wide with shock.


    The rogue cursed, pulling out, his erection glistening in the dim light as he fumbled for


    a


    weapon.


    Relief crashed through me, sharp and dizzying. Not Skye. Thank the Moon Goddess, not Skye.


    ¡°Who the fuck are you?¡± the rogue in the tent snarled, yanking a nket over himself. The woman clutched at the fabric, covering her heavy curves, her face a mix of fear and indignation.


    The two by the fire closed in, their voices rough, ¡°What¡¯s your problem, bursting in like that?¡± the taller one barked, his lean frame tense, a scar shing from eye to jaw. ¡°You Frostshadow pricks think


    ink/you own the whole damn forest?¡±


    Ethan stepped forward, his de glinting. ¡°You¡¯re on ournd. Exin yourselves. Now.¡±


    The taller one, lean with a scar shing from eye to jaw, raised his hands. ¡°Hold on, Frostshadow wolves. I¡¯m Beck. Just having some fun, alright? A bit of whiskey, a fire, a whore to warm the night. Didn¡¯t know we needed your permission to fuck.¡±


    1/2<fndaf7> Checktest chapters at Find?Novel</fndaf7>


    The woman bristled, her voice sharp. ¡°I ain¡¯t no whore! I¡¯m here cause I want to be.¡± She red, adjusting the nket, her red hair tangled around her shoulders.


    The rogue from the tent, still half¨Ccovered, smirked. ¡°She¡¯s got a tight cunt and a louder mouth. Worth every penny,¡± He gestured crudely, his hand mimicking a thrust. ¡°What, you jealous? Want a turn?¡±


    My fist clenched, the urge to smash his face nearly overwhelming. ¡°Shut your mouth,¡± I growled. ¡°You¡¯ve got five seconds to tell me what you¡¯re doing here and if you¡¯ve seen a silver¨Chaired girl. Young, traveling alone.¡±


    The younger rogue by the fire shifted nervously, his eyes darting. ¡°We ain¡¯t seen no girl. Been here all night, just¡­ rxing.¡± He nced at the tent, then away, as if embarrassed.


    Beck raised his hands, cating. ¡°Look, we¡¯re just passing through. Heading to Fairbanks, that tavern up there. They don¡¯t care about lone wolves. We didn¡¯t mean to step on your toes. No girls, no trouble. Swear it.¡±


    I studied them, my senses screaming. Rogues lied as easily as they breathed. Seven years ago, rogues sold out our pack to vampires, costing us twelve lives, including my mother. I couldn¡¯t trust a word from these filth.


    ¡°You¡¯reing with us,¡± I said, my voice cold as the snow underfoot. ¡°Until we find our pack member, you¡¯re under Frostshadow watch.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s bullshit!¡± the rogue from the tent snapped, standing now, his nket slipping to reveal a muscled chest. ¡°We ain¡¯t done nothing!¡±


    Ethan¡¯s eyes shed wolf¨Cgold. ¡°Not your call. Move, or we drag you.¡±


    The rogues exchanged nces, their defiance wilting under our gaze. They knew they were outmatched¨Ctwo Frostshadow wolves against three rogues was a fight they¡¯d lose, and they¡¯d feel the full weight of our pack if they tried to run.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Beck muttered, kicking snow over the fire. ¡°But you¡¯re wasting your time. We don¡¯t know shit about your girl.¡±


    The woman, now dressed in a loose sweater and boots, huffed. ¡°I¡¯m not going nowhere with you lot. I got business in Fairbanks.¡± She crossed her arms, her curves straining the fabric.


    ¡°You¡¯re free to go,¡± I said, my tone t. ¡°But these three stay with us.¡±


    She hesitated, then grabbed a satchel and stalked off into the dark, muttering curses. The rogues grumbled but fell in line as we marched them back toward Frostshadow territory.


    Skye was still out there, her trail as faint as ever, and these bastards¡¯story didn¡¯t sit right.


    Damn it, Skye, I thought, clenching my fists. I swear when I find you, I¡¯m going to kick your ass! Just like when we were kids.

 Casts 10

    Skye¡¯s POV


    My phone¡¯s navigation guided me steadily south.


    As thendscape transformed from ska¡¯s snowy wilderness to warmer climes, my heartache and depression gradually faded, diluted by the parade of new experiences.


    This was, in all honesty, my first solo journey.


    Despite werewolves¡® natural strength, our numbers are minusculepared to humans, and in Frostshadow Pack, wolves who hadn¡¯t shifted were never allowed to travel alone.


    The red contpact car Dad had given me for my birthday became my onlypanion. Each mile that stretched between me and the pack felt both terrifying and liberating. Sometimes I would pull over just to scream or cry, releasing emotions that threatened to consume me from within.


    Other times, I¡¯d drive in silence for hours, watching the world change through my windshield.


    I encountered birds I¡¯d never seen before, inhaled the scent of unknown flowers, and met countless ordinary humans with their own fascinating stories.


    The southern girls especially intrigued me, with their fashion choices I couldn¡¯t begin toprehend¨Ccrop tops in weather I¡¯d consider freezing, footwear that seemed designed for looks rather than function.


    ¡°Where did you get your hair done?¡± a girl at a gas station in Montana asked, her eyes wide with admiration. ¡°It¡¯s like, so anime! The silver is perfect.¡±


    When I exined it was my natural color, her jaw dropped. ¡°No way! That¡¯s insane, My stylist would kill to know how to get that shade.¡±


    I hadn¡¯t anticipated this. What had marked me as different in the pack¨Cmy unusual silver hair¨Cwas apparently enviable in the human world.


    ¡°You should totally model,¡± another girl told me at a diner in Colorado. ¡°Shampoo Co


    would pay thousands for hair like that.¡±


    The attention was ttering but dangerous. I couldn¡¯t risk being remembered or, worse, photographed.


    What if Leon or Ethan came across my image while searching?


    So in a motel bathroom in Utah, I dyed my distinctive silver locks a golden blonde¨Cnot unlike Leon¡¯s shade, though I tried not to dwell on that painful


    coincidence.


    The journey wasn¡¯t always filled with fascination and discovery. Supporting myself as a human girl proved far more challenging than I¡¯d anticipated.


    I¡¯d left the pack with only a thousand dors, and money vanished quickly.


    Before finding steady work, I slept in my car most nights, parked in well¨Clit areas of Walmart parking lots or rest stops.


    I learned to arrange my backpack and jacket into a makeshift pillow, to brush my teeth using bottled water, and to change clothes in the cramped backseat without exposing myself to potential onlookers.


    One night in Wyoming, I woke to the sound of ss shattering. A disheveled man with wild eyes and alcohol¨Csoured breath was reaching through my newly broken window.


    Without thinking, I grabbed Tink¨Cthe dagger my father had given me¨Cfrom beneath my makeshift pillow and shed at the intruder¡¯s arm.


    He howled in pain, blood streaming from a shallow cut across his forearm. ¡°Crazy bitch!¡± he screamed, staggering backward. ¡°I just wanted some cash!¡±


    I scrambled into the driver¡¯s seat, hand shaking as I jammed the key into the ignition.


    I should go back, I thought in panic. Dad or Leon would have done more than just cut him. They would have protected others from him.


    But I kept driving, tears streaming down my face. That night, I seriously considered turning around, driving back to ska, begging for forgiveness. Surely enduring Maya¡¯s smugness and Leon¡¯s cold indifference would be better than this vulnerability, this constant fear¡­


    Instead, I found a 24¨Chour diner, ordered coffee I couldn¡¯t afford, and formted a new n.


    The next day, I used some of my dwindling funds to purchase pepper spray, a baseball bat, and heavy duty tape to temporarily repair my window. I also swapped my sleeping schedule, driving at night when most potential threats were visible and sleeping during daylight hours in busier locations.


    Over the next three years, I became an expert at temporary employment.


    In Arizona, I worked as a summer camp counselor, supervising human children on ¡®wilderness excursions that barely qualified as nature walks by werewolf standards.


    When one ten¨Cyear¨Cold boy tearfully confessed he was scared of the woods at night, I showed him how to identify constetions and told him stories about how the stars would always guide him home¨Cstories my father had once told me.


    ¡°You¡¯re not scared of anything, are you, Miss Skye?¡± he asked, wide¨Ceyed with admiration.


    I thought of the grizzly bear, of Leon¡¯s rejection, of nights spent alone in my car.


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s scared of something, I told him gently. ¡°The trick is doing what you need to do anyway.¡±


    But most often, I worked as a waitress.


    These jobs paid just enough to survive and rarely required extensive background checks ormitment.<fnb9e3> Fresh chapters posted on find{n}ovel</fnb9e3>


    When I felt I¡¯d stayed too long, when coworkers started asking too many personal questions or showing genuine interest in friendship, I¡¯d move on.


    Three years passed this way, a blur of different jobs, different towns, different faces¨Cnone bing friends, none bing home.


    I was Skye Anderson on my hastily obtained fake human ID, but I was no one, really.


    After this year¡¯s New Moon Festival, I arrived in a small Texas town called Boring.

 Casts 11

    <b>Chapter </b>11


    <b>Three </b>Years Later


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    Yes, the town was actually called Boring.


    <b>I </b>hadn¡¯t made that up. This was probably some Texan¡¯s idea of humor.


    Here, I encountered people who were both traditional and freely passionate. My little red car looked like a shy schoolgirl next to their massive pickup trucks. I suspected they viewed me the same way.


    I walked into a bar called ¡®The Watering Hole¡± to apply for a bartending position. The owner, a barrel¨Cchested man with a salt¨Cand¨Cpepper beard and weathered skin that told stories of decades under the Texas sun, looked me up and down skeptically.


    His name tag read ¡°Buck¡°.


    ¡°I reckon you ain¡¯t even old enough to drink, are ya?¡± Buck drawled, arms <b>crossed </b>over his chest. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Got into a fight with your folks and <b>ran </b>away? This line of work ain¡¯t suitable for a littledy like yourself.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t me him for his assumption. Standing at barely five¨Cfoot¨Cfour, wearing an oversized hoodie that swallowed my frame, I looked neither mature nor <b>sexy</b>. Without waiting for permission, I pulled out my ID, slid behind the bar, and efficiently mixed <b>several </b>strong cocktails<b>. </b>I handed one to Buck<b>, </b><b>then </b>downed mine in <b>a </b>single gulp.


    Ever since I¡¯d caught the scent of my mate at eighteen, my sense of smell had be extraordinarily acute, despite not having my wolf. Andpared to regr humans, alcohol barely affected werewolves. Our metabolism and healing abilities <b>were </b>many times stronger than those <b>of </b>ordinary people.


    Buck¡¯s eyes widened <b>as </b><b>he </b><b>sipped </b>the drink I¡¯d handed him.


    ¡°Well, damn,¡± he muttered. ¡°Where¡¯d you learn to mix like that<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Here and there,¡± <b>I </b>replied with a shrug. ¡°Want to make a bet? <b>If </b><b>I </b>can outdrink your strongest regr<b>, </b><b>I </b>g the job with a fifteen percent sry bump. <b>If </b><b>I </b>lose, I¡¯ll walk out right now.¡±


    Buck¡¯s boomingugh filled the bar<b>. </b><b>¡°</b><b>You¡¯re </b>on, littledy.¡±


    The strongest regr <b>turned </b>out to be a burly rancher named Dale who prided himself on his ability to drink anyone under the table<b>. </b>Three hourster, Dale was face¨Cdown on the bar while <b>I </b>nursed what must have been <b>my </b>fifteenth shot, showing no signs <b>of </b>intoxication.


    ¡°How in tarnation did <b>you </b>do that? <b>You </b>ain¡¯t cheating somehow, are you?¡°Buck stared at me.


    Iughed and shrugged, spinning a quick lie. ¡°My grandfather used to own a small brewery back home. <b>If </b>growing up sampling his products counts <b>as </b>cheating, then yeah, I guess I cheated. Of <b>course</b>, minors shouldn¡¯t drink alcohol, I added with a wink.


    <b>¡°</b><b>You </b>start tomorrow,¡± Buck said, shaking his head in disbelief. <b>¡°</b>And you <b>get </b>your fifteen percent.¡±


    Life in Boring, <b>Texas </b>wasn¡¯t actually boring at all.


    Within my first <b>few </b>weeks at <b>The </b>Watering Hole, I¡¯d made <b>a </b>friend in Jessie<b>, </b>a waitress with fire¨Cengine <b>red </b>hair and <b>a </b><bugh </b>that <b>could </b>cut through the noisiest <b>Friday </b>night crowd..


    ¡°That one <b>there</b><b>,</b><b>¡± </b>she¡¯d whisper<b>, </b>nodding toward the door as various patrons entered<b>, </b>¡°cheats on his taxes. And him<b>? </b>Third divorce this year. Oh<b>, </b>and <b>stay </b><b>away </b>from Randy¨Chandsy after his fourth beer.¡°/


    <b>Jessie¡¯s </b>runningmentary made the shifts fly by, and for <b>the </b>first time in three <b>years</b>, <b>I </b>found myself looking forward <b>to </b>going <b>to </b><b>work</b>.


    <b>Then </b><b>there </b><b>was </b><b>Caleb</b>, <b>a </b>young, handsome cowboy who starteding in almost <b>every </b>night. <b>He </b>always ordered the same thing, a whiskey <b>sour</b><b>, </b><b>and </b><b>always </b>found <b>a </b><b>reason </b>to sit at the bar rather than at a table, even when the ce <b>was </b>nearly empty.


    <b>Chapter </b><b>11 </b>


    <b>¡°</b><b>He¡¯s </b>sweet on <b>you</b><b>, </b>Buck would tease whenever Caleb left, his face flushed red, words stumbling over each other as he bid me goodnight.


    t <b>always </b>shook my head in response. ¡°Love isn¡¯t in the cards for me,¡± I¡¯d say, ¡°especially not with a human.¡±


    <b>Buck </b>raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Human? As opposed to what¨Can alien?¡® Heughed.


    Just a figure of speech. You know what I mean.¡±


    If Buck suspected anything, he never mentioned it again. Perhaps he chalked it up to the entricities of youth. Whatever the case, he seemed content to have me around, especially after discovering that my reputation as an unbeatable drinking partner was good for business<b>. </b>


    Cowboys and ranch hands came in to challenge me to drinking contests. They walked in with confident swagger. They walked out with humbled, stumbling steps. Most left much poorer than when they came.


    ¡°Girl, you¡¯re better than a mechanical bull for bringing in customers, Buck dered one night, sliding an envelope across the bar to me. Inside was an extra <b>$</b>500 bonus with my month¨Cend pay. <b>¡°</b>Keep it up.¡±


    I¡¯d been in Boring for two months when spring arrived.


    I rented a tiny studio apartment above the town¡¯s onlyundromat, bought a few pieces of secondhand furniture<b>, </b>and even hung curtains<b>. </b>


    During my time here, I hadn¡¯t encountered <b>a </b>single werewolf. Perhaps it was because the environment wasn¡¯t conducive to werewolf habitation<b>¨C</b><b>we </b>typically preferred forests with their abundant game and natural cover.


    This ce felt safe. If luck <b>was </b>on my <b>side</b>, I might even stay through the entire summer before moving on.<fnc3a7> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n f?ndnovel</fnc3a7>


    That night, Caleb sat quietly at the bar for nearly half an hour, his whiskey sour long gone and the <b>ss </b>empty. I wiped down the counter absently, then nced over and asked, ¡°Want to try something else<b>? </b>You¡¯ve never ordered <b>a </b>cocktail before<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    He hesitated, then nodded. <b>¡°</b>Yeah¡­ yeah, sure<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    I started mixing a drink without looking up, but his voice came out shaky, almost like he was trying to gathe rage. ¡°Skye¡­ there¡¯s something I want to tell you.¡±


    I kept my eyes on the bottles, my mind only half on him. ¡°What is <b>it</b><b>?</b>¡±


    Before Caleb could answer, the bar door suddenly mmed open with a heavy thud.


    Heads snapped toward the entrance<b>. </b>


    <b>In </b>the doorway stood a man easily six¨Cfoot¨Cthree. The dim light caught his sharp <b>features </b>¨C high cheekbones, <b>a </b>strong jaw softened by just the right amount of stubble, and eyes the <b>deep </b>amber of whiskey<b>, </b>glowing faintly under the bar¡¯s muted glow. His dark hair was slightly <b>tousled</b>, curling naturally at the nape of his neck, as if he¡¯d just run his fingers through it.


    He looked like he had stepped straight out of a Hollywood action movie.


    Jessie grabbed <b>my </b>arm, eyes wide with excitement.


    <b>¡®</b>Oh <b>my </b>god! Please tell me he¡¯s single. I¡¯d climb him like <b>a </b>tree<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>But </b>my heart sank.


    <b>Because </b>I knew.


    <b>He </b><b>was </b>a <b>werewolf</b>. Or more precisely, an Alpha.

 Casts 12

    <b>Chapter </b><b>12 </b>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    An Alpha showing up out in the desert¨Cthat was definitely not something you saw every


    day.


    <b>I </b>shifted <b>my </b>gaze toward Caleb, trying to act casual, hoping that Alpha wouldn¡¯t pay me any mind. I asked Caleb, ¡°Hey, what were you just trying to tell <b>me</b><b>?</b>¡±


    Caleb started, ¡°I got a new job lined up, and I¡¯m leaving Boring next week. I can¡­¡°.


    But before he could finish, that Alpha cut him off.


    Without hesitation, he plopped down in the empty seat right next to Caleb, then looked straight at me and said, I heard this ce has <b>a </b>bartender who can outdrink any man in Texas. That you?¡±


    I finally dared to meet his gaze, searching for any sign of recognition or suspicion. His expression revealed nothing beyond casual interest.


    Maybe he hadn¡¯t detected anything unusual about me after all.


    That¡¯s what they say,¡± I replied cautiously.


    He smiled then, a slow, deliberate curving of lips that transformed his <b>face </b>into something almost boyishly charming.


    I¡¯ll have your house special<b>¨C</b><b>¡®</b>Heartbeat <b>144</b><b>,</b>¡® I believe <b>it¡¯s </b>called.¡±


    I nodded and began preparing the drink, hyperaware <b>of </b>his <b>presence </b><b>as </b><b>I </b>worked. I¡¯d created the cocktail myself¨Cbourbon infused with bitter herbs<b>, </b>wildflower honey, <b>and </b>a dash of cayenne pepper, stirred over ice with fresh lemon juice. It was both sweet and harsh<b>, </bforting and painful all at once<b>. </b>


    As I handed him the <b>ss</b>, our fingers brushed briefly. Heat shot up my arm<b>, </b>electric and unexpected, and I quickly pulled back. If he noticed my reaction, he gave no indication.


    He took a sip, his brow furrowing slightly. ¡°Bitter,¡± hemented, ¡°and stronger than <b>I </b>expected. Not the kind of drink I¡¯d imagine someone like you creating.


    ¡°I contain multitudes,¡± I said dryly<b>, </b>already turning to serve another customer.


    ¡°Why call it ¡®Heartbeat <b>144</b><b>¡®</b><b>?</b>¡± he asked, stopping me in my


    tracks<b>. </b>


    Because that was my exact heart rate when I first scented my mate three years ago, I thought. The moment before everything fell apart.


    <b>Just </b>a random name,¡± I lied with a shrug.


    The truth <b>was </b>far more painful.¡®


    On the hunting night, the moment I¡¯d detected Leon¡¯s <b>scent </b>in the forest<b>, </b>my brother¡¯s gift¨Ca fitness tracker¨Chad recorded my heart <b>rate </b>spiking to exactly <b>144 </b>beats per minute. I¡¯d only noticed the numberter, after everything had gone to hell.<fn43f1> Latest content published on find(?)ovel</fn43f1>


    <b>The </b>stranger didn¡¯t press further<b>. </b><b>He </b>simply nodded and continued drinking in silence.


    Unlike most customers, he <b>didn¡¯t </b>attempt to make small talk or flirt. <b>But </b><b>I </b>couldn¡¯t shake <b>the </b>feeling that his <b>eyes </b>never left me. His <b>steady.gaze </b>followed <b>my </b><b>every </b>movement<b>, </b>making the hair on the back of my neck stand up.


    The weight of his attention was so distracting that I identally mixed up salt and <b>sugar </b>while making <b>a </b><b>Margarita</b><b>, </b>earning me <b>a </bint from a <b>regr </b><b>and </b>a disapproving look from Buck.


    Through it all, the stranger just watched with what seemed like amused interest, his lips asionally quirking into <b>the </b>faintest smile <b>whenever </b><b>I </b><b>made </b><b>a </b><b>mistake</b><b>. </b>


    <b>His </b><b>silent </b><b>observation </b>ended when Ruby, a local <b>woman </b>who offered services to lonely men, sauntered over. <b>Her </b><b>bleached </b><b>blonde </b>hair was <b>piled </b><b>high</b><b>. </b><b>Her </b>


    <b>1/2 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b>12


    <b>makeup </b>was <b>thick </b><b>but </b><b>expertly </b>applied<b>. </b>Her low<b>¨C</b>cut top left little to the imagination.


    <b>*</b><b>Haven¡¯t </b>seen you around before, handsome<b>, </b>the purred, leaning against the bar so that her ample cleavage was prominently disyed. Her perfume- something floral and far too strong¨Cwafted across the bar. ¡°Looking for somepany tonight? I know all the most interesting <b>spots </b>in town<b>. </b>


    <b>The </b>stranger turned to her with a smile that was both kind and firmly detached. ¡°I appreciate the offer, ma¡¯am, but I¡¯m just passing through.¡±


    Ruby <b>wasn¡¯t </b>so easily deterred. She slid onto the stool next to him, her handing to rest on his forearm. ¡°Passing through is <b>exactly </b>why you should take me up on it. No strings, just a good time with someone who knows how to show a man a proper Texas wee.¡±


    I found myself inexplicably tense as I watched their interaction.


    The stranger gently removed her hand from his arm, but instead of dismissing her harshly, he gged me down. ¡®Miss, could you bring thedy whatever drink she¡¯d like? On my tab.


    Ruby¡¯s painted eyebrows rose in surprise.


    What¡¯ll it be?¡± <b>I </b>asked her.


    <b>¡°</b>Cosmopolitan, Ruby replied, looking slightly confused by the turn of events<b>. </b>


    <b>As </b>I prepared her drink, I could hear <b>the </b>stranger speaking to her in a low, <b>respectful </b>tone<b>. </b>¡°I¡¯m ttered by your <b>interest</b><b>, </b>truly. But I¡¯m <b>afraid </b>I¡¯d be poorpany tonight. Business matters on my mind.¡±


    When I returned with Ruby¡¯s cocktail, she was nodding, seemingly not offended. ¡°Well, <b>if </b>your <b>business </b><b>clears </b><b>up </b>while <b>you¡¯re </b>still in town<b>¡­</b><b>¡± </b>She slid a napkin with her number toward him before taking her drink and moving to another part of the bar.


    The <b>stranger¡¯s </b>eyes found mine again, that same unreadable expression on his <b>face</b><b>. </b><b>He </b>finished his drink, left a generous tip and departed without another <b>word</b>.


    Lreleased a breath <b>I </b>hadn¡¯t realized I was holding. He hadn¡¯t recognized me <b>as </b>a werewolf.


    My <b>secret </b>was safe<b>, </b>at least for now.


    I looked at Caleb, who <b>was </b>still sitting beside me in a <b>daze</b><b>. </b>Gently, I approached him and asked, ¡°Caleb<b>, </b>what was it you wanted <b>to </b>say <b>to </b><b>me </b><b>just </b>now?¡±


    <b>Chapter </b><b>Comments </b>

 Casts 13

    Skyes POV


    Te leaving Boring next week,¡± Caleb said, his voice softer than usual.


    I Minked, setting down the empty ss I¡¯d just dried. ¡°Leaving?¡± I asked. ¡°Like, for good?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°Yeah. I found a new job. It¡¯s in Montana. Starts Monday.¡±


    There was a pause. I waited, sensing there was more.


    ¡°If you¡¯re up for it,¡± he said, eyes flicking down to his drink, ¡°I¡¯d like to take you horseback riding before I go.¡°.


    He stirred the straw in his ss, not meeting my eyes.<fnd481> This update is avable on findnovel</fnd481>


    I smiled. ¡°Sare.¡±


    His head snapped up. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. When?<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°This Saturday okay?¡±


    I hesitated a second. ¡°Should we invite Jessie too? I¡¯m not great with horses.¡±


    I grew up in ska<b>, </b>and we didn¡¯t ride much. Our pack liked hunting more than horseback riding.


    His voice dropped slightly. ¡°Actually¡­ I was hoping it¡¯d just be the two of us. But if you¡¯re morefortable bringing Jessie, that¡¯s okay too.¡±


    Of course I understood what he meant. And maybe it was better to let him down in person, without dragging this out.


    Caleb had a lot going for him¨Che was handsome, sincere, and a little awkward in a way most women would find endearing. But I didn¡¯t <b>feel </b>anything between us. No spark, no pull. Not even the faintest echo of what I¡¯d once felt for Leon.


    Still, I agreed. Maybe it¡¯d give both of us the closure we needed.


    The next few days passed slowly. Every time the bar door opened, I¡¯found myself looking up, half¨Choping, half¨Cdreading that the stranger would walk in again. But he never did. I started to believe it had really just been a fluke.


    By Saturday afternoon, I stood outside the ranch entrance with Caleb. I wore a borrowed denim jacket, jeans, and boots that didn¡¯t quite fit right. I hadn¡¯t owned a proper riding outfit in years.


    Caleb, already mounted, looked like a different person. There was something more confident about him up there¨Clike the quiet guy from the bar had stepped into a role he felt fully at home in.


    He offered me a hand. ¡°Ready?¡±


    <b>¡°</b><b>As </b>I¡¯ll ever be,¡± I said, grabbing the saddle horn and awkwardly swinging myself up.


    The horse shifted under me, but Caleb was already at my side, offering tips¨Csit up straight, heels down<b>, </b>keep a soft hand on the reins.


    At first, I felt like I was bouncing in <b>every </b>direction. My thighs ached within minutes. But after a while, <b>I </b>started to get the rhythm of it.


    ¡°Not bad<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Caleb <b>said </b>after we¡¯d been riding a while. ¡°You¡¯re picking it up fast.¡±


    ¡°I think the horse is doing most of the work,¡± Iughed.


    We rode along a narrow trail <b>lined </b><b>with </b>dry brush and scrubby trees. The sun sat low on the horizon, spilling warm light <b>across the </b><b>path</b>. <b>Wind </b>tugged at <b>my </b>


    <b>1/2 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>13 </b>


    <b>hair</b><b>, </b>and <b>for </b>a moment<b>, </b>I let myself feel it all¨Cmovement, breath, freedom,


    <b>thought </b>of Leon and Ethan then, of their wolves running wild through the mountains. This feeling, this wind and speed, maybe it was <b>the </b>closest <b>thing </b><b>I¡¯d </b><b>get </b>to shifting again.


    <b>When </b>we reached a hilltop, Caleb pulled us to a stop. We sat side by side, our horses flicking their tails at flies<b>. </b>


    ¡°Thanks foring out here,<b>¡± </b>he said. ¡°I know this isn¡¯t exactly your thing.¡±


    I nced at him. ¡°It¡¯s not the worst way to spend a Saturday.¡±


    He smiled, but I could see the nerves creeping back in.


    ¡°I meant what I said. I¡¯ll always remember this afternoon. You on that horse¡­¡± He trailed off, then cleared his throat. ¡°I don¡¯t want to make things awkward. I just


    stopped him with a soft voice. ¡°Caleb, you¡¯re kind. You¡¯re good. And I know you¡¯ll find someone who¡¯s right for you. But it¡¯s not me.<b>¡± </b>


    He looked down. ¡°Yeah. I figured.¡±


    ¡°But I meant it when I said I had a good time,¡± I added. ¡°And I hope <b>we </b><b>can </b>still be friends.¡±


    He <b>gave </b><b>me </b>a <b>wry </b>smile. ¡°Friends, huh? Does that mean <b>I </b>get to keep the title of <b>horse </b>trainer?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely,<b>¡± </b>I said. ¡°Best one <b>I¡¯ve </b>ever had.¡±


    <b>We </b>rode back inpanionable silence. At the gate, I thanked him again and said goodbye.


    By the time <b>I </b>got back to the bar, the sun had set, and the Saturday crowd was already rolling in. Jessie greeted me with a knowing look.


    ¡°Well, well,¡± she said, grinning. ¡°Heard you went riding with Caleb today. So? Did sparks fly? Any derations of love on horseback<b>?</b>¡±


    ¡°Shut it,¡± I said, tugging on <b>my </b>apron. ¡°It wasn¡¯t like that. We¡¯re just friends.¡±


    Jessie gave me a fake pout. ¡°Boring.¡±


    I rolled my eyes and moved behind <b>the </b>bar, quickly losing myself in orders and drink tickets.


    By the time I¡¯d made my third round of Margaritas<b>, </b>I¡¯d almost forgotten the man from a <b>few </b>nights <b>ago</b>. Almost.


    Then the door opened.


    <b>And </b>he <b>walked </b>in.


    Only this time, he <b>wasn¡¯t </b>alone.


    <b>A </b>woman was with him<b>. </b><b>Her </b>arm looped casually through his. They walked <b>close</b><b>, </b>heads tilted toward each other as they talked softly.


    <b>Chapter </b><b>Comments </b>


    4


    <b>POST </b><b>COMMENT </b>NOW

 Casts 14

    <b>Chapter </b><b>14 </b>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    <b>The </b>ss in my hand trembled<b>, </b>sending amber liquid cascading across the polished bar top.


    <b>The </b>expensive bourbon I¡¯d been pouring for one of qur regrs formed a growing puddle that quickly reached the edge and dripped onto the floor.<fnde35> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on F¦Énd£Îovel</fnde35>


    <b>¡®</b><b>Jesus</b>, Skye!¡® Jessie eximed, rushing over with a rag. ¡°You just wasted twenty bucks worth of top¨Cshelf liquor!<b>¡± </b>She dabbed at the mess while giving me a suspicious sideways nce. ¡®What¡¯s got you so spooked? You¡¯ve been jumpy as a jackrabbit all week.¡±


    M forced <b>a </b>smile, taking the rag from her. ¡°Nothing. Just clumsy tonight.¡±


    But my <b>eyes </b>were fixed on the entrance where he had just walked in¨Cthe werewolf with the ocean scent.


    Only this time, he wasn¡¯t alone. A woman with short ck hair walked beside him, her arm casually linked through his as they made their way directly to the bar.


    <b>My </b>enhanced senses immediately recognized what she was: another werewolf.


    Jessie followed my gaze, her lips curving into a knowing smirk.


    ¡°Oh, I see what¡¯s happening. Disappointed Mr. Tall¨CDark¨Cand¨CDelicious has a girlfriend<b>?</b>¡± She nudged me with her elbow. <b>¡°</b>Can¡¯t me you. <b>I¡¯d </b>be <b>crushed </b>too if I had my sights set on him.¡±


    <b>I </b><b>was </b>indeed shocked, but <b>not </b>for the reasons <b>Jessie </b>imagined.


    What were the odds <b>of </b><b>two </b><b>werewolves </b>showing up in this tiny desert town<b>? </b>


    And why did they seem to be looking directly at me?


    The woman was younger than I¡¯d initially thought, maybe mid¨Ctwenties<b>. </b><b>Her </b>ck V¨Cneck tank top revea toned arms that <b>spoke </b><b>of </b>serious training<b>. </b><b>Her </b>brown jeans hugged athletic legs<b>, </b>and she moved with the fluid grace unique to our kind.


    When her eyes locked with mine, I caught a sh <b>of </b>something that looked distinctly like suspicion<b>, </b>perhaps even hostility.


    They took seats directly in front of my station<b>, </b>eliminating any chance of escape<b>. </b>I quickly wiped up the spilled bourbon, feigning calm <b>as </b>my mind raced through escape scenarios.


    ¡°What can I get you<b>?</b><b>¡± </b><b>I </b>asked, keeping my <b>voice </b>steady.


    The woman didn¡¯t answer my question. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, studying me.


    <b>¡°</b>You¡¯re Skye<b>, </b>right? Adrian says you make amazing cocktails.<b>¡± </b><b>Her </b>lips curved into <b>a </b>smile. <b>¡°</b><b>Make </b>me something you think I¡¯d like<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>I </b>nced at the man beside her<b>¨C</b>Adrian. So that <b>was </b>his name.


    He¡¯d known mine since his <b>first </b><b>visit</b>, which meant <b>he¡¯d </b>been asking questions. The realization sent a chill down my spine.


    Focusing on the <b>task </b>at hand, <b>I </b>reached for bottles with practiced efficiency<b>, </b>creating a Blood Orange Sour¨Ctart, <b>sweet</b>, with an <b>unexpected </b><b>kick </b>at the end. I slid the drink across the bar to her.


    She took a small sip, then made a show of wrinkling her nose. Turning to <b>Adrian</b><b>, </b><b>she </b>stuck out her tongue childishly. ¡°<b>She¡¯s </b>not that impressive <b>after </b><b>all</b>.¡±


    <b>Adrian¡¯s </b>response was an indulgent smile before he turned those whiskey¨Ccolored eyes <b>on </b><b>me</b><b>. </b>


    <b>¡°</b><b>Please </b><b>forgive </b>my friend¡¯s rudeness. I¡¯ll <b>have </b>another Heartbeat <b>144</b><b>, </b><b>if </b>you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    <b>I </b><b>mixed </b>his drink<b>, </b><b>hyperaware </b>of <b>their </b><b>scrutiny</b>. The woman watched <b>every move </b>I made with unnerving intensity.


    <b>1/3 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>14 </b>


    <b>I¡¯m </b>Nadia, <b>by </b><b>the </b><b>way</b><b>, </b>she <b>finally </b>said<b>, </b><b>extending </b>her hand across the bar. When I reluctantly took it, she used the contact to pull me slightly closer, <b>rising </b>from her stool to whisper in my ear<b>. </b>¡°I know what you are. Why would a lone wolf hide in a shithole like this?¡±


    <b>My </b>blood froze. <b>I </b>flicked a nce <b>at </b>Adrian, who sipped his drink with apparent casualness.


    So he had recognized me three days ago. He¡¯d known exactly what I was and hade back with reinforcements.


    <b>¡°</b><b>Why </b>should I tell you anything?¡± I replied quietly, pulling my hand from her grip.


    Nadia¡¯s expression hardened. In one fluid motion that no human could have managed, she nted one hand on the bar top and vaulted over <b>it</b>,nding gracefully in the staff area beside me.


    She moved closer, invading my space, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.


    <b>¡°</b>What¡¯s your game? Who sent you here?¡± Her eyes shed with suspicion. ¡°Nobody ends up in Boring, Texas by ident.¡±


    I took a step back, my hand instinctively dropping to where I kept Tink¨Cmy silver dagger<b>¨C</b><b>strapped </b>beneath my apron<b>. </b>


    This is employees only. You need to leave<b>.</b>¡±


    Our standoff caught Jessie¡¯s attention. She immediately rushed over, wedging herself between <b>us </b>with protective indignation.


    ¡°Hey! Back off!¡± She gave Nadia a firm shove. ¡°Customers stay on that side of the bar!¡±


    Tension crackled in the air until Adrian¡¯s calm voice cut through it. ¡°Nadia, <b>enough</b>.¡±


    To Jessie, he offered an apologetic smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the disturbance. My friend has had a bit too much to drink. We mean no <b>harm</b><b>.</b>¡±


    Alpha. I¡¯d been right about his status. My instinct to run intensified.


    Adrianid several bills beneath his <b>ss</b><b>¨C</b><b>I </b>caught a glimpse of two hundred¨Cdor notes<b>¨C</b>before standing. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. We should <b>head </b>back.¡±


    Nadia looked reluctant to <b>leave </b>our confrontation unfinished, but after a moment of visible internal stole<b>, </b>she rejoined Adrian on the <b>proper </b><b>side </b>of the bar. <b>She </b>threw me onest suspicious nce before they walked out together.


    As the door swung shut behind them<b>, </b><b>Jessie </b>snatched up the money Adrian had left, letting out an excited squeal. ¡°Two hundred dors! For two drinks<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>She did a little dance, waving the bills. <b>¡°</b>Can this guye every night? Pretty please<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    When I didn¡¯t respond, she stopped her celebration to <b>study </b>my <b>face</b><b>. </b>¡°What¡¯s wrong? What was that woman¡¯s problem anyway<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Nothing,¡± I mumbled, busying myself with wiping down the bar.


    Jessie wasn¡¯t convinced. She leaned against the counter<b>, </b>arms crossed, eyebrows raised in expectation. ¡°Oh, <b>I </b>get it. She¡¯s totally into that Adrian guy and <b>saw </b>how he was looking at youst time. <b>ssic </b>jealousy.¡±


    <b>If </b>only it were that simple. Two werewolves showing up in this remote town<b>, </b>one of them an Alpha<b>, </b>both <b>of </b>them <b>interested </b>in me¨Cnothing about this was coincidence.


    I moved through the <b>rest </b>of <b>my </b>shift mechanically<b>, </b>barely registering the customers or <b>Jessie¡¯s </b>chatter<b>. </b>By closing time<b>, </b>I¡¯d made <b>up </b>my mind. Three years of running had taught me when it was time to move on, Tonight was definitely that time.


    <b>After </b>thest patron stumbled <b>out </b>and Jessie¡¯s boyfriend arrived to <b>drive </b>her home<b>, </b>I finished cleaning up alone. I¡¯d talk to Buck tomorrow<b>, </b><b>make </b><b>up </b>some family emergency that required me to leave immediately.


    I <b>had </b>enough savings to get <b>me </b>to the next town, the <b>next </b>temporary job, the <b>next </b>short¨C<b>lived </b>sanctuary.


    <b>Lost </b><b>in </b>thought, <b>I </b><b>walked </b>to <b>my </b><b>car</b><b>, </b><b>keys </b>clutched in my hand. The parking lot behind the bar was <b>deserted </b><b>and </b>dimly lit, <b>with </b>only a single <b>flickering </b><b>light </b>illuminating <b>the </b><b>area</b>.


    was <b>so </b><b>preupied </b><b>with </b>nning my <b>escape </b>that I didn¡¯t notice <b>the </b><b>presence </b>behind <b>me </b>until strong <b>arms </b><b>wrapped </b><b>around </b><b>my </b>waist<b>, </b><b>pulling </b><b>me </b><b>backward </b>

 Casts 15

    <b>Chapter </b><b>15 </b>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b><b>POV </b>


    Strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind, pulling me against a solid chest. The scent hit me immediately¨Ccheap whiskey and stale <b>sweat</b><b>. </b>Not the ocean scent I¡¯d feared, but something far more mundane and equally dangerous.


    I <b>twisted </b>my head to see arge, heavyset man with a face reddened by years of drinking. His bulbous nose glowed almost purple in the dim parking lot light. Recognition flickered through my panic¨Che was one of the new ranch hands who¡¯d starteding to The Watering Hole about a <b>week </b>ago.


    I couldn¡¯t remember his name, but I remembered serving him shot after shot of bottom¨Cshelf whiskey earlier, tonight.


    ¡°Let go of me!¡± I shouted, pushing against his beefy arms with all my strength. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡±


    Rather than releasing me, his grip tightened painfully. His hot, alcohol¨Csoaked breath hit my cheek as leaned in closer.


    <b>Always </b>seen you alone, he slurred, his voice oily with intention. ¡°Pretty girl like you needs a man. How ¡®bout being <b>my </b>girlfriend, huh?¡±


    Revulsion crawled across my skin like insects. Being raised in a werewolf pack had taught me to <b>defend </b><b>myself</b><b>, </b>even without <b>my </b>wolf. Ethan had made sure of that, spending countless hours teaching me defensive moves ¡®just in case.¡± This was definitely a <b>case</b>.


    I drove my elbow back with all my strength, connecting with his jaw. The shock of the impact loosened his grip <b>just </b>enough.


    ¡°Disgusting! <b>Not </b>a chance!¡± I spat, twisting out of his <b>grasp</b>.<fn267c> Original content can be found at find~novel</fn267c>


    I bolted toward my <b>car</b><b>, </b>keys clutched so tightly they bit into my palm. Behind me, I heard him stumbling to his <b>feet</b><b>, </b>cursing loudly.


    ¡°Fucking bitch!¡± <b>he </b>roared, his heavy footsteps thundering after me.


    My fingers had just touched the <b>cool </b>metal of my <b>car </b>door handle when <b>a </b>vicious yank on my hair sent shock waves <b>of </b>pain through <b>my </b>scalp. My head snapped backward as he dragged me away from the safety of my vehicle. I lost my bnce<b>, </b>crashing painfully to the <b>gravel </b>parking lot.


    Before I could regain my footing, his weight crushed down on me<b>, </b>pinning me to the ground. The stench of him¨Csweat, alcohol, and tobo<b>¨C</b>made me gag as he loomed over me, his intentions clear in his bloodshot eyes.


    <b>I </b><b>wasn¡¯t </b>giving up. Not like this. I bucked wildly underneath him, managing to bring my knee <b>up </b>sharply between his legs. He howled in pain<b>, </b>momentarily loosening his hold. I scrambled forward, trying to escape.


    Then came the sound that would haunt my nightmares¨Cthe <b>distinctive </b>click of <b>a </b>revolver¡¯s hammer being cocked, followed by the deafening crack of a <b>gunshot</b>.


    Fire bloomed in my chest. A white¨Chot, searing pain that knocked the breath from my lungs. Stunned, I pressed my hand to the source and <b>felt </b>warm wetness <b>spreading </b>across my shirt. When I pulled my hand <b>away</b><b>, </b>it <b>was </b>coated in <b>crimson</b>.


    <b>He </b>shot me. He actually shot me.


    The world tilted sideways as shock set in. <b>I </b>stumbled forward<b>, </b>still desperate <b>to </b>reach my <b>car</b>, my sanctuary<b>. </b><b>Each </b>step was heavier than the <bst</b><b>, </b>my vision darkening at the edges. <b>After </b>just a few feet<b>, </b>my knees buckled.


    I copsed onto the <b>gravel</b><b>, </b>the sharp stones digging into my skin barely registering against the agony in my chest. The taste of <b>copper </b>filled my mouth as <b>I </b><b>struggled </b>to breathe.


    Sinking to my knees, I raised my eyes to the night sky. The full moon hung there, distant and indifferent to <b>my </b><b>suffering</b>. <b>For </b>the first <b>time </b>in my life<b>, </b><b>bitter </b><b>resentment </b><b>toward </b><b>the </b>Moon Goddess welled up inside me.


    I had never been disrespectful, not even when Leon rejected <b>me </b>in front of the entire pack. I had <b>epted my </b>fate without cursing <b>her </b>name.


    <b>But </b>now, dying alone in a desert parking lot, about to be vited by a drunken human, thousands <b>of </b>miles <b>from </b>anyone who <b>loved </b>me¨C<b>now </b><b>I </b><b>felt </b>hatred toward the <b>deity </b>who had denied me <b>my </b>wolf, denied <b>me </b><b>the </b>strength to protect <b>myself</b>.


    <b>1/2 </b>


    Why I <b>silently </b><b>demanded </b><b>of </b><b>the </b><b>uncaring </b><b>celestial </b><b>body</b>. <b>Why </b><b>am </b><b>I </b>without a wolf? What <b>did </b>I <b>do </b><b>to </b><b>deserve </b><b>this</b><b>? </b>


    <b>t¨¦losed </b><b>my </b><b>eyes</b><b>, </b><b>preparing </b>for the worst¨Chis <b>hands </b><b>on </b>me again, <b>my </b>life draining away in this godforsaken ce, with no one to mourn <b>me</b>, no one to even <b>know </b><b>what </b><b>had </b>happened to me.


    <b>Instead</b>, the <b>night </b>air shattered with the sound of a wolf¡¯s howl¨Cdeep, powerful, and terrifyingly close.


    <b>My </b>eyes flew open <b>in </b>time to see a blur of gray furunch through the air. The massive wolf collided with my attacker, their bodies hitting the <b>ground </b>with enough force to send gravel spraying in all directions. There was a short, strangled scream, cut off with sickening abruptness, followed by the wet, tearing <b>sounds </b><b>I </b>recognized from pack hunts back home.


    Through the growing haze of my consciousness<b>, </b>I watched as the wolf¨Cits muzzle now dark with blood¨Cpadded toward me. The transformation <b>happened </b>so quickly I almost missed it: bones shifting, fur receding, the lupine form straightening into that of a naked man.


    Adrian crouched beside me, his amber eyes wide with concern, his strong hands gently lifting me from the ground. His ocean scent washed over <b>me</b><b>, </b>somehow calming despite the terror of the situation.


    Skye? Skye, can you hear me?¡± His voice seemed toe from very far away, though his face was just inches from mine. ¡°Stay with me. I¡¯m going to <b>get </b>you help<b>. </b>


    The warmth of his bare skin against my cold body felt oddlyforting as he cradled me against his chest<b>. </b>The <bst </b>thing I registered before darkness imed me was his scent¨Cpine forest after rainfall with undertones of <b>ocean</b>, wrapping around <b>me </b>like <b>a </b><b>protective </b>nket.


    ¡°Adrian<b>,</b><b>¡± </b><b>I </b>whispered, though I wasn¡¯t sure if the word actually left my <b>lips</b>.


    Then there was nothing but silence and the endless dark.


    <b>Chapter </b><b>Comments </b>


    Tanya Gordon


    is Adrian her 2nd chance Mate?


    Jamie DeWitt

 Casts 16

    <b>Chapter </b><b>16 </b>


    <b>Adrian¡¯s </b><b>POV </b>


    She lost consciousness quickly, her body going limp in my arms.


    1 cradled her against my chest, struck by how light she felt¨Cfragile in a way werewolves rarely are. The metallic scent of her blood filled <b>my </b>nostrils, triggering beth protective and predatory instincts.


    1 examined her wound, watching with growing concern as it continued to bleed freely, showing no signs of the elerated healing that should have begun immediately.


    <b>This </b>wasn¡¯t normal. Even the weakest Omega would show some regenerative ability, especially under the full moon¡¯s light. There was only one exnation <b>that </b>made sense.


    She truly doesn¡¯t have her wolf.


    Headlights pierced the dark, revealing the dead man on the gravel, his throat torn open, and <b>me </b><b>kneeling </b><b>in </b><b>Skye¡¯s </b>blood¨Csoaked against my hastily thrown- on clothes. Nadia jumped from the SUV, her eyes scanning the scene.


    tomoned shoth while


    <b>¡°</b><b>Get </b>her in the back, she ordered, already opening the rear door. ¡°What the hell happened<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    I rose in one fluid motion, Skye¡¯s unconscious form cradled against my chest. ¡°Drunken human <b>shot </b>her. We need <b>to </b>get her to the <b>pack doctor </b>immediately.¡±


    Nadia helped arrange Skye across the backseat. I climbed in beside her, keeping pressure on the wound <b>while </b>Nadia slid behind the wheel. The engine <b>roared </b>to <b>life </b><b>as </b><b>I </b>tore strips from my shirt to <b>create </b>a makeshiftpression bandage.


    ¡°Step on it<b>, </b>I growled, watching Skye¡¯s face <b>grow </b>paler by the minute.


    <b>Nadia¡¯s </b>eyes met mine in the rearview <b>mirror</b>. ¡°How did a human manage to shoot her? Even an Omega should have been able to sense the threat and react.¡±


    hoot her is not s


    She elerated onto the empty highway<b>, </b><b>the </b>speedometer climbing rapidly. ¡°Something¡¯s not right with her.¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t have her wolf,¡± I confirmed. ¡°Her wounds aren¡¯t healing.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>Atent wolf?¡± Nadia¡¯s eyebrows <b>shot </b>up in <b>surprise</b><b>. </b>¡°What¡¯s a lent wolf doing bartending in this <b>wastnd</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    I had been asking myself <b>the </b>same question since <b>first </b>spotting her a week ago.


    <b>The </b>first time I saw her, she looked familiar, but I couldn¡¯t remember where <b>I </b>had <b>seen </b>her before.


    <b>My </b>initial suspicion was that she might be a <b>spy </b>sent by my <b>uncle </b><b>Maxwell</b>¨Cthe one who <b>had </b><b>forced </b>me out of my father¡¯s <b>pack </b>two <b>years </b>earlier.


    <b>Since </b>establishing Oasisborn Pack in this remote <b>corner </b>of <b>Texas</b><b>, </b>I¡¯d intercepted <b>three </b>of his scouts already. It would be just like him to send someone <b>unexpected</b>, someone I might underestimate<b>. </b>


    But after observing her for <b>several </b>nights, nothing <b>about </b>Skye¡¯s behavior suggested a spy. <b>She </b>worked her shifts<b>, </b>kept to herself, and seemed intent on remaining unnoticed.


    <b>¡®</b><b>Drive </b>faster<b>,</b><b>¡® </b><b>I </b>urged <b>as </b>Skye¡¯s breathing became morebored. ¡°<b>She¡¯s </b>fading<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Nadia pressed the elerator to the floor, sending the SUV hurtling through the desert night.


    <b>¡°</b><b>You¡¯ve </b>be awfully concerned about a <b>stranger</b><b>,</b>¡± she remarked<b>, </b>not bothering to hide the suspicion in her tone<b>. </b><b>¡°</b><b>If </b><b>I </b>didn¡¯t know better<b>, </b><b>I¡¯d </b>think¡ª<b>* </b>


    ¡°She¡¯s dying, Nadia,¡± I <b>cut </b>her off sharply. ¡°Whatever she is or isn¡¯t to <b>us </b>can be determined after <b>we </b>save her <b>life</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>Nadia </b><b>fell </b>silent<b>, </b><b>focusing </b>on the winding road ahead. Her skepticism <b>was </b>warranted¨Ca


    1¨Cas my Beta, protecting me <b>and </b>our fledgling pack was her <b>primary </b>


    <b>concern</b><b>, </b>


    <b>1/3 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>16 </b>


    <b>When </b><b>I¡¯d </b><b>suggested </b><b>watching </b><b>the </b>mysterious bartender, Nadia had insisted on apanying me tonight.


    I¡¯ll <b>bet </b><b>she </b>makes a move tonight<b>, </b>she had dered confidently this evening, legs propped up on the dashboard as we parked at the edge of <b>the </b>forest bordering <b>the </b>bar¡¯s property. ¡°No lone wolf ends up in Boring by ident.¡±


    <b>The </b>gunshot had interrupted our surveince, sending me racing through the trees in wolf form before I¡¯d even made a conscious decision to <b>intervene</b>.


    Now<b>, </b>with Skye¡¯s blood seeping through my makeshift bandage, I found myself irrationally anxious about the fate of this stranger. Something about her called to me, tugged at instincts I couldn¡¯t fully exin.


    After what felt like an eternity, thendscape changed, scrubby desert giving way to the unexpected green of our territory.


    Oasisborn Pack was aptly named¨Cbuilt around a natural spring that created a verdant oasis in the otherwise harsh environment.


    I didn¡¯t wait for Nadia to fully stop the vehicle before throwing open the door, gathering Skye in my arms, and rushing toward our medical facility. Blood had soaked through my clothes, but I paid it no mind.


    The few pack members still awake at this hour stared in shock as their Alpha<b>, </bpletely naked and blood¨Ccovered, raced past with an unconscious stranger in his <b>arms</b><b>. </b>


    Dr. ine Chen, our pack healer, was already waiting at the clinic entrance<b>. </b>Her <b>eyes </b>widened at the sight of <b>us</b><b>. </b>


    ¡°What happened?¡± she demanded, quickly directing me toy Skye on <b>the </b>examination table.


    ¡°Gunshot wound to the chest,¡± I exined tersely, stepping back only enough to give the doctor room to work. ¡°She <b>has </b>no wolf. No regenerative abilities.¡±


    Dr. Chen¡¯s hands moved with practiced efficiency<b>, </b>cutting away Skye¡¯s bloodied shirt to fully expose the wound. ¡°She¡¯s in hypovolemic shock from blood loss. <b>I </b>need to remove the bullet and stop the internal bleeding, but first she needs a transfusion or she <b>won¡¯t </b>survive the <b>procedure</b>.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>Use my blood,¡± I said immediately.


    Both women looked at me in surprise<b>. </b>


    Alpha blood was powerful medicine, typically reserved for pack members with <b>serious </b>injuries. It elerated healing and strengthened the recipient¡¯s connection to their wolf. It was <b>a </b>precious resource, not something casually offered to outsiders.<fnb7f0> Original content can be found at ?ovelFind</fnb7f0>


    Dr. Chen recovered quickly, nodding <b>as </b>she prepared the transfusion equipment. <b>¡®</b><b>It¡¯s </b>her <b>best </b>chance. Alpha blood might even <b>jump</b><b>¨C</b>start whatever healing abilities she has dormant within her.<b>¡± </b>


    I rolled up my sleeve and extended my <b>arm</b>, watching <b>as </b>my dark red blood flowed through <b>the </b><b>tube </b>and into <b>Skye¡¯s </b>pale body.


    An Alpha¡¯s blood could heal any werewolf of lower rank¨Cit was one of the biological advantages that helped <b>us </b>protect our packs. I had no idea if it would work the same for someone without <b>an </b><b>active </b>wolf, but I <b>was </b>willing to try anything.


    As the transfusion continued, I noticed the faintest hint of color returning to <b>Skye¡¯s </b>cheeks. The weak pulse in her neck strengthened slightly<b>, </b>each beat more determined than thest<b>. </b>Something tight in my chest loosened at the sign of improvement.


    Nadia entered the room<b>, </b>carrying fresh clothes for <b>me</b>. She handed them <b>over</b><b>, </b>her <b>eyes </b><b>fixed </b>on Skye¡¯s unconscious form with undisguised suspicion.


    ¡°She¡¯s lucky<b>, </b>Nadiamented, folding her arms across her chest. ¡°Not many strays get Alpha blood as a wee gift.¡±


    I ignored the barb, keeping my focus on Skye as Dr Chen prepared for surgery. Nadia moved closer to the examination table<b>, </b>leaning down until her <b>face </b><b>was </b>inches from <b>Skye¡¯s</b>.


    <b>¡°</b>Who are you <b>really</b>?<b><i>¡± </i></b>she whispered, her tone a mixture of curiosity and distrust.


    It <b>was </b>a question that would have to wait for answers.


    <b>For </b>now, all that mattered was that <b>Skye </b><b>survived </b>the night. Everything else¨C<b>her </b>identity, her purpose <b>in </b>Boring, why <b>she </b><b>had </b>no scent and <b>no </b>wolf¨Call <b>of </b><b>it </b>


    could be <b>unraveled </bter.

 Casts 17

    <b>Chapter </b><b>17 </b>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b><b>POV </b>


    Consciousness returned slowly, like swimming up through murky water. I forced my heavy eyelids open, blinking against the unfamiliar surroundings <b>that </b>gradually came into focus,


    Soft light filtered through gauzy curtains, illuminating a spacious room with pale blue walls and modern furniture.


    A gentle beeping sound caught my attention¨Cmedical equipment monitoring my vitals.


    This wasn¡¯t my cramped apartment above theundromat. This wasn¡¯t anywhere I recognized.


    Memories flooded back in disjointed shes¨Cthe parking lot, the drunken ranch hand, the searing pain as the bullet tore through my chest, and finally, Adrian¡¯s ocean scent wrapping around me as darkness imed me.<fn47d0> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel</fn47d0>


    tried to sit up, immediately regretting the movement as firenced through my chest. A strangled gasp escaped my lips as I clutched at the bandages visible beneath the thin hospital gown.


    I nearly tumbled from the bed.


    Strong hands caught me just in time, steadying me with surprising gentleness.


    ¡°Easy there<b>,</b>¡± Adrian¡¯s deep voice cautioned, his warm palms supporting my shoulders<b>. </b>¡°Your wound hasn¡¯tpletely healed <b>yet</b><b>.</b>¡±


    I hadn¡¯t even heard him enter the room. Looking up, I found <b>myself </b>caught in his amber <b>gaze</b><b>, </b><b>those </b>whiskey¨Ccolored <b>eyes </b>filled with <b>concern </b>rather than <b>the </b>suspicion I¡¯d expected.


    ¡°How <b>long </b>was I out?¡± <b>My </b>voice came out raspy from disuse.


    ¡°A full day,¡± he replied, carefully helping me back against the pillows. <b>¡°</b>You lost a lot <b>of </b>blood.¡±


    I nced toward the <b>window</b><b>, </b>noticing the silver moonlight streaming in. Panic shot through me <b>as </b>I realized what time it must be.


    ¡°My shift at the bar!¡± I eximed, trying <b>to </b><b>rise </b>again <b>despite </b>the pain. ¡°Buck will be looking for me!¡±


    Adrian¡¯s hand gently pressed me back. ¡°<b>Your </b>phone was damaged in the attack. Nadia took it for <b>repairs</b><b>. </b>His lips curved in a <b>small </b>smile. ¡°If <b>you¡¯re </b>worried about your boss, Nadia already called him. Told him you had gastroenteritis and couldn¡¯t make it in.¡±


    I stared at him, disconcerted by how he¡¯d anticipated my concern before I¡¯d <b>even </b>voiced it. ¡°How did <b>you- </b>


    <b>¡°</b>It seemed the logical worry,¡± he shrugged, his expression unreadable.


    <b>My </b>thoughts turned to my attacker, bile rising in my throat at the memory of his hands on me, his alcohol¨Csoured <b>breath </b>against my face. ¡°What about¡­ that man<b>?¡± </b>I couldn¡¯t bring myself to be more specific.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about him,¡± Adrian stated, his tone <b>suddenly </b>colder, more clinical<b>. </b>¡°<b>I¡¯ve </b>taken care of it.¡±


    ¡°Taken care of it?¡± I echoed warily. ¡°You mean¡­¡±


    <b>¡°</b><b>Made </b>it look like a wild boar attack.¡± His eyes held mine steadily. ¡°The human police won¡¯t trace anything back to us.¡±


    <b>The </b><b>calm</b><b>, </b><b>matter</b>¨Cof¨Cfact way he discussed disposing of a body should have terrified me. Instead, I found myself impressed by his thoroughness, <b>even </b>as I <b>recognized </b>the danger that lurked beneath his controlled exterior.


    ¡°Thank <b>you</b><b>, </b>I murmured, not knowing what else to say.


    <b>Silence </b><b>settled </b><b>between </b><b>us</b>. Just as I had observed in the <b>bar</b>, Adrian seemed content to watch me, studying <b>me </b>without demanding <b>immediate </b>answers.


    <b>1/3 </b>


    <b>The </b><b>quiet </b><b>was </b><b>shattered </b><b>by </b>Nadia¡¯s arrival, <b>her </b>voice carrying down the hallway before she even entered the room. <b>She </b>appeared in the doorway<b>, </b>directing a young <b>woman </b><b>behind </b>her <b>who </b>carried a tray of food.


    <b>Put </b><b>it </b><b>on </b>the <b>table </b><b>there</b>,¡± she instructed before turning her attention to me. She tossed something soft onto the foot of my bed¨Ca simple cotton dress <b>in </b>pale <b>green</b>. <b>¡°</b><b>I </b><b>figured </b>you¡¯d prefer something loose until your wound healspletely.¡±


    <b>Despite </b><b>her </b>abrasive manner, I felt oddly relieved by Nadia¡¯s presence. Her straightforward hostility was at least transparent, unlike Adrian¡¯s unnerving calm.


    ¡°Eat<b>, </b>shemanded, crossing her arms as she stood beside my bed. Then we have questions. A lot of them.¡±


    Adrian gave her <b>a </b>measured look. ¡°She needs rest, Nadia. The interrogation can wait until morning.¡±


    But- Nadia began, her expression mutinous.


    Adrian¡¯s eyes shed with subtle authority. Whatever silent message passed between them was enough to make Nadia press her lips together in grudging acquiescence.


    Rest well, Adrian told me, his voice gentling as he turned back to me. ¡°We¡¯ll talk tomorrow.¡±


    <b>As </b>they moved toward the door, I caught Nadia rolling her eyes dramatically before shooting me one final suspicious nce.


    When morning came, I woke to find an Asian woman in a white coat checking my bandages<b>. </b>Her nimble fingers probed the wound site with professional detachment.


    Remarkable healing,¡± she murmured. <b>¡°</b>Almostplete tissue regeneration in <b>just </b>forty<b>¨C</b>eight hours<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    I stared down at my chest in shock as <b>she </b>removed thest bandage. Where there should have been a gaping<b>, </b>barely healing wound, there <b>was </b>only a small pink scar, already fading.


    This wasn¡¯t possible!


    Without my wolf, I should heal only marginally faster than humans<b>¨C</b>not rapidly enough to recover from a gunshot <b>wound </b>in two days<b>. </b>


    Before I could question the doctor, the door swung open<b>, </b>revealing Adrian and Nadia. The timing <b>was </b>too perfect to be coincidental.


    Nadia wasted no time on pleasantries.


    ¡°Now you¡¯re patched up, time to <b>talk</b>. Who <b>are </b><b>you </b>really? Did Maxwell send you<b>?</b>¡± Her <b>eyes </b>narrowed. ¡°What¡¯s your <b>purpose </b>hiding in a backwater like Boring?¡±


    I hesitated, weighing my options. These people had saved my life<b>, </b>treated my <b>wounds</b>. Perhaps I owed them some honesty in return.


    ¡°I belonged to Frostshadow Pack in ska,¡± I admitted finally. ¡°I left three years ago. If possible, I¡¯d rather you didn¡¯t tell anyone from my former pack <b>about </b>


    me,


    ¡°Frostshadow?¡± Nadia¡¯s eyebrows rose<b>. </b>¡°That¡¯s a major northern territory. Her tone remained skeptical. ¡°Why would you <b>leave</b><b>?</b>¡±


    I met her <b>gaze </b>steadily. That¡¯s personal<b>, </b>and not something I need to share. Believe <b>me </b>or don¡¯t<b>, </b>but I¡¯m telling the truth. I have nothing to do <b>with </b>that Alpha Maxwell.¡±


    <b>I </b>shifted, testing my strength as I swung my legs <b>over </b>the side of the bed. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, <b>I </b>should go. Thank you for your <b>help</b>, but I¡¯ll be leaving Boring¨Cand Texas<b>¨C</b>as soon as possible. <b>I </b>won¡¯t cause any trouble for your pack.¡±


    ¡°My <b>phone</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>I asked Nadia<b>, </b>extending my hand.


    <b>With visible </b><b>reluctance</b>, she pulled it from her pocket <b>and </b><b>returned </b><b>it</b>. I had little <b>doubt </b><b>she¡¯d </b><b>examined every </b>contact<b>, </b>message, and photo <b>on </b><b>the </b>device<b>. </b>


    <b>I </b>rose <b>carefully </b><b>to </b><b>my </b>feet<b>, </b>relieved when my legs held firm.


    <b>Chapter </b>17


    <b>Turning </b><b>to </b><b>Adrian</b><b>, </b><b>I </b><b>forced </b>a polite smile. ¡°<b>If </b><b>you </b>wouldn¡¯t mind showing me the way out?


    <b>Adrian</b><b>, </b>who had <b>remained </b>silent throughout the exchange, finally spoke. His words stopped me cold.


    <b>If </b>you <b>don¡¯t </b>belong to any park now,¡± <b>he </b>said, his deep voice filling the room, ¡°why not join Oasisborn?¡±


    <b>Chapter </b><b>Comments </b>


    2

 Casts 18

    <b>kye¡¯s </b>POV


    I stared at <b>him</b>, certain I¡¯d misheard.


    Just moments ago, they were interrogating me about my identity and motives, suspicious I might be some kind of spy. Now he was inviting me to join his pack?


    Werewolf packs were notoriously selective, protective of their territories and secrets. They didn¡¯t just extend meinbership to random lone wolves they¡¯d known for all of two days<b>. </b>


    <b>¡°</b>What?¡± The word burst from my lips before I could stop it.


    But my shock was nothingpared to Nadia¡¯s reaction. Her eyes widened toic proportions, her mouth falling open in disbelief before she erupted.


    ¡°What?¡± she practically shrieked, whirling to face Adrian. ¡°Alpha Adrian, I have supported <b>every </b>decision you¡¯ve made since we left Stormhowl, but this is reckless even for you!¡± Her hands shed through the air in agitation. ¡°We can¡¯t just take in a lone wolf with unknown origins! Especially one without a wolf!¡±


    Something flickered across Adrian¡¯s features¨Ca hardness I hadn¡¯t seen before. In that moment<b>, </b><b>I </b>glimpsed the Alpha beneath the charming exterior.


    ¡°Have you forgotten why we established Oasisborn in <b>the </b><b>first </b>ce, Nadia<b>?</b>¡± His voice remained quiet<b>, </b>but carried an edge that made even me want to take <b>a </b>step back. ¡°How many lone wolves have <b>we </b>weed already? How many outcasts and misfits? That¡¯s <b>our </b>very foundation.¡±


    ¡°Those wolves were different. We vetted them. We knew their histories,


    ¡°We know nothing about her.¡±


    While they argued as if I <b>wasn¡¯t </b>present<b>, </b>my mind was racing.


    Oasisborn Pack?


    m their


    In my years at Frostshadow¡¯s <b>pack </b>school<b>, </b>I¡¯d memorized the territories and names <b>of </b><b>every </b>established w ever hearing of Oasisborn.


    olf pack in North America<b>. </b>I <b>couldn¡¯t </b>recall


    And then there was the matter of Adrian¡¯s scent¨Cthat distinctive ocean undertone that seemedpletely at odds with this desert environment. <b>Werewolves </b>typically carried the essence of their territories in their scent; Adrian smelled like he belonged near the <b>sea</b><b>, </b>not <b>in </b>this aridndscape.


    <b>¡°</b>Thank you for the invitation, but I must decline. ¡°<b>I </b>cleared my throat<b>, </b>interrupting their heated exchange.


    They both turned to look at <b>me</b><b>, </b>equally surprised by my immediate refusal.


    ¡°I appreciate your help¨Ctruly, I do,¡± I continued, avoiding Adrian¡¯s intense <b>gaze</b>. ¡°But I have no intention of joining another pack.¡±


    I nced <b>at </b>Nadia, whose expression had shifted from anger <b>to </b>curiosity. ¡°I don¡¯t want <b>to </b><b>cause </b>any conflict. <b>As </b>soon as I¡¯m well enough to travel<b>, </b>I¡¯ll <b>leave </b>Boring <b>and </b>move on.¡±


    Where <b>I </b>would go next, I had no idea. Perhaps I could risk a brief<b>, </b>secret visit home to <b>see </b>my parents and Ethan from a distance<b>, </b>just to know they <b>were </b>okay. Or maybe I¡¯d <b>simply </b>continue my nomadic existence<b>, </b>drifting from town to town.


    Adrian studied me for a long moment, his amber <b>eyes </b>unreadable. Finally, he nodded. ¡®I won¡¯t force you. That¡¯s not how I operate.¡±


    <b>And </b><b>I¡¯ll </b>personally drive you back to Boring. I doubt you¡¯d find transportation otherwise¨Cwe¡¯re <b>quite </b>isted here<b>.</b>¡±


    I hesitated<b>, </b>then reluctantly nodded.


    I¡¯ll wait <b>outside </b>while you get dressed, Adrian said, turning to the door. <b>Ife </b>paused, ncing back at Nadia. ¡°<b>Give </b>our guest some <b>privacy</b><b>, </b><b>please</b><b>.</b><b>¡° </b>


    Nadia looked like she <b>wanted </b>to object<b>, </b>but <b>after </b><b>a </b>challenging stare from Adrian, she followed him out, closing <b>the </b><b>door </b>behind them with <b>perhaps </b><b>more </b><b>force </b><b>than </b>necessary.


    <b>1/3 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>18 </b>


    <b>Once </b><b>alone</b><b>, </b><b>I </b>quickly <b>changed </b><b>into </b><b>the </b><b>simple </b>dress Nadia <b>had </b>provided. The fabric was soft <b>against </b><b>my </b><b>skin</b><b>, </b><b>the </b>loose <b>cut </b><bfortable </b>over <b>my </b><b>healing </b>


    Wound.


    <b>I </b>was still amazed by how <b>rapidly </b><b>I¡¯d </b><b>recovered</b>.


    Adrian <b>was </b>waiting <b>in </b>the hallway<b>, </b>leaning casually against the wall. He straightened when I emerged, his <b>eyes </b>briefly traveling <b>over </b>me before <b>returning </b><b>to </b><b>my </b><b>face</b><b>. </b>


    <b>This </b>way<b>, </b>


    As we moved through <b>the </b>building, I realized it was muchrger than I¡¯d initially thought¨Cnot just a clinic but a full medical facility. The halls <b>were </b><b>bright </b>and clean<b>, </b>the equipment modern.


    How had <b>they </b>established something <b>like </b>this in such a remote location<b>? </b>


    But my questions died on my lips as we stepped outside into the morning sunshine<b>. </b>The sight before me stole my breath away.


    What should have been barren desert <b>was </b><b>instead </b>a vibrant <b>oasis </b>nestled against the backdrop of distant mountains.


    And everywhere I looked<b>, </b><b>werewolves </b>went about their <b>daily </b>lives. Children yed in the safety <b>of </b>a fenced area<b>, </b>theirughter <b>carrying </b>on the breeze<b>. </b>Adults worked at various tasks<b>¨C</b><b>some </b>constructing a new building, others tending to gardens or carrying supplies.


    Unlike the rigid hierarchy I¡¯d <b>grown </b><b>up </b>with in Frostshadow<b>, </b>where status and rank dictated <b>every </b>interaction, these wolves seemed more <b>rxed</b><b>, </b>more<b>¡­ </b>equal.


    ¡°Beautiful, <b>isn¡¯t </b>it?<b>¡± </b>Adrian¡¯s <b>voice </b>drew my attention back to him. His <b>eyes </b>crinkled at the corners as he observed my awestruck expression. ¡°Having second thoughts? My invitation <b>still </b>stands<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>¡°</b>It is beautiful, I admitted. ¡°I never would have imagined something like this could exist here.¡± I hesitated, then added, ¡°But my answer remains the same<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Despite having left Frostshadow Pack three years ago, I¡¯d never seriously considered joining another. Perhaps deep down, I still thought <b>of </b>ska as home, still considered my family <b>my </b>true pack. Joining another would <b>feel </b>like a betrayal, a final severing of ties I wasn¡¯t ready to cut.


    Adrian shrugged, disappointment shing briefly across his features<b>. </b><b>¡°</b>May I ask why? Nadia was right a One thing¨Cyou don¡¯t have your wolf. Most lone wolves in your position would jump at the protection a pack offers.¡±


    ¡°Why would you want me<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>I countered. ¡®Like Nadia said, I have no wolf. I¡¯m of no value to your pack.¡±


    ¡°Value<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Adrian repeated, his brow furrowing slightly. ¡°And what exactly do you consider ¡®valuable,¡® Skye? Strength? Wealth?¡± He paused<b>, </b>his <b>eyes </b>suddenly intense as they locked with mine. ¡°Or perhaps<b>¡­ </b>your youth and beauty?¡±


    Heat rushed to my cheeks at the unexpectedpliment, and I quickly turned <b>away</b><b>, </b>pretending to examine a nearby flowering bush.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to escort me personally, I said, changing the subject. <b>¡°</b>I¡¯m <b>sure </b>you have more important things to do. Can¡¯t one <b>of </b>your pack members drive <b>me </b>back?<b>¡± </b>


    I insist, he replied smoothly. ¡°<b>It¡¯s </b>the <b>least </b>I can <b>do</b><b>.</b>¡±


    <b>As </b>we walked toward the parking <b>area</b><b>, </b>pack members nodded respectfully <b>to </b>Adrian, greeting him with quiet ¡°Alpha<b>¡® </b>acknowledgments. Many cast curious nces my way, some friendly, others <b>more </b>cautious.<fnae0b> Discover more novels at F?nd-Novel</fnae0b>


    I felt suddenly <b>self</b>¨Cconscious, acutely aware of being an outsider.


    We had just reached the parking lot when a stabbing pain shot through my body so intense it drove me to my knees.


    It felt as if my bones <b>were </b>attempting to rearrange themselves, my muscles stretching and tearing. A strangled <b>cry </b>escaped my lips as I <b>clutched </b><b>at </b><b>my </b><b>chest</b><b>. </b>


    <b>¡°</b>Skye<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>Adrian was <b>beside </b><b>me </b>instantly, strong arms supporting me as I doubled <b>over</b>. <b>¡°</b>What¡¯s <b>wrong</b>?<b>¡± </b>


    <b>But </b><b>I </b>couldn¡¯t answer.


    <b>2/3 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>18 </b>


    <b>The </b><b>pain </b><b>was </b><b>overwhelming</b>, as <b>if </b><b>my </b><b>body </b><b>was </b>being torn apart from the inside out.


    <b>Chapter </b><b>Comments </b>


    ? 2

 Casts 19

    <b>Chapter </b><b>19</b>: <b>Naked </b>in <b>the </b><b>Lake </b><fn1122> Original content can be found at Find?Novel</fn1122>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    My body convulsed uncontrobly, muscles contracting in violent spasms.


    nevide Asian


    If Adrian hadn¡¯t wrapped his arm around my shoulders, I would have copsed onto the hard ground. He called my name, concern evident in his voice, but all I could offer in response was a pained groan that wed its way up my throat..


    <b>¡°</b>What¡¯s happening to me?¡± I gasped between waves of agony. ¡°The gunshot wound¨Cit healed, didn¡¯t it?¡± My thoughts immediately turned to the Asian doctor who had treated me. ¡°Did Dr. Chen give me something? Some kind of herb or medication with side effects<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Adrian shook his head, his amber eyes studying me intently. ¡°I promise you, Dr. Chen is an excellent physician. <b>Tell </b>me exactly what you¡¯re feeling right


    now.<b>¡± </b>


    you or ho


    <b>Like </b>my body is being torn apart, I managed through gritted teeth. <b>¡°</b><b>As </b>if dozens of hands are pulling me in different directions at once.<b>¡± </b>Another violent <b>spasm </b>wracked my frame, and I clutched at his shirt. ¡°And I¡¯m burning up¨C<b>my </b>skin feels like <b>it¡¯s </b>on fire.¡±


    To <b>my </b>surprise, Adrian¡¯s concerned expression melted into a smile<b>. </b>¡°<b>You¡¯ve </b>never <b>experienced </b>this before, have you?¡± He scooped me <b>up </b>effortlessly<b>, </b>cradling me against his chest as he carried me toward the SUV. ¡°I believe you¡¯re about to shift.¡±


    ¡°Shift?¡± The word came out <b>as </b>a shocked whisper as he gentlyid me across the back seat. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I thought- My body arched in pain<b>, </b>cutting off my words<b>. </b>


    Could it really be happening?


    After twenty¨C<b>one </b>years <b>of </b>nothing, after being rejected by Leon for my inability to transform, was I finally going to manifest <b>my </b>wolf<b>? </b>


    Had the Moon Goddess <b>heard </b><b>my </b>desperate <b>curses </b>that night in the parking lot and decided, <b>after </b>three long <b>years</b><b>, </b><b>to </b>finally <b>grant </b><b>me </b>what I¡¯d always longed for?


    ¡°Try to hold on,¡± Adrian said, climbing into the driver¡¯s seat and starting the engine. ¡°I¡¯m taking you somewhere that will help.¡±


    The twenty¨Cminute drive felt like an eternity <b>as </b>waves of <b>heat </b>and pain washed over me.


    When the vehicle finally stopped, Adrian lifted me from the back seat<b>, </b>and <b>I </b>blinked against <b>the </b>bright sunlight <b>to </b><b>see </b><b>a </b>smallke<b>. </b>


    ¡°The water will help cool your body and ease the pain, Adrian exined as he carried me toward the shore. He hesitated, his <b>voice </b>softening<b>. </b>¡°You should probably remove your dress: Your first shift will likely destroy any clothing you¡¯re wearing.¡±


    With that, he respectfully turned his back, giving me privacy despite my vulnerable state.


    <b>I </b>was grateful for this <b>small </b>courtesy as I fumbled with <b>the </b>simple green dress, peeling it away from my sweat¨Csoaked skin. I <b>kept </b>my underwear on, a <bst </b>attempt <b>at </b>modesty<b>, </b>before sliding into the coolke water.


    <b>The </b>relief <b>was </b>immediate but short¨Clived<b>. </b>Another violent spasm hit, and my legs buckled beneath me. I sank below the <b>surface</b><b>, </b>inadvertently swallowing a mouthful of water as panic seized me.


    Strong arms wrapped around my waist, lifting me <b>up </b>so my face cleared the water.


    Adrian had jumped in<b>, </b>fully clothed, to keep me from drowning. In any other circumstance<b>, </b>I would have been mortified¨Cmy nearly naked body <b>pressed </b><b>against </b>his, my breasts ttened against his chest, suddenly <b>sensitive </b><b>in </b>a way I¡¯d <b>never </b>experienced before.


    My <b>head </b><b>rested </b>on his shoulder as his warm breath tickled the nape <b>of </b>my neck. His hands <b>syed </b><b>across </b>my <b>lower </b><b>back</b><b>, </b>steadying <b>me </b>as another wave <b>of </b><b>pain </b><b>hit</b>. His <b>touch </b><b>sent </b><b>waves </b>of <b>heat </b>through my already burning skin, as <b>if </b>my body might burst into mes at any moment.


    <b>A </b><b>peculiar </b>sensation washed over me, <b>a </b>sweet agony that confused my senses.


    <b>1/2 </b>


    I <b>couldn¡¯t </b><b>name </b><b>this feeling</b><b>, </b><b>couldn¡¯t </b><b>understand </b>how <b>such </b>intense <b>pain </b><b>could </b><b>simultaneously </b>feel so<b>¡­ </b><b>right</b>.


    <b>clutched </b><b>at </b><b>his </b><b>shoulders</b>, <b>fingers </b><b>digging </b><b>into </b>the wet fabric of his shirt <b>as </b>1 fought against the conflicting sensations tearing through <b>me</b>,


    Let <b>it </b><b>happen</b><b>, </b>he murmured<b>, </b><b>his </b>voice a soothing rumble against <b>my </b>ear. ¡°Don¡¯t fight it, Skye. Your wolf is finallying<b>.</b>¡±


    <b>The </b>transformation, when it came, was both agonizing and exhrating. <b>My </b>bones cracked and reformed, muscles stretched and <b>realigned</b>, and <b>my </b>skin prickled <b>as </b>silver fur erupted across my body.


    <b>The </b>world around me shifted¨Ccolors intensified, scents multiplied a thousandfold, and sounds I¡¯d never noticed before filled my sensitive ears.


    With an instinct I didn¡¯t know I possessed, I leaped from Adrian¡¯s arms onto the shore, my new four legs wobbling uncertainly beneath me. <b>I </b>stumbled, <b>unused </b>to this new form, paws sying awkwardly on the sandy bank as I tried to find my bnce.


    When <b>I </b>finally steadied myself enough to look back at Adrian, still standing waist¨Cdeep in the water, his expression was one of undisguised wonder.


    <b>¡°</b>Silver, he breathed. ¡°Your wolf is pure silver.¡±


    <b>Chapter </b><b>Comments </b>


    2

 Casts 20

    <b>Chapter </b>20


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b><b>POV </b>


    <b>I </b>stood awkwardly on the shoreline, my new four legs trembling beneath me as I tried to maintain bnce,


    My mind raced toprehend this impossible transformation.


    For twenty¨Cone years, I had been denied this experience¨Cthis fundamental part of being a werewolf.


    Yet here I stood, in wolf form atst, my coat the same silver as my human hair.


    <b>Adrian¡¯s </b>expression shifted from surprise to open admiration, a smile spreading across his face as he watched me struggle to coordinate my new limbs.


    ¡°You¡¯re beautiful,¡± he said softly, his amber eyes gleaming. ¡®I¡¯ve never seen a wolf with such a pure silver coat before<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    His words sent an unexpected thrill through me. I had spent so long being the pack disappointment, the girl without a wolf<b>, </b>that his admiration felt <b>almost </b>foreign¨Cbut undeniably wee.


    Adrian waded out of theke, water streaming from his clothes. He nodded toward the SUV parked <b>nearby</b><b>, </b>then held up <b>one </b>finger in a gesture asking me to wait.


    He disappeared behind the vehicle, and momentster, a


    Magnificent gray wolf emerged.


    The gray wolf<b>¨C</b>Adrian<b>¨C</b>padded toward me, his movements fluid and confident in stark <b>contrast </b>to my <b>clumsy </b>stance<b>. </b>He approached slowly<b>, </b>as <b>if </b>sensing <b>my </b>nervousness, then gently nudged his muzzle against my neck in greeting.


    I understood instinctively what he was trying tomunicate. Wolves within the same pack could use mind¨Clink tomunicate telepathically, but Adrian <b>and </b>I belonged to different packs<b>. </b>


    Without that bond<b>, </b><b>we </b>couldn¡¯t share thoughts, but his intention <b>was </b>clear: he wanted to teach me how to move in this new <b>form</b><b>, </b>to run and experience the


    freedom that came with it.


    This <b>was </b>a werewolf¡¯s <b>first </b>lesson after shifting¨Clearning to embrace the wolf<b>, </b>to move with it rather than fight against it.


    With Adrian beside me, I took my first tentative steps, my paws sinking slightly into the soft earth near theke<b>. </b>


    My movements were awkward at <b>first</b><b>, </b>my limbs not quite coordinating the way I wanted them to. I stumbled more than <b>once</b><b>, </b>but Adrian remained demonstrating the proper gait, showing me how to distribute my weight.


    patient,


    Gradually, I found my rhythm. What started <b>as </b>a hesitant walk became <b>a </b>trot, and then, as confidence surged through me, a full run. Adrian raced alongside <b>me</b><b>, </b>asionally darting ahead to lead <b>the </b>way through the sparse desert vegetation, always circling


    Back to <b>ensure </b>I was keeping <b>up</b>.


    The sensation was unlike anything I¡¯d ever experienced¨Cmy powerful muscles working in perfect harmony, the wind rushing through my <b>fur</b><b>, </b>scents flooding my sensitive nose<b>. </b>


    I could smell everything: the water of theke behind us, the desert flowers blooming despite the arid climate<b>, </b>small creatures hiding beneath rocks, and Adrian¡¯s distinctive ocean <b>scent </b>beside me<b>. </b>


    <b>I </b>felt <b>like </b><b>I </b><b>was </b>flying.


    As midday approached, the desert heat intensified, beating down even on the greener oasis areas.


    My initial burst of excitement began to wane, my pace slowing as fatigue set in. My tongue lolled from my mouth as I panted heavily,


    the dust<b>. </b>


    <b>Paws </b><b>dragging </b>in


    <b>Adrian </b><b>noticed </b>immediately. <b>He </b>circled back <b>to </b>my side, nudging <b>me </b>gently in the direction of theke. <b>The </b><b>cool </b>water beckoned<b>, </b><b>promising </b><b>relief </b><b>from </b><b>the </b>heat.


    <b>When </b><b>we </b>reached the <b>shore</b><b>, </b>Adrian <b>surprised </b>me <b>by </b>shifting back to his human form right <b>before </b><b>my </b><b>eyes</b>. His transformation was fluid <b>and </b><b>graceful</b><b>, </b><b>the </b>


    <b>1/3 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>20 </b><fn6924> This content belongs to find¡¤novel</fn6924>


    <b>gray </b><b>wolf </b><b>melting </b>away <b>to </b><b>reveal </b><b>the </b>man.


    <b>Despite </b><b>having </b>seen <b>him </b>naked once before when he saved me in the parking lot¨Cheat rose to my face (or would have, if wolves could blush<b>)</b>.


    His <b>body </b>was a perfect blend of strength and elegance, muscles defined but not overstated, his skin bronzed from the desert sun.


    The first shift back to human form can be a bit painful, he exined, his voice gentle.


    I hesitated, suddenly self¨Cconscious about being naked in front of him. But there was no alternative; my clothesy in a heap by thekeside, and I couldn¡¯t stay <b>in </b>wolf form forever.


    Following Adrian¡¯s instructions, I focused on my human self, visualizing the transformation. The pain was sharp but briefer than the initial shift, <b>my </b>and muscles remembering their original configuration.


    <b>When </b>it ended, I found myself on all fours¨Chuman hands and knees nowpletely naked and trembling slightly from exertion.


    I nced up at Adrian, then quickly covered my breasts with one arm, lowering my head in embarrassment.


    bones


    Without a word, he retrieved the green dress I¡¯d discarded earlier and handed it to me, then turned his back respectfully to give me


    privacy.


    Thank you,¡± I murmured as I pulled the dress over my head, grateful for his consideration.


    When I was decent again, Adrian turned to face me, his expression serious. I can¡¯t take you back to Boring today,¡± he said. ¡°You were shot two days ago, and you¡¯ve just experienced your first shift. I need to bring you back to the pack¡¯s medical facility to make sure <b>you¡¯re </b>alright. Dr. <b>Chen </b>should examine you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you agian.¡± I nodded.


    As we walked back to the SUV, I realized I felt different¨Cnot just emotionally from the <b>ex </b>


    of finally shifting, but physically.


    <b>My </b>skin felt hypersensitive, every nerve ending alive and tingling. A profound warmth had settled in my core, radiating outward.


    Adrian held the passenger door open for me, and I slid into the seat, suddenly aware of a new mortification, I realized that my underwear had been destroyed during the shift.


    ¡°Sation¨Ca slick wetness between my thighs. With <b>growing </b>


    Worse, the wetness was increasing, and with my newly heightened senses, <b>I </b>could detect my own arousal.


    I pressed my thighs together tightly, trying to contain the evidence<b>, </b>but it was toote.


    In the confined space of the vehicle, my scent filled the air<b>¨C</b>unmistakable to any werewolf.


    <b>I </b>remembered the older girls at Frostshadow <b>Pack </b>whispering about this, how the first shift often triggered intense sexual desire<b>. </b>


    The pheromones were meant to attract a <b>mate</b><b>; </b>if a newly shifted wolf was fortunate enough to encounter their true mate that day<b>, </b>they would most primal mating, in both human and wolf forms.


    engage in the


    I had felt desire the night I encountered Leon in the forest<b>, </b>but nothing like this overwhelming need that consumed me now. This was raw, that made it difficult to think of anything else.


    animal hunger


    Adrian said nothing, but I knew he must have detected my scent. His knuckles whitened slightly on the steering wheel<b>, </b>the only indication that he was affected.


    Mortified, I rolled down the window, letting the desert air flow through the <b>car</b>, hoping it would disperse the evidence of my arousal.


    <b>¡°</b>We¡¯ll be <b>at </b>thepound soon,¡± Adrian said, his <b>voice </b>perfectly controlled, though I detected a slight roughness at the edges.


    <b>I </b>nodded mutely, silently praying for this painfully awkward journey to end quickly.


    <b>Between </b>the dampness of my dress and the scorching heat within <b>me</b><b>, </b>the ride back to Oasisborn felt like the longest <b>twenty </b>minutes <b>of </b><b>my </b>life.

 Casts 21

    <b>Chapter </b><b>21 </b>


    Adrian¡¯s POV


    <b>The </b>silver woll before me was a magnificent sight¨Csleek and lithe, with fur that caught the desert sunlight and reflected it like freshly fallen snow.


    Even in the northern territories, pure silver wolves were extraordinarily rare. I¡¯d heard tales of them from the elders, whispered legends about silver¨Ccoated wolves possessing unique abilities, but I¡¯d never seen one myself until now.


    Her movements were uncoordinated, almost coltish, as she tried to navigate her new form.


    Despite her clumsiness, her wolf was vibrant and healthy, brimming with an energy that suggested years of pent¨Cup power finally finding release.


    As I watched her race across the desert floor, her joy palpable in every bound, an unexpected pang of disappointment settled in my chest.


    She <b>wasn¡¯t </b>my mate<b>. </b>


    I¡¯d known it from the first moment I¡¯d encountered her at The Watering Hole, of course<b>. </b>The distinctive pull of a mate bond was unmistakable, and I¡¯d felt nothing of the sort.


    After being forced from my father¡¯s pack by my uncle and establishing Oasisborn Pack as a haven for outcasts<b>, </b><b>I¡¯d </b>still harbored the quiet hope of someday finding my destined partner. Two years had passed since then<b>, </b>with no <b>sign </b><b>of </b><b>my </b>mate<b>. </b>


    Despite that disappointment, something about Skye had sparked an interest I thought long buried beneath the responsibilities <b>of </b>leadership.


    By midday, the desert heat had grown punishing even for werewolf constitutions<b>. </b><b>Skye¡¯s </b><b>enthusiasm </b><b>gradually </b>yielded to fatigue, her tongue lolling from her mouth as she panted heavily.


    <b>I </b>guided her back toward theke, where shifting back to human form would be morefortable with water to cool her overheated body.


    Her naked form, briefly glimpsed, <b>was </b>seared into my memory<b>: </b>small <b>but </b>perfectly shaped breasts, the curve of her hip narrowing to her <b>waist</b><b>, </b>skin pale and smooth as porcin.


    I forced these thoughts aside, ufortable with my own inappropriate observation of someone under my protection.<fn55be> Readplete version only at Find?Novel</fn55be>


    The drive back to thepound <b>was </b>an unexpected test of willpower. The confined <b>space </b><b>of </b>the SUV quickly filled with <b>Skye¡¯s </b><b>scent</b>¨Cnot the normal werewolf musk that should have emerged after her first shift, which was peculiar enough<b>, </b>but something far more primal.


    The sweet, heady aroma of female arousal grew more pronounced with each passing mile<b>. </b>


    I knew well that a werewolf¡¯s first shift often triggered intense sexual desire<b>. </b>It was a biological imperative, the body¡¯s <b>way </b><b>of </b>celebrating itspletion and seeking to perpetuate the bloodline.


    ¡°Danions, w


    <b>I </b>recalled my own first transformation at sixteen, how I¡¯d spent that night with two of the <b>pack¡¯s </b><b>designated </b>who helped young males through this challenging transition.


    Trapped in the vehicle with her intoxicating scent, my body responded despite my best intentions. I was grateful for <b>the </b>dark material <b>of </b>my jeans, which concealed the evidence of my arousal<b>. </b>


    My mind kept returning to forbidden images: her naked form emerging from the shift, the <b>feel </b>of her <b>slick </b>skin against mine as I¡¯d held <b>her </b>in theke water<b>, </b>the way her breasts had pressed against my chest as I steadied her<b>. </b>


    I shook my head sharply, disgusted with myself for these thoughts. She was vulnerable, newly shifted, and under my protection¨Cnot an object for my base desires.


    From <b>the </b>corner of my eye, <b>I </b><b>saw </b>Skye resting/her head against the window, which she¡¯d rolled down halfway. The hot desert air <b>tousled </b>her <b>golden </b>blonde hair as <b>she </b>kept her <b>eyes </b>nearly closed. Whether she was genuinely dozing or simply avoiding <b>the </b>awkwardness <b>between </b>us, I couldn¡¯t say.


    <b>Neither </b><b>of </b><b>us </b>acknowledged the tension, maintaining a fragile silence for the remainder of the journey.


    <b>173 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>21 </b>


    Given <b>her </b>condition, taking her directly to the medical facility seemed inappropriate. The sexual energy radiating from her would <b>be </b>obvious to every wolf in <b>the </b><bpound</b>. For her dignity, and to prevent unnecessaryplications, I d¨¦toured toward my private residence instead.


    <b>Skye</b>, were here, <b>I </b>called softly as I pulled into the driveway of my modest home.


    Her eyes opened, surprise registering as she took in the unfamiliar surroundings.


    <b>¡°</b><b>This </b><b>is </b>my house,¡± I exined. ¡°I think perhaps <b>I </b>should bring you to see Dr. Chen tomorrow instead¡­ when you¡¯re feeling more¡­ settled.¡±


    Understanding dawned in her eyes, a crimson blush spreading across her cheeks as she nodded wordlessly,


    <b>My </b>home was deliberately simple¨Ca single¨Cstory structure with clean lines and minimal decoration. I had insisted on living quarters no more luxurious than those of other pack members, despite Nadia¡¯s protests that an Alpha should maintain certain appearances.


    Leadership, in <b>my </b><b>view</b><b>, </b>had nothing to do with material disys.


    ¡°Lucy,¡± I called to the old maid who helped maintain my home. ¡°Could you prepare the guest room<b>? </b>And find some suitable clothes for our visitor?¡±


    Lucy emerged from the kitchen<b>, </b>wiping her hands on a dishcloth. Her <b>eyes </b>widened slightly <b>as </b><b>she </b>assessed Skye, a knowing smile ying at the cornes of her mouth, wrinkles deepening around her eyes.


    ¡°Well, this is a first, she remarked with undisguised interest. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you bring <b>a </b><b>woman </b>home before, Alpha.


    <b>¡°</b>It¡¯s not what you¡¯re thinking,¡± I replied stiffly, embarrassment heating my neck.


    Skye retreated to the guest room immediately after Lucy showed her in, closing the door firmly behind her. She remained there until I <b>knocked </b>at dinner time, calling her to eat. By then, her scent had faded to manageable levels, the most intense phase of her <b>post</b><b>¨C</b>shift response apparently subsiding.


    We ate in rtive silence, the awkwardness of earlier gradually giving way to a morefortable quiet<b>. </b>


    I found myself studying her when she <b>wasn¡¯t </b>looking¨Cthe graceful movement of her hands<b>, </b>the way she tucked her golden blonde hair behind her thoughtful expression that crossed her <b>face </b><b>as </b>she gazed out the window at the desertndscape.


    After dinner, Nadia mind¨Clinked me, her voice familiar in my thoughts.


    Alpha, the training facility designs for the pups are ready<b>. </b><b>I¡¯ll </b>stop by your house tonight to drop them off if that¡¯s convenient.


    That¡¯s fine, <b>I </b>responded. I¡¯ll be here.


    <b>ear</b><b>, </b>


    the


    I hadn¡¯t mentioned Skye¡¯s presence, not out of any desire for <b>secrecy </b>but simply <b>because </b>it hadn¡¯t seemed <b>relevant </b>to <b>pack </b>business. Helping a newly shifted wolf was an Alpha¡¯s duty, nothing more.


    When Nadia knocked that evening, I opened the door to find her holding a roll of blueprints<b>. </b>She handed them <b>over</b>, then stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, heading directly toward the kitchen.


    I need some lemonade after the day I¡¯ve had,¡± she announced, already opening the refrigerator. ¡°The construction <b>crew </b>messed up the measurements for the eastern perimeter expansion again.¡±


    I considered stopping her, exining that Skye <b>was </b>here<b>, </b>but hesitated. There was nothing improper about the situation; hiding it would only create <b>unnecessary </b>suspicion.


    Nadia had just filled a ss with the tart beverage when the bathroom door opened, releasing a cloud of steam as <b>Skye </b>emerged, her hair damp from the shower<b>, </b>dressed in borrowed clothes that hung loosely on her frame.


    Nadia <b>froze</b>, <b>the </b>ss halfway to her lips. Her eyes widened almostically before narrowing to <b>suspicious </b><b>slits</b>.


    <b>¡°</b><b>What </b>the <b>fuck</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>she blurted, staring <b>at </b>Skye. <b>¡°</b>Why <b>are </b>you here?<b>¡± </b>

 Casts 22

    <b>Chapter </b><b>22 </b>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    Thefortable atmosphere that <b>had </b>settled <b>between </b>Adrian and <b>me </b>during dinner instantly evaporated. I shifted ufortably, <b>my </b><b>damp </b>hair dripping onto <b>the </b>borrowed clothes that hung loosely from my frame.


    1¡­ I <b>began</b><b>, </b>but Adrian stepped forward<b>, </b><b>his </b>voice calm <b>yet </b>authoritative.


    <b>Skye </b><b>shifted </b>today,<b>¡± </b>he exined, moving to stand slightly between us. ¡°Her <b>first </b>transformation. She has a lot to learn<b>, </b>so I invited her to stay the <b>night</b><b>. </b>Dr. Chen will <b>examine </b><b>her </b>tomorrow<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>Nadia¡¯s </b>eyes widened<b>, </b>darting between us as understanding <b>dawned </b>in her expression. She set her <b>ss </b>down with more force than <b>necessary</b><b>, </b>liquid sloshing <b>over </b><b>the </b><b>rim</b><b>. </b>


    ¡®So you brought her to your house?¡± <b>Her </b>voice rose slightly<b>. </b><b>¡°</b><b>Adrian</b><b>, </b><b>you </b>know what happens after <b>a </b><b>werewolf¡¯s </b>first shift<b>. </b>The urges, the- She cut herself off, ncing at me with undisguised disapproval.


    Heat rushed to my cheeks. I knew exactly what Nadia <b>was </b>implying¨Cthat I might seduce Adrian, taking advantage <b>of </b><b>my </b>post¨Cshift state and his generosity.


    The usation <b>stung</b><b>, </b>especially when <b>my </b><b>body </b><b>was </b>still humming with unfamiliar sensations that <b>I </b>was desperately trying to ignore<b>. </b>


    <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>understand <b>your </b><b>concern</b>,¡± I said quickly<b>, </b>wanting to defuse the tension. <b>¡°</b><b>I¡¯m </b>feeling much better now<b>. </b><b>If </b><b>possible</b><b>, </b><b>perhaps </b>someone <b>could </b>drive me back to Boring tonight <b>instead</b>.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s expression hardened slightly<b>, </b>a sh of rare impatience crossing his features.


    <b>¡°</b>Nadia<b>, </b>why <b>are </b><b>you </b>so prejudiced against Skye<b>? </b><b>She¡¯s </b><b>a </b>guest who needs our help, nothing more.<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°I¡¯m your Beta,¡± Nadia reminded him, chin lifted defiantly. ¡°<b>It¡¯s </b>my responsibility to protect <b>you </b>and look out for your best interests<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    The tension between them crackled in the <b>air </b>like static electricity. I stood awkwardly to the side.


    After a moment<b>, </b><b>Nadia¡¯s </b><b>posture </b>shifted, a decision clearly made.


    She marched to the living room and dropped onto the sofa with dramatic finality. ¡°<b>If </b>Skye¡¯s staying here tonight,¡± she announced, patting the cushion <b>beside </b>her, then I¡¯m staying too. Right here on this couch.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s shoulders rose and fell in a resigned sigh. The mix <b>of </b>exasperation and affection in his expression spoke volumes about <b>their </b>rtionship¨Cclearly <b>deeper </b>and more <bplex </b>than <b>just </b>Alpha and Beta.


    ¡°While <b>you¡¯re </b>being <b>so </b>vignt,¡± <b>Nadia</b><b>¨C</b>continued, triumph edging her <b>voice</b><b>, </b>¡°<b>we </b>might as well <b>discuss </b>the training facility designs I brought,¡±


    Adrian shook his head<b>, </b>a reluctant smile tugging at his lips<b>. </b>¡°<b>You </b>truly are tireless, aren¡¯t <b>you</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>He </b>turned to me, his expression softening. ¡°Skye<b>, </b>please <b>feel </b>free <b>to </b>stay<b>. </b>After Dr. Chen examines you tomorrow<b>, </b><b>I¡¯ll </b>take <b>you </b>out for another shift training session.¡±


    I <b>hesitated</b>, weighing <b>my </b>options. The truth <b>was</b><b>, </b>I had <b>nowhere </b><b>else </b>to go, <b>and </b>the promise of learning <b>more </b>about <b>my </b>wolf¨Cthis new part of <b>myself </b>I¡¯d <b>waited </b>so long to discover<b>¨C</b><b>was </b>too tempting <b>to </b>refuse<b>. </b>


    <b>¡°</b>Alright, <b>I </b><b>agreed </b>quietly. ¡°Thank <b>you</b>.<b>¡± </b>


    <b>As </b>I turned to head <b>back </b>to the <b>guest </b>room<b>, </b><b>I </b>caught sight <b>of </b>Nadia moving closer to <b>Adrian</b><b>, </b>spreading blueprints across the <b>coffee </b><b>table</b><b>. </b><b>She </b>threw me a <b>quick </b><b>nce</b><b>, </b><b>a </b>small<b>, </b><b>satisfied </b>smile <b>ying </b>at her lips¨Clike she¡¯d <b>won </b>some contest I hadn¡¯t <b>known </b><b>we </b><b>were </b>in.


    <b>There </b><b>was </b>something familiar in <b>the </b><b>way </b>she positioned <b>herself </b><b>near </b>Adrian, in the barely contained adoration that shone in her eyes <b>when </b>she looked at


    him.


    I recognized it because I¡¯d once <b>felt </b>something <b>simr </b>for Leon, that mixture <b>of </b><b>respect</b><b>, </b>admiration<b>, </b><b>and </b><b>longing</b>.


    <b>173 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>22 </b>


    Adrian <b>and </b><b>Nadia¡¯s </b>rtionship <b>clearly </b>went beyond professional boundaries. The way <b>he </b>indulged her interference in his personal life spoke of a deep bond.


    <b>But </b>it wasn¡¯t my ce to analyze their rtionship. I was just a temporary visitor in their world, a passing stranger who would soon return to my solitary <b>existence</b><b>. </b>


    <b>Besides</b><b>, </b>after my transformation today, I¡¯d confirmed what I¡¯d already suspected¨CAdrian wasn¡¯t my second chance mate.


    <b>That </b>peculiar, visceral connection I¡¯d felt with Leon, however painful its oue, was absent with Adrian despite his kindness and undeniable appeal.


    I closed the guest room door behind me, leaving them to their blueprints and ns for a future I wouldn¡¯t be part of.


    The <b>next </b>morning, I woke to the scent of coffee and bacon wafting through the house.


    When I emerged from the guest room, Lucy was setting tes of food on the dining table, Adrian already seated reviewing documents on hisptop while Nadia poured herself coffee.


    Breakfast was a strange affair. I remained mostly silent, picking at my food and offering brief <b>responses </b>when directly addressed.


    Nadia, by contrast, barely paused for breath as she detailed various cost¨Csaving measures for the training facility, her enthusiasm for the topic <b>seemingly </b>inexhaustible.


    Adrian listened attentively, asking asional questions, but I couldn¡¯t help noticing how his eyes would drift to me during Nadia¡¯s more technical exnations.


    After <b>we </b>finished eating, Adrian announced he would drive me to the pack hospital for my examination. Predictably, Nadia immediately volunteered.


    I¡¯ll take you both,¡± she insisted, already grabbing the car <b>keys </b>from the hook by the door. ¡°I need to speak with Dr. Chen about medical supplies for the new facility <b>anyway</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Dr. Chen¡¯s examination room was bright and modern, equipped with medical technology I hadn¡¯t expected to find in such a remote location. She conducted a thorough checkup, listening to my heart<b>, </b>examining the now¨Chealed gunshot wound, and drawing bloc or testing.


    <b>¡°</b>Your physical condition is excellent,¡± <b>she </b>concluded, removing her stethoscope. <b>¡°</b>Remarkably <b>so </b>for someone who just shifted for the <b>first </b>time.<b>¡± </b>She nced at her tablet, scrolling through notes<b>. </b>¡°Your sudden transformation was most likely triggered by thebination of life¨Cthreatening trauma and the presence <b>of </b><b>Alpha </b>blood in <b>your </b>system<b>.</b>¡±


    <b>¡°</b>Alpha blood?¡± I repeated, confused.


    <b>Dr. </b>Chen looked surprised.


    <b>¡°</b><b>Yes</b>, from the transfusion. When you arrived with the gunshot wound, you had lost too much blood. Without your wolf active, you wouldn¡¯t have survived the surgery to remove the bullet.¡± She gestured toward Adrian, who stood quietly in the corner of the room. ¡°Alpha Adrian donated his blood for your transfusion. It¡¯s what saved your life.*


    x


    <b>I </b>stared at Adrian in shock. ¡°Your blood<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    The magnitude of what he¡¯d done hit me suddenly. Alpha blood was <b>precious</b>, known for its healing properties and rarely given to anyone outside immediate family or high¨Cranking pack members<b>. </b>For him to have shared it with me<b>, </b>a lone wolf he barely knew¡­.


    ¡°That¡¯s why you healed so quickly,¡± Dr. Chen continued. <b>¡°</b>Alpha blood contains powerful regenerative properties<b>, </b>especially when given directly from Alpha to recipient.¡±


    A wave <b>of </b>emotion washed over me¨Cgratitude mixed with a sense <b>of </b>indebtedness that felt almost overwhelming.


    <b>In </b><b>three </b><b>years </b><b>of </b>solitary <b>existence</b>, I¡¯d grown/ustomed to fending for <b>myself</b><b>, </b><b>to </b>expecting the worst from strangers<b>. </b>Adrian¡¯s selfless act <b>was </b><b>more </b><b>kindness </b><b>than </b><b>I¡¯d </b><b>experienced </b>from anyone since leaving my pack.


    How <b>could </b>I ever <b>repay </b>such a debt? I wondered silently. And why would he do this for <b>a </b>stranger<b>? </b>


    <b>2/3 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>22 </b>


    <b>I </b><b>looked </b><b>up</b><b>, </b>meeting <b>Adrian¡¯s </b>amber eyes across the room.


    <b>Why </b><b>didn¡¯t </b>you tell me yesterday<b>?</b><b>¡± </b><b>I </b>asked softly.


    <b>Chapter </b><b>Comments </b><fn77de> Get full chapters from FindN()vel</fn77de>

 Casts 23

    <b>Chapter </b><b>23 </b>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    This niger


    It¡¯s really not a big deal, Adrian said, ¡®I¡¯ve received help from many people throughout my life. This was simply <b>my </b>dwell on it.


    His lips curved into a gentle smile as he shrugged, as if donating his precious Alpha blood to aplete stranger


    <b>someone </b>a sweater.


    as no more significant than lending


    <b>But </b>I couldn¡¯t help the emotion welling up inside me. I blinked rapidly, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite lucky, aren¡¯t you?¡± Nadia remarked, her lips pursed into a tight line. ¡°Some wolves would give anything for what you received so casually.¡±


    Nadia, Adrian warned, his tone gentle but firm.


    Thank you,¡± I said, looking directly at Adrian. ¡°Truly. If there¡¯s anything I can do to repay you, please tell me.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s expression brightened. ¡°Actually, there is something you could help with,¡± he said, a hint of mischief entering his voice. ¡°Next weekend is Oasisborn¡¯s two¨Cyear anniversary celebration. We could use a skilled bartender for the event.¡±


    Two years?¡± I asked, curiosity temporarily overriding my emotional state. ¡°The pack is that new?¡±


    Adrian nodded. ¡°We¡¯re still establishing ourselves. Which is why celebrations like this <b>are </b>important for pack morale.¡±


    So Oasisborn <b>was </b>only two years old¨Cthat exined why I¡¯d never heard of it during my time at Frostshadow Pack.


    After bing a lone wolf, I¡¯d deliberately <b>disconnected </b><b>myself </b>from werewolf <b>news </b>and politics<b>, </b>finding it safer to remain ignorant of a world I no longer belonged to.


    Relief washed over me as <b>I </b>realized there <b>was </b>actually something concrete I could do to begin repaying my debt.


    I¡¯d be happy to help,¡± I said, perhaps too eagerly. ¡°In fact, <b>I </b>could prepare all the drinks for the event, de signature cocktail for the asion.¡±


    a <b>special </b>menu<b>¡­ </b><b>maybe </b>even create a


    ¡°That sounds perfect.¡°Adrian¡¯s smile widened.


    Dr. Chen finished noting something in her tablet before addressing me again. ¡°<b>You¡¯re </b>clear to leave<b>, </b>but I rmend daily shift <b>practice </b>to help your body adjust to its new capabilities. And no alcohol for at <b>least </b><b>three </b><b>days</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    I nodded, sliding off the examination table<b>. </b><b>As </b>we left <b>the </b>medical facility, Adrian mentioned that <b>I </b>should practice shifting again before returning to Boring.


    To my surprise, Nadia immediately volunteered.


    I¡¯ll take her, she announced, her tone suggesting no room <b>for </b>argument. ¡°You have that <b>call </b>with <b>the </b>Council scheduled in thirty minutes anyway.¡±


    Adrian hesitated, then nodded. Thank you, Nadia. I¡¯ll see you bothter<b>.</b>¡±


    As soon as Adrian was out of sight, Nadia led me to a secluded training area surrounded by desert vegetation adapted to the unusual moisture of the oasis. Despite her initially hostile attitude, she proved to be a surprisinglypetent teacher.


    ¡°<b>Women </b>shift differently than men,¡± she exined as she demonstrated a smooth transformation into her sleek ck wolf. <b>After </b>shifting back to human form<b>, </b>she continued<b>: </b>¡°We¡¯re typically smaller in wolf form, which means <b>we </b>need different fighting techniques topensate.¡±


    <b>Over </b>the <b>next </b>couple of hours, she taught <b>me </b>specifically female¨Corientedbat moves<b>, </b>showing me how to use my smaller size and greater agility to <b>outmaneuver </brger <b>opponents</b>.


    <b>After </b><b>we </b>both <b>shifted </b>back to human form, Nadia scrutinized my body with critical <b>eyes</b>, then <b>reached </b>out and <b>squeezed </b><b>my </b><b>upper </b>arm <b>with </b>dissatisfaction.


    <b>¡°</b><b>You¡¯re </b><b>too </b><b>soft</b><b>, </b><b>she </b><b>dered</b><b>, </b>frowning. <b>¡°</b><b>Your </b><b>muscles </b><b>are </b>underdeveloped. How do you expect <b>to </b>protect yourself like this<b>? </b><b>You </b><b>won¡¯t </b>always <b>be </b><b>so </b>lucky <b>to </b>


    <b>1/3 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>23 </b>


    <b>have </b><b>someone </b>rescue you when you¡¯re in danger<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>And </b>Adrian wouldn¡¯t be interested in someone so weak anyway. She dropped her hand, muttering under her breath.


    You like Alpha Adrian, don¡¯t you? 1 asked before I could stop myself.


    <b>Nadia </b>stiffened, her dark eyes shing with momentary panic before hardening into defensive anger.


    ¡°Everyone in Oasisborn likes Adrian,¡± she snapped. ¡®He¡¯s the best Alpha in the world. He saved all of us, gave us a home when we had nowhere else to go.¡±


    There was something endearing about her fierce loyalty, about the way she straightened hef shoulders when speaking of him. Despite her abrasive manner, I found myself warming to her slightly.


    ¡®From now on, she continued, clearly eager to change the subject, ¡°you need to practice every day exactly as I¡¯ve shown you. Understand?<b>¡± </b>


    I nodded solemnly. ¡®Yes, my dear teacher.¡±


    To my surprise, her stern expression melted into a satisfied smile, and for a brief moment, I glimpsed the possibility of friendship beneath her prickly


    exterior.


    By evening, Adrian himself drove me back to Boring.


    The journey took a little over two hours<b>, </b>and <b>we </b>spent most of it infortable silence<b>. </b>asionally he would point out <b>features </b><b>of </b>thendscape or ask gentle questions about my life, never <b>pressing </b>when I gave vague answers.


    When we finally pulled up outside The Watering Hole, Jessie was just arriving for her shift. She stopped in her <b>tracks</b>, when she <b>saw </b><b>me </b>climbing out of Adrian¡¯s SUV, her eyes widening with undisguised curiosity.


    Ill pick you up next Saturday evening,<b>¡± </b>Adrian said, leaning slightly out of his window. He nodded politely to Jessie before driving away, the <b>vehicle </b>disappearing into the gathering dusk.<fnf2f8> Find the newest release on Find_Novel(.</fnf2f8>


    The moment he was gone, Jessie pounced, grabbing my arm and practically dragging me through the bar¡¯s trance. ¡°We thought you were sick<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>she eximed, her voice pitched higher with excitement. ¡°But you <b>were </b>off with Mr. Tall¨CDark¨Cand¨CDelicious the whole time!¡±


    She pulled me behind the bar, lowering her <b>voice </b>conspiratorially. ¡°Spill. Everything. How did you hook up with him<b>? </b>How far <b>have </b><b>you </b>gone? Did you do it? I need all the juicy details<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°It¡¯s not what you think,¡± I protested, feeling heat rise to my cheeks. <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>really was <b>sick</b>. I just happened to run into him at the clinic<b>, </b>that¡¯s all. There¡¯s nothing between us.¡±


    Jessie rolled her eyes dramatically. ¡°Oh, please<b>! </b>You <b>expect </b>me to believe that<b>? </b>The way he looked at <b>you </b>just now was definitely not nothing.¡±


    ¡°He looks at puppies the same way,¡± I insisted. ¡°He¡¯s <b>just</b><b>¡­ </b>naturally intense<b>.</b>¡±


    Before Jessie could continue her interrogation<b>, </b>Buck emerged from the back office<b>. </b>His weathered <b>face </b>lit up at the sight of me, and he pulled me into a bear hug, one hand affectionately ruffling my hair.


    ¡°There she is!¡± he boomed. You don¡¯t know how much we¡¯ve missed you these past few days! The <b>ce </b>ain¡¯t the same without you.¡± <b>He </b>stepped back, <b>concern </b><b>creasing </b>his brow. <b>¡°</b><b>You </b>feeling better now, darlin¡®? That stomach bug all cleared up?¡±


    The warmth of his wee caught me off guard. I¡¯d never expected to form attachments in this small desert town, had deliberately kept everyone <b>at </b>arm¡¯s length. Yet somehow, Buck¡¯s fatherly concern and Jessie¡¯s nosy but well¨Cintentioned interest <b>had </b>snuck past my defenses.


    Which made what I had to say next all the more difficult.


    *<b>Buck</b><b>, </b>I began hesitantly, ¡°I need to talk to you about something. I took a deep breath, steeling myself. ¡®I¡¯m sorry, but I have to give my <b>notice</b>. <b>I </b>can work through next Friday, but <b>after </b>that¡­ I¡¯ll be leaving.¡±

 Casts 24

    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    <b>Buck¡¯s </b>face fell, genuine disappointment shadowing his features. ¡°Leaving? But why, darlin¡®? I thought you were happy here.¡±


    I truly had been happy here. Despite that terrifying night of being sexually harassed and shot, most of my time in Boring had been peaceful and pleasant. The Watering Hole had provided me with the closest thing to stability I¡¯d known in three years of running.


    But with my wolf finally awakened and the discovery of Oasisborn Pack, my life had irrevocably changed. I couldn¡¯t go back to pretending to be something !


    <b>wasn¡¯t</b>.


    ¡°It¡¯s time for me to move on,¡± I said simply, unable to provide Buck with the real exnation. ¡°But I¡¯ll miss this ce. I¡¯ll miss you.¡±


    Buck pulled me into another bear hug, his weathered hands patting my back affectionately. ¡°You got somece in mind you¡¯re heading to, darlin<b>¡®</b><b>?</b>¡± he asked, concern evident in his gravelly voice.


    <b>¡°</b>Yes,¡± I lied smoothly, though I had absolutely no idea where I¡¯d go after helping with Oasisborn¡¯s anniversary celebration. Perhaps I¡¯d head north toward Colorado, or maybe east toward Louisiana. Anywhere far from <b>Texas </b>and theplications that <b>had </b>arisen here<b>. </b>


    Jessie returned to the bar carrying a tray of empty sses, having just delivered drinks and fries to a table <b>of </b>ranch hands. Her <b>eyes </b>narrowed suspiciously as she took in the scene¨C<b>me </b>wrapped in Buck¡¯s fatherly embrace, both of us with somber expressions.


    <b>¡°</b>What¡¯s going on?¡± she demanded, setting down her <b>tray </b>with a tter. ¡°You two look like somebody died.¡±


    Buck released <b>me</b><b>, </b>one hand remaining on my shoulder. ¡°Skye¡¯s leaving us,¡± he announced, his voice <b>heavy </b>with disappointment.


    Jessie¡¯s shriek of dismay <b>was </b>so loud it caused several patrons to turn and stare. ¡°What? You can¡¯t <b>leave</b><b>!</b>¡± She rushed around the bar and grabbed my hands, her eyes wide with genuine distress. ¡°Why? <b>Is </b>it because of that stomach bug? Did it mess up your <b>system </b>or something? Or did you get a better job offer somewhere <b>else</b>?¡±


    Her immediate concern touched <b>me</b><b>. </b>


    ¡°<b>It¡¯s </b>nothing like that,¡± I <b>assured </b>her, squeezing her hands gently. <b>¡°</b><b>It¡¯s </b><b>just</b><b>¡­ </b>time for me to move on. I never stay in one <b>ce </b><b>very </b>long.¡±


    As Jessie peppered <b>me </b>with questions about my ns and Buck quietly arranged the bar sses<b>, </b>my mind drifted to the oasis<b>, </b><b>the </bke where I¡¯d <b>first </b>shifted, <b>and</b><b>¡­ </b>Adrian.


    I shook my head, forcing <b>myself </b>not to be attached to things that weren¡¯t mine.


    ¡°We should throw you a going<b>¨C</b>away party!¡± Jessie dered suddenly, her <b>face </b>brightening. ¡°This Friday! We¡¯ll <b>close </b>the bar early, invite all the regrs-¡±


    ¡°No, please<b>,</b>¡± I interrupted, the thought of being the center <b>of </b>attention making me deeply ufortable. ¡°I¡¯d rather just work my shift and say my goodbyes quietly.¡±


    Buck nodded understandingly, but Jessie looked disappointed. Before she could argue further<b>, </b>my newly enhanced hearing picked up a conversation from across the room¨Ctwo deputies discussing the ranch hand who¡¯d been ¡°torn apart by wild boars¡± three nights ago.


    ¡°Never seen anything like it,¡± one was saying, shaking his head. ¡°Throat ripped clean out. Rangers say boars don¡¯t typically go for the neck like <b>that</b>.¡±


    ¡°Maybe <b>it </b>wasn¡¯t boars,¡± hispanion suggested, <b>yoice </b>dropping lower. ¡°Thompson swears he saw unusuallyrge wolf tracks near the <b>scene</b>.¡±


    <b>I </b>tensed<b>, </b>suddenly hyper<b>¨C</b>aware of <b>the </b>danger lingering in Boring. If humans started looking for wolves in this area<b>, </b><b>it </b>would only be <b>a </b>matter <b>of </b>time before <b>they </b>found something¨Cor someone¨Cthey shouldn¡¯t<b>. </b>


    <b>Yes</b>, it was definitely time for <b>me </b>to leave.


    The <b>week </b><b>passed </b><b>quickly</b><b>, </b>each shift at The Watering Hole tinged with a bittersweet quality I hadn¡¯t anticipated. Regr customers <b>expressed </b>genuine


    <b>Chapter </b><b>24 </b>


    <b>disappointment </b>when they heard I was leaving, <b>some </b>even leaving generous tips for the road.¡±


    Jessie<b>, </b><b>despite </b>my protests, decorated the bar with farewell messages on my final day, and insisted on taking multiple photos so you don¡¯t forget us.


    <b>By </b>Saturday noon, Adrian arrived precisely as promised, pulling his SUV up outside the bar. I¡¯d already packed my <b>few </b>belongings into my redpact car, along with the bottles of specialty spirits Buck had allowed me to take for the Oasishorn celebration.


    Adrian helped lond the remaining alcohol into his vehicle, his movements efficient but unhurried. As we finished, Buck emerged from the bar, clutching a small envelope.


    ¡°Almost forgot,¡± he called, hurrying over. ¡°This is for you, darlin¡®.¡±


    Curious, I epted the envelope and opened it to find a stack of crisp hundred¨Cdor bills, My eyes widened in shock¨Cthere had to be at least two thousand dors there.


    ¡°Buck, I can¡¯t ept this, I protested, trying to hand it back. ¡®It¡¯s too much.¡±


    He gently pushed my hand <b>away</b>, his weathered face creasing into a stubborn smile. ¡°It¡¯s what you¡¯ve earned.¡±


    When I continued to hesitate<b>, </b>his expression softened. ¡°If you really want to thank me, give <b>me </b><b>a </b>call when <b>you </b>get settled in your next town.¡± He shuffled his feet, suddenly looking much older and more vulnerable. ¡°You know, I don¡¯t have kids of <b>my </b><b>own</b>. Apart from these booze¨Chounds, nobody much thinks about this old man<b>.¡± </b>


    Emotion tightened my throat as I impulsively <b>stepped </b>forward and hugged him onest time. <b>¡°</b><b>I¡¯ll </b>call,¡± I promised<b>, </b>meaning it.


    After a final goodbye to Jessie, who extracted multiple promises that I would text her regrly, I climbed into <b>my </b>car and followed Adrian¡¯s SUV out of Boring, watching the dusty little town <b>recede </b>in <b>my </b>rearview mirror.<fna5ca> This content belongs to find?novel</fna5ca>


    The journey to Oasisborn passed in contemtive silence. When we finally arrived<b>, </b><b>I </b><b>was </b>surprised <b>by </b>the <b>sense </b>of familiarity that washed <b>over </b>me.


    Nadia was waiting for us near the mainmunity building, her usual stern expression <b>softened </b>by what almost looked like genuine <b>pleasure </b>at seeing me.


    ¡°Wee back<i>,</i>¡± she said, approaching my <b>car </b><b>as </b>I stepped out. ¡°How <b>was </b><b>your </bst week in that dump?<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t a dump.¡±


    ¡°By the way,¡± she added, her voice dropping conspiratorially, ¡°that <b>time </b><b>at </b>the bar <b>when </b>I <b>said </b>your cocktail was <b>terrible</b><b>? </b>I lied. It <b>was </b>actually pretty good.¡±


    I blinked in surprise at this unexpected admission. Before <b>I </b>could respond<b>, </b>Adrian <b>gestured </b><b>for </b><b>us </b><b>to </b>follow him into the main building.


    <b>¡°</b>I¡¯ve mind¨Clinked the pack council members<b>,</b>¡± he <b>exined </b>as we walked through bright, airy <b>corridors</b><b>. </b>¡°They should <b>be </b><b>here </b>shortly to help n tonight¡¯s celebration.


    We reached a spacious conference room withrge windows overlooking the desert garden. I¡¯d <b>just </b>taken a <b>sip </b>of the coffee Nadia had poured me when <b>the </b>door opened and several werewolves entered.


    I looked up casually¨Cand froze in mid¨Cswallow, barely managing not to choke<b>. </b>


    I wasn¡¯t prejudiced. I wasn¡¯t one to discriminate. But the werewolves filing into the room <b>were </b>undeniably¡­ not normal.


    <b>Chapter </b><b>Comments </b>


    POST COMMENT


    Visitor


    Yes, be the center of the trouble then leave those who sayed you to clean up alone. Selfish AH.


    L


    Visitor


    God<b>, </b>she¡¯s annoying. She¡¯s so guarded beyond what would be rational at this point. I started this book hoping she wouldn¡¯t be allowed fragile and broken yet here she is, be¡­


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 Casts 25

    <b>Chapter </b><b>25 </b>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    I looked up casually¡ªand froze in mid¨Cswallow, barely managing not to choke.<fnce17> For original chapters go to FindN0vel</fnce17>


    <b>wasn¡¯t </b>prejudiced. I wasn¡¯t one to discriminate. But the werewolves filing into the room were undeniably¡­ not normal.


    Leading the group was a striking ck woman in her mid¨Cforties with high cheekbones and intelligent eyes that seemed to evaluate everything theynded on. What immediately caught my attention was that her left arm ended just below the shoulder, the sleeve of her silk blouse neatly pinned up.


    Beside her walked a handsome young werewolf who couldn¡¯t have been more than twenty¨Cfive, with chiseled features and alert eyes. Despite his youth and obvious strength, he moved with an uneven gait, his right leg dragging slightly with each step.


    Behind them came a curvy young woman with cascading auburn hair. The bottom half of her face was visible¨Cfull red lips curved in a subtle smile¨Cbut the upper portion was concealed behind an intricately designed half¨Cmask that covered her nose and eye area, leaving only mesmerizing green eyes visible through carefully crafted openings.


    Last was a tall, broad¨Cshouldered man of middle age, his muscr frame suggesting <b>years </b><b>of </b>physical training. Despite being indoors, he wore dark sunsses thatpletely obscured his eyes, giving his otherwise unremarkable face an air of mystery.


    I forced myself to maintain a neutral expression as I rose from my chair, extending my hand in greeting.


    These people were nothing like the pristine, physically perfect members <b>of </b>Frostshadow Pack, where any wolf with a physical ¡®defect<b>¡± </b><b>was </b>subtly but <b>firmly </b>relegated to the lowest ranks, kept out of sight during inter<b>¨C</b>pack gatherings.


    Adrian stepped forward, his <b>expression </b>warm <b>as </b>he began introductions. ¡°Skye<b>, </b>I¡¯d like you to meet <b>some </b>of our pack council members.¡± <b>He gestured </b>to the one¨Carmed woman. This is Venus<b>, </b><b>our </b>financial administrator. She manages all of Oasisborn¡¯s resources and investments<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Venus extended her right hand to shake mine, her <b>grip </b>firm and confident. ¡°So you¡¯re the famous bartender,¡± she said, her voice rich with a slight Southern ent. ¡°Looking forward to seeing what you can do tonight.¡±


    Adrian continued, indicating the limping young man. ¡°This <b>is </b>Garrett, our information technology speciamunications running.¡± The young man nodded politely, offering a brief smile that transformed his s


    is face.


    ¡°Thedy with the mask is Lydia<b>, </b>our chief pharmacist and herbal <b>specialist</b><b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Adrian continued. Lydia inclined her head slightly but remained silent, her eyes studying me with calm interest<b>. </b>


    ¡°And finally, Marcus, head of <b>our </b>security team.¡±


    He stepped <b>forward</b>, extending his hand toward me. <b>As </b>we shook hands, he reached up with his <b>free </b>hand and removed his <b>sunsses</b><b>. </b>I <b>barely </b>managed to <b>suppress </b>a gasp of surprise when <b>I </b><b>saw </b>his eyes<b>¨C</bpletely white<b>, </b>without pupils <b>or </b><b>irises</b><b>, </b><b>clearly </b>blind.


    <b>¡°</b>You¡¯re quite<b>¡­ </b>unusual<b>, </b>Marcus remarked, his <b>deep </b><b>voice </b>cutting through the room. <b>¡°</b><b>If </b>I didn¡¯t concentrate, I¡¯d


    barely detect you at all.¡±


    I shifted ufortably<b>, </b>aware that he was referring to myck of <b>typical </b>werewolf <b>scent</b>¨Ca trait that had served <b>me </b><b>well </b>during my <b>years </b>of hiding, but now <b>felt </b>like another mark of my abnormality among <b>these </b>wolves.


    <b>Just </b><b>as </b>Adrian finished the introductions, the door swung open again and a young man bounded in, energy practically radiating from him. He had thick, unruly brown curls and a boyish <b>face </b>lit with enthusiasm. Compared to the others who had entered before, <b>he </b>seemed almost jarringly¡­ ordinary.


    ¡°<b>Don¡¯t </b>forget about me!¡± he announced cheerfully<b>, </b>shing a bright smile <b>at </b>everyone <b>in </b>the room.


    Nadia immediately scowled. ¡°Ryder, <b>you¡¯re </bte. Again. That¡¯s ten percent of your pay <b>docked </b>this month.¡±


    <b>The </b>young man¨C<b>Ryder</b>¨Cdidn¡¯t seem particrly troubled by this announcement. He simply shrugged<b>, </b>his smile <b>never </b><b>faltering </b><b>as </b>he turned his attention <b>to </b><ol><li><b>me</b><b>. </b></li></ol>


    <b>¡°</b>You <b>must </b><b>be </b><b>Skye</b>!¡± he eximed, moving forward to shake my hand with enthusiastic vigor. <b>¡°</b>I¡¯ve heard you¡¯re <b>the </b>bartender <b>for </b>tonight¡¯s <b>celebration</b><b>. </b><b>Any </b><b>chance </b><b>you </b>can hook <b>a </b><b>guy </b>up with something <b>special</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>1/2 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b>25


    <b>You¡¯re </b>not even of legal drinking age, Nadia cut in sharply<b>. </b>


    Ive already shifted<b>, </b>and I¡¯ll be eighteen next month,¡± Ryder protested, rolling his eyes dramatically. What difference does <b>it </b>make? It¡¯s not like alcohol affects us the way it does humans <b>anyway</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>Venus </b>approached, her sharp eyes <b>assessing </b>me with undisguised interest<b>. </b>¡°Adrian tells me you¡¯re donating the specialty alcohol for tonight. That¡¯s quite generous¨C<b>saves </b>our pack a considerable expense.¡±


    Before I could respond, she turned to Lydia with a mischievous smile. ¡°If you want to add something extra to the drinks, Lydia could probably help. Her herbal concoctions are legendary<b>.</b>¡±


    Lydia¡¯s eyes crinkled above her mask in what I assumed was a smile, but she remained silent, leaving me to wonder if Venus¡¯s suggestion was serious or <b>in </b><b>jest</b>.


    Adrian cleared his throat, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on tonight¡¯s arrangements, shall we?¡± He turned to Marcus. ¡°Even during celebrations, <b>I </b>want guards stationed at all perimeter points. We can enjoy ourselves, but I don¡¯t want everyone intoxicated at once. Keep rotation schedules tight.¡±


    Marcus nodded, his posture straightening almost imperceptibly. ¡°Already arranged, Alpha. Two¨Chour shifts<b>, </b>triple coverage at the northwest approach.*


    As they continued discussing security details, I found myself studying these unusual council members with growing curiosity. Each bore some physical trait that would have marked them as ¡°lesser¡± in my former pack, yet here they held positions of authority and <b>respect</b>.


    Adrian treated them not with the condescending tolerance I¡¯d witnessed in other <b>packs</b>, but with genuine <b>deference </b>to their expertise.


    What kind of Alpha actively sought out the damaged and different<b>? </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>Comments </b>

 Casts 26

    <b>Chapter </b><b>26 </b>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    By nightfall, the oasis had transformed. String lights illuminated the central gathering area where over two hundred pack members had assembled


    For a pack only two years old, the size was impressive¨Cmost new packs struggled to attract even fifty members in their first <b>few </b>years.


    <b>I </b>supervised final preparations for the bar area, arranging bottles and confirming that the ice supplies wouldst the night. The setup was professional <b>but </b>festive, with colorfulnterns illuminating the drinks station and handwritten signs describing the special cocktails I¡¯d created for the asion.


    As the celebration officially began, Adrian delivered a brief speech about Oasisborn¡¯s progress, followed by a traditional Alpha howl that <b>the </b>entire pack joined¨Ca sound that stirred something primal and lonely within me.


    It had been three years since I¡¯d participated in such a ritual, and the harmonious voices rising together in the desert night made my throat tighten with unexpected emotion.


    Once the formalities concluded, music began ying through speakers disguised among the vegetation, and pack members broke into smaller groups¨Csome dancing, others gathering around food tables or collecting drinks from <b>my </b>station.


    I found myself enjoying the simple pleasure of mixing drinks, chatting briefly with pack members who approached the bar. Unlike in Boring, I didn¡¯t need <b>to </b>hide what I was here.


    When a young female wolf shyly asked if I could show her how to mix a particr cocktail, I didn¡¯t <b>have </b>to pretend I couldn¡¯t lift the heavy bottles with one hand or that I couldn¡¯t smell the faint traces of nervousness in <b>her </b>scent.


    ¡°Here you go,¡± I said, sliding a vibrant blue drink <b>across </b>the bar to Venus, who had approached during a momentary lull. ¡°<b>Ocean </b>Breeze<b>¨C</b><b>my </b><b>own </b>creation.


    She epted it with a nod of thanks. ¡°You seem to be fitting in well,¡± she observed, taking a sip and raising her eyebrows in appreciation. <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>was skeptical when Adrian said he¡¯d invited an outsider to help with our celebration, but you¡¯ve proven me wrong.¡±


    Before <b>I </b>could respond, Ryder appeared, practically bouncing with energy <b>as </b>he leaned <b>across </b>the bar. ¡°Come on, bartender<b>! </b>You¡¯ve been stuck behind this counter all night. Time for a dance break!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t just leave the bar-¡± I began, but Venus interrupted with a dismissive <b>wave</b><b>. </b>


    ¡®Go ahead. I¡¯ll keep an <b>eye </b>on things for a while.¡± Seeing my hesitation, she added, ¡°I worked <b>my </b>way <b>through </b>college bartending in New Orleans. I might <b>be </b>missing an arm, but I can still pour a decent drink.¡±


    hrough


    With that settled, Ryder eagerly pulled me toward the dancing area where dozens of <b>pack </b>members moved to the rhythm of an upbeat song. It <b>had </b><b>been </b><b>so </b>long since I¡¯d participated in anything resembling normal socialization that <b>I </b>felt awkward at <b>first</b><b>, </b>my movements stiff and self¨Cconscious.


    *Loosen up!¡± Ryder shouted over the music<b>, </b>demonstrating with his own enthusiastic if slightly uncoordinated dance moves. ¡°Nobody¡¯s <b>j </b>


    Gradually, <b>I </b>allowed myself to rx, the music and energy of the crowd working their magic.


    <b>you </b><b>here</b><b>!</b><b>* </b>


    Here, amid the dancing,ughing wolves, the music pulsing through the desert night, and the asional harmonious howls rising above it all, I <b>experienced </b>a fleeting sense of belonging.


    As Ryder spun me in an impromptu twirl, I caught sight of Adrian standing at the edge of the gathering, a drink untouched in his hand. Even <b>from </b>a distance, I could feel the weight of his <b>gaze</b>¨Cintense, assessing, and heated in a way that sent an unexpected shiver down my spine.


    For a moment, our eyes locked across the crowded <b>space</b>, and everything else seemed to fade away¨Cthe music bing distant, the dancers <b>around </b><b>me </b>blurring into insignificance,


    Then someone jostled me, breaking the connection, and I turned away.


    <b>I </b><b>excused </b>myself from the dancing crowd and made my way back to the bar, where I quickly poured myself a ss of ice<b>¨C</b><b>cold </b><b>lemon </b><b>water</b>, <b>hoping </b><b>it </b><b>would </b>calm <b>my </b>unusually <b>racing </b>heart.


    <b>I </b><b>had </b><b>barely </b>taken a few <b>sips </b>when Adrian materialized <b>beside </b>me<b>, </b>his quiet <b>approach </b><b>almost </b>startling.


    <b>Chapter </b><b>26 </b>


    <b>¡°</b><b>Would </b>you like to take a walk<b>? </b>Adrian asked, ¡°There are some things I¡¯d like to discuss with you. Privately


    My fingers tightened around the cold ss. <b>*</b>1 should stay here,¡± I replied, gesturing to the bar area. ¡°I¡¯m responsible for¡ú


    ¡°The celebration will be winding down in about an hour,¡± Adrian said, his gaze sweeping over the gathering. ¡°Most have already had their fill of drink. His <b>eyes </b>returned to mine, patient but somehow insistent. ¡°Venus can manage if anyone needs anything else.<b>¡± </b>


    <b>I </b>hesitated<b>, </b>caught between curiosity about what he wanted to discuss and the safety of staying in this public space. The sensible choice <b>would </b><b>be </b><b>to </b><b>politely </b>decline, to maintain the professional distance that would make my inevitable departure easier.


    Alright, I found myself saying instead, setting down my half¨Cfinished water. ¡°A short walk.¡°,


    We made our way through the celebration, gradually leaving


    among the desert nts. The sounds of the party faded to behind the music andughter until we reached a quieter path illuminated by scatterednterns


    on the sandy path.


    a


    distant hum, reced by the gentle chorus of night insects and the soft crunch of our <b>footsteps </b>


    ¡®It¡¯s been a while since you¡¯ve attended a werewolf celebration, hasn¡¯t <b>it</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Adrian asked, breaking the silence between us. ¡°How does it feel<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ nice,¡± I admitted. ¡°<b>I </b>feared <b>they </b>wouldn¡¯t¡­¡± I trailed off<b>, </b><b>unsure </b>how to finish my thought without sounding insulting<b>. </b>


    Adrian nced at me, his expression thoughtful. ¡°You thought Marcus, Venus<b>, </b><b>or </b>Lydia <b>wouldn¡¯t </b><b>ept </b><b>you</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b><b>He </b>shook his head slightly<b>. </b>¡°You seemed quite shocked when you met them today.¡±


    Heat rushed to my cheeks <b>as </b>embarrassment washed over me. ¡°Was I that obvious<b>?</b><b>¡± </b><b>I </b><b>asked</b><b>, </b><b>mortified</b><b>. </b>¡°Please believe <b>me</b><b>, </b><b>I </b>don¡¯t have any <b>prejudice </b>against them. It¡¯s just¡­ they¡¯re <b>so </b>different from any pack council members <b>I¡¯ve </b><b>ever </b>encountered.¡±


    Adrian sighed, his expression softening <b>as </b>he looked toward the distant celebration lights.


    ¡°They¡¯re all <b>excellent </b>partners and warriors,¡® he said, his voice filled with unmistakable <b>respect</b><b>. </b>¡°They¡¯re survivors of life¡¯s <b>cruelties</b>. No- he <b>corrected </b>himself, they¡¯re fighters<b>.</b>¡±


    I hesitated<b>, </b>curiosity warring with politeness. <b>¡°</b>May I ask¡­ what happened to them? How did they be¡­<b>¡± </b>


    <b>I </b>stumbled over my words, suddenly self¨Cconscious<b>. </b>¡°I¡¯m <b>sorry</b><b>, </b>that¡¯s probably too personal. I shouldn¡¯t have asked.¡±<fned69> The rightful source is Find¡ïNovel</fned69>

 Casts 27

    <b>Chapter </b><b>27 </b>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    Adrian gazed upward at the brilliant canopy of stars, seemingly unbothered by my social fumbling.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to apologize for asking,¡± he finally said, his voice gentle. ¡°Their stories aren¡¯t secrets. In fact, they¡¯re proud of their journeys<b>¨C</b><b>their </b>scars are


    badges of survival, not marks of shame.¡±


    1


    He gestured toward a small wooden bench nestled among flowering desert nts, their pale blossoms luminous in the moonlight.


    <b>We </b>sat side by side, close enough that I could feel <b>the </b>warmth radiating from his body, yet with enough space


    between us to maintain propriety<b>. </b>


    ¡°Venus wasn¡¯t always called Venus,¡± Adrian began, his amber eyes reflecting the starlight. ¡°She chose that name after losing her arm<b>¨C</b><b>after </b>the goddess who remained beautiful and powerful despite being broken.¡± <b>He </b>paused, his expression somber. <b>¡°</b>She was once Luna to an Alpha in the Midwest. <b>When </b>she couldn¡¯t conceive after three years of marriage, her mate became<b>¡­ </b>cruel.¡±


    <b>My </b>stomach tightened at the implications. In werewolf <b>society</b>, a Luna¡¯s primary duty was <b>often </b>considered to be producing strong offspring, particrly sons who might inherit the Alpha bloodline.


    ¡°The abuse escted over years,¡± Adrian continued. ¡°<b>One </b>night, he went too far. She fought back¨Cand <b>in </b>the struggle, she killed him. His voice <b>remained </b>steady, matter¨Cof¨Cfact. ¡°She lost her arm in the fight, and her home in the aftermath. His <b>pack </b>wanted her <b>executed </b>for killing their Alpha, even though <b>it </b><b>was </b>self¨Cdefense<b>.</b>¡±


    I thought of Venus¡¯s confident demeanor, her sharp intelligence, the <b>way </b>shemanded <b>respect </b>despite her disability. How many believed <b>that </b>without <b>two </b>arms<b>, </b>a werewolf was essentially useless<b>? </b>


    <b>¡°</b>And Lydia?¡± I asked softly. ¡°The mask¡­¡±


    Adrian¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Lydia has witch blood in her lineage¨Cnot umon among <b>some </b>older werewolf bloodlines<b>. </b>The Alpha¡¯s <b>mate </b>in her <b>former </b>pack used her of using ¡®lewd magic¡® to seduce her husband. It wasn¡¯t true, but the Luna had power and influence<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    He paused, his jaw tightening. ¡°They cut off her nose <b>as </b>punishment, coated the wound with wolfsbane <b>to </b><b>prevent </b>healing. Lydia retaliated<b>¨C</b><b>she </b>poisoned the Luna and fled. To this day, she can¡¯t repair the damage to her <b>face</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    I winced, instinctively reaching up to touch my own nose. The cruelty seemed medieval<b>, </b>something from centuries past rather than our modern world.


    ¡°Because of her witch heritage, Nadia <b>was </b>just as suspicious of Lydia as she was <b>of </b>you initially,¡± Adrian added with a hint of irony. <b>¡°</b><b>Now </b><b>they¡¯re </b>close friends. Lydia proved herself to be extraordinarily loyal and kind¨Chearted, despite what was done to her.¡±


    <b>A </b>small, irrational part of me felt relieved at this information¨Cnot about Lydia¡¯s suffering, but that Nadja¡¯s initial hostility toward <b>me </b>wasn¡¯t necessarily personal.


    ¡®What about Garrett?¡± I asked, remembering the young man¡¯s uneven gait. ¡°Was he born with his condition?¡±


    Adrian shook his head, his <b>eyes </b>reflecting a controlled anger<b>. </b><b>¡°</b>Garrett was once considered one <b>of </b>the fastest wolves in North <b>Americ </b>the Werewolf Racing Festival when he was just seventeen. People said he was among the top three <b>fastest </b>wolves on the continent<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    I waited, sensing the turn in the story.


    ook <b>first </b><b>ce </b>in


    ¡°His stepbrother couldn¡¯t handle being outshined. During a hunt, he ambushed Garrett<b>, </b>gouged out his right kneecap <b>entirely</b><b>¨C</b><b>a </b>wound so <b>severe </b>that <b>even </b>werewolf healing couldn¡¯t regenerate what <b>was </bpletely removed<b>.</b><b>¡± </b><b>Adrian¡¯s </b>hands clenched briefly. ¡°When Garrett¡¯s mother <b>begged </b><b>him </b><b>not </b>to press charges against his stepbrother, literally kneeling before him <i>in </i><b>tears</b>, he chose to leave home instead.¡±


    I thought of Garrett¡¯s intelligence, the quiet dignity in his movements despite his disability. ¡°And now?¡±


    Adrian¡¯s expression softened. ¡°He¡¯s still the fastest wolf around¨Cjust not in the physical world. Online, in the <b>digital </b><b>realm</b><b>, </b><b>no </b><b>one </b><b>can </b><b>match </b><b>his </b><b>speed </b>and skill. <b>He¡¯s </b>our intelligence specialist<b>, </b>our shield against those who would <b>use </b>technology against us<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    It <b>was </b><b>impressive </b>how Adrian had helped these wolves <b>transform </b>their <b>trauma </b>into strength, finding <b>new </b><b>purposes </b><b>that </b><b>honored </b>their abilities <b>rather </b><b>than </b>focusing on <b>what </b><b>they¡¯d </b><b>lost</b><b>. </b>


    <b>¡°</b><b>And </b><b>Marcus</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b><b>I </b>asked, thinking of the blind security chief.


    ¡°<b>Marcus </b>was born blind, Adrian said simply. His parents abandoned him, leaving him on the doorstep of an elderly Omega who raised him as her own. His blindness forced <b>his </b>other senses to develop to extraordinary levels¨Chis hearing and scent detection abilities are unmatched.¡±


    Adrian smiled slightly. ¡°After his foster mother died, he wandered alone for years. He was actually the first to join Oasisborn Pack, helped me establish our territory. He <b>can </b>sense danger before anyone else<b>, </b>can track by sound alone. His disability became his greatest strength.¡±


    The cool desert breeze carried the scents of night¨Cblooming flowers and distant water as I absorbed these stories.


    I felt a profound kinship with these wolves¨Cthese outcasts who had refused to be rogues despite being rejected or damaged by their original packs.


    For werewolves, who are instinctively pack¨Coriented, being without family ormunity often hurt more than physical injury. I recognized <b>my </b>own journey in theirs¨Cthe pain of rejection, the struggle to find meaning and purpose afterward, the determination to survive.


    Looking at what they had endured, my own painful experience with Leon seemed almost trivial <b>by </bparison. And yet, as Adrian had said, pain wasn¡¯t something to bepared or ranked. Each person¡¯s suffering was valid in its own way.


    ¡®Your council members <b>have </b>my deepest respect,¡± I said sincerely, meeting Adrian¡¯s <b>gaze</b>. ¡°What they¡¯ve built here<b>, </b>what you¡¯ve all built together<b>¡­ </b><b>it¡¯s </b>remarkable.¡±<fna8a5> This update is avable on fin?novel</fna8a5>


    Adrian nodded in acknowledgment, his eyes warm with appreciation for my understanding.


    A question that had nagged at me <b>since </b>our first encounter suddenly resurfaced. ¡°Adrian<b>,</b>¡± I began carefully, ¡°may <b>I </b>ask you something personal?¡±


    He turned toward me fully, his <b>expression </b>open. ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Your scent- I hesitated, unsure how to phrase this politely. ¡°You carry the scent of the ocean<b>, </b><b>of </b><b>salt </b><b>spray </b>and <b>coastal </b>winds. But <b>we¡¯re </b>in the desert<b>. </b><b>You </b>clearly didn¡¯t grow up here<b>.</b>¡±


    Lgestured to the aridndscape around us. ¡°Why would you establish a pack in an environment <b>so </b>different from your native one<b>? </b>Why build Oasisborn here, of all ces<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Adrian¡¯s eyes seemed to search mine before he answered, as if deciding how much to reveal.


    Finally, he asked, ¡°<b>Have </b>you ever heard of Stormhowl Pack?¡±


    <b>Chapter </b><b>Comments </b>


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    Thank you! People who carry their wounds like marks of shame serve to further victimize themselves. I¡¯ve never understood it. My childhood was one long trauma the¡­

 Casts 28

    <b>Chapter </b><b>28 </b>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    ¡°Yes<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>I answered, recalling the name from my werewolf education. ¡°It¡¯s a coastal pack in the the West Coast of the United States, isn¡¯t it? One of the oldest established territories with direct ess to the ocean.¡±


    Three years ago, my father¨Cthe Alpha of Stormhowl¨Cdied unexpectedly. My uncle Maxwell seized the Alpha position that should have been mine <b>by </b>birthright.¡±


    The name Maxwell sparked something in my memory.


    Three years ago, at a formal dinner, Alpha Maxwell had casually suggested giving Leon a female warrior to serve as his Breeder.


    ¡°Winter, three years back,¡± I said slowly. ¡°Alpha Maxwell visited Frostshadow Pack¨Cmy old pack. I saw him then. To be honest, I didn¡¯t like <b>the </b>guy.¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡± Adrian raised his eyebrows. ¡°I was with Maxwell on that trip to Frostshadow.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember seeing you at the banquet,¡± I said, frowning <b>as </b>I tried to picture him.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t at the banquet,¡± he said with a shrug. ¡°I ditched it and went swimming in the Jake.¡±


    ¡°Wait¨Cyou were the lunatic swimming in the frozenke that night?¡±


    Adrian blinked, thenughed. ¡°And you were the girl crying by thekeshore!¡±


    Suddenly, it all clicked. No wonder he¡¯d felt so familiar when <b>I </b><b>saw </b>him at the bar. We¡¯d met before, on that <b>freezing</b><b>, </b>unforgettable night.


    ¡°Funny how fate works<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Adrian said with a small smile. ¡°It brought <b>us </b>back together<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°You should be Alpha of Stormhowl,¡± <b>I </b>added. ¡°Honestly, you¡¯d be way better at it than Maxwell.¡±


    Adrian sighed, running a hand through his hair. ¡°I could have challenged him, forced a session fight. By <b>our </b>packws, I <b>would </b>have been within <b>my </b>rights. But I chose not to. I didn¡¯t want to tear the pack apart with a bloody power <b>struggle</b>.<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°That was<b>¡­ </b>remarkably selfless,¡± I said, genuinely impressed. Most wolves with Alpha blood would have fought to the death for their rightful position.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Adrian replied with a humorless smile. ¡°Or perhaps I was simply tired of violence. I took those who were loyal to me¨CNadia Ryder, and about ten others¨Cand left to build something new.¡±


    ¡°But why here? Why not somewhere with forests and water<b>, </b>something closer <b>to </b>your natural environment?¡±


    ¡°Because it was thest ce anyone would look for coastal wolves<b>,</b>¡± he <b>answered </b>simply. And because this oasis had been abandoned by other packs <b>as </b>¡®uninhabitable.¡® I saw potential where others <b>saw </b>only harshness<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    I hesitated before asking the next question, unsure if <b>I </b><b>was </b>overstepping. ¡°And your mother? What happened to her?<b>¡± </b>


    A flicker of pain <b>crossed </b>Adrian¡¯s <b>face</b>. ¡°She chose to remain with <b>Maxwell</b>. They¡¯re married now.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t hide my shock. ¡°Your mother married your uncle<b>? </b>After he took your birthright?¡±


    Adrian¡¯s eyes met mine, filled with aplex mixture of resignation and old hurt.


    ¡°She imed it was to maintain pack stability, to <b>prevent </b>bloodshed.<b>¡± </b>His tone suggested he didn¡¯t entirely believe this exnation.


    ¡®I don¡¯t support her choice¡ªit felt like a betrayal of my <b>father¡¯s </b>memory<b>. </b>But I also couldn¡¯t bear the thought of her living out her life <b>alone</b>,


    <b>We </b>sat in silence for a moment.


    <b>Chapter </b><b>28 </b><fne1ce> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find~Novel</fne1ce>


    ¡°Three years <b>ago</b>,¡± I murmured. ¡°We both had our lives changed three years ago, in the same winter.¡±


    <b>Adrian </b>turned to me, his expression softening with interest<b>. </b>


    <b>¡°</b>You¡¯ve heard my story. Will you share yours now? Why has a wolf like you been wandering alone?¡±


    I shifted ufortably under his gaze. ¡°Compared to what you and your council members have endured, <b>my </b>reason for leaving seems¡­ childish.


    ¡°Pain isn¡¯t something to bepared or ranked, Skye. Your experiences are valid, whatever they may be.¡±


    His words loosened something inside me.


    ¡°If I hadn¡¯t left, I said slowly, ¡°I might still be the wolfless girl everyone pitied¨Cforever dependent on my parents¡® protection<b>, </b>never standing on <b>my </b><b>own</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Drawing a deep breath, I decided to trust him with my truth.


    1


    ¡°It was the night of Frostshadow Pack¡¯s hunting festival. I was just trying to catch a rabbit when <b>I </b>suddenly caught the scent of <b>my </b>mate. So, of course<b>, </b><b>I </b>followed it-


    And ran straight into a massive grizzly bear. <b>I </b>freaked out, started shooting like <b>crazy</b><b>¡­ </b>and ended up hitting <b>Alpha </b>James¡¯s son. Yeah. <b>I </b>shot Leon<b>. </b><b>And </b><b>the </b>kicker? He turned out to be my mate.<b>¡± </b>


    Adrian¡¯s eyebrows <b>rose</b><b>. </b>¡°Leon from Frostshadow? You¡¯re his mate?¡±


    ¡°You know him?¡± <b>I </b>asked, surprised by his recognition.


    ¡°He¡¯s Alpha now,¡± Adrian confirmed. ¡°Quite powerful, from what <b>I¡¯ve </b>heard.¡±


    A bittersweet feeling washed over me. ¡°So he achieved his dream after <b>reject </b>me.¡±


    ¡°He rejected <b>you</b><b>?</b>¡± Adrian prompted gently.


    ¡°That same night,¡± I confirmed. ¡°In front of the entire pack. He didn¡¯t hesitate, because I didn¡¯t have wolf and couldn¡¯t help <b>him </bpete for Alpha King.¡±


    Adrian leaned forward slightly, his expression thoughtful.


    ¡°I believe your wolf had actually begun awakening that night,¡± he said. ¡°<b>Otherwise</b><b>, </b><b>you </b>wouldn¡¯t <b>have </b>detected your mate¡¯s <b>scent</b>. But your mate¡¯s immediate rejection wounded your wolf so deeply that she refused to emerge.<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°You think so? No one ever suggested that to me.¡± I stared at him, stunned by this possibility.


    ¡°<b>It¡¯s </b>happened before<b>,</b>¡± Adrian said with quiet certainty. <b>¡°</b>A traumatic <b>rejection </b><b>can </b>suppress a partial awakening. No one in <b>your </b>pack mentioned this possibility<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    No, I whispered, ¡°I always thought I was too weak, that something was fundamentally wrong with me<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Your wolf is healthy and strong, Skye<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Adrian said firmly. ¡°You have nothing to be <b>ashamed </b><b>of</b><b>.</b>¡±


    I exhaled deeply, feeling a weight lift from my chest.


    For three years, I¡¯d carried the burden of my own supposed inadequacy<b>. </b>To have someone¨Can Alpha, no less<b>¨C</b>suggest that the fault wasn¡¯t mine was surprisingly liberating.


    ¡°This is the first time <b>I¡¯ve </b>told anyone about what happened,¡± <b>I </b>admitted. ¡°It <b>feels</b><b>¡­ </b>good, to finally share it.¡±


    Adrian smiled, the warmth reaching his <b>eyes</b><b>, </b><b>¡°</b>My offer still stands, you know, <b>he </b>said. ¡°I invited you to join Oasisborn Pack <b>before</b>, <b>and </b><b>that </b><b>invitation </b>remains open. What do you <b>say </b>now? Will <b>you </b>still refuse?<b>¡± </b>


    ¡®I¡¯m honored, truly. But looking <b>at </b>Venus, Nadia, and the <b>others</b>¨C<b>they¡¯re </b>all so exceptional. What could I possibly <b>contribute</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>¡°</b><b>Every </b>member of Oasisborn brings their own unique strength, Skye. You don¡¯t need to


    A suddenmotion from the direction of the celebration interrupted him.


    Adrian¡¯s head snapped up, his body tensing as he stood in one fluid motion. His eyes unfocused briefly¨Cthe telltale sign of someonemunicating through mind¨Clink. The connection onlysted seconds before his attention returned to me, his expression now alert and guarded.


    ¡°What is it?¡± I asked, rising to my feet.


    Adrian¡¯s eyes met mine, all traces of our earlier warmth reced by Alpha vignce.


    ¡°Strangers have breached our territory,¡± he said grimly. ¡°Unfamiliar wolves.¡±


    <b>Chapter </b>Comments


    Visitor


    Well, I would hope so given all he¡¯s revealed to her.


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    <b>hapter </b><b>29 </b>


    Skye¡¯s POV<fnc817> Find the newest release on Find¡ïNovel</fnc817>


    <b>¡°</b><b>Stay </b>behind me. It could be dangerous. Don¡¯t wander off,¡± Adrian said, gripping my hand


    firmly.


    He maintained his hold on my hand as we hurried back toward the celebration, his touch both protective and reassuring. The warmth of his palm against mine felt oddly right, like an anchor in the sudden chaos. But as we neared the gathered crowd, he released his grip, his fingers slowly slipping away from mine.


    A small, unexpected pang of disappointment fluttered in my chest at the loss of contact. Perhaps I was overthinking things. After all, as Nadia had pointed out, Adrian was kind to everyone in his pack. I wasn¡¯t special¨Cjust another wolf he was protecting, as any good Alpha would.


    When we reached the celebration area, the atmosphere had shifted dramatically. The joyful revelry had given way to tense vignce. Marcus, Nadia, and several wolf warriors formed a tight circle around three strangers. The rest of the pack maintained their distance, watching cautiously but civilly.


    I studied the intruders with wary interest<b>. </b>The leader stood out immediately¨Ca tall, broad¨Cshouldered man with a shock of rust¨Ccolored hair and cold, calcting emerald eyes that seemed to evaluate everything as potential prey.


    His sharp jawline <b>was </b>entuated by a thin, well¨Ctrimmed beard, and a jagged scar ran from his right temple to his cheekbone, giving his predatory smile a menacing quality.


    Unlike Adrian¡¯s clean, tailored appearance<b>, </b>Kane wore a worn leather jacket adorned with what looked disturbingly like w marks, jeans that had seen better days, and heavy boots caked with desert dust. He radiated the unmistakable aura of an Alpha, but his power felt distinctly different from Adrian¡¯s- raw, less controlled, more vtile, like a storm perpetually on the edge of breaking.


    Before we could approach further, the strange Alpha spotted Adrian and called out with false cheer.


    ¡°Adrian! Finally! I told your underlings <b>I </b>came for the celebration<b>. </b>Is this how you treat your guests<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>His <b>voice </b><b>carried </b>across the clearing, deliberately loud enough for everyone to hear.


    *Kane? How did you get in? I don¡¯t recall inviting you<b>,</b>¡± Adrian replied, his brow furrowing with obvious displeasure<b>. </b><b>His </b><b>expression </b>made it clear they <b>were </b><i>far </i>from friends.


    ¡°Alpha Kane and his subordinates breached our territory without permission,¡± Marcus exined<b>, </b>anger tightening his sightless eyes. <b>¡°</b><b>They </b>injured <b>our </b>warriors when we tried to stop them and forced their <b>way </b>to <b>the </b>celebration.¡±


    <b>¡®</b><b>As </b>your neighbor, <b>am </b>I not wee at your little party?¡± Kane shrugged<b>, </b>stepping toward Adrian with casual arrogance<b>. </b>Nadia moved to block <b>his </b>path, only to be roughly shoved aside by one of Kane¡¯s wolves.


    ¡°What do you really want, Kane<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Adrian demanded, his voice hardening.


    Kane¡¯s smile widened. ¡°I came in good faith to celebrate with you. Look, <b>I </b><b>even </b><b>brought </b>gifts.¡± <b>He </b>gestured to one of hispanions, who stepped forward with a wrapped package. Adrian made no move <b>to </b>ept it, so Nadia <b>intercepted</b>, taking it with obvious reluctance<b>. </b>


    ¡®I¡¯m also here to negotiate,¡± Kane continued. ¡°Oasisborn <b>keeps </b>expanding, taking more than its share. We want theke back.¡±


    Venus stepped forward, her one¨Carmed silhouette sharp against <b>the </bntern light. ¡°That ¡®share<b>¡® </b><b>was </b>barren wastnd that you abandoned transforming it into what it is now. You <be </b>back demanding it? How are you any different frommon <b>thieves</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    pent two <b>years </b>


    Kane¡¯s <b>smile </b>never faltered. ¡°Don¡¯t forget who the <b>real </b>masters <b>of </b>the Texas <b>desert </b>are<b>. </b>I <b>was </b>here long before you. I only let you <b>settle </b>out of pity.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>Are you trying to start a <b>war</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Nadia hissed, anger shing in her <b>eyes</b>. <b>¡°</b>Remember where you are. This is our territory.<b>¡± </b>


    ¡®You don¡¯t really think <b>we </b>came with just three <b>wolves</b>, do you?¡± Kane replied, his tone deceptively light.


    ¡°Enough,<b>¡± </b>Adrian¡¯s voice cut through the tension like a de. ¡°Alpha <b>Kane</b><b>, </b>thisnd belonged to no <b>pack </b>when <b>we </b><b>arrived</b><b>. </b>Today is <b>our </b><b>two</b><b>¨C</b>year anniversary<b>. </b><b>If </b>you want to stay for a drink, my friend can prepare one for you.¡± He nodded toward me. ¡°<b>But </b><b>if </b><b>you¡¯ve </b><be </b>to take what <b>isn¡¯t </b>yours, <b>you¡¯ll </b>have to prove you¡¯re capable<b>. </b>No matter how many <b>wolves </b><b>you¡¯ve </b>brought, we¡¯ll meet your challenge.<b>¡± </b>


    Something flickered across Kane¡¯s <b>face</b><b>¨C</b><b>surprise</b>, perhaps, at Adrian¡¯s directness. But his arrogant smirk quickly <b>returned</b><b>. </b><b>¡°</b><b>Of </b><b>course </b><b>I¡¯m </b>here <b>to </b><b>celebrate</b><b>, </b>As


    <b>Chapter </b><b>29 </b>


    for resource allocation, we can discuss that<b>¡­ </b>another time.¡±


    Catching Adrian¡¯s subtle nce, I hurried to the bar and prepared a drink, then brought it over. Kane epted the ss, his eyes reaming over me with undisguised curiosity before he drained it in one swallow.


    As he prepared to leave<b>, </b>Kane suddenly moved with supernatural speed, appearing beside me before I could react. His hand shot out<b>, </b><b>gripping </b>my throat an he buried his nose against my neck, inhaling deeply.


    I froze in shock as I felt his hot, wet tongue slide across my skin in a single, deliberate lick.


    <b>Chapter </b><b>Comments </b>

 Casts 30

    <b>Chapter </b><b>30 </b>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    Before I could even process what was happening, Adrian¡¯s fist connected with Kane¡¯s jaw.


    The force of the blow sent the intruding Alpha stumbling backward, though he managed to maintain his footing.


    ¡°What the fuck do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Adrian roared.


    His eyes shed dangerously, and I could sense his wolf straining against the surface, eager to emerge and defend what it considered its territory<b>¨C</b><b>which</b>, apparently, included me.


    I stood frozen, my skin crawling where Kane¡¯s tongue had left its wet trail. The vition of such an intimate <b>act</b>¨Cwerewolves only <b>scent</b>¨Cmarked those they considered mates or pack¨Cleft me feeling both disgusted and oddly exposed.


    Surprisingly, Kane didn¡¯t return Adrian¡¯s aggression. Instead, he straightened himself, touching his jaw with an almost appreciative <b>expression </b>before <b>a </b>meaningful smile spread across his face<b>. </b>


    ¡°Interesting, he drawled, his predatory eyes fixed on me rather than Adrian. <b>¡°</b><b>A </b>wolf with no scent. <b>Is </b>she your newest <b>recruit</b>?¡±


    His tone suggested he¡¯d discovered something far more valuable than he¡¯d <b>expected</b>.


    ¡°You¡¯ve crossed a line,<b>¡± </b>Adrian warned, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. ¡°If you dare touch her again-¡±


    Kane¡¯s emerald eyes peered past Adrian¡¯s shoulder, finding mine despite the barrier.


    ¡°A woman as beautiful and unique as you should consider joining Gravestone Pack instead, he called to me<b>, </b>ignoring Adrian <bpletely</b>.


    Why waste your talents with these¡­ damaged creatures?¡± He gestured dismissively at Venus and Marcus<b>. </b>¡°Power and wealth would be <b>yours </b><b>for </b>the taking if you came with me instead.¡±


    His repulsive smile made me instinctively retreat further behind Adrian.


    Adrian¡¯s hand shot out, gripping Kane¡¯s cor and pulling him close until they were nose to nose.


    Show some respect for my packmates,¡± he hissed, ¡°or I can¡¯t guarantee your people will leave here intact<b>.</b>¡±


    The two wolves behind Kane immediately tensed, their bodies beginning the subtle shift that preceded transformation.


    Instead of escting, however, Kane raised both hands in an exaggerated gesture of surrender. ¡°You really can¡¯t take a joke<b>, </b>can you? We¡¯ll be on our way


    now<b>.</b>¡±


    Marcus stepped forward, his sightless eyes somehow more intimidating than any sighted re could be. ¡°I¡¯ll escort our¡­ guests<b>¡­ </b>to the announced, his <b>voice </b>cold.


    <b>As </b>Kane and hispanions <b>were </b>led away under Marcus¡¯s watchful presence<b>, </b>I noticed the celebration had effectively ended.


    r,¡± he


    Pack members <b>were </b>beginning to clean up, their earlier <b>joy </b>reced by watchful vignce. The uninvited visitors had cast a shadow <b>over </b>what should have been a night of pure celebration.


    Adrian immediately called an emergency council meeting and, to my surprise<b>, </b>gestured for <b>me </b>to join them.


    ¡°You should hear this too,¡± he said quietly, his hand briefly touching the small of my back as he guided me toward the main building.


    In the council chamber, the atmosphere was tense.


    Adrian turned to face <b>me </b><b>as </b>soon as the door closed behind us. <b>¡°</b><b>Have </b>you made <b>your </b>decision?¡± he asked, ¡°Will you join our pack<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>1/3 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>30 </b>


    Before <b>I </b>could respond, Nadia interrupted her <b>pacing </b>and nted her hands firmly on the table. ¡®Since <b>Kane </b>wants <b>to </b><b>recruit </b><b>you</b><b>, </b><b>I¡¯m </b><b>absolutely </b>determined <b>not </b>to let him have his way<b>, </b><b>you </b>must join us!<b>¡± </b>


    <b>The </b>vehemence <b>of </b>her statement, so different from her initial suspicion of me, caught me off guard. I looked around at the assembled <b>council</b><b>¨C</b><b>at </b><b>these </b>broken but undefeated wolves who had built something remarkable from their pain¨Cand found myself nodding.


    ¡°<b>I </b>will,¡± I said, ¡°But surely you don¡¯t just want me as a bartender? If there¡¯s anything I can do to help, please don¡¯t hesitate to ask<b>.</b>¡±


    Lydia¡¯s <b>eyes </b>crinkled above her mask in what I now recognized as <b>a </b>smile. ¡°<b>Since </b>you understand mixology, perhaps <b>you </b>could assist me with herbal preparations and wolf poisons,¡® she suggested, her melodic voice soft but clear. ¡°You likely have a natural talent for it.¡±


    The door opened abruptly <b>as </b>Marcus returned, his expression grim. ¡°The intruders have left our territory,¡± he reported before turning <b>in </b><b>my </b>direction<b>. </b><b>¡°</b><b>She </b>should join my security team,¡± he said firmly, as though we¡¯d been discussing this for hours<b>. </b><b>¡°</b><b>A </b><b>wolf </b>without a <b>scent </b>is <b>a </b>natural¨Cborn scout. <b>We </b>could use her abilities for border reconnaissance.¡±


    ¡°I disagree<b>,</b>¡± Lydia countered, leaning forward. ¡°Her talents would be wasted on perimeter duty when she could be helping develop protective remedies for the pack.¡±


    Venus<b>, </b>who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke up. ¡°We¡¯re currently establishing an orphanage for disced wolf cubs<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>she exined, her single hand gesturing emphatically. ¡°We¡¯re desperately short¨Cstaffed. Why not assign her there first<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Their eagerness to include me in various aspects of pack life was both overwhelming and deeply touching after three <b>years </b>of solitary existence. They didn¡¯t just want me as a token member¨Cthey saw genuine value in what I could offer.


    ¡°I think Venus¡¯s suggestion makes the most sense to start,¡® I said carefully, not wanting to offend anyone. ¡°But I¡¯d be happy <b>to </b>help <b>Lydia </b><b>with </b><b>herbal </b>preparations in my spare time, and perhaps assist Marcus with asional border intelligence as well.¡±


    Nadia crossed her arms, fixing me with a stern look. ¡°Don¡¯t forget dailybat training,¡± she insisted. ¡°I won¡¯t always be around to <b>protect </b>you, and you need to strengthen those underdeveloped muscles.¡±


    Ryder nudged my arm yfully. ¡°I could be your training partner,¡± he offered.


    A warm sensation spread through my chest¨Cnot the burning desire of mate¨Crecognition, but something equally powerful. <b>eptance</b><b>. </b>Belonging. <b>Purpose</b><b>. </b>After years of drifting aimlessly, I suddenly had people who needed me, valued me, wanted me around. The feeling was both foreign and intoxicating.


    The moment of camaraderie was interrupted when Adrian¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°Kane and Gravestone <b>Pack </b><b>won¡¯t </b>leave <b>us </b>in peace<b>,</b>¡± he warned, his voice drawing everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Their sudden interest in our territory¨Cand in Skye¨Cconcerns me.¡±


    He turned to Marcus. ¡°Increase border patrols, especially near theke.¡±


    To Garrett, who had joined us silently at some point during the discussion, he said, ¡°Track Kane¡¯s recent activities online. I want to know what <b>he¡¯s </b>been up


    to<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Nadia received instructions to intensify training for the younger pack members, while Lydia was tasked with examining theke water


    ¡°It¡¯s our primary water source<b>,</b>¡± Adrian exined, his brow <b>furrowed </b>with concern. ¡°Kane might attempt to contaminate it.¡±


    I found myself admiring Adrian¡¯s meticulous thinking, the way he anticipated threats from multiple angles. <b>He </b>was a natural protector<b>, </b>his focus always on the welfare of those under his care.


    <b>As </b>the meeting concluded and council members filed out to begin their assigned tasks, <b>I </b>prepared to head to my temporary amodations <b>in </b><b>the </b>pack¡¯s hotel<b>. </b>Before <b>I </b>could leave<b>, </b>Adrian¡¯s hand on my arm<b>/</b>stopped me<b>. </b>


    ¡°Tonight you¡¯re staying at my ce,¡± he said, his voice not leaving room for argument. ¡°I <b>don¡¯t </b><b>feel </bfortable with you alone<b>, </b><b>not </b>with <b>Kane </b>showing interest in you.¡±


    His gaze held mine, concern evident in his expression. I knew this wasn¡¯t a romantic invitation¨Cjust an Alpha protecting a member who might be in danger.


    Yet <b>as </b>I nodded my agreement<b>, </b>I couldn¡¯t ignore the small flutter in <b>my </b>stomach at the thought of spending the <b>night </b>under his roof once <b>again</b>.<fndb0d> Updates are released by find(?)ovel</fndb0d>

 Casts 31

    drian¡¯s POV


    The drive back to my house was a silent affair, but the quiet in the vehicle belied the storm raging inside me.


    Every time I recalled the way Kane had ced his tongue against Skye¡¯s neck¨Cthat deliberate, possessive lick¨CI felt an overwhelming urge to turn the car around, track him down, and rip his tongue clean out of his mouth.


    1 gripped the steering wheel tighter, my knuckles whitening with the effort of containing my rage. I hadn¡¯t lost control like that in years. As Alpha, I prided myself on maintainingposure at all times, especially in front of my pack.


    Yet the moment Kane touched her, something primal had overridden my carefully cultivated restraint.


    I¡¯d limited myself to a single punch only because I couldn¡¯t risk throwing my pack into an unprepared battle against Kane¡¯s forces. That restraint had cost me, though. My wolf was still simmering beneath the surface, unsatisfied with the minimal retaliation.


    As much as I loathed admitting it, Kane¡¯s depraved actions revealed an ufortable truth: the bastard had an eye for recognizing potential. He d immediately sensed Skye¡¯s uniqueness¨Cher extraordinaryck of scent that made her virtually undetectable to other wolves.


    It wasn¡¯t just her youth or beauty that had drawn his attention; it was the tactical advantage her abilities represented.


    The thought troubled me deeply. Having Kane¡¯s attention was dangerous for anyone, but especially for a newly shifted wolf still learning to navigate our world.


    ¡°Tell me about Kane and his pack.¡±


    Skye¡¯s voice pulled me from my dark contemtions.


    ¡°What do you know about Gravestone Pack?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Not much,¡® she admitted. ¡°I remember my father mentioning them once¨Csaid they were a rtively insignificant western pack without much influence<b>. </b>


    A humorless chuckle escaped me. ¡°Your father wasn¡¯t wrong. Compared to established northern territories like Frostshadow, Gravestone is indeed small potatoes.¡± <b>I </b>gestured vaguely at the aridndscape surrounding us. ¡°As you can <b>see</b><b>, </b>desert territories offer limited resources and few natural defenses.¡±


    ¡°Before Oasisborn arrived, Gravestone was considered the dominant pack in the <b>Texas </b>region,¡± <b>I </b>continued, parking in front of my home. ¡°Kane changed their recruitment practices after bing Alpha. Now they ept virtually any rogue who demonstrates sufficient strength, regardless of past crimes or moral


    character.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like they have no standards whatsoever,¡± Skyemented, unfastening her seatbelt. ¡°Doesn¡¯t the Alpha King have anything to say ab


    I couldn¡¯t help but smile at her naivety.


    at?


    ¡°Wee to the western territories! The Alpha King rarely concerns himself with what happens in these ¡®undesirable¡® regions. That¡¯s precisely why wolves like Venus and Lydia sought refuge here. Kane can operate with minimal oversight as long as he maintains certain appearances.<b>¡± </b>


    We entered my home, the familiar scent of sage and desert mesquite weing us.


    ¡°I just realized all my things are still at the hotel,¡± Skye said suddenly, looking down at <b>her </b>clothes with a frown<b>. </b>¡°I don¡¯t have anything to <b>sleep </b>in.¡±


    ¡®<b>I </b>can go collect your belongings,¡± I offered, already reaching for my keys.


    She shook her head firmly. ¡°It¡¯s toote<b>, </b>Alpha Adrian. You¡¯ve done enough today<b>, </b>and you must be exhausted. I¡¯ll be fine without changing.


    Just Adrian is fine when <b>we¡¯re </b>in private,<b>¡± </b>I corrected gently. ¡°And it¡¯s no trouble.


    When she continued to insist it wasn¡¯t necessary<b>, </b>I relented. ¡°At least let me find you something morefortable to <b>sleep </b>in.


    I disappeared into my bedroom, rummaging through my drawers until I found a soft gray <b>t</b>¨Cshirt that would likely fall to her <b>knees </b>given our height


    <b>Chapter </b><b>31 </b>


    <b>difference</b><b>. </b><b>I </b><b>handed </b>it to her with a towel, directing her to the guest bathroom.


    While Skye showered, I settled on the couch with myptop, attempting to focus on pack business¨Cbudget allocations, training schedules, security leg¨¦rti <b>The </b>words <b>blurred </b>on the screen as my mind continuously drifted back to the confrontation with Kane<b>. </b>


    <b>The </b>soft padding of bare feet against hardwood floors announced Skye¡¯s return. I nced up casually, then found myself staring,pletely <b>arrested </b><b>by </b>the sight before me<b>. </b>


    ¡°Your hair¡­ I breathed, setting theptop aside. ¡°It¡¯s silver.¡±


    wasn¡¯t the shirt that had captured my She stood somewhat awkwardly in the doorway, my oversized shirt hanging nearly to her knees as I¡¯d predicted. But attention¨Cit was her hair, no longer golden blonde but a striking, pure silver that caught the light like moonbeama made tangible.<fn2842> Updates are released by find[?]ovel</fn2842>


    <b>¡°</b><b>Yes</b><b>, </b>this <b>is </b>my natural color. I¡¯ve been dyeing it blonde for years to be less noticeable among humans.¡± She offered a small smile. Now <b>that </b>I¡¯m joining <b>a </b>pack, I figured there¡¯s no need to hide anymore.¡±


    It suited her perfectly¨Cethereal and unique, just like the wolf that had emerged from her after so many dormant years.


    <b>My </b>silver wolf, I thought, before immediately checking myself. <b>She </b>wasn¡¯t mine in any sense beyond being a new member of my pack.


    An awkward silence settled between us.


    <b>¡°</b>Well, I should get some <b>sleep</b><b>,</b><b>¡± </b>she said finally, breaking the tension. ¡°Thank you again for everything, Adrian.<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Of course. Good night, Skye.¡±


    After she disappeared into the guest room, I remained seated, inhaling the lingering <b>scent </b>of my shampoo and body wash now clinging to her skin.


    There was something profoundly satisfying about her carrying my <b>scent</b><b>, </b>even in this innocent <b>way</b>.


    Shaking my head at the direction of my thoughts, <b>I </b>set aside myptop and grabbed my robe, heading for the bathroom. <b>Once </b>inside, <b>I </b>leaned against the counter<b>, </b>closing my eyes as I attempted to center myself.


    A wave of desire washed <b>over </b>me¨Cprimal and intense. I turned the shower to its coldest setting<b>, </b>stepping under the frigid <b>spray </b><b>in </b>hopes it would clear <b>my </b>mind and cool my blood.


    It didn¡¯t help.


    She¡¯s just a vulnerable young wolf in need of protection, <b>I </b>reminded myself sternly. Not an object for your desire.


    My body disagreed vehemently, my cock hardening despite the cold water streaming over me.


    It had been a long time since I¡¯d wanted someone this intensely¨Clonger still since I¡¯d <b>felt </b><b>so </b>conflicted about that want.


    I turned my face into the shower spray, letting the water mask the frustrated growl that escaped my throat.


    <b>My </b>cock throbbed, painfully hard, Skye¡¯s silver hair and lingering scent in the steam driving <b>me </b>wild. I gripped my shaft<b>, </b>stroking <b>slowly</b><b>, </b>each movement a guilty surrender to the primal urge. Her name echoed in my mind, fueling the heat pooling in my groin<b>. </b><b>As </b>Alpha, <b>I </b>should resist<b>¨C</b><b>protect</b>, not <b>crave </b>her. But my hand moved faster<b>, </b><b>desperate </b>for release. With a stifled groan, <b>I </b>came<b>, </b>the cold water washing away my shame.


    Tonight would be a long night indeed.

 Casts 32

    <b>Chapter </b><b>32 </b>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    <b>Back </b><b>in </b>my room, my heart still raced. I wasn¡¯t sure if I had misinterpreted Adrian¡¯s gaze, but the way he had looked at <b>me </b>moments ago was unmistakably


    different.


    For the first time, I had glimpsed something predatory in his eyes. A look of possession.


    Or was it simply my imagination? Was he merely surprised by my silver hair?


    Too much had happened tonight. I inhaled the scent of Adrian on the borrowed shirt, finding sleep impossible despite <b>my </b>exhaustion. The ocean¨Cpine fragrance that clung to the soft fabric enveloped me, simultaneouslyforting and unsettling.


    <b>My </b>fingers absently traced the hem of the oversized shirt.<fnb616> This update is avable on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fnb616>


    Unconsciously, my hand slipped between my thighs. The wet heat there met my touch, sparking a fleeting rush of satisfaction.


    My fingers moved, circling the slick warmth, each stroke igniting shivers.I pressed harder<b>, </b>breath catching as pleasure coiled tight, then ebbed. Withdrawing my hand, Iy trembling, the shirt¡¯s scent a haunting reminder of my forbidden yearning.


    My feelings toward Adrian were a tangled mess I couldn¡¯t begin to unravel.


    Gratitude, certainly¨Che had saved my life, given me his blood, triggered my long¨Cdormant shift. But beneath that gratitude lurked something moreplicated, something that made my heart race whenever our <b>eyes </b>met.


    I pressed my face into the pillow, breathing in Adrian¡¯s <b>scent </b>more deeply.


    A low growl suddenly pierced the quiet night, instantly triggering <b>my </b>survival instincts. Years of living alone had honed my alertness to potential threats<b>. </b><b>I </b>leapt from the bed, my heart hammering as <b>I </b>rushed to the door.


    *Adrian?¡± <b>I </b>called out, opening my door a <b>crack</b>. When no response came, I called again, louder this time, fear tightening my throat.


    Was Adrian in danger? Had Kane already sent wolves to attack <b>us</b><b>? </b>


    The bathroom door swung open, and Adrian emerged, a towel wrapped low around his waist. Water droplets still clung to his chest, tracing glistening paths down the defined muscles of his abdomen and disappearing beneath the towel<b>. </b>


    <b>I </b>swallowed hard, suddenly <b>very </b>aware of my own state of undress in nothing but his <b>t</b>¨Cshirt.


    I quickly averted my gaze, heat rushing to my cheeks. ¡°I¨CI heard a sound,¡± <b>I </b>stammered. ¡°I thought something might be wrong.¡±


    ¡°Just slipped in the shower,¡± Adrian exined, his voice slightly rougher than usual. With the light behind him, I couldn¡¯t make out his <b>expression </b><b>clearly</b>.


    Oh. Right. Sorry,¡± <b>I </b>mumbled, awkwardly retreating back into <b>my </b>room. ¡°Goodnight, then<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    I closed the door perhaps a bit more firmly than <b>necessary</b>, leaning against it <b>as </b><b>I </b>tried to calm my racing heart.


    Adrian¡¯s bedroom was directly across from mine, and in the stillness of the night, I could hear his movements¨Cthe soft rustle of fabric as he <b>presumably </b>dropped the towel and dressed for bed, the quiet click of themp being turned <b>off</b><b>, </b>the slight creak <b>of </b>the mattress as hey <b>down</b>.


    Somehow, I felt as though our eyes were meeting through the walls that separated us, an impossible connection that nevertheless felt <b>utterly </b>real.


    I crawled back into bed, pulling the <b>covers </b>up to my chin like armor.


    This <b>was </b>going to be a long night.


    The harder I tried to banish Adrian from my thoughts, the more insistently he invaded my dreams.


    <b>Chapter </b>32


    <b>The </b><b>nkets </b>felt <b>too </b>heavy<b>, </b><b>too </b><b>warm</b>, and I sank into a restless half¨Csleep filled with confusing images and sensations, <b>I </b>was <b>drowning </b>in warm, wet unable <b>to </b><b>pull </b><b>myself </b>free¡­


    <b>Until </b>a shrill ringing jolted me awake.


    <b>Skye</b><b>, </b>are you up yet? Morning training is about to start, and I¡¯m waiting at the hotel entrance for you! Nadia¡¯s voice cut through <b>my </b><b>grogginess</b>, sharp and


    expectant.


    <b>I </b>scrambled to sit up, disoriented. ¡®Don¡¯t wait for me! I¡¯ll eat breakfast and meet you at the training grounds from yesterday<b>.</b>¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still in bed, aren¡¯t you?¡± Nadia¡¯s tone was usatory but tinged with amusement. ¡°Our training sessions are mostly in the mornings and evenings when it¡¯s not so hot. You can¡¯t be sleeping in like this once you¡¯re officially part of the pack.¡±


    <b>¡®</b><b>I¡¯m </b>sorry,¡± <b>I </b>apologized hastily. ¡°It won¡¯t happen again, I promise. Please go ahead with the others¨CI¡¯ll be there as soon as I can<b>.¡± </b>


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she agreed. When I hung up, I exhaled with relief.


    For some reason, I couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Nadia discovering I¡¯d spent the night at Adrian¡¯s home. It felt like a betrayal, even though she wasn¡¯t his


    mate.


    After dressing quickly in yesterday¡¯s clothes, I ventured out to find the house empty of Adrian¡¯s presence.


    Lucy<b>, </b>his housekeeper, had prepared a simple breakfast of toast<b>, </b><b>eggs</b><b>, </b>and fresh fruit<b>. </b><b>As </b>I sat down <b>to </b><b>eat</b><b>, </b>she enveloped me in an unexpected but warm hug.


    ¡°Wee to Oasisborn, dear!¡± Her weathered face crinkled with a knowing <b>smile</b>. ¡°So, <b>you </b>and Alpha Adrian<b>¡­ is </b>there something going on between you <b>two </b>now? It¡¯s been years since I¡¯ve seen him this close with a woman.¡±


    My face med with embarrassment. ¡°No! It¡¯s nothing like that. I¡¯m not his mate<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Lucy waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Mates, schmetes. Some <b>wolves </b>don¡¯t wait around <b>forever</b><b>, </b>you know. If they don¡¯t find their destined mate, they choose someonepatible at the right time.¡± She winked conspiratorially. ¡°And you two would make beautiful pups<b>¨C</b>silver hair and <b>those </b>amber <b>eyes </b><b>of </b><b>his</b><b>! </b>


    2 Imagine!¡±


    Iughed awkwardly, grabbing a piece of toast and backing toward the door. ¡°Thank <b>you </b>for breakfast<b>, </b>but <b>I¡¯ve </b>got to <b>run</b><b>. </b>Training <b>session</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    I practically fled the house, my cheeks still burning as I made my way to the training grounds.


    By the time I arrived, the session was well underway. About twenty werewolves <b>were </b>paired off, engaged in variousbat exercises. Some practiced in human form, while others had shifted, their wolf forms circling each other with calcted movements.


    Nadia spotted me immediately, breaking away from her demonstration to approach me. <b>As </b>I drew closer, she did a double¨Ctake, her <b>eyes </b>widening <b>as </b><b>she </b>noticed my hair.


    ¡°Your hair¨Cit¡¯s silver!<b>¡± </b>she eximed. ¡°<b>I¡¯ve </b><b>never </b>seen a wolf with hair this color before<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡®<b>It¡¯s </b>my natural color,¡± <b>I </b>replied simply.


    She nodded with appreciation, then crossed her arms<b>. </b>¡°Well, it¡¯s striking, but that doesn¡¯t <b>excuse </b>you. <b>We¡¯ve </b>been at it for half an hour already. Don¡¯t <b>be </b><bte </b>again.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t<b>, </b>I promise<b>, </b><b>I </b><b>assured </b>her<b>, </b>eager <b>to </b>begin. ¡°Can I <b>try</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>A </b>smile broke through her stern expression. ¡°That¡¯s what I <b>like </b>to hear. <b>Let¡¯s </b><b>see </b>what you¡¯ve got.¡±


    <b>Her </b>unexpectedpliment warmed me, especiallying from <b>someone </b>who had initially been so <b>suspicious </b>of me. But the moment <b>of </b>camaraderie <b>was </b>short¨C<b>lived </b><b>as </b>she quickly returned to business.


    <b>¡®</b>Anyway, let¡¯s <b>see </b>what you can do,¡± she said, gesturing toward an open <b>space</b>.


    Nadia demonstrated a basic <b>takedown </b>technique, and within moments<b>, </b>I found myself t on <b>my </b><b>back</b>, the wind knocked <b>out </b><b>of </b><b>me </b><b>as </b><b>she </b><b>pinned </b><b>me </b>


    effortlessly to <b>the </b>ground.


    But as she held me down, her expression suddenly changed, her nostrils ring slightly as she caught a scent.


    Her eyes narrowed, and her voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°You stayed at Adrian¡¯s housest night, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    <b>Chapter </b><b>Comments </b>


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    I must have missed it.. but what color are her eyes?

 Casts 33

    Skye¡¯s POV


    1 froge beneath Nadia¡¯s pinning grip, my mind scrambling for a response. How had she known? should I deny it? The truth seemed simultanenty harmless and dangerously revealing.


    You smell like Adrian¡¯s shower gel and shampoo, Nadia continued, her voice low fast sharp. I bought them for him. I know that scent better than anyone?


    The casual way she referred to Adrian by name rather than his title Alpha Adrian¨Cstruck me immediately. It was a subtle but unmistakable assertion of intimacy, of a connection deeper than mere pack hierarchy. The fact that Nadia purchased Adrian¡¯s personal care products spoke volumes about the nature of their rtionship.


    ¡°Alpha Adrian was concerned Kane might send someone after me,¡® I exined, trying to keep my voice steady despite being pinned to the ground. ¡°Ha thought it would be safer if I stayed at his ce. I¡¯ll be moving back to the hotel tonight.¡±


    Nadia¡¯s hands pressed more firmly against my shoulders, her eyes searching mine withser¨Clike intensity. I¡¯m not objecting to you staying at Adrian¡¯s house,¡® she said carefully. ¡®But why lie to me this morning? Unless¡­¡± Her gaze narrowed suspiciously. ¡®Unless you and Adrian¡­


    ¡°Nothing happened between us,¡± I interrupted, heat rising to my cheeks despite the truth of my statement. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t believe me, surely you trust Adrian?¡±


    The mention of Adrian¡¯s integrity seemed to strike a chord. Nadia remained silent for several heartbeats, her expression unreadable. Finally, she released her grip and extended a hand to pull me up from the ground.


    Standing with her arms crossed tightly over her chest, she pursed her lips. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to interfere with Adrian¡¯s rtionships,¡± she stated, though her defensive posture suggested otherwise. ¡°I just want to remind you that you¡¯re not his mate. Don¡¯t develop feelings you shouldn¡¯t have. In the end, you¡¯ll only hurt yourself.


    Her warning seemed directed as much at herself as at me. I recognized the echo of pain in her voice¨Cthe same pain I¡¯d felt after Leon¡¯s rejection. Nadia had clearly harbored feelings for Adrian for years, watching him from a position of closeness that somehow made the distance between them even more unbearable.


    I couldn¡¯t help but smile sympathetically. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t steal your love from you.¡±


    Nadia¡¯s hand shot out, mping over my mouth as her face flushed crimson. She nced frantically around the training grounds, as if terrified someone might have overheard. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± she hissed, clearly mortified. ¡°I¡¯m just warning you, that¡¯s all. Neither of us is Adrian¡¯s mate. Someday he¡¯ll find his true mate, and we¡¯ll have a Luna.¡±


    I gently removed her hand from my mouth. ¡°I understand,¡± I assured her. ¡°Now<b>, </b>can we continue with training?<b>¡± </b>


    Relief washed over her features as she nodded briskly, immediatelyunching into a demonstration of a moreplex takedown maneuver.


    The next two hours were physically demanding but oddly satisfying. My newly awakened wolf relished the exercise<b>, </b>even as my human body protested each time I hit the ground. By the end of the session, my muscles ached pleasantly, and I felt more connected to my wolf than <b>ever </b>before.


    <b>As </b>I made my way toward the orphanage where Venus was expecting <b>me</b><b>, </b><b>I </b>reflected on Nadia¡¯s warning. An undeniable <b>sense </b>of disappointment settled in my chest. I had indeed experienced inappropriate desire for Adrianst night¨Cfeelings I shouldn¡¯t nurture. Adrian was my Alpha now, not a potential romantic partner. I needed to maintain appropriate boundaries and stop indulging in fantasies that could never <b>be </b>realized.


    More importantly, I couldn¡¯t betray Nadia¡¯s trust<b>, </b>not when she¡¯d finally begun to <b>ept </b>me.


    The orphanage was a bright, airy building at the eastern edge of the oasis. Inside<b>, </b>I found <b>six </b>werewolf children of varying ages <b>engaged </b>in different activities. A boy of about ten was reading intently in a corner. Twin girls who couldn¡¯t <b>have </b>been more than <b>six </b>were constructing an borate block tower. An older teenager supervised a toddler¡¯s finger¨Cpainting session, while a solemn¨Cfaced young girl simply stared out the window.


    Venus greeted me with a warm smile, her single arm expertly bncing a tray <b>of </b>snacks. ¡°Perfect timing,¡± she called. ¡°Could you help distribute <b>these</b><b>? </b>Then I¡¯ll show you the basic routine.¡±


    For <b>the </b><b>next </b>several hours, I immersed myself in the chaotic but rewarding work <b>of </b>caring for disced wolf cubs. Each child had their own heartbreaking story¨Cparents lost to hunters, to rogue attacks, or to inter¨Cpack conflicts. Some had been abandoned due to perceived weaknesses or simply because <b>their </b>packs couldn¡¯t support additional mouths to feed.


    <b>Chapter </b><b>33 </b>


    <b>The </b><b>solemn </b><b>girl </b><b>by </b><b>the </b><b>window</b><b>, </b><b>I </b>learned, was mute¨Cnot from physical causes but from the trauma of watching hunters execute her parents. The twins had <b>been </b>rejected by their original pack after exhibiting unusually slow development. The teenage boy assisting with the toddler was himself an <b>ephan </b><b>who </b>had stumbled upon Dasisborn Pack after months alone in the desert.


    ¡°We take them all, Venus exined proudly. ¡°No matter their circumstances<b>, </b>their backgrounds, their abilities. Every cub deserves a pack.


    By the time we finished the evening routine¨Cdi, baths, bedtime stories, and tucking in¡ªdarkness had fallenpletely. Venus thanked me for my help as I gathered my things to return to the hotel.


    ¡®You have a natural way with them,¡± she observed. ¡®Especially with Mira. She nodded toward the mute girl¡¯s room. She actually made eye contact with yous. That¡¯s more than she¡¯s done with any of us in weeks.¡±


    Her words warmed me as I stepped outside, simultaneously exhausted and fulfilled by the day¡¯s activities. I had only taken a few steps when a familiar scent -pine forest and ocean spray¨Creached me, moments before Adrian appeared from around the corner.


    ¡°Skye, he greeted, his expression softening as he approached. ¡°How was your first day with the pack?¡±


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s been wonderful,¡± I replied honestly. ¡°It¡¯s been¡­ fulfilling.*


    ¡°I¡¯m d to hear it. His smile seemed genuine, if slightly reserved. ¡°Lucy has prepared dinner. I thought I¡¯de escort you back.¡±


    Something in his expression¨Can eagerness barely concealed beneath his Alphaposure¨Cmade rm bells ring in my head. Nadia¡¯s warning echoed in my mind, along with my own promise to maintain appropriate boundaries.


    ¡°Thank you, but I should really head back to the hotel tonight,¡± I said carefully. ¡°You¡¯re busy enough without having to worry about hosting me. I doubt Kane will attempt anything so soon.¡±


    Adrian fell silent, his brow furrowing slightly as he processed my refusal. ¡°Then at least let me walk you back to the hotel,¡± he offered. ¡°It¡¯s gotten <b>quite </b>


    dark.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessary,¡± I insisted, perhaps too quickly. ¡°I know the way. I won¡¯t get lost.¡±<fn3943> For original chapters go to find{n}ovel</fn3943>


    A sh of something¨Churt? disappointment?-crossed his features before he masked it with his usualposed expression. He took a step closer, close enough that I had to tilt my head slightly to maintain eye contact.


    ¡°Are you deliberately avoiding me, Skye?¡± he asked quietly, his normally confident voice tinged with uncertainty.

 Casts 34

    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that, I said quickly, averting my gaze. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­¡±


    ¡°Just what?¡± he pressed, taking another step closet. His proximity alone was distracting, the warmth radiating from him making it difficult to maintain my resolve.


    I took a deep breath, forcing myself to meet his eyes directly. ¡°It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t want people to misunderstand. After all, I¡¯m not your mate. Staying <b>at </b>your house indefinitely wouldn¡¯t be¡­ appropriate.¡±


    Something flickered across Adrian¡¯s expression¨Cdisappointment, perhaps, or frustration¨Cbefore his features settled into careful neutrality.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing happening between us that would give anyone reason to misunderstand, he pointed out, his voice deliberately even. I¡¯m simply fulfilling my responsibility as Alpha, helping a new member adjust to our pack. He gestured toward the path leading away from the orphanage, ¡®Come on, I¡¯ll drive you back to the hotel.¡±


    His words struck like tiny daggers, each one precisely aimed. Of course. Just Alpha responsibility. Nothing more. What had I expected him to say<i>? </i>That he wanted mypany for reasons beyond duty?


    I forced a smile, grateful for the darkness that partially concealed <b>my </b>expression. ¡°You¡¯re right. Thank you.¡±


    If I continued to refuse his escort, I¡¯d only appear to be the one reading too much into <b>the </b>situation<b>¨C</b>exactly what I was trying to avoid. I nodded my agreement and fell into step beside him.


    We walked in silence toward his vehicle, the only sounds our <b>footsteps </b><b>on </b>the sandy path and the distant chorus of desert <b>insects</b>. Just as we approached the SUV, a familiar figure emerged from around the corner, her silhouette unmistakable even in the dim light.


    ¡°There you are!¡± Nadia called out, her voice bright with exaggerated cheerfulness. ¡°<b>I¡¯ve </b>been looking everywhere for


    <b>you </b>two<b>. </b>


    She approached with confident strides, her smile wide as she looked between us. <b>¡°</b>Adrian, I hope you don¡¯t mind, but <b>since </b>it¡¯s Skye¡¯s first day officially joining <b>us</b><b>, </b>I thought I¡¯d treat her to dinner at my ce<b>.</b>¡± She turned to me, linking her arm through mine with unexpected familiarity. <b>¡°</b><b>I¡¯ve </b>made my special elk stew, and I can give you all the insider <b>tips </b>about pack life that Adrian probably forgot to mention.¡±


    Before I could respond, she was already tugging me gently <b>away</b><b>, </b>her <b>grip </b>on my arm surprisingly firm despite her casual demeanor. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll make <b>sure </b>she gets back to the hotel safely afterward,¡± she assured Adrian, her <b>tone </b>leaving little room for argument.<fn66ab> Read full story at F?ndNovel</fn66ab>


    Adrian¡¯s expression was unreadable as he looked between us. After a/moment¡¯s hesitation, he nodded, a small smile ying at the corners of his <b>lips</b><b>. </b><b>¡°</b>That sounds like an excellent idea. I¡¯m sure Skye could use a friend to help her settle in.¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Nadia agreed brightly, already leading me down the path away from him.


    I nced back over my shoulder, feeling strangely as though I were being pulled away from something important. Adrian¡¯s gaze <b>seemed </b>to follow us for a moment before he turned and climbed into his vehicle. The engine rumbled to life, headlights illuminating the desert path as he drove away.


    I¡¯m imagining things again, I thought, mentally chastising myself. Adrian had clearly stated his intentions¨Cprofessional, nothing more<b>. </b>Any perceived connection beyond that existed solely in my imagination.


    easily than


    Nadia¡¯s home turned out to be a cozy cottage near the mainmunity building. Her dinner was indeed delicious, the conversation flowing I¡¯d anticipated given our tense exchange during training. She seemed genuinely interested in helping me adjust to Oasisborn, detailing various <b>aspects </b>of pack life and protocol I should be aware of.


    As night deepened, she walked me back to the hotel, pointing out shortcuts andndmarks along the way. The ¡°hotel<b>,</b><b>¡± </b><b>as </b>it turned out, was actually a repurposed two¨Cstory building with simple butfortable amodations.


    ¡°This <b>is </b>where visiting wolves from other packs usually stay,¡± Nadia exined as we approached the entrance. ¡°Venus <b>is </b>already preparing a permanent <b>residence </b>for you closer to the orphanage. <b>It </b>should be ready within a week or so.¡±


    I nodded absently, my mind elsewhere<b>. </b>Throughout the evening, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Nadia¡¯s sudden appearance had been deliberate¨Cthat she¡¯d intentionally intercepted us, perhaps even followed me from training to the orphanage and waited for the right moment to intervene.


    <b>Chapter </b><b>34 </b>


    <b>Her </b><b>insistence </b>on <b>escorting </b><b>me </b>personally back to the hotel only strengthened this suspicion. Was this her way of maintaining distance between h?tten me<b>? </b><b>Of </b><b>reminding </b>me of boundaries 1 shouldn¡¯t cross?


    The thought left me feeling strangely suffocated, a flicker of irritation sparking in my chest despite my understanding of her position.


    <b>Thank </b>you for everything today,¡± 1 said when we reached the door to my room, forcing sincerity into my voice. ¡°You should head home and get some rest


    Nadia hesitated, studying my face carefully. ¡°I¡¯lle by tomorrow morning to pick you up for training, she emphasized, as if worried I might try to avoid


    her.


    <b>I </b>summoned another smile. ¡°I¡¯ll be ready.¡±


    After she finally departed, I found myself alone with my thoughts in the quiet room. Through the window, the desert moon cast silver light across the floor, reminding me of the approaching date that had been lingering at the back of my mind all day.


    Ethan¡¯s birthday wasing soon. Unlike me, born in the depths of skan winter, my brother had entered the world in the heart of summer. The thought of him triggered a sudden, fierce longing for home¨Cfor the familiar forests and mountains I¡¯d left behind, for my parents¡® faces, even for the pack I¡¯d once been so desperate to escape.


    I approached the front desk, where a sleepy young wolf was on night duty, and requested paper, an envelope, and a pen. Back in my room, <b>I </b>sat cross¨Clegged on the bed and began to write<b>. </b>


    Dear Ethan,


    I hope this letter finds you well. I¡¯m writing to wish you a happy birthday<b>, </b>though I know this will probably reach youte. I miss <b>you</b>. I miss all of you.


    I have news that might surprise you¨Cmy wolf has finallye<b>. </b>After all this time, <b>she </b>emerged a few weeks ago. She¡¯s <b>silver</b><b>, </b><b>just </b>like my hair. <b>I¡¯ve </b>joined a pack called Oasisborn in the western territories. They¡¯re good people who have weed me <b>despite </b><b>my </b>unusual history.


    My pen hovered over the paper as <b>I </b>contemted adding more<b>. </b>I wanted to tell him that perhaps, with my wolf now awakened, I might <b>find </b>the courage <b>to </b>visit during the next New Moon Festival. That I might finally be ready to face Frostshadow Pack again¨Cto <b>face </b>Leon.


    But in the end, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to write those words. The promise felt too fragile, too uncertain. Instead, I signed the <b>letter </b>with love<b>, </b><b>sealed </b>it in the envelope, and addressed it to our family cabin in ska.


    Tomorrow I would mail it, sending a piece <b>of </b>myself back to the home I¡¯d fled¨Ca home that, despite everything, still called to <b>me </b><b>across </b><b>the </b>miles<b>. </b>


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    <b>Crowned </b><b>by </b><b>Fate </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>35 </b>


    Leon¡¯s POV


    <b>The </b>morning sunlight beat down on the training grounds as I surveyed my domain, heat already rising from the earth despite the early hour


    Last year¡¯s Hunt Festival had marked my formal ascension when my father, James, officially stepped down and named me Alpha of Frostshadow Pack


    In the months since taking the Alpha position, my days had stretched even longer. Beyond the physical training I¡¯d always maintained, I now spent countles hours studying pack management, politics, and diplomacy.


    Each quarter, I traveled to the North American Werewolf Council chambers, observing their meetings, building rtionships with influential members who would eventually vote in the Alpha King election.


    All my efforts focused on a single goal: winning the Alpha King election next November.


    The council members seemed pleased with my progress, and Frostshadow enjoyed an excellent reputation among the fifty¨Cplus packs across the continent. 1 couldn¡¯t help the surge of confidence that rose in my chest whenever I contemted my chances.


    My father¡¯s words echoed in my mind, tempering that pride.


    ¡°Don¡¯t rush, don¡¯t be arrogant,¡± he¡¯d cautioned just yesterday. ¡°Your greatest w has always been impatience. A worthy leader needs more than courage -he needs steadiness of character.<b>¡± </b>


    I rolled my shoulders, feeling the pleasant burn of muscles already worked hard despite the early hour. The dry grass crunched beneath my boots <b>as </b>I paced the training grounds, checking equipment and reviewing today¡¯s schedule in my mind.


    Ethan waste¨Cunusual for my Beta, but understandable. He¡¯d found his mate recently andpleted the marking ceremony justst week<b>. </b>They were still in that phase where newly mated pairs could hardly bear to leave their beds<b>. </b>


    The thought brought an unexpected twinge. I pushed it away.


    <b>¡°</b>Alpha Leon!¡±


    I turned to see a courier jogging toward me<b>, </b>sweat beading on his forehead in the summer heat. <b>He </b>bowed slightly, then extended a white envelope.


    ¡°This letter arrived for Beta Ethan, but I couldn¡¯t locate his new residence.¡± The courier looked apologetic. ¡°Would you mind delivering it <b>to </b>him? I know <b>he </b>moved after the marking ceremony¡­¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± I replied, taking the envelope. Ethan had indeed moved out of his parents¡® home after mating, settling into a cabin at the eastern edge of our territory. The courier couldn¡¯t be faulted for not knowing his new address.


    I nodded dismissal to the courier, who hurried <b>away </b>toplete his other deliveries. <b>I </b><b>was </b>about to slip the letter into my jacket pocket when the sender¡¯s name caught my eye, and my heart stuttered to a halt.


    Skye.


    A flood of emotions rushed through me. <b>I </b>gripped the envelope tighter, crumpling <b>its </b>edge.


    Three years ago, after she¡¯d disappeared, I¡¯d searched for her relentlessly for two months. My father and <b>Skye¡¯s </b>parents had berated me <b>daily </b>for <b>those </b><b>same </b>two months.


    They med me entirely for her departure¨Ccriticizing my public rejection<b>, </b>my failure <b>to </b>consult them beforehand, my <b>callous </b>handling of the mate bond.


    George Anderson, Skye¡¯s father and our pack Beta, had nearly resigned his position, threatening to <b>leave </b>Frostshadow Pack to search for his daughter.


    Only when they began receiving New Moon Festival gifts from her, mailed from anonymous locations, did the furor <b>finally </b><b>subside</b>.


    Even now<b>, </b>


    the memory fueled a simmering anger.


    <b>How </b><b>could </b>she <b>have </b>been so selfish? (1)


    <b>How </b>could she have abandoned her family, her pack, het responsibilities without a backward nce?


    Just because she hadn¡¯t shifted, just because I¡¯d rejected her as my Luna?


    She had no idea how many wolves would sacrifice everything for the family bonds she¡¯d so carelessly discarded.


    <b>I </b>stared at the envelope, curiosity burning through me. What had she written to her brother? Where <b>was </b>she now?


    <b>My </b>finger slid under the seal, beginning to tear it open before I caught myself. This wasn¡¯t my letter to read. As Alphia, I needed to respect my Beta¡¯s privacy.


    With considerable effort, I tucked the letter into my pocket, resolving to hand it over intact when Ethan arrived.


    <b>I </b>resumed my training, pushing myself harder than usual, as if physical exertion could drive away the questions circling in my mind. By the time Ethan finally appeared at the edge of the training grounds, I¡¯d worked up a sweat.


    He was exactly as I¡¯d imagined¨Chair wild, clothes barely slung on, his skin still burning with the raw glow of fresh, sweaty sex.


    ¡°Sorry I¡¯mte, Alpha,¡± he offered, not looking particrly sorry at all.


    I couldn¡¯t help the smirk that formed. ¡°You might want to consider some restraint at night, Ethan. How do you expect to train properly if you <b>arrive </b>exhausted every morning?¡±


    He ran a hand through his rumpled hair, looking sheepish. ¡°Lily¡¯s still adjusting to the bond. <b>It¡¯s</b><b>¡­ </b>intense.¡±


    The mention of the bond triggered another unwee pang. I pushed it aside and reached into my pocket.


    A letter came for you,¡± I said, extending the envelope. ¡°From your sister. And before you ask¨Cno, I didn¡¯t read it.¡±


    Ethan¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. He practically snatched the letter from my hand, tearing it open with none of the restraint I¡¯d forced upon myself.


    His expression shifted as he read.


    ¡°She¡¯s shifted,¡± he murmured, eyes still scanning the page. After all this time. And she¡¯s-¡± His gaze shot up to meet mine. ¡°She¡¯s joined another pack. Oasisborn, in the western territories.<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°What? I rejected her as Luna, not as a pack member. Why would she join another pack?¡±


    Has she found another mate<b>? </b>The question burned in my throat<b>, </b>but I couldn¡¯t bring myself <b>to </b>voice it.


    Ethan shook his head, returning to the letter. ¡°She doesn¡¯t mention a Second Chance mate. <b>Just </b><b>says </b>she¡¯s finally shifted¨Cher wolf is <b>silver</b><b>, </b>like her hair- and that she¡¯s been weed by Oasisborn despite her ¡®unusual history.¡°¡±


    ¡°Oasisborn?¡± The name was vaguely familiar. ¡°That new pack in <b>Texas</b><b>? </b>The desert wastnd?¡±


    The absurdity struck me suddenly. She had left Frostshadow¡ªthe most respected<b>, </b>resource<b>¨C</b>rich pack in ska¨Cfor some upstart group in the middle of


    nowhere<b>? </b>


    She had abandoned pristine forests, abundant game, and the protection of her powerful birth pack for¡­ what? Scorpions and cacti<b>? </b>


    ¡°Your sister¡¯s choices continue to baffle me,¡± I said, unable to keep the disdain from my voice. A harsh snort escaped me<b>. </b>¡°First she runs away like a child throwing a tantrum, and now she pledges <b>loyalty </b>to a pack no <b>one¡¯s </b><b>even </b>heard <b>of</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Anger coiled within me, unexpected in its intensity.


    I had assumed that eventually, she would tire of running, woulde to her senses and return home where she belonged. I had never <b>intended </b>to punish her permanently¡ªhad always known that when she finally returned, properly contrite, <b>I </b>would wee her back into the pack¡¯s protection.


    <i>273 </i>


    Yet now she had formally aligned herself with strangers. Had given her loyally to another Alpha.


    I clenched my fists, struggling to maintain the steadyposure my father had so recently advised. Find out everything you can about this Datisborn Pack, I ordered, my voice harder than I¡¯d intended.


    ¡°I want to know exactly <b>what </b>kind of operation they¡¯re running. Their Alpha, their strength, their resources. Everything.¡±


    <b>Chapter </b>Comments


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    that¡¯s calling the kettle ck there buddy..

 Casts 36

    <b>Chapter </b><b>36 </b>


    <b>Leon¡¯s </b>POV


    turned back to the training equipment, needing an outlet for the inexplicable rage coursing through me.


    ¡®Let¡¯s begin, we¡¯ve wasted enough time already.¡±


    The training session became more intense than normal. My fist hit Ethan¡¯s jaw, drawing blood. I followed with a hard kick to his stomach. Ethan recovered quickly and hit back with an uppercut to my chin.


    The pain felt good somehow. It distracted me from my thoughts.


    By the time we finally called a halt, both of us were battered and breathing heavily. Ethan¡¯s left eye had swollen shut, his lip was split in multiple ces, and he favored his right side, suggesting bruised ribs. I knew I looked little better.


    ¡°Good,¡± I panted, wiping blood from my nose with the back of my hand. ¡°That¡¯s the kind of intensity I expect from my Beta.¡±


    Ethan nodded, his expression a mixture of exhaustion and concern. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then seemed to think better of it.


    <b>We </b>were gathering our equipment when Maya and Lily appeared at the edge of the training grounds.


    Lily rushed to Ethan¡¯s side, her eyes widening in horror <b>as </b>she took in the extent of his injuries<b>. </b>


    ¡°Oh my God, you¡¯re hurt!¡± she eximed, gently cradling his face between her hands. Her eyes narrowed as she turned to me. ¡°Alpha Leon, did you do <b>this </b><b>to </b>him? It¡¯s just training!¡±


    Something in her protective outrage ignited fresh anger within me. Who was she to question my methods<b>? </b>


    If he were fighting real enemies, do you think they would hold back?¡± I snapped. ¡°Ethan is your mate, <b>yes</b><b>, </b>but don¡¯t forget, he is also the Beta of Frostshadow Pack!¡±


    Alpha Leon is right, Ethan interjected, cing a calming hand on Lily¡¯s shoulder. ¡°This is what¡¯s required of us<b>.</b>¡±


    Lily pressed her lips together, clearly unhappy but unwilling to argue further. Instead, she looped her arm through Ethan¡¯s<b>, </b><b>pressing </b>herself against his side with territorial intimacy<b>. </b>The way she tenderly examined each of his wounds, the naked devotion in her eyes <b>as </b>she whispered something in <b>his </b><b>ear</b>¨Cit <b>was </b>all so disgustingly public<b>, </b>so unnecessary.


    I looked away, inexplicably irritated by their disy. The mate bond made wolves behave like lovesick teenagers<b>, </b>stripped of dignity and self¨Ccontrol.


    Maya chose that moment to approach, her hips swaying deliberately as she walked toward me.


    ¡®Leon,¡± she purred, cing a hand on my arm. ¡°You look exhausted. Why don¡¯t I give you a massage tonight? Help those muscles rx<b>¡­ </b>


    Hjerked my arm away. ¡°Address me as Alpha,¡± I corrected coldly.


    Maya¡¯s constant attempts at familiarity in public grated on me. <b>Her </b>pretense that we <b>shared </b>some special connection was bing increasingly tiresome. While we had indeed grown up together, that history gave her no right to <b>overstep </b>boundaries.


    A sh of embarrassment crossed her features before quickly morphing into a <b>practiced </b>smile. ¡°Of course<b>, </b>Alpha Leon. My apologies<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    By evening, I stood in my bathroom examining the damage. The mirror reflected a face I barely <b>recognized</b>¨Cmy nose, though mostly healed thanks to werewolf regeneration, still carried a purplish bruise where Ethan¡¯s fist had connected.


    I touched my nose gingerly, weing the sharp twinge of pain. There was something cleansing about physical difort<b>, </b>something that momentarily distracted from the formless anger that had haunted me since reading Skye¡¯s name on that envelope.


    Oasisborn Pack. The name circled in my mind like a predator. Why would she join them, of all ces? What could a <b>desert </b><b>wastnd </b><b>pack </b><b>possibly </b><b>offer </b>that Frostshadow couldn¡¯t?


    <b>Chapter </b><b>36 </b>


    <b>I </b>grabbed my <b>phone </b><b>and </b>dialed Ethan. The call went straight to voicemail. I tried again with the same result


    A bitterugh escaped me. Of course. He was undoubtedly upied with his mate, lost in the mindless pleasure of their bond while <b>neglecting </b>his <b>duties </b><b>to </b><b>the </b>pack¨Cto me. The thought intensified my irritation.


    Without giving myself time to reconsider, I scrolled through my contacts and ced another call. Twenty minutester, there was a soft knock at my door.


    The woman who entered was attractive in the conventional sense¨Ctall, blonde, with a practiced smile. She was one of several pack whores.


    I barely remembered her name. Melissa? Melinda<b>? </b>


    She approached with practiced confidence, sliding her hands up my chest. ¡°Alpha,¡± she breathed, her voice dropping to what she clearly thought was a seductive whisper. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you.¡±


    I said nothing, simply pulling her roughly against me. Her scent was all wrong¨Ctoo floral, too artificial¨Cbut it didn¡¯t matter. This wasn¡¯t about pleasure or connection. This was about silencing the voice in my head, drowning out the image of Skye pledging loyalty to another Alpha.


    Our coupling was brutal, mechanical, a collision of flesh driven by my seething rage.


    I shoved her against the wall, tearing her flimsy dress without care<b>, </b>exposing her skin to the cold air. Her breath hitched, but she didn¡¯t resist as I gripped her hips with bruising force, pinning her in ce.


    I thrust into her with punishing intensity, each movement raw and unrelenting, chasing oblivion in the heat of her body. Her nails dug into <b>my </b>shoulders, leaving sharp stings I barely registered.


    The bed creaked under our weight <b>as </b>I flipped her onto her stomach, taking her from behind with a ferocity that made her gasp, <b>her </b>muffled cries blending with the harsh rhythm of my thrusts<b>. </b>


    There was no tenderness, no intimacy¨Conly the desperate need to purge Skye¡¯s name from my mind.


    When it was over, I felt neither satisfaction nor relief, just a hollow emptiness that somehow seemed worse than the anger.


    Afterward, I left her in the bed and walked to the kitchen, pouring myself <b>a </b>generous ss <b>of </b>whiskey. I¡¯d just taken the first burning <b>sip </b>when my phone rang. Ethan¡¯s name shed on the screen.


    ¡®I apologize for missing your call earlier, Alpha,¡± he began without preamble. ¡°Regarding Oasisborn <b>Pack</b>¨Cthere¡¯s <b>very </b>little information avable<b>. </b>They <b>were </b>established only two years ago by an Alpha named Adrian. Most of their members appear to be outcasts from other packs, wolves who <b>were </b>rejected or exiled for various reasons.¡±


    He paused briefly. ¡°They don¡¯t seem to present any threat to established territories. But I don¡¯t understand why Skye would join them. Would you like me to send someone to investigate further?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I replied coldly, ending the call without waiting for his response. I don¡¯t care <b>what </b><b>pack </b>she¡¯s joined<b>, </b>I told myself. It <b>means </b>nothing to me<b>. </b>


    I felt arms encircle my waist from behind as the woman¨CMnie, that was her name- she murmured, her lips against my skin.


    -pressed herself against my back<b>. </b><b>¡°</b>Ready for


    rround, Alpha?¡±


    I shoved her away with enough force that she stumbled.


    <b>¡®</b><b>Get </b>out,¡® I ordered, not bothering to look at her. ¡°Now.¡±


    Mnie gathered her torn dress and hurried toward the door<b>. </b><b>As </b>she reached <b>the </b>threshold, I called after her.


    ¡°Wait.¡±


    I pulled a wad of cash from my wallet and thrust it into her hand.


    ¡°<b>Take </b>this<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>Crowned </b>by Fate


    <b>Chapter </b><b>37 </b><fn0c34> This text is hosted at f?ndnovel</fn0c34>

 Casts 37

    <b>Chapter </b><b>37 </b>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    The sun cast long shadows across¨Cthe orphanage courtyard as I supervised the pups¡® outdoor ytime.


    Nearly two weeks had passed <b>since </b>I¡¯d officially joined Oasisborn Pack, and already the rhythm <b>of </b>pack life felt familiar¨Cmorningbat training with Nadia, days at the orphanage with Venus, and asional evenings studying herbs with Lydia.


    <b>I </b>smiled<b>, </b>watching <b>the </b>twins chase each other in circles, theirughter echoing against the adobe walls. These abandoned wolf cubs had quickly imed a piece of my heart.


    Mira, the silent girl who had lost her parents to hunters, now sat beside me on the bench, methodically braiding tiny desert flowers into a crown. She hadn¡¯t spoken yet, but she¡¯d begun seeking out mypany¨Ca victory Venus assured me was significant.


    When the courier arrived, I barely registered his presence until he stood directly before me, an envelope extended in his hand.


    ¡°Miss Skye? This arrived for you today.¡±


    I epted it with a distracted ¡®thank you,¡± expecting it to be pack business¨Cperhaps new protocols from Venus or training schedules from Nadia. But the handwriting that formed my name sent a jolt through my system.


    I would recognize it anywhere, having spent childhood summerspeting with its owner <b>to </b>produce the neatest lettering.


    Ethan.


    My fingers trembled slightly as I tore open the envelope, Mira momentarily forgotten beside me. The familiar scent of skan pine clung faintly to the paper, a ghost of home that made my throat tighten unexpectedly.


    Dear Skye,


    Your letter arrived on my birthday¨Cperfect timing as always, little sister. <b>I </b>can¡¯t tell you how happy I was to hear from you after all this time<b>, </b>to <b>know </b>that your wolf has finally emerged. I always knew she would. She just needed the right moment.


    Your news about joining Oasisborn Pack caught everyone by surprise. Mother cried when I showed her your letter (happy tears<b>, </b>she insisted). Father tried to hide it, but I saw how his eyes glistened. They miss you terribly, as do I.


    I should tell you that <b>I¡¯ve </b>found my mate¨CLily, from the Northern Ridge branch of our extended pack. Wepleted the marking <b>ceremony </bst month. She¡¯s gentle but fierce when needed, reminds me a bit of you, actually. I think you¡¯d like her.


    But there¡¯s something else you should know. Leon was with me when your letter arrived. He opened <b>it </b><b>first</b><b>, </b>believing it to be <b>pack </b>busines When he saw your name, Skye¡­ I¡¯ve never seen our Alpha so affected. He was angry¨Cfurious<b>, </b>really¨Cthat you¡¯ve pledged yourself <b>to </b><b>another </b><b>pack</b>. N


    <b>ise </b>he rejected you as his mate, but because he never intended for you to leave Frostshadow permanently. He <b>expected </b>you would return <b>eventually</b>.


    I have to ask¨Cis there a reason you chose Oasisborn specifically? Have you found a Second Chance mate <b>there</b><b>? </b><b>If </b>not, I beg <b>you </b><b>to </b><b>reconsider </b>your decision. Qasisborn is a fledgling desert pack with little standing or <b>resources</b><b>. </b>Compared to Frostshadow, they¡¯re practically valueless in the <b>werewolf </b>hierarchy.


    Mother and Father are well and happy, though they would be happier <b>if </b>you came home. Leon would wee you back<b>¨C</b>he <b>would </b><b>forgive </b>your absence<b>. </b>Think about it, Skye. Think about where you truly belong.


    Your brother always, Ethan


    I read the letter <b>twice</b><b>, </b>conflicting emotions surging through me with each word. Joy at hearing from my family warred <b>with </b>indignation at Leon¡¯s presumption.


    He was angry that I¡¯d joined another pack<b>? </b>


    <b>After </b>publicly humiliating me<b>, </b><b>rejecting </b>me as his mate, and <b>effectively </b>forcing me to flee<b>? </b>


    What right did he <b>have </b>to <b>feel </b><b>betrayed </b>when he <b>was </b>the one who had shattered our bond?


    And Ethan<b>¨C</b>my own brother¨Cstill defending him, still prioritizing Leon¡¯s feelings over mine. Still trying to guide me back into the fold like a <b>wayward </b><b>sheep</b><b>. </b>His dismissal of Oasisborn as ¡°practically valueless¡® made my blood boil,


    <b>He </b>had no idea what Adrian and the others had built here, themunity they had created from nothing, the home they had offered to those other packs had discarded.


    Mira tugged at my sleeve, her solemn eyes questioning. I hadn¡¯t realized how tightly I was gripping the letter, nearly tearing it in my anger. I forced a smile, gently epting the flower crown she had finished and carefully cing it atop my silver hair.


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± I assured her, tucking the letter away. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Later that evening, after the pups were settled in their beds, I retreated to my hotel room and reread Ethan¡¯s letter, trying to process my feelings more rationally.


    The fact that Leon had been upset by my joining Oasisborn was<b>¡­ </b>unexpected. During those long, painful nights after fleeing Frostshadow, I¡¯d imagined his reaction to my disappearance would be indifference, perhaps even relief¨Cone lessplication in his perfectly nned path to bing Alpha King.


    To learn that he¡¯d expected my eventual return, that he considered forgiving me¨Cas if I were the one who needed forgiveness¨Cignited an anger <b>I </b>thought long extinguished.


    In a fit of petnce, I nearly crumpled the letter and tossed it away.


    But I couldn¡¯t bring myself to destroy this connection to my family, no matter how frustrating parts of it might be. Instead, I carefully refolded it <b>and </b>ced it in the drawer beside my bed, resolving not to respond immediately. Better to wait until I could write without the <b>heat </b>of emotion coloring my words.


    I regretted sending that letter to Ethan in the first ce.


    It had been a moment of weakness, of homesickness¨Ca childish reach forfort from the brother who had once been my <b>greatest </b><b>protector</b><b>. </b>


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 Casts 38

    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    Over the following days, I threw myself into pack activities with renewed dedication, determined to prove Ethan wrong about Oasisborn¡¯s value¨Cperhaps more to myself than to him.


    I trained harder with Nadia, volunteered extra houts at the orphanage, and even asked Marcus to teach me basic security protocols.


    1 saw little of Adrian during this time. Since establishing appropriate boundaries that night outside the orphanage, our interactions had been limited to formal pack meetings or brief encounters in public spaces. He maintained a polite distance that I told myself was exactly what I wanted¨Cwhat we both needed to avoidplications.


    After all, his interest had been purely professional, guided by his responsibilities as Alpha.


    Still, each night as Iy in my hotel bed, alone with my thoughts, I couldn¡¯t help remembering the intensity in his amber eyes when he¡¯d asked if I was deliberately avoiding him. The way his ocean scent had wrapped around me like a physical caress. The heat of his bare skin that night in his bathroom, water droplets tracing paths I longed to follow with my fingertips.


    These thoughts served no purpose beyond tormenting me, yet <b>I </b>couldn¡¯t seem to banish them. Some nights, I sought refuge in grueling shift practice, racing through the desert in wolf form until exhaustion overcame desire.


    Other evenings, I visited Lydia¡¯sboratory, absorbing her knowledge of herbs and poisons to upy my mind. Her calm presence and matter¨Cof¨Cfact instruction provided the perfect distraction from my emotional turmoil.


    On one such night, I noticed an unusual object sitting on a shelf behind her workstation¨Ca polished stone disk etched with strange symbols<b>, </b>suspended<fn348c> Original content can be found at find?novel</fn348c>


    from a delicate silver chain.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± I asked, gesturing toward it as she carefully measured dried wolfsbane into a mortar.


    Lydia nced over her shoulder, her eyes crinkling above her mask in what I now recognized as a smile. <b>¡°</b><b>A </b>scrying pendant,¡± she replied, setting down her tools and retrieving the disk. ¡°From my mother¡¯s side¨Cthe witch bloodline.¡±


    She held it up, letting it catch themplight. The symbols seemed to shift and dance as the disk rotated slowly.


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± I murmured, leaning closer to examine it.


    ¡®It¡¯s useful,¡± she corrected, matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. ¡°For those with the gift, it can reveal glimpses of what might be.¡± Her knowing eyes studied me over her mask. ¡°I could use it for you, if you wish. To see what lies ahead in your heart¡¯s journey.¡±


    ¡°What exactly would it show?¡± I asked, curious but cautious.


    She nodded. ¡°Perhaps you want to know about a Second Chance mate? Whether your path will cross with someone meant for you?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I said softly, shaking my head. ¡°I don¡¯t think I want to know. My mate rejected me, and the man I¡­¡± I trailed off, unable toplete the thought aloud. ¡°I don¡¯t believe the Moon Goddess has written a happy love story for me.¡±


    Lydia made noment, simply returning the pendant to its shelf. There was no judgment in her silence, just eptance of my decision.


    As I watched her carefully ce the pendant back, a sudden thought struck me. If the future truly could be predicted, had Lydia ever foreseen her own tragic fate? Had she known what would happen with the former Luna¡¯s husband? Had anything inappropriate actually urred between them, as the rumors suggested? Did she lie awake at night, filled with regret or resentment <b>over </b>what had happened?


    Of course, these <b>were </b>questions I would never dare to <b>ask</b>. It wasn¡¯t my ce to pry into such painful history. Perhaps I was simply a pessimist, <b>but </b>I couldn¡¯t help feeling that fate was something beyond our control.


    ¡°Let¡¯s continue with the antidotes,¡± I suggested, eager to change the subject and escape my own intrusive thoughts. ¡°You mentioned a treatment for Nordic wolfsbane that-¡®


    I <b>never </b>finished my sentence. A sudden pressure in my mind interrupted my thoughts¡ªthe unmistakable sensation of a mind¨Clink forming.


    Council members, Adrian¡¯s voice echoed in my head, clear andmanding. Emergency meeting in the central chamber immediately.


    Lydia and I exchanged nces, the serious tone of his mental summons evident to us both.


    ¡°Something¡¯s happened,¡® she said simply, already moving to secure her workstation.


    I nodded, a thread of apprehension weaving through me as we hurried toward the council chambers, the pendant and my romantic troubles temporarily forgotten in the face of what could only be pack business¨Cand likely trouble..


    <b>Chapter </b>Comments


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 Casts 39

    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    The emergency council meeting had been called with such urgency that several members arrived looking disheveled, clearly interrupted from various tasks.


    Ryder¡¯s hair was still wet from what must have been a hasty shower, and Venus carried a ledger she¡¯d presumably been working on when the summons came. I slipped into an empty chair beside Lydia, my heart beating quickly with apprehension.


    Adrian stood at the head of the oval table, a thick cream¨Ccolored envelope held carefully in his hands. His expression was unreadable, but something in his posture¨Ca tension in his shoulders, perhaps¨Csuggested the contents were significant.


    ¡°Thank you all foring so quickly,¡± he began, his deep voicemanding immediate attention. ¡°This afternoon, I received a special delivery from the North American Werewolf Council.¡± He held up the envelope, its gold seal glinting under the lights. ¡°It¡¯s an official invitation to next year¡¯s Alpha King


    election.¡±


    2


    A charged silence fell over the room. I nced around at the council members, noting their varied reactions¨CNadia¡¯s eyes widened with barely contained excitement, while Marcus¡¯s face darkened into a concerned frown.


    ¡°The Council has opened registration for next year¡¯s Alpha King election,¡± Adrian continued. ¡°They¡¯re sending invitations earlier than usual to give candidates more time to prepare. The election itself will still take ce next November as scheduled.¡±


    2


    The implications hung heavy in the air. Alpha King¨Cthe highest position in werewolf society, responsible for establishingws that governed all packs across the continent. The power to reshape territories, allocate resources, mediate disputes between packs. It was the pinnacle of werewolf authority, <b>a </b>position that carried immense prestige and responsibility.


    And Adrian had been invited topete for it.


    Nadia was the first to break the silence, leaning forward with barely contained enthusiasm.


    ¡°This is the opportunity we¡¯ve been waiting for,¡± she dered, her dark eyes shining. ¡°Your bloodline, your leadership abilities¨CI believe you have what it takes to seed on arger stage, Adrian.¡±


    Her fervent support didn¡¯t surprise me. As Adrian¡¯s Beta, her loyalty to him was absolute. But not everyone shared her enthusiasm.


    ¡°If you¡¯re elected, you¡¯ll have to leave us,¡± Marcus pointed out, his sightless eyes somehow still managing to convey deep concern. <b>¡°</b>Oasisborn Pack needs you here. No one could fill your position as Alpha.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s expression remained neutral as he listened, but I noticed his fingers tighten slightly around the envelope.


    Venus shifted in her chair, her single arm gesturing subtly for attention. ¡°There¡¯s also the matter of resources,¡± she said, ever the prac want to support your candidacy, our pack may not have the strength to back an Alpha King campaign.¡± She tapped her ledger meani. about personal ability. Thepetition requires significant investment in your public image and promotion. It¡¯s an expensive endeavor.<ol><li>st. ¡°Even if <b>we </b></li></ol>


    This isn¡¯t just


    ¡°But think of the benefits if Adrian wins,¡± Garrett countered, his intelligent eyes bright with strategic calction. <b>As </b>Alpha King, he could establish new policies for governing the western territories. We¡¯d finally have protection against packs like Gravestone.¡± He leaned forward, warming to his argument. ¡°Our current demographics leave us vulnerable. We have too high a proportion of elderly wolves, women, and childrenpared to warriors. In a direct conflict with Gravestone, we¡¯d be at a severe disadvantage.¡±


    I hadn¡¯t considered our pack¡¯sposition in those terms before, but Garrett¡¯s assessment made sense. Oasisborn had been founded as a haven for outcasts -many of whom were notbat¨Ctrained wolves but rather those who had been <b>rejected </b>or injured. Our strengthy in our diversity and innovation, not our military might.


    ¡°The current Alpha King barely acknowledges conflicts between western packs<b>, </b>Garrett continued. ¡°We¡¯re essentially on our own out here.¡±


    Venus nodded acknowledgment but maintained her cautious stance. ¡°I understand the potential benefits, but I still believe the timing is wrong. Our pack is still establishing itself. The odds of sess in this election cycle are minimal. She looked around the table, seeking support. ¡°Perhaps we should focus on building our strength and consider entering the next election in four years.


    Adrian had remained silent throughout <b>the </b>exchange, listening intently to each perspective. Now he ced <b>the </b>envelope on the table, folding his hands atop it with deliberate care<b>. </b>


    ¡°I appreciate all of your insights,¡± he said, his gaze moving from one council member to the next. ¡°I¡¯ve given this considerable thought since receiving the invitation, and I¡¯ve made my decision.¡±


    The room fell silent again, all <b>eyes </b>fixed on him with expectant tension.<fn9925> Latest content published on Find[?]ovel</fn9925>


    ¡°I will not be entering this Alpha King election.¡±


    Nadia¡¯s disappointment was immediate and visible, her shoulders slumping slightly. Others seemed relieved, particrly Marcus, whose tense posture rxed noticeably.


    Our pack must be my priority,¡± Adrian continued, his voice steady and resolute. ¡°We¡¯re still growing, still building something unique here in the desert. I believe my ce is with you, focusing on strengthening Oasisborn from within.¡±


    He rose from his chair, his tall framemanding as he addressed the council. ¡°Regarding our vulnerability, Garrett makes an excellent point. We need to address our defensive capabilities. I propose intensifyingbat training for our adolescents, while also teaching women and children basic self¨Cdefense strategies¨Chow to protect themselves in an attack, how to evade danger, how to survive until help arrives.¡±


    The council members nodded in agreement, the wisdom of prioritizing pack security over political ambition apparent to all.


    ¡°Is there anything else to discuss?¡± Adrian asked, looking around the table.


    When no other concerns were raised, he nodded decisively. ¡°Then this meeting is adjourned. Thank you all for your candid opinions.¡±


    As council members began gathering their belongings and rising from their seats, Adrian¡¯s voice cut through the shuffling. ¡°Skye, would you <b>stay </b>behind for a moment? There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to discuss with you.¡±


    I froze halfway out of my chair, surprise mingling with inexplicable nervousness. What could Adrian possibly want to discuss privately?


    Nadia stopped at the door, nced between us, clearly hesitant. Adrian looked at her. She stiffened, gave a final nce, then left.


    As the door closed behind thest council member, I found myself alone with Adrian for the first time in weeks. The sudden privacy felt both intimate and intimidating.


    He moved to the window, staring out at the desertndscape for a long moment before turning back to face me. His expression had shifted, a gravity entering his features that hadn¡¯t been present during the council meeting.


    ¡®I received additional information with the election invitation,¡± he said, ¡°Alpha Leon of Frostshadow Pack has already registered <b>as </b><b>a </b>candidate for the Alpha King election.¡±


    POST COMMENT


    <b>Chapter </b><b>Comments </b>


    Jamie DeWitt


    I¡¯m confused.. shouldn¡¯t you be registering to run for alpha king before voting for it?


    Jamie DeWitt


    in an earlier chapter it was stated to be in November, not next year.

 Casts 40

    Leon¡¯s POV


    I carefully broke the seal and removed the contents. It was an official invitation topete in next year¡¯s Alpha King election.


    A satisfied smile spread across my face as I read the formalnguage. Each word validated the path I¡¯d chosen.


    ¡°Ethan,¡± I called.


    Within moments, he appeared at my office door.


    ¡°Alpha Leon? You called for me?¡±


    ¡°The North America werewolf Council¡¯s invitation has arrived. Prepare our response immediately.*


    ¡°That¡¯s excellent news! Though earlier than expected, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°The Council is giving candidates more preparation time this cycle,¡± I exined, handing him the letter. ¡°Smart move on their part. Thepetition for Alpha King requires extensive campaigning.¡±


    As Ethan scanned the document, his brow furrowed slightly. ¡°I wonder if Alpha Adrian from Oasisborn Pack received an invitation as well.¡±


    The mere mention of that pack name sent a surge of irritation through me.


    A desert wastnd pack with barely two years of history? They wouldn¡¯t qualify for consideration.¡± I scoffed, leaning back in my chair. ¡°The Council has standards, Ethan. They don¡¯t waste invitations on insignificant territories run by exiled wolves.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Alpha. I¡¯ll prepare our response right away.¡±


    He turned to leave but hesitated at the door.


    ¡®I sent another letter to Skyest week,¡± he said, ¡°No response <b>yet</b>. I¡¯m beginning to think she may have found her Second Chance mate at Oasisborn<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°If she¡¯s found a mate, then good for her,¡± I replied evenly. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what we¡¯ve all hoped for her?¡±


    ¡°I suppose,¡® Ethan agreed, though his tone suggested hesitation. ¡°But I¡¯d rather see you find your mate first. Frostshadow Pack r side, especially if you¡¯re to be Alpha King.¡±


    strong Luna by your


    I waved away his concern. ¡°I don¡¯t need a mate to win the election, Ethan. My leadership abilities and Frostshadow¡¯s resources are more than sufficient.¡±


    After Ethan departed to draft our response, <b>I </b>remained at my desk, staring absently at the invitation. My wolf stirred restlessly in my mind.


    If you hadn¡¯t rejected her three years ago, we wouldn¡¯t still be without a mate, he grumbled, his disapproval rippling through our shared consciousness.


    ¡®Shut up, I muttered aloud. ¡®I made the best decision for our pack.¡±


    My wolf snorted. For the pack? Or for your ambition?


    I pushed him down forcefully, refusing to engage with his usations. Yet an inexplicable restlessness gnawed at me, an irritation I couldn¡¯t quite name of dispel.


    The evening found me at The Northern Lodge, one of the few upscale establishments in our territory.


    I¡¯d chosen a corner booth.The smooth burn of whiskey provided a momentary respite from my thoughts, but the peace was short¨Clived. Raised voices from the bar area prated my consciousness<b>, </b>growing increasingly difficult to ignore.


    <b>1/3 </b>


    With a sigh of irritation, I signaled to a passing server.


    ¡°Handle whatever that disturbance is, I ordered. I expect quiet when Ie here.¡±


    The young woman nodded nervously. Right away, Alpha Leon.¡±


    She hurried toward themotion, but returned minutester, wringing her hands anxiously.


    ¡®I¡¯m terribly sorry, Alpha, but it¡¯s your warrior Maya. She¡¯s having a disagreement with another patron. I tried to intervene, but she wouldn¡¯t listen to me.¡±


    My irritation deepened. As a skilled warrior, Maya was valuable to the pack, but herck of discipline was bing a liability.


    Ill handle it,¡± I said, rising from my seat.


    As I approached the bar, the scene came into clearer view. Maya had a woman pinned against the counter, one hand fisted in the woman¡¯s blonde hair as she berated her loudly.


    My steps faltered briefly when I recognized the other woman. It was Mnie, the pack whore who had served my needs.


    ¡°Maya!¡± I barked, ¡®Release her. Immediately.¡±


    Maya¡¯s head whipped around, her eyes widening in surprise. She dropped her grip on Mnie¡¯s hair instantly.


    ¡°Alpha Leon!¡± She straightened her posture, shing me a practiced smile. ¡°What a surprise to see you here. You rarely visit the lodge.¡±


    ¡°What I do is none of your concern,¡± I replied coldly. ¡°What concerns me is one of my warriors assaulting someone in public. Exin yourself.¡±


    Maya¡¯s smile hardened, her eyes darting to Mnie with unveiled contempt. ¡°This whore deliberately knocked over my drink and refused to pay for a recement. I was simply teaching her some manners.¡±<fn0c50> The rightful source is find?novel</fn0c50>


    Mnie, who had shrunk against the bar, looked up with tearful eyes. ¡°It wasn¡¯t deliberate, Alpha, she rushed past and bumped into me. I apologized, but she attacked me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a lie!¡± Maya hissed, taking a menacing step toward Mnie before my re froze her in ce<b>. </b>


    ¡°Enough,¡± Imanded. ¡°Maya, you will apologize to her. Now.¡±


    ¡°Apologize? To her? She¡¯s nothing but a pack whore!¡± Maya¡¯s voice dripped with disdain. ¡°Why should I lower myself to apologize to someone like that?¡±


    ¡°Because I ordered you to,¡± I growled. ¡°And because you¡¯re representing Frostshadow Pack with your behavior. Do you think this disp Particrly now, when we¡¯re preparing for the Alpha King election?¡±


    Something flickered in Maya¡¯s eyes. Finally, she turned to Mnie with obvious reluctance.


    I apologize for my behavior,¡± she said stiffly, the words clearly painful to deliver.


    ¡®ps our image?


    Mnie nodded, avoiding Maya¡¯s gaze. ¡°Thank you, Alpha Leon, she murmured, genuine gratitude in her voice<b>. </b>¡°Your intervention means a lot.¡±


    ¡®Don¡¯t make a habit of needing it,¡± I replied, already turning to leave. The whiskey¡¯s appeal had vanishedpletely, and I had no desire to remain in the lodge after this spectacle.


    The night air was cool against my face <b>as </b>I stepped outside, helping to clear the lingering irritation. I had barely made it a dozen steps when I heard rapid footsteps behind me.


    ¡°Leon, wait!¡±


    ¡®Address me properly, warrior.


    She ignored the correction, moving closer until she stood directly before me.


    ¡°Why did you defend her?<b>¡± </b>The question came out almost as an usation. ¡®Do you like that whore? What does she have <b>that </b>I don¡¯t<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Before <b>I </b>could respond, she grabbed my hand and pressed it against her breast, her eyes wild with desperation.


    ¡®I can give you everything she can, and more! I don¡¯t need to be your mate. I know you¡¯re saving that position for someone politically advantageous.¡± Her voice dropped to a husky whisper. ¡°But when you need release, when you need a woman¡¯s body¡­ I¡¯m yours. You can do anything you want to me


    Disgust washed <b>over </b>me in a cold wave. I jerked my hand away from her as if burned, stepping back to put distance between us.


    ¡®Don¡¯t <b>ever </b>touch me like that again,¡± I warned, my voice deadly quiet. ¡°Your behavior reflects poorly on yourself and on our pack. If you ever cross this boundary with me again, I will remove you from the warrior ranks permanently. <b>Is </b>that understood?¡±


    Maya¡¯s expression crumpled, humiliation recing her earlier boldness. Without waiting for her response<b>, </b>I turned and walked <b>away</b>.


    As I made my way home, I couldn¡¯t shake the gnawing sensation that had gued me all day.


    You¡¯re lonely, my wolf observed quietly. We both are.


    This time, I didn¡¯t bother silencing him. The truth of his words was too obvious to deny.


    <b>Chapter </b>Comments

 Casts 41

    <b>Chapter </b><b>41 </b>


    Adrian¡¯s POV


    <b>I </b>studied Skye¡¯s face carefully as <b>I</b>¨Cdelivered the news about Leon. Her initial sh of surprise quickly gave way to a practiced <b>calm</b>.


    ¡°Oh, <b>I </b><b>see</b><b>,</b><b>¡± </b>she said, her voice impressively steady. ¡°That¡¯s not surprising. Bing Alpha King has always been his dream. She paused briefly before adding, ¡°I assume he¡¯s found a strong Luna by now.¡±


    The casual way she referenced her former mate¡¯s potential new partner struck me as deliberate. I recognized the tactic; I¡¯d employed it myself many times.


    I just thought you should know,¡± I exined, ¡°given your previous connection to Frostshadow Pack.¡±


    Skye straightened her shoulders almost imperceptibly. ¡°Since <b>I¡¯ve </b>joined Oasisborn, Frostshadow has nothing to do with me anymore. Her gaze met <b>mine </b>directly, unwavering. ¡°As for Alpha Leon, he and I ceased having any connection to each other long ago.¡±


    The quiet confidence in her voice impressed me. In the weeks since she¡¯d joined our pack, I¡¯d witnessed her transformation from a cautious lone wolf <b>to </b>someone who carried herself with increasing purpose and belonging.


    The silver¨Chaired woman before me now bore little resemnce to the frightened bartender we¡¯d found in that desert town.


    I moved closer, unable to stop myself from posing the question that had been weighing on my mind. <b>¡°</b>What if <b>I </b>were to enter <b>the </b><b>Alpha </b><b>King </b>election as well? If I had topete against Alpha Leon, then¡­¡±


    I let the question hang iplete between <b>us</b><b>. </b>


    Skye answered without hesitation. ¡°You¡¯re my Alpha now. I would stand with you.¡±


    Her words warmed me. She had proven my trust in her was not misced.


    Nadia had warned me about Skye¡¯s letters to her family. <b>¡°</b>Check what she¡¯s writing,¡® she had urged. ¡°Make sure she¡¯s not nning to betray us or feeding information to Frostshadow.¡±


    But I had refused. Trust wasn¡¯t something to be parceled out conditionally¨Cit had to be given freely if it was to mean anything at all. And now<b>, </b>Skye had proven my instincts correct.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said, moving closer still. ¡°Your loyalty means a great deal to me.¡±


    The council chamber suddenly felt smaller, more intimate. The desert moonlight filtered through the windows<b>, </b>catching in Skye¡¯s silver hair. Without thinking, I reached out, letting my fingers brush lightly against those metallic strands.


    Skye¡¯s breath caught audibly, her <b>eyes </b>widening slightly at the contact. The scent of her¨Csubtle <b>yet </b>distinctive<b>, </b>like fresh snow¨Cintensified with her quickened pulse. Something primal stirred within me, urging me to close the remaining distance between us, to im those softly parted lips with my own.


    I leaned forward, unable to resist. For weeks I had kept my distance<b>. </b>Now, with her silver hair between my fingers and her <b>eyes </b>on mine, those boundaries didn¡¯t matter anymore<b>. </b>


    The shrill ring of a phone shattered the moment.


    Skye jumped back as if burned, fumbling in her pocket for her phone. <b>As </b>she turned away to answer it, I caught myself<b>, </b>suddenly aware of how close I¡¯de to crossing a line <b>I¡¯d </b>promised <b>myself </b>I wouldn¡¯t approach.


    <b>¡°</b>Hello?¡± <b>Skye¡¯s </b>voice <b>was </b>slightly breathless. ¡°Oh, Ryder<b>¡­ </b>Yes, I¡¯m just finishing up¡­ The council meeting? It¡¯s over¡­ Yes, <b>I </b>can meet you there¡­ Okay, <b>see </b>


    <b>you </b>soon.


    She ended the call, turning back to me with a flush coloring her cheeks<b>. </b>¡°I¡¯m sorry, Alpha Adrian. That was Ryder. He¡­ he¡¯s waiting for me. <b>May </b><b>I </b>be


    <b>excused</b><b>?</b>¡±


    The formality in her tone¡ªthe careful use of my title<b>¨C</b>served as a pointed reminder of our positions. Whatever moment we¡¯d just shared had <b>evaporated</b><b>, </b>reced by the proper distance between an Alpha and his pack member.


    Chapter 41<fn81b1> Newest update provided by f?ndnovel</fn81b1>


    ¡°<b>Of </b>course, I nodded, stepping back to physically reinforce the boundary she¡¯d just verbally established. Thank you for staying behind.


    With a quick nod, Skye hurried from the council chamber, the door closing behind her with a soft click that somehow felt deafening in the sudden <b>emptiness </b>


    <b>of </b><b>the </b>room<b>. </b>


    I exhaled slowly<b>, </b>running a hand through my hair <b>as </b>I collected myself.


    What were you thinking? My wolf growled in the recesses of my mind. She¡¯s not your mate. If you need sex, go find a whore to satisfy your urges. But you shouldn¡¯t develop feelings for someone who doesn¡¯t belong to you.


    ¡°I know,¡± I muttered aloud to the empty room. ¡°I know.¡±


    Moving to the desk, I drafted a brief email to the North American Werewolf Council<b>, </b>formally declining their invitation to participate in the uing <b>Alpha </b>King election. My pack needed me here<b>, </b>focused on their needs rather than political ambitions. That much, at least, remained clear.


    After sending the message, I checked my watch. The evening <b>was </b><b>still </b>young. I didn¡¯t want to return home <b>to </b>an empty house. My thoughts would only torment <b>me </b>there. I decided to visit The Oasis, our pack¡¯s sole tavern. Perhaps the noise would drown out <b>my </b>conscience.


    The drive <b>was </b>short, the night air cool through the open windows of my SUV. The tavern lights shone through the desert night. I pushed open the door <b>and </b>walked in. The familiar faces andfortable atmosphere usually brought me <b>peace</b><b>. </b>My <b>eyes </b><b>swept </b><b>across </b>the room.


    What I saw stopped me cold.


    In a corner booth<b>, </b>clearly visible despite the tavern¡¯s dim lighting, sat Ryder and Skye. They were huddled close together, their <b>postures </b>intimate<b>, </b>their faces flushed with apparent intoxication. Ryder¡¯s arm was draped casually around Skye¡¯s shoulders, and she leaned into him<b>, </bughing at something he¡¯d <b>just </b>said.


    Jealousy hit me hard. I had no right to feel this <b>way</b>, but I couldn¡¯t stop it.


    <b>Chapter </b><b>Comments </b>

 Casts 42

    <b>Chapter </b><b>42 </b>


    <b>Adrian¡¯s </b>POV


    I strode across the tavern. My Alpha presence made conversations falter and heads turn <b>face </b>showed surprise and something like guilt.


    ¡°Adrian! I didn¡¯t expect to see you here tonight,¡± she said.


    1 passed. Before I reached their table, Nadia blocked my path<b>. </b>Her


    <b>My </b>attention stayed on the scene behind her. Skye was barely recognizable. Her usual calm was gone, reced by something wild. Her silver hair hung messy around her flushed face <b>as </b>sheughed loudly. She swayed on her seat and almost fell before Ryder steadied her with both hands.


    <b>¡°</b>What¡¯s going on here?¡± I asked, voice low but sharp..


    Nadia shifted uneasily. ¡°It¡¯s Ryder¡¯s birthday. He turned eighteen yesterday. We just came out for a small celebration.¡± She pointed vaguely at their table. ¡°Ryder dared Skye to try some wolf liquor. <b>He </b>said she wouldn¡¯t. She insisted she was a bartender and could handle it. One sster, well, you see the result.¡±


    I clenched my jaw. Wolf liquor was made with rare herbs that affected werewolf metabolism. Normal alcohol did little to us, but wolf liquor intoxicated us.


    More importantly, it suppressed our ability to shift temporarily and dulled ourbat <b>reflexes</b><b>. </b>That is why warriors were strictly forbidden to drink it.


    ¡°You are her training mentor,¡± I said sharply. ¡°How could you let her drink wolf liquor<b>? </b>


    Nadia bristled. ¡°She chose to drink it herself. I did not force her.<b>¡± </b>


    From the corner booth, Skye suddenly stood up, swaying dangerously. <b>¡°</b>Is that our Alpha<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>she called out loudly. ¡°Adrian<b>! </b><b>Come </b>celebrate <b>with </b>us!<b>¡± </b><fnf6a9> Th?s chapter is updated by F¦ÉndNovel</fnf6a9>


    She tried to move around the table but stumbled. She knocked over an empty ss that rolled before Ryder caught it.


    <b>I </b>moved past Nadia toward their table. Ryder looked up at me with zed eyes and a lopsided grin.


    <b>¡°</b>Alpha!¡± he <b>slurred</b>. ¡°Join us! One little drink will not hurt.¡±


    <b>I </b>grabbed his cor and pulled him to his feet in one swift move. ¡°Wolf warriors are absolutely forbidden from drinking wolf liquor<b>,</b><b>¡± </b><b>I </b>growled. <b>¡°</b><b>You </b>broke pack discipline.¡±


    Skye¡¯s handnded on my arm, warm through my shirt. ¡°Adrian<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>she giggled, clearly drunk, ¡°you <b>are </b><b>way </b>too <b>tense</b><b>. </b>Everyone is fine<b>. </b><b>You </b>should have a drink too and loosen up.¡±


    She leaned forward but lost her bnce and copsed against my chest. I caught her with one arm around her waist. The weight <b>of </b>her <b>soft </b>body against <b>me </b>sent heat rushing through my veins. Her breath brushed my neck, warm and sweet with the herbal wolf liquor <b>scent</b>.


    ¡°I am taking you home,¡± <b>I </b>said firmly.


    ¡°But I am not done drinking,¡± she protested, trying to turn back to the table. She stumbled again and knocked over another <b>ss</b>. Amber liquid spilled across the table.


    I made a quick decision. I bent down and hoisted her over my shoulder in a fireman¡¯s carry. She squealed in surprise thenughed breathlessly as her <b>silver </b>hair fell down.


    <b>¡°</b>Adrian<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>Nadia called after me.


    I turned, my expression leaving no room for argument. ¡°You and Ryder will both report for disciplinary action tomorrow morning,<b>¡± </b><b>I </bmanded<b>. </b><b>¡°</b><b>As </b><b>his </b>superior, you are responsible for his conduct. Is this how you manage your team?¡±


    <b>I </b>did not wait for her answer. I pushed through the tavern doors into the cool desert night. Skye went quiet on my shoulder<b>, </b>though <b>I </b><b>felt </b><b>her </b><b>uneven </b>breathing against my back.


    <b>When </b><b>we </b>reached my SUV, <b>I </b>carefully lowered her into the back seat, arranging her so she would not <b>roll </b>off during <b>the </b>drive.


    <b>Chapter </b><b>42 </b>


    <b>The </b><b>trip </b><b>to </b><b>her </b><b>apartment </b>was <b>filled </b>with her incolierent mumbling<b>. </b>Sometimes the whispered tearfully. Other <b>Umes </b><b>she </b><bughed </b>madaniy then the <b>the </b><b>rearview </b><b>mirror</b><b>, </b>worried <b>she </b><b>might </b>get <b>sick</b><b>, </b>but she stayed sprawled out.


    <b>At </b><b>her </b><b>building</b>, <b>I </b>lifted her from the back seat, cradling her against my chest. Her head lolled against <b>my </b>shoulder, <b>lips </b>slightly parted<b>. </b>


    ¡°<b>Skye</b><b>,</b><b>¡± </b><b>I </b>said gently, ¡°I need your keys. Where are they?¡±


    She mumbled something I could not understand. Her pocket to find the keys<b>. </b>


    When <b>my </b>fingers brushed her thigh through the fabric,


    yes fluttered but did not fully open. After trying once more to wake her, I slid my <b>hand </b>into her


    I froze<b>, </b><b>my </b>body reacting instantly. Taking a deep breath


    she


    and giggled. ¡°That tickles,¡± she said. Her body pressed closer <b>to </b>mine as she twisted.


    <b>Her </b>apartment was simple but neat. It reflected her organized <b>She </b>curled on her side with a soft sigh.


    yself, I carefully took out the keys and quickly unlocked her door¡­


    temporary home. I carried her to the bedroom and gently faid her down.


    She could not sleep in her clothes. The tight jeans and t¨Cshirt would be ufortable and might restrict her breathing. I hesitated. Leaving her like that <b>felt </b>wrong. Undressing her crossed a boundary I was not sure about.


    Her well¨Cbeing won. Moving as clinically as <b>possible</b>, I took off her boots first and <b>set </b>them by the bed. Then came the harder part<b>, </b>her jeans.


    I unbuttoned them and slowly slid the denim down her legs. My knuckles brushed her smooth skin <b>a </b><b>few </b><b>times</b><b>, </b>sending sparks through me.


    I held my breath as I lifted her slightly to pull the t¨Cshirt over her head. Her silver hair fell <b>back </b>on the pillow<b>, </b>framing her flushed <b>face</b><b>. </b><b>She </by there in only simple cotton underwear. Her skin was pale and wless in the dim light.


    My throat tightened. I found arge t¨Cshirt in her dresser and carefully put it on her <b>sleeping </b>body.


    Every second required all <b>my </b>self¨Ccontrol. I wanted to <b>kiss </b>her, touch her, feel her heat. I <b>even </b>wanted to mark <b>her</b><b>, </b>im her as <b>mine</b><b>. </b>


    I pulled the nkets <b>over </b>her and stepped back, heart pounding. She looked <b>so </b>vulnerable<b>. </b><b>Her </b>lips were parted slightly in <b>sleep</b><b>. </b>A <b>fierce </b>protective feeling rose inside me, beyond my Alpha duties.


    I had to leave immediately before I did something I would regret.


    I ced a ss of water on her nightstand, knowing she would need it when she woke. Then I turned and quickly left, locking the <b>door </b>behind <b>me</b>.


    The cool night air hit my heated skin as I went down to the parking lot. Skye<b>, </b>drunk like that, was <b>even </b><b>more </b><b>sensual </b>and irresistible than usual.


    Fuck. I had <b>never </b>lost control like this before.


    <b>I </b>started the engine and mmed on the elerator, hoping to <b>leave </b><b>my </b><b>restless </b><b>desire </b>far behind.


    Nadia is spying on people and trying to control everyone, I don¡¯t like her

 Casts 43

    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    30


    <b>I </b>woke to a pounding headache, the bitter taste of heths lingering on tongue. When I tried to stand, the room titted violently, and I nearly conned to the floor, Clutching the edge of the nightstand for support, I squinted against the morning light slicing through a gap in the curtains.


    With a groan<b>, </b>1 dragged myself to the window and yanked the curtains fully open, immediately regretting the assault of bright sunlight on my <b>sensitive </b>ejeri The digital clock on my nightstand shed 9:00 AM in angry red numbers.


    <b>¡°</b>Shit!¡± I gasped, my heart jumping into my throat. I¡¯dpletely missed morning training with Nadia. The thought of facing her disapproval only intensified the throbbing behind my temples.


    I stumbled to the bathroom, sshing cold water on my face in a futile attempt to wash away the lingering effects ofst night. As I raised <b>my </b>head <b>to </b>look in the mirror, my reflection startled me¨Csilver hair tangled wildly around my flushed face, body swallowed by an oversized t¨Cshirt I didn¡¯t remember <b>putting </b><ol><li>on<b>. </b></li></ol>


    That¡¯s when the question hit me: How did I get homest night?


    Fragments of memory shed through my mind. Ryder calling after the council meeting¡­ The tavern¡­ A ss filled with amber liquid that smelled of <b>pine </b>and moonlight. Wolf liquor¨Cthe legendary brew that could intoxicate even werewolves. Back in Frostshadow, it had been strictly forbidden. I¡¯d never even seen it beforest night.


    I remembered Ryder¡¯s challenge, his mischievous <b>grin </b>as <b>he </b>slid the ss had overridden my better judgment.


    toward me. ¡°Bet the famous bartender is too scared to try it, <b>he¡¯d </b>teased. <b>My </b><b>pride </b>


    After that first sip, things became increasingly hazy. Ryder telling jokes that had me doubling over withughter. Nadia¡¯s disapproving frown gradually softening <b>as </b>she ordered her own drink. Then¡­ Adrian appearing? His face tight with anger as he towered <b>over </b>our table<b>? </b>


    I pressed my palms against my temples, trying to extract more details from my <b>foggy </b>memory. Nothing<b>. </b><b>Just </b><b>a </b>vague impression of strong arms lifting me, the rumble of an engine, then darkness.


    Who had brought me home? And more disturbingly¨Cwho had changed <b>my </b>


    clothes<b>? </b>


    I shook my head, immediately wincing at the <b>renewed </b>stab of pain. Perhaps Ryder would know what happened <b>after </b>Adrian <b>arrived</b>. With this thought propelling me, I quickly showered, threw on clean clothes, and rushed toward the training grounds, hoping I might still catch the tail end of the <b>session</b><b>. </b>


    By the time I arrived, the main training area <b>was </b>empty¨Cmost pack members had already dispersed to their daily duties<b>. </b>But <b>near </b>the sparring <b>circle </b>stood three figures I immediately recognized: Adrian<b>, </b>his tall frame rigid with authority; Ryder, his usual <b>carefree </b>demeanor reced by unusual solemnity<b>; </b>and Nadia, her stance defiant despite the tension in her shoulders.


    I slowed my approach, catching Adrian¡¯s words as they carried across the empty <b>space</b>.


    ¡®Five hundred push¨Cups!¡± <b>he </b>ordered, his voice colder than I¡¯d ever heard it. ¡°And you¡¯re banned from alcohol for a month<b>¨C</b>regr drinks included, <b>not </b><b>just </b>wolf liquor.¡±


    Ryder¡¯s head dropped in resignation, but he made no objection.<fn2f37> This text is hosted at find?novel</fn2f37>


    Adrian turned to Nadia, his expression unyielding. ¡°The same goes for you. No alcohol for a month. And wolf liquor is now forbidden for all <b>pack </b>members <b>except </b>elderly wolves requiring it for pain management.<b>¡± </b>


    I faltered mid¨Cstep, suddenly reluctant to draw closer. In all my time <b>at </b>Oasisborn, I¡¯d <b>never </b>seen Adrian disy anger toward any pack member. His leadership had always been characterized by patience and understanding, even when enforcing discipline.


    <b>Before </b>I could decide whether to approach or <b>retreat</b><b>, </b>Adrian¡¯s gaze locked onto mine. His amber <b>eyes </b>hardened, and I instinctively <b>lowered </b><b>my </b><b>head </b><b>in </b>submission.


    ¡°I¡¯m <b>sorry </b>I¡¯mte,¡± I managed, my voice smaller than I intended. ¡°And aboutst night¡­ <b>I </b>shouldn¡¯t have drunk <b>the </b><b>wolf </b>liquor<b>. </b><b>Please </b><b>don¡¯t </b><b>punish </b><b>Nadia- </b>it wasn¡¯t her fault. <b>I </b>made my own choice<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Adrian¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°You certainly share in the responsibility,¡± he said, his tone clipped. ¡°<b>Five </b>hundred <b>push</b>¨C<b>ups</b>. Now.<b>¡± </b>


    <b>Ryder</b><b>, </b><b>who </b><b>had </b><b>already </b><b>dropped </b>into <b>position </b>to <b>begin </b><b>his </b>punishment, sprang back in his feet


    <b>¡°</b><b>Five </b><b>hundred</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>he eximed<b>, </b><b>eyes </b>widening in disbelief. <b>Alpha </b>Adrian, Skye <b>only </b>shifted a month ago! That kind of intensity <b>could </b>be feas much for al His voice dropped to a pleading tone. ¡°Let me take her punishment. I¡¯ll do a thousand instead!¡±


    <b>Adrian¡¯s </b>expression darkened further, his shoulders drawing back <b>as </b>he faced Ryder. And who are you to her that you can take <b>her </b>punishment? What ele you that right?


    The dangerous edge in Adrian¡¯s voice sent a chill down my spine. I quickly stepped between them, cing a restraining hand on Ryder¡¯s an


    ¡°I can do it<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>I assured him, tugging gently at his sleeve to silence any further protest. ¡°It¡¯s my responsibility.¡±


    Reluctantly, Ryder backed down. The three of us dropped to the ground <i>fit</i>.


    scolded children, beginning our punishment under Adrian¡¯s watchful gate


    As he prepared to leave, Adrian paused beside me, his voice low enough that only I could hear.


    *One hundred is enough for you,¡± he said, the brief softening in his tone catching me off guard before he walked away<i>. </i>


    By the time we finished, my arms trembled uncontrobly, and sweat stered my silver hair to my forehead. We copsed onto our backs, staring up <b>at </b><b>the </b>clear desert sky as we caught our breath.


    <b>Was </b>it you who took me homest night?¡± I finally asked Nadia, turning my head to see her sprawled beside me.


    She scoffed, still clearly annoyed by the whole situation. ¡°No. Adrian carried you out the tavern like a sack of potatoes. <b>Threw </b>you over his shoulder and marched right out. Her eyes narrowed <b>as </b>she studied my face. ¡°Last night, did you <b>two</b><b>¡­</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Nothing happened,¡± I said quickly¨Cperhaps too quickly. ¡°At least, I don¡¯t think so. I <b>don¡¯t </b>remember anything <b>after </b>the tavern, but I¡¯m sure he <b>just </b>dropped me off and left.¡±


    Nadia seemed satisfied with <b>my </b>answer, but a new awareness crept through me, bringing heat to my cheeks that <b>had </b><b>nothing </b>to do with <b>exertion</b><b>. </b>


    If Adrian had taken me home¡­ had he also been the one who changed my clothes<b>? </b>


    The thought sent a wave of embarrassment washing over me. Thankfully, <b>my </b>flushed face from the push<b>¨C</b><b>ups </b>and the <b>sheen </b>of <b>sweat </b>provided perfect <b>cover </b>for my sudden difort.


    I stared up at the sky, trying to process what this might mean. How much had Adrian <b>seen</b>? What had <b>I </b>said or done in my intoxicated state<b>? </b><b>And </b><b>why</b>, despite my embarrassment, did the thought of his hands carefully removing my clothes send an inappropriate thrill coursing through me<b>? </b>


    These were dangerous thoughts¨Cthoughts I had no business entertaining about my Alpha.


    I closed my eyes, willing the forbidden images away, telling myself it was <b>just </b>the after<b>¨C</b><b>effects </b><b>of </b>the wolf liquor making me imagine things that couldn¡¯t possibly have happened.


    After a few moments <b>of </b>shared misery, Ryder pushed himself up with a groan<b>, </b>extending his hand toward me.

 Casts 44

    <b>¡°</b>Come on, Ryder said, his usual cafefive grih returning despite his obvious difort. Can¡¯t lie here all day.


    1 epted his hand, wincing as he pulled me to my feet. Every muscle screamed in protest.


    ¡®You didn¡¯t have to do all five hundred, Nadiamented, eyeing me with something that might have been respect. ¡°Adrian clearly said <b>one </b>fonded wa enough for you.¡±


    I shrugged, immediately regretting the movement as pain shot through my shoulders. ¡°I don¡¯t want special treatment just because I¡¯m new. That wouldn¡¯t fair to either of you.¡±


    The truth was moreplicated. I didn¡¯t want to be viewed as weak¨Cas someone who needed profection or special consideration. I¡¯d spent three wears proving my independence as a lone wolf. Now that I¡¯d found my ce in a pack, I wasn¡¯t about to position myself as the fragile neer whey couldn¡¯t handle the same punishment as everyone else.


    By the time I arrived at the orphanage, my arms and legs felt like they¡¯d been filled with molten lead. Every step was torture, every movement a fresh reminder of this morning¡¯s punishment. The children were taking their afternoon nap, the building unusually quiet as I gathered soiled bedsheets and clothing for washing.


    Venus entered theundry room, her single armden with groceries which she deposited on a nearby counter with practiced efficiency.


    ¡°Need any help?¡± she asked, observing my struggle with an overflowingundry basket.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got it,¡± I insisted, reaching up to hang a freshly washed <b>sheet </b>on the drying line<b>. </b>My trembling arms betrayed me, the wet fabric slipping from my grasp and nearly falling to the floor before Venus swooped in to catch it.


    Despite having only one arm, she moved with remarkable coordination, tucking <b>the </b>corner of the sheet under her chin to create tension while her right <b>hand </b>secured it to the line with wooden clothespins. Within seconds, she had aplished what I¡¯d been fumbling with for nearly a minute.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± I mumbled, embarrassed by my own inefficiency.


    Venus smiled, retrieving another sheet from the basket. ¡®I heard about your punishment this morning<b>,</b><b>¡± </b><b>she </b>said conversationally. <b>Five </b>hundred push<b>¨C</b>ups for drinking wolf liquor with Ryder<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Heat crept up my neck that had nothing to do with exertion. ¡°Word travels fast around here.¡±


    ¡°Small pack, Venus replied with a shrug. ¡°Everyone saw Adrian carry you out of the tavern <bst </b>night. Quite the <b>spectacle</b>, apparently.¡±


    I groaned, covering my <b>face </b>with my hands. ¡°It won¡¯t happen again. I had no idea wolf liquor would affect me <b>so </b>strongly.¡±


    Venus secured another sheet to the line, her movements smooth and practiced. ¡°Adrian seemed particrly concerned about you,¡± <b>she </b>remarked, a <b>knowing </b>smile ying at her lips. ¡°More so than I¡¯ve seen him with other pack members<b>.</b>¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s just because I¡¯m a new member,¡± I said quickly, busying myself with sorting the children¡¯s tiny socks into pairs<b>. </b>¡°He feels responsible for me<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Venus shook her head emphatically. ¡°No, no, no. It¡¯s definitely not that.¡±


    ¡®Please don¡¯t start,¡± I sighed. Adrian isn¡¯t my mate. We both know that.¡±


    ¡°And what if he isn¡¯t<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Venus challenged, surprising me with her intensity. ¡°What exactly does being someone¡¯s mate guarantee<b>, </b><b>anyway</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    She lifted the stump of her left arm pointedly. My mate did this to me. So forgive me if I¡¯m not impressed by <b>the </b>Moon Goddess¡¯s matchmaking skills.¡±


    <b>I </b>stood frozen, uncertain how to respond. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± I finally managed, the words feeling woefully inadequate.


    Venus <b>waved </b><b>away </b>my sympathy with a dismissive gesture. ¡®Don¡¯t look at me like that. One arm for that bastard¡¯s life<b>? </b><b>I </b>consider it a fair <b>trade</b>. Her <b>voice </b><b>carried </b>no bitterness, only a matter¨Cof¨C<b>fact </b>eptance that somehow made her story <b>even </b>more heartbreaking. ¡°<b>I </b>don¡¯t <b>believe </b>in this <b>destined </b><b>mate </b>


    <b>1/2 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>44 </b>


    <b>nonsense </b>anymore. Sometimes the Moon Goddess gives us the <b>winng </b><b>option </b>just so <b>we </b>can revanine marielovi slowly and water da parte


    <b>The </b><b>right </b>choice. The phrase echoed in my mind. Had Leon made the right choles in rejecting me? Had I made the <b>right </b>choice in ruin


    <b>Venus </b>continued hangingundry, her movements never faltering despite our heavy conversation. I always wanted children, di malidad, Bal t de conceive. For years, I med myself, felt worthless as a Luna.¡±


    She paused<b>, </b>her eyes distant with memory. ¡°At first, I made excuses for him when the beatings started. He was an Alpha, he needed <b>an </b><b>heir</b><b>, </b>it can my heal For failing him. I tried every herbal remedy, every old wives<b>¡® </b>tale to cure my supposed barrenness.¡±<fn290a> Content originallyes from find¡¤novel</fn290a>


    My heart ached for her as she continued, het voice steady despite the horror of her words.


    Three years into our marriage, his temper worsened. He started bringing prostitutes home, unting them in my face. Her jaw tightened. ¡°I considered requesting to break the mate bond, but he refused. Then one night, after I¡¯d thrown out yet another woman he¡¯d brought home, he came at me again<b>. </b>


    She took a deep breath. ¡°That night, I fought back.¡±


    I stared at her, shock mingling with a strange sense of admiration. This elegant,posed woman had survived unimaginable betrayal yet remained unbroken.


    ¡°After he was dead, Venus continued, her voice dropping almost to a whisper, ¡°I found medical records in his office. It wasn¡¯t me who couldn¡¯t conceive¨Cit was him. He¡¯d known all along.¡±


    Understanding dawned. ¡°That¡¯s why he wouldn¡¯t agree to break the bond,¡± I realized aloud. ¡°He was afraid you¡¯d discover the truth if you left him.<b>¡± </b>


    Venus nodded, a sad smile ying across her lips. ¡°I should have left the <b>first </b>time he hit me<b>, </b>mate bond be damned. But <b>I </b>stayed, believing <b>that </b>sacred connection meant something.¡± She ced a gentle hand on my shoulder. ¡°The bond matters less than <b>the </b>man<b>, </b>Skye. And Adrian is <b>a </b>good man.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I agreed softly. ¡°His mate will be very fortunate.¡±


    Eager to shift the focus away from Adrian and myself, I nudged Venus yfully. ¡°What about you<b>? </b><b>I </b>can <b>see </b>how <b>much </b>you love children. Have you considered having your own? Marcus seems quite attentive to you.¡±


    A genuine smile brightened Venus¡¯s <b>face</b><b>, </b>her eyes crinkling with mischief. ¡°He¡¯s still on probation<b>,</b>¡± she said with augh. <b>¡°</b>But the outlook is promising<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Before I could inquire further, the sound of small feet pattering down the hallway announced that naptime had ended. Venus and I exchanged a knowing look before heading out to greet the newly awakened children.


    Hourster, after thest child had been fed dinner and tucked into bed, I gathered my things to head home. My muscles still ached from the morning¡¯s punishment, but the pain had dulled to a manageable throb. Venus¡¯s story had given me much to contemte¨Cabout mates<b>, </b>about choices, about <b>the </b>difference between destiny and agency.


    As I pushed open the orphanage door, preparing to step into the cool desert evening, I froze in ce.


    Adrian stood waiting outside, his tall figure silhouetted against the setting sun.

 Casts 45

    <b>Chapter </b><b>45 </b>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    As I pushed open the orphanage door, preparing to step into the cool desert evening, I froze in ce. Adrian stand waiting cottide, kis tall fie silhouetted against the setting sun.


    ¡°Alpha Adrian,


    My heartbeat quickened despite my attempts to remainposed. After the events of the previous night and this mornings punishment, i wasn¡¯t sure what to expect.


    ¡°Why did you push yourself unnecessarily?¡± he asked, skipping any preamble.


    I blinked, momentarily confused by his directness. ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡®<fna52a> Read full story at find?novel</fna52a>


    ¡°Ryder told me youpleted all five hundred push¨Cups,¡± he rified. ¡°I specifically said one hundred was enough for you.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think it would be fair otherwise, I exined, squaring my shoulders despite the protest of my aching muscles. Ryder and Nadia had to do the full punishment. Why should I receive special treatment just because I¡¯m new to the pack?<i>¡± </i>


    Adrian¡¯s expression softened slightly, something like respect flickering in his eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small ss vial filled with amber liquid.


    ¡°Here,¡± he said, extending it toward me. ¡°It¡¯s a special herbal oil that helps with muscle soreness. Rub it into your shoulders and arms before sleeping.¡±


    I stared at the vial, touched by his thoughtfulness.


    My fingers trembled slightly as <b>I </b>reached for the oil, careful not to let our hands touch.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I murmured, quickly tucking the vial into my pocket.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Adrian said, gesturing toward the path leading away from the orphanage. ¡°I¡¯ll walk you home.¡±


    This time, I didn¡¯t refuse his offer. We fell into step beside each other, the desert twilight painting thendscape in shades of purple and gold. Several pack members nodded respectfully as we passed, their curious nces suggesting they¡¯d heard aboutst night¡¯s events at the tavern.


    ¡®I should thank you properly,¡± I said after we¡¯d walked in silence for several minutes. ¡°For taking me homest night. It <b>was </b>irresponsible of me to drink that wolf liquor.¡±


    Adrian kept his gaze fixed ahead. ¡°You didn¡¯t know how strong it would be. Most newly shifted wolves don¡¯t.¡±


    I hesitated before asking the question that had been guing me all day. ¡°Did you¡­ was it you who changed my clothes?<b>¡± </b>


    He nced at me, one eyebrow raised. ¡°Yes. Is that a problem?¡±


    ¡°No! No, of course not,¡± I hurried to assure him, heat rushing to my cheeks. ¡°I just¡­ I wanted to thank you for taking care <b>of </b>me.¡±


    A hint of amusement crossed his face. ¡°Why are you so shy about it? We¡¯ve done more intimate things than that already.¡±


    My mind immediately shed to that day at theke when I¡¯d first shifted ¨C his naked form emerging from the water after his transformation, his strong arms supporting me as I struggled with the pain of my own shift.


    ¡®I suppose you¡¯re right,¡± I admitted. ¡°It just feels different somehow.¡±


    ¡®Exposing vulnerability is more intimate <b>than </b>exposing your body,<b>¡± </b>Adrian said softly, his words catching me off guard. ¡°The night you joined our pack ¨C sharing your story, trusting us with your past, allowing yourself to belong somewhere again after years alone ¨C that was our most intimate moment.¡±


    When we reached my apartment building, I paused at the entrance, turning to face him. Something about his insight, about the way he¡¯d cared for me not just physically but emotionally, made me reluctant to end our conversation.


    ¡°Would you like to stay for dinner? 1 asked impulsively, surprising myself with the invitation.


    Adrian¡¯s expression brightened, a flicker of genuine pleasure crossing his face before he nodded. Id like that very much


    Once inside my apartment, I moved to the kitchen with newfound energy despite my aching muscles. Fair warning¨CIve picked up all sorts of car cooking skills during my three years of wandering. I said, opening my refrigerator to survey its contents. I¡¯m particrly foul of Spanish cuisine pre de you feel about pae?


    ¡°Sounds perfect, Adrian replied, shrugging off his jacket and draping it over a chair. ¡®Can I help?¡®


    ¡°You cook?¡± I couldn¡¯t hide my surprise.


    A smile tugged at his lips. I make a decent dessert, if you¡¯re interested.¡±


    An Alpha who bakes?¡± Iughed, the sounding easier than it had in weeks. ¡°That¡¯s unexpected.¡±


    ¡°My mother taught me when I was young, Adrian exined, rolling up his sleeves. She loved baking. But my father eventually put a stop to it ¨C said it wasn¡¯t masculine enough for his son and heir.¡± A shadow passed over his features momentarily. ¡°After that, we had to bake in secret.¡±


    I handed him a knife and cutting board. ¡°Cooking doesn¡¯t diminish masculinity at all,¡± I said firmly, meeting his gaze. From what I¡¯ve observed in human society, women actually find men who can cook quite attractive<b>. </b>Times have changed.¡±


    As we worked side by side in my small kitchen, the awkwardness that had lingered between us for weeks gradually melted away.


    Adrian moved with surprising grace in the domestic setting, his strong hands handling delicate pastry with unexpected gentleness.


    We talked easily about inconsequential things ¨C favorite foods, childhood memories, the antics of the orphanage children.


    The pae turned out beautifully golden and fragrant, while Adrian¡¯s simple apple tart filled the apartment with the warm scent of cinnamon. We ate at my small table, our conversation flowing naturally from topic to topic<b>, </b><b>the </b>earlier tension between uspletely dissolved.


    ¡°You know,¡± I said, taking a sip of water, ¡°the children at the orphanage can be quite mischievous. <b>Just </b>yesterday<b>, </b>little <b>Max </b>¨C he¡¯s only <b>six </b><b>¨C </b>decided he wanted to be a wolf like us.<b>¡± </b>


    Adrian raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. ¡°Oh? What did he do?¡±


    ¡°He found some old fur from a costume in the storage closet and glued it all over his arms and face,¡± I exined, barely containing myughter at the memory. ¡°When Venus found him, he was howling at a picture of the moon he¡¯d drawn and stuck to the ceiling. But the best part was when she tried to clean him up the glue he used was some kind of industrial strength adhesive he¡¯d found in the maintenance room!¡±


    Adrian¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes! Poor Venus had to call the pack doctor, who rmended olive oil to dissolve the glue. By the end of it, Max smelled like <b>a </b>sd and keptining that the other kids were trying to eat him during naptime!¡±


    Adrian burst intoughter, a deep, genuine sound that I¡¯d rarely heard from him. His eyes crinkled at the corners, his usual stern demeanorpletely vanished. I found myself mesmerized by this unguarded version of him, his head thrown back in amusement, shoulders shaking.


    Just as hisughter was reaching its peak, a sharp, urgent knock at the door made us both freeze.


    Adrian¡¯s expression immediately shifted back to alertness, his Alpha instincts taking over. He rose from his chair, gesturing for me to stay seated.


    ¡°Were you expecting anyone?¡® he asked quietly, all traces of humor gone from his voice.


    I shook my head, suddenly tense. ¡°No one.¡±


    The knocking came again, more insistent this time.


    ?????????

 Casts 46

    <b>Chapter </b><b>46 </b>


    <b>Adrian¡¯s </b>POV


    <b>The </b>urgent knocking came again<b>, </b>more insistent this time. Skye started to rise from her chair, but I ced <b>my </b>hand <b>gently </b><b>on </b>her shoulder,


    Let me, I said quietly, my instincts on high alert.


    She nodded, sinking back into her seat as I moved toward the door. As I approached, my heightened senses detected a familiar scent.


    When I pulled the door open, Ryder stood on the threshold, his hand raised to knock again. His thick, unruly brown curls were slightly damp, as if he¡¯d <b>just </b>showered, and his boyish face was animated with that perpetual energy that seemed to radiate from him.


    Upon seeing me, his <b>eyes </b>widened in surprise, his usual carefree demeanor momentarily giving way to hesitation.


    Alpha Adrian?¡± he stammered, clearly thrown off bnce. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ here?¡±


    Before I could respond, Skye appeared at my side, moving to stand next to me in the doorway.


    ¡°Ryder,¡± she greeted him with genuine warmth. ¡°This is a surprise. <b>Is </b>everything alright<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    The uncertainty in his expression quickly gave way to his usual carefree grin, though I noted the slight tension that remained in his shoulders.


    <b>¡°</b>Everything¡¯s fine,¡± he assured her<b>, </b>reaching into his jacket pocket<b>. </b>¡°I <b>just </b><b>wanted </b>to bring you this<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    He pulled out a small <b>ss </b>vial filled with amber liquid¨Cidentical to the one <b>I¡¯d </b>given Skye <b>earlier</b>. My jaw tightened involuntarily.


    ¡°It¡¯s for your muscles,¡± Ryder exined, extending the <b>vial </b>toward her. ¡°After all those push<b>¨C</b><b>ups </b><b>today</b>, I figured you¡¯d be hurting.


    ¡°That¡¯s so thoughtful,¡± Skye eximed, epting his gift with a smile that made something twist ufortably in <b>my </b><fnbe73> Readplete version only at find¡¤novel</fnbe73>


    She nced at the <b>vial </b>in her hand, then back at him. ¡°Have you eaten dinner yet?<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Not yet,¡± he admitted, his eyes brightening with obvious hope.


    ¡®Well, you¡¯ve arrived just in time then,¡± she said, stepping back to wee him in. ¡°Adrian and I made <b>plenty</b>. Join us<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    And just like that<b>, </b>our intimate dinner for two became an awkward party <b>of </b>three<b>. </b>


    <b>chest</b>. ¡°<b>Thank </b>you<b>, </b><b>Ryder</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    I forced a neutral expression as Ryder settled into the chair beside Skye¡¯s, his movements entirely toofortable for my liking.


    Their easy rapport grated on my nerves. How had they be sofortable with each other in <b>just </b>a few weeks<b>? </b>I¡¯d known Ryder for


    years<b>, </b>had <b>watched </b>him grow from a gangly adolescent into a capable young adult, <b>yet </b>I¡¯d never seen this side of him¨Cthis earnest eagerness <b>to </b><b>please</b><b>, </b>this focused attention.


    *Remember that weekend we went hiking to the canyon?¡± Ryder asked Skye<b>, </b>reaching casually <b>to </b>refill her water <b>ss </b>before she even requested it. ¡°You said you¡¯d never seen the desert stars properly. We should <b>go </b>camping sometime¨Cthe night sky out there is unbelievable<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°That sounds wonderful,¡± Skye agreed, turning to include me in the conversation. <b>¡°</b><b>Adrian</b><b>, </b>have you been to the canyon Ryder¡¯s talking about?¡±


    Her attempt at drawing me in only highlighted my exclusion. I nodded curtly<b>, </b>swallowing the bitter taste <b>of </b>jealousy that had nothing to do with the food.


    <b>¡®</b>I surveyed the entire territory before establishing Oasisborn,<b>¡± </b><b>I </b>replied, my <b>voice </b>carrying more edge than I intended. ¡°<b>I¡¯m </b>familiar <b>with </b>all thendmarks within our borders.¡±


    The conversation continued through dessert, with Ryder praising the apple tart profusely <b>once </b>he learned I had made it. His <bpliments </b><b>se </b>which somehow annoyed me even more. When the meal finally ended, I <b>expected </b>him to take his leave, but to <b>my </b><b>growing </b>frustration, he b


    the dishes instead.


    + genuine<b>, </b>


    athering


    ¡°Let me help with cleanup,¡± he insisted, already carrying tes to the sink. <b>¡°</b><b>It¡¯s </b>the <b>least </b><b>I </b>can <b>do </b><b>after </b>crashing your dinner<b>.</b>¡±


    <b>1/3 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>46 </b>


    <b>I </b>caught the sh of surprise in Skye¡¯s eyes¨Cpleasant surprise at his thoughtfulness. Something cold <b>and </b>primal stirred <b>in </b><b>my </b>chest


    Your shoulders must be killing you after today, Rydermented to Skye as he rinsed the tes. <b>Want </b>me to massage them<b>? </b><b>My </b>mom taught me all the pressure points for muscle recovery.¡±


    Before I could intervene, <b>Skye </b>shook her head. ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯m okay. I¡¯ve got the oil you brought. I should be fine by morning?


    Relief coursed through me at her refusal, though I kept my expression carefully neutral.


    When we finally left Skye¡¯s apartment, night had fully settled over the oasis. Ryder whistled cheerfully as we walked, seemingly oblivious to my darkening mood. Once we were a considerable distance from Skye¡¯s building, I stopped abruptly, causing him to turn back with raised eyebrows.


    Are you pursuing Skye? I demanded, cutting straight to the point.


    Ryder¡¯s smile faltered briefly before returning, less carefree and more defiant<b>. </b>¡°And if I


    ¡°She isn¡¯t your mate.¡± The words came out harsher than I intended.


    am<b>? </b>


    ¡°Since when did you be so traditional?¡± Ryder challenged, his casual demeanor giving way to something more serious. ¡°I thought <b>the </b>whole point of leaving Stormhowl <b>was </b>to escape all those rigid pack rules. If I don¡¯t have a mate and <b>she </b><b>doesn¡¯t </b>have <b>a </b><b>mate</b><b>, </b>why shouldn¡¯t I pursue her?¡± He crossed <b>his </b>arms. ¡°Marcus is pursuing Venus<b>, </b>and you <b>haven¡¯t </b>objected to that.¡±


    Hisparison stung. <b>¡°</b><b>Creating </b>a new pack doesn¡¯t mean abandoning <b>every </b>principle from our past<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>I <b>countered</b><b>, </b>struggling to maintain my Alphaposure. ¡°Some traditions exist for good reason.¡±


    Ryder studied me closely, his head tilting slightly <b>as </b>understanding dawned in his <b>eyes</b><b>. </b>¡°Hold on<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>he said <b>slowly</b>. <b>¡°</b><b>You </b><b>still </b><b>haven¡¯t </b>answered <b>my </b>question from earlier. Why <b>were </b>you at Skye¡¯s apartment tonight?¡±


    I stiffened, unwilling to admit I¡¯d brought the same gift as he had. ¡°That¡¯s none of your <b>concern</b>.¡±


    A knowing grin spread across Ryder¡¯s face<b>. </b>¡°You like her <b>too</b><b>, </b>don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡®Don¡¯t be ridiculous,¡± I snapped, heat rising to my face despite the cool night air.


    ¡®I knew it!¡± Ryder eximed, looking more delighted than intimidated <b>by </b>my <b>obvious </b>anger. ¡°But even if you do like <b>her</b><b>, </b>I¡¯m not backing down just because you¡¯re the Alpha.¡± He straightened, meeting my gaze directly. ¡°Let¡¯s have a fairpetition for her affection.¡±


    <b>My </b>control slipped further. ¡°Competition? What are you talking about? There¡¯s no-¡±


    ¡°For an Alpha,¡± Ryder interrupted, shaking his head with mock disappointment, ¡°you sure <b>have </b>trouble admitting when you like someone.¡±


    I moved forward, reaching for his cor, but Ryder anticipated my reaction. He danced backward<b>, </b>just beyond my grasp, his reflexes impressively quick.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± <b>I </b>growled. ¡°<b>Are </b><b>you </b>looking for additional punishment<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Instead <b>of </b>cowering, <b>Ryder </bughed, backing <b>away </b>further. ¡°Remember<b>¨C</b>fairpetition!¡± <b>he </b>called out<b>, </b>before turning and sprinting away into <b>the </b>darkness<b>, </b>his final words floating back to me on the night breeze: ¡°<b>May </b>the best wolf win!¡±


    I stood rooted <b>to </b><b>the </b>spot, staring after his retreating form, equal parts frustrated and envious <b>of </b>his carefree approach to <b>life</b>. <b>The </b><b>weight </b><b>of </b><b>leadership </b><b>had </b>never felt heavier on my shoulders<b>. </b>


    If reckless abandon was the privilege of youth, it was a privilege I had <b>never </b>known. From childhood, I had been <b>trained </b><b>to </b><b>control </b><b>my </b><b>impulse</b><b>, </b><b>to </b><b>consider</b>. <b>every </b>consequence, to put the needs of others <b>before </b>my <b>own </b>desires<b>. </b>


    <b>How </b>could I possiblypete with Ryder¡¯s uninhibited pursuit when I couldn¡¯t even acknowledge my own feelings without calcting <b>their </b><b>potential </b><b>impact </b>on the <b>pack</b>?

 Casts 47

    Chapter <b>47 </b>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    The morning sun filtered through my curtains, bathing my small apartment in golden light. I stretched cautiously, wincing at the <b>lingering </b>ache in my muscles from yesterday¡¯s punishment.


    With no morning training scheduled on Saturdays, I could finally enjoy a leisurely start to my day.


    A reached for the bedside table, picking up one of the small vials of herbal oil¨Cunable to remember whether it was Adrian¡¯s or Ryder¡¯s¡ªand worked it into my shoulders and arms with slow, methodical movements.


    The warming sensation spread through my sore muscles, bringing immediate relief.


    I thought I should also get Ryder a thank¨Cyou gift.


    As I went to grab my wallet, I noticed the envelope of cash Buck had given me when we parted ways¨Ctwo thousand dors tucked away in my drawer.


    Seeing the money reminded me of Buck¡¯s parting words: Call me when you get settled somewhere.


    I¡¯d been in Oasisborn Pack for nearly three weeks now, and despite the asional drama, I <b>felt </b>more settled than I had in <b>years</b>.


    I picked up my phone and dialed the familiar number.


    ¡°Hello, The Watering Hole,¡± Buck¡¯s gruff voice answered, the background noise of clinking <b>sses </b>and <b>country </b>music bringing an unexpected wave of nostalgia.


    ¡°Buck? It¡¯s Skye.¡±


    Well, I¡¯ll be damned! How the hell are you, darlin¡®<b>? </b>You finally settled somewhere like you promised?<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°I am. I found a nice ce with good people.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful to hear! And how¡¯s that stomach of yours? Still giving you trouble<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>There <b>was </b>genuine concern in his <b>voice</b><b>. </b>


    ¡°My stomach?¡±


    *The gastro¨Cwhatever that had youid up right before you left. <b>You </b>scared the hell out of me, girl. Thought you might have something serious.¡±


    I paused, momentarily confused until I remembered the hasty excuse Nadia had


    for


    my absence when I was recovering from the gunshot wound<b>. </b>


    ¡°Oh, that. It hasn¡¯t bothered me since <b>I </b>left Boring,¡± I assured him. ¡°I¡¯m doing really <b>well </b>here<b>, </b>actually. The past three <b>weeks </b>have <b>been</b><b>¡­ </b>healing.¡±


    ¡°Good to hear it! These new folks treating you right<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°They are,¡± <b>I </b>confirmed, surprised by how much I meant it. ¡°Despite some initial wariness<b>, </b><b>they¡¯ve </b>weed me. Made me feel like I belong.¡±


    Buck gave a satisfied grunt. ¡°That¡¯s how it should be.¡± He cleared his throat. ¡°Speaking of belongings<b>, </b>that new bartender I hired? Complete disaster. Can¡¯t mix a decent drink to save his life. Some of the regrs still ask about you¨CDale especially. Says nobody could outdrink you, and he <b>misses </b>the challenge.¡±


    Iughed, remembering the burly rancher who¡¯d passed out after our drinking <b>contest </b>on my <b>first </b>day. ¡°Tell Dale I said hello.¡±


    ¡°Will do. And listen¨Cif things don¡¯t work out where you are, The Watering Hole¡¯s door is always open. Your job¡¯ll be waiting.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Buck. That means a lot.¡±


    Suddenly, there was <b>a </bmotion on Buck¡¯s end of the line, followed by a familiar high¨Cpitched <b>voice</b><b>. </b>¡°Is that <b>Skye</b><b>? </b>Buck, is that Skye <b>on </b><b>the </b><b>phone</b><b>? </b><b>Give </b>


    me that<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>1/3 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>47 </b>


    There was a brief scuffling sound, then Jessie¡¯s excited voice exploded in <b>my </b>ear. <b>¡°</b>SKYP! Oh my God, it¡¯s really <b>you</b>! Feant believe if you have to heate news¨C1M ENGAGEDI


    <b>I </b>held the phone away from my ear slightly, grinning at her enthusiasm. Congrattions, lessic! That¡¯s wonderful news.¡±


    <b>*</b>Jake proposedst weekend! We¡¯re nning the wedding for next spring, right here in Baring. Nothing fancy, just friends and family at <b>the </b>consemnity center. But you HAVE toe, Skye, Promise me you¡¯ll be there!*


    Her immediate inclusion of me in such an


    ¡°Not ¡®try¡®¡ªyou have to promise! I¡¯m making you a


    event caught me off guard. ¡°L¡­ Of course I¡¯ll try to be there.


    bridesmaid. I need someone who can handle their liquor at my bachelorette party!


    Iughed, genuinely touched. ¡®Then I promise. I wouldn¡¯t miss


    ¡°Perfect! I¡¯ll send you all the details


    A sharp knock at my door interrupted our conversation, followed by Nadia¡¯s voice calling my name from outside.


    ¡°Jessie, I have to go. Someone¡¯s at my door,¡± I said quickly. ¡°Congrattions again. Give my best to Jake, and say hi to Buck for me.


    ¡°I will! Don¡¯t be a stranger, okay? Call more often!¡±


    I promised I would, then hung up just <b>as </b>another knock came, more <b>insistent </b>this time.


    I hurried to open the door, finding Nadia standing <b>in </b>the hallway, her expression uncharacteristically <b>tense</b>.


    <b>¡°</b>Nadia? <b>Is </b>everything alright?¡± I asked, stepping aside to let her in.


    She entered my apartment<b>, </b><b>eyes </b>scanning the room quickly before settling on me<b>. </b>¡°Do <b>you </b>remember what <b>you </b><b>promised </b>me<b>?</b><b>¡± </b><b>she </b>asked without preamble.


    I blinked, caught off guard by her directness<b>. </b>¡°What promise<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>¡°</b>You promised you wouldn¡¯t get involved with Adrian,¡± she stated tly. ¡°That you wouldn¡¯t develop feelings for him. That <b>you </b>understood he <b>wasn¡¯t </b><b>your </b>


    <b>mate</b>.¡±


    ¡®I did promise that,¡± I acknowledged, crossing my arms defensively. ¡°And I¡¯ve <b>kept </b>that promise<b>. </b>Last night was just dinner. <b>A </b>thank¨Cyou for his <b>help </b>after the wolf liquor incident. Nothing more<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>¡°</b><b>A </b>private dinner in your apartment?¡± Nadia raised an eyebrow skeptically.


    ¡®It wasn¡¯t private¨CRyder was there too,¡± I pointed out.


    ¡®Yes, about that.¡± Nadia¡¯s expression shifted to one of frustration. ¡°Ryder came to <b>me </b>this morning, announcing that he and Adrian are in <b>some </b>kind of fairpetition¡® for your affection. <b>He </b>seemed quite excited about the whole thing<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°What<b>?</b><b>¡± </b><b>I </b>gasped, genuinely shocked. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous<b>! </b>They <b>left </b>together after dinner. I <b>have </b>no idea what they discussed afterward.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re saying you knew nothing about this?¡± Her <b>eyes </b>narrowed <b>suspiciously</b>.


    <b>¡°</b>Absolutely nothing,¡± I insisted. ¡°Ryder must have been drinking again. There¡¯s nopetition because there¡¯s nothing topete for.¡±


    Nadia studied me intently, her dark eyes searching mine for any hint of deception. <b>After </b>a long moment<b>, </b>she reached into her jacket <b>and </b>pulled <b>out </b>a folded


    document.


    ¡®If you want me to believe you,¡± she said slowly, ¡°then sign this.¡±


    <b>I </b><b>epted </b>the <b>paper </b>with a puzzled frown, unfolding it to <b>reveal </b>what appeared to be some kind of formal <b>agreement</b>. <b>My </b><b>eyes </b><b>widened </b><b>as </b><b>I </b><b>read </b><b>through </b><b>the </b>


    detailed uses<b>: </b>


    <b>1</b><b>, </b>Skye Anderson, hereby agree to:<ol><li>Refrain from initiating social engagements with Alpha Adrian outside of official pack business.</li><li>Decline any private invitations extended by Alpha Adrian for meals, outings, or other non¨Cpack activities.</li><li>Avoid being alone with Alpha Adrian in either his residence or my own.</li><li>Maintain appropriate physical distance during all interactions.</li><li>Immediately report any romantic overtures from Alpha Adrian to Beta Nadia.</li></ol>


    The document continued with several more increasingly invasive stiptions, concluding with a line for my signature and the date.


    I stared at the paper in disbelief, then back at Nadia, who was watching me expectantly.


    ¡°Are you serious?¡± I finally managed, my voice rising with incredulity. ¡°This is¡­ this <b>is </b>absurd! You want <b>me </b>to sign a contract regting who I can spend time with? What I can do in my own apartment?¡±


    <b>Chapter </b><b>Comments </b>


    Donna Miller


    oh my I think Nadia has a very skewed sense of possessiveness over her alpha!<fne32b> Follow current nov?ls on Find_Novel(.</fne32b>


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 Casts 48

    Chapter <b>48 </b>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    ¡°It¡¯s simply a formalization of what you¡¯ve already agreed to, Nadia replied defensively. If you truly have no interest in Adrian, signing this should be no problem.¡±


    <b>I </b>shook my head, crumpling the paper slightly as my grip tightened.


    ¡°No. Absolutely not. I refuse to sign this ridiculous agreement!


    Nadia¡¯s eyes widened with genuine surprise. She clearly hadn¡¯t expected outright refusal.


    ¡°So you do have feelings for him,¡± she used, her voice hardening.


    ¡°This has nothing to do with my feelings orck thereof for Adrian,¡± I countered. ¡°This is about respect and autonomy. I won¡¯t be controlled like this, Nadia. Not by you, not by anyone. I handed the crumpled paper back to her. ¡°If you don¡¯t trust my word, that¡¯s your problem, not mine.


    Nadia stared at the rejected agreement in her hand, her expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought she might argue further, but instead, she carefully refolded the paper and tucked it away.


    ¡°You¡¯ve changed,¡± she said quietly.


    ¡°Yes, I agreed, surprised by my own confidence<b>. </b>¡°I have.<b>¡± </b>


    When she finally spoke again, her voice carried a brittle edge.


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand what¡¯s <b>at </b>stake here<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>she said. ¡°<b>You¡¯ve </b>been in our pack for what¨Cthree <b>weeks</b><b>? </b><b>I¡¯ve </b>stood beside Adrian for <b>years</b><b>. </b>I¡¯ve <b>watched </b>him build this pack from nothing, sacrifice everything for it.¡± Her dark eyes shed with something raw and painful<b>. </b><b>¡°</b>And <b>now </b>you just waltz in<b>, </b><b>and </b>suddenly<b>¡­ </b>


    Her words trailed off, but her meaning <b>was </b>painfully clear.


    ¡°Nadia,¡± I said gently, ¡°if you truly love Adrian, why don¡¯t you tell him<b>? </b>You should be talking to him about <b>your </b><b>feelings</b>, not trying to <b>control </b>my interactions with him.¡±


    She recoiled as if I¡¯d struck her<b>, </b>color flooding her cheeks<b>. </b>¡°How dare you-*


    ¡°It¡¯s obvious,¡± I continued calmly. ¡°You¡¯ve loved him for years, <b>haven¡¯t </b>you?¡±


    For a moment, I thought she might deny it or storm out. Instead, she sank onto the edge <b>of </b><b>my </b>sofa, her shoulders slumping in defeat.


    ¡°Does it matter?<b>¡± </b>she asked bitterly. ¡°He doesn¡¯t see me that way. <b>He </b>never has<b>.</b>¡±


    I moved to sit beside her, careful to maintain enough distance that she wouldn¡¯t feel crowded. ¡®Have you ever told him <b>how </b>you <b>feel</b><b>?</b>¡±


    Sheughed, a hollow sound devoid of humor. ¡°And risk everything <b>we¡¯ve </b>built? The pack needs me as his Beta, not as some rejected, lovesick fool. She shook her head. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s the difference between you and me. I¡¯m not selfish enough to risk the stability of our pack for my own desires.¡±


    The usation hit me like a physical blow. ¡°Selfish?¡±


    ¡°<b>Yes</b>, selfish,¡± she repeated, rising to her feet with <b>renewed </b>fire. ¡°You think I <b>haven¡¯t </b>noticed how you look at him? How he looks at you? But <b>what </b>happens when he finds his actual mate? Where does that leave you<b>¨C</b>or more importantly, where does that leave our pack when you fall apart?¡± She moved toward th door, pausing with her hand on the knob<b>. </b><b>¡®</b><b>At </b>least I know my <b>ce</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    With that final barb, she <b>was </b>gone, the door mming behind her with enough force to rattle <b>the </b>pictures on my <b>wall</b>.


    I stood frozen in ce, her words reverberating in my mind. Selfish. It wasn¡¯t the first time I¡¯d heard that usation. <b>Leon </b><b>had </b><b>said </b><b>the </b><b>same </b><b>thing </b><b>just </b>


    before I left Frostshadow Pack.


    Had anything really changed? Here <b>I </b>was, <b>three </b><b>years </b><bter</b><b>, </b>in a different pack with different wolves<b>, </b><b>yet </b>somehow still <b>facing </b>the <b>same </b><b>criticism</b>.


    <b>Chapter </b><b>48 </b>


    <b>The </b>rest of <b>my </b>Saturday passed in a haze of self doubt, Nadia¡¯s wounded expression and bitter words <b>reying </b>in <b>my </b><b>mind </b><b>no </b>matter how I <b>trie </b>myself. I cleaned my small apartment thoroughly, reorganized my meager possessions, and even attempted to read<b>, </b>but nothing <b>could </b>silence t question: Was <b>I </b>truly selfish?


    Evening brought no relief from my troubled thoughts. When my phone rang, I almost didn¡¯t answer, fearing it might be Nadia with more recrimination Instead, Adrian¡¯s name shed across the screen, sending an unexpected flutter through my chest.


    ¡°Hello? 1 answered, trying to sound normal despite the day¡¯s emotional turmoil.


    ¡°Skye, his deep voice came through the line, warm and assured. ¡®I¡¯ve been thinking about something you mentionedst night¨Cabout wanting to see the canyon under the stars.¡±


    My pulse quickened. ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°Next month, after youplete yourbat training assessment, I¡¯d like to take you there<b>. </b><b>As </b>a reward, if you pass.¡± There was a hint of challenge in his tone, as if daring me to refuse.


    For a moment, I was tempted to ept without hesitation. The <b>prospect </b><b>of </b>exploring the desert night with Adrian was undeniably appealing. But Nadia¡¯s usations echoed in my mind, dampening my enthusiasm.


    ¡°That sounds wonderful,¡± <b>I </b>said carefully, ¡°but didn¡¯t Ryder mention wanting to <b>go </b>too? We should bring <b>him </b>along.¡±


    There <b>was </b>a long silence on the other end of the line¨C<b>so </b>prolonged that I wondered if <b>the </b><b>connection </b>had been lost.


    ¡°Adrian? Hello? Are you still there?¡±


    The only response was a soft click, followed by the dial tone.


    <b>I </b>stared at my phone in disbelief. Had he just¡­ hung up on me? Over the <b>suggestion </b>of including Ryder? The reaction seemed disproportionate<b>, </b><b>almost </b>childishing from someone <b>as </bposed as Adrian typically was.


    Later that night, as Iy in bed staring at the ceiling, my wolf stirred <b>restlessly </b>in my mind<b>, </b>her <b>presence </b><b>more </b>distinct than usual.<fnb9dd> Follow current nov?ls on Find_Novel(.</fnb9dd>


    Why did you push him away? she seemed to ask, her frustration bleeding into my <b>consciousness</b>. You don¡¯t actually have feelings for the young <b>one</b><b>. </b>


    Ryder¡¯s like an annoying little brother,¡± I murmured aloud to the empty room. ¡°Of <b>course </b><b>I </b>don¡¯t have feelings for him.¡±


    Then why sabotage a night alone with Adrian?


    I had no good answer. Was I trying to respect Nadia¡¯s feelings? <b>Or </b>was I simply afraid of acknowledging my own growing attraction to Adrian¨Can attraction that couldn¡¯t lead anywhere productive, given that neither <b>of </b><b>us </b>was the other¡¯s mate<b>? </b>


    My wolf said, ¡°No matter who your Second Chance mate might be, they won¡¯t be better than Adrian<b>, </b>she insisted with surprising vehemence. Perhaps if you let him mark you, there would be no need for a Second Chance mate at all<b>.</b>¡±


    ¡°Stop,¡± I whispered, pressing my palms against my <b>eyes</b><b>. </b>That¡¯s not how it works. <b>We¡¯re </b>not meant to be together that way<b>.</b>¡±


    My wolf subsided with a disgruntled rumble.


    I shook my head, forcing my thoughts in a more productive direction. What mattered now was passing <b>next </b>month¡¯sbat <b>assessment</b>. After Nadia¡¯s confrontation today, I had no doubt she would scrutinize my performance with <b>merciless </b>attention to detail.


    I needed to be prepared¨Cmore than prepared. I needed to be perfect.


    Rolling onto my side, I made a silent promise to <b>myself</b><b>: </b>tomorrow¡¯s training would begin at dawn, with or without Nadia¡¯s <b>supervision</b>.


    wouldn¡¯t give her any reason to call me selfish again.


    <b>I </b>would earn my ce in this pack through dedication and hard work, proving once and for all that I belonged here that I deserved to be foe

 Casts 49

    Chapter <b>49 </b>


    <b>Adrian¡¯s </b>POV


    <b>Two </b>months had passed since <b>Skye </b>officially joined Oasisborn Pack. In that time, I¡¯d watched her transform from a hesitant neer <b>into </b>an integral member of ourmunity.


    The children at the orphanage adored her, Venus considered her indispensable, and even Lydia had taken to sharing her rarer herbal concoctions a privilege previously extended to no one.


    Today marked the culmination of <b>Skye¡¯s </bbat training assessment, the final hurdle before she could be recognized as a full warrior of the pack<b>. </b><b>I </b>stood <i>at </i>the edge of the training field, arms crossed over my chest, maintaining a carefully neutral expression despite the pride swelling within me as I watched her performance.


    <b>As </b>expected, her results were impressive. While her strength evaluation yielded only a marginal pass¨Cunderstandable given her smaller stature and less developed muscture¨Cshe excelled in nearly every other category. Her speed tests had the evaluators exchanging nces of surprise, her grappling techniques demonstrated a fluid adaptability thatpensated brilliantly for herck of raw power, and her marksmanship<b>¡­ </b>


    ¡°Holy shit, Ryder breathed beside me as Skye¡¯s <b>final </b>bullet found its target dead center. <b>¡®</b>I¡¯ve never seen anyone shoot like that on their first assessment


    Coming from our pack¡¯s best marksman<b>, </b>this <b>was </b><b>high </b>praise indeed. I allowed myself <b>a </b><b>small </b>smile, finding it hard to believe that Skye had once identally shot her mate Leon. But in that moment, I felt grateful for her <b>mishap </b>three and a half years ago. Without that fateful <b>error</b>, our paths might never have <b>crossed</b>.


    Nadia approached, clipboard in hand, her <b>expression </b>professionally detached despite what I knew must be conflicting emotions. Whatever tension <b>had </b>developed between her and Skye recently, she had maintained absolute fairness in the evaluation <b>process</b><b>. </b>


    ¡°The results are clear,¡± she announced. ¡°Skye <b>passes </b>with distinction in marksmanship, speed, tactical <b>assessment</b>, <b>and </b>defensive techniques<b>. </b>Her strength evaluation meets minimum requirements.¡± She paused, then added with grudging <b>respect</b><b>, </b><b>¡°</b>Overall performance <b>ces </b><b>her </b><b>in </b>the upper quartile of our warrior <b>ss</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    The gathered evaluators nodded their approval as Skye epted the news with quiet dignity, her <b>silver </b>hair gleaming in the afternoon sun. The slight flush of exertion on her cheeks only enhanced her natural beauty, bringing an unexpected warmth to my chest. I quickly suppressed <b>it</b>, maintaining <b>my </b><b>role as </b>impartial Alpha.


    ¡°Congrattions,¡± <b>I </b>said formally, stepping forward to address not just Skye but all the warriors who hadpleted their <b>assessments </b>today. <b>¡°</b><b>You¡¯ve </b><b>earned </b>your ces among Oasisborn¡¯s defenders. Tonight, <b>we </b>celebrate your achievement.¡±


    A cheer went up from the gathered wolves. <b>As </b>the crowd began to <b>disperse</b>, I made my way


    <b>to </b>


    Skye¡¯s side, lowering my voice so only she could hear.


    ¡®Do


    you remember our conversation fromst month?¡± <b>I </b>asked. ¡°About the canyon?¡±


    Her eyes brightened with recognition. ¡°The stars<b>,</b>¡± she said simply. ¡°You promised to show me the canyon under the stars if I passed the <b>assessment</b><b>.</b>¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯ve more than passed,¡± I confirmed. ¡°I¡¯ll make the arrangements. <b>We </b><b>leave </b>tomorrow at dawn.¡±


    <b>As </b>I turned to leave, already mentally cataloging the preparations needed for our <b>trip</b>, Ryder appeared suddenly at <b>Skye¡¯s </b>side, his <b>perpetual </b><b>energy </b>seeming even more pronounced than <b>usual</b>.


    ¡°So you¡¯re really taking her to Crescent Canyon?¡± he asked, falling into step beside me. ¡°<b>I¡¯ve </b>been telling her about that ce for <b>weeks</b>! The <b>acoustics </b><b>are </b>incredible¨Cperfect for music.¡± He patted the guitar <b>case </b>strapped to his back meaningfully.


    I stifled a groan. This was <b>precisely </b>what I¡¯d been trying to avoid when I¡¯d hung up on Skye after she <b>suggested </b>bringing Ryder along on <b>our </b><b>trip</b>. <b>Now </b><b>here </b>he was, already assuming his invitation.


    Before I could formte a diplomatic <b>rejection</b>, Nadia joined our <b>small </b>group, her dark <b>eyes </b>narrowed with suspicion. <b>¡°</b><b>A </b>trip <b>to </b><b>Crescent </b>Canyon<b>? </b>Is this some kind of special reward for Skye¡¯s performance<b>?</b><b>* </b>


    <b>¡°</b>Yes,¡± I admitted, seeing no point in denying it. I promised to show her the canyon if she passed her assessment.


    Nadia¡¯s expression shifted, calctions clearly running behind her <b>eyes</b><b>. </b>¡°<b>And </b>what about the other <b>sessful </b>candidates? <b>Don¡¯t </b>they <b>deserve </b>equal recognition for their achievements<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>49 </b>


    <b>I </b><b>opened </b><b>my </b>mouth to object, but found myself suddenly surrounded <b>by </b><b>the </b>enger <b>faces </b><b>of </b><b>young </b>warriors <b>who </b><b>had </b>overheard <b>out </b>conversations <b>Trac- </b>excitement was palpable¡ªOasisborn¡¯s best warriors, who had trained <b>diligently </b><b>for </b>months, now looking at me with hopeful anticipation,


    <b>¡°</b><b>A </b>canyon campout would be amazing<b>, </b>Alpha!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve never had a group celebration like that before! Can we teally go, <b>Alpha </b><b>Adrian</b>?


    Their enthusiasm pressed against me like a physical force. I nced at Skye, trying <b>to </b>gauge her reaction to this unexpected development. <b>To </b><b>my </b><b>surprise</b>, <b>she </b>seemed genuinely delighted by the idea of a group excursion.


    It would be wonderful to celebrate together, she said, her silver hair catching the light <b>as </b>she nodded encouragingly. ¡®Don¡¯t you think so, Alpha?


    There <b>was </b>no graceful way to refuse now. With Nadia¡¯s pointed challenge, the warriors¡® eager faces, and Skye¡¯s apparent approval, I found myself <b>cornered</b><b>. </b>


    <b>¡°</b><b>Yes</b><b>,</b>¡± I conceded, suppressing a sigh. ¡°We¡¯ll make it a group expedition. All sessful candidates are wee to join.


    The cheers that followed did little to soothe my disappointment. What I had envisioned as a quiet opportunity to finally spend time alone with <b>Skye </b><b>had </b>transformed into what would essentially be a pack <b>field </b>trip.


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 Casts 50

    <b>Chapter </b><b>50 </b>


    Adrian¡¯s POV


    The next morning, I found myself¨Cleading a caravan of vehicles toward Crescent Canyon. What should have been a private, contemtive journey had be a lively procession, with music ring from windows and excited chatter filling the desert air.<fndaae> Content originallyes from find?novel</fndaae>


    In <b>my </b>SUV, I had the dubious pleasure of Nadia in the passenger seat, while Ryder and Skye upied the back. Through the rearview mirror<b>, </b><b>I </b>caught glimpses of Skye¡¯s animated expressions as she conversed with Ryder.


    The desert light streaming through the windows highlighted her silver hair, making it shimmer like liquid mercury.


    More striking was the change in her <b>eyes</b>¨Cthose forest¨Cgreen depths had softened considerably since she¡¯d joined our pack, losing the guarded warmes of <i>a </i>lone wolf and gaining something warmer, more open.


    <b>¡®</b><b>I </b><b>can¡¯t </b>thank you enough for the shooting lessons these past few weeks,¡± Skye was saying to Ryder, her voice carrying easily <b>in </b>the confined space of the vehicle. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have scored so high without your help.¡±


    Ryder beamed with pride. ¡°You¡¯re a natural. <b>I¡¯ve </b>never seen anyone improve so quickly.¡±


    ¡°Now I understand why you have such an important ce in Oasisborn Pack despite <b>your </b>age<b>, </b>Skye replied with genuine admiration. ¡°Your skills are extraordinary.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all about finding what you¡¯re good at,¡± Ryder shrugged modestly, though his pleased expression betrayed his delight at her praise<b>. </b><b>¡°</b><b>And </b>you definitely found your niche with marksmanship.¡±


    My knuckles whitened slightly on the steering wheel as I listened to their exchange.


    The easy familiarity between them sent a spike of irritation through me that I couldn¡¯t entirely justify.


    I recalled Ryder¡¯s bold deration a month ago about ¡®fairpetition¡± for Skye¡¯s affection¨Csomething I¡¯d dismissed as youthful impulsivity. Now, watching their interaction, I realized the young wolf had been entirely serious.


    Nadia shot me a knowing nce, her expression somewhere between vindication and sympathy. I pointedly ignored her<b>, </b><b>focusing </b>on the winding desert road ahead.


    ncing in my rearview mirror, I counted at least fifteen wolves making the journey¨Cnot just the newly qualified warriors, but also Nadia <b>(</b>who had <b>insisted </b>oning to ¡®supervise¡°), Ryder (who had somehow managed to pack/not only his guitar but an entire sound system), and <b>even </b>a <b>few </b>other <b>pack </b>members who had attached themselves to the expedition at thest minute.


    My frustration gradually ebbed as we reached the canyon¡¯s edge. The genuine awe on the faces of the younger pack members as they took in <b>the </b>magnificent view helped put things into perspective.


    Many of these wolves had never ventured this far from our oasis; some had never experienced the raw beauty of the desert wilderness at all.


    It¡¯s breathtaking,¡± Skye murmured,ing to stand beside me at the canyon¡¯s edge. The afternoon sun painted the stratified rock in shades of amber and gold, the shadows deepening the vibrant reds and purples in a disy that no photograph could ever truly capture<b>. </b>


    ¡°Even better at night,¡± I promised, allowing myself a moment to enjoy her proximity before Ryder inevitably appeared between us.


    Setting up camp became amunity effort. Tents sprouted across the designated campsite, <b>gear </b>was unpacked, and responsibilities <b>were </b>distributed. I watched with a mixture of amusement and irritation as Ryder enthusiastically helped Skye with her tent, their easy camaraderie evident in theirughter and casual touches.


    As twilight descended, the canyon was transformed. The fading sunlight painted the sky in brilliant hues of <b>orange </b><b>and </b><b>pink</b><b>, </b>while <b>the </b>first stars began <b>to </b>appear overhead. Nadia and Skye organized the food preparation, working together with surprising efficiency despite the <b>tension </b><b>I </b><b>knew </b>existed <b>between </b>


    them.


    I built the central fire, arranging logs in a circle around it to create a gathering ce. Soon, the scent of roasting <b>meat </b>filled the <b>air</b><b>, </b>mingling with the clean desert breeze and the earthy fragrance of juniper and sage. The pack members assembled around the fire, tes heaped with food, their faces illuminated by the dancing mes.


    Looking around <b>at </b><b>my </b>pack¨C<b>my </b>family¨C1 felt something shift within me. The disappointment of not having Skye to myself gradually dissolved, reced <b>by </b><b>a </b>profound sense of contentment. These young warriors, so full of life and potential, represented Oasisborn¡¯s future. Their strength, their <b>unity</b><b>, </b><b>their </b><b>obvious </b><b>joy </b>in simply being together filled me with hope for what our pack could be.


    After dinner<b>, </b>as thest traces of daylight faded from the <b>sky</b><b>, </b>revealing a canopy of stars so brilliant they seemed close enough to touch, Ryder reached for <b>his </b><b>guitar</b>. The conversations around the fire quieted as he began to tune the instrument, his usually yful demeanor giving way to something more


    serious<b>. </b>


    <b>I¡¯ve </b><b>been </b>working on something,¡® he announced, his fingers finding their positions on the strings. <b>¡°</b><b>A </b>song I wrote for someone special. His <b>eyes </b>flickered briefly to Skye<b>, </b>who sat <b>across </b>the <b>fire </b>from him, her silver hair gleaming in the firelight.


    <b>As </b><b>I </b><b>watched </b>Ryder strum his guitar<b>, </b>his <b>eyes </b><b>never </b><b>straying </b>far from <b>Skye</b><b>, </b>my wolf stirred with restless energy, a low growl rumbling in the back of my <b>mind</b>.


    ¡°Well,¡± <b>he </b>said with a <b>smug </b>chuckle, ¡°looks like you¡¯re trailing <b>by </b>one point<b>, </b>Alpha.¡±


    I gritted my <b>teeth</b><b>, </b>ignoring the amused glint in my wolf¡¯s <b>voice</b><b>. </b>It <b>wasn¡¯t </b>a damn game!


    <b>At </b><b>least</b><b>, </b>that¡¯s what I kept telling myself.


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 Casts 51

    Chapter <b>51 </b>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    Ryder¡¯s eyes found mine across the flickering campfire, his fingers poised over the guitar strings.


    The intensity of his gaze made me shift ufortably where I sat on the ground.


    I nced toward Adrian, finding his amber eyes already fixed on us. His expression was thunderous, jaw clenched so tightly I could almost hear his teeth grinding from across the fire.


    The hostility radiating from him was palpable, intense enough that several nearby pack members instinctively leaned away from their Alpha


    Then Ryder began to y, and the tension temporarily dissolved as everyone¡¯s attention shifted to the music. His fingers moved deftly across the strings, coaxing a melody both haunting and sweet from the instrument.


    When he started singing, his voice carried surprising depth and emotion:


    I¡¯m tripping on you


    Stone all the time


    When you make me lose my mind


    Kissing your lips with your hair in my face


    Telling your lies With no disgrace¡­<b>¡± </b>


    His voice rose with confidence as he reached the chorus<b>: </b>


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t be better, better, better than this


    Could it be better, better, better than this<b>? </b>


    Better give me a kiss Your kiss, your kiss<b>.</b>¡±


    I kept my expression carefully neutral as he continued through the second verse, though I could feel heat rising to my cheeks<b>. </b>


    ¡®You¡¯re here in my ce


    Up in my face and you¡¯ll never let me <b>rest </b>


    The Sun lights the <b>day </b><fnd9c9> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? f?ndnovel</fnd9c9>


    <b>As </b>I find my way through


    The dreams <b>we </b>chase and the nights <b>we </b>miss


    <b>It </b>couldn¡¯t be better, better, better than this


    It could be better, better, better than this


    Your kiss<b>, </b>your kiss<b>¡­</b>¡±


    <b>As </b>the final note faded into the desert night, a moment of appreciative silence fell <b>over </b>the group <b>before </b><b>they </b><b>erupted </b><b>into </b><b>apuse </b><b>and </b><b>cheers</b>.


    Ryder¡¯s face split into a wide grin, his boyish features alight with pleasure at their reception.


    <b>1/3 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>51 </b>


    <b>That </b>was <b>amazing</b><b>!</b><b>¡± </b>one <b>of </b><b>the </b>younger warriors called out. <b>¡®</b>What¡¯s it called<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Better Than This, Ryder replied, his voice carrying a hint of suggestion as his eyes remained fixed on me.


    The group¡¯s enthusiasm quickly morphed into something more mischievous. Several of the warriors began nudging each other, exchanging knowing


    ¡®So who¡¯s the song for, Ryder? someone shouted, triggering a chorus of teasing whoops.


    <b>¡®</b>Yeah, spill it! Who¡¯s got you writing love songs?¡±


    Ryder¡¯s grin widened as he adjusted his grip on the guitar, clearly preparing to make some grand deration. My stomach dropped as he opened his mouth, his <b>eyes </b>locked firmly on mine across the fire. I silently willed him not to say my name, not to put me in this impossible position in front of the entire


    group.


    <b>¡°</b><b>It¡¯s </b>for- Ryder began, but was abruptly cut off.


    ¡°That was quite impressive, Adrian interjected, his voice carrying the unmistakable weight of Alpha authority despite its outward casualness. The song <b>has </b>genuine merit. Does anyone else have a performance to share tonight?¡±


    The stark contrast between Adrian¡¯s cold tone and hisplimentary words created an immediate pall over the gathering. The previously animated atmosphere deted like a punctured balloon, leaving an awkward silence in <b>its </b>wake.


    Pack members exchanged uncertain <b>nces</b><b>, </b>no one quite brave enough to fill the void Adrian had created.


    After several excruciating seconds <b>of </b><b>silence</b><b>, </b>Nadia cleared her throat. ¡°<b>Well</b>, it <b>seems </b>Ryder is Oasisborn¡¯s sole musician<b>,</b>¡± she remarked dryly.


    Her dark <b>eyes </b>scanned the assembled group before brightening with sudden inspiration.


    ¡°How about we try something more active<b>? </b>I have an idea<b>¨C</b>a hunting game I designed for training <b>our </b>younger wolves<b>. </b>


    Interest immediately rekindled across the campsite. Nadia held up a finger<b>, </b>signaling us to wait <b>as </b>she strode purposefully toward the vehicles parked at <b>the </b>edge of our campsite.


    When she returned momentster, she carried an assortment of masks in her arms<b>¨C</b>some crafted to resemble wolves<b>, </b><b>others </b>shaped like rabbits.


    ¡®Perfect for a full moon night,¡¯ she announced, holding the masks aloft. The pack members leaned forward with renewed <b>interest</b><b>, </b>the earlier tension forgotten in the face of potential entertainment.


    ¡°The rules are simple, Nadia exined, sorting the masks into two piles. ¡°Those who draw wolf masks are hunters. Those who draw rabbit masks <b>are </b><b>prey</b>. For one hour, hunters will track and capture as many rabbits as possible, while the rabbits try to evade capture.


    <b>A </b>younger warrior raised his hand. ¡°So the winners are the wolves who catch the <b>most </b>rabbits<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Yes,¡± Nadia confirmed, ¡°but also any rabbits who manage to remain uncaught by the end of the hour.¡±


    The warrior¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion. ¡°So prey can win too?¡±


    Nadia¡¯s lips curved into a rare smile. ¡°Survival is <b>its </b>own victory<b>, </b>wouldn¡¯t you <b>say</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    I couldn¡¯t help but appreciate the wisdom in her approach. Unlike traditional werewolf hunting festivals where only the strongest predators were celebrated Nadia¡¯s game honored both the hunter¡¯s skill and the <b>prey¡¯s </b>cunning.


    One by one<b>, </b>pack members approached Nadia to randomly select a mask. When my turn came, <b>I </b>reached into the <b>pile </b><b>without </b>looking and pulled <b>out </b>a rabbit mask. I slipped it over my <b>face</b><b>, </b>securing the stic band behind my head.


    Ryder groaned loudly nearby. ¡°Seriously?¡± heined<b>, </b>holding up his own rabbit mask with obvious disappointment<b>. </b><b>Im </b><b>the </b><b>pack¡¯s </b><b>best </b>marksman<b>, </b><b>and </b>get to be prey?¡±


    ¡®Luck of the draw,¡± Nadia replied unsympathetically before turning back to the <b>group</b>. <b>¡°</b><b>Any </b>otherints before <b>we </b><b>begin</b><b>? </b>


    My attention was drawn to Adrian as he selected his mask a wolf, naturally. Our eyes met briefly as he secured it or his features, the carved wooden wilf transforming his already imposing presence into something truly predatory.


    Beside him, Nadia donned her own wolf mask. The two of them turned toward me simultaneously, their masked fares revealing nothing while sometuer conveying everything about their intentions.


    I was prey, and they were hunters. The realization sent an unexpected thrill down my spine.


    ¡°Rabbits, Nadia called out, her voice slightly muffled behind her mask, ¡®you have ten minutes to hide. Use them wisely. The hunt begins when you hear the Alpha¡¯s howl.¡±


    The rabbits immediately scattered, disappearing into the darkness surrounding our campsite. As I prepared to run, Ryder appeared at my side, his rabbit mask pushed up to rest atop his head.


    ¡°Let¡¯s stick together,¡® he suggested eagerly. ¡®I can protect you.¡±


    I shook my head firmly. ¡°Your werewolf scent is too strong. You¡¯ll only make us both easier to track. I gestured toward the darkenedndscape. ¡®I¡¯ll be better off on my own<b>.</b>¡±


    Before he could protest further, I darted away from the firelight, sprinting toward the deepening shadows of the canyon.


    My silver wolf stirred within me, lending extra speed to my movements as I raced into the darkness, heart pounding with the primitive thrill of the chase¨C even if I was the one being chased.


    Author¡¯s Note:


    The song Better than This in the story was written by my friend Trevor. I hope that by the time I finish writing this book, my wonderful friends will havepleted the recording of the song.


    To all my cherished readers, I would love to hear your thoughts¨Cdid this story find a ce in your heart?


    <b>Chapter </b>Comments

 Casts 52

    <b>Chapter </b><b>52 </b>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    I raced upward along the canyon¡¯s edge, my feet finding purchase on the loose stones


    with


    instinctive precision.


    Finally, I spotted what I was looking for arge boulder perched precariously near what appeared to be a sheer drop. To anyone approaching from t would look as though the rock sat directly on the cliff¡¯s edge. What they couldn¡¯t see was the small teau behind it, offering the perfect bading some


    1 slipped behind the boulder, pressing my back against the cool stone as I fought to steady my breathing. Pulling og my hoodie, I torked my silver hair carefully beneath the fabric. My distinctive hair color had always been both my greatest beauty and my greatest liability¨Cnow mces than ever as prey in a hunting game<b>. </b>


    Closing <b>my </b>eyes, I focused on my hearing, filtering through the night sounds until I detected the soft footfalls and hushed voices of the hunters beginning their pursuit. The game had officially started.


    My thoughts drifted to Adrian¡¯s thunderous expression by the campfire. His reaction to Ryder¡¯s song had been unmistakable¨Cbarely contained raze simmering beneath a thin veneer of Alphaposure. I couldn¡¯t help but recall Nadia¡¯s warning about their supposedpetition.


    Were they actually engaged in some ridiculous contest over me?


    The idea both angered and confused me. On one hand, the thought of being treated like a prize to be won was deeply offensive.


    On the other hand, was I reading too much into their behavior? Adrian had maintained a respectful distance for weeks, showing none of the aggressive pursuit one might expect from someone engaged in romanticpetition.


    An Alpha participating in such juvenile antics seemed absurd. Adrian <b>was </b>a leader, responsible for an entire pack. Surely he wouldn¡¯t lower himself topeting with someone eight years his junior for a woman who wasn¡¯t even his mate.


    A sudden shriek pierced the night, followed by Nadia¡¯s triumphantughter. Another ¡°rabbit¡± had been caught<b>, </b>and judging by the sounds, not far from my hiding ce. I instinctively covered my mouth and nose with my hand, as if that could somehow mask my presence from werewolf senses.


    My heart hammered against my ribs, adrenaline flooding my system with the primal thrill of potential discovery<b>. </b>


    Nadia¡¯s footsteps and her captive¡¯s resigned grumbling gradually faded as they moved away from my position. <b>I </b>released <b>a </b>careful breath, allowing my tense muscles to rx slightly.


    I¡¯d sessfully evaded the first hunter.


    Leaning back against the boulder, <b>I </b>gazed out at the breathtaking vista before me. From this height, the canyon sprawled majestically under <b>the </b>full moon¡¯s glow, its stratified walls painted in silver and shadow. The stars seemed close enough to touch, their brilliance undiminished by city lights or pollution. It was exactly the view Adrian had promised me.


    I was so absorbed in the scenery that I didn¡¯t register the presence behind me until hands shot out from the darkness<b>, </b>mping firmly <b>around </b>my waist. I opened my mouth to scream, but a palm quickly covered my lips, muffling the sound before <b>it </b>could escape.<fn8e51> Discover more novels at find~novel</fn8e51>


    I struggled briefly before catching a familiar scent¨Cthe distinctive ocean scent that belonged to Adrian. My body instantly rxed, though my heart continued its frantic rhythm for entirely different reasons.


    How had he managed to sneak up on me? For someone of his stature<b>¨C</b>well <b>over </b><b>six </b><b>feet </b><b>of </b>solid muscle¨Cto move with such stealth seemed almost supernatural. He¡¯d approached like a shadow, without disturbing <b>a </b>single stone or creating even the faintest whisper of sound.


    Gradually, Adrian released his hand from my mouth, circling around the boulder to sit beside me on the hidden teau. The <b>carved </b>wooden wolf mask still concealed his features<b>, </b>lending him an almost mythological <b>appearance </b>in the moonlight¨Ca forest gode <b>to </b>im his tribute.


    ¡°How did you find <b>me</b>?¡± I whispered, both impressed and slightly disappointed that my hiding ce had been discovered


    ickly<b>. </b>


    ¡°Your scent,¡± he replied simply, his voice slightly muffled behind the mask.


    I frowned in confusion. ¡°But I thought <b>I </b>didn¡¯t have <b>a </b>typical werewolf scent. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been able to hide from other wolves all these <b>years</b><b>.</b>¡±


    <b>Chapter </b><b>52 </b>


    <b>Adrian </b>tilted his head, the mask¡¯s carved features creating eerie shadows across his face. ¡°I know your shampoo, your <b>body </b>wash, your unseren. K exined. ¡°I know how you smell when <b>you¡¯re </b>nervous¡­¡±


    He paused, leaving his words hanging in the air for a moment. Then, leaning slightly closer, he continued in a lower tone that sent heat <b>pooling </b>in my stomach.


    <b>¡°</b>And I know your scent when you¡¯re excited.¡±


    M


    Even behind his mask<b>, </b>I could feel the intensity of his gaze locked with mine.


    Heat rushed to my face as my mind immediately shed back to that day in his SUV after my first shift¨Cthe mortifying wetness between my thighs<b>, </b><b>the </b>unmistakable aroma of arousal that had filled the enclosed <b>space</b>.


    He had recognized it <b>then</b>, just as he recognized it now.


    Because to my horror, my body <b>was </b>betraying me once again, <b>responding </b>to his proximity with a traitorous warmth that I knew his enhanced senses <b>could </b>detect.


    I quickly averted my <b>eyes</b>, desperate to change the <b>subject</b>. ¡°Fine,


    <b>you </b>


    caught


    <b><i>me</i></b><b>.</b>¡±


    ¡±


    I


    conceded. ¡°<b>You </b>win<b>. </b><b>You </b><b>should </b>go find your next target <b>now</b><i>. </i>


    I attempted to stand, intending to make a dignified retreat back to


    <b>camp </b><b>as </b>a captured rabbit.¡±


    Instead, Adrian¡¯s hand shot out, closing around my <b>wrist </b>and pulling me off¨Cbnce<b>. </b><b>I </b>tumbled backward,nding squarely in his tap, his strong <b>arms </b>immediately encircling my <b>waist </b>to prevent me from escaping.


    With his free hand, Adrian reached up and removed his wolf mask.


    The moonlight cascaded <b>across </b>his face, highlighting the sharp angles of his jawline and the depth of his amber <b>eyes</b><b>. </b>My breath caught in my throat <b>as </b><b>I </b>took in his handsome features¨C<b>the </b>strong brow, straight nose, and full lips that curved into <b>a </b>slight smile. <b>The </b><b>silver </b>glow seemed to transform <b>him </b>into something otherworldly, too perfect to be real.


    I found myself staring, momentarily forgetting my predicament as I admired the y of light and shadow across his face.


    ¡°Why are you so afraid to be alone with me?¡± he demanded, his breath tickling my ear. ¡°What <b>exactly </b>


    ¤¯


    are you afraid <b>of</b><b>, </b>Skye<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

 Casts 53

    <b>Chapter </b><b>53 </b>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    ¡°Why are you so afraid to be alone with me?¡± Adrian demanded, his breath tickling my ear ¡°What exactly are past afraid of <b>t </b>


    I struggled to free myself from his embrace, squirming against his chest. My efforts only made an inescapable cage of muscle and warmth.


    him tighten his hold around my waist, trong vakavia


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid.¡± I protested, grateful for the rabbit mask still covering my face. Without it, he would have seen the betraying heat flooding my cheeks, the vulnerability I couldn¡¯t quite hide. ¡°I just don¡¯t think it¡¯s appropriate for us to


    ¡°Is it Ryder?¡± he interrupted, his voice dropping to a dangerous rumble. Do you have feelings for him?


    The question caught me off guard. Was that what this was about? Was the mighty Alpha of Oasisborn Pack actually jealous of a wolf eight years his junior


    Before I could formte a response, Adrian reached up and gently removed my rabbit mask.


    The cool desert air caressed my suddenly exposed face as moonlight bathed us both in its silver glow. Without the mask¡¯s barrier, 1 felt naked, vulnerabile- every emotion inly visible for him to see.


    ¡°No,¡± I answered honestly, meeting his gaze despite the flutter in my stomach. ¡°I care for Ryder the way I¡¯d care for a younger brother. I would never <b>pursue </b>something romantic with him.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s eyes searched mine<b>, </b>as if hunting for any trace of deception. ¡°Has he kissed you?¡± he asked bluntly.


    ¡°What? No!¡± I eximed, genuinely shocked by the question. ¡°Why would you <b>even </b>ask that?¡±


    A muscle twitched in Adrian¡¯s jaw. ¡°His song,¡± he exined, his <b>voice </b>tight. ¡°The <b>lyrics </b>seemed¡­ intimate. Personal.¡±


    Realization dawned as I recalled the chorus of Ryder¡¯s performance<b>. </b>Better give me a kiss, your kiss, your kiss. My eyes widened with horror.


    ¡°Oh no,¡± I groaned. ¡°Is that what everyone thinks? That Ryder and I have been¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t even finish the thought, mortification washing over me in waves. ¡°The pack members, they don¡¯t all believe <b>we¡¯re </b>together, do they<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Something shifted in Adrian¡¯s expression then¨Ca subtle softening around his <b>eyes</b>, the slightest <b>upward </b>tilt at the <b>corner </b>of his mouth.


    I found myself staring at his lips, noticing for the first how perfectly shaped they <b>were</b>.


    Ufortable with the direction of my thoughts, I turned my <b>face </b>away<b>, </b>only to <b>feel </b>warm fingers gently <b>grasp </b>my chin, turning me back to face him.


    His touch was surprisingly tender for someone with such strength, the calloused pad of his thumb ghosting across my lower lip in a <b>way </b>that <b>sent </b>electricity racing down my spine.


    My heart hammered wildly against my ribcage <b>as </b>Adrian leaned closer, his intention unmistakable. <b>I </b>should have stopped him. I should have <b>reminded </b>him that neither of us was the other¡¯s mate. I should have thought <b>of </b>Nadia¡¯s warnings and my own promises to maintain appropriate boundaries<b>. </b>


    Instead, I remained frozen, caught between desire and doubt as his <b>face </b>drew nearer.


    Then his lips were on mine, warm and insistent, stealing the breath from my lungs.


    When I didn¡¯t pull away, it deepened, bing something hungrier, more primal. His hand moved to cradle the back of my head, fingers threading through my silver hair as he angled my face to deepen the contact.


    <b>me </b>securely in <b>his </b>


    I had been kissed before¨Cawkward, fumbling teenage experiences that paled inparison to this. Adrian kissed <b>with </b><b>the </b><b>same </b>feed <b>intensity </b><b>he </b>brought to everything else, as if the world beyond our shared breath had ceased to <b>exist</b>. His other arm remained firmly around <b>my </b><b>waist</b>,p as his mouth imed mine with growing urgency.


    Something ignited within me¨Ca spark I hadn¡¯t felt since that fleeting moment in the forest with Leon three years ago. But this was <b>different</b>.


    <b>Chapter </b><b>53 </b>


    <b>I </b><b>found </b><b>myself </b>responding, my hands moving <b>of </b>their own ord to rest against <b>his </b><b>chest</b>, feeling the thundering heartbeat that matched so


    <b>My </b>tentative response seemed to ignite something in Adrian. Ilis kisses, once gentle, turned fierce and unrestrained, a wild <b>edge </b>to them that vit i coursing through me.


    I matched his intensity, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shitt, anchoring myself against the storm of sensation.


    Adrian¡¯s hands began to wander, his touch both deliberate and electrifying. His fingers traced the sensitive skin of my neck, a slow<b>, </b>teasing carest that made my pulse race.


    Then, with a boldness that stole my breath, his hand slid beneath the hem of my T¨Cshirt, gliding up my back. I felt the faint tug <b>as </b><b>he </b>deftly <b>unhooked </b>my bra, the fabric loosening against my skin. His touch moved forward, hands slipping around to cup <b>my </b>breasts from behind, his palms warm <b>and </b>possessive.


    A shiver ran through me, a soft moan escaping my lips¨Conly to be swallowed by the heat of his kiss<b>. </b>


    The world narrowed to the points <b>where </b>our bodies connected. Adrian¡¯s kisses grew more demanding, his tongue teasing mine as his hands explored with increasing confidence.


    Then, in a move that made my heart stutter, he gently guided my hand downward, pressing it against the front <i>of </i>his pants. <b>My </b>fingers brushed against <b>the </b>hard length of him, unmistakable even through the fabric, and a flush of heat <b>surged </b><b>through </b>me <b>at </b>the raw evidence of his desire<b>. </b>


    I hesitated, then let my hand linger<b>, </b>tracing <b>the </b>outline with a tentative curiosity that drew a low groan from him.<fnb93a> Chapters first released on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fnb93a>


    His other hand moved with purpose<b>, </b>slipping beneath the waistband <b>of </b>my <b>jeans </b>and into my panties. His fingers found me<b>, </b>warm and <b>slick</b><b>, </b>and a <b>low </b>chuckle rumbled in his chest<b>. </b>


    <b>¡°</b>You¡¯re so wet,¡± he murmured against my lips, his voice rough with want.


    ¡°You want this too, don¡¯t you?¡± His tone turned <b>teasing</b>, a yful edge cutting through the intensity. ¡°Could it be better <b>than </b><b>this</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    The words echoed Ryder¡¯s song, but in this moment, they felt like a challenge<b>, </b>a promise.


    My breath hitched <b>as </b>his fingers moved, slow and deliberate<b>, </b>coaxing sensations that made my body arch instinctively toward <b>him</b>. His touch was skilled<b>, </b>each stroke sending sparks <b>of </b>pleasure through me, my hips shifting to meet <b>his </b>rhythm.


    I gripped his shoulders<b>, </b>nails digging into his skin as another moan slipped free, muffled by <b>the </b>press of his mouth. Adrian¡¯s <b>kisses </b>deepened, his lips trailing along my jaw to the sensitive spot beneath my ear, where he nipped lightly, drawing <b>a </b><b>gasp </b>from me.


    His free hand tugged at the hem of my jeans, fingers deftly undoing the button. The denim loosened, and he slid the fabric partway down my hips<b>, </b><b>exposing </b>more of me to the cool desert air. His touch returned to my skin, tracing the curve of my thigh before slipping back to the heat between my <b>legs</b>, his movements growing bolder, more insistent.


    A sudden rity broke through the haze. I grabbed his <b>wrist</b><b>, </b>halting his movement. ¡°Adrian,¡± I whispered<b>, </b>my voice trembling with both desire and uncertainty. ¡°This¡­ this <b>is </b>my <b>first </b>time<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

 Casts 54

    Adrian¡¯s NIV<fn0111> Get full chapters from Find¡ïNovel</fn0111>


    Ryder¡¯s song had ignited a fire in my veins. Ifix brazen deration, these lyrics dripping with intent but <b>my </b>skye, was all attront fender fre


    The thought of him singing about kissing her lips, of the pack asuming they shared something intimate, fueled <b>a </b>leafarer ter Wered hotter than th desert sun. I wanted to im her, to ensure no other mate would dare cover her again.


    1 tracked her scent through the canyon, each step driven by a primal orge to possess her, to erase Ryder¡¯s insolence from Her boyly goud maid,


    Finding her behind that boulder, her silver hair tucked beneath her hoodie, my control nearly shattered Her scent jasmine fared with the heady miket arousal¨Chit me like a drug.


    I pulled her into myp, her warmth pressing against my chest, and when her lips met mine, hesitant then fierce, it <i>was </i>like pooring gamline the interio inside me. I kissed her with a hunger I couldn¡¯t tame, my tongue iming her mouth, tasting the sweetness of het surrender.


    Her hands clutched my chest, het heartbeat a frantic rhythm that matched the thunder in my own. Every brush of her lips stoked the fire, my need for her consuming every rational thought.


    <b>My </b>fingers roamed her skin, tracing the delicate curve of her corbone, soft as silk under my calloused touch. I slid my hands beneath her shirt, <b>has </b>warmth enveloping me as I unhooked her bra with a practiced flick. Her breasts were soft, full, fitting perfectly in my palms, and I groaned against her lips as I caressed them, feeling her nipples harden under my thumbs.


    Each touch drew a shiver from her, a soft gasp that fueled my desire.


    My cock strained against my jeans, aching for her, the need to bury myself in her overwhelming.


    I wanted to rip her clothes off, to fuck her until she forgot <b>every </b>other name but mine.


    I guided her hand to my erection, her fingers tentative as they brushed the hard length through the fabric.


    Her touch, even hesitant, sent a jolt of pleasure through me, my hips shifting toward her<b>. </b><b>My </b>other hand slipped beneath her <b>jeans</b><b>, </b><b>past </b>her panties, <b>and </b>found her pussy¨Chot, wet, and so fucking inviting. The slick heat of her arousal coated my fingers, and a <b>growl </b>rumbled in my chest.


    She was ready for me, her body begging for what I wanted to give. I teased her clit, slow circles that made her <b>hips </b>buck, her breath hitching in a way <b>that </b>drove me wild.


    ¡°Fuck, Skye,¡± I murmured, my voice rough, ¡°you¡¯re so ready for me.¡±


    The cliff¡¯s edge loomed behind us, the sheer drop adding a reckless thrill. The desert wind whispered against my <b>skin</b>, but it couldn¡¯t cool the heat between<ol><li>us<b>. </b></li></ol>


    I pressed her against the boulder, the canyon sprawling below, the danger heightening <b>every </b>sensation.


    Her thighs trembled as I kissed her neck<b>, </b>sucking the pulse point that fluttered wildly. I tugged her jeans lower, exposing her hips, <b>and </b>slid my fingers deeper, parting her folds.


    Her pussy clenched around my fingers, tight and slick, as I moved slowly, savoring her heat. I added a second finger, stretching her gently feeling her walls pulse with every thrust. Her moans grew louder, her hips grinding against my hand, chasing the pleasure I gave.


    I nipped her earlobe, my lips trailing to her <b>jaw</b>, tasting the salt of her skin as I worked her closer to the edge.


    My cock throbbed, desperate to rece my fingers, to feel her tightness envelop mepletely. I wanted to fuck her with the abyss at our backs<b>, </b>to make her scream my name into the night.


    I shifted, pressing my erection against her thigh, the friction maddening. Her hand tightened on my cock through my jeans, strok with <b>growing </b>confidence<b>, </b>each movement sending sparks of pleasure through me.


    <b>I </b>groaned, my control fraying as I imagined her pussy gripping me the way <b>her </b>hand did. I wanted to tear her clothes off<b>, </b><b>to </b>sink <b>into </b><b>her </b><b>and </b><b>im </b><b>her </b><bpletely</b>, <b>the </b>cliff¡¯s <b>edge </b>making every touch feel like a defiance of fate itself. <b>The </b>thought of taking her here, <b>with </b><b>the </b><b>void </b><b>so </b>close, <b>sent </b><b>a </b><b>surge </b><b>of </b>


    adrenaline through me, my body screaming to make her mine in every


    Then she spoke, her voice trembling. ¡°Adrian¡­ this is my first time.¡±


    way.


    The words hit like a bucket of ice water. I froze, my hand stilling inside her, my breath caught. My mind reeled¨C<i>she¡¯d </i>never <b>been </b>with anyone else


    No other man had touched her like this, imed her body?


    The thought sent a surge of possessiveness through me, but guilt crashed in, heavy and unyielding. She wasn¡¯t my mate. I¡¯d known that, felt the absence of that fated bond, a truth that gnawed at me even now. Yet here I was, driven by jealousy and lust, about to take her virginity without a promise, without amitment she deserved.


    I¡¯d let my anger at Ryder push me to this, but she deserved more than a reckless fuck driven by my need to dominate.


    I pulled back, my hands retreating from her body, though it felt like tearing myself apart. The urge to im her warred with the part of me that knew better. I looked into her eyes, seeing desire tangled with uncertainty, mirroring my own conflict.


    My chest tightened. I couldn¡¯t do this to her, not like this. She deserved more than a fleeting moment on a cliff¡¯s edge. I wanted to promise her everything. to give her themitment she deserved before taking something so precious.


    I needed her to know this wasn¡¯t just lust, that I saw her as more than a conquest.


    ¡°Skye,¡± I said, my voice low, serious, ¡°are you sure about this? Have you thought it through? Is this really what you <b>want</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>I searched her face, needing her to choose me as much as I was choosing her, needing her to understand the weight of this moment.


    Her lips parted, her eyes wide with a mix of longing and doubt, but before she could answer<b>, </b>voices broke through the night¨CNadia¡¯s sharp tone and Ryder¡¯s unmistakable drawl, too close forfort.


    My jaw clenched, the intrusion shattering the fragile moment. I pulled Skye closer, shielding her <b>as </b>I strained to <b>listen</b>, my body still humming with unspent desire, my mind a battlefield of restraint and need.


    Chapter <b>Comments </b>

 Casts 55

    <b>Chapter </b><b><i>55 </i></b>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    Still clutched in Adrian¡¯s arms, I froze as voices drifted up from below our hiding spot. My heart hammered against my ribs as I recognized the speakers Nadia¡¯s sharp, authoritative tone contrasting with Ryder¡¯s more casual drawl.


    Honestly, your hiding skills are worse than a pup¡¯s first hunt,¡± Nadia was saying, her voice carrying clearly through the night air. ¡°Behind a cartus? Really?


    ¡°At least I wasn¡¯t the first one caught,¡± Ryder replied defensively. ¡°The game¡¯s almost over anyway. Another few minutes and I would¡¯ve won


    I tensed, quickly readjusting my clothing with trembling fingers. Adrian helped me straighten my shirt, his movements surprisingly calmpared to my barely contained panic. My cheeks burned at the thought of being discovered like this¨Chair disheveled, lips swollen from his kisses, and the unmistakable scent of arousal still clinging to us both.


    ¡°I still haven¡¯t found Skye,¡± Nadiamented, her voice drawing closer. ¡°I¡¯ll give her credit¨Cshe knows how to hide.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t I help you look for her?¡± Ryder offered eagerly. ¡°Two hunters are better than one.¡±


    Their footsteps crunched on the loose gravel below, growing louder with each passing second. I buried my face against Adrian¡¯s neck, <b>as </b>if somehow that would make us invisible. His arms tightened around me protectively, but I could feel the tension in his muscles, the rigid set of his shoulders as he listened to their approach.


    Unlike my frantic anxiety, Adrian seemed almost unconcerned about the possibility of discovery. There was something defiant in the way he held me, as if he might wee the confrontation. The thought sent a fresh wave of panic through me. One confrontation with Nadia had been bad enough¨CI couldn¡¯t face both her and Ryder after what had just happened between us.


    ¡°That song tonight, Nadia¡¯s voice drifted up again, changing topics abruptly. ¡°It was for Skye, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    My breath caught. I tilted my head slightly to better hear their conversation while remaining hidden behind the boulder.


    ¡°Of course it was,¡± Ryder answered, pride evident in his voice. ¡°Pretty good, right? I could tell Skye really liked it. She looked at me differently afterward.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s body went rigid against mine. I ced a calming hand on his chest, feeling his heart pounding beneath my palm.


    ¡°Are you serious?¡± Nadia¡¯s tone dripped with derision. ¡°You¡¯ve been like this your entire life, Ryder. Three minutes of passionate interest, then on to <b>the </b>next shiny object that catches your attention.¡±


    ¡°Not this time, Ryder insisted, sounding genuinely offended. ¡°I¡¯ve never been more serious about anyone.<b>¡± </b>


    A heavy sigh from Nadia. ¡°What is it about her that has you men sopletely bewitched? First Adrian, now you.¡±


    My eyes widened at her words. I nced up at Adrian, whose jaw had tightened perceptibly. The mention of his name in connection with being ¡®bewitched¡± by me seemed to touch a nerve.


    Their voices grew closer still, now directly beneath our hiding spot. If they thought to look up and behind the boulder, <b>we </b>would be discovered immediately. The sound of their footsteps stopped, as if they were surveying the area.


    In that moment of heightened danger, Adrian did something that shocked me to my core. Instead of remaining still and silent as any rational person would, he deliberately lowered his head and pressed his lips against the side of my breast where my shirt had been partially readjusted.


    I bit my lip hard to suppress a gasp, my eyes wide with disbelief. Was he deliberately trying to get us caught? His amber <b>eyes </b>met mine, dark with possessiveness, as his hand slid beneath my shirt again to cup my breast fully. His thumb brushed <b>across </b>my nipple in a deliberate caress that sent shivers racing down my spine.


    The audacity of it¨Cthe sheer recklessness¨Cleft me breathless. Here we were, seconds away from potential discovery by the tv eople who would be most hurt and angered by what they saw, and Adrian was¡­ marking his territory.


    I remained frozen, barely daring to breathe as his lips continued their gentle assault. One part of me wanted to push him away, to hiss at him to stop this dangerous game. Another part¨Ca part I barely recognized as myself- thrilled at the forbidden nature of our encounter, at the possibility of being imed by him while others searched for me.


    <i>1/2 </i>


    After what felt like an eternity, Nadia¡¯s voice finally broke the tension.


    <b>¡°</b>They¡¯re not here. Let¡¯s check the eastern ridge. The game¡¯s almost over anyway.¡±<fnba09> Th?s chapter is updated by f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fnba09>


    I thought for sure I heard something, Ryder muttered, sounding disappointed.


    Their footsteps gradually receded, the sound of their voices fading into the distance until we were once again alone with the desert night.


    Only then did I release the breath I¡¯d been holding, my body sagging against Adrian¡¯s chest in relief.


    ¡°Are you crazy?¡± I whispered fiercely, pulling away from his touch despite my body¡¯s protest. ¡°They could have seeni us!¡±


    Adrian¡¯s eyes gleamed in the moonlight, something wild and possessive lurking in their depths. ¡°Would that have been so terrible?¡± he asked, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through me.


    ¡°Yes!¡± I hissed, straightening my clothing with shaking hands. ¡°Nadia would have been devastated, and Ryder-¡±


    ¡°Ryder needs to understand that you¡¯re not his,¡± Adrian interrupted, his tone hardening. ¡°And so does Nadia.¡±


    I stared at him, momentarily speechless<b>. </b>¡®I¡¯m not yours either,¡± I finally managed, the words emerging more uncertain than I¡¯d intended.


    Adrian reached out, cupping my face with surprising gentleness. ¡°Aren¡¯t <b>you</b><b>?</b>¡± he asked softly. His thumb traced my lower lip, still sensitive from his earher kisses. ¡°Your body seems to disagree.¡±


    I pulled away, needing distance to clear my head. The intoxicatingbination of adrenaline, desire, and the lingering effects of his touch made it difficult to think straight.


    ¡°We should head back to camp,¡± I said, deliberately ignoring his question. ¡°The hunting game must be over by now.¡±


    Adrian watched me for a long moment, his expression unreadable in the shadows. Finally, he nodded, retrieving our discarded masks from the ground.


    ¡°This conversation isn¡¯t finished, Skye,¡± he said as he handed me my rabbit mask. ¡°What happened between us tonight¡­ it means something.¡±


    I epted the mask without meeting his eyes, uncertain how to respond. What could I possibly say? That despite my best efforts to maintain boundaries, I¡¯d nearly given myselfpletely to a man who wasn¡¯t my mate? That for a few stolen moments on this canyon ledge, I¡¯d forgotten all the reasons why <b>we </b>shouldn¡¯t be together?


    As we made our way down the rocky path toward the distant glow of the campfire, I couldn¡¯t shake the memory of his touch, the heat of his kisses, or the dangerous thrill that had coursed through me when he¡¯d continued to touch me even as Nadia and Ryder had stood mere feet away.


    What scared me most wasn¡¯t the possibility of being caught¨Cit was the realization that a part of me had wanted it to happen. Wanted everyone to know that Adrian had chosen me, even if fate hadn¡¯t destined us for each other.


    And that thought terrified me more than anything else.


    <b>Chapter </b><b>Comments </b>


    Visitor


    this female beta and her mate are a lot. alike maybe they should be together


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 Casts 56

    <b>Chapter </b><b>56 </b>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    The walk back to camp seemed both endless and too brief. Adrian remained silent beside me, his fingers gently intertwined with mine the entire way. The warmth of his hand around mine felt bothforting and dangerous, a physical reminder of what had transpired between us moments ago.


    My mind raced through what had just happened between us on that cliff edge, my body still humming with the ghost of his touch.


    Before we reached the camp¡¯s perimeter, I halted abruptly.


    ¡°Wait,¡± I whispered, scanning our surroundings anxiously. ¡°We can¡¯t just walk in like this,¡±


    Adrian raised an eyebrow. ¡°Like what?¡±


    I gestured vaguely between us, heat rising to my cheeks. ¡®We smell like¡­ you know. They¡¯ll all know what we were doing.¡±


    Understanding dawned in his eyes, followed by a sh of something that looked suspiciously like pride.


    ¡°What do you suggest?¡±


    I knelt and gathered some nearby soil, mixing it with crushed desert grass. It <b>was </b>an old trick my father had taught <b>me </b>as a child¨Cnatural scents to mask my presence.I rubbed the mixture over my clothes and neck, then offered some to Adrian.


    ¡°This should help,¡± I exined, not meeting his eyes.


    Adrian epted the earthy mixture, applying it with far <b>less </b>concern than I¡¯d shown. ¡°You know,¡± he said softly, ¡°there¡¯s another way to handle this.¡±


    I nced up, catching the challenge in his amber gaze.


    ¡°We could just tell them the truth.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I replied firmly. ¡°That would be¡­plicated.¡±


    He stepped closer, his imposing height casting a shadow in the moonlight. ¡°It could be. If you¡¯d let it.¡±


    The invitation in his words hung between us, tempting and dangerous. Before <b>I </b>could formte a response, distantughter from the campsite reminded us that we weren¡¯t alone in the canyon.


    ¡°We should get back,¡± I said, turning toward the golden glow of the campfire. ¡°They¡¯ll wonder where we are.¡±


    As we approached the camp, I realized with growing rm that all eyes immediately turned to us. The previously animated conversations died down, reced by curious stares. Despite our efforts at concealment, I felt exposed, as if our activities were written inly across our faces.


    Nadia stood by the fire, her expression darkening momentarily before shifting into a forced smile.


    ¡®Skye!¡± she called out, ¡°I thought no one would catch you tonight! Seems like Alpha Adrian proved me wrong.¡±


    I attempted a casual shrug, though my shoulders felt/unnaturally stiff. ¡°He¡¯s very determined when he wants something.¡±


    The double meaning of my words only struck me after they¡¯d left my mouth. Adrian¡¯s lips twitched with barely suppressed amusement beside me.


    Ryder approached, his usual carefree demeanor noticeably dimmed. ¡°Where were you hiding?¡± he asked<b>, </b>eyes narrowing slightly. <b>¡°</b>Nadia and I searched everywhere for you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my secret,¡± I replied with a strainedugh, unable to meet his gaze directly. ¡°Maybe next time I¡¯ll show you.¡±


    Alpha Adrian, Ryder turned his attention to the man beside me, his voice carrying a subtle challenge. ¡°Did you really only catch one rabbit tonight? Just Skye?¡±


    Chapter <b>56 </b>


    <b>The </b>tension in the air thickened perceptibly. Several nearby pack members paused their convertations to heten


    Adrian¡¯s expression remained impassive, though his eyes gleamed dangerously in the firelight. ¡°Is there a problem with


    His voice deepened. The one that mattered.¡±


    Someone whistled low from the crowd. I wished fervently for the ground to open up and swallow me whole.


    ¡°Well, that means I¡¯m the winner! a tall warrior called out, breaking the tense moment with his enthusiastic im. I caught three rabbits theagher


    Nadia cleared her throat, visibly grateful for the distraction. ¡°Yes, congrattions, Derek. Your prize is a week off from perimeter duty.¡±


    The celebration continued around us, pack members returning to their food and drinks, though I could feel corious nces still being cast our way. Media busied herself with distributing more drinks, her movements sharp and mechanical


    I caught Adrian¡¯s gaze, silentlymunicating my need to speak with Ryder alone. He hesitated momentarily before giving me a small nod, his eyes conveying a mixture of trust and warning.


    Gathering my courage, I approached Ryder, who was angrily stabbing at the fire with a long stick.


    ¡°Can we talk?¡± I asked quietly. ¡°Somewhere private?¡±


    He nced up, surprise and hope briefly shing across his features before he nodded, dropping the stick and rising to his feet.


    We walked away from the campfire¡¯s glow, finding a secluded spot among the canyon¡¯s rock formations. The distant sounds ofughter and music provided a stark contrast to the heaviness between us.


    ¡°Your song earlier,¡± I began, choosing my words carefully. ¡°It was beautiful. You¡¯re really talented.¡±


    Ryder¡¯s expression brightened momentarily. ¡°You liked it? I wrote it for you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I wanted to talk about,¡± I said gently. ¡°I¡¯m ttered, truly. But I think¡­ I think maybe you should share your music with someone who can appreciate it properly.¡±


    His brow furrowed. ¡°What do you mean? Everyone knows that song was for you.¡±


    I took a deep breath, forcing myself to meet his gaze directly. ¡°Ryder, you¡¯re an amazing person. You¡¯re kind, talented, and any girl would be lucky to have you interested in her. But¡­¡±<fnb882> Follow current nov?ls on fin?novel</fnb882>


    ¡°But not you,¡± he finished tly. ¡°Is it because of Adrian? Did something happen between you two tonight?¡±


    The directness of his question caught me off guard. ¡°This isn¡¯t about Adrian,¡± I insisted, though the heat rising to my cheeks likely betrayed <b>me</b>. ¡°Even if Adrian wasn¡¯t in the picture, you and I¡­ we wouldn¡¯t work.¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re three years older?¡± He scoffed. ¡°That¡¯s nothing. Age is just a number.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just age,¡± I sighed. ¡°Ryder, I see you like a brother. A dear friend. But not as¡­ more.¡±


    He studied me for a long moment, his youthful features/hardening with determination. ¡°Everyone thinks I¡¯m not serious about this¨Cabout you. But I am. I¡¯ve never been more serious about anything.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re eighteen, I reminded him gently. ¡°You have so much life ahead of you, so many experiences waiting. So many people you haven¡¯t met yet. What you feel now¡­ it¡¯s intense, I know. But feelings change.


    ¡®Not mine,¡± he insisted, rising to his feet with sudden energy. ¡°I¡¯ll prove it to you. I¡¯ll show you I¡¯m not some kid with a crush.¡±


    Before I could respond, he turned and strode back toward the camp, his shoulders set with stubborn resolve. I followed more slowly, my heart heavy with the knowledge that I¡¯d hurt him, <b>however </b>gently I¡¯d tried to let him down.


    When I reached the campfire, I found Nadia watching me, her dark eyes filled with unspoken questions and barely concealed pain. She opened her mouth as if to speak, then seemed to think better of it, turning <b>away </b>to busy herself with packing up leftover food.


    Across the fire, Adrian stood talking with some of the warriors, though his attention clearly remained fixed on me The weight of his second with Nadia¡¯s wounded silence and Ryder¡¯s determined deration, settled on my shoulders like a physical burden


    <b>Chapter </b>Comments


    Visitor


    Nadia needs to realize that she can¡¯t make someone want her

 Casts 57

    <b>Chapter </b><b>57 </b>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    Sleep eluded me as Iy in my tent, staring at the canvas ceiling illuminated by moonlight. The cool desert night air seeped through the tant fadds ration goosebumps on my exposed arms.


    Just as I was finally drifting toward sleep, a barely perceptible sound snapped me back to alertness¨Cthe whisper of a zipper being carefully drawn open at


    the entrance to my tent.


    <b>My </b>body tensed instinctively, hand reaching for Tink, the silver dagger I kept beneath my pillow. Then a familiar ocean scent reached me, and I rxed fractionally.


    Adrian¡¯s silhouette appeared in the tent opening, his broad shoulders momentarily blocking the moonlight before he slipped inside with surprising grace for someone his size. He sealed the entrance behind him with the same careful silence with which he¡¯d opened it.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± I hissed, sitting up abruptly and clutching my nket to my chest despite being fully clothed, ¡°Are you crazy? What if someone <b>ser </b>you?¡±


    In the dim light, his amber eyes gleamed with an intensity that sent a flutter through my stomach. He moved closer, kneeling beside my sleeping bag with


    careful deliberation.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t stay away,¡± he admitted, ¡°I kept thinking about you, about <b>us</b>.¡±


    I nced nervously at the thin fabric walls of my tent, painfully aware of how Adrian. If anyone discovers you here-¡±


    <b>und </b>might <b>carry </b>to the other tents clustered nearby. <b>¡°</b>This is reckless,


    ¡°Did you talk to Ryder?¡± he interrupted, seemingly unconcerned with my protests about propriety<b>. </b>¡°Did you exin things to him<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°I tried. He didn¡¯t want to hear it. He¡¯s convinced what he feels is real andsting.¡± I shook my head. ¡°<b>Maybe </b>it¡¯s youth, or stubborn pride, but he won¡¯t ept that I only see him as a friend.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>And Nadia?¡±


    My gaze dropped to my hands. ¡°I haven¡¯t spoken to her. Not yet. The look on her <b>face </b>when <b>we </b>returned <b>to </b><b>camp</b>¡­ <b>I </b><b>just </b>couldn¡¯t <b>find </b>the right words.¡±


    Adrian was silent for a moment, his expression thoughtful as he studied <b>my </b><b>face</b>. ¡°And what about us, <b>Skye</b><b>? </b>What <b>are </b><b>we </b><b>to </b>each other?¡±


    I chose my words carefully, knowing they could affect not just us but the entire pack dynamic.


    ¡®Adrian, I care about you. What happened between us tonight¡­ it wasn¡¯t nothing.¡± <b>I </b>swallowed hard, forcing <b>myself </b><b>to </b>meet his gaze<b>. </b><b>¡°</b><b>But </b>I don¡¯t think <b>now </b>is the right time for us to pursue whatever this <b>is</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    His brow furrowed slightly. ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°The pack needs stability. There¡¯s tension with Gravestone Pack, and Kane¡¯s interest in our territory <b>is </b>clearly growing.¡® I <b>gestured </b>vaguely toward the camp beyond my tent. ¡°If we create internal division¨Cwith Nadia, with Ryder¨Chow can we present a united front against external threats<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Adrian considered this, his Alpha mind weighing the strategic implications against his personal desires. Finally, he nodded slowly. ¡°I understand. And <b>I </b><b>can </b>wait. His hand found mine in the darkness, his calloused palm warm against my skin. ¡°I¡¯ll wait until you feel <b>the </b><b>time </b>is right.¡±


    I smiled gratefully, though something twisted painfully in my chest <b>as </b>an unspoken thought crossed my mind: Unless your true mate appears in <b>the </b>meantime.


    He seemed to sense my unspoken reservation. ¡°Just promise me one thing,¡± he said, his thumb tracing gentle <b>circles </b><b>on </b><b>the </b>back <b>of </b><b>my </b><b>hand</b>. ¡°<b>Don¡¯t </b>avoid me anymore. Don¡¯t pull away from me like you have been.¡±


    The tension in his voice, <b>the </b>subtle vulnerability beneath his Alpha confidence, touched something deep within <b>me</b><b>. </b><b>I </b><b>squeezed </b>his hand reassuringly. ¡°I promise.¡±<fn6b82> Chapters first released on FindN()vel</fn6b82>


    Suddenly, footsteps crunched on <b>the </b><b>gravel </b>outside, passing close by my tent. <b>We </b>both froze, barely breathing<b>, </b>until the <b>sounds </b>faded into the <b>distance- </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>57 </b>


    <b>likely </b><b>a </b>warrior making <b>a </bte¨Cnight trip to the designated bathroom area.


    <b>Once </b>silence had returned, I reluctantly pulled my hand away from his. ¡°You need to go<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>I whispered. If someone sees the Alpha emerging from my bot <b>dawn</b><b>, </b>we¡¯ll never hear the end of it.¡±


    Instead of moving toward the exit, Adrian stretched out beside me on the sleeping bag, hisrger frame barely fitting in the confined spare. Let me may i little longer<b>, </b>he murmured, his arm slipping around my waist. ¡°Just until you fall asleep. I go back to my tent before anyone wakes?


    I should have protested. It was risky, inappropriate given our positions within the pack, andpletely contrary to the boundaries we¡¯d just agreed in maintain. Yet I found myself rxing against him, my head finding afortable ce against his chest.


    *Just until I fall asleep,¡± I conceded quietly.


    His arms encircled me, strong and secure, creating a cocoon of warmth against the desert chill. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my eat <b>was </b>hypnotic, soothing in a way I hadn¡¯t experienced in over three years.


    Since fleeing Frostshadow Pack, I¡¯d grown ustomed to solitude¨Cto falling asleep alone in motel rooms, in my car, or in rented apartments where ezery creak and distant noise kept me vignt even in sleep.


    My body melted against his, tension draining away as his fingers traced gentle patterns on my back.This wasn¡¯t like our passionate moment on the cliff. This <b>was </b>simplefort, something I hadn¡¯t allowed myself to <b>experience </b>in years.


    As sleep began to im me, I had a final coherent thought: whateverplications the morning might bring, for now, this moment of peace was worth the risk.


    The return journey to Oasisborn Pack the following day <b>was </b>markedly subduedpared to our outbound trip. The exuberant chatter <b>and </b>music that had filled the caravan of vehicles was reced by contemtive silence<b>, </b>each of us lost in private thoughts.


    In the back seat of Adrian¡¯s SUV, <b>I </b>gazed out the window at the passing desertndscape, deliberately avoiding <b>both </b>his <b>asional </b>nces in the rearview mirror and Ryder¡¯s attempts to catch my eye from the seat beside me<b>. </b>


    Nadia maintained a professional demeanor in the passenger seat, focusing exclusively on pack business and security protocols<b>¨C</b><b>speaking </b><b>only </b>when necessary and always with formal address.


    The tension in the vehicle was thick enough that I nearly sighed with <b>relief </b>when the familiar outline <b>of </b><b>Oasisborn¡¯s </b>buildings finally appeared on <b>the </b>


    horizon.


    As our caravan approached the mainpound, I noticed a familiar figure standing at the entrance to our territory, her vibrant auburn hair unmistakable even at a distance<b>. </b>


    Lydia rarely left herboratory, and certainly never stationed herself at the border to await returning pack members<b>, </b>unless something urgent <b>required </b>attention.


    Adrian clearly noticed it too, his posture immediately stiffening <b>as </b>he <b>elerated </b>slightly. When we pulled up alongside her, the <b>grim </b>set of her mouth was visible even behind her customary half¨Cmask.


    ¡°Alpha Adrian, Beta Nadia,¡± she greeted them formally, her eyes briefly acknowledging me as <b>well</b>. ¡°You all need toe with me immediately. <b>There¡¯s </b>a situation that requires your attention.¡±

 Casts 58

    <b>Chapter </b><b>58 </b>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    <b>¡°</b>What kind of situation?¡± Adrian asked, already turning the vehicle in the direction she indicated.


    ¡®It¡¯s better if you see for yourselves,¡® she replied cryptically, climbing into another vehicle with Marcus at the wheel,


    We followed them toward the eastern border of our territory, taking the familiar route that led to theke where I¡¯d experienced my first shift. As we dres closer, a pungent odor began to permeate the vehicle¨Cthe unmistakable stench of decay made worse by the desert heat.


    When we rounded the final bend in the road, the source of the smell became horrifyingly clear. The once¨Cpristine shoreline was littered with dozens of animal carcasses¨Cdeer, rabbits, coyotes, and various desert creaturesy bloated and rotting under the merciless sun. Dark clouds of flies swarmed around the remains, the buzzing audible even from inside our vehicle.


    1 pped a hand over my mouth and nose, my stomach lurching violently at the grotesque scene.


    Adrian brought the SUV to an abrupt halt, his knuckles white on the steering wheel as he surveyed the carnage before us. The peacefulke where I¡¯d first embraced my wolf had been transformed into a nightmarish tableau of death.


    ¡°What happened here?¡± Adrian demanded, his voice tight with controlled rage as we exited the vehicle.


    I stumbled out after him, the stench hitting me with physical force. My hand flew to my nose, desperately trying to block the overwhelming odor of dposition. Despite my efforts, I felt my stomach heave, and I turned away, struggling to control the nausea that threatened to ovee me.


    Around us, the once pristine shoreline where I had experienced the joy of my first shift was now desecrated, transformed into a gruesome tableau of death. The contrast between that beautiful memory and the current horror was almost more than I could bear.


    What could have caused such widespread death? And why here, of all ces¨Cat Oasisborn¡¯s primary water <b>source</b><b>? </b>


    why he ame thin


    As I looked at Adrian¡¯s face, I could see he was thinking the same things. His expression had hardened, anger clear in his eyes. Someone had vited his territory, and he wouldn¡¯t let it stand.


    Lydia, already examining one of the carcasses with gloved hands, looked up at Adrian¡¯s approach. Her eyes above her mask <b>were </b>grim.


    ¡°These animals didn¡¯t die naturally,¡± she stated, her voice clinical despite the horrific surroundings. ¡°<b>I¡¯ve </b>examined <b>several </b>of them. They were poisoned, then driven here.¡±


    ¡°Poisoned?¡± Nadia echoed, her face contorting with fury as she connected the dots. ¡°Someone deliberately contaminated our water <b>source</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Lydia nodded, carefully cing the small creature she¡¯d been examining back on the ground. ¡°The toxin is sophisticated¨Csomething <b>I </b>haven¡¯t encountered before. It appears to cause extreme thirst before death, driving the animals to seek water.¡±


    ¡®It¡¯s Gravestone Pack,¡± Nadia dered, her voice hardening with certainty. ¡°I¡¯ll gather our warriors immediately. We should strike before they can-


    ¡°No,¡± Lydia interrupted, holding up a hand to stop Nadia¡¯s brewing tirade. ¡°I¡¯ve found no evidence pointing specifically to Gravestone or any other <b>pack</b><b>. </b>The poison leaves no scent signature I can identify. If you confront Kane without proof, you¡¯ll only give him justification to retaliate openly.¡±


    ¡°So we just do nothing?¡± Ryder demanded, gesturing angrily at the desecratedke. ¡°Let them poison our water and walk <b>away</b>?¡±


    Adrian had remained silent throughout this exchange, his amber eyes surveying the damage with calcted intensity. Now he stepped forward, his voice carrying the calm authority that always emerged in crisis.


    ¡°Our first priority is the pack¡¯s safety,¡± he stated firmly. ¡°We need to clear these carcasses, purify the water if possible, and preserve samples as evidence.¡± He turned to Lydia. ¡°Can you determine how long the water will remain contaminated?¡±


    She shook her head slightly. ¡°Not without further testing. I¡¯ll need to take samples back to myboratory<b>.</b>¡±


    Adrian nodded, pulling out his phone. His fingers moved swiftly across the screen as he made a call. When Venus <b>answered</b><b>, </b>mis voice was steady and clear.<fn017f> This update is avable on F?nd-Novel</fn017f>


    <b>¡°</b>Venus, activate the reserve water supply. Yes, immediately. Restrict allke water usage until further notitia paused, Baun at det da part


    council in one hour.¡±


    As he ended the call, he looked slightly less grim. Venus had the foresight to establish a water revermirst war. We have ghetram tst the pack at least a <b>week</b>.¡±


    Your nning saved us again, Nadia acknowledged, some of her anger giving way to grudging appreciation


    Adrian turned to Lydia. Prepare protective gear. We need to remove these carcasses and burn them in the desert, far from ar teritory. He ced a Marcus, who had remained silent throughout the exchange. ¡®Organize a disposal team. I¡¯ll join you.


    I¡¯ll help too,¡± I said, stepping forward despite the nausea still churning in my stomach.


    ¡°No need,¡± Adrian and Ryder responded simultaneously, their voices ovepping in rare agreement.


    I straightened my shoulders, meeting Adrian¡¯s concerned gaze directly. ¡°I¡¯m a warrior of Oasisborn now. This is my responsibility to tested coward theke, pushing aside the memories of my first shift that this ce held. ¡®I want to help restore it.¡®


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Adrian nodded, something like pride flickering in his eyes before his expression returned to its determined focus


    An hourter, I found myself dressed in a protective hazmat suit, gloves sealed at the wrists with tape, and a filtration mask covering my sose and worth. Despite these precautions, the stench remained overwhelming as we worked to clear the shoreline, dragging bloated carcasses into the barks of tracks <i>for </i>transportation to a remote burn site.


    I¡¯d worked all sorts of odd jobs over the years, even yed a zombie in a movie <b>once</b><b>, </b>but I swear this was the most disgusting work I¡¯d ever done.


    Right now, I wanted nothing more than to chop off Kane¡¯s head and burn it along with these carcasses!


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 Casts 59

    <b>Chapter </b><b>59 </b>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    More than once, I had to step away topose myself, fighting the urge to vomit as we handled increasingly dposed ammals Tat each <i>time </i>: faltered I found renewed determination by watching Adrian.


    He worked tirelessly alongside us, handling the most decayed specimens himself, never onceining or delegating the worst tasks.


    By nightfall, my muscles ached from exertion, my skin felt raw from the harsh decontamination shower, and the smell of death seemed permanently indged in my nostrils despite rigorous scrubbing. Still, I joined the emergency council meeting Adrian had called, taking my seat among the exhausted park members who had participated in the cleanup.


    Today¡¯s attack¨Cand make no mistake, this was a deliberate attack¨Ctargeted our primary water source, Adrian began without preamble, his voire steady despite the fatigue evident in the shadows beneath his eyes. ¡°Thanks to Venus¡¯s foresight with our reservoir system, we are not in immediate danger.


    Venus nodded from her seat, her single arm cradling a tablet disying water usage projections. If we implement strict conservation measures, we can extend our reserves to nearly two weeks.¡±


    ¡°By which time Lydia will have determined how long theke will remain contaminated, Adrian continued. In the meantime, we¡¯re doubling patrols at all water sources within our territory.¡±


    Marcus spoke up, his sightless eyes somehow still conveying intensity. ¡°I¡¯ve already reassigned warriors to cover the additional patrol routes. No one approaches our water sources unwatched now.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Adrian acknowledged. ¡°But these defensive measures are only the beginning.¡± He paused, his gaze sweeping the room before continuing with renewed conviction. ¡°We need to strengthen Oasisborn in every way possible¨Cmore pack members, expanded resources<b>, </b>strategic alliances<b>. </b><b>If </b>necessary, I¡¯m prepared to establish partnerships with humanpanies to bolster our financial position.¡±


    Murmurs of surprise rippled through the room at this controversial suggestion. Werewolf packs traditionally maintained distance from human business ventures, preferring self¨Csufficiency to entanglement with the human world.


    ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s wise?¡± Nadia questioned, though her tone was thoughtful rather than challenging. ¡°Human partnerships bring scrutiny, paperwork, questions we might not want to answer.¡±


    ¡°Calcted risks,¡± Adrian replied. ¡°We cannot remain isted if we want to survive<b>. </b>Oasisborn must grow stronger<b>, </b>or incidents like today will only be the beginning.¡±


    As the meeting continued, detailed ns taking shape under Adrian¡¯s guidance, I found myself studying him with new perspective. This was a different Adrian from the one who had held me in his armsst night¨Cgone was the passionate man who had kissed me beneath the stars, reced by the strategic Alpha whose sole focus was his pack¡¯s protection.


    Looking around the table, I noticed the way every council member watched him with unwavering attention, their expressions showingplete trust in his leadership. Even Nadia, despite whatever personal pain our developing rtionship might have caused her, gave him her full support without hesitation.


    The realization settled in my chest with bittersweet rity: Adrian didn¡¯t belong to me. He belonged to Oasisborn Pack¨Cto themunity <b>he </b>had built from nothing, to the wolves who depended on him for safety and direction.


    As he caught my gaze across the table, something softened briefly in his eyes before he returned to outlining security protocols.


    After the meeting concluded, I lingered outside his office, watching through the partially open door as he reviewed reports alone, the weight of leadership evident in the set of his shoulders. I wanted to go to him, to offer somefort or encouragement, but something held me back.¡±


    So I turned away, leaving him to his solitary vigil./


    Six Monthter


    The months that followed brought a strange contradiction: constant vignce with nothing to be vignt against. Everyone expected Kane to make another move<b>, </b>yet life in the pack continued with an almost eerie peacefulness.


    Though I hadn¡¯t deliberately maintained boundaries with Adrian after our canyon encounter, we found for oppertunities for private diamante Pud banne consumed his days and often his nights, with security meetings, training sessions, and increasingly frequent trips to nesky komemouet 14 12 forged the alliances he had promised.


    Even on my birthday, Adrian was absent from the small celebration Venus and the orphanage children organized, called was to meet with a formar businessman whose water purificationpany might prove valuable to our future security.


    Yet Oasisborn flourished despite or perhaps because of the lingering threat. Young werewolves seeking refuge found their way to our deert het die by growing whispers of a pack that weed outcasts and misfits. New pups were born, their first howls celebrated as signs of our increasing strength.


    After six months of intensive training, I graduated from student to mentor, taking responsibility for teaching newer members the stealth and reser skills that Nadia had so rigorously drilled into me. It felt surprisingly rewarding to pass on her techniques, watching as young wolves costered the same lessons that had transformed me from a frightened lone wolf into a capable pack warrior.


    When the desert burst into its brief, vibrant spring bloom in the second year, I realized with mild shock that an entire year had passed since I¡¯d first supped foot in Oasisborn territory. The anniversary slipped by unmarked, my life so thoroughly integrated into pack routine that it seemed impossible & bad ever lived differently.


    Then came the unexpected call from my old life¨CJessie¡¯s voice bubbling with excitement through my phone speaker as she announced her wedding date. April first.<fn1205> For original chapters go to F?nd-Novel</fn1205>


    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s not an April Fool¡¯s joke?¡± I asked, smiling despite myself at her characteristic enthusiasm.


    ¡°I chose that date on purpose,¡± she replied with augh. ¡°Jake said he wanted something unforgettable, and what¡¯s more memorable than getting married on April Fool¡¯s Day? You¡¯re stilling, right? I¡¯m holding a bridesmaid spot for you!¡±


    Chapter <b>Comments </b>

 Casts 60

    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    ¡®Absolutely not, Adrian said, ¡®I can¡¯t allow you to drive to Boring alone, not to mention staying there overnight.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a two¨Chour drive, Adrian. I¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ve survived three years on my own before joining Oasisborn.


    We stood in his office, morning sunlight streaming through the windows, illuminating dust particles dancing between us. The past six months had been oddly peaceful despite the constant vignce, and now, on the eve of Jessie¡¯s wedding, this felt like an unnecessary battle.


    And during those three years, you didn¡¯t have enemies who specifically knew your identity or connection to us, Adrian countered, ¡°Things are different now.<b>¡± </b>


    ¡®I promised Jessie I¡¯d be there,¡± I insisted. ¡®She¡¯s held a bridesmaid spot for me. I can¡¯t let her down.


    ¡®I understand that. I¡¯m not saying you can¡¯t go¨Cjust that you shouldn¡¯t go alone.¡±


    I¡¯ll go with her,¡± Ryder said from the doorway. ¡°I can keep a low profile at the wedding.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s expression darkened immediately. ¡°No,¡± he said tly, not bothering to borate.


    ¡°I think I should be the one to apany Skye,¡± Nadia¡¯s voice joined the conversation as she stepped into the office.


    Her rtionship with me had gradually shifted into a cautious alliance over the past months, our sharedmitment to Oasisborn¡¯s <b>security </b>creating a bridge across the chasm of our earlier tensions.


    ¡°You?¡± Ryder sounded genuinely surprised. ¡°Don¡¯t you have training sessions scheduled for tomorrow<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Nadia shrugged with practiced nonchnce. ¡°You can cover them. Besides, I haven¡¯t been to a human wedding before<b>. </b>I¡¯m curious.¡± She turned to me. ¡°<b>If </b>that¡¯s eptable to you, Skye?¡±


    I nodded, recognizing the olive branch she was extending. ¡°That would be perfect. Thank you.¡±


    Adrian studied us both for a moment before nodding his agreement. ¡°It¡¯s decided then. Nadia and Skye will attend the wedding together.¡±


    The next morning found us driving through the desert in my small red car. After an hour ofpanionable silence, Nadia finally spoke.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I attended a wedding, our pack didn¡¯t have a single unionst year.¡±


    I nced at her, surprised by the wistful tone in her usually pragmatic voice. ¡°Maybe werewolf marriages are just harder to <be </b>by than human ones.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± she agreed. ¡°Humans don¡¯t have our mate system or our longevity to consider. Their unions can be so¡­ fragile.¡± She tilted her head thoughtfully. ¡°But there¡¯s also a certain freedom in that, isn¡¯t there? Their choices are truly their own, not dictated by fate or biology.¡±


    The observation struck me as unexpectedly profounding from someone as traditionally minded as Nadia.


    ¡®I¡¯ve been wondering, I ventured carefully, keeping my eyes on the road ahead, ¡°why I¡¯ve never heard about your mate. Have you <b>just </b>not encountered them yet?


    A flicker of something¨Crm? difort?-passed across her face so quickly I might have imagined it.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± she replied with practiced casualness. ¡°I haven¡¯t met them yet.<i>¡± </i>She straightened in her seat, shoulders squaring. ¡°But why should finding a mate be the only path to aplete life? I have purpose<b>, </b>respect, meaningful work. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡±


    ¡°It absolutely is,¡± I agreed softly, thinking of my ownplicated journey. ¡°A-mate doesn¡¯t define your worth.*


    We exchanged smiles, and in that moment, <b>we </b>finally reached an understanding.


    The Boring Community Center had been transformed with an enthusiasm that perfectly matched Jessie¡¯s personality. Papernterns in varying shades of pink and white hung from the ceiling, while twinkling lights wrapped around potted cacti created a uniquely Southeastern ambiance Hand painted signs directed guests to the ¡°I Do BBQ and the Whiskey & Wedding Cake table.


    ¡°Oh my God, you came!¡± Jessie¡¯s shriek cut through the pre¨Cceremony bustle as she spotted


    me


    entering the hall.


    white cocktail apron artfully sewn into the bodies of a


    She rushed toward me in what had to be the world¡¯s first bartender¨Cuniform¨Cturned¨Cwedding¨Cdress¨Ca princess ballgown, with tiny liquor bottles decorating the hem.


    ¡°You look amazing! And your hair¨Cit¡¯s silver now!¡® ller gaze shifted to Nadia, curiosity recing excitement. ¡°And who¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°Jessie, this is my friend Nadia,¡± I said, ¡°Nadia, this is Jessie, the bride and my former coworker from The Watering Hole.


    ¡°Congrattions on your marriage,¡± Nadia offered with polite formality, extending her hand.


    Jessie bypassed the handshake entirely, pulling Nadia into an enthusiastic hug that left the Beta wolf wide¨Ceyed with surprise. Any friend of Skye¡¯s is family to me! Come on, I¡¯ll show you where to change. Your bridesmaid dress is hung up and ready!¡±


    Twenty minutester, I stood examining my reflection in the makeshift dressing room, hardly recognizing myself in the modified bartender uniform that now functioned as a bridesmaid dress¨Cck pants swapped for a skirt, white shirt tailored to fit perfectly, and a bow tie in shocking pink that matched Jessie¡¯s wedding theme.


    ¡°Only Jessie would turn work uniforms into wedding attire,¡± I muttered, adjusting the bow tie.


    After the ceremony, I made my way through the reception, searching for a familiar <b>face</b>. I found Buck near the buffet table, his weathered face lighting up when he spotted me.


    ¡°There¡¯s my best bartender!¡± he called out, arms opening wide for a hug.


    I embraced him gently, noting with concern how much thinner he felt, how his once¨Crobust frame seemed diminished. Time had not been kind to him in <b>the </b>year since I¡¯d left.<fnd5e7> The source of th?s content is find?novel</fnd5e7>


    <i>¡°</i>You look good, darlin¡®,¡± he said, though his breathing seemedbored even from our brief embrace. ¡°That new ce treating you right?¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± I assured him, choosing not to correct his assumption that I worked at another bar. ¡°But what about you? <b>How </b>have you been feeling?¡±


    He waved away my concern with a dismissive hand. ¡°Ah, just getting old. Doctor says I need to take it easy, cut back on the hours at The Watering Hole.¡± His eyes crinkled with his familiar smile. ¡°But enough about me. Been meaning to tell you¨Cthat fe who was looking for you a few months back, he left his card in case you ever turned up.¡±


    My blood ran cold. ¡°What did he look like exactly?¡±


    ¡°Big guy, reddish hair, fancy watch. Buck shrugged. ¡°Said he was an old friend from up north.¡±


    An uneasy feeling settled in my stomach. The description sounded troublingly familiar, but I couldn¡¯t be certain. Had someone from my past been looking for me? A werewolf from Frostshadow perhaps? Or someone more dangerous?


    Before I could press Buck for more details, amotion near the entrance drew my attention. Three men in expensive suits stood surveying the reception, their presence jarringly out of ce among the casual wedding guests.


    My stomach dropped as I recognized the tall figure in the center¨Crust¨Ccolored hair, emerald eyes, and that same predatory <b>smile </b>I remembered from our first meeting.


    Kane had found me.

 Casts 61

    <b>Chapter </b><b>61 </b>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    <b>My </b>stomach dropped <b>as </b>1 recognized the tall figure in the center¨Crust¨Ccolored hair, emerald eyes<b>, </b>and that same predatory smile I remembered <b>front </b><b>our </b>


    first meeting.


    Kane had found me<b>. </b>


    1 instinctively reached for Nadia¡¯s arm, squeezing it in warning as Kane¡¯s emerald gaze swept across the room, settling on us with disturbing precision. His smile widened, revealing teeth that seemed too sharp for a human setting. The two men nking him were unfamiliar, but <b>their </b>stiff postures


    and vignt eyes marked them clearly as werewolves¨CKane¡¯s enforcers, no doubt.


    ¡®Don¡¯t make a scene,¡± I whispered to Nadia, whose body had gone rigid beside me. ¡°There are too many humans here.¡±


    Kane cut through the crowd with predatory grace, his expensive suit out of ce among the casual wedding attire. When he reached us<b>, </b>that familiar scent hit me¡ªpine needles mixed with something metallic, like blood.


    ¡°Ladies,¡± he drawled, his voice carrying the same false charm I remembered from our encounter at Oasisborn¡¯s celebration. ¡°How delightful to see you again<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Nadia stepped slightly forward, positioning herself between Kane and me. ¡°What are you doing here<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>she demanded, keeping her voice low but <b>unable </b><b>to </b>hide the hostility.


    Before Kane could respond, Jessie appeared at <b>my </b>side, her wedding dress rustling as <b>she </b>took in our <b>unexpected </b>guests<b>. </b>Her cheeks were flushed with happiness and perhaps a bit too much champagne, making <b>her </b>oblivious to <b>the </b>tension crackling between <b>us</b><b>. </b>


    *Skye, are these three handsome guys friends of yours too?¡± she asked, her eyes appreciatively scanning <b>Kane¡¯s </b>tall <b>frame</b>.


    ¡°No,¡± I replied coldly, my eyes never leaving Kane¡¯s. ¡°They¡¯re not friends. Please leave<b>,</b><b>¡± </b><b>I </b>added, directing this <bst </b><b>part </b>to Kane rather than Jessie.


    Kane¡¯s smile didn¡¯t falter. ¡°How could you be <b>so </b>cold? After <b>I </b>came all this <b>way </b>just to <b>see </b>you.¡± The mock hurt in his voice made <b>my </b><b>skin </b>crawl<b>. </b>


    Confusion flickered across Jessie¡¯s <b>face </b><b>as </b>she nced between us<b>, </b>finally registering the hostility in <b>the </b>air. Ever the <b>peacemaker</b><b>, </b>she forced a bright smile. ¡°Well, <b>any </b>friends of friends are wee here! It¡¯s my special <b>day</b><b>, </b>and everyone¡¯s <b>invited </b><b>to </b>enjoy <b>themselves</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    She signaled frantically to the DJ, who immediately transitioned from a slow bad to an upbeat dance number. The floor quickly filled with guests <b>eager </b><b>to </b>show off their moves, creating a buffer of bodies between us and the exit.


    ¡®I¡¯d love to take advantage of this wonderful music,¡± Kane said smoothly, extending his hand toward me. <b>¡°</b>May I have this dance?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I replied firmly, but he had already grasped my wrist<b>, </b>his fingers closing around it like a steel trap.


    ¡°I insist,¡± he said, all pretense of politeness vanishing from his <b>eyes </b>as he pulled me toward the dance floor.


    I didn¡¯t <b>resist </b>or make <b>a </b><b>scene</b>. My mind quickly registered the dozens of innocent humans surrounding <b>us</b>. Kane¡¯s boldness ining here meant <b>he </b>was dangerous enough to hurt them if provoked.


    Nadia was instantly on our heels, her dark eyes shing with barely contained rage. She positioned herself directly in our path, blocking <b>Kane¡¯s </b>progress toward the center of the dance floor.


    ¡°Let her go,¡± she growled, her voice pitched low enough that only werewolf hearing could catch it over the music.


    Kane leaned forward, his lips almost brushing Nadia¡¯s <b>ear </b>as he whispered, ¡°You¡¯d better behave <b>yourselves</b>. Without Adrian to protect you, you¡¯re nothing butmbs in the presence of a wolf. My wolf.¡±


    Nadia didn¡¯t back down, her chin lifting defiantly. ¡®Why don¡¯t you try finding out just how defenseless we are?¡±


    I could see the subtle changes beginning in Nadia¡¯s posture¨Cthe slight elongation <b>of </b><b>her </b>fingers, the faint reddish <b>glow </b>beginning <b>to </b><b>seep </b>into her irises. Signs that her wolf was dangerously close to the <b>surface</b><b>. </b>If she shifted here<b>, </b>surrounded by humans<b>¡­ </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>61 </b>


    <b>Kane </b><b>seemed </b><b>to </b><b>recognize </b>the risk as well. His smile turned cruel as he <b>spoke </b><b>directly </b><b>to </b><b>me</b><b>. </b><b>You </b><b>wouldn¡¯t </b><b>want </b>your <b>friend¡¯s </b>wedding to JUIN (RO) <b>funeral</b><b>, </b><b>would </b><b>you</b><b>? </b>


    His words <b>sent </b>ice through my veins. <b>These </b>weren¡¯t empty threats. I¡¯d heard stories of Kane¡¯s brutality, of entire familles ughtered for encroaching on <b>what </b>he considered his territory.


    ¡°Nadia<b>, </b>don¡¯t<b>,</b>¡± <b>I </b>cautioned, meeting her <b>eyes </b>with silent pleading. ¡°Not here.¡±


    Something in my <b>expression </b>must have reached her, because the red glow in her eyes dimmed slightly. Kane took advantage of her hesitation to pull me onto <b>the </b>dance floor, one hand firmly gripping my waist while the other maintained its vise¨Clike hold on my wrist.


    ¡°That¡¯s better,¡± he murmured, forcing me into a mockery of a dance as the music pulsed around us. ¡°You¡¯re learning to be reasonable.¡±


    His grip tightened painfully against my skin.


    <b>¡°</b>What do you want?¡± I demanded, keeping my voice steady despite the fear coiling in my stomach.


    <b>He </b>didn¡¯t answer immediately. Instead, he leaned closer, inhaling deeply against my neck in a gesture that was both invasive and deliberately provocative. Then<b>, </b>with horrifying boldness, he pressed his lips against my <b>skin</b><b>, </b><b>the </b>contact burning like acid.<fnc1d4> Newest update provided by find?novel</fnc1d4>


    <b>¡®</b><b>Get </b>off!¡± I jerked backward, but his grip only tightened,


    <b>¡°</b><b>You </b>look delicious in formal wear,¡± he murmured against my throat.


    Before <b>I </b>could respond, a blur of white and pink thrust itself between us. <b>Jessie </b><b>stood </b>there<b>, </b>her wedding dress slightly <b>askew</b><b>, </b>eyes zing with <b>protective </b>fury as she shoved at Kane¡¯s chest.


    ¡°What <b>the </b>hell do <b>you </b>think you¡¯re doing?¡± she demanded, her voice cutting through <b>the </b><b>music</b><b>. </b>¡°<b>Get </b>your filthy hands off <b>my </b>friend, you disgusting <b>creep</b><b>! </b>


    Kane looked momentarily stunned¨Cclearly unustomed to humans standing up to him. His surprise quickly gave way to amusement, then darkened <b>into </b>something dangerous as Jessie continued her tirade.


    ¡®I don¡¯t know who you think you are<b>,</b><b>¡® </b>she spat, ¡°but nobody acts like that at my wedding!¡± With surprising force <b>for </b><b>someone </b>her <b>size</b><b>, </b>she delivered <i>a </i>stinging p across Kane¡¯s <b>face</b>.


    The sound seemed to echo across the dance floor, conversation dying as guests turned to stare. For one terrifying moment, I thought Kane might lose control right there. His eyes shed with inhuman rage, his body coiling like a spring about to <b>release</b><b>. </b>


    Then, with deliberate slowness, he grabbed Jessie by her shoulders <b>and </b>threw her to the ground with enough <b>force </b><b>that </b>she <b>slid </b>several feet <b>across </b><b>the </b>polished floor.


    ¡°Jessie!¡± I screamed, lunging toward her.

 Casts 62

    <b>Chapter </b><b>62 </b>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b><b>POV </b>


    Jake, <b>Jessie¡¯s </b>new husband, charged across the dance floor, fists clenched and fury zing in his eyes. But he didn¡¯t <b>get </b>far. <b>One </b>of Kane¡¯s men to: forward <b>and </b>struck him with a brutal punch. Jake


    crumpled to the ground, blood spurting from his nose, Jessie screamed <b>and </b><b>dropped </b><b>to </b><b>her </b>Frieet bet <b>him</b><b>, </b>clutching his bleeding face.


    Chaos erupted instantly. Guests shrieked, chairs toppled, someone knocked over the punch bowl. The DJ stood frozen, mouth <b>open</b>, hand <b>hovering </b>above the turntable as if unsure whether to y another track or


    Then I saw Nadia. Her <b>eyes </b>glowed with a da


    gue


    for his life.


    light, her fingers curling <b>as </b>ws began to form. She was losing control.


    ¡°No, Nadia!<b>¡± </b><b>I </b>shouted, pushing past frightened


    <b>A </b>shotgun st exploded through the air, silencing the room. ster snowed down from a fresh hole in the ceiling. Buck stood <b>at </b>the edge of the <b>dance</b>. floor, both hands steady on his double¨Cbarreled shotgun, now aimed directly at Kane.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± he bellowed. ¡°You and your animals get the hell out of my town, or the next one goes somewhere vital<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Kane didn¡¯t flinch. His calm, eerieposure only made the hairs on my neck <b>rise</b>. He gave a single nod, and one of his men dropped to all fours. <b>A </b>grotesque cracking of bones followed as he partially shifted midair, lunging for Buck with teeth bared.


    I threw myself forward, mming into Buck and knocking him aside. The creature missed <b>by </b>inches, crashing into the wedding cake table. The <b>cake </b>exploded, frosting and fondant flung everywhere<b>. </b>Guests fled in terror. Some screamed, some cried, others froze, paralyzed by fear.


    Kane stood among it all, straightening his tie like this <b>was </b>a board meeting.


    ¡°No more games,¡± he said, his <b>voice </b>smooth and sharp <b>as </b><b>ss</b>.<fnb495> This update is avable on F?nd-Novel</fnb495>


    <b>¡°</b>What do you want<b>?</b><b>¡± </b><b>I </b>demanded, standing between him and Buck.


    ¡°You and <b>your </b>friend,¡± Kane replied, nodding toward Nadia, who now stood behind <b>me</b>, breathing hard but <b>slowly </b>regaining control. ¡°<b>You¡¯re </b>bothing with me.¡±


    My eyes scanned the room. Phones were out. Someone was filming. <b>A </b>man at the back lifted <b>his </b><b>cell </b>to his ear. His voice<b>, </b>barely audible through the noise<b>, </b>confirmed my fears<b>. </b>


    ¡°Please,¡± he whispered. ¡°There¡¯s something happening <b>at </b>the-


    Kane moved fast. In a blink, he <b>was </b>in front of the man, snatching the phone from his hand. He held it up and <b>spoke </b>clearly into the <b>receiver</b><b>. </b>


    ¡°False rm,¡± he said smoothly. ¡°Just a blown fuse at the reception. Lights are back. Everything¡¯s fine.<b>¡± </b>


    He didn¡¯t wait for a <b>reply</b>. He dropped the phone to the floor and crushed


    it


    beneath his <b>heel</b>.


    ¡°Phones<b>,</b>¡± he ordered. ¡°All of them. Now.¡±


    His men moved swiftly, shouting at the guests<b>. </b><b>¡°</b>Put the phones down! Stop recording!¡±


    People obeyed. Whether out of <b>fear </b>or instinct, they lowered their <b>devices</b>, some trembling as they ced them on tables or <b>the </b>floor.


    1 turned to Kane. ¡°<b>Please</b>. Don¡¯t hurt them. We¡¯lle with <b>you</b>. I¡¯ll do whatever you want¨Cjust leave them out <b>of </b>it.¡±


    <b>He </b>arched an eyebrow, amused. ¡°You think you¡¯re in a position to bargain?¡±


    I didn¡¯t reply.


    <b>He </b>leaned in suddenly and nted a mocking <b>kiss </b>on my cheek. ¡°But I¡¯m generous<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>he murmured. ¡°<b>You¡¯ll </b>learn that.


    <b>Chapter 62 </b>


    <b>Two </b><b>of </b><b>his </b><b>enforcers </b><b>seized </b>us then. One held my arms, the other <b>grabbed </b>Nadia. <b>We </b>struggled<b>, </b>but it was <b>useless</b>. I felt a sharp prick in my <b>burning </b>sensation


    <b>¡°</b><b>Rx</b><b>,</b><b>¡± </b><b>Kane </b>said smoothly<b>. </b><b>¡°</b>It¡¯s just a suppressant. Keeps the shifting urges in theck. I¡¯d never hurt you. I just need you <b>to </b>he gentler


    <b>I </b><b>tried </b><b>to </b>fight, but my limbs were growing heavy<b>, </b>my mind cloudy. Nadia gritted her teeth, fighting against the effects, but I could see it hitting Hel


    Take them<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Kane ordered.


    We were dragged toward the exit. I caught her dress, tears running down her cheeks.


    glimpse of


    Buck trying to push through the chaos, calling <b>after </b>us. Jessie heldke in her <b>arms</b>, d on


    ¡°Please!¡± <b>I </b>shouted again. ¡°Please, don¡¯t hurt them! I¡¯ll do everything you <b>say</b>!¡±


    <b>Kane </b>turned, his expression unreadable.


    ¡°You should¡¯ve thought about that earlier,¡± he said. ¡°If you two had just cooperated, the wedding wouldn¡¯t have gone to hell. Now I¡¯ve got a mess to clean-


    up<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Then he snapped his fingers. ¡°Take their phones. Thoroughly.¡±


    <b>We </b>were forced toward a ck SUV parked just outside. One of the <b>men </b>started patting me down roughly<b>, </b>clearly enjoying it. His hand dipped far lower than necessary<b>, </b>slipping inside the waistband of my pants.


    <b>¡°</b><b>Get </b><b>your </b>damn hands off me<b>!</b><b>¡± </b><b>I </b>snarled.


    Then I bit him. Hard.


    He <b>yelped</b>, jerking away. The taste of blood filled my mouth. He pped


    <b>me </b><b>viciously </b><b>across </b>the <b>face</b><b>. </b>


    My head snapped to the side. Pain bloomed in my cheek, but I didn¡¯t cry out.


    ¡°Skye!¡± Nadia shouted, trying to break <b>free</b><b>, </b>but another man grabbed her from behind, locking her arms <b>down</b>.


    ¡°Feisty little things,¡± the man muttered.


    <b>A </b>few minutester, Kane reappeared. ¡°What the hell is taking so long?<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Just checking them for hidden weapons,<b>¡± </b>the man said quickly.


    Kane shot him a look that made <b>even </b>that brute flinch.


    ¡°Phones,¡± he said tly.


    The m¨¨n tossed our phones into a nearby trash bin outside the car. I watched helplessly as the devices that connected us to the outside world disappeared into a pile of discarded paper cups and wedding napkins.


    The car doors mmed shut. The engine started.


    As we pulled <b>away </b>from the wrecked reception hall, looked back onest time.


    <b>Jessie </b>was still holding Jake. Buck <b>was </b>shouting <b>after </b><b>us</b>, his shotgun long discarded, eyes wide with helpless rage.¡±


    And Kane<b>? </b>


    <b>He </b>lingered behind, dusting <b>cake </b>crumbs off <b>his </b>shoulder.

 Casts 63

    <b>Chapter </b><b>63 </b>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b><b>POV </b>


    Boring slowly disappeared in the rearview mirror, the chaos of the ruined wedding left behind like a smudge in the distance. I sat pressed <b>against </b><b>the </b>car door, the cold metal biting into my skin, trying to calm my pulse. But peace never came.


    Because just when I thought we had a moment to breathe, a shadow surged ahead of the vehicle¨Cthennded directly in our path.<fn19d6> Fresh chapters posted on F?nd-Novel</fn19d6>


    The driver mmed on the brakes. Tires screeched.


    The car jerked violently, and I lurched forward, caught only by the seatbelt across my chest. My heart mmed into my throat.


    Standing in front of uspletely unharmed, without a trace of exhaustion¨Cwas Kane.


    Not shifted. Not panting. Not even sweating.


    He had chased down a speeding car on foot.


    Even Nadia, usually unshaken, widened her <b>eyes</b><b>. </b>¡°What the hell<b>¡­</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>I </b>swallowed hard, trying to force down the rising dread.


    He was a monster. But in that moment, I had to admit¨Che <b>was </b>a powerful one<b>. </b>


    Kane strolled casually toward the vehicle, as if he hadn¡¯t just defied physics<b>. </b>The rear door opened, and a moment <bter</b><b>, </b>he <b>slid </b>into the seat across <b>from </b><b>us </b>with infuriating ease, like this was a joyride, not a kidnapping.


    He leaned backfortably, then reached into the car¡¯s built¨Cin mini fridge and pulled out a can <b>of </b><b>ice</b><b>¨C</b>cold beer. The hiss of the tab <b>echoed </b>in <b>the </b>silence.


    ¡°Beer?¡± he offered, holding the can up in mock politeness. ¡°It¡¯s been a stressful day for everyone.¡±


    Nadia and I both turned our faces away, refusing to dignify him with a response.


    He didn¡¯t seem offended. Instead, he chuckled softly and took a long drink, the sound of the c can crinkling under his fingers filling the tense <b>space </b><b>between </b><ol><li><b>us</b><b>. </b></li></ol>


    ¡°Why?¡± I finally asked, breaking the tense silence. ¡°Why did you have to ruin their wedding? Why are you doing this<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Kane sat <b>across </b>from us in the spacious vehicle, his emerald eyes glinting with amusement as he straightened his already¨Cperfect tie. His two enforcers upied the front seats, the driver¡¯s <b>eyes </b>asionally flicking to the rearview mirror to <b>check </b>on us.


    ¡°Must there always be a profound reason?¡± Kane replied with an exaggerated sigh. ¡°Sometimes I simply enjoy <b>the </b>chaos<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Beside me, Nadia¡¯s body remained rigid with barely contained fury. Her fingers curled into fists on herp, knuckles white with the effort of restraining


    herself.


    ¡°Adrian wille for us,¡± I said, injecting <b>as </b>much confidence into my <b>voice </b>as I could muster. ¡°And when he <b>does</b>, he won¡¯t <b>show </b>mercy<b>. </b>


    Kane¡¯s lips curved into a predatory smile. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m counting on it.¡±


    The realization hit me like a physical blow. ¡°This is about Adrian. You¡¯re using us to get to him.¡±


    ¡®Clever girl,¡± Kane praised mockingly. ¡°Although using¡® sounds <b>so </b>crude. I prefer to think of you two as¡­ incentives for negotiation.¡±


    Nadia leaned forward, her dark eyes shing ¡°What kind of negotiation?


    ¡°Initially, I only wanted ess to your water source,<b>¡± </b>Kane exined<b>, </b>gesturing casually as if discussing <b>a </b>minor business transaction. ¡°<b>A </b>reasonable request between neighboring packs, I thought. But your Alpha proved¡­ uncooperative<b>.</b>*


    <b>Chapter </b><b>63 </b>


    ¡°Theke you <b>poisoned</b><b>,</b><b>¡± </b>I realized aloud. That was you<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>He </b><b>inclined </b>his head slightly, acknowledging without explicitly confessing. <b>A </b>regrettable esction, but sometimes one must demonstratemitment <b>one¡¯s </b>goals.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>And what are those goals now<b>? </b>Idemanded.


    <b>Kane¡¯s </b>expression hardened, the fa?ade of civility momentarily slipping to reveal the predator beneath. ¡°Total surrender<b>, </b>Oasisborn <b>Pack </b><b>will </b>evacuate Texas entirely. Your territory<b>, </b>your resources<b>, </b>your infrastructure¨Call of it bes mine<b>.</b>¡±


    <b>¡°</b>You¡¯re insane,¡± Nadia spat. ¡°Adrian would never agree to that.¡±


    Kane leaned forward, his gaze shifting between us with calcted assessment. ¡°Won¡¯t he? For his loyal Beta who¡¯s stood by him since childhood<b>? </b>His eyes settled on me, a slow smile spreading across his face as he studied me through the rearview mirror.


    <b>¡°</b>And for you¡­ I saw how he looked at you during your pack celebration. The possessiveness in his eyes when I touched you. His voice dropped to a silky purr<b>. </b>¡°You¡¯re clearly his most cherished¡­panion. I wonder just how much he values you.¡±


    <b>My </b>stomach turned at his insinuation, but I maintained myposure<b>. </b>¡°You¡¯ve miscalcted. Adrian prioritizes the pack above everything<b>¨C</b>above me, above Nadia, above himself. He won¡¯t sacrifice Oasisborn¡¯s future<b>, </b>even for <b>us</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Kane settled back in his seat, looking utterly unconcerned. ¡°We shall <b>see</b><b>. </b>Alphas often believe themselves capable of such noble sacrifice<b>¨C</b>until the moment arrives when they must actually make the choice.¡±


    Hours passed in tense silence<b>. </b>The desertndscape gradually transformed, bing more barren and hostile as <b>we </b>traveled deeper into Gravestone territory. Unlike the vibrant oasis Adrian had created, Kane¡¯s domain was deliberately intimidating¨Candscape of jagged rock formations and twisted, ominous <b>trees </b>that seemed to <b>w </b>at the darkening sky.


    As night fellpletely, we approached a fortress¨Clikepound nestled against a cliff face. High walls surrounded a collection of austere buildings, with armed guards patrolling the perimeter. The architecture was all sharp angles and imposing stone<b>, </b><b>a </b>physical manifestation <b>of </b>Kane¡¯s <b>leadership </b><b>style</b>.


    The SUV passed through heavily secured gates<b>, </bing to a stop in a central courtyard. Unlike Oasisborn¡¯s weingmunity <b>space</b><b>, </b>this area resembled a military instation more than a home. Wolves in human form watched our arrival with predatory interest<b>, </b>their expressions cold and <b>assessing</b>.


    Kane motioned for his men to escort us from the vehicle. ¡°Wee to my humble abode,¡± he announced with theatrical grandeur<b>. </b>¡°I trust you¡¯ll find your amodations<b>¡­ </b>adequate.¡±


    We were led through dimly lit corridors to a lower level of the main building. The temperature dropped noticeably as <b>we </b>descended a stone staircase<b>, </b>the ai bing damp and heavy with the scent of earth. At the bottom, a heavy metal door opened to <b>reveal </b>what could only be described as a dungeon-plete with barred cells set into the rock walls.


    ¡°Your temporary residence,¡± Kane announced, gesturing for his men to ce us in thergest cell. ¡°Don¡¯t look <b>so </b>disappointed. The alternative <b>was </b>chains, but I thought this more civilized.*


    The cell door nged shut behind us, the sound echoing ominously through the underground chamber. Kane instructed the guard stationed at the entranc ¡°Watch them carefully. No one enters without my express permission<b>.</b>¡±


    He turned to another nearby wolf, a lean man with a scar bisecting his left eyebrow. ¡°Prepare a proper meal for our guests<b>. </b><b>I </b>won¡¯t have Gravestone Pack neglects its hospitality.¡±


    said <b>that </b>


    As his men hurried toply, Kane approached the bars, his eyes lingering on me with unsettling intensity. ¡°If you find these amodations ufortable,¡± he offered, his voice dropping to a suggestive murmur<b>, </b><b>¡°</b>my personal quarters are always avable.<b>¡± </b>


    His hand shot through the bars with surprising speed, fingers gripping my chin before <b>I </b>could retreat.


    ¡®I promise I can satisfy you both far better than Adrian ever could.¡±

 Casts 64

    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    Nadia lunged forward, her face contorted with rage. Before I could stop her, she spat directly into Rane¡¯s face, the glob of <b>sales </b><b>striking </b>his crack,


    ¡°You disgusting piece of filth?¡± she snarled. I¡¯d rather die than let you touch me!¡±


    For one breathless moment, no one


    The saliva slid slowly down Kane¡¯s perfect skin, his expression shifting from shock to something dark and <b>print </b>His hand released my chin and shot toward Nadia with supernatural speed, fingers wrapping around her throat before she could retreat.


    ¡°You¡¯ll regret that,¡± he growled, yanking her against the bars with enough force that the metal rattled.


    I rushed forward, but one of the guards jabbed a stun baton through the bars, sending me sprawling backward with electricity coursing through <b>my </b><b>veins</b>. Since our arrival at Kane¡¯s fortress, we¡¯d been given shift¨Csuppressing injections, the needle marks on our arms still stinging¨Ca constant reminder of out powerlessness against them.


    Kane pulled Nadia closer, until her face was pressed painfully against the cold metal. Despite the shift¨Csuppressor in her system<b>, </b>she fought <b>with </b>everything, she had, wing at his arm, her eyes burning with hatred.


    I¡¯ve always appreciated women with fire,¡± Kane remarked, his voice dropping to a dangerous purr as he wrapped his other arm around her waist, drawing her even closer. ¡°The stronger the resistance, the sweeter the surrender.¡°¨C


    His hand moved upward, roughly cupping her <b>breast </b>through her clothing. ¡°The more you struggle, the more excited I be,¡± he whispered loud enough for me to hear. ¡°You two had better <b>pray </b>your precious Adrian agrees to my terms. Otherwise<b>¡­</b><b>¡± </b>


    The implication hung in the air, heavy and threatening. I pushed <b>myself </b>up from the floor, ignoring the lingering tremors <b>from </b>the stun baton.


    ¡°<b>If </b><b>we¡¯re </b>your bargaining chips,¡± <b>I </b>called out, drawing his attention away from Nadia, <b>¡°</b>then shouldn¡¯t you <b>ensure </b>we remain<b>¡­ </b>undamaged merchandise<b>? </b><b>What </b>leverage will you <b>have </b>if you¡¯ve already taken what you want?¡±


    Kane¡¯s eyes narrowed<b>, </b>calcting the logic in my argument. <b>After </b>a long, tense moment, he released Nadia with a <b>dismissive </b>shove that <b>sent </b>her stumbling back.


    ¡°Always the clever one,¡± he acknowledged, straightening his clothing <b>as </b><b>if </b>nothing had happened. His charming smile returned with disturbing ease, the


    well. You make a valid point.¡± monster once again concealed behind a mask of civility. <b>¡°</b><b>Very </b>


    He stepped back from the bars<b>, </b>hands raised in mock surrender. ¡°You¡¯ll both remain intact¡­ for now. <b>Rest </b><b>well </b>tonight. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll contact Adrian with my demands. I do hope, for your sakes, that he proves reasonable.¡±


    With a final predatory smile, Kane turned and left the dungeon, his footsteps echoing on the stone steps. One guard remained stationed outside our <b>cell</b>, his expression nk as he took up his post.


    The moment Kane <b>was </b>out of <b>earshot</b>, <b>I </b>activated the mind¨Clink with Nadia<b>, </b>focusing my thoughts carefully to create the mental bridge <b>between </b>us.<fn512a> Find the newest release on Find1Novel</fn512a>


    The suppressant they used is short¨Cacting, I projected, keeping my <b>face </b>carefully neutral to avoid alerting the guard. Usually <b>effective </b><b>for </b><b>six </b>to eight hours at most. They¡¯ll likely return to administer another dose before it wears offpletely. <b>We </b>need to escape before then.


    Nadia¡¯s response came immediately, her mental voice steady despite what had <b>just </b>transpired. Let¡¯s check this ce thoroughly. There <b>has </b>to be a <b>way </b>out<b>. </b>


    We began a careful examination of our prison, N¨¢dia testing the bars while I inspected the stone walls and floor, searching for loose rocks <b>or </b>hidden openings.


    <b>The </b>cell was approximately ten feet square, with three walls of solid stone and one wallposed entirely <b>of </b>sturdy iron bars. <b>A </b>small<b>, </b>barred <b>window </b><b>set </b>high in the back wall provided minimal venttion but was far too small for escape. The stone floor was uneven but solid, with no loose tiles <b>or </b><b>hidden </b>trapdoors. The sleeping pallet in the corner was little more than a thin mat on a stone shelf, offering no materials <b>we </b>could possibly use as <b>tools</b>.


    <b>After </b>an hour of methodical inspection, we sank down against the back wall, the reality of our situation settling <b>over </b><b>us </b>like a <b>heavy </b>nket. Even <b>if </b><b>our </b>wolves returned when the suppressant wore off, the cell was designed to contain shifted werewolves. The <b>bars </b><b>were </b>reinforced with some kind of <b>special </b>alloy that even werewolf strength couldn¡¯t bend, and the stone walls <b>were </b>at least three feet thick.


    <b>Chapter </b><b>64 </b>


    <b>¡°</b><b>I </b><b>won¡¯t </b><b>let </b><b>Adrian </b>sacrifice everything for us, N¨¢dia whispered, her voice <b>so </b><b>low </b><b>I </b>barely <b>caught </b>the words. I¡¯d <b>rather </b>ille than ten Hatice


    On


    <b>The </b>raw conviction in her tone reminded me of why she was <b>Beta </b>her absolute loyalty to Adrian <b>and </b>the park transcended even self pancr


    Tm so sorry<b>, </b>Nadia,¡± I <b>said</b>, guilt crushing my chest. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t insisted <b>on </b>attending <b>that </b>wedding, you wouldn¡¯t be here, <b>Adrian </b>warned me it wa but I didn¡¯t listen<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Nadia shook her head firmly. ¡°Don¡¯t me yourself! This isn¡¯t your fault. It¡¯s that bastard Kane¡¯s doing! Her fists clenched <b>with </b>renewed fury. You ve supposed to hide in Oasisborn forever? Never venture beyond our borders? When he poisoned ourke, we should have struck back <b>immediately</b><b>. </b>


    She studied my <b>face </b>in the dim light filtering through the high window, her expression shifting from anger to concern. ¡°Your left ear is bleeding


    I <b>reached </b>up, my fingersing away with a small smear of blood. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± I said, touching the torn earlobe gently. ¡°My earring must have been <b>ripped </b>out during the chaos at the wedding.¡±


    My earring. The thought struck me like lightning.


    <b>¡°</b>Wait, I gasped, grabbing Nadia¡¯s arm with sudden urgency. Using the mind¨Clink to avoid being overheard, I projected, My earring! <b>I </b>still have one earring left!


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 Casts 65

    Chapter <b>65 </b>


    Adrian¡¯s POV


    The afternoon sim streamed through my office window as my phone chimed with a <b>new </b>message. I smiled seeing Nadia¡¯s name on the screen.


    We¡¯ve arrived at the wedding venue. The decorations are surprisingly tasteful for a small¨Ctown Celebration


    I chuckled at her typical attention to detail. A second message followed quickly.


    Our pack hasn¡¯t hosted a wedding in a very long time.


    Before I could reply, Skye sent a photo. Three women beamed at the camera ¨C Skye with her striking silver hair, Nadia looking uncharacteristically rted in a formal dress, and a blonde woman in a wedding gown who must be the bride. Their faces glowed with happiness, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile in response.


    For a moment, I allowed myself to imagine Skye in a wedding dress ¨C her silver hair adorned with flowers, green eyes bright with joy, walking toward <b>me </b>quickly pushed the thought away. Such fantasies were dangerous territory.


    Enjoy yourselves, I texted back. You both deserve a night off.


    I set my phone aside and immersed myself in work ¨C budget reports, security protocols, and territory expansion ns. Hours passed, the stack of papers gradually diminishing as night fell over the <b>desert</b><b>. </b>


    By midnight, my eyes burned from staring <b>at </b>spreadsheets. I stretched, reaching for my phone to check the time. No new messages. The wedding reception should have ended by now. On impulse, I dialed Skye¡¯s number<b>, </b>expecting to hear her voice, perhaps slightly giddy from wedding champagne.


    Instead, I heard only endless ringing before her voicemail answered. Strange<b>, </b>but not concerning. She was probably still celebrating or had <b>turned </b>in for <b>the </b>night. I tried Nadia instead our pragmatic Beta always answered her phone, regardless of circumstances.


    Her phone rang unanswered as well. Five more attempts to reach either woman over the next hour yielded nothing but growing unease. By one <b>in </b><b>the </b>morning, my concern had escted to rm. This wasn¡¯t normal, <b>especially </b>for Nadia. She¡¯d even set a specific ringtone for my calls <b>¨C </b>the opening bars of ¡°Who Let the Dogs Out,¡± her idea of pack humor.


    I grabbed my jacket and keys, striding through the silent hallways <b>of </b>my home. Twenty minutester, <b>I </b>parked outside Garrett¡¯s modest house and pounded on the door until a bleary¨Ceyed figure appeared.


    ¡°Alpha Adrian?<b>¡± </b>Garrett blinked in confusion, his sandy hair sticking up at odd angles<b>. </b><b>¡°</b>Is everything okay?¡±


    Without waiting for an invitation, I strode past him into the house<b>. </b>I need you to track Skye and Nadia¡¯s phones. Now<b>.</b>¡±


    Garrett snapped to alertness, limping quickly toward his back room¨Cwhat appeared to be a simple home office but was actually our information <b>hub</b>, The glow of multiple monitors illuminated his face as his fingers flew <b>across </b>the keyboard.


    ¡°Both phones are showing up at¡­ Boring town,¡± he said, squinting at the screen. ¡°Right where the wedding is taking ce.¡± He turned to me with a reassuring smile. ¡°They probably can¡¯t hear their phones at the wedding. Or maybe they¡¯re having too much fun to answer.¡±


    The tension in my shoulders eased slightly as I studied the glowing dots on the GPS map. <b>¡°</b><b>Are </b>you sure <b>the </b>signals <b>are </b>urate?¡±


    ¡°Positive<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>Garrett nodded confidently. ¡°Thest ping was just fifteen minutes ago. They¡¯re definitely there, and the phones are powered on and functioning.¡±


    I exhaled slowly<b>, </b>allowing myself to rx marginally. ¡°Can I get something to drink? <b>It¡¯s </b>been a long night.¡±


    ¡°Beer<b>? </b><b>C</b>?<b>¡± </b><b>Garrett </b>offered, already heading to the kitchen.


    ¡°C¡¯s fine.¡±


    I sank into Garrett¡¯s worn leather couch, epting the ice¨Ccold can he handed me. He settled into the adjacent armchair<b>, </b>nursing a <b>beer</b><b>, </b>his bad leg propped carefully on a footstool.


    <b>After </b>a moment <b>of </b>awkward silence, Garrett cleared his throat. ¡®Alpha Adrian, there¡¯s something <b>I¡¯ve </b><b>been </b>wondering¡­ if you don¡¯t mind me <b>asking </b><fna6b8> Readplete version only at FindN0vel</fna6b8>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>65 </b>


    <b>I </b><b>raised </b><b>an </b>eyebrow. What is it?:


    <b>About </b>you and Skye¡­ He hesitated, his fingers fidgeting with the pull tab on his beer can. Is it true? Are you together!


    The question caught me off guard. ¡°Where did you heat that?¡®


    ¡®Some of the warriors have been talking.¡± His


    dropped to his beer. ¡°But she¡¯s not your mate, right?


    Initation red within me. ¡°I¡¯m aware of that fact.


    I don¡¯t see how it¡¯s any of your concern.¡±


    ¡®It¡¯s not, Garrett backpedaled quickly. ¡°I just¡­ I hope Nadia doesn¡¯t get hurt in all this.¡±


    ¡°Nadia is my Beta,¡® I said stiffly. ¡°Why would I hurt Then realization dawned. ¡°Wait, why are you so concerned about Nadia specifically<b>?</b><b>* </b>


    A flush crept up Garrett¡¯s neck, and suddenly everything clicked into ce. Nadia had been the one to recruit Garrett to Oasisborn in the first ce.


    I pped a hand on his shoulder. ¡°You have feelings for her, dos.


    ¡°She¡¯s a good woman,¡± he stammered, avoiding my gaze. ¡°<i>N </i>


    <b>you</b><b>?</b>¡±


    <b>soft </b>like other women<b>, </b>but strong. Loyal. Good.¡±


    ¡°Then why not pursue her?¡± I asked, genuinely curious.


    A bitter smile twisted Garrett¡¯s lips as he finally looked up at me. <b>¡°</b><b>Can¡¯t </b>you <b>see </b>it? Her <b>eyes </b>only <b>ever </b>follow you.¡±


    Difort settled in my stomach. I¡¯d always seen Nadia <b>as </b><b>a </b><b>sister</b>¨Cin¨C<b>ar </b>pretend they didn¡¯t <b>exist</b>.


    a fellow warrior. I¡¯d ignored <b>the </b>signs of her deeper feelings<b>, </b>finding it easier to


    ¡°Nadia and I will never be more thanrades,¡± I told him firmly. ¡°That¡¯s all <b>we¡¯ve </b>ever been, all we <b>ever </b>will be.¡±


    ncing at my watch, I noted it <b>was </b>already <b>1 </b><b>AM</b>. ¡°I¡¯ll crash on your couch tonight,¡± I decided, not wanting to return to my empty house with my thoughts still churning. ¡°Keep monitoring their phones, will you<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Of course, Alpha,¡± Garrett nodded, a hint of relief in his expression at the change of subject<b>. </b>


    Sleep came fitfully, interrupted by dreams of silver hair and danger. Dawn arrived with fingers <b>of </b>golden <b>light </b>stretching through the blinds. I checked my phone immediately¨Cno missed calls, no text messages. Garrett was already at hisputers<b>, </b><b>the </b>scent of fresh coffee wafting from the kitchen.


    ¡°Any change?¡± I asked, my voice rough with sleep.


    He shook his head, swiveling his chair to face me. ¡°Both phones are still in Boring town, and both women still aren¡¯t answering calls <b>or </b><b>texts</b>.


    My unease returned tenfold. This wasn¡¯t like Nadia. Even if they¡¯d stayed up all night celebrating, she would <b>have </b>at least sent a message acknowledging my calls. Something was <b>very </b>wrong.


    I yanked my phone from my pocket, dialing Ryder. He answered on the third ring, voice <b>heavy </b>with sleep.


    ¡°Alpha?<b>¡± </b>


    <b>¡°</b><b>Meet </b>me at the main gate


    fifteen minutes<b>,</b>¡± <b>I </b>ordered, already heading for the door. ¡°<b>We¡¯re </b>going to Boring. Now.¡±


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    <b>Chapter </b><b>66 </b>


    Adrian¡¯s <b>POV </b>


    <b>I¡¯m </bing with you,¡± Garrett insisted, hisptop already half¨Cclosed as he prepared to stand.


    I ced <b>my </b>hand famly on his shoulder, keeping him seated. ¡°I need you here, monitoring their phones<b>. </b>If anything changes¨C<b>anything </b><b>at </b><b>all </b>I need to know immediately.¡±


    His eyes darted between my face and hisputer screens, conflict evident in his expression. Finally, he nodded, reluctantly settling back <b>into </b><b>his </b>chair. TIL track everything. GPS signals, call attempts, text messages. If either of them so much as turns on airne mode, I¡¯ll know about it.¡±


    ¡°Good. I squeezed his shoulder once before releasing it. ¡°And Garrett? This isn¡¯t just about pack business. I know what Nadia means to you.¡±


    A flush crept up his neck, but he didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°Just bring her back safe, Alpha.¡±


    The drive to the main gate was a blur of racing thoughts and worst¨Ccase scenarios. <b>As </b>I pulled up, Ryder was already waiting, his usually carefree demeanor reced by tense alertness. He climbed into the passenger seat before I¡¯d fully stopped.


    ¡°What happened?¡® he demanded, buckling his seatbelt as I elerated again. <b>¡°</b>Is it Skye and Nadia<b>? </b><b>Are </b>they in trouble<i>?</i><i>¡± </i><fndd19> Readplete version only at find~novel</fndd19>


    I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, <b>jaw </b>clenched as <b>I </b>pushed the SUV well beyond the speed limit. ¡°I don¡¯t know yet. Neither of them is answering calls or texts, but their phones are still active in Boring.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like Nadia,¡± Ryder murmured, echoing my own thoughts<b>. </b>¡°She never <b>goes </b>dark<b>, </b>especially not when you¡¯re trying to reach her.¡±


    <b>We </b>fell into tense silence after that<b>, </b>each mile bringing a heavier weight of apprehension. The desertndscape blurred past our windows as I pressed <b>the </b>elerator further, willing the distance to disappear faster.


    By the time <b>we </b>reached Boring, morning had fully established <b>itself</b>, the small town already bustling with its modest weekday activity. I navigated to <b>the </bmunity center that Skye had photographed, parking haphazardly near the entrance.


    Inside, the space told the story <b>of </b>celebration¡¯s aftermath¨Cchairs stacked against walls, floors <b>still </b>tacky with spilled drinks, decorations drooping <b>listlessly </b>from the ceiling<b>. </b><b>A </b>lone elderly man pushed a wide broom <b>across </b>the floor, humming tunelessly to himself.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± I called, approaching him with controlled urgency. ¡°I¡¯m looking for two women who attended yesterday¡¯s wedding. One with silver hair, the other <b>with </b>short ck hair. <b>Have </b>you seen them<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    The old man paused his sweeping, leaning on his broom as he studied me with suspicious <b>eyes</b>. <b>¡°</b>You a friend of Jessie and <b>Jake¡¯s</b><b>? </b>Don¡¯t recall seeing you yesterday.¡±


    Before I could respond, Ryder stepped forward, his expression molded into one <b>of </b>boyish charm. ¡°My fianc¨¦e <b>is </b>friends with Jessie. She came to the wedding yesterday but never came home<b>. </b>I¡¯m worried sick about her.¡±


    <b>I </b>shot Ryder a withering look for the unnecessary embellishment, but it <b>seemed </b>to have the desired <b>effect</b>. The janitor¡¯s suspicion melted into understanding.


    <b>¡°</b>Ah, well, that exins it.¡± He nodded, resuming his sweeping with slow, methodical strokes<b>. </b>¡°Wedding ended pretty early yesterday. <b>Your </bdy friends might¡¯ve gone for drinks after¨Cthere¡¯s that ce <b>called </b>The Watering Hole where your friend used to work.¡±


    He provided directions to both The Watering Hole and <b>Jessie¡¯s </b>home<b>, </b>his memory surprisingly sharp for someone his <b>age</b><b>. </b>As <b>we </b>turned to leave<b>, </b>his <b>voice </b><b>called </b>us back.


    ¡°You boys heading to <b>see </b><b>Jessie</b><b>? </b>She ain¡¯t home right now¨Cshe¡¯s over at the hospital.¡±


    My heart lurched. ¡°Hospital? What happened?¡°/


    <b>The </b>old man chuckled, shaking his head fordly. ¡°That girl¡¯s always been clumsy <b>as </b>a newborn colt. Too much <b>champagne</b><b>, </b><b>I </b><b>reckon</b><b>. </b><b>Fell </b>right <b>off </b><b>the </b><b>stage </b>during her first dance, Split her forehead open something fierce.¡± He clicked his tongue disapprovingly. <b>¡°</b>Young folks <b>these </b>days <b>don¡¯t </b>know <b>their </b><b>limits</b><b>. </b>


    Ryder and <b>I </b><b>exchanged </b><b>nces</b><b>, </b>both thinking the <b>same </b>thing. <b>A </b>wedding ident <b>serious </b>enough to require <b>hospitalization</b><b>, </b><b>and </b><b>neither </b><b>Skye </b><b>nor </b><b>Nadia </b><b>h¨¢d </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>66 </b>


    <b>contacted </b>us?


    <b>¡°</b><b>Which </b>hospital? <b>I </b>asked, already moving toward the <b>exit</b>.


    Only got one in Boring,¡± the janitor called after us. ¡®Can¡¯t miss it.¡±


    We raced back to the SUV<b>, </b>the sense of wrongness growing stronger with each passing moment. Boring¡¯s hospital was indeed impossible to miss¨¤ ras¨Cstory building with ¡°Boring General Hospital¡® disyed in bold letters across its facade.


    <b>As </b>we approached the entrance, Ryder suddenly veered toward a small gift shop. ¡®Wait, he called over his shoulder. ¡°We need to look like actual <b>visitors</b>.


    He emerged momentster with a modest bouquet of flowers, their cheerful colors at odds with the dread pooling in my stomach. At my questioning look<b>, </b>he shrugged. ¡°Humans expect this sort of thing. We need to blend in.¡±


    The reception desk was staffed by a nurse whose tired eyes suggested she was nearing the end of a long shift. She barely nced up as we approached.


    ¡®We¡¯re here to see Jessie, I said, deliberately keeping my tone light. ¡°She was admittedst night after an ident at her wedding.


    The nurse¡¯s fingers moved over her keyboard, the clicking sound unnaturally loud in the quiet reception area. ¡°Jessie Williams, room 204. She gestured toward the elevator. ¡°Second floor, turn left.¡±


    The hospital corridor smelled of antiseptic and illness<b>¨C</b><b>scents </b>that assaulted my enhanced werewolf senses. I forced myself to breathe through my mouth <b>as </b>we located room 204, its door partially open.


    Inside, Jessie sat propped up against pillows, picking unenthusiastically at what appeared to be hospital breakfast. A white bandage adorned her forehead, and a fading bruise colored her left cheek. Her eyes widened with surprise when she noticed us in the doorway.


    ¡°Oh my god!¡± she eximed, setting aside her breakfast tray<b>. </b>¡°Adrian<b>, </b>right? <b>I </b>remember you from The Watering Hole! What are you doing here? Do you have family in the hospital too<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Lblinked, taken aback by her immediate recognition. I¡¯d only visited The Watering Hole twice during my reconnaissance of the area before Skye joined <b>our </b>pack. The fact that she remembered me was unexpected.


    ¡®I¡¯m looking for Skye and her friend Nadia,¡® I exined, stepping further into the room while Ryder hung back near the door. ¡°They came to your wedding yesterday. Have you seen them?¡±


    irl Jessie¡¯s face lit up withprehension, her eyes darting between Ryder and me with sudden interest. ¡°Ohhh, <b>so </b>you and Skye are together! That snea never mentioned she had such a hot boyfriend!¡± She winked yfully, apparently oblivious to the tension radiating from me. ¡°So that¡¯s <b>why </b><b>she </b><b>didn¡¯t </b>want any of Jake¡¯s cousins hitting on her!¡±


    ¡°Where are they now?<b>¡± </b>I pressed, my patience wearing thin. ¡°When did youst <b>see </b>them?¡±

 Casts 67

    <b>Chapter </b><b>67 </b>


    <b>Adrian¡¯s </b><b>POV </b>


    ¡°They left after the reception, Jessie said, her smile faltering slightly. ¡°At least, I think they did. Everything got a little fuzzy after I fell: She gestured <b>to </b>her bandaged forehead. ¡°Jake and I ended up here, and I assumed everyone else went home.¡±


    ¡°You fell from the stage?¡± I prompted, recalling the janitor¡¯s exnation.


    ¡°Yeah, Jessie nodded, then winced at the movement. One minute I was dancing with Jake, the next¨Cboom! Face¨Cnt city. Sheughed, though the <b>wound </b>seemed hollow. ¡°Jake tried to catch me but ended up falling too. He¡¯s got a broken nose and a sprained wrist, but they¡¯re keeping him for observation because of a concussion.¡±


    Her story matched the janitor¡¯s, yet something didn¡¯t feel right. I studied her face carefully, noting how her eyes wouldn¡¯t quite meet mine, how her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her nket.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t Skyee to the hospital to check on you?¡± I asked. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like her.¡±


    Jessie frowned, her brow furrowing in concentration. ¡°1¡­ I¡¯m not sure. Yesterday¡¯s kind of a blur. I probably had way too much champagne. She rubbed <b>her </b>temples as if trying to massage away confusion. ¡°I don¡¯t really remember when exactly they left.¡±


    Ryder stepped forward, cing the bouquet on her bedside table. ¡°<b>Try </b>to think back. Was there anymotion at the wedding? <b>Any </b>strangers or unexpected guests?¡±


    Jessie stared at the flowers, then back at us, her expression growing increasingly ufortable. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t think so. Just wedding stuff, you know<b>? </b>Music<b>, </b>dancing, cake¡­¡± Her voice trailed off, and she pressed a hand to her forehead. ¡°I¡¯m <b>sorry</b><b>, </b>my head¡¯s still killing me. The doctor said memory gaps are normal with concussions.<b>¡± </b>


    I exchanged a nce with Ryder. Either <b>Jessie </b>was hiding something, or something had interfered with her memory. Neither option boded well for finding Skye and Nadia.


    ¡°Thank you for your time,¡± I said, my <b>voice </b>tighter than I intended. ¡°We hope <b>you </b>recover quickly.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for <b>your </b>time,¡± I said, my voice tighter than I intended. ¡°We hope you recover quickly.¡±


    As we left the hospital room, Ryder shook his head. ¡°That was weird. It¡¯s <b>like </b>she¡¯s describing apletely different wedding than the one in those photos Skye sent.


    ¡°Let¡¯s try The Watering Hole,¡± I decided, already striding toward the exit. ¡°If anyone knows Skye¡¯s movements in this town, it would be her former b


    When we arrived at the bar<b>, </b>the lights were off and a <b>¡°</b>CLOSED¡± sign hung in the window. The establishment wouldn¡¯t open for another <b>few </b>hours<b>, </b>but I couldn¡¯t afford to wait. I circled around to the back, Ryder following closely.


    ¡°We could break in, Ryder suggested, eyeing a partially open window. ¡°Just to look around.¡±


    Just as I was considering the <b>merits </b>of his suggestion<b>, </b><b>the </b>distinctive metallic click of a shotgun being cocked froze us in ce.


    ¡°You boys better have a damn good reason for sniffing around my <b>back </b>door,¡± <b>a </b>gravelly <b>voice </b>called out.


    I turned slowly, hands raised in a non¨Cthreatening gesture, to find an elderly man training a shotgun on us. His weathered face was set in grim determination, though his stance betrayed a slight tremor age catching up with once<b>¨C</b>steady hands.


    ¨C


    Recognition shed in his rheumy eyes. ¡°Wait a minute. You¡¯re that fe who came looking for <b>Skye </bst year, Adrian, right?¡±


    ¡°Buck, I acknowledged, lowering my hands slightly. ¡°I¡¯m looking for Skye again. She was here yesterday for her friend¡¯s wedding, but now I can¡¯t reach her<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    The old man lowered his shotgun<b>, </b>concern recing suspicion. ¡°Skye was here<b>? </b><b>At </b>Jessie¡¯s wedding?¡±


    <b>¡°</b><b>You </b>didn¡¯t see her?¡± Ryder asked incredulously.


    Buck shook his head, leaning the shotgun against the wall before fishing a set of keys from his pocket. ¡®Let¡¯s talk inside.


    <b>The </b>interior of The Watering Hole smelled of stale beer and pine¨Cscented cleaner. Buck flipped on the lights and gestured for us to take seats at the ber while he shuffled behind it.


    ¡°Coffee?¡± he offered, already reaching for a pot.


    ¡°No time, I declined. ¡®Skye and another woman from our¡­munity were at Jessie¡¯s wedding yesterday. They¡¯ve gone missing, and no one seems to remember when they left or where they went.¡±<fn05e7> This content belongs to find?novel</fn05e7>


    Buck¡¯s bushy eyebrows drew together. ¡°Missing? That don¡¯t sound right. Skye¡¯s a careful girl. He poured himself a mug of coffee, his hands shaking slightly. ¡°Should we call the police?¡±


    ¡°Not yet,¡± I said quickly. ¡°We just want to retrace their steps first.¡±


    ¡°You sure? Buck looked skeptical. ¡°If she¡¯s really missing-


    ¡®I¡¯m sure, I cut him off more sharply than intended. Thest thing we needed was human police involved in what was increasingly looking like werewolf business<b>. </b>


    Something wasn¡¯t adding up. I pulled out my phone and scrolled to <b>the </b>photos Skye had sent me.


    ¡°Buck, you said you weren¡¯t at the wedding?¡± I showed him the screen, zooming in on one of the reception photos.


    There in the background, standing near the bar with a drink in hand, was Buck himself, smiling as he watched the dancers.


    The color drained from Buck¡¯s weathered face<b>. </b>¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s impossible.¡± He took the phone with trembling hands, staring at the image in disbelief. ¡°I swear on my life, I wasn¡¯t there. My hip was killing me yesterday¨Ccould barely make it from my bed to the bathroom, let alone a wedding.¡±


    He looked up at me, genuine confusion and fear in his eyes. <b>¡°</b>Am I losing my mind? Did I drink so much I don¡¯t remember being there?¡± He shook his head vigorously. ¡°No, no. I ain¡¯t had a drop since my doctor put me on those new pills three weeks ago.¡±


    Buck stared at the photo for a long moment, then looked back at me. ¡°Something ain¡¯t right here. This whole wedding business is strange. Jessie called metest night, all confused, asking if I¡¯d driven her and Jake to the hospital. When I told her I wasn¡¯t at the wedding at all, she couldn¡¯t remember who took them.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s odd,¡± Ryder said, leaning forward. ¡°The bride can¡¯t remember who drove her to the hospital after her own wedding?¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Buck nodded. ¡°Doctor might say it¡¯s the concussion, but Jessie¡¯s never been the clumsy type, despite what she might say now. Girl¡¯s got the bnce of a cat. Been slinging trays of drinks for years without dropping a single ss.¡± <b>He </b>tapped his temple. ¡°And she ain¡¯t forgetful neither.¡±


    ¡°And now we have proof you actually were there,¡± I said, pointing to the photo, ¡°despite having no memory of attending.¡±


    My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out, noting that it was an unknown number. ¡°Excuse me,¡± I murmured, stepping away from the bar to answer.


    Alpha Adrian,¡± a smooth, familiar voice greeted me. ¡°I was beginning to think you¡¯d never answer.¡±

 Casts 68

    <b>Chapter </b><b>68 </b>


    <b>Adrian¡¯s </b><b>POV </b>


    <b>My </b><b>blood </b>ran cold. ¡°Kane<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Ryder¡¯s head snapped toward me, his body tensing at the name.


    ¡®I presume you¡¯re in Boring by now,¡± Kane continued, sounding infuriatingly pleased with himself. ¡°Finding a distinctck of information about your missing pack members<b>?</b>¡±


    ¡°What have you done with them?¡± I demanded, my <b>voice </b>dropping to a dangerous <b>growl</b>.


    ¡°Done with them?¡± Kane chuckled, the sound grating against my eardrums<b>. </b><b>¡°</b>I¡¯ve merely invited two lovely neighbors to visit <b>my </b>territory. One <b>can </b>hardly <b>call </b>that abduction.¡±


    The pieces clicked into ce. The memory gaps, the inconsistent stories ¨C it all pointed to Alpha influence.


    <b>As </b>the leader of his pack, Kane could mentally control all the <b>wolves </b>under him, and being an exceptionally powerful Alpha<b>, </b>he could also <b>alter </b>short¨C<b>term </b>memories of humans. This ability was precisely why werewolves<b>, </b>despite being vastly outnumbered by humans, had managed <b>to </b>live alongside <b>them </b>undetected for centuries<b>. </b>


    Kane had taken Skye and Nadia, then systematically erased all evidence of the confrontation from the humans<b>¡® </b>minds.


    ¡°What do <b>you </b>want?¡± I asked, forcing control into my voice<b>. </b>


    ¡°Straight to business<b>. </b>I¡¯ve always appreciated that about you, Adrian.¡± Kane¡¯s tone shifted<b>, </b>hardening into something colder. ¡°What <b>I </b><b>want </b>is <b>simple</b><b>: </b>Oasisborn territory. All of it. You and your pack of broken misfits will evacuate <b>Texas </b>entirely, leaving behind all infrastructure<b>, </b><b>resources</b><b>, </b><b>and </b><b>that </b>particrly lovely water <b>source</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°<b>You¡¯re </b>insane, I hissed. ¡°You seriously expect me to surrender our territory for-¡±


    ¡°For your loyal Beta?¡± Kane interrupted. ¡°For the silver¨Chaired beauty who clearly means <b>so </b>much more to you than <b>you¡¯re </b>willing to admit? <b>Yes</b><b>, </b><b>I </b>rather think I do.¡±


    His voice dropped lower, taking on a disturbing, lewd quality that made my skin crawl<b>. </b>¡°And <b>if </b>you don¡¯t <b>agree</b>, well¡­ I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll never see those <b>two </b>lovelydies again. My warriors and I are quite eager to¡­ sample their vors.¡± <b>He </b>chuckled<b>, </b>the sound oily and repulsive<b>. </b>¡°They¡¯re both rather <b>exquisite </b>specimens, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡±


    My vision blurred with rage, a low growl building in my chest. It took <b>every </b>ounce of <b>my </b>control not to shift right there.


    My free hand clenched into a <b>fist </b>so tight my nails bit into my palm, drawing blood. ¡°I want proof they¡¯re <b>alive</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Of course<b>,</b>¡± Kane replied smoothly. ¡°Check your messages in thirty seconds<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    The call ended abruptly. I stood frozen<b>, </b>counting the <b>seconds </b>until my phone <b>vibrated </b>with an iing message. Ryder was instantly at <b>my </b>side as <b>I </b>opened the image.


    <b>The </b>photograph showed Skye and Nadia in what appeared to <b>be </b><b>a </b>stone <b>cell</b>. Their wedding attire <b>was </b>torn and dirty<b>, </b>Skye¡¯s silver hair <b>tangled </b>around her pale <b>face</b><b>. </b><b>A </b>smear of dried blood marked her left cheek, and though her <b>eyes </b>zed with defiance<b>, </b>I could see <b>the </b>fear beneath it.


    Nadia stood beside her, one arm positioned protectively in front of Skye<b>, </b>her expression a mask of <b>barely </b>controlled <b>fury</b>.


    I¡¯ll kill him,¡± Ryder whispered, his youthful <b>face</b><b>/</b>hardening with a rage I¡¯d <b>never </b><b>seen </b>in him <b>before</b><b>, </b>


    <b>My </b>phone rang again ¨C Kane<b>, </b>calling <b>back </b>for my answer<b>. </b>


    <b>¡°</b>Well?¡± he <b>asked </b>when <b>I </b>answered, his <b>voice </b>smug.


    I <b>need </b><b>time</b><b>, </b>I <b>replied</b><b>, </b>fighting to keep <b>my </b>voice <b>steady</b>.


    <b>Time</b><b>? Kane </b><b>scoffed</b><b>. </b><b>¡°</b><b>Do </b><b>I </b>strike you <b>as </b>a patient man?


    <b>Twenty</b><b>¨C</b><b>four </b>hours<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>I countered. ¡°I need <b>to </b>consult with <b>my </b>pack.¡±


    <b>There </b><b>was </b>a long pause, then a thoughtful hum. ¡°Very well. Twenty¨Cfour hours to make the only rational decision. But be warned, Adrian ¨C <b>after </b><b>that</b>, <b>the </b><b>price </b><b>of </b>their return increases substantially.¡±


    <b>If </b>you harm either of them-¡± I began.


    <b>¡°</b>You¡¯ll <b>what</b>?¡± Kane¡¯s voice dripped with contempt. ¡°Attack me on my own territory? With what army<b>? </b>Your collection of cripples and castoffs<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Heughed, <b>the </b>sound chilling. ¡°Twenty<b>¨C</b>four hours, Adrian. Choose wisely.¡±


    The call disconnected, leaving me staring at my phone, rage boiling through <b>my </b>veins. I looked down to find my ws had extended, <b>piercing </b>the side <b>of </b><b>the </b>device. With effort, I retracted them, turning to find both Ryder and Buck watching me with varying degrees of rm.


    ¡°Son,¡® Buck said carefully, ¡®I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but whatever trouble Skye¡¯s <b>in</b>, <b>you </b>look about ready to tear someone apart<b>. </b>And something tells me you could actually do it.¡±


    I forced myself to take <b>a </b>deep breath, to push back the wolf that was wing at my control, demanding blood for this vition.


    ¡°We need to go,¡± I told Ryder, already heading for the door. ¡°Now.¡±


    ¡°Wait, Buck called after <b>us</b><b>. </b>¡°If Skye¡¯s in real danger, let me help.¡±


    I paused, turning back to meet the old man¡¯s determined gaze. ¡°The best thing <b>you </b>can do for Skye is forget we <b>were </b><b>ever </b>here<b>. </b><b>Trust </b>me<b>, </b><b>Buck </b><b>¨C </b><b>this </b><b>isn¡¯t </b>something the local police can handle.<b>¡± </b><fn46d3> Follow current nov?ls on ?ovelFind</fn46d3>


    Without waiting for his response<b>, </b>I pushed through the door into the harsh daylight, Ryder close behind me. My mind was already racing<b>, </b>formting <b>and </b>discarding ns as we walked briskly to my SUV.


    ¡°What are we going to do?¡± Ryder asked as <b>we </b>climbed in.


    <b>I </b>started the engine<b>, </b>my grip white¨Cknuckled on the steering wheel. ¡°<b>We¡¯re </b>going to get them back,¡± I said, my voice deadly calm. ¡°And then I¡¯m going to tear Kane¡¯s pack apart <b>piece </b>by piece.¡±

 Casts 69

    <b>Chapter </b><b>69 </b>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    ¡°Earrings?¡± Nadia¡¯s confusion was evident even


    the dim light of our prison cell. Her eyelinases furrowed as she stared at my remaining earring


    I nced tend the guard stationed outside our gell before establishing the mind link connection with Rada. The mental bridge between as hummed <b>with </b>energy as I projected my thoughts carefully.


    Not just any carrings, I exined, my mental veire tense with agency. They¡¯re from Lydia¡ªa birthday gift. The center in hollow and containa wolfsbane powder.


    Nadia¡¯s eyes widened slightly, the only visible reaction to this revtion, Wolfdan? As in the poison?


    1 nodded almost imperceptibly. A specific variant that indices temporary paralysis in werewolves. If ingested, it causes aa¨Clike state for several hours.


    And you¡¯ve been carrying this around in your jewy? There was a note of incredulin admiration in Nadia¡¯s mental voice.


    Lydia insisted, I replied, remembering the enigmatic smile on the scoured woman¡¯s face as she il presented the delicate sheer pieces to me. ¡°For your protection,¡± she¡¯d said. ¡°May you never need to me them, but should danger find you¡­¡± A hollowugh echoed in my mind, I never imagined I¡¯d need them


    <b>10 </b><b>3000 </b>


    Nadia¡¯s gaze shifted toward the <b>guard</b>, <b>then </b>back to me. So what¡¯s the n? Somehow trick our friendly watchdog into swallowing poison? Her mental tone dripped with sarcasm. Even if we could get him to ingest it, we¡¯re still locked behind these <b>bars</b>. <b>We </b><b>can¡¯t </b>even <b>reach </b>him.


    She was right, of course. The cell bars stood between us and the stoic guard who maintained his position several feet away. Even if we somehow managed to polson him, the heavy lock en our cell door would remain an insurmountable obstacle.


    I sighed, allowing my <b>shoulders </b><b>to </b>slump in temporary defeat. The n had seemed brilliant for all of five seconds before reality crushed it beneath the weight of practicality.


    The stone floor radiated cold through my thin clothing as night deepened around us. Desert nights were unforgiving¨Cscorching days gave way to freezing darkness with little transition. I shivered involuntarily, and Nadia shifted closer, sharing what little body heat remained between us,


    ¡°We should rest,¡± I whispered, not bothering with the mind¨Clink for such <b>an </b>innocuous statement. ¡°Conserve our strength for whatever tomorrow brings.<b>¡± </b>


    Nadia nodded, her dark eyes reflecting the moonlight that filtered through the small, baned window high above us. We settled against the cold stone wall, pressed <b>shoulder </b>to shoulder for warmth andfort.


    The irony wasn¡¯t lost on me. Just days ago, we¡¯d been at odds over Adrian, tension crackling between us like static electricity. Now, facing amon those petty conflicts <b>seemed </b><b>as </b>distant and inconsequential as star.


    ¡°I never thought I¡¯d say this,¡± Nadia murmured<b>, </b>her voice <b>barely </b>audible, ¡°but I¡¯m d you¡¯re here with me.¡±


    I turned to look at her, surprised by the admission


    ¡°Not d you¡¯re captured,¡± she rified quickly. Just¡­ if I had to face this nightmare with someone, I¡¯m d it¡¯s someone <b>as </b>resourceful as you.¡±


    A small smile tugged at my lips. ¡°High praise,ing from Osborn¡¯s fierce Beta,¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get used to it, she replied, hat there was no bite in her <b>words</b><b>. </b>


    We fell into silence<b>, </b>each lest in our own though an exhaustion gradually pulled <b>us </b>toward uneasy sleep.<fn4101> The source of th?s content is f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn4101>


    Morning arrived with heavy footsteps and the metallic ng of the outer dungeon door. I jerked awake, instantly alert as Kane¡¯s distinctive scent¨Csomething metallic, like blond mixed with expensive log¨Creached <b>as </b>seconds before he appeared.


    He strode into the dungeon with the confident swagger of a man who owned erything he surveyed, followed by two warriors carrying trays of food. The


    tantalizing aroma of fresh coffee and warm bread made my stomach clench painfully, reminding me how long it had been <b>sich </b>


    ¡°Good morning<b>, </bdies,¡± Kane greeted us with exaggerated cheer, as if we were guests at a luxury resort rather than prisoners in his dungeon. ¡°I must re slept well? Stone floors provide such excellent lumbar support, don¡¯t you agree?¡±


    Neither of us dignified his mockery with a response. Kane merely chuckled, gesturing for his to ce the trays on the floor and slide them through the narrow gap beneath the cell lun.


    ¡°Coffee, sandwiches¨CI¡¯ve been told the hams in particrly good.¡± He watched with evident amusentent as we eyed the food with equal parts hunger and suspicion. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not poisoned, I assure you. What would be the point? You¡¯re far more valuable to the alive and well.¡±


    My gare new to his face at the mention of poison, but his expression revealed nothing beyond smug self¨Csatisfaction.


    Before I could reach for the coffee, Kane pulled out his phone, holding it up with the camera pointed toward in ¡®Smile for Adrian, Indies. Let¡¯s show him you¡¯re being treated humanely.¡±


    u¡¯ve contacted Adrian?¡± I asked, unable to keep the eagerness from my voice.


    Kane ignored my question, his smile never reaching his cold <b>eyes</b>. <b>¡°</b><b>Come </b>now, at <b>least </b>try to look pleasant. No one wants to see such gloomy faces. It gives the impression I¡¯m mistreating you.¡±


    The camera <b>clicked</b>, capturing our disheveled appearance and defiant res. Kane examined the photo with apparent satisfaction before tucking the phone


    ¡°Twenty¨Cfour hours,¡± he announced, turning to leave. ¡°Your precious Alpha has until tomorrow morning to make his decision. For your sakes, I hope he chooses wisely.¡±


    The heavy door closed behind him with <b>finality</b>, leaving us alone with the guard and our breakfast trays.


    I immediately established the mind link. I have an idea, I projected, keeping my expression neutral as I examined the food,


    Let¡¯s hear it, Nadia responded, watching me carefully.


    I can put the wolfsbane in <b>my </b>coffee, drink it, and fake a severe medical emergency. When they take me to a hospital, you insist oning to envare my safety. Once outside thepound, we find a way to escape.


    Nadia¡¯s <b>eyes </b>widened. Are <b>you </b>insane? <b>You </b>want to poison yourself?


    It¡¯s not fatal, I assured her. Just temporary paralysis.


    al voice <b>was </b>


    vas fierce. I¡¯m not letting you risk your life on such a desperate gamble. If anyone should do this, it should be me.


    Absolutely not! Her mentally


    That makes no sense, Nadia countered. You <b>have </b>no well scent¨Cyou¡¯re more skilled at hiding. I should take the poison while you create the diversion. You¡¯d have a better chance of escaping and reaching Adrian.


    With practiced <b>fingers</b>, I located the tiny hidden sp at the base Before Nadia <b>could </b>respond, I reached up and carefully removed my remaining earring and twisted it open. A fine white powder spilled into my palm¨Cbasely enough to fill a thimble, but more than sufficient for <b>its </b>purpose


    <b>Skye</b>, dont¨CNadia¡¯s <b>warning </b>came toote.


    In one swift motion<b>, </b><b>I </b>tipped the powder into my coffee cup, watching as it dissolved instantly in the <b>dark </b>liquid. I <b>raised </b>the cup, preparing to drink, when Nadia lunged forward.


    Her hand shot out, grasping the cup and yanking it from my grip. Before I could react, she had raised it to her own lips, her eyes locked with mine silent challenge .

 Casts 70

    <b>Chapter </b><b>70 </b>


    Sky¡¯s POW


    My hand that out to grab the car, but Mulia had already pulled it out of my reach, her eyes locked with me in silent determinations. The mind¨Clink: between in ird with ingency as 1 desperately tried to stop her.


    Don¡¯t drink it! You don¡¯t have to do this! I prejected, my mental voice frantic.


    ill,


    da¡¯s expression softened, though her grip on the cup remained firm.


    *1 trust you, Skye. I believe you¡¯re smart enough to find a way ond of here once we reach the hospital. Martus taught you reconnaissance skills, didn¡¯t he? He said you were a numural.¡±


    Please, let¡¯s think about this, I pleaded, maintaining pur mental connection while keeping my face carefully neutral for the guard benefit.


    ¡°There must be another way. We don¡¯t have to iesit to this.¡±


    Nadia shook her head slightly, her dark eyes reflecting the dim light of our prison. This might be our best chance. Maybe our only chance<fn96c4> Official source is ?ovelFind</fn96c4>


    She nced toward the impassive guard, then back to me.


    ¡°You need to escape, find Adrian, and tell him not to agree to Kane¡¯s demands. <b>Under </b>no circumstances can be surrender Gisborn.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not leaving you behind,¡± insisted, the very thought making my stomach clench with anxiety.


    Don¡¯t waste time arguing, Nadia countered<b>, </b>her mental <b>voice </b>taking on the authoritative edge I¡¯de to associate with her role as Deta


    ¡°<b>If </b><b>one </b><b>of </b><b>us </b><b>escapes</b>, Kane loses half his leverage, And I know you wouldn¡¯t truly <b>abandon </b>me. Her gaze <b>intensified</b>, boring into mine. You¡¯ll find a way toe back for me, won¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Of course, but=¡±


    ¡°I trust you¡¯ll do whatever it <b>takes </b>to <b>save </b>both <b>of </b>us, ¡°the interrupted. Then her mental voice softened, bing almost vulnerable.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t at least try to escape, I¡¯ll hate you forever<b>, </b><b>Skye</b>. I mean it,¡±


    Before I <b>could </b><b>form </b>another protest, <b>Nadia </b>raised the cup to her lips and <b>drank </b>the poisoned coffee in several <b>quick </b>gulps. She set the empty cup down with deliberate <b>calm</b>, then reached for a sandwich as if nothing unusual had happened.


    ¡°You should eat,¡± she said aloud, her voice steady despite what she¡¯d just done. ¡°Keep your strength¨C<b>up </b>


    I felt <b>sick </b>with dread, knowing what would happen next, yet forced to y along with her charade. I picked at my food without tasting it, watching <b>Nadia </b>from the corner of my eye, waiting for the poison to take effect.


    It didn¡¯t take long. Barely a minuteter, Nadia¡¯s hand frose mid¨Cair <b>as </b>she was reaching for her water. Her fingers began to tremble, the tremor quickly spreading up her arm. She tried to speak, but her words came out slurred and iprehensible. Her body stiffened, eyes widening with what looked like genuine fear.


    Then theulsions started.


    Her <b>back </b>arched unnaturally, muscles contracting with violent force. Her head snapped backward, tendons standing out in her neck like steel cables. A strangled gasp escaped her lips as her body pitched forward, then sideways, limbs jerking in grotesque, puppet¨Clike movements.


    I caught her before she could strike her head against the stone floor, cradling her convulsing body against mine. Foam began to form of the corners of her mouth, tinged with an rming shade of pink. Her eyes rolled back, showing only the whites, and her breathing became <b>rapid </b><b>and </b>shallow.


    ¡°Help!¡± I screamed, my punic entirely as I held Nadia¡¯s seizing body. ¡°Guard! My friend is sick! She needs help?¡±


    The guard nced our way, his expression shifting from boredom to suspicion. He approached the barszily, keeping a safe distance as he observed Nadia?


    Fennvulsions:


    ¡°Nice performance,¡± he dieled,ing his arms over his chest. ¡°You really think I¡¯d fall for this? Let me giess¨Copen the call, you jump ne distracted with your ¡°sick friend, and you both make a run for It?¡± He shook his head, locking almost disappointed. ¡°Stop watching so may movies. This trick is older than din.


    ¡°I¡¯m <b>not </b>lying!¡± I shouted, genuine trans springing to my eyes as Nadia¡¯s body continued to spasm violently in my arms. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong with her Please!¡±


    The tears weren¡¯t fake¨Cthey came from a ce of real fear and frustration. While I knew the wolfbane want lethal, I had no idea what other effects in might have. Lydia had never specified the exact symptoms in potential side effects, only that it would induce temporary paralysis. What if Nadia¡¯s reaction was abnormal? What if the reded immediate medical attention?


    The guard remained unmoved by my pleas, watching with clinical detachment as Nadias convulsions gradually obsided. Her body grew still in my arms, limbs hanging limp and heavy, her head lolling against my shoulder. Her breathing had be shallow and irregr, each inhale a strained whisper.


    Despite knowing this was the intended effect of the poison, terror wed at my chest. She looked dead. The skin had taken on an athen hue, lips tinged with blue, eyes half¨Cclosed and unsering.


    The guard finally seemed to register that something might be genuinely wrong. He stepped closer to the bars, preting at Nadia¡¯s motionless form with growing concern. When he was close enough, be extended his electric baton through the bars, prodding Nadia¡¯s leg with its tip


    ¡°Stop it!¡± I snarled, pulling her away from his reach. ¡°You heartless monster! How can you be so <b>cruel</b>?


    I red at him with genuine hatred. ¡°If she dies, do you think Kane will let you live? You were supposed to keep us healthy for the exchange


    That seemed to prate his indifference. Uncertainty flickered across his face as he considered the potential consequences of failing in his duty. He retreated a few steps, pulling out a cell phone from his pocket.


    ¡°Alpha Kene,¡± he said after a moment, his voice betraying a hint of nervousness. ¡°One of the women has copsed!¡±


    Through my tears, I watched the guards face carefully, trying to gauge Kane¡¯s response on the other end of the line. A flicker of hope sparked in my chest Maybe, just maybe, Nadia¡¯s desperate gamble would <b>work </b>after all.


    As 1 held her limp body against mine, I silently promised her that if¨Cwhen¨Cwe got out of here, I would never again dismiss her judgment. She had risked everything on this desperate n, swallowing poison without heutation to create a chance for <b>us </b>to esOpe.


    And I wasn¡¯t going to waste it

 Casts 71

    Within minutes, the heavy dree to the dungeon swing open, and Alpha Kane strode in with two men in white coats following clour behind. His previously smug expiration had been reced by noe of barely contained fury.


    ¡°What happened her? he demanded, ring at the guard who shrank hack under his Alpha¡¯s gaze, Kane pointed an usatory finger at Nadia¡¯s limp form in my wins. Did you do this?¡±


    ¡°No. Alpha Kane, I swear! The goan¡¯s voice trembled with fear. They were just eating breakfast, and she suddenly copsed. I didn¡¯t touch them, I swear!


    Kane¡¯s emerald eyes narrowed as he studied the scene before him. He motioned for the two men¨Cdoctors, I presumed¨Cto approach nur rell<fnb773> Content originallyes from fin?novel</fnb773>


    ¡°What happened to het? one of the doctors asked me, his clinical gaze assessing Nadia¡¯s condition.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I replied, genuine fear coloring my voice despite knowing exactly what had eased her condition. ¡°We were just eating, and suddenly she started convulsing. Then she just copsed¡±


    1 looked up at Kane, allowing the panic and rage I felt to surfacepletely. It was the <b>food</b>, wasn¡¯t it? You poisoned us!¡± I used, my mice rising to a near hysterical pitch. ¡°You put wolf poison in our breakfast!¡±


    Kane¡¯s eyes widened slightly at my <b>usation</b><b>, </b>a flicker of genuine concern crossing <b>his </b>features. ¡°That¡¯s absurd,¡± he countered, ¡°Why would I poison you? | need you both alive.¡± He gestured toward me with an open palm. Besides, if the food was poisoned, why aren¡¯t you affected?¡±


    His <b>logic </b>was sound, which <b>only </b>made my performance more convincing. I looked down at my untouched breakfast, then back at him with wild eyes.


    ¡°I didn I eat anything.¡± I lied. ¡°She ate first ¡±


    Kam studied me for a moment, then turned to the doctors. Open the cell. Check her <b>condition</b>.¡±


    As one of the men unlocked our <b>prison</b>, Kane fixed me with a warning re. Step away from her. Let the doctors work.¡±


    I reluctantly released my hold <b>on </b><b>Nadia</b><b>, </b>sliding <b>back </b>against the wall as the medical <b>professionals </b>entered our cell. One of them immediately checked her pulse. lifting <b>her </b>eyelids to examine her papils while the other monitored her breathing.


    ¡°Has the ever had seizures before? the first doctor asked me


    <b>I </b><b>shook </b>my <b>head</b>. ¡®<b>I </b><b>don¡¯t </b>know. We haven¡¯t known each other that King. We weren¡¯t in the same pack originally.¡±


    The two men exchanged nces before the senior of the two turned to Kane, Alpha <b>Kane</b><b>, </b>her breathing is dangerously shallow. We need toner to the hospital immediately for a full workup/


    Kanes jaw tightened as he considered the implications. ¡°Do whatever it takes,¡± he ordered, his voice hard. ¡°But make sure she doesn¡¯t die¨Cespecially <b>not </b>on Gravestone territory.¡±


    The doctors nodded and quickly prepared to transport Nadia. They ced her on a stretcher, <b>securing </b>her limp form with straps.


    As they lifted her and began to move toward the exit, scrambled to my feet and tried to follow. Kane¡¯s arm shot out, blocking my path


    ¡°Where <b>do </b>you think you¡¯re going?¡± he demanded. ¡°Guard, keep her here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going with her, I insisted<b>, </b>desperation creeping into my voice. ¡°I need to make sure she¡¯s okay.¡±


    Kane ignored me, turning to follow the stretcher. The panic I felt wasn¡¯t entirely feigned¨CNadia had sacrificed herself for our escape <b>n</b>, and I couldn¡¯t let


    her efforts be in vain..


    ¡°If anything happens to her, I called after Kane¡¯s retreating figure, Adrian and the entire Oasisbon <b>Pack </b>will stop at nothing for revenge. They ll fight to


    thest wolf.¡±


    <b>1/3 </b>


    Kane froze <b>this </b>step, his shoulders tenting visibly. For several heartbakt?. temained perfectly still, calcting the potential without turning around, he gave a curt ned.


    ¡°Fine. Bring her,¡± he ordered the guard. ¡°Hot watch her every move.


    The journey to Gravestone¡¯s hospital facility offered no immediate opportunity for ecipe.


    Seated in the back of an SUV with a guand on either side, I memorized every street, every form, creating a mental map of Kane¡¯s territory. The packpound wasrges than I expected, featuring several imposing stone buildings surrounding a central murtyard.


    The hospital itself was surprisingly modern¨Ca stark, white building with security cameras mounted at every entrance. Inside, the halls gleamed with sterile efficiency, a sharp contrast to the medieval dungeon we¡¯d been kept


    The medical team rushed Nadia into an emergency treatment mom, leaving me in the corridor with my two assigned guards. Minutester, Kane arrived, confening with the doctors in hushed tones just out of my earshot,


    ¡°After you¡¯vepleted your examination, 1 overheard him instruct, ¡°administer the shift suppressant to both of them.¡±


    I stepped forward immediately. ¡°You can¡¯t inject her with anything.¡± I protested. ¡°She¡¯s already unconscious. What if the drug interacts badly with whatever caused this? You could kill her!¡±


    Kane regarded me


    with narrowed eyes, clearly weighing my words against his security concerns.


    ¡°Tine,¡± he conceded after a moment. ¡°No suppressant for her until she regains consciousness. But make sure she¡¯s securely restrained.¡± He turned his cold gaze on me. ¡°She, however, gets her dose inmediately.¡±


    With that finalmand, Kane departed, presumably to attend to other pack business. I watched him Irave, my mind racing to formte an escape n before the doctors returned with their needle. The two warriors remained at my side, their vignt eyes never leaving me for a second.


    ¡°I need to use the restrooms,¡°I announced suddenly<b>, </b>pressing a hand to my stomach. ¡°I think the food didn¡¯t agree with me either.¡±


    The guards exchanged nces, clearly reluctant to let me out of their sight.


    ¡°Please,¡± I added, forcing a grimace of difort. ¡°Unless you want me to be sick right here in the hallway.¡±


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, one of them nodded toward a door marked with a restroom sign. To my dismay, both warriors moved to follow me inside.


    ¡°Seriously?¡± I asked, infusing my voice with <b>as </b>much dignity <b>as </b>I could <b>muster</b><b>, </b>¡°You¡¯re going to watch me use the toilet? I may be your prisoner, but surely you know who I am¨Cwho we are. We¡¯re not just random captives.¡±


    I pointed toward the small window high on the bathroom wall. ¡®Look at that window. Do you really think I could squeeze through there without you hearing? Even if I managed, where would I go? I¡¯m in the middle of your territory, surrounded by your <b>pack</b><b>.</b>¡±


    The logic of my argument seemed to prate. After examining the narrow window <b>and </b>confirming it was indeed too small for <b>easy </b>escape, reluctantly stepped back.


    ¡°Two minutes, therger one grunted. ¡°Any <b>longer</b><b>, </b>and we¡¯re <bing </b>in.¡±


    Once alone, I stared at the window in <b>frustration</b>. It was indeed too narrow for a quick, silent escape¨Cespecially with two guards posted just outside the dour. My gaze swept the small bathroom, desperately seeking anything that might help.


    Thats when I spotted the liquid soap dispenser mounted on the wall beside the sink. An idea began to farm¨Cdesperate and risky, but possibly my only chance.

 Casts 72

    Chapter <b>72 </b>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    The bathroom doar rattled as of the gods pounded his fiat arsinat<fn878e> For original chapters go to Find[?]ovel</fn878e>


    ¡°Two minutes are up, he led High the door. ¡°Youing out or ste weingd


    ¡°Just a second!¡± I called back, my heat racing as I stated at the nation wind high on the wall.


    It was my only chance. The window was small¨Ctoo small for most adults to fit thigh¨Cbut I¡¯d spent three years as a lone wolf learning how to make myself invisible, how to squeeze into impossibly tight spaces when hunters or other threats came too lost.


    I quickly stripped off my town bridesmaid fit, the fabric already stained and tattered from our captivity. The dress had been beatiful once, a piece of my brief


    connection to the human world. Now it was just mother reminder of everything Kane had destroyed


    1 pumped the liquid soap dispenser repeatedly, coating my hands, arms, and shoulders with the slippery substance, Then, after a moment¡¯s consideration, smeared it around the window frame at well.


    ¡°What¡¯s taking so long? The goard pounded <b>again </b><b>his </b>voice edged with suspicion.


    ¡°Female problems! I shouted hack, hoping the awkward subject would buy me a few more precious seconds, ¡°Just need another minute!¡±


    I dragged the small trash can beneath the window and climbed <b>up</b>, my soap¨Cslicked fingers grasping <b>the </b>windowsill. With a deep breath, I wedged my head and one shoulder through the name opening, twisting my body at an unnatural ande.


    The frame scraped against my skin, threatening to held me fast. I pushed <b>harder</b>, feeling my shoulder joint strain against the pressure. A sharp, blinding pain shot through me as my shoulder dislocated with a sickening pop. I bit <b>down </b>hard on my lower lip, tasting blood as I fought to stay silent.


    Keep going. For Nadia. For Adrian. For Oasisborn


    <b>With </b>my shoulder dislocated, I gained the precious extra centimeters <b>needed </b>to wiggle my torso through. My hips nearly stopped me, but I twisted sideways, using the soap to slide inch by painful inch through the opening.


    ¡°That¡¯s it! The guard¡¯s voice was followed by <b>the </b>sound of a key in the lock. ¡°We¡¯reing in!¡±


    With a final desperate <b>push</b>, I squeezed throughpletely, tumbling onto narrow ledge outside. Below me, a metal drainpipe ran down the side of the building. I <b>could </b>hear the bathroom door mming open, followed by a string of profanities as the <b>guards </b>discovered my absence


    I tore a strip from my discarded T¨Cshirt and wrapped it around my hands to malle any sound. Then, cradling my dislocated <b>arm </b>against my body, I grasped the drainpipe and began my descent<b>, </b>sliding down as fast <b>as </b>I dared.


    Halfway down, I spotted a window ledge jutting out from the second floor. A row of white coats and scrubs hung on a drying rack just inside the slightly open window¨Cthe hospital¡¯sundry room. Silently thanking whatever luck had ced it in my path, I swung myself unts the ledge <b>and </b>snatched a whiteb <b>coat </b>and surgical cap through the gap.


    Donning my stolen disguise with shaking hands, I steeled myself for what came next. My instinct screamed at me to <b>run</b><b>¨C</b>to five as far and as fast as possible from Kane¡¯s territory. But instinct <b>would </b>get my caught. They¡¯d expect me to run. They¡¯d have guards stationed at every ext, warriors patrolling the perimeter.


    <b>No</b>, my only chance was <b>to </b>hide in in sight: At <b>least </b>until nightfall.


    I slid down the rest of the drainpipe <b>and </b>ducked into a service entrance, pulling the surgical cap low over my distinctive silver hair. The <b>pain </b>in my shoulder <b>was </b>bing unbearable, white spots dancing at the <b>edges </b><b>of </b>my vision. I needed somewhere to hide, somewhere I could reart my shoulder without being discovered.


    The hospitals lower level was a maze of corridors and storage rooms. Following the signs for Maintenance, I found myself in <b>a </b>narrow hallway lined with mechanical equipment. At the end stood a door marked ¡°Boiler <b>Room </b>¨C <b>Authorized </b>Personnel Only¡±


    Perfect. The cacophony of hissing pipes and rumbling machinery would <b>mask </b>any sounds I made while resetting my shoulder. <b>I </b>slipped inside, finding abyrinth of massive tanks and snaking pipes that generated the hospital¡¯s heat and hot water.


    In the farthest corner, behind thergest boller, I found a small maintenance alcove¨Clist enough space for a person be creat ?n and many ¡°A discarded fanltor¡¯s jacket hung from a book nearby, which I balled up


    First things first. I braced myself against the wall, took a deep breath, and with one swift motion, jammed my shoulder <b>back </b>into its <b>pocket</b>. bubbled up in my throat, bet I might it between my teeth, muffling it to a low whimper that was swallowed by the mechanical symphon


    For boars, I huddled in that hidden alcove, listening to the asional nul of footsteps and urgent vices as Kane¡¯s warriors searched the hospital. The the tiny venttion grafe, I caught snippets of conversation:


    -can have gotten far-


    Alpha Kane wants her found before-


    *¡ªsearch teams at all borders-


    As daylight faded outside, so did the intensity of the search within the hospital. They believed Id escaped the building entirely¨Cexactly as I¡¯d hoped.


    When night fellpletely, I carefully emerged from my hiding ce, my muscles stiff and aching from boors crammed in the tiny <b>space</b>. I adjusted my stolenh coat and made my way toward the upper levels, moving with purpose but keeping my head down.


    Near the staff exit, I overheard two werewolves in security uniformsining to each other.


    ¡°Overtime again,¡± the caller one grumbled, checking his watch, ¡®Because some silver¨Chaired bitch couldn¡¯t stay put.¡±


    ¡°Alpha Kane¡¯s got everyone on double shifts,¡± his partner agreed. ¡°Every avable warrior at the territory borders. Like she¡¯d actually be stupid enough to run straight for the boundary <b>line</b><b>.</b>¡±


    ¡°If I were her, I¡¯d be halfway to Mexico by now, the first guard snorted.


    I slipped past them, my heart racing but my pace measured and calm. <b>Outside</b>, the night air hit my <b>face </b>like a blessing after hours in the stuffy boiler room. Ltook <b>a </b>moment to get my bearings, then looked back at the hospital¡¯s illuminated windows,


    One of those lights was <b>Nadia¡¯s </b>room. My Beta. My friend. The woman who <b>had </b>swallowed poison to give me this chance.


    ¡°I swear, Nadia,¡± I whispered into the <b>darkness</b>. ¡°Ille back for you. Adrian and I both will.¡±


    With that promise burning in my heart, I turned and began moving through the shadows, heading not toward the territory border where Kane¡¯s warriors waited, but deeper into Gravestone Pack¡¯s domain. I would find my way out where they least expected¨Cthrough the heart of enemy territory itself.


    <b>Every </b>step took me closer to Adrian, closer to freedom, closer to the strength I¡¯d need to return and save Nadia from Kane¡¯s clutches. The night embraced me as I ran, silver hair hidden beneath the <b>surgical </b>cap, my wolf¡¯s spirit guiding me through the darkness toward home.

 Casts 73

    My krockles tatted white as I gripped the steering wheel, the speedometer needle porking well past the bait. Beside me, Ryder sat in treat slinge ke


    A deen dated acrows the mad, forging me to serve kinlently. The MIX Indtailed, tires screaming against asphalt before I wrestled in hard under contest,


    sat Ryder gasped, bracing himself against the dashboard. ¡°We can¡¯t help them if we a dead.


    1 redded curtly, easing off the elerator slightly. The national part of my brain knew he was right, but every fiber


    The image of Skye and Nadia in Kane¡¯s chinches burned behind my eyes, hurling a rage I could barely contain


    When we finally reached Oasisbons, I immediately called an emergency council meeting. Within minutes, our core members had assembled around the confer table, faves grace as 1 deliamed the news.


    ¡°Kimse has taken <b>Skye </b>and Nada,¡± Lannounced, my voice tight with controlled fury. ¡°He¡¯s demanding we surrender Danishorn territory in exchange for their


    The mom rupted. Venus mmed her single fist on the table, her eyes shing with indignation, Matusally to face hardened into granite, while <b>lydia </b>remained renly still, only the narrowing of her <b>eyes </b>above her mask betraying her Enger.


    Garrett¡¯s reaction was the most visceral¨Chis face drained of color, hands trembling as he gripped the edge of the table. ¡°<b>Nadia</b><b>.. </b>he whispered, the single word heavy with ampoken emotion.


    ¡°What are mat options!¡± <b>Venus </b>demanded, ever the pragmatist.


    We could give him what he wants, Garrett suggested, his voice small but steady. ¡°If you just want afortable life with resources, <b>you </b>didn¡¯t need to leave Sternhowl in the first ce, Adrian.¡± He looked up, meeting my gaze directly. ¡°A pack¡¯s strength isn¡¯t measured in territory, but in the bonds betwe


    Marcus shook his head vehemently. Surrender will only embolden him. We showed restraint when he poisoned ourke, and look where that¡¯s gotten un.¡± His sightless eyes seemed to burn with intensity. ¡°Next time, hell demand something worse.


    I know men like <b>Kane</b>, Venus added granly. ¡°Even if we give <b>him </b>everything, there¡¯s no guarantee hell honor his <b>word</b>.¡± Her fingers unconsciously traced the empty sleeve where her left arm should have been. We should fight, end this sence and for all.¡±


    Lydia, whun had remained silent until now, finally spoke. ¡°I support schatever decision Alpha Adrian makes¡± Her melodic voice carried through the roam, ¡°If war is necessary, 111 porpane wolf polon for every bullet we have. Elen our weakest Omega will have a weapon by nightfall.¡±


    going to st Kane¡¯s fucking head off Hyder snarled, pounding his fist on the table.


    derted nervously. Im not afraid to fight,¡± he rified, ¡°but how do we ensure Nadia and <b>Skye </b>remain unharmed?¡±


    Their words swirled amund me as I formted a n. I¡¯d been trained for Teadership since <b>childhood</b>, taught to consider every angle belice acting. Now, with the lives of my Beta and¡­ Skye¡­ hanging in the bnce, rity emerged from chaos.


    ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do, I announced, my voicemanding inmediate attention. ¡°I lead <b>a </b>small infiltration team with Ryder to extract Nadia <b>and </b>Skye from


    | turned to Garrett. ¡°Doce write in position, you disable their surveince systems remotely. Create enough confusion for us to move undetected¡±


    Gameti nodded, determination recing his warlier uncertainty


    ¡°Marcus,¡± I continued, ¡°position our warriors ope kilometer from their border. When we emerge with Skye and Nadia, Kane will undoubtedly <b>pursue</b>. Well med over fits and


    route.


    The blind security chief inclined his head Consider it done, Alpha;


    ¡°Venus, evacuate the children and viable <b>pack </b>embers to our contingency location. If Kane attempts to strike while were scrupled with the rescue, <b>cur </b>


    most precious presters most be protected.¡±


    ¡®And what of me, Alpha?¡± Lydia inquired softly.


    Before could tespond, the continued, her melodic voice taking on a deadly edge. I will prepare well poses for our misdan tonight.¡± the lifted her eyes determined above her mask. ¡°I necessary, Ell mat every bullet with enmush toxin to dmp a werewolf in seconds¡±


    A tense silence fell over the room. In verewolf variety, will poiton was considered didnnochle a tactic employed by humain bounty hungers and weak to act our kind im fairbat. Na respectable pack would rent to such methods in formal confrontations. Such tactics vited the ancient codes of hope that had govered werewolf conflicts for centuries,


    Are you certain, Lydia?¡± I <b>asked</b>, studying her carefully. ¡°Using wolf poison omil¨¦ damage our standing with other pecks.


    This isn¡¯t a formal duel,¡± she replied fiantly. ¡°Kane broke all rider of humor when he took our people hostage Why should we handles ourselves with outdated notions of fairness?¡± She gestured toward Venus with her scarred hand. ¡°Tye seen what honorable Alphas are capable of when no one holda <b>them </b>ountable.¡±


    Venus nodded grimly, her single hand clenching into a fist. ¡°Lydia¡¯s right. Kane would use poison against us without hesitation if the situation were


    reversed.¡±<fnbe42> The source of th?s content is find?novel</fnbe42>


    ¡°Sometimes honor must yield to hecessity, Marcus added, his blind eyes


    fixed unreing on the middle distance


    I looked around the table, meeting each council member¡¯s gaze. This ends tonight. One <b>way </b>or another,¡±


    Within the hour, weapons were distributed, vehicles prepared<b>, </b>andmunications established. As we <b>loaded </b>the final supplies, Lydia approached, pressing several vials into my hand.


    ¡°Enough in temporarily paralyze twenty werewolves<b>, </b>the exined, her eyes solemn above her mask. ¡°I¡¯ve been developing this variant for years. It works faster than standard wolf poison and leaves no detectable scent. She squeezed my hand gently. ¡°Bring them home, Alpha.¡±


    will, I promised, tucking the vials securely into my tactical vest. No matter what it takes.¡±


    Across thepound, our rescue trum thun numbers.


    uricuetrum <b>was </b>assembling¨Csix of our strongest


    at warriors plus Ryder and myself. Not arge force, but we needed stealth more


    As I climbed into the lead vehicle, I caught a glimpse of the moon rising over the desert, nearly full in the night sky. A primal energy surged through me, my wolf straining against the surface of my control


    Hold on, Skye, I thought fiercely.<ol><li>ly. We reing for you both.</li></ol>


    The engines rated to life, and we moved out into the darkness, heading toward Gravestone territory with a single¨Cminded purpose.


    This night would end with every member of my pack home safe¨Cor with Kane¡¯s teritory painted blood.


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 Casts 74

    Chapter <b>74 </b>


    Adrian¡¯s <b>POV </b>


    The engine reared as Rydes pashed our vehicle to its limits, the needle on the speedometer edging dangerously in the red one. The desert lindispe blurred past our windows, tacti and tock formations melting into indistinct shadows under the moonlight.


    ¡°You¡¯re sate you femember the way? Rydes asked, his eyes never leaving the road as he navigated a sharp turn,


    Take the unmarked exit after the next ridge, I instructed, studying the satellite imagery Garrett had sent to my phone. From there, we go off¨Croad.¡±


    My visit to Gravestone teritory years ago had been brief- formal introduction when I¡¯d first established Dasisben. Even then, Kane¡¯s predatory nature been evident, his cold she never reaching his eyes as he¡¯d sred me with false hospitality. I should have trusted my instincts then. Perhaps if I wouldn¡¯t be in this situation betur.


    The detailed satellite map showed the fortress like pound of Ginestone Pack<b>¡ª</b>a sprawlingplex of stone buildings nestled against sheer cliff faces<b>, </b>surrounded by open desert with virtually no cover, Kane had chosen his territory well; approaching undetected wild he nearly impossible through conventional means.


    ¡°Everyone clear on the entry point?¡± I asked, dressing not just Ryder but the there warriors in the back determined


    seat. All nodded, their expressions grim yet


    The drainage system,¡± Ryder confirmed, ¡®Garrett found it on the municipal ns. Apparently, it¡¯s a remnant from when hunam tried developing the area decades ago.


    I nodded, tracing the faint line <b>on </b>the map with my finger ¡°It¡¯s our best option. Kane¡¯s security will be <b>focused </b>on standard approaches¨Cthe main road, the eastern ridge, even the westem canyons. But <b>this</b>¡­¡± I <b>tapped </b>the semen. This runs directly beneath their northern perimeter.¡±


    The drainage tunnel had been built when developers had hoped to transform them into housing developments. The project had been abandoned when they¡¯d discovered the water table was too low to sustain amunity. Now, decadester, the concrete <b>tunnel </by forgotten, its entrance concealed by years of erosion and desert nt growth.


    ¡°It¡¯s <b>risky</b>,¡± wamed Elias, one <b>of </b>our strongest warriors. ¡°If Kane¡¯s security chief is half as thorough as Marcus, they¡¯ll have sensors or guards patrolling even abandoned entry points.¡±


    That¡¯s why we¡¯re dropping two kilometers out.¡± I replied. ¡°The rest of the approach will be on foot, using the ravine for cover.


    Twenty


    ty minutester, we pulled off the main road, continuing on a <b>barely </b>visible <b>track </b>until we reached the codedinates Garrett had provided. The other SUV carrying our remaining two warriors parked behind us, engines silenced.


    ¡°You two,¡± I addressed the drivers, ¡°stay with the vehicles. Be ready to move the moment we call. If were not <b>back </b>in three hours, or if you <b>don¡¯t </b>hear from us, return to Oasisborn and execute contingency n Delta.¡±


    They nodded solemnly, understanding what <b>that </b>meant¨Ca full <b>evacuation </b>of our territory, with Venus leading <b>out </b>people to safety while Marcus prepared <b>our </b>defenses for all¨Cout war.


    <b>We </b>moved silently through the desert night, our enhanced werewolf vision allowing us to navigate without shlights. The terrain grew increasingly treacherous as we approached Gravestone¡¯s borders¨Cjagged rocks giving way to steep drops, the ground itself seeming <b>hostile </b>to intruders.


    After nearly an hour of careful progress, we reached the ravine that would lead us to the drainage tunnel. Its steep <b>walls </b>offered cover from watchful eyes, but the narrow passage forced us to move in single file, making an vulnerable if discovered.


    This is it,¡± I whispered, crouching beside what appeared to be merely a <b>pile </b><b>of </b>rocks and scrub brush. Carefully, we cleared away the debris to reveal a circr concrete opening<b>, </b><b>just </brge enough for a person to crawl through. The stale air that wafted from its depths carried traces of dampness and decay.


    ¡°Smells <b>like </b>something died in there,¡± <b>Ryder </b>mitered, wrinkling his nose.


    ¡°Probably deliberate,¡± I replied grimly. ¡°Kane would leave carcasses hear any potential breach points to <b>mask </b>approaching scents.


    One by one, we entered the tunnel, our ments cautious and measured. The concrete <b>walls </b>were cracked and discolored, decades <b>of </b>neglect evident every surface. asional scurrying sounds suggested we weren¡¯t alone¨Cdesert rodents had imed this abandoned <b>space </b>as their domain.


    <b>172 </b>


    <b>-The </b>passage narrowed as <b>we </b>progueried, foreing us Thicker, heavier with moisture that seemed out of


    crawl on hands and knees through sections where the calling


    the arid environment.


    ¡°ording to Garrett¡¯s calctions, we should be directly beneath their perimeter now,¡± I whispered, checking the digitalpass on my phone three hundred meters and well reach the ess point that leads up to their central courtyard


    As we approached the final stretch, I talked my hand, signaling everyone to halt. My heightened senses had detected something¨Ca subtle disturbance in the air currents, a sound so faint it barely registered.


    <b>Movalent</b>.


    1 gestured for silence, every muscle in my body tensing as I strained to identify the sauce. Il wasn¡¯ting from ahead of us, but from behind -something or someone was approaching through the tunnel we had just traverseil.


    Had we been followed? Had Kane somehone anticipated our approach?


    The sounds grew closerbored breathing, irregr footsteps suggesting Injury or exhaustion. Whatever wasing wasn t trying to be stealthy. I motioned for my team to press against the walls, creating an ambush position.


    As the figure turned the corner, moving with desperate <b>spred </b>despite apparent distress, I sprung forward. My hody collided with theirs, driving them to the <b>ground </b>with enough force to <b>knock </b>the wind from their lungs. A feminine gasp escaped them as we tumbled together.<fn5c8c> The source of th?s content is f?ndnovel</fn5c8c>


    I pinned the intruder beneath me, one hand at their throat, the other rained to strike¨Cand froze.


    Silver hair, matted with dirt and blood, framed a <b>face </b>I knew better than my own.


    <b>¡°</b>Skye?¡± I whispered, disbelief and relief warring within me.


    Her green eyes widened in recognition, unfocused with <b>pain </b>and exhaustion. ¡°Adrian?¡± Her <b>voice </b>was barely audible, cracked and dry.


    In the dim light filtering through grates above, I finally took in her full condition. My stomach <b>lurched </b>with horror and rage. Her body was covered in cuts and bruises, dried blood forming crusted patterns on her skin. She waspletely naked, her exposed flesh bearing marks of what could only have been torture.


    ¡°<b>Skye</b>,¡± I breathed, immediately removing my tactical jacket to cover her. ¡°What happened? How did you escape?¡±

 Casts 75

    Chapter <b>75 </b>


    Adrian¡¯s <b>POV </b>


    ¡°Skye,¡± 1 berated, immediately removing my initial jacket in over her. What happened? How did you escape)¨C


    Her body trembled beneath my tech as I gently wipped the jacket around her naked form. The dim light filtering themagh bruises and fecerations soveting her pale skin¨Cevidence of torment that made my blood boil. My will surged forward, demarid been done to her.


    ¡°Adrian,¡± she whispered, her voice harely audible. Her fingers weakly clutched at my shirt, eyes undressed yet desperate. ¡°Madu


    have her you have


    I pulled her closer, cradling her head against my chest, ¡°Where is Nadia is she still in thepound?¡±


    <b>Skye </b>nodded weakly, her silver hair matted with dirt and dried blood. ¡°Hospital¡­¡± Her breathing became increasinglybored as her eyes fluttered, consciousness slipping away,


    ¡°Skye¡± I called, patting her cheek gently. ¡°Stay with us.¡±


    Skye¡¯s eyes fluttered, consciousness slipping away. ¡°Quick¡­ rescue Nadia¡­ she¡¯s running out of time¡­¡± Her body went limp in my arms as she lost her battle


    with exhaustion.


    ¡°<b>Skye</b>!¡± I called, patting her cheek gently. ¡°Stay with us.¡±


    But she had already sumbed to unconsciousness, her breathing shallow but steady. I pressed my fingers to her neck, relieved to <b>find </b>a pulse, weak but persistent


    ¡°What do we do, <b>Alpha</b><b>?</b>¡± one of the warriors asked<b>, </b>his eyes darting between Skye¡¯s unconscious form and the tunnel ahead.


    The tactical part of my brain ran through our options.


    ¡°Ryder,¡± I decided, my voice low but firm. Take <b>Skye </b>back to the vehicles. Get her to Danishorn as quickly as possible. She needs medical attention immediately.¡±


    kyder¡¯s face contorted with conflict. ¡°But Nadia¡ª¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s an order,¡± I cut him off. ¡°<b>Skye¡¯s </b>condition is critical. She won <b>survive </b>much longer without proper care.¡±


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Ryder <b>nodded</b><b>, </b>carefully gathering Skye¡¯s limp form into his arms. Her head lolled against his shoulder, her har cascading over his arm <b>like </b><b>liquid </b>moonlight,


    ¡°The rest of <b>us </b>will continue searching for Nadia,¡± I continued, turning to the remaining warriors. ¡°We¡¯ll cover the perimeter, see <b>if </b>we can loca ch building they¡¯re holding her in


    <b>¡°</b>And if we can¡¯t find her?¡± one of them <b>asked</b>.


    Then we withdraw and regroup.¡± I replied grimly. ¡°We can¡¯t help Nadia if we¡¯re captured <b>or </b>killed. Better to retreat and retum with <b>a </b>new strategy.¡±


    As Rydes disappeared <b>back </b>down the tunnel with Skye, I felt a hollow ache in my chest. Every instinct screamed at me to follow, to ensure her safety personally. But I was Alpha first, with responsibilities that transcended personal <b>desires</b>. Nadia had served me loyally since childhood. I couldn¡¯t abandon


    her.


    We managed to infiltrate the hospital building, moving silently through dimly lit corridors and ducking into empty rooms whenever guards <b>passed</b>. Each patient room we <b>checked </b><b>yielded </b>nothing-


    -no sign of Nadia, no <b>indication </b>she <b>had </b>ever been there<b>. </b>


    ¡®Alpha,¡± one of the waniors whispered after we¡¯d searched the entire facility/She¡¯s not here. They must have moved her somewhere else.


    I nodded grimly. ¡°Kane¡¯s expecting us to make a move tonight. We¡¯d be walking into a ughter


    <b>1/2 </b>


    The bitter taste of failure filled my moth as I made the handed decision of my life. ¡°We withdraw for s


    The journey back to our vehicles passed lis tente silence, each step away f battered form remained imprinted in my mind¨Ca stark reminder of what Ken


    tiravestone territory feeling like a betrayal of my Beta, my blind, but th


    When we reached the vehicles, Ryder had already departed with Skye, leaving one SUV behind for our extraction. The drive back to Danisher was filed the weight of upeken rectimisations¨Cmy own most deafening of all¡­


    By the time we reached our territory, news of Skye¡¯s return had spread throughout the pack. As I strode through the mainpound facility, wolves parted before me, their expressions a mixture of hope and dread,


    In the hospital conides, Garrett stool right, his eyes fixed on the closed door of the treatment mom. When he saw me approaching without Nadis, his face crumpled for a brief moment before hardening into an


    ¡°Where is she?¡± he demanded, limping forward. ¡°Where¡¯s Nadia?¡±<fnc5aa> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? Find[?]ovel</fnc5aa>


    ¡°<b>We </b>couldn¡¯t reach her,¡± I admitted the words bitter on my tongue. ¡°Kane had the entirepound on high alert. It was a trap.¡±


    Garrett¡¯s eyes widened, disbelief and anger warring <b>in </b>his expression. ¡°You left her there? How could you?¡± His voice rose, drawing the attention of nearly pack members, ¡°You rescue your precious Skye but leave Nadia behind?¡±


    ¡°Skye escaped on her own,¡± I corrected him, keeping my tone level despite the guilt gnawing at my core. ¡°We found her in the tunnels while attempting to infiltrate Kane¡¯s territory


    ¡°And you <b>just </b>gave


    gave up? Garrett challenged, stepping closer. The mighty Alpha Adrian, tuming tail at the first sign of danger? <b>Nadia </b>would never have abandoned you!¡±


    My patience snapped. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that?¡± 1 growled, barely restraining my wolf. ¡°Nadia has been by my side since we were children. You think I feel nothing, knowing she remains in Kane¡¯s clutches?¡±


    et flinched but held his ground. ¡°Then why are you here instead of there? Why is she still his prisoner <b>while </b>you stand safe in <b>your </b>territory?¡±


    Carrett


    ¡°Because getting myself and our warriors killed wouldn¡¯t help her,¡± I replied, forcing my voice <b>back </b>under control. ¡°We need information¨Cexit points, guard utations, where she¡¯s being held. Once Skye regains consciousness, we¡¯ll know more.¡±


    ¡°And if Skye doesn¡¯t wake <b>up</b>?¡± Garrett challenged. ¡°If she can¡¯t tell us anything? Will you just leave Nadia to rot?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough¡± My voice echoed through the corridor, my Alpha influence bleeding into themand. Garrett stopped back involuntarily, recognizing the dominance in my love,


    his woll


    After a tense moment, his shoulders slumped. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Alpha,¡± he murmured, though the usation remained in his eyes. I just¡­ I can¡¯t bear the thought of her suffering.¡±


    My anger dissolved as <b>quickly </b>as it had red. ¡°Neither can I, Garrett,¡± I admitted quietly, ¡°But we


    lets. But we will get her back. That¡¯s <b>a </b>promise.¡±


    Garrett <b>nodded </b>stiffly b


    before turning away, his uneven gale carrying him down the corridor and out of sight.

 Casts 76

    Chapter <b>76 </b>


    Adrian¡¯s POV


    I pushed open the <b>door </b>in Skye¡¯s room, sterling myself for what I might find.


    Ryderst bele bril, her small hand sped between both of his. He looked up as I entered, exhaustion sched on his face.


    ¡°Any change?¡± I asked, moving to the opposite side of the bed.


    Ryder shook his head. Doctor <b>says </b>she has multiple Tractates. The shift suppressant they gave her in slowing her healing¡± His voice caught.


    *I know,¡± I cut him oft, unable to bear being it spoken aloud. The lenge of Skye¡¯s naked, battered body hated me. If Kane or his warriors had vited her in any way, I would personally tear out their throats,


    <b>¡°</b>Whi


    doctor say about her recovery timeline?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s administering nutrients and fluids now,¡± Ryder replied, gesturing to the IV stand beside the bed. ¡°Says Skje should regain consciousness in a few


    I nodded, studying <b>Skye¡¯s </b>pale face. Her silver hair spread across the pillow <b>like </b>moonlight on snow, her features delicate yetinmehow unyielding. She had survived. Against all odds, she had escaped Kane¡¯s fortress<b>. </b>


    ¡°Ryder, go rest,¡± I ordered, not taking my eyes from <b>Skye</b>. ¡°You need to recover your strength.¡±


    Td <b>rather </b>stay with her,¡± he protested, his grip on her hand tightening protectively


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t a suggestion.¡± I replied, my voice firm. ¡°<b>I </b><b>need </b>all our warriors at full strength. We¡¯ll be returning to Gravestone territory as soon as Skye can provide us with the information we need.¡±


    Reluctantly, Ryder released Skye¡¯s <b>hand </b>and stood. Call me the moment she wakes up.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± I promised, taking the seat he had vacated.


    As the door closed behind him, I finally allowed myposure to <b>crack</b>. I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, face buried in my hands. For <b>just </b>I permitted myself to feel the full weight of guilt and fear that I had been holding at bay.


    moment<b>. </b>


    1 <b>had </b>failed <b>Nadia</b>. Despite all my ns, all my preparations, she remained in enemy hands. My Beta, my childhood friend, the woman who had followed me into exile without hesitation¨Cabandoned to <b>Kane¡¯s </b>mercy,


    The sharp ring of my phone shattered the <b>silence</b><b>, </b>jerking me from my thoughts. The screen disyed an unknown number, but deep in my it <b>was </b>before I answered,


    ¡°Adrian speaking.¡±


    Kane¡¯s smooth <b>voice </b>slithered through the connection like oil. ¡°Missing something. Alpha? Or should I say someone<b>?</b>¡±


    I gripped the phone lighter, fighting to keep my voice even. The muscles in my jaw clenched so hard I thought my teeth might track. ¡°If you¡¯ve harmed Nadia-


    ¡°Rx,¡± Kane interrupted, his tone mockingly casual. ¡°Your precious Beta is still in one <b>piece</b>. For now.¡± A chuckle filtered through the speaker, the <b>sound </b>setting my wolf on edge. ¡°One little bird managed do escape my cage, but I still have another, don¡¯t 17 Such a <b>fascinating </b><b>specimen</b>, your Beta. So loyal, so devoted to you.¡± His voice dropped lower. So very resilient.¡±


    The implication behind his words made my blood run cold. I paced the small hospital room, fighting the urge to put my fist through the wall.


    ¡°What do you want, Kaner I demanded, though <b>I </b><b>already </b>knew the answer. My free hand curled into a fist, ws partially extending to dig into my palm.


    The same thing I <b>wanted </b>twenty¨Cfour hours ago His voice hardened, all pretense of civility evaporating. ¡°Your territory. Your resources. Your render Dasisbern <b>Pack </b>on <b>its </b>knees before Granatune.¡± He paused, savoring each word. ¡°Your submission signed in <b>blood </b><b>and </b>witnessed by the North American


    Chapter <b>76 </b>


    My wolf <b>raged </b>at the very suggestion. Three years of building something from nothing, of creating a haven for the broken and relected¨C10 of <b>10 </b><b>D </b>handed over to this sadistic tyrant.


    ¡°You have one hour left before my deadline explies,¡± Rane continued, the threat evident in every syble. After that, well¡­¡± He let the sentence <b>hang </b>in alt, unspoken but crystal clear. ¡°Tid hate to damage such a valuable bargaining chip, but idents do happen, especially when one is frustrated.


    The image of <b>Skye¡¯s </b>battered body shed in my mind, filing a rage so intense my vision blunted red


    ¡°If you touch a single hair on her head, I growled, my control slipping as my wolf surged forward, the change rippling beneath my the ends of the earth will tear you apart piece by piece. Every Joint. Every Hel


    Such passion! Such fire! I almost believe you ¡°His voice dropped to a silky whisper. But here¡¯s the reality, Adrian. You¡¯re out of time. Out of options. Your little rescue mission failed spectacrly, and nose the peat Alpha of Desisburn is reduced to making empty threats over the phone ¡°


    I said nothing, letting the silence stretch between us. Kane had <b>always </b>been unable to tolerate silent


    ¡°One hour, Adrian,¡± he finally said, his voice tight with irritation. The clock in ticking. You know how to reach me when you¡¯re ready to surrender<b>.</b>¡±


    The call disconnected with a sharp click, leaving me alone with the weight of his threat crashing down on my shoulders.


    I stood motionless in the center of the room, the phone still clutched in my hand. For the first time in my life, I felt truly powerless.


    Not <b>even </b>when I¡¯d


    left Stormhowl with Nadia and Ryder in tow, exiled from my birthright, had 1 experienced this overwhelming sense of helplessness.


    Then, I¡¯d been filled with righteous determination, confident in my ability to forge something new from nothing. Even when we¡¯d faced starvation those first months in the desert, when resources were <b>scarce </b>and hope seemed a distant dream, I¡¯d never doubted we would survive¨Cwould thrive.


    But this was different.


    This was Nadia¡¯s life in the hands of a monster, countdown clock ticking away her remaining minutes of <b>safety</b>. I had spent my entire life learning to protect others, to lead, to fight¨Cand none of those skills seemed to matter now.


    My hand trembled as I set the phone down on the bedside table.


    As Alpha, I couldn¡¯t allow anyone to see this weakness.


    My <b>pack </b>needed strength, needed confidence<b>, </b>needed the unshakable leader they¡¯d followed into the desert. They needed to believe I could fix this, that I could bring Nadia home safely, that I would protect them from <b>Kane¡¯s </b>threats. I forced my muscles to still, my breathing to steady, my expression to harden into the mask of resolve they expected


    Years of leadership had taught me how to wear this mask<b>, </b>how to project certainly even when doubt gnawed at my core.<fn5f2f> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn5f2f>


    But inside, that doubt had formed a yawning chasm. What if I couldn¡¯t <b>save </b>her? <b>What </b>if Kane had already hurt her beyond our ability to heal?


    What il-


    A soft


    moan from the bed interrupted my spiraling thoughts. I turned to see <b>Skye¡¯s </b>eyelids fluttering, her hand moving weakly across the white hospital sheets, fingers grasping as if searching for something to hold onto.


    She was waking up.

 Casts 77

    Chapter <b>77 </b>


    Adrians NOW<fn3d63> Newest update provided by Find?Novel</fn3d63>


    ¡°Skye?¡± I called softly, hope and <b>dread </b>mingling in my chest. ¡°Can you hear me?


    Her eyes upped open soddenly, forest green irises wild with panic as she bolted upright,


    ¡°Nodia¡± she gasped, her volke raw and broken. ¡°You have to save hat


    I gently pressed her shoulders back against the pillows as she tried to sing her legs over the side of the hell. ¡°Faxy, Skye. You¡¯re safe now. You¡¯re back at <b>Owisher</b>.¡±


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t understand,¡± she insisted, ¡°Nadia poisoned herself to help me escape. She took wolfshane¨CLydia¡¯s special Hend. It was meant for me, but she


    drank it insteadTM


    The revtion hit me like a physical blow.


    ¡°Slow down,¡± I urged as Skye¡¯s movements grew more frantic<b>, </b>nearly causing her to topple from the bed. ¡°Tell me everything


    She clutched at my arm, her fingers digging in with desperate intensity. ¡°Kane was keeping us in an underground cell¨Ca dungeon beneath the main building When they took her to the hospital after she copsed<b>, </b>I managed to escape. Her eyes filled with tears. ¡°But I promised I¡¯de back for her. I promised wouldn¡¯t leave her there.¡±


    ¡°I tried. Skye,¡± I admitted, guilt weighing <b>heavily </b>on my words. ¡°We infiltrated the hospital, but she wasn¡¯t there. Kane must have moved her after your


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>face paled even further. ¡°The dungeons,¡± she whispered. ¡°She¡¯d be back in the dungeon. He wouldn¡¯t risk keeping her somewhere I¡¯d already escaped from. Get me a map. I <b>need </b>to show <b>you </b>exactly where they held us.¡±


    I retrieved the sateline imagery Garrett had provided, spreading it across her nket¨Ccovered legs. Skye studied it intently, her finger tracing paths across thepound with surprising precision.


    ¡°Here,¡± she said, tapping a spot near the main building¡¯s northern wing. There¡¯s an entrance to the lower levels here, disguised as <b>a </b>storage cer. The dungeon is two levels down, with six cells along the eastern wall. We were in thergest one, at the far end.¡±


    Her finger moved to another section of the mag


    ¡°And here¡¯s a secondary exit that leads to a maintenance tunnel. I <b>sp¡¯s </b>it when they were musing so.¡±


    I memorized every detail,mitting theyout to memory as <b>Skye </b>continued pointing out guard stations and potential weak points in Kane¡¯s security.


    <b>¡°</b><b>What </b><b>happened </b><b>to </b><b>you</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>1 finally asked, gently touching a particrly severe bruise along her jaseline. ¡°Did Kang¡­¡±


    Skye shook her head, understanding my unspoken fear. ¡°<b>No</b>, not in <b>the </b><b>way </b>you¡¯re thinking. Most of these injuries happened during my escape. After I got out of the hospital, I managed to reach the territory hoeder, but they <b>spotted </b>me. I had no choice but to shift and jump from the eastern cliffs.¡±


    My breath caught ¡°<b>You </b>jumped from Ravine Ridge? That¡¯s a forty¨Cfoot drop onto jagged rocks!¡±


    ¡°T?dn¡¯t have many options,¡± she replied with gria humer. The <b>shift </b>suppressant they¡¯d injected was still partially active. My woll was disoriented, couldn¡¯t maintain bnce daring the fall. She winced, une hand moving unconsciously to <b>her </b>ribs. ¡®I hit the <b>rocks </b>hard, <b>lost </b>my wolf <b>furm </b>immediately. <b>Had </b><b>to </b>Luntinue on foot¨Cnaked, bleeding, with Kane¡¯s warfars eloxing in from every direction.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re remarkable,¡± I <b>said </b>softly.


    ¡°Adrian


    need to get Nadia out. Today Now! Her voice lowered, urgent and fearful. ¡°Kane threatened¡­ humble things. And with the wallbane still in her system, she¡¯spletely defenseless.¡±


    I <b>nodded </b>grimly. ¡°I¡¯m already organizing a arcand rescue attempt.¡±


    <b>1/3 </b>


    ¡°Wait,¡± Skye gripped my arm. ¡°What if we pretend to sumender? Buy time? Tell Rane you¡¯re epting his terms, While you¡¯re negotiating the foron agreement, we can send a team through that secondary entrance I showed you.¡±


    It was risky¨Cdangerously so. Kane won¡¯t a fool; he¡¯d be suspicious of any fon¨Ceasy capittion.


    But the alternative was a frontal assault against superior mothers on their home territory. We¡¯d lo


    I love warriors, maybe many of them, and still might <b>fall </b><b>to </b>


    ¡°It could work.¡± I conceded, <b>already </b>formting the details. ¡°A small team, our best infiltrators, while I keep Kane cupied with negotiation details¡±


    ¡®I¡¯ming with you,¡± Skye announced, already trying to pooh herself up from the bed.


    I ced a restraining hand on her shoulder. Wbsolutely not. You¡¯ve burly mevised


    You need rest, termety


    ¡°I know theyout,¡± she interrupted, her jaw set with determination. Every corridor, every guard post. I memorized it all during my captivity.¡± Her eyes met mine, challenging and unyielding ¡°And I made Radia a promise. I¡¯m not breaking it.¡±


    I studied her face, recognizing the steel beneath her battered exterior,


    ¡°Wright.¡± I relented, knowing farther argument would be futile. ¡°But you <b>stay </b>with me at all times. No heroics.¡±


    She nodded, relief washing over her <b>features</b>. Thank you, Adrian


    One hourter, we had finalized our n. I would lead the negotiation team¨Cmysel Skye<b>, </b>and two of our most experienced warriors to meet with Kane directly.


    Meanwhile, Ryder wouldmand a separate infiltration unit tasked with locating and extracting Nadia through the secret entrance Skye had identified.


    Marcus would coordinate both teams from <b>Dasisbom</b>, maintainingmunications and preparing <b>our </b>extraction routes.


    Lydia had supplied both groups with enough weapons and woll poison d


    darts to neutralize Kane¡¯s security forces if necessary.


    As the deadline approached, I picked up my phone and dialed the number Kane had called from earlier


    Kane answered on the third ring, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction.


    <b>¡°</b>Adrian, I was beginning to think you¡¯d chosen to sacrifice your Beta after all,


    I forced my voice to remain steady, emotionless. Tin epting your terms.


    A long pause followed<b>, </b>pregnant with suspicion. ¡°Really<b>? </b>Just like that?¡±


    ¡°On the condition that Nadia is returned to us unharmed,¡± I continued, following the script Skye and I had carefully nned. ¡°I want proof she¡¯s alive before I sign anything.¡±


    Kane chuckled, the sound sending chills down my spine. ¡°Of course, Em a reasonable man. Come to my territory at sunset. Bring the formal paperwork. acknowledging Oasisburn¡¯s surrender. Once I¡¯m satisfied with the documents, you¡¯ll see your precious Beta.<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Agreed,¡± I replied, the word like <b>ash </b>in my


    mouth.


    As I ended the call, I turned to <b>find </b><b>my </b>team watching me with varying expressions of shock, anger, and resolution. They knew this <b>was </b><b>a </b>ruse, yet hearing their Alpha seemingly agree to surrender their <b>home </b>struck deep chords <b>of </b>instinctive protest.


    ¡°Prepare yourselves,¡± I ordered, ¡°By tomorrow/either Nadia <b>returns </b>with us to a free Oasisbon or none of us return at all¡±

 Casts 78

    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    I never thought I¡¯d willingly action to Gravestone Pack territory. Yet here I was, seated beide Adnan in his Stivan


    The fear that had consumed me during my pipe was g


    <b>Every </b>bump in the road sent pain shooting through m will healing injuries, each twinge feeding the fury heilding Inside me.


    My mind kept reying that moment in our prison cell ¨C Nadia¡¯s unwavering eyes at the look the poisoned coffee meant for me, her body convulsing on the wone took effect<b>. </b>


    1 promised I¡¯de back for you, I thought fi


    fiercely. I won¡¯t let you down


    Adrian¡¯s knuckles were white on the steering wheel, his face mask of forcedposure. Though he maintained the illusion of surrender, his scent betrayed him¨Cocean spray tinged with the metallic ege of burely controlled violence.


    The two <b>warriors </b>in the back seat remained silent, their tension filling the vehicle like a physical presence.


    ¡°Remember.¡± Adrian <b>said </b>quietly as Kane¡¯spound came into view, ¡°this is just a dying tactic. Keep hi


    him talking. Give Ryder¡¯s team time to locate and extract Nadia:


    ¡°I know.¡°I nodded, adjusting the cor of my jacket to hide the worst of my bruises.


    <b>Guards </b>met us at the gate¨Ctwice as many as I¡¯d seen during my captivity,


    They searched us thoroughly for weapons before escorting us <b>into </b>the main building.<fndc22> The source of th?s content is Find?Novel</fndc22>


    Kane awaited us in what appeared to be a formal conference room. He sat at the head of a massive stone table, a self¨Csatisfied smile ying acts his lips. Ten fully armed warriors lined the walls, their <b>hands </b>resting on their weapons¨Ca clear message that we were outmatched.


    Adrian!¡± Kane rose, arms spread in mock wee. And the silver¨Chaired escape artist herself. He turned to me, slow apuse punctuating his words. ¡°Slipping away <b>from </b>under my very pose I truly underestimated you<b>.</b>¡±


    My <b>hands </b>curled into fists, nails digging into my palms <b>as </b>I fought to maintain myposure. The bruises on my body seemed to throb in time with my elerating heartbeat,


    ¡°We brought the surrender documents,¡± Adrian stated tly, cing <b>a </b>leather folder on the table. ¡°As agreed.¡±


    Kane made no move to examine them. Instead, he circled the table slowly, predatory eyes never leaving us


    ¡°You know, I¡¯m genuinely surprised. I expected more resistance from the great Alpha Adrian.¡± He paused behind my chair, his proximity making my skin crawl. Though I suppose even the noblest woll will bend when his Beta¡¯s life is at stake.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s jaw clenched, but his voice remained steady. ¡°The documents areprehensive. Full surrender of Oasisborn territory, resources, and infrastructure. Once signed<b>, </b><b>it¡¯s </b>binding and inevocable ording to werewolfw.¡±


    ¡°So eager to proceed¡± Kane finally took the folder, leafing through the pages with deliberate slowness. ¡°But as they say, the devil is in the details.


    He pointed to a paragraph on the third page. ¡°You¡¯ve neglected to specify a timeline for evacuation. <b>His </b><b>smile </b>widened, ivealing too <b>sharp </b>teeth. ¡°Leta remedy that, shall we? I¡¯m a generous host¨C11 give you three days to <b>vacate </b>my new property.¡±


    ¡°Three days?¡® Adrian¡¯sposure cracked slightly. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. We need time to find <b>new </b>territory, to relocate our pack members safely.¡±


    Kane shrugged, utterly unconcerned. ¡°Not my problem. Or did you n to continue squatting on mynd while you search for a new home?¡±


    ¡°Two weeks.¡± Adrian countered. The minum time needed to evacuate without endangering our most vulnerable members.¡±


    <b>1/3 </b>


    ¡°Three days, Kane repeated, voice hardening. Or your fete bes a permanent resident. He lined one of his warriors. <b>Add </b>the three day GI the agreement,¡±


    1 watched Adrian¡¯s threat work <b>as </b><b>he </b>swallowed his pride. Each concession seemed to physically pain him, yet he nodded atfy.


    ¡°Fine. Three days. But we release Nadia now, as originally agreed.¡±


    Kaneughed a sound like broken ss. ¡®Such i neet Nadia will be released when pret pack has fully evacuated. Consider it insurance against way ¨C


    second thoughts,¡±


    Adrian sorged to his feet, any bleeding through his carefully maintained facade. ¡°That wasn¡¯t our arrangement. You promised her release upon signing the Agreement.¡±


    ¡°Did 17¡± Kane¡¯s eyes gleamed with malicious pleasure. ¡°Thow careless of


    ¡°You pave your word,¡± I interjected, <b>unable </b>to remain silent any longer.


    ¡°And I¡¯m a man of my word<b>,</b><b>¡± </b><b>Kane </b>replied smoothly. ¡°Tell you what¨CIll provide <b>a </b>good faith deposit.¡± He gestured to a warrior near the door. ¡°Show


    The man moved to a control panel on the wall, activating arge screen 1 hadn¡¯t noticed before. The disy flickered to life, -the same dungeon where Nadia and I had been imprisoned.


    ealing a dimly lit stone cell


    My heart stopped.


    <b>Nadia </b>was chained to the wall, ber arms stretched above her <b>head</b>. A gag covered her mouth, but her eyes burned with defiant fury despite her obvious weakness. Blood and bruises covered every visible inch of her skin, yet she held herself with the dignity of a true Beta.


    Adrian <b>lunged </b>across the table, seiring Kane by the cor in one swift movement. ¡°You promised she wouldn¡¯t be harmed!¡±


    Kane didn¡¯t flinch, <b>his </b><b>smile </b>never wavering ¡°Careful, Adrian, My warriors will treat your Beta exactly as you treat me.¡±


    On


    the screen, as if on cue, a hulking <b>warrior </b>grabbed Nadia by her hair, mming her head against the stone wall with brutal force. Blood sttered against the gray stone <b>as </b>she slumped in her chains, momentarily stunned by the impact.


    ¡°STOP¡± I screamed, tears springing unbidden to my eyes. ¡°Please, stog


    Adrian released Kane immediately, his hands trembling <b>with </b>suppressed rige. Our warriors shifted behind us, their eyes glowing red <b>as </b>they fought their wolves instinct to shift and attack.


    straightened his cor with exaggerated care. ¡°Much better. Now, shall we continue our civilized negotiation!¡±


    Something inside me broke at that moment. The pain, rage, and humiliation crashed together in a losic wave. I¡¯d been so proud of escaping, so determined to rescue Nadia¨Cand here we were, still dancing to Kane¡¯s tune, helpless to <b>stop </b>his cruelty.


    On the screen, Nadia¡¯s eyes <b>found </b>the camera<b>. </b>Though blood trickled down her face, her gaze remained unbroken, fierce and proud. Even now, she refused to surrender her dignity.


    I met her eyes through the screen, a silent promise passing between us. Hold on. We¡¯reing for you.


    Kane returned to his seat, picking up a pen with theatrical <b>fair</b>.


    ¡°Now, let¡¯s finalize our agreement, shall we? <b>Three </b><b>days </b>to vacate, and your Beta remains my <b>guest </b>until the handover isplete.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s eyes met mine, a silent message passing between us. Time. We needed to buy more time for Ryder¡¯s team to find Nadia.


    ¡°We need to docuss the details, Adrian said, pis voice steadying <b>as </b>he regained control. ¡°faventory <b>lists</b>, water rights, boundary markers¨C¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Kane pumed<b>, </b>settling into his hair like a satisfied cat. ¡°By all means, let¡¯s be thorough. We have all day.¡±


    As they began discussing technicalities, <b>I kept </b>my eyes fixed on the screen showing <b>Nadia </b>


    23


    Just hold on a little longer, Nadia, I thought firerly. We won¡¯t leave without you.

 Casts 79

    <b>Chapter </b>79


    Skyr


    Kanex pilience was <b>visibly </b>wearing thin, bis earlier saugress guldg may to thinly veiled intition.<fn10dc> Content originallyes from F?nd-Novel</fn10dc>


    development world pollute the entire rooistem ¡°


    Kane drummed his fingers in the doi table, checking his watch for the third time in as many minutes.


    ¡°For someone tendering their entity, you¡¯re remarkably concerned with details at wont matter to you in three <b>days</b>.


    Three hours into the negotiations, Kane finally cracked. He mmed his palm against the table, startling his own warriors.


    ¡°This is bing trives,¡± he growled, sung abenptly from his chair, I need a smoke. Keyes,¡± he gestured to his beta, a broad shouldered nun them. Don¡¯t let them leave this room.


    Not Panic Hand in my chest. <b>We </b>could lean out of our sight. Ryder would be moving into position by nowe, and if Kane disappeared, we¡¯d inne me


    As Kane strode toward the door, I stood quickly.


    ¡°Wait, I called, my mind racing for a usible reason to keep him here. <b>There¡¯s </b>still the matter of personal possessions.¡±


    Kane paused, one eyebrow arched in skeptical amusement. Personal possessions?¡±


    I modded, gesturing toward the document. The agreement specifies infrastructure and resources, <b>but </b>not personal items. My personal library¨Cmery book L in¨Chus cultural significance to my original pack


    ¡°Cultural <b>significance</b>? Kane echoed mockingly.


    They¡¯re family britfooms,¡± I insisted. ¡°Traditional werewolf histories <b>passed </b>down through generations.¡±


    Adrian caught on immediately, picking up my thread. ¡°Any items of personal significance need explicit protection under section 24.3


    Kane rolled his eyes. ¡®Fine. Add a use for cultural artifacts if it¡¯ll <b>shut </b>you up. But this is thest amendment.


    As they resumed their <b>discussion</b>, I felt for the ring Lydia had given me before we left Oasisbon. It looked like an ordinary gold band, but contained a hidden needle coated with a non¨Clethal dose of wolfsbane, Kane¡¯s guards had searched us thoroughly for weapons, but they¡¯d dismissed my jewelry an harmless decorations¨Ca critical oversight.


    Twenty minutester, Kane¡¯s phone rang, breaking the tedious discussion. His expression shifted subtly <b>as </b>he nced at the caller ID.


    ¡°What is it?¡± he snapped, answering the call.


    Through the rtive silence of the room, I could hear the panicked voice <bing </b>through Kane¡¯s phone.


    ¡°Alpha Kane! We have <b>a </b>breach in the lower level! Intruders in section D near the holding cells!¡°


    <b>| </b>Adrian¨Cour


    My eyes met Adrian¡¯s across the table. This was it <b>Ryder </b>had found Nadia. The moment Kane¡¯s attention shifted to <b>his </b>call, I locked signal. Years of leadership had taught him to read, situations instantly. He moved with supernatural speed, circling behind Kanes chair and locking one arm around the Alphax throat in a preciw chokehold,


    In the same fluid motion, I twisted the face of my ring, exposing the <b>hidden </b>needle, and humped forward to drive it into Kane¡¯s temple. The wolfshare coated needle punctured his skin with a satisfying hi¨¢s.


    ¡°What the- Kane¡¯s ruin of pain was cut short <b>as </b>Adrian tightened his grip.


    The phone slipped from Kane¡¯s fingers, ttering onto the table. Panicked shouting echoed from the speaker¨Cguards reporting a breech somewhere in the


    Ryder. He¡¯s Bound Malia.


    Kane¡¯s warriors started wand, wraps drawn, but Adrian¡¯s vice cut though the chann


    ¡°Nobody mort hemanded, tightening his held until Kanes are began in ridden. One step closer and I hit peck


    Kane struggled against Adians grip, Test the wolfshane was already taking effect, dulling his reperitural strength. His eyes bulged with Img he gasped for ali,


    ¡°Kill them!¡± he wheezed to his santions, desperation recing his earlier confidence. Then I let those asistom this excape!¡±


    Adrian arm constricted finther and Kane that, culling off his


    ismands. ¡°Everyone stands down or your Alpha dies right here.¡±


    The guards hesitated, weapons dili aimed but unwilling to risk their leaders life. Kanes heta, Reyes, raised a hand, signaling the others to held their positions.


    What d


    do you want?¡± Reyes demandes, his eyes, never leaving his Alpha¡¯s reddening I


    We¡¯re walking out of here with Kane,¡± I stated, retrieving Kane¡¯s fallen phone from the table and sliding into my pocket. ¡°One our people are safely across your border, he¡¯ll be released.¡±


    With careful coordination, Adrian maneuvered Kane to his feet, maintaining the chokehold while I kept my wolfbanering poised near his carotid artery for a second injection if needed. We backed <b>toward </b>the exit with out warriors nking us protectively.


    You¡¯ll never make it off our territory,¡± Kane rasped, his voice strained from Adrian¡¯s <b>grip</b>. ¡°My wolves are everywhere.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll take our


    take our chances,¡± Adrian replied coldly. ¡°Now <b>move</b><b>.</b>¡±


    We progressed through the corridors in tense silence, Kane¡¯s warriors following <b>at </b><b>a </b>safe distance, their expressions promiting violence the moment their Alpha <b>was </b>secure. Thepound had erupted into chaos¨Cguards running in all directions, rm sirens wailing from distant buildings.


    Outside, our SUV waited, engine running. Adrian shoved Kane into the back <b>seat</b>, sliding in beside took the driver¡¯s seat, Tumbling with the keys <b>as </b>adrenaline made my fingers clumsy.


    ¡°<b>Drive</b>,¡± Adrian ordered. ¡°Head straight for the border.¡±


    be him with one hand firmly gripping the Alpha¡¯s throat. <b>I </b>


    I gunned the engine, tires spitting gravel as we elerated down the ess road. In the tearview mirror, I saw Kane¡¯s Beta organizing a pursuit team, shouting orders as wolves piled into vehicles behind <b>us</b><b>: </b>


    They te following.¡± I reported, pushing the SUV to its limit as we sped toward Casishom territory.


    ¡°Expected,¡± Adrian replied grimly. ¡°Just get us <b>to </b>the border crossing.


    The miles stretched endlessly <b>as </b>we raced through Gravestone territory, the dustyndscape blurring around us. Kane had gone quiet in the back seat, the wolfshane s paralytic effects spreading through his system. His breathing remained steady but his <b>eyes </b>zed with murderous promise.


    and between our


    our territories¨Ci mned on the <b>brakes</b>, sending <b>skidding </b><b>to </b><b>a </b><b>hai </b>


    When we finally reached the border cone¨Ca barren stretch of no man¡¯snd in a cloud of desert dust.


    what? I asked, scanning the horizon anxiously for signs of Byder and <b>Nadim</b>.


    ¡°We wait,¡± Adrian replied, ha grip on Kane never faltering. They¡¯lle.¡±


    Minutes passed like hours <b>as </b>we sat in tense silence, the pursuing vehicles drawing closer behind us, I could make out at least five SUVs in our tearview mirror, <b>packed </b>with Kane¡¯s warrion


    ¡°Wdrun.¡­¡­¡± I warned, my


    heart hammering against my ribs.


    (¡°Just a little longer,¡± he insisted, thanigh 1


    The press vehicles al peatly traded in al ¨C supporting the piller


    Thrie? I campel, pointing to sid the approaching, pain


    hist of doubt in


    eye¨Ctwo figures emerging from belund a nicky


    Rebel washed me me in a dizzying barely able to support her weight


    (im I trcognized the


    young face streaked with dirt and hi


    blood, half cr


    They had mind it Against all odds, om desperte pambat had


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 Casts 80

    Chapter <b>80 </b>


    Skye¡¯s <b>Pov </b>


    Relief surged through me as I watched Hyder half¨Ccarrying    Nadia  toward our vehicle.


    Every stinct screamed  at me to rush forward, to throw my arms around her and conftim she was really here, really alive.


    But I renamed rooted in ce, hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white, Kane¡¯s warriors were watching our every mor waiting for the slightest opening to strike.


    Behind Ryder and Nadia, several Onishorn waition energed from the rocky terrain, moving in a protective formation. I counted quickly¨Cunim, right¡­ undy nine altogether. My heart sank as I realized one was missing from the original rescue team.


    ¡°Where¡¯s this?¡± I whispered, move to myself than


    Adrian¡¯s eyes met mine in the rearview mint, his expression confirming my worst fears before he returned his attention to Kane, maintaining his chokehold on the Alpha,


    Kane¡¯sbored breathing filled the tense silence of the SUV. ¡°Can you release me now?¡± he rasped. ¡°You hair what you c


    Adrian didn¡¯t bother responding, instead gesturing sharply for Ryder to hurry. I threw open the driver¡¯s side door, keeping my moments deliberate and controlled despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins.


    ¡°Get her in the car,¡± Adrian ordered as Ryder approached with Nadia. Then call Marcus. We need immediate extraction.¡±<fn1726> This text is hosted at Find~Novel</fn1726>


    Ryder nodded grimly, easing Nadia into the backseat of the second SUV before pulling out his phone. Behind them, our warriors maintained a defensive perimeter, weapons brained on Kane¡¯s approaching forces.


    Through the dusty haze, Kane¡¯s Beta <b>approached</b><b>, </b>keeping his hands <b>visible </b><b>as </b>he stepped into the no man¡¯snd between our groups.<ol><li>n. Now release our Alpha.¡±</li></ol>


    ¡°Alpha Adrian,¡± he called, voice carrying <b>across </b>the barrenndscape. ¡°We fulfill our end of the bargain.


    <b>Adrian¡¯s </b>grip on Kane didn¡¯t loosen. ¡°Not until my people <b>are </b>safely across the border.¡±


    Ryder stepped forward unexpectedly, his young face hardened with grief and rage. ¡°We¡¯re missing a warrior,¡± he announced, his voice carrying the weight of authority beyond his years. ¡°Elias fell during the extraction.¡±


    My <b>breath </b>caught. Elias¨Cone of our first warriors, a <b>quiet </b>man who joined Oasisbor during its earliest days. He¡¯d been kind to me when I first arrived, showing me the packs borders without judgment or <b>suspicion</b><b>. </b>


    ¡°We demand the return of <b>his </b><b>body</b>, Ryder continued<b>, </b>standing tall despite the blood staining his shirt¨Cnot


    all of it is


    ¡°We won¡¯t leave him in een


    <b>Kane¡¯s </b>Beta hesitated, eyes darting between Ryder and his captive Alpha. After a tense moment, he nodded curtly


    ¡°Bring the body,¡± he called over his shoulder.


    Minutes that felt like hours crawled by as we waited, the <b>desert </b>wind swirling dun between our tense standoff. Finally, two of Kane¡¯s <b>warriors </b>appeared, carrying between them a body wrapped in a simple ck tarp.


    They <bid </b>their burden gently on the ground before retreating. Ryder and anotfier warrior moved forward, verifying it was indeed Elias before carrying him back to our waiting vehicles.


    It¡¯s him,¡± Ryder confirmed, his <b>voice </b>tight with contained emotion.


    Adrian nodded, then addressed Kane¡¯s Beta again. ¡°<b>We </b><b>re </b>leaving now. Your Alpha will be released once we¡¯ve


    <b>we¡¯ve </b><b>crossed </b>safely into our territory.¡±


    The Beta¡¯s face twisted with barely suppressed rage, but he stepped back, signaling <b>his </b>warriors to hold their positions.


    <b>1/3 </b>


    <b>With </b>practiced efficiency, our people loaded into the vehicles¨CNalia carefully ced in the <b>back </b>of the lead SUV with me, while <b>Elias¡¯s </b>body <b>was </b>securi the second vehicle. Adrian maintained his grip on Kane until the veryst moment, showing the partially paralyzed Alpha roughly toward his writing Beta before jumping Into at vehicle.


    ¡°Drive,¡± hemanded, and I didn¡¯t hesitate, mming my foot on the elerator.


    In the rearview mirror, I watched Kane stagger, the wolfshone making his movements uncoordinated <b>as </b>his warrion rushed to support him. His eyes, however, remained fixed on our retreating vehicles, banning with a hatred that promised this confenntation was far from over.


    The tension in the vehicle only eased marginally as we crossed into Oasistom territory, where Marcus waited with a heavily armed escort. The blind security


    -we weren¡¯t truly sale until we were deep within our borders. chief gestured <b>for </b>our convoy to continue toward thepound without stopping-


    In the backseat, Nadia leaned against my shoulder, her eyes half open, breathing shallow but steady. Despite her obvious weakness, her hand found mine, squeezing with surprising strengthL


    ¡°<b>I </b>knew you¡¯de back,¡± she whispered, her voice hoarse from what I suspected was screaming¨C


    (¡ªor wome. 11 knew you


    wouldn¡¯t leave me three.¡±


    Tears burned my eyes as I gently squeezed her hand in return. T¡¯m so sorry it took so long. I choked out, unable to keep my voice steady as I took in the full extent of her injuries. Bruises in various stages of healing covered my visible inch of skin, and dried blood matted her short <b>ck </b><b>hair</b>. What they did


    to <b>you </b>


    Ryder¡¯s fist mmed against the door panel, startling all of us. ¡°This isn¡¯t right,¡± he growled. ¡°Elias is dead. You two tortured within an inch of your lives. And what did Kane lose? Nothing! That <b>bastard </b>walks away with a slight headache from the wolfsbane, while we bury one of our own.¡±


    will answer for this. I¡¯m filing a formalint with the North American Werewolf Council and requesting an audience with the <b>Alpha </b>King himself.¡± Adrian¡¯s voice out through Ryder¡¯s rage


    *If they cannot <b>provide </b><b>justice</b>, I will publicly challenge Kane to a formal duel. And I will finish this¨Cpermanently.¡±


    blood ran cold at his words.


    The public <b>duel </b>was an ancient werewolf tradition, rarely


    rely invoked in modern times but still binding <b>under </b>pack <bw</b>.


    When conflicts between <b>packs </b>couldn¡¯t be resolved through normal channels, an Alpha could issue a formal challenge, <b>requesting </bbat under the Council¡¯s supervision.


    It was <b>a </b>desperate measure, often ending in <b>death </b>for one of thebatants


    ¡°You can¡¯t.¡± Ryder protested immediately, leaning forward in his seat. ¡°You¡¯re <b>our </b>Alpha. The pack needs you. I¡¯ll represent Oasisborn in the duel.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°You¡¯re not ready to face Kane. He¡¯s been <b>Alpha </b>for over fifteen years¨Che¡¯s killed challengers before.¡±


    ¡°Stop. Both of you, I interjected, forcing reason through my exhaustion. ¡°We need to focus on healing Nadia first, then strengthening our defenses. Kane might be licking his wounds now, but he didn¡¯t actually lose anything today. He¡¯ll be nning his retaliation already. We need to be prepared.¡±


    Ryder reluctantly nodded, his attention shifting to Nadia, his expression softening with undisguised contem. He had grown up under Nadia¡¯s <b>strict </b>training and despite their frequent bickering, his devotion to her was obvious.


    Adrian kept his eyes on the road ahead, but I could see the tresion in his shoulders.


    te the tense <b>silence</b>. My head whipped around to find Nadia convulsing beside me,


    We were approaching the mainpound when a pet, chuking sound broke dark blood spilling from her lips, staining her abgady ruined clothes.


    ¡°Nadial¡± I cried, gripping her shoulders as she seized. ¡°What¡¯s happening? Nadia!¡±

 Casts 81

    Chapter <b>81 </b>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    Her eyes ttered closed as blood continued to pour from her


    holy arching in agony against my restraining hands.


    ¡°Drive faster!¡± I screamed at Adrian, gi pot recing the calm I¡¯d been desperately trying to maintain. ¡°Something s


    is wrong with hert She¡¯s dying?


    The vehicle lurched forward, engine oing as Adrian posed it to its limits. Ryder leaned over the seat, his young face contacted with panic she tried to help me stabilize Nadia¡¯s revulsing bod


    Then, just as suddenly as it had gon, the convshion stopped<b>. </b>Nadia¡¯s eyes opened slowly, her gaze unfocused but someone praceful. To my astonishment, her lips curved into a faint smile, blood staining her teeth crimson.


    ¡°It¡¯s no use,¡± she whispered, her voice barely ble merr the engine¡¯s out. I can only¡­ apany you this far.¡±


    filled the confined space, making my


    She coughed again, more blood spilling from her mouth, soaking into her already ruined shirt. The metallic scent of it fit stomach clench with dread


    ¡°Nadia, hold on,¡± <b>Adrian </bmanded, his voice breaking with an emotion I¡¯d never heard from him before¨Craw fear. ¡°We¡¯re almost at the hospital at hold


    Nadia struggled to lift her hand, her finger trembling <b>as </b>they brushed against my cheek. ¡°No use,¡± the repeated, each word clearly costing her precious energy. ¡°Kane¡­.. imnted wolf poison capsules¡­ in my body. If you hroke¡­ the agreement¡­ he would activate them.¡± Her breathing grew morebored. ¡°Or maybe¡­ he never intended¡­ to let me live anyway.¡±


    ¡°<b>Why </b>didn¡¯t v


    you tell us<b>?</b>¡® Ryder exploded, <b>his </b>fists <b>clenching </b>in helpless rage. ¡°If I¡¯d known, I would have killed Kane right there!¡±


    ¡°And then <b>what</b>?¡± <b>Nadia </b>rasped, her eyes finding Ryder¡¯s with surprising rity. ¡°Elias already died¡­ rescuing me. I couldn¡¯t bear to see any more of you¡­. sacrifice yourselves¡­ for me.¡±


    I pulled her clover, cradling her broken <b>body </b>against mine as if i could somehow transfer my strength to her. ¡°Don¡¯t talk like that,¡± I insisted, fighting <b>back </b>tears. ¡°Lydia will have <b>a </b>solution. She always does. Just rest now, save <b>your </b>strength.¡±


    The remainder of the journey passed in tense silence, broken only by Nadia¡¯sbored breathing and asional whimpers of pain that the couldn¡¯t suppress When we finally screeched to a halt <b>outside </b><b>Dasisborn¡¯s </b>medical facility, a team was already waiting¨CLydia at the forefront, her masked face revealing nothing of her emotions as she directed the emergency response.


    Medical staff swarmed around <b>us </b>as we carried Nadia inside, their urgent voices and efficient movements creating a whithwind of activity. They whisked her away into an examination room, leaving us standing helplessly in the corridor.<fn27eb> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? findnovel</fn27eb>


    Garrett <b>arrived </b>momentster, his uneven gait <b>more </b>pronounced than usual <b>as </b>he rushed down the hallway. His face, normally <b>so </bposed, was co


    ¡°Where is she?¡± he demanded, his <b>voice </b>cracking. ¡°Is she-?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re working on her now, Adrian replied, cing a steadying hand on the younger wolf¡¯s shoulder.


    Garrett shook it off, pacing the corridor with frantic energy. I¡¯d never seen him like this¨Cthe usually quiet, reserved technology specialistpletely unraveled by emotion. His fingers twisted together nervously, his breathing ragged and uneven.


    ¡°This is my fault,¡± he muttered, limping back and faith. ¡°I should have detected those capsules in my scans. I should <b>have </b>known Kane would have a contingency n¡±


    ¡°You couldnt <b>have </b>known, I tried to pressure him, though my own voice sounded hollow with fear.


    Venus and Lydia rushed toward us as we entered the medical facility. <b>Lydia </b>imately donned a white medical cost and hurried into the emergency room, her masked face set with determination <b>as </b>the dours swang shut behind her¡­


    We were left in the corridor, a tableau of anxious anticipation Venus paced the hallway<b>, </b>her single arm wrapped protectively around herself. Adrian stood motionless, his usualmanding preses reced by the stillness of someone bracing for terrible news,


    <b>1/2 </b>


    The minutes stretched into an eternity as we waited. Other pack members began to arrive, having heard the news of had a gathered¨Call except Marcus, who remained at the bondet ensuring our security.


    After <b>what </b>seemed like hours, the emergency room doors finally opened. Dr. Haine Chen emerged with Lydia by her side, their expressions confirmed wont fears before they spoke a single word,


    The infection is too severe,¡± Dr. Chen said, her voice clinically detached though her eyes betrayed her emotion. The wolf poison capsules were ins directly beneath the skin near her heart. Surgical triowa? would kill her instantly, and the poison is already spreading thenighout her system.


    Lydia stepped forward, her green eyes sorrowful above her decorative mask. ¡®My remedies can only ease her pain now,¡± she admitted, her melodic snice heavy with regret. ¡°Kanes method was¡­ exceptionally unsel. Designed to ensure a slow, painful death if attivated. ¨C


    Garrett made a strangled sound somewhere between a growl and a sok, before mming his fist into the wall with enough force to crack the ster. <b>Adria </b>didn¡¯t reprimand him¨Cperhaps understanding that in this moment, Carrett i will nerded some outlet for the helpless rage we all felt.


    The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the distant sounds of medical equipment and the med voices of staff attending to other patients, Every well in Oasisborn could likely feel the pack hand straining, preparing to sever one of its strongest connections.


    A sudden electronic bell pierced the heavy silence¨Cthe call button from Nadia¡¯s room, We exchanged rmed nces before rushing to her door.


    Inside, Nadia looked surprisingly alert, her eyes clear and her posture more upright than before. This sudden ingetement sent a chill through me. My mother had once told me that dying people often experienced a final <b>surge </b>of energy- ¡°rallying before the end. Seeing Nadia¡¯s improved condition didn¡¯t reassure me, it terrified me.


    ¡°I need to speak with Skye,¡± she announced, her voice stronger than it had been in the SUV. ¡°Alone, please.¡±


    The others hesitated<b>, </b>clearly reluctant to leave, but Adrian nodded after


    moment. ¡°If that¡¯s what you want.¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± Nadia confirmed, her eyes finding mine across the room.


    One by one, they filed out¨CAdrian squeezing my shoulder gently as he passed, Garrett¡¯s gaze lingering on Nadia until the veryst moment before the door closed behind them.


    <b>Nadia </b>patted the edge of her bed, indicating 1 should sit beside her. When I did, she took my hand in bers, her grip surprisingly firm.


    ¡°I need you to do something for me,¡± she began without preamble. ¡°When I¡¯m gone, the pack will need a new Beta<b>.</b>¡±

 Casts 82

    Chapter <b>82 </b><fnc80a> ?????? ???? f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fnc80a>


    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¨Cscented shampoo and body wash¨CI 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 <b>reads </b>poetry Frost is his favorite. Her voice grew more urgent


    ¡°He struggles with back pain from an old injury, but <b>he¡¯s </b>too proud to admit it needs regr attention. The heating pad in <b>his </b>office¨Cmake sure it¡¯s always mable.¡±


    Tears burned my eyes as I listened to her reciting these intimate details¨Ca 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 <b>and </b>remembered such tiny particrs <b>of </b>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. <b>¡°</b>But Nadia, I <b>don¡¯t </b>know if I <b>can</b><b>=</b>¡±


    ¡°You can,¡± she <b>assured </b>me with surprising certainty. ¡°I¡¯ve watched you these <b>past </b>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 <b>a </b>silent half¨Ccircle 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 <b>miss </b>your wedding to <b>Marcus</b>. 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 <b>you </b>marry


    Venus gripped <b>Nadia¡¯s </b>hand tightly, nodding a <b>tears </b><b>streamed </b>down her face. ¡°I promise,¡± <b>she </b>whispered.


    Nadia turned her attention to Garrett, who had sunk <b>to </b>his knees beside her bed, his head bowed <b>as </b>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¨Cthat 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 <b>his </b><b>cheek</b>.


    Ryder,


    ????? ¡®


    the fast of her bed, clearly fighting to maintain his <b>cosignant</b>, 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 <b>tlicht</b><b>. </b>


    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 <b>first </b>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 <b>packs </b>better, more just.¡±


    Her grip on my hand tightened as she continued, ¡°<b>Skye </b>will <b>fulfill </b>the promise I couldn¡¯t keep. She¡¯ll be an excelent Beta¨CI 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 <b>all</b>, he finally <b>said</b><b>, </b>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¨Call 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¨Cwe were simply a pack, united in grief, in love, in the knowledge that one of our strongest bonds <b>was </b>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 <b>mate</b>,¡± she whispered, ¡°but you were always my


    bome.


    Her eyes closed, and with one <b>final</b>, peaceful exhale<b>, </b>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, <b>a </b>girl who carved out <b>a </b>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 <b>you </b>can <b>do </b>is follow where they Arad, even when it hurts.


    their own fate.

 Casts 83

    <b>Chapter </b><b>83 </b>


    Nadia¡¯s <b>POV </b>


    <b>They </b><b>say </b>that when you die, your life shes before your <b>eyes</b>.


    <b>I </b>always thought that <b>was </b>just a human myth, something they tell themselves to make death seem less terrifying.


    But as I felt the wolf poison spreading through my body, burning my veins and squeezing my heart, memories washed over me like ocean waves¨CAdrian¡¯s ocean, the scent I¡¯d first fallen in love with when I was just thirteen years old.


    My mother died when I was nine. Cancer, the human doctors said¨Cone of the few diseases that even werewolf healing couldn¡¯t ovee.


    <b>My </b>Father never quite recovered. He buried his grief beneath an endless parade of women,ing homete smelling of perfume and sex, leaving me to navigate the treacherous waters of adolescence alone.


    No one teaches a teenage girl how to manage her first period when ites early, how to handle the stares when her body develops faster than her peers, or how to hide her tears when she catches her reflection in the mirror¨Cround face covered in angry red e, body swelling no matter how little she eats.


    Other teenage girls were blooming flowers, while I was just a crooked<b>, </b>misshapen weed.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have training gear in your size,¡± the equipment manager announced loudly during <bbat </b><b>ss </b>when <b>I </b>was fourteen. Maybe you should train with the adults instead of the juniors.¡±


    Laughter rippled through the group <b>of </b>young wolves. I felt my cheeks burn with <b>shame </b><b>as </b><b>I </b>mumbled that <b>my </b>regr clothes would be fine. The Alpha¡¯s son<b>, </b>Adrian, was watching from across the training field, but he was too <b>important</b><b>, </b><b>too </b>perfect to notice someone like me.


    It got worse <b>as </b><b>we </b>grew older. At sixteen, I weighed nearly <b>210 </b>pounds<b>, </b>my <b>face </b><b>was </b>a battlefield <b>of </b><b>cystic </b><b>e</b>, and <b>my </b><b>self</b><b>¨C</b><b>esteem </b>had withered to almost nothing. I¡¯d learned to make myself invisible, to find the shadowy corners where no <b>one </b>would notice me<b>, </b>to hold my <b>tears </b>until I <b>was </b>safely alone<b>. </b>


    That¡¯s where I <b>was</b><b>¨C</b>curled in the hidden alcove behind the pack¡¯s storage building<b>¨C</b>when I overheard them.


    ¡°Fifty bucks says you won¡¯t do it,¡± Cam Matthews challenged, his voice carrying clearly in the afternoon air.


    ¡°Do what?<b>¡± </b>another boy asked¨CTim Rankin, I thought, recognizing his nasal tone.


    <b>*</b>Ask out Nadia Bet,<b>¡± </b><b>Cam </b><b>replied</b><b>, </b>followed by howls ofughter from the others<b>. </b>¡°Loser of today¡¯s fighting match <b>has </b>to ask the fattest, ugliest <b>girl </b>in the pack to the Spring Moon Dance<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡®I¡¯d rather die,¡® <b>Tim </b>dered emphatically. ¡°I¡¯m not desperate enough to screw a whale<b>.</b><b>¡± </b><fn8b79> ?????? ???? f?ndnovel</fn8b79>


    ¡°You think she¡¯d even fit through the door <b>to </b>the dance<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>another boy chimed in.


    ¡°Probably break the floor if she tried to dance!¡±


    <b>I </b>pressed my <b>fist </b>against my mouth<b>, </b>biting down on my knuckles <b>to </b><b>keep </b>from making <b>a </b><b>sound</b>. Their words weren¡¯t new¨CI¡¯d heard variations <b>of </b>the same cruel jokes for <b>years</b>¨Cbut <b>they </b><b>still </b><b>cut </b>as deeply as any w.


    ¡°If <b>we¡¯re </b>talking about who¡¯s taking Nadia anywhere, a deeper <b>voice </b><b>interrupted</b>, ¡°it¡¯ll be none <b>of </b>you.¡±


    Theughter stopped abruptly. I peered through a crack in the wall and saw Adrian standing there, his tall <b>frame </b>radiating the authority he¡¯d inherited <b>from </b>his father.


    ¡°Alpha¡¯s son,¡± Cam muttered, his <b>previous </b>bravado evaporating.


    ¡°Future Alpha, Adrian corrected coldly. <b>¡°</b>And I don¡¯t appreciate hearing my pack members being discussed <b>this </b><b>way</b><b>.</b>¡± His amber <b>eyes </b>narrowed <b>dangerously</b>. ¡°Twenty miles. All of you. Now. And if I hear any more of this kind of talk, you¡¯ll be runningps until your legs fall <b>off</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    The boys scattered like frightened rabbits, leaving Adrian alone<b>. </b>I tried to shrink further into my hiding <b>ce</b><b>, </b>but <b>somehow</b><b>, </b><b>he </b>knew I was <b>there</b><b>. </b>


    <b>1/3 </b>


    You cane out,¡® he called softly. ¡°They re gone.¡±


    Humiliation burned through me as I stepped out, unable to meet his eyes. What must he think, finding me cowering like a pathetic Omega!


    ¡°Why do you let them talk to you like that?¡± he asked.


    I shrugged, still staring at the ground. ¡®What am I supposed to do?¡±


    ¡°Fight back,¡± he said simply. ¡°I¡¯ve watched you in training. You¡¯re stronger than most of the boys your age. Your reflexes are good. Your biggest problem is thai you don¡¯t believe in yourself.¡±


    <b>My </b>head snapped up in shock. Adrian had noticed me during training?


    The Alpha¡¯s son, three years my senior and already being groomed for leadership, had paid attention to awkward, fat, pimple¨Cfaced Nadia Bet?


    ¡°You could be an excellent warrior,¡± he continued, his eyes assessing me with unexpected seriousness. ¡°You have all the physical attributes. You just need more confidence and better technique. If anyone gives you trouble again, tell me. I won¡¯t have pack members treating each other this way.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a dramatic moment. The earth didn¡¯t shift beneath my feet. Angels didn¡¯t sing. But something fundamental changed inside me that afternoon.


    For the first time in years, someone had seen past my appearance to the potential beneath.


    Someone believed I could be more.


    That night, I made a silent vow to myself: I would be a warrior so formidable that no one would dare mock me again. And when Adrian became Alpha, I would stand at his side as Beta¨Chis protector, his right hand.


    That same evening, I cut off my long hair with kitchen scissors, leaving <b>it </b>short and practical. From that day forward, I maintained that short style, never letting it grow past my ears again.


    I also removed every mirror from my room, packing them away in boxes and storing them in the attic. If I was to remake myself <b>as </b>a <b>warrior</b>, I couldn¡¯t afford to be distracted by appearances anymore.


    I knew it was almost impossible. Female Betas were rare; fewer than five existed across all North American packs. And none of them had started from where I was¨Coverweight, untrained, and unsupported.


    But I had a purpose now.


    Every morning, I woke three hours before the others to run. Every evening, I stayedte at the training grounds, repeatingbat moves until my muscles screamed. I studied strategy and pack politics, forcing my mind to absorb concepts that didn¡¯te naturally to me.


    My body didn¡¯t cooperate easily. I¡¯d lose ten pounds only to gain back eight. The e would clear for a week, then erupt worse than before due to stress and hormonal fluctuations.


    The taunts continued¨Cnow behind my back rather than to my face<b>, </b>but still there<b>. </b>


    But as a human philosopher once wrote, ¡°He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.¡±


    My why was Adrian


    When I finally shifted at seventeen, everything changed.


    My wolf form was powerful, coal¨Cck and swift. I became slender and athletic, the werewolf metabolism transforming my bodypletely. Even the e that had gued my entire adolescence gradually disappeared.


    Some boys who had once mocked me even invited me to the Spring Moon Dance, but I refused them all. I spent that evening in the training grounds instead -I had no interest in the pastimes that captivated most other girls!


    The day Adrian personally selected me as one of his guards <b>was </b>the proudest of my life<b>. </b>

 Casts 84

    Media¡¯s POV


    1 have always given Adrian everything¨Cmy loyalty, my strength, my life, but there were two secrets I never shared with him.


    The first was my feelings for him, socious to everyone except the man himself.


    The second was that I had met my mate when I was eighteen.


    Yes, I had a mate once, briefly.<fn6218> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? FindN0vel</fn6218>


    He was a warrior from Stormbol Pack¨Cstrong, capable, with potential to be the packs next Beta someday,


    Many females would have rejoiced at such a match. But to me, he was nothing more than a future rival.


    When we caught each others scent and the mate bond liegen to form, the disappointment I felt far outweighed any physical attraction.


    That night, we had sex.


    But it wasn¡¯t about love or even desire¨Cit was merely my <b>excuse </b>to be a ¡°woman<b>¡± </b>Tclosed my eyes the entire time, picturing someone else¡¯s face.


    Someone forbidden to me.


    Afterward, I dressed quickly<b>, </b>my body still tin


    tingling with the new sensations but my <b>mind </b>already calcting my next move.


    My matey on the forest floor, watching me with confusion as I pulled on my clothes with methodical precision.


    ¡°<b>You </b>can¡¯t tell anyone about this,¡± I told him, my voice steady despite the pain already beginning to bloom in my chest. ¡°You can¡¯t tell anyone I¡¯m your mate. And I¡¯m rejecting you.¡±


    He sat up, anger recing the post¨Ccoital haze in his eyes. ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m rejecting you,¡± I repeated<b>, </b>more firmly this time. ¡°I <b>don¡¯t </b>ept this mate bond.¡±


    ¡°<b>You </b>can¡¯t just¡ª¡±


    ¡°I can, and I am.¡± I squared my shoulders, my decision already made years <b>ago</b>. ¡®If you won¡¯t ept my rejection, we can settle this another way. I¡¯m willing to fight to the death over <b>this</b>.¡±


    His expression shifted from anger to contempt. Heughed <b>a </b>sharp, cruel sound that echoed through the trees


    ¡°You think I¡¯d actually want you?¡± He looked me up and down dismissively. ¡°Everyone knows you used to be fat and ugly. And for the record, you¡¯re the worst day I¡¯ve ever had. Like fucking a dead <b>fish</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    The insults washed over me without effect. I¡¯d heard worse from my own father.


    ¡°So <b>you </b>ept the rejection?¡± I <b>pressed</b><b>, </b>ignoring his attempt to wound


    He spat on the ground at my feet. ¡°dly.¡±


    The pain intensified as our nascent bond shattered, but I <b>walked </b>away without showing any sign of it. Physical pain meant nothing to me. I¡¯d been enduring it since I was old enough to enterbat training.


    The agony of a broken mate bood <b>was </b><b>jest </b>une more thing to <b>ovee</b>, one moja weakness to master.


    I never told anyone about that night. Not even Adrian. Especially not Adrian.


    Life bar a way of changing toore when you least expect [1;


    For me, everything shifted three years ago when Adian¡¯s father died suddenly during a border dispute


    I still remether that day with perfect rity the somber silence that fell over Stormbowl Park, the quiet scheming that followed, and the browyal that


    Adrian¡¯s <b>uncle </b>Meywell wasted no time. Within hours of his brother¡¯s death, he began rallying support among the peck elders, whispering promises and therats in equal measure. Adrian was too young, los soft hearted to <b>lead</b>, he told them. Stormbowl needed a strong, experienced Alpha to maintain its


    Adrian¡¯s own mother had chosen Maxwell over her son. Not just politically, but personally. She would be Maxwell¡¯s Luna, cementing his im to leadership


    The pain in Adrian¡¯s eyes nearly broke me.


    ¡°I¡¯m challenging him,¡± I told Adrian that wight, my fists clenched so tight champion.¡±


    nails drew blood from my palms. ¡°You¡¯re the rightful Alpha. 11 fight as your


    Adrian shook his head, his expression resolute despite the betrayal he¡¯d suffered.


    ¡°No. That¡¯s what he <b>wants</b>¨Can excuse to eliminate any threat to his power. There would he bloodshed, regardless of who won.¡±


    ¡°So we just ept this<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>I demanded, pacing his small cabin like a caged animal. ¡°Let him steal what¡¯s rightfully yours?<b>¡± </b>


    Adrian¡¯s answer <b>changed </b>everything. ¡°We leave. We build something better<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    My father was livid when I told him <b>I </b>would follow Adrian. He backhandded me across the face, splitting my lip and sending me crashing into our kitchen


    table.


    ¡°You stupid girl,¡± he snarled, looming over me <b>as </b>I tasted blood. ¡°Adrian has nothing! No territory, no resources, no future. Maxwell in Alpha now. ept it


    <b>Ispat </b><b>blood </b>onto our pristine floor. I¡¯d rather starve as a free <b>woll </b>than live fat andfortable under <b>a </b>usurper


    He beat me that night, worse than ever before. But the pain only strengthened my resolve.


    The n


    next morning, with bruises blooming across my ribs and <b>back</b><b>, </b>I met Adrian at the <b>pack </b><b>boundary </b>with nothing but the clothes on my back and my unwavering loyalty.


    Ryder joined <b>us</b><b>, </b>of course¨Cthe headstrong pup had worshipped Adrian since he <b>was </b>old enough to walk


    Eleven others came too, mostly younger wolves without deep pack ties or older ones who remembered Adrian¡¯s father with fondness,


    Thirteen wolves in total, leaving thefort and security of Stoembowl for an uncertain future.


    Those first months were brutal. We slept under the stars, hunted what we could, and kept moving to avoid confrontation with established packs.


    <b>Two </b>of ourpany couldn¡¯t handle the hardship. I remember finding their goodbye note one morning¨Ca hasty apology scratched on tree bark, their <b>scent </b>already <b>fading </b>as they returned to Stormhowl with their tails between their len.


    We weathered fierce storms huddled together in mapeshift shelters. We ate <b>whatever </b>game we could catch, sometimes going <b>days </b>on nothing but berries and


    DOOEL


    Doce, when food <b>was </b>particrly scarce, Ryder attempted to <b>catch </b>fish with his bare hands, slipping on wet rocks and nearly drowning in the process.


    Adrian pulled him from the rushing water, and weughed until our sides <b>hart </b>as Ryder sted he¡¯d ¡°almost had¡± a giant trout,


    Most packs would have fractured under such conditions. <b>But </b>hardship forged <b>us </b>into something stronger, more resilient. Adrian neverined, never


    showed doubt


    23


    For carried the beaviest hurdens, Inck the unaliest portions, and kept ir spirits alive with frotire of the home we would ball21


    For me, these wandering days were a strange kind of paradise. Despite the finger and exhaustion, I was happier than I¡¯d ever been at footsiko was with him. Because every morning I woke to the sound of his voice nning our day¡¯s journey, and every night I fell asleep kon


    <b>Then </b>Adrian discovered the cast an unimed territory in the harsh Tesas desert, with a hidden water source


    We built Gisborn from nothing, transforming hartennd into & sanctuary for the broken, the rejected, the umeanted.


    1 should have known such happiness couldn¡¯tst foresen..


    <b>The </b>


    moment I walked into The Watering Hole and saw her green eyes sharp with intelligence despite her fear¨CI knew


    I recognized the threat before Adrian did, before she did, perhaps even before fate litelf realized what it had set in motion.

 Casts 85

    Chapter <b>85 </b>


    Nadia¡¯s POV


    I could never be what Adrian truly breded. I want his mate, wasn¡¯t Lana material, wash sultor gentle or whole. My strengths were in fighting, in strainer, in <b>loyally </b>forged in Hood and sacrifice. I was the Beta, the second, the shulow


    Skye was something else entirely. Lorn before her woll emerged, I sensed the power in her not the brute strength of a warrior, but something more elemental, She bad survived alone for years. She understood pain and loss as intimately as I did, yet hadn¡¯t allowed it to harden herpletely.


    I fought against it, of course. Tried to drive her away with suspicion and coldness. But the harder I pushed, the more she proved herself worthy¨Cnot just of Adrian¡¯s attention, but of my respect.


    The others in the park took to her quickly tos. Marcus praised her natural talent for reconnaissance, while Lydia called her an exceptional student with keen intuition for herbs and remedies. Despite her small stature and limited physical strength, she approached every training session with unwavering determination.


    She neverined when I pushed her harder than the others<b>, </b>never made excuses when she failed. Sometimes, watching her dogged persistence, I glimpsed reflections of my younger self¨Cthe same stubbum resolve, the same willingness to endure pain to prove her worth<fn28ed> Find the newest release on f?ndnovel</fn28ed>


    Perhaps that¡¯s why <b>she </b>imitated me so deeply; she reminded me of who I <b>once </b>was, before years of unrequited devotion hardened me.


    When I discovered she wasn¡¯t <b>Adrian¡¯s </b>mate, I felt a fish relief wash over me. It gave me justification¨Cer so I thought¨Cto warn her away from him, to remind her of boundaries that should exist between an <b>Alpha </b>and a pack member who wasn¡¯t destined to be <b>his </b>Luna,


    1 clung to this knowledge like <b>a </b><b>shield</b>, using it to protect myself from the growing reality I refused to acknowledge. What I failed to anticipate was how Adrian¡¯s feelings for her would deepen day by day, mate <b>bond </b>or not.


    He never admitted it aloud¨Cnot to me, not to anyone¨Cbut I could see it in the <b>way </b><b>his </b>eyes followed her across a room, in how his voice softened when he spoke bername, in the decisions he made <b>to </b>keep her close. Love doesn¡¯t always need fate¡¯s blessing to nourish.


    Even when Adrian and I were away on pack <b>business</b>, he remembered to buy her a birthday gift. A deep¨Csea pearl ne that he spent hours selecting. scrutinizing each option with an attention to detail he rarely showed for anything besides pack security,


    watched his face as he imagined her wearing it, sau the softness in his eyes that had ever been there for me.


    Then came the <b>mask </b>hunting game at the canyon.


    Did Skye really believe smearing <b>a </b>bit of mud on her clothes would bide what happened between them?


    The scent of their intimacy <b>was </b>unmistakable to anyone with werewolf senses. They disappeared for newly an hour, and I doubt they spent that time ying hide and seek. They were having sex while the rest of us searched the canyon in vain.


    1 maintained myposure throughout the remainder of that night. Directed the hunters, organized the evening activities, sailed and nodded at appropriate moments <b>as </b>we gathered around the campfire.


    I cried that night.


    For the first time since I was fourteen years old, I allowed myself to break downpletely.


    But with our tents pitched <b>so </b>close together in the canyon, I couldn¡¯t risk making a <b>sound</b>. I pressed my face into my pillow, shoulders shaking with silent <b>robs</b><b>, </b>swallowing the anguish that threatened to escape my throat.


    Through the tents thin fabric, moonlight cast moving shadows across my sleeping bag. Around midnight, one shadow grew distinct¨CAdrian silhouette, moving stealthily between the tents.


    I watched, Inseen in my grief, as he slipped quietly into <b>Skye¡¯s </b>tent. He didn¡¯t emprego until just before doen.


    The pain was more excruciating than any humiliation I¡¯d ever endured, more devastating than my father¡¯s most violent <b>beatings</b>. It felt like my chest was being to open, my heart physically shredded.


    <b>1/2 </b>


    nover Imagined Desuld lose in thoroughly in apetition I had no chance of winning from the start.


    Self doubt, an old unweepanies 1 thought I¡¯d hardshed years ago, crept linck strength <b>and </bpetence resurfaced with vehgener


    I¡¯ve tried to many childish totes to keep them apart


    my consciousness. The inserunities 1d buried bench <byers </b>of


    I encouraged Ryde to panne <b>Skye</b>, hoping his youth and charm might distract her, I errated unnecessary tasks that kept Adrian buky and away from her even drafted a ridiculous agreement¡± demanding Skye maintain her distance from Adrian, which she rightfully refused to sign.


    All futile struggles,ughable in retrospect. You cannot light what is meant be, no matter how desperately you try.


    In the end. I chose to drink the wolfshone meant for her. Not because I had given up, but because I finally understood my purpone


    I had protected Adriam through on exile, though the bounding of Onisborn, through costless challenges. Protecting what he loved¨Ceven if it wasn¡¯t me was the final service I could offer.


    I regret nothing.


    Not the mate rejected, not the home I abandoned, not the life I sacrificed.


    My only with in that I could have sem Adrion achieve his destiny to be the Alpha¨CKing he was bom to be, with Skye standing beside him where I once


    This in my she


    The <b>are </b>the secrets I never <b>told</b><b>. </b>

 Casts 86

    <b>Chapter </b><b>86 </b>


    The medical facility was raily quiet in the hours following Nadia¡¯s death. Pack members had retreated on their homes in stunned lenor, the collective r palpable through our pack bonds.


    Venas and 1 remained, tasked with the sacred duty of preparing Nadia lindy for her final farewell,


    De Chen had left us with everything we needed soft cloths, warm water infused withvender and sage, and clean garmentsid out with care precision


    The ceremonial washing of a fallen pack member was traditionally performed by those closest to the derned. Despite my rtively recent arrival do Oasisborn, Venus had insisted I join fun in this ritual.


    ¡°She chose you.¡± Venus had said simply when I questioned my ce in this intimate task. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t want anyone else.¡±


    Now we stood on either side of the examination table where Nadia¡¯s bodyy, her expression peaceful despite everything she had endured. Death had softened her features, erasing the fierce determination that had animated them in life. She looked younger somehow, more vulnerable.


    We worked in respectful silence, my hands trembling slightly as I dipped a cloth into the fragrant water. Venus moved with the practiced efficiency <b>of </b>someone who had performed this duty before, her single arm somehow aplishing the work of two as she gently shifted Nadia¡¯s position.


    As we removed the hospital gown, the full extent of what Nadia had suffered began to reveal itself. Bruises in various stages of healing covered her to evidence of systematic beatings rather than a single violent episode, Some wounds had begun to heal with her werewolf abilities, while others remained angry and now.


    ¡°They kept injecting her with suppressants, Venus murmured, her voice tight with controlled rage. ¡°To p


    prevent her healing. <b>To </b>prolong her suffering.¡±


    My throat constricted <b>as </b>I gently washed Nadia¡¯s arm, revealing five distinct puncture marks where needles had repeatedly pierced her skin. This wasn¡¯t <b>just </b>about extracting information or punishing a captive¨Cthis was calcted cruelty designed <b>to </b>inflict maximum <b>pain</b>.


    1¨Csome drep


    When we turned her onto her <b>side </b>to wash her back<b>, </b>Vena¡¯s sharp intake of breath made me look up. <b>Nadia¡¯s </b>back was a web ofcerations- enough to expose muscle tissur, others more superficial but no less brutal in their intent.


    ¡°Wolfsbaneced whip.¡± Venus grosced, her eyes shing with barely contained fury. They wanted to make sure


    ke sure she felt every stroke.


    My <b>hands </b>shook harder <b>as </b>we continued <b>our </b>somber task, each new discovery fueling <b>a </b>rage that threatened to consume me. There were burn marks on her shoulders, precisely ced to <b>cause </b>intense pain <b>without </b>fatal <b>damage</b>. Several <b>fingers </b>had been broken and left to heal improperly, then broken again torture technique designed to break the spirit as much as the body.


    When Venus gently adjusted Nadia¡¯s lower body to clean her legs, we both froue at what we discovered. The insides of her thighs bore simr marks of violence, and unmistakable signs of a more intimate vition.


    ¡°These <b>fucking </b>monsters! Venus exploded, her carefulposure finally shattering. The basin of water crashed to the floor as she mmed her the wall ¡°Did they She couldn¡¯t finish the question, her face contorted with helpless rage


    I didn¡¯t answer immediately, couldn¡¯t speak through the bile rising in my throat. I thought of Kane¡¯s smug expression during our negotiation, how he¡¯d taunted Adrian while <b>Nadia </b>remained chained in that dungeon. I remembered his words to me during my own brief captivity, the predatory gleam in his eyes as he¡¯d outlined what would happen if we didn¡¯tply with his demands.


    ¡°I think they did everything they <b>could </b>to break her<b>, </b><b>¡°</b>I finally whispered, team streaming unchecked down my face. ¡°Everything they <b>knew </b>would hurt the


    Venus pressed her hand against her mouth, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. ¡°Oh, <b>Nadia</b><b>,¡± </b>she whispered through her fingen. ¡°No wonder you didn I want us to see.<b>¡± </b>


    The realization hit me with devastating rity. Nadia¡¯s final request¨Cher plea that we not seek revenge¨Csuddenly <b>made </b>perfect sense.


    She had known what we would discover when we prepared her body. She had understood that seeing the evidence of her torture would ignite a rage so consuming, so absolute, that it might lead to the destruction of everything Adrian <b>had </b>built


    <b>Chapter </b><b>861 </b>


    ¡°She was trying to protect <b>us</b><b>, </b>even at the end,¡± I said, wiping my teart with the back of my hand. ¡°The Inaw what we do <b>if </b>we can th?c


    Venus straightened, her grief hardening into something darker, more dangeroin, And she was right,¡± she said, her voice cold with deadly The going to kill everyst one of them myself.


    Wepleted our task in sileher, washing away the blood and grime that had umted during Nadia¡¯s captivity. Despite the evidence of bility, her expression remained serene, almost as if she had found peace in her final moments,


    For her final garments, we bypassed the traditional white dress used for female warriors who had fallen.


    Instead, Venus retrieved Nadia¡¯s training unifom the practical, fittedbat gear she had worn almost daily. ck pants, reinforced at the knee a grepression shit emzoned with the Oasisborn emblem; and her Beta x jacket, with silver insignia on the cor denoting her tank.<fn69df> Readplete version only at find?novel</fn69df>


    ¡°A warrior to the end,¡± Vesired an we dressed ber, smoothing the fabric with gentle hands. Just as she would have wanted.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t let this stand, I said, my voice steadier than I expected. ¡°We just let them get away with this.¡±


    Venus met my gaze across Nadia¡¯s body, something fierce and primitive burning in her eyer. ¡°We won¡¯t,¡± she promised. ¡®Adrian needs to know everythin


    Chapter Comments


    01

 Casts 87

    Skye¡¯s POV


    The council room was deathly silent as Venus and I delivered cur report. I had nev of what we had discovered.


    never seen Adn to still, so utterly motionless, as he a


    absorbed mary detail


    Adrian looked tembly haggand, his face drawn and sous. His eyes, the mual light


    hat once held such intensity and


    pourpre, now


    now apprated aged and dia, devid


    Vems described Nadia¡¯s injuries with clinical precision, her voice breaking only when the reached the evidence of sexual anash. She used terms lik ¡°physical vition¡± and ¡°intimate trauma,¡± hernguage deliberately measured at the outlined mr findings.


    A low growl built in Adrian¡¯s chest as Venus spoke, the sound guessing in volume until it seemed to vibrate through the entire room. When the finished, remained silent for a long moment, his breathing unnaturally evm


    Then, with a roar that shook the walls, he sorged to bis fert, Hippling the heavy nak table as if it weighed nothing. The massive piece of fomituiehed against the far wall, splintering into jagend fragments.<fn1362> Content originallyes from find~novel</fn1362>


    TLL KILL HIM!¡± he bellowed, his voice hairly human as his well pushed against the face. The partial shift distorted his features, amber eyes burning red, ¨C teeth lengthening intongs. 11 TEAR OUT HIS THROAT WITH MY TEETHE


    Garrett had gone frighteningly pale, his hands visibly trembling as Vera¡¯s words registered. Then his expression contorted with a hatred so pare, so absolute, that I barely recognized him.


    ¡°We attack tonight,¡± he said, his usually quiet voice carrying a deadly <b>calm</b>. ¡°All of us. No mercy, no prisoners. Kane dies screaming for what he did to ber


    Lydia remained seated, seemingly unmoved amidst the <b>chaos</b>¨Cbut I noticed her fingers methodically shredding a piece of paper into increasingly tiny fragments, betraying the depth of her distress.


    I have enough concentrated wolf poison to paralyse every member of Gravestone Pack<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>she offered, her melodic voice at odds with the violence of her words. ¡°They will feel every cut, every burn, whilepletely unable to shift or defend themselves.


    Marcus, who had joined us via video call from the border outpost, spoke with lethal precision. ¡°Ive memorized their patrol patterns. I know when they tr most vulnerable, where their defenses are weakest. We <b>can </b>be inside theirpound before they <b>realize </b>what¡¯s happening


    Ryder remained uncharacteristically silent, <b>tears </b>streaming unchecked down his youthful face. When he f finally spoke, his voice was raw with grief and fury. ¡°She asked us not to seek revenge, he reminded us, though the tremor in his voice suggested he wasn¡¯t <b>convinced </b>by his own words. ¡°She wanted us to <b>build </b>something better instead.¡±


    ¡°AND LOOK WHAT IT COST HER! <b>Adrian </b>roared, rounding on the younger wolf Look what mercy cast Nadia¡® Look what diplomacy and restraint brought


    never seen him like this¨Cprimal, untethered, stripped of the careful control that defined him as Alpha. This <b>was </b>Adrian <bid </b><b>bare</b>, the civilized leader giving way to the predator beneath.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been ying by rules that Kane ignored from the start, Venus <b>added</b>, her eyes <b>hard </b><b>as </b>We showed restraint while be¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t finish, her voice breaking.


    <b>¡°</b><b>We </b>extended courtesy while he plotted our destruction


    Adrian turned to se, his eyes still burning with that terrible red light, ¡°<b>Skye</b><b>,</b>¡± he said, my name <b>sounding </b>strange in his distorted <b>voice</b>. ¡°You were her friend. <b>You </b>were with her at the end. What would Nadia want us to do?¡±


    The weight of his question settled on my shouldery like a physical burden, I thought of Nadia¡¯s sacrifice, her quiet courage as she drank poison meant for me. I remembered herst <b>words</b>, her plea for peace rather than vengeance.


    But I also remembered her body, broken and vited on that sterile table, I thought of Kane¡¯s smug confidence, his certainty that he would <b>face </b>no consequences for <b>his </b><b>actions</b>.


    ¡°Nadia wanted prate,¡± <b>I </b>acknowledged, my voice stredy despite the storm raging inside me. ¡°But not at any price. Not at the cost of her dignity, or the salety of those she loved.¡± I met Adrians gaze unflinchingly. ¡°<b>Kane </b><b>didn¡¯t </b>just kill her. He tortured her. He humiliated her. And he¡¯ll do the same to others if ter <b>don¡¯t </b>stop <b>him</b>?


    Adrian nodded, something is my son seming to help him regain a measure of control. The red glow in his eyes dimmed slightly, his features shifting back toward human, though the wolf remained close to the surface.


    There will be no more negotiations, he dered, his voice resonating with Alpha authority. No more diplomery Kane those mar Nadia and Skye.¡± He hoked around the room, meeting each council membej s gaze in turn. vill give him exactly.


    ¡°What¡¯s the n, Alpha? Marcus asked, his blind eyes somehow focused despite the video call limitations


    ¡°Lydia,¡± Adrian turned to the masked woman, preserve Nadia¡¯s body. Keep it safe until we retur. His expression handened into something terrible beautiful in its ferocity. ¡°When we bury het, Kane¡¯s head will be at her feet¨Can offering to apany her into the next life.¡±


    and


    No one objected. No one suggested caution or restraint. In that moment, we were unified in our grief and age, bound by a shared determination that an would pay for what he had done to our Beta.


    Oasisben had been founded as a sanctuary, a ce of prare for the herken and rejected. But as I looked at the faces around me¨CVenut¡¯s cold fory, Martin¡¯s deadly focus, Lydia¡¯s quiet lethality, Garretts technological brilliance mus turned toward destruction¨CI realized that prace extracted through submission was no peace at <b>all </b>


    Sometimes, to protect what you love, you must be the very thing you fear.

 Casts 88

    Chapter <b>88 </b>


    Han¡¯s POV


    Night fell over Dasisborn territory, bringing with it a silence any Til known in my years an A


    Alpha.


    No muste yed from the


    mourned Nadia¡¯s passing.<fn9912> The rightful source is find?novel</fn9912>


    1 stood at the edge of our gathering, watching as my pack prepared for was.


    <b>Venus </b>moved with lethal grace through the ranks, distributing weapons with her single arm more efficiently than most could manage with Her normallypassionate expression had hardened into something primal and unforgiving Beside her, Marrus checked each warrior¡¯s readiness with scanny prech¨¢m despite his blindness, his heightened senses detecting even the slightest se in their equipment or stance.


    Lydia worked silently nearby, her masked face revealing nothing as she coated arrowheads and daggers with her specialized wolf poison. The same poison that had coursed through Nadia¡¯s veins now gleamed on our des¨Ca fitting symmetry that didn¡¯t escape my notice.


    Garrett hunched over multiple screens, his fingers flying cross keyboards as he disabled Gravestones security systems remotely. The usual tremor in his injured leg seemed absent, <b>his </b>movements fueled by a cold rage that transcended physical limitations.


    ed by grief in


    into something harder, older. The guitar that rarely


    And Ryder¨Cyoung, impetuous Ryder¨Cstood motionless for once, his boyish features transformed <b>by </b>left his side had been reced by twin daggers strapped to <b>his </b>thighs


    I felt Skye¡¯s presence before I <b>saw </b>her. She approached silently, her silver hair bound tightly back, her small frame encased inbat gear that couldn¡¯t disguise the predatory grace of her movements. The bruises from her captivity had begun to fade, but something in her eyes had changed¨Ca hardness <b>that </b>hadn¡¯t been there before, a shadow 1 recognized all too well.


    ¡°The team is ready,¡± she reported<b>, </b>her voice steady despite the weight of whaty ahead<b>. </b>


    I nodded, studying her face. ¡°You don¡¯t have <b>to </be. You¡¯ve already endured enough at Kane¡¯s <b>hands</b>,¡±


    Her green eyes shed with determination. I drank coffee with Nadia. 1 made herugh. I watched her sacrifice herself for me.¡± She checked the silver dagger at her waist¨CTick, her weapon <b>of </b>choice. ¡°Im going.¡±


    There was no arguing with that resolve. I turned to address the assembled warriors¨Cforty <b>of </b>our strongest, each wearing the ck armbands that signified a pack in mourning.


    *Tonight, we bring justice to those who have taken our Beta from I began, my voice carrying <b>across </b>the silent gathering. ¡°Not revenge¨Cjustice. There <b>a </b>


    I let my gare travel over each face, meeting their eyes one by one. ¡°We are not Kane. We do not ughter the innocent or torture the defenseless. Our <b>target </b>is specific: Kane <b>and </b>any who participated in Nadia¡¯s torture.¡± I raised my voice, letting my Alpha influence color my words. ¡°But <b>make </b>no mistake¨Cfor those responsible, there will be no mercy.¡±


    A low growl of agreement rumbled through the assembled wolves.


    ¡°Move cut,¡± I ordered, and like a single <b>organism</b>, we melted into <b>the </b>desert night.


    We approached Gravestone territory from thier directions¨Ca pincer movement designed to overwhelm their defenses before they could organize a response. Gament¡¯s technological sabotage had disabled their security cameras andmunication systems, leasing them blind to our advance


    The first guards we encountered never <b>had </b><b>a </b><b>chance </b><b>to </b>sound an rm. Marcus¡¯s team neutralized them with silent efficiency, Lydia¡¯s wolf poison ensuring they fell without a <b>sound</b>, paralyzed but conscigus¨Cable to witness what came next but powerless to interve


    My team, with Skye moving like a <b>silver </b><b>shadow </b>at my side, prated deeper into their territory. Unlike our previous rescue mission, we made no attempt


    at stealth now.


    The first real resistance came at thepound¡¯s outer wall. A dozen warnes rushed to defend the breach, fangs bared and partially shifted. I felt the


    <b>1/2 </b>


    familiar surge <b>of </b>power as my own wolf rose to the surface, bones tracking and reforming as 1 embraced


    My vision sharpened, colors bleeding away into the heightened contrast of wolf sight, Scents intensified¨Cfest, adrenaline, the metantie fami drawn in baste


    I collided with the fast defender in mid air, mywn closing around his throat before he couldplete his own shift. The taste of blood <b>filled </b>my mouth ¨C I tore through flesh and stew<b>, </b>dropping his lifeless body before moving in the next appon¨¨nt.


    Around me, my pack fought with cold precision. Verus whitled through the enemy tanks, her single arm wielding a de with deadly grace, each strie finding vulnerable points with surgical uracy.


    Marcus moved like a sraith among them, his blindness in hindrance as he tracked his opponents by sound and scent, delivering paralytic data with unerring aim<b>. </b>


    <b>Ryder </b>fought with uncharacterise silence, his oual exuberance reced by methodical lethality. Two opponents fell beneath his daggers before they could even register his presence


    <b>And </b>Skye¨Cmy silver woll¨Cmoved with a fluid grace that belied her recent injuries.


    As we pushed deeper into thepound, the resistance grew more organized. Kane¡¯s Beta, Reyes, led a counter¨Cattack, rallying the remaining warriors into a defensive formation that momentarily halted our advance.


    ¡°Stand down, Reyes,¡± I called, shifting partially <b>back </b>to human form to speak. ¡°<b>Dur </b>quarrel is with Kane, not with you.¡±


    ¡°You invade our territory <b>and </b>ughter our warriors, <b>then </b>im you want only Kane?¡± Reyes snarled, his body tensed to spring. ¡°Your mate is dead. ept it and <b>go </b>home, <b>Adrian</b>.¡±


    ¡°<b>She </b>wasn¡¯t my mate,¡± I corrected him, my voice dropping dangerously low, ¡°She was my Beta. My right <b>hand</b>. My friend,¡± Each word carried the weight of my grief, my rage. ¡°And Kane tortured her. Vited her. Murdered her


    Something flickered in Reyes¡¯s eyes¨Cdoubt, perhaps, or even shame. ¡°Kane is our Alpha,¡± he said, <b>though </b>with less conviction. ¡°We are bound to defend him.¡±


    ¡°Are you bound to defend a torturer? A <b>rapist</b>? Venus stepped forward, her scarred face terrible in its fury. ¡°Is that the Alpha you choose to follow?¡±


    Reyes hesitated, his gaze darting between <b>his </b>warriors and our advancing force. I could see the calction in his eyes¨Cweighing loyalty against survival, duty against morality.


    ¡°Where is Kane?¡± I demanded, letting my partial shift progress further, ws extending from my fingertips. ¡°Give him to us, and the rest of you may live.¡±

 Casts 89

    Adrian¡¯s <b>POV </b>


    For a moment, I thought Reyes might rest. Then his shoulders slumped subtly¨Cthe posture of


    acknowledging a superior predelni.


    ¡°The underground banket,¡± he said, stepping aside. ¡°Behind the main building. He went there when mur systems hegen falling.¡±


    I nodded once in acknowledgment. ¡°Smart choice, Reyes, keep your prople out of our way, and no mor blood red he thed.¡±


    As we moved past the surrendered warriors, I caught the scent of relief mingling with their fear.


    Not all of <b>Kane¡¯s </b><b>pack </b>had shared bis erwelty, it ressed. Some had followed him mut of obligation rather than conviction.


    The underground bunker was exactly where Reyes had indicated¨Cn reinforced structure hidden beneath an innominus storage building. The entrance <b>was </b>garded by Kane¡¯s most loyal followers<b>, </b>wolves whs fought with the desperate ferocity of those who knew defeat meant death.


    We lost two cations in that final push young fighters barely established in our pack, but no less mourned for their brief time with os. Their sacrifice allowed us to breach the <b>banker¡¯s </b>defenses, pouring into the mamme corridor that led in Kane¡¯s final refuge.


    He waited for us in a circr chamber at the heart of the structure, no longer the smug confident Alpha who had tainted us during negotiations. His emerald eyes darted frantically between escape routes already cut off by our warriors. Six of his elite <b>guards </b>formed a protective circle around him, their partially shifted forms hunched and ready.


    ¡°So,¡± Kane drawled, feigning a <b>calm </b>his scent betrayed as false, the peaceful Alpha of <b>Oasisborn </b>Finally shows his true nature. What would your precious <b>Nadia </b>think of this bloodbath, I wonder?¡±


    A growl numbled through my chest. ¡®You don¡¯t speak her name,¡± I wamed, my voice harely human through elongated fangs.


    ¡°Why not?¡± Kanes lips curled into <b>a </b>cruel smile, ¡°She cried it often enough when we were getting to know each other better.¡±


    The taunt hit its mark. With a roar that seemed to shake the very walls, Iunched myself at Kane, my wolf taking fall control. His guards moved to intercept me, but my pack was faster. Venus took down two with consecutive strikes of her <b>de</b><b>, </b>while Marcus and Ryder engaged the others.


    Skye darted past the melee, <b>her </b>silver form wearing betweenbatants to reach Kane just as I did. Together, we crashed <b>into </b>him, driving him backward against the concrete wall with enough force to crack the reinforced surface.


    Kane shifted fully, his rust¨Ccolored wolf snarling <b>and </b>snapping as he fought to break free from ourbined grip. <b>His </b>jaws found my forearm, teeth sinking deep into flesh, but I barely felt the pain through the haze of battle,rage,


    Skyes dagger shed, finding the vulnerable spot at the base of his throat. Not deep enough to kill, but precisely ced to deliver <b>Lydia¡¯s </b>wolf poison Kane¡¯s body stiffened <b>as </b>the toxin took effect, his struggles growing weaker <b>as </b><b>paralysis </b>spread through his system.


    ¡°Hold him,¡± I ordered <b>Skye</b>, shifting back to human form <b>as </b>I drew a silver de from my belt. The <b>same </b>de I had intended to use in a formal dus repurposed for a more immediate <b>Justice</b>.


    With Venus and Marcus¡¯s help, we dragged Kane¡¯s paralyzed form from the bunker, through thepound, and into the central courtyard where the remaining Gravestone wohres had gathered. Some watched with undisguised relief, others with fear of anger, as we bound their Alpha <b>to </b><b>a </b>stone pir at the center of the <b>space</b>..


    Kane¡¯s emerald eyes burned with hatred <b>as </b>the paralysis receded enough for him to speak. ¡°You <b>think </b>this makes you powerful he spat, blood trickling from his mouth where I¡¯d struck him. ¡°Attacking without warning, using poison like cowarda?¡±


    ¡°<b>Poison</b>,¡± I repeated softly, crouching to meet his gaze. Like what you imnted in Nadia¡¯s <b>body</b>? Like what you <b>used </b>to <b>ensure </b>she died eve her?


    en if we rescued


    His lips curled into a sneer. She <b>was </b><b>just </b><b>a </b>Beta. Receable Forgettable.¡±


    Venus stepped forward, her dark eyes zing with Eury. Without warning, she spat directly into <b>Kane¡¯s </b>face, the globnding <b>squarely </b>on his <b>cheek </b><b>and </b>sliding down to his jaw


    <b>1/2 </b>


    Chapter <b>89 </b><fn5fc7> Latest content published on find{n}ovel</fn5fc7>


    <b>Sybare </b>nothing <b>but </b>a coward <b>who </b><b>preys </b>on women, the blued, her normally


    ¡°<b>mr </b>to Jetl powerful!


    Kane snarled<b>, </b>straining against his beds. ¡°Kill me then, if you have the spine for it. Dr are you too


    His gaze shifted to his park members who had surrendered, some now kneeling with heads bowed in submission. ¡°Look at you,¡± he ineered it then. Spineless curs, bowing to the first stiger well whoes along. No loyalty, no hackbone?


    A movement at the edge of the gathering caught my attention. A group of women and elderly wolves approached cautiously, terror evident in their postures. One elderly female, her gray hair pulled <b>back </b>in a tight braid, stepped forward with visible effort.


    ¡°Please, Alpha Adrian,¡± she pleaded, her voice trembling. ¡°Many of us had no part in what happened to your Beta. We have children, innocents who don¡¯t deserve to suffer for Kane¡¯s crimes.¡±


    I studied het weathered face, then looked around at the others¨Cthe mothers clutching children to their sides, the elderly supporting each other, the ordinary pack members who had been caught in their Alpha¡¯y madarts..


    ¡°We are not butchers. dered, my voice carrying across the silent courtyard, ¡°We do not ughter the innocent or punish children for the sins of their <b>leaders</b><b>.</b>¡±


    Relief washed over their faces, shoulders slumping as the tension eased. The warriors who had surrendered exchanged nces, their expressions lightening with cautious <b>hope</b>.


    I turned back to Kane, still <b>bound </b>to the pir, and let my voice drop to <b>a </b>deadly whisper. ¡°I can spare the innocent. My hand tightened around the silver de. ¡°But every single person who participated in Nadia¡¯s torture¡­ every hand that caused her pain, every woll who vited her dignity.


    My voice <b>rose </b>as I addressed the entire gathering. ¡°Every one of them will die screaming, their suffering <b>a </b>pale shadow of what they inflicted on <b>our </b>Beta!¡±


    Fear rippled through the crowd, several wolves backing away instinctively.


    ify them. You memorized their scents from Nadia¡¯s body.¡±


    ¡°Marcus,¡± I called, ¡°identify t


    Marcus moved through the gathering with terrible purpose, his blind eyes somehow more intimidating than any sighted re.


    <b>One </b>by one, he selected wolves from the crowd¨Ctwelve in total, each bearing the distinctive scent markers of those who <b>had </b>direct contact with Nadia during her captivity.


    <b>They </b>were brought forward and forced to kneel before Kane, their Alpha unable to help them as justice prepared to fall,


    The night had only just begun.

 Casts 90

    <b>Chapter </b><b>90 </b>


    <b>Adrian¡¯s </b>POY


    The courtyard fell silent as the twelve wolves keli before their Alpha. They knew what wasing. I could smell their fear, sharp and weld in the night sic


    Kane struggled agrist his restraints, his emerald eyes burning with hatred. ¡°Kill me if you have the cage,¡± he spat, blood trickling from the corner of mouth. ¡°You weakness disgusts me. You and your pathetic pack of broken misfits!


    I looked at each far, memorizing their features. Some maintained defiance, chins lifted in pride despite their position. Others trembled, gazes <b>fixed </b>on the ground, unable to meet my eyes,<fn5b92> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find~novel</fn5b92>


    ¡°Nadia was not just my Beta.¡± 1 announced,


    The backbone of everything we built at Oasisbon.¡±


    carrying across the silentfyard. ¡°She was my childhood friend. The fint to follow me into exile.


    The first warrior was dragged forward, Marcus held his fly in ce as


    de <b>against </b>his neck


    ¡°Do you have anyst words?¡± I asked, more


    mut of tradition than mercy.


    She screamed beautifully,¡± he rasped, that smile never leaving his face. ¡°Your Beta, She fought at first, but by the end-


    I <b>didn¡¯t </b>let him finish. My de sliced through flesh and bone in one clean art, severing his <b>head </b>from his shoulders. Blood sprayed across the stone courtyard <b>as </b>his body copsed, head rolling to a stop at Kane¡¯s feet.


    The remaining warriors began to struggle against their captors, <b>panic </b>overtaking their earlier bravado. But my <b>pack </b>held them firmly, maring one would escape the justice they had earned.


    One by one, they were brought forward. Some begged for mercy. Others cured my nume, swearing vengeance even as they faced death. One harely older than <b>Ryder</b>, sobbed that he¡¯d had no choice¨Cthat refusing Kane¡¯s orders meant death for his sister.


    1 hesitated only once, when that young wolf pleaded <b>his </b><b>case </b>


    Venus <b>stepped </b>forward, her face hard as stone.


    ¡°Did Nadia have a choice?¡± she asked him quietly. ¡°When they vited her? When they broke her bones and left them to heal wrong, only to break them


    The young wolf¡¯s head dropped in shame, his shoulders slumping as he epted his fate. My de fell twelve times that night, each execution swift and clean¨Ca mercy many of them hadn¡¯t shown <b>Nadia </b>


    When only Kane semained, <b>I </b>handed the bloodied de to Garrett. Throughout the executions, he had stood silently, his face a rigid <b>mask </b>of contained rage. Now, as he took the weapon, his hands <b>shook </b>with emotion 14 never seen in our usuallyposed technology specialist.


    ¡°For what they did to her,¡± I said softly.


    He approached Kane with slow, deliberate steps, his usual limp more pronounced from exhaustion and grief. The de trembled in his hand, but <b>was </b>steady <b>as </b>he addressed the bound Alpha.


    You thought her nothing but a Beta. Receable. Forgettable Garrett¡¯s eyes glistened with unshed tears, ¡°But to me, she was everything.¡±


    Kane tried to maintain his <b>sneer</b>, but the fear in <b>his </b>scent betrayed <b>him</b>. ¡°You crippled runt,¡± he hissed. ¡°You weren¡¯t even worthy to look at her, let alone


    Garrett¡¯s first cut silenced hig¨Cnot to the <b>throat </b><b>as </b>expected, but lower. Kane¡¯s scream tore through the night as Garrett removed the very symbol of his Alpha dominance with brutal efficiency.


    ¡°This is for every vition, Garrett growled, his gentle naturepletely transformed by grief and rage. For every indignity she suffered at your hands.¡±


    Blood pooled at Kane¡¯s feet as Garrettpleted his grim task. With cold precision, he forced Kames severed member between the Alpha¡¯s lips, a final humiliation that reflected the degradation Nadia had endured<b>. </b>


    ¡°Now,¡± Garrett said, stepping back, his voice empty of emotion. ¡°Now you may end him.¡±


    173


    Chapter 90.


    dreimed the de<b>, </b>positioning it at Ranes throat 180 m, once an ringant


    monster who had bedered Nadia¡¯s torture, who had threatened my <b>pack </b>and murdered my Beta¨Csuddenly seemed imali,


    <b>¡°</b><b>For </b>Nadia,¡± I whispered, and brought the de down in one final, decisive arc.


    <b>Kane¡¯s </b><b>head </b>joined those of his warrion, thirteen trophies of a justice long overdue. The assembled Gravestone wolves watched in horrified silence averting their eyes from the bloody scene.


    I turned to address them, my voice carrying across the courtyard with Alpha authority. The pack known as Gravestone is hereby dissolved. Its territory, resources, and infrastructure now belong to Oasishorn


    Murmurs of protest rippled through the crowd. A middle¨Caged warrior stepped forward cautiously.


    ¡°With all respect, Alpha Adrian,¡± he began, choosing his sms racefully, ¡°only the Alpha King has the authority to dissolve an established pack. This is¡­. unprecedented.¡±


    ¡°Is it?¡± 1 challenged, gesturing to the bloody scene sounding us. ¡°If the Alpha King truly cared about the western territories¨Cabout justice in the packs under his rule¨Cnone of this would have happened. Where was his Intervention when Kane poisoned our Lake? When he took our Bets and tortured her?¡±


    The warrior <b>had </b>no answer, his gaze dropping in tacit acknowledgment


    ¡°If you wish to protest my decision,¡± I continued, ¡°you¡¯re wee to petition the Alpha King directly. Perhaps he will finally turn his attention to the packs he¡¯s neglected for so long.¡±


    Several wolves stepped forward, their expressions hopeful as a young female spoke. ¡°Alpha Adrian, may we join Oasisborn? Many of us had no part in Kane¡¯s cruelty. We only followed him out of necessity, out of frur.¡±


    119


    1 studied their earnest faces, seeing the genuine desire for a better life in their eye. Under different circumstances<b>, </b><b>I </b>might have weed them¨Cafter <b>all</b><b>, </b>Oasisborn had been founded as <b>a </b>sanctuary for the disced and broken.


    But not this time. <b>Not </b>with <b>Nadia¡¯s </b>blood still


    Il fresh on my


    on my hands.


    ¡°No,¡± I stated firmly, ¡°No member of Gravestone will ever set foot in Oasisbom territory. <b>Nadia¡¯s </b>home remains sacred<b>, </b>untouched by those who served her killers, however unwillingly.¡±


    Their <b>faces </b>fell, disappointment and fear recing hope. Some of the females <b>chatched </b>young pups closer, clearly wondering what would be of them


    Seeing their distress, I felt a flicker of thepassion that had once defined Oasisbom¡¯s founding principles. <b>Nadia </b>would not want innocent children to suffer, regardless of their parents¡® allegiances.


    ¡°However,¡± I added, my tone softening slightly, ¡°I will allocate resources for the elderly, the women, and the children. Enough to establish yourselves elsewhere, to start anew. That is my final mercy.¡±


    Relief washed over many faces, gratitude recing fear. The elderly woman who had first approached me stepped forward <b>again</b>, bowing her head respectfully.


    ¡°Thank you, Alpha Adrian,¡± she said, her voice quavering. ¡°Yourpassion honors your Beta¡¯s memory more than vengeance ever could<b>.¡± </b>


    I tumed to mypanions, my <b>pack</b>, who had stood by me through this night of blood and justice.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go home,¡± I <b>said </b>quietly. ¡°Nadia <b>is </b>waiting for us.¡±

 Casts 91

    <b>Chapter </b><b>91 </b>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    Dawn broke over bern with unatural brilliance, as if the sun itself sought to mark our griet with its cheerful


    The mining light filtered themich the nasis trees, casting dappled shadows across the procession as we made our way in the small clearing that served as our pack¡¯s memmfal grounil.


    Nadia¡¯s body, wrapped in the traditional ck shroud reserved for fallen Betas, rested on a wooden tform carried by six warriors.


    Adrian led the procession, his face an emotionless mask that couldn¡¯t quite control the devastation in his eyes, fehind him walked the council members Vienus, Marcus, Lydia, and Carrell¨Ceach bearing tokens that represented Nadia¡¯s life and service.


    I followed a few steps behind, unse of my ce in this solemn ritual. Though.


    with bad named me as her sessor, I felt like an impoitier


    The weight of her Beta insignia pin rested heavily in my pocket, a burden 1 wasn¡¯t centein I was ready to bear


    The entire pack had gathered at the memorial ground, forming a perfect circle around the freshly dug grase. Even the children stond in respectful nience, their young faces solemn as they clutched small white tunes¨Cofferings to guide Nadia¡¯s spirit on its journey.


    Adrian stepped forward as the warriors lowered the tform beside the open grave. His voice, when he finally spoke, carried one of themanding authority that typically defined him as Alpha. Instead<b>, </b>it emerged rough and <b>hollow</b><b>, </b><b>as </b>if scraped new by unshed tears


    ¡°We gather <b>today </b>to honor Nadia Bet,¡± he began, his hands clenched at his sides to <b>hide </b>their trembling. ¡°Beta of Oasisbon Pack, daughter of Steven and Katherine Bet, sister to none by <b>blood </b>but to all by choice.?


    <b>A </b>murmur of agreement rippled through the assembled wolves, many nodding as they recalled Nadia¡¯s fierce loyalty to our makeshift family.


    Nadia was the <b>first </b>


    <b>to </b>follow me into exile, Adrian continued<b>, </b>his gaze fixed on the shrouded form before him. ¡°When I lost my birthright, my home, any family¨Cwhen I had nothing to offer but an uncertain future and the promise of hardship¨CNadia never hesitated. Not once.¡±


    Venus stepped forward, cing a singlebat glove atop the shroud. ¡°She was our strength,¡± the one¨Carmed woman said, her voice steady despite the tears streaming down her face. ¡°When resources were scarce and hope seemed distant, <b>Nadia¡¯s </b>determination never wavered.¡±


    <b>Marcus </b>followed, his sightless eyes somehow conveying more emotion than many sighted ones could manage. He ced <b>Nadia¡¯s </b>training whistle beside the plove. ¡°She built our warriors from nothing,¡± he said, his deep voice resonating across the clearing. <b>¡°</b><b>Weak </b>became strong under her guidance. Broken became


    whole.¡±


    Lydia approached next, her steps measured and graceful despite her grief. She carried a small wooden box, which she ced gently beside the other offerings. ¡°She trusted me when others wouldn¡¯t,¡± the masked woman said, her melodic voice thick with emotion. ¡°She <b>saw </b>past appearances to the truth beneath.¡±


    Each pack member came forward in turn, adding stones <b>or </b>small <b>tokens </b>to the growing collection of memories- hair ribbon from <b>a </b>young girl <b>w</b><b>. </b>nightmares Nadu had soothed<b>, </b>a carved wolf figurine from an elderly Omega whom Nadia had defended from harassment, a pressed desert flower from : warrior whose life <b>Nadia </b>had saved during <b>a </b>border skermish.


    Then Garrett approached<b>, </b>his uneven gait mode pronounced than usual as he limped to the tform. In his hands, he carried <b>a </b>small copper circuit board, <b>carefully </b>preserved in a <b>clear </b>protective case¨Cthe first project Nadia had helped himplete when he joined Oasisborn. She had sat with him for hours, holdingponents steady with her strong hands while he soldered, never onceining about the tedious work.


    ¡°We build things together, she had told him. With trembling fingers, he ced it gently atop the shroud, then pressed his forehead against <b>the </b>dark tabri in a moment of intimate farewell.


    ¡°She never knew,¡± he whispered, <b>his </b>voice barely <b>audible </b>even to werewolf hearing. She never knew how much¡­¡±


    He couldn¡¯t finish, his shoulders shaking with/silent sobs as Venus gently guided him back to his <b>ce </b>in the circle.


    Finally, Adrian gestured for the warriors to begin lowering Nadia¡¯s body into the grave. As the rupes creaked under the weight, he turned <b>and </b>nodded to Marcus, who stepped forward carrying <b>a </b>wrapped bundle¨Cthe severed <b>head </b>of Kane, preserved since <b>that </b>night of bloody justice


    172


    Chapter <b>91 </b>


    The pack t¨¦li ment as Adrien unwrapped the grisly trophy, Kane¡¯s once handmme lectures now fretem in an miernik


    younger wolves guped or looked away, but Adrian


    hatice has been served, Adrian announced, his ejes burning with old fire. ¡°Nadia killers have paid the price for their mielty. Her sacrifice m¨º forgotten, not will it be in vain.<fn5054> Find the newest release on find?novel</fn5054>


    He ced Kane¡¯s head at the foot of Nadia¡¯s grave, then retrieved a torch from a nearby witrior. The mes danced in the morning light as he lowered it the severed head.


    ¡°May your enemy¡¯s suffering apany you into the next life, he said as the fine caught, engulfing Kane¡¯s head in bright mes. ¡°May his eternal tonbelt Tant you the peace you deserved but never found is this me


    The pack watched in solemn silence as the head burned, neriid smoke rising into the clear desert sky. The symbolism was clear to all present¨C Adrian hind fulfilled the ancient werewolf tradition, ensuing his Beta omuld not travel to the afterlife alone, but with her vanquished enemy as an eternal servant.


    <b>One </b>by one, pack members approached the grave<b>, </b>each tossing a handful of earth onto the shrouded form below. The patter of dirt against fabric created a rhythm like gentle rainfall, a natural percussion apanying mir grief..


    When thest handful had been cast and the grave filled, Adrian knelt beside the mounded earth, his fingers tracing patterns in the loose soil. The <b>others </b>began to disperse slowly, moving back toward the mainpound in small, subdued groups.


    1 lingered at the edge of the clearing, uncertain whether to follow or to remain. Adrian hadn¡¯t moved, his form silhouetted against the brightening sky as he maintained his vigil beside the fresh grave.

 Casts 92

    <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¨Call 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¨Cthe 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¨Craw, 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¨Cit 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.

 Casts 93

    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    One week after Radia funeral, the desert alt hung beway with the scent of extinguished candles and grief, Four warrior graves joined Bach boas struck t fresh wound in ourmunity.


    ording te werewolf tradition, families must keep vigil for seven days beside their deceased rtives, ensuring candles hum continuously around the body, I had called Nadia¡¯s father, Steven Bet, to inform him of his daughter¡¯s death, asking if he woulde to maintain the vigil for her.


    answer haunted me still.


    I final: ¡°When Nadia chose to follow Adrian out of tool three years ago, I already


    After a long silence, his voice hade through the phone, cold and final; moumed her. She died to me them. You bury her properly.¡±


    The line had gone dead, leaving me staring at my phone in shock. How could a father refuse to say goodbye to his daughter? How could he have hardened his heart sopletely?


    The question spiraled into a darker one <b>that </b>kept me awake at night: Would my own parents feel the same if they learned of my fate?


    Had they already buried me in their hearts when i <b>fled </b>Frostshadew?


    I found myself reaching for my phone repeatedly, my parents¡® numbers burned into my memory from <b>years </b>of writing them in journals, thinking about them during holidays, imagining calls I never made. Once, I actually dialed my mother¡¯s number, only to hang up the moment it began ringing.


    Next time, I told myself. Maybe on Mother¡¯s birthday, the timing will be better.


    But I knew I was just bring a coward.


    Seven days after the battle, Adrian finally emerged from his grief¨Cstricken istion and returned <b>to </b><b>his </b>office. The dark circles under his eyes had faded slightly, though <b>his </b>usualmanding presence seemed dimmed, like a me burning lower thanual,


    <b>Skye</b>,¡± he s


    said one morning. ¡°It¡¯s <b>time </b>you leamed <b>what </b>being lleta truly means.¡±


    I followed him to the Beta office¨C<b>Nadia¡¯s </b>office with my stomach in knots.


    The room still carried her scent, a faint mix of leather and sage <b>that </b>made my chest tighten with guilt. Her desk remained exactly as she¡¯d left it, with training schedules meticulously organized and pack reports filed with mathematical precision.


    Adrian noticed my hesitation as I lingered in the doorway. ¡°<b>It¡¯s </b>yours now,¡® he said gently, though I heard the strain in his voice. She would want you to use


    I forced myself <b>to </b>step inside, running my fingers along the edge of her desk. Part of me felt like an imposter<b>, </b>siging <b>in </b>a chair that had been shap years of Nadia¡¯s presence. But another part of me straightened my spine, remembering her final request


    Take care of him. Be the Beta he needs


    ¡°Teach me,¡± I said, meeting <b>Adrian¡¯s </b>gaze directly. ¡°Show me how to honor what she built.¡±


    Relief flickered across his features <b>as </b>he began exining the daily responsibilities¨Ccoordinating training schedules, managing security rotations, mediating daputes between pack members, reviewing border patrol reports.


    His voice grew stronger as he fell into the familial rhythms of leadership, though I caught him ncing at Nadia¡¯s empty chair more than once.


    By evening, as I organized thest stack of papers, Adrian appeared in


    <b>doorway</b>.


    ¡°Call the council,¡± he said, his expression serimus. ¡®I need to speak with everyone. Tonight.¡±


    ¡°<b>What¡¯s </b>happened?


    <b>Chapter </b>93


    Gjust call them, <b>Skye </b>Pleme,


    An hourter, the council chamber filed with


    viliar faces. One absence would forever change our dynamie,


    <b>Adrian </b>gestured to the beat beside him. ¡°<b>Skye</b>.¡± It <b>was </b>Nadia¡¯s seat.


    The room fell silent as I moved to take my ce, feeling every eye upon me. The leather creaked differently under my we


    Adrian bond. For a moment, he seemed to gather himself, amber eyes sweeping across each council member before settling on me.


    ¡°As you know,¡± he began, his voler steady but strained, The Alpha King election takes ce this year.¡±


    A murmur rippled through the room. The Alpha King election ured every four years, determining who would lead all North American werewolf packs. Currently, Alpha Thomas of the Eastern Territories held the position.


    ¡°After considerable thought, Adrian continued, meeting each gaze in turn, ¡°I¡¯ve decided to enter the election as a candidate.¡±


    Shocked silence greeted his announcement. Then everyone seemed to speak at once.


    ¡°About time,¡± Venus dered, her single fist pounding the table for emphasis. ¡°You¡¯re exactly what this continent needs.¡±


    The resources required for a campaign¡­ Garrett began, worry creating his features. ¡°The travel, the publicity, the political maneuvering¨Cit¡¯s enormous¡±


    ¡°We can handle it,¡± Marcus said firmly: ¡°<b>Our </b><b>pack </b>is stronger than ever. And after w


    with intensity.


    what we¡¯ve just endured, Adrian is ready.¡± <b>His </b>blind eyes seemed to burn


    Ryder had remained quiet, staring at his hands. When he finally spoke, his voice was hollow. ¡°Nadia always said you¡¯d be Alpha King someday. <b>She </b>believed in that dream more than anyone.¡±


    The mention of her name cast a shadow over the room. I saw Adrian¡¯s jaw tighten, his hands clenching briefly before rxing.


    This is partly for her,¡± Adrian admitted, ¡°But also for every pack that¡¯s been forgotten, neglected, or abused while the Alpha King looks the other way, Kane terrorized the western territories for years with no intervention. That <b>stops </b>now.¡±


    I found myself speaking without thinking. ¡°When do you announce your candidacy?¡±


    Adrian turned to me, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. ¡°Til submit my formal application to the Council tomorrow. The election is <b>in </b><b>six </b>months. That gives us time to prepare, to strengthen our position, to build the alliances we¡¯ll need.¡±


    ¡°And Oasisbom?¡± Lydia inquired, her melndir voice carrying a note of concern. ¡°Who leads in your absence?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t abandon <b>Oasisbom</b>,¡± Adrian said firmly. ¡°Il manage remotely when possible, and Skye will travel with me most of the time. If we¡¯re both away, Venus can oversee operations here.¡±<fnff3a> Fresh chapters posted on F?nd-Novel</fnff3a>


    All


    turned to me, but I spoke before the doubt could settle. ¡°Venus was once Lana of a <b>mid</b><b>¨C</b><b>sized </b><b>pack</b><b>. </b>I trust her management capabilities.


    Venus nodded <b>approvingly</b>, a slight smile ying at the corner of her mouth.


    ¡°The question b. Marcus said, ¡®can we win?¡±


    Adrian¡¯s expression hardened into something I recognized from our battle with Kane, absolute determination. ¡°We will win. Because we¡¯re fighting for more than power or prestige. We¡¯re fighting for a future where packs like ours don¡¯t have to <b>fear </b>tyrants like Kane. Where Alphas <b>are </b>held ountable but their actions. Where every pack, regardless of size or location, <b>has </b>a <b>voice</b>.¡±


    His words resonated through the chamber, stining something primal in each of us. This wasn¡¯t just about Adrian bing Alpha King. It was about <b>reshaping </b>the very nature of werewolf leadership.


    As the meeting continged, ns taking shape for the campaign ahead, I caught myself ncing at the empty chair that would forever belong to Nadia


    Somehow, I knew she <b>was </b>watching, proud of Adrian¡¯s <b>decision</b>, confident in his future.

 Casts 94

    <b>Chapter 94 </b>


    LEON <b>POV</b>


    ¡°Did <b>you </b>hear!¡± I Ethan burst into my office, his breathingbored as if he¡¯d run the entire way from his quarters,


    I set down the financial report Id been reviewing and raised an rychem at his flustered state. ¡°Hear what? And why are you rushing und kated


    ¡°Alpha Adrian of Dasisbon Pack has killed Alpha Kanel Ethan Munted out, his eyes wide with excitement. ¡°Kane of Gravestone Park is dead!¡±


    1 leaned <b>back </b>in my leather chain, unimpressed. Two inelevant western packs fighting amongst themselves. What does that matter to us?¡±


    That¡¯s not all, Ethan pressed on, moving closer to my desk. I also heard that assborn Pack has dissolved the entire eavestone Pack and absorbed Territory


    Now that made me pause. My fingers stilled on the report¡¯s edge as I looked up at him properly. Theplete distion of an established <b>pack </b>was rare¨Ck unprecedented, even.


    Typically, when an Alpha <b>was </b>killed, the pack would quickly elect a new leader and continue operations. For an entire existence¡­ that spoke of something beyond a simple territorial dispute.


    to be dissolved and enesed from


    ¡°Oasisbom,¡± I mused, the name


    name triggering an unwee memory. ¡°That¡¯s the park your sister joined,


    ed, isn¡¯t it?


    Ethan¡¯s expression shifted<b>, </b>ufortable. Yes, Alpha. <b>She¡¯s </b>still there, as <b>far </b>as I know.¡±


    ¡®Has she responded to any of your messages <b>since </b>herst letter? I asked, though I already suspected the answer.


    ¡°No,¡± he admitted, his shoulders slumping slightly. ¡°I tried to convince her toe home after she first wrote to tell <b>us </b>about joining them, but she never replied. It¡¯s been months now,¡±


    Anger red in my chest, bot and immediate. ¡°<b>Since </b>she¡¯s made her choice, stop trying to bring her back!¡± I snapped, my voice carrying enough force to <b>make </b>Ethan step back. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear another word about your <b>sister¡¯s </b>juvenile rebellion.¡±


    ¡°I know <b>Skye </b>can be stubborn and childish,¡± Ethan said carefully, his tone apologetic. I thought <b>maybe </b>after four years away, she might have matured. If you <b>asked </b>her to return, perhaps she would listen to you


    I out him off with a harshugh. ¡°She left without <b>permission</b>, joined another pack without consulting anyone, and now you expect me to beg for her return? The very suggestion was insuhing. ¡°If she wants to y at independence, let her face the consequences alone¡±


    Ethan lowered his head, reading the finality in my tone. He mumbled something about getting back to training and quickly retreated from my office.


    After he left, I tried to focus on the financial reports, but the mention of Oasisbom and <b>that </b>Alpha Adrian kept gnawing at my concentration


    Six months until the Alpha King election. I needed to <b>stay </b>informed about potentialpetitors, regardless <b>of </b>how insignificant they might seem.


    Lopened myptop and navigated to the candidate database <b>I¡¯d </b>been monitoring. <b>Several </b>familiar names popted the list:


    Alpha Maxwell of Stormbowl Pack¨Cruthless, experienced<b>, </b>and politically savvy. He¡¯d been consolidating power for <b>years</b>, <b>no </b>doubt preparing for this very election.


    Alpha Xaver of Silverscreen Pack in Los Angeles<b>¨C</b>young, charismatic, media¨CGained. His Hollywood¨Cinspired PR team <b>had </b>transformed him into something like a werewolf celebrity, appealing especially to younger pack members across the continent.


    Alpha Rodrigs of Ironwater <b>Pack </b>from the <b>Gulf </b>Coast¨Cancient bloodline, vast resources, traditional power hase. His territory <b>included </b>several major ports, giving him significant economic influence.


    <b>Alpha </b>Morgan of Cascade <b>Pack </b>from the Pacific Northwest¨Cleveraging her female identity <b>to </b>unite female werewolves across the continent. She built a <b>massive </b>support base by advocating for female rights and welfare. Though her supporters were predominantly Omegas with limitedbat <b>abilities</b>, they <b>made </b>up for it in sheer numbers.


    Tandled to the bottom of the list, noting that another name had been added sher Td lost checked. <b>My </b>bond was! rold then thewhe<fna39f> ?????? ???? Find[?]ovel</fna39f>


    Alpha Adrian, Oasisbom Pack, Western Territories


    I clicked on his profile, and a photograph loaded. Strong jawline shadowed with dark stubble, hair the color of midnight, amber eyes that seemed <b>to </b>even through the digital linage. He was undeniably handsome in a niggeil, dangerous way that would probably appeal to certain demographics.


    Myptop n went dark with a forceful snap as I mmed it shut.


    How dare he?


    This nobody from nowhree, leading a pack so insignificant I had even heard name until today, thought he coldpete at this level?


    Was this why Skye had joined his pack? Had she been swayed by a pretty face and empty promises? The thought made my jaw clench painfully.


    He thought killing one minor Alpha and absorbing <b>a </b>failing pack gave him the credentials to lead all North American werewolves? The arrogance was


    staggering.


    I stood abruptly, pacing to the window that overlooked Frostshadow¡¯s pristine territory. Generations of strong leadership had built this empine, and I¡¯d been preparing to expand it further as Alpha King. Every decision I¡¯d made, every alliance I¡¯d forged, every sacrifice I¡¯d endured¨Call of it pointed toward that ultimate goal.


    And now some upstart from Texas thought he could challenge me?


    Fine.


    I would demonstrate exactly what happened when insignificus wolves overstepped their boundaries. By the end of the first week of campaigning, this Adrian <b>would </b>understand his ce in the hierarchy. He¡¯d withdraw has candidacy before the realpetition even began.


    I returned to my desk, pulling out my phone to make the first of several calls. If Adrian wanted to y in the <b>big </b>leagues, he¡¯d learn that power wasn¡¯t just about territory or military strength.


    Politics required connections, resources, and influence that took years to cultivate.


    And I had all three in abundance.


    Chapter Comments


    Jamie DeWitt


    umm.. no sir, you were told about the pack awhile ago when skye wrote ethan¡­


    Jamie


    I really hope she doesn¡¯t go back to Leon. he¡¯s insufferable and entitled.

 Casts 95

    The phone rang just as the sun was setting over Oasishom, casting long shadows across Adrian¡¯s office. He answered on the second ring, his expression immediately shifting from calm to tresion as he recognized the caller


    ¡°Because you did not obtain the Alpha King¡¯s apparral before dissolving Gravestone Park and confiscating their territory, it vites the established protocols,¡± the voice on the other end announced. Even though the phone, I could hear the formal<b>, </b>bureaucratie tone of the North American Werewolf Council elder. ¡°The Council has decided to reassess your candidacy for the Alpha King election.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s amber eyes shed with barely <b>controlled </b>anger. Gemstone <b>Park </b>was a concert¡± he growled into the receiver. ¡°Those monsters had terrorized the western territories for years! Where were you when they poisoned our water? When they tortured and murdered our Beta? Why didn¡¯t the Council <b>speak </b>up for the <b>packs </b>suffering under Kane¡¯s tyranny?<fnc5db> The rightful source is Find?Novel</fnc5db>


    I could hear the elder¡¯s response, though his words were measured and diplomatic: ¡°I understand your frustration, Alpha Adrian. I¡¯m merely following established procedures. My superiors have instructed us to review your eligibility in light of recent events.¡±<ul><li>Adrian¡¯s jaw elenched, his free hand curling into a fist on his <b>desk</b><b>. </b><b>¡°</b>I will provide evidence of Kane¡¯s crimes and those of his subordinates,¡± he said, each word carefully controlled despite the fury beneath. ¡°And if the Council still chooses to deny my candidacy, 1 will petition alongside eight other westem <b>packi </b>for a formal <b>appeal</b>.¡±</li></ul>


    Without waiting for a response, he ended the <b>call</b>, the phone ttering onto his desk with more force thin necessary.


    ¡°Adrian.¡± I began, confusion and anger mixing in my voice. ¡°Didn¡¯t the Council approve your candidaty just <b>two </b><b>days </b>ago? Why are they <b>suddenly </b>reassessing? This doesn¡¯t make sense!!


    Adriam rat


    ran a hand through his dark hair, <b>his </b>shoulders tense with frustration. I don¡¯t know,¡± <b>he </b>admitted, though his eyes held a suspicious glint ¡°Something¡¯s changed, and I doubt it¡¯s because they suddenly care about western pack politics.¡±


    ¡°Could it be Kane¡¯s Beta?¡± I suggested. Maybe he¡¯s trying to sabotage your campaign out of revenge¡±


    Adrian shook his <b>head </b>dismissively. ¡°Kane¡¯s Beta doesn¡¯t <b>have </b>the connections or influence to reach the <b>Council¡¯s </b>inner circles.¡± He paused, his expression. darkening. ¡°But my uncle Maxwell does. He probably heard about an absorbing Gravestones territory and resources. Thest thing he wants is for us to be more powerful.¡±


    The mention of Maxwell sent a <b>surge </b>of imitation through me. Though I¡¯d never met the man who had stolen Adrian¡¯s birthright, I already despised him for what he¡¯d done to Adrian¨Cand <b>now </b>for potentially sabotaging his dreams.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this, Skye,¡± Adrian said, his voice gentling as he futiced my <b>expression</b>. ¡°Til <b>pass </b>their reassessment. But I need you to help prepare our evidence against Cravestone <b>Pack</b><b>¡± </b>


    I nodded, <b>already </b>mentally cataloging what we needed. ¡°I¡¯ll get the reports from Dr. Chen¨CNadia¡¯s Jejury reports <b>and </b>autopsy findings.¡±


    <b>Adrian </b>winced slightly at the mention<b>, </b>but gestured approvingly. ¡°Good. But there¡¯s more.¡±


    ¡°Kane¡¯s public vition of our most <b>sacred </bws,¡± I continued, understanding his train of thought. The wedding incident¨Cattacking humans openly, risking exposure of our kind¨Cthat¡¯s far more serious than internal pack conflicts.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Adrian confirmed. The Council might overlook tentorial disputes, but they can¡¯t ignore threats to our collective secrecy.¡±


    Later that evening, <b>I </b><b>sat </b>in the B office. It felt trange to think of it as mine. Stacks of documents surrounded my <b>desk</b>. Dr. Chen <b>bad </b>provided the medical reports, I could barely force myself to the clinical descriptions of what Nadia had endured<b>. </b>Each word felt like <b>a </b>fresh <b>wound</b>.


    <b>As </b>1 organized the evidence of Kane¡¯s vitions of werewolfw, phone rang. Jessie¡¯s name <b>flushed </b>on the screen, and I realised with a <b>pang </b>of gullt that 1 had checked on her since the wedding two weeks ago.


    ¡°Skye!¡± Her cheerful voice immediately <b>eased </b>some of the <b>tension </b>I¡¯d been carrying. How are you feeling? You disappeared so suddenly <b>that </b>night!¡±


    I¡¯m fine,¡± I replied, grateful that Kane¡¯s memory maniption had spared her the trauma of that evening. How your head? That was quite a fall you took¡±


    ¡°All healed up now,¡± sheughed. ¡°And guess what? Jake and I are trying for a baby! He¡¯s so excited at the thought of bring a dad.¡±


    Relief washed over me. At least in Jessie¡¯s memory, her wedding had remained perfect¨Cuntainted by the violence and terror that had actually unfolded


    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful news, lessic. I¡¯m so happy for you both.¡°


    Buck¡¯s voice suddenly came through the phone. ¡°<b>Skye</b>? Is that you, darlin¡®? I¡¯ve been worried sick! Your boyfriend came looking for you a couple weeks <b>back</b>. You doing thight?¡±


    ¡°Boyfriend?¡± I asked, momentarily confused.


    That


    tall, dark¨Chaired fe. Adrian! He seemed real concerned when he couldn¡¯t reach you.¡±


    Understanding dawned. ¡°Oh, Back Hes not my boyfriend. We work together.¡±


    I heard Back chuckle. ¡°Well, he <b>sure </b>acted like more than a coworker, sweetheart. The way he talked about you, the worry <b>you</b>. And if you ask me, he¡¯s a whole lot better than those bar flies who used to hit on you. You <b>should </b>give him a chancr


    in his


    eyes¨Cthat man cares about


    After s


    saying goodbye to Buck and Jessie, I <b>remained </b>at my desk, staring at the evidence files while his words echoed in my mind. Adrian cared <b>about </b>ne that much was obvious. But since Nadia¡¯s death, something had shifted <b>inside </b>me.


    Before, when Nadia was alive and constantly warning me away from Adrian, I had been able to dismiss my feelings or at least keep them manageable. Now, with her gone and her final wishes resting on my shoulders, the idea of pursuing anything romantic with Adrian felt <b>lille </b><b>a </b>betrayal.


    Take care of him, she had asked. Be the Beta he needs.


    How could I be what he needed professionally if I was co


    I was constantly battling personal feelings? How could I honor <b>Nadia¡¯s </b>memory while upying two roles <b>in </b>Adrian¡¯s life¨Cboth his Beta and his¡­ what<b>? </b>Lover? Partner?


    The thought felt like stealing something that shouldn¡¯t be mine, like a fundamental betrayal of everything


    rything Nadia had sacrificed.


    No. It was time to bury these feelings once and for all. Adrian needed a Beta who could serve needed what Nadia <b>had </b>been¨Cloyal, strong, and upromised by personal desire.


    without theplication of romantic attachment. He


    I closed the file folders with a decisive snap, my resolution settling over me like amor. Whatever Adrian faced in the <b>Alpha </b>King election, whatever challenges came our way, I would stand <b>beside </b>him as <b>his </b>Bets¨Cnothing more, nothing less


    Nadia¡¯s ghost deserved at least <b>that </b>much respect.

 Casts 96

    Skye¡¯s POV


    Six Monthster


    In less than seventy¨Ctwo hours, the Alpha King election would officially begin.


    The morning sun filtered through my office window as I reviewed our final preparations.


    ¡°Everything¡¯s packed and ready,¡± Ryder announced, entering with a stack of documents. The flight a confirmed for tomorrow morning¡±


    I nced up, taking in the changes six months had wrought on the young wanion. He¡¯d grown taller, his shoulders broader, but the most striking change was


    his eyes¨Cthe carefree <b>spark </b>had dimmed, reced by a watchful awareness that spoke of lessons learned through loss.


    ¡°Thank you, Ryder,¡± I replied, epting the papers. ¡°Did you pack the extra wolfsbane bullets Lydia prepared<b>?</b>¡±


    He nodded. ¡°16dden in the diplomatic pouches, <b>an </b>instructed. Though I still think we should we bought Marcus instead of Lydia. Hisbat skills would-


    ¡°Weve been over this, I interrupted gently. ¡®Marcus needs to stay behind to protect everyone the pack. Besides, every election has had Alphas who were poisoned or assassinated. Lydia will definitely be able to help <b>us</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Ryder¡¯s jaw lightened, but he didn¡¯t <b>argue </b>further<b>. </b>Since Nadia¡¯s death, he¡¯d channeled his grief into rigorous training, bing one of our most formidable wartion. Sometimes I missed <b>his </b><b>easy </bughter, the guitar that used to be <b>his </b>constantpanion now gathering dust in his quarters.


    ¡°Besides.¡± I added, softening my tone, Marcus and Venus need to oversee the pack while we¡¯re gune. And they have a wedding to n.


    A ghost of his old smile shed across his face. Adrian promised them quite a celebration when we return.¡±


    ¡°They deserve it,¡± <b>I </b>agreed, thinking of how the one armed financial administrator and blind security chief had <b>found </b>love and our pack of outcasts. Their rtionship had blossomed quietly, a tender counterpoint to the grief and vengeance that had consumed us after Nadia¡¯s death.


    The soft knock at my door announced Adrian¡¯s arrival. Since that incident, the tenderness in <b>Adrian¡¯s </b>face had gradually been reced by severity.


    The council meeting¡¯s about to start,¡± he <b>said</b>. ¡°Final briefing before we leave.¡±


    Adrian moved to the <b>head </b>of the table, his presence immediatelymanding attention. ¡°Tomorrow morning, we depart for Silvercrest Mountain,¡± he began, naming the neatral territory where the Alpha King election would take ce. ¡°Skye, Lydia, Ryder and I will represent Oasisborn.¡°


    He turned <b>to </b><b>Venus </b>and <b>Marcus</b>. ¡°While we¡¯re <b>gone</b>, you two will oversee pack operations. I¡¯ve prepared detailed protocols for every foreseeable contingency.¡± <b>A </b>slight smile softened his serious expression. ¡°And when we return victorious, we¡¯ll finally celebrate your <b>union </b>properly.¡±


    Venus¡¯s face brightened. ¡°Just bring back that crown, Alpha. That¡¯s <b>all </b>the <b>wedding </b>gift we need<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Adriam <b>nodded</b>, then continued with the briefing.


    The Western Coalition¨Ceight packs that had suffered under Kane¡¯s shadow¨Chad pledged their support to Adrian¡¯s candidacy. Their territories weren¡¯t thergest or wealthiest, but their unified <b>voice </b>carried weight in an election system that had traditionally favored eastern <b>packs</b><b>. </b>


    *Every year during the election, there are Alphar who get assassinated, some even die during thepetition,¡± Gamett exined to the group<b>. </b>


    Tvepiled information on all the most dangerous andpetitive opponents.¡± Garrett slid the folder across the table. Two nimes stand out in particr¨CAlpha Leon from Frostshadow <b>Pack </b>and Alpha Maxwell, Adnan¡¯s uncle <b>from </b>Stormbowl


    My heart statered at the mention of Leans ryme. Though Adrian had kept me informed of his campaign activities, the thought of potentially <b>facing </b>my former mate at the election <b>still </b>


    As the meeting concluded, such council member approached Adrian with personal <b>words </b>of encouragement. Their faith in him was absolute¨Cin six months, not a single pack member had questioued his decision to run for Alpha King, even knowing the risks and sacrifices it entailed,


    1/3<fn1d01> Get full chapters from find?novel</fn1d01>


    Chapter <b>96 </b>


    long since set when I finally


    spent the remainder of the day finalizing arrangements, ensuring every detail was perfect for our departure. The sun had lo locked my office and stepped into the cool desert night,


    <b>Instead </b>of heading home, my feet carried me toward the small clearing that served as our memorial ground. The path was familiar now, worn smooth by my frequent visits on the past months.


    Nadia¡¯s grave stood <b>at </b>the center<b>, </b>moonlight illuminating the simple stone marker. I knelt beside it, brushing away desert sai


    hat had umted on its


    ¡°We¡¯re leaving tomorrow,¡± I told her, as if she could hear me. For the Alpha King election. I wish you could be there. You¡¯d know exactly what to say, who to approach.¡± I paused, swallowing past the lump in my throat. Tim trying my best to be the Bets he needs, hust like you asked. But it¡¯s harder than I thought.¡±


    The sound of approaching footsteps made me nce up. Adrian stood at the ridge of the clearing, his tall figure silhouetted against the star¨Cfilled sky. Moonlight silvered his dark hair, lending him an otherworldly quality.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to in


    mean to interrupt,¡± he said quietly, moving to


    g to stand beside me.


    ¡°You¡¯re not interrupting,¡± I assured him, rising to my leet. ¡°I was just¡­ talking to her.¡±


    His eyes held understanding as they moved to Nadia¡¯s gravestone. ¡°November 6th would have been her twenty¨Cfourth birthday,¡± he <b>said </b>softly.


    <b>I </b>blinked in surprise. ¡°Next week? But we¡¯ll be at Silvercrest <b>Mountain </b>for the election then.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Adrian krvelt<b>, </b>cing a small blue flower on the grave¨CNadia¡¯s favorite, though the would never have admitted to <b>such </b>a feminine preference. ¡°Which is why I promised her Id bring back the Alpha King¡¯s crown as a git.¡±


    ¡°We will. I know we will¡±


    Time <b>slipped </b>away as we remained by the grave, sharing memories of Nadia. The moon had climbed high in the sky when I finally checked my watch.


    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte,¡± I said reluctantly. ¡°We should get some <b>rest</b>. Early fight tomorrow.¡±


    Adrian nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll walk you home.¡±


    We moved through the sleepingpound in confortable silence, our footsteps in perfect synchronization. The past six months working closely together had created an effortless rhythm between us, a wordless understanding that sometimes <b>made </b>me wonder if this <b>was </b><b>what </b><b>pack </b>membera felt with their


    Sach thoughts were dangerous, I reminded myself. <b>Since </b>Nadia¡¯s <b>death</b>, I¡¯d been careful to maintain professional distance from Adrian, refusing to <b>dishonor </b>her memory by pursuing the feelings I¡¯d once allowed myself to indulge.


    She had loved him silently for years¨Cwho was I to im <b>what </b>she <b>had </b>sacrificed for?


    When we reached my small apartment on the eastern edge of thepound, I turned to bid him goodnight, already reaching for my door.


    <b>¡°</b><b>Skye</b>, Adrian¡¯s voice stopped me.


    Before I could react, his hand caught mine, gently but firmly pulling me toward


    Then his lips were on mine¨Cwarm, insistent, <b>tasting </b>of <b>desert </b>sage and something uniquely Adrian. The <b>kiss </b><b>caught </b><b>me </bpletely off <b>guard</b>, sending electric shocks through my system that paralyzed expiry rational thought


    No, I can¡¯t, a voice inside me protested.


    But in that moment, with Adrian¡¯s arms encircling me and his heartbeat thundering against me, those questions seemed to belong to another world

 Casts 97

    Skye¡¯s POV


    I pressed my hands against Adrian¡¯s chest, gently pushing him hack, my heart racing as I broke <b>nur </b>agonizing. The cool desert air sharp against my heated skin.


    rkins. Th


    The space between us felt both necessary and


    ¡°Adrian, we can¡¯t,¡± I whispered, my voice trembling. ¡°Tomorrow, the election campaign starts. I can¡¯t afford to be¡­ distracted.¡±


    He stood motionless, moonlight carving shadows across his strong jaw. His amber eyes held mine, intense and unwavering, searching for something I wasn¡¯t <b>sure </b>I could effet.


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I needed to do this tonight,¡± he said, his voice low but charged with emotion. He took a careful step toward me, not quite <b>closing </b>the


    Tomorrow, we¡¯re swept into politics andpetition. But before that, <b>three¡¯s </b>something you need to know¡±


    My throat tightened<b>, </b>a mix of fear and anticipation. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m in love with you. <b>Skye</b>,¡± he said, the <b>words </b>simple yet heavy, settling into the quiet night. ¡°I think 1 have been since that day at The Watering Hole, when <b>you </b>stood up to Nadia, terrified but unbreakable.¡±


    My breath hitched, <b>a </b>par in my chest. ¡°Adrian-


    ¡°Let me finish,¡± he said softly, his bone gentle but firm. <b>¡°</b><b>I¡¯ve </b>thought this through. I want you as my mate, <b>Skye</b>. Not <b>just </b>my Beta, not just my second. I want a band with you that goes beyond <b>pack </b>roles.¡±


    His deration struck me like <b>a </b>blow, crumbling the <b>walls </b>I¡¯d built to <b>honor </b>Nadia¡¯s memory. For months, I¡¯d <b>buried </b>my feelings, convinced that being his Beta ant denying this pull between us


    ¡°This is¡­.. so sudden,¡± I stammered, though we both knew it wasn¡¯t. This had been building <b>since </b>that night in the canyon, maybe even before. ¡°At the election, you¡¯ll meet Alphas and packs from across the continent. You might find your true mate.¡±<fn75bb> Find the newest release on find¡¤novel</fn75bb>


    Adrian shook his <b>head</b>, <b>a </b><b>sad </b>smile on his lips. ¡°I¡¯ve considered that, Siye. And I¡¯ve decided that even if some stranger at Silvercrest Mountain is my <b>fated </b>mate. I¡¯d reject her.¡±


    I stared, stunned<b>. </b>Rejecting a mate was taboo, <b>a </b><b>painful </b>act that could shatter both wolves, I knew <b>that </b>better than anyone, having fled my own past. ¡°You can¡¯t decide <b>that </b>now,¡± I argued. ¡°You don¡¯t know how powerful the mate bond is-


    ¡°I know what this feel <b>like</b>,¡± he interrupted, gesturing between us. ¡°Ih my heart, my mind<b>, </b>every part of me, I¡¯ve chosen you. You¡¯re my mate, Skye.¡±


    Tears pricked my eyes, my voice barely audible. ¡°I can only be your Bere. Like Nadia was. I promised her I¡¯d take care of you.¡±


    Has expression softened, understanding dawning<b>. </b>¡°Is that what¡¯s holding you back? Nadia<b>?</b>¡±


    I couldn¡¯t answer, guilt and confusion choking me. Nadia¡¯sst words echoed Take care of him. Be the Bets he needs. How could I reconcile that with the longing burning inside me<b>? </b>


    Adrian stepped closer, his warmth cutting through the chill. ¡°<b>Skye</b>, look at me<b>,</b><b>¡± </b><b>he </b><b>said</b>, his voice tender.


    Reluctantly, I met his guer, his amber eyes steady and karnest<b>. </b>


    *I¡¯ll mourn Nadia forever,¡± he said, his voice thick with grief. ¡°I¡¯ll honor her memory, carry her <b>dicams </b><b>forward</b>. But her <b>death </b>taught me something¨Clife is ¨C too fragile to waste. We have to cherish what¡¯s in front of us, cherish the present,¡±


    My gate dropped, uncertainty swirling. The fingers gently lifted my chin, guiding my vyes back to his.


    ¡°Nadia wanted me to be happy,¡± he <b>said</b>, soft now. ¡°She wanted us both to be <b>happy</b>. Do <b>you </b>think <b>she¡¯d </b>want us to deny this?


    I had no arower. Not had loved him silently for <b>years </b>would she want me to follow <b>that </b>path of <b>unspoken </b>longing? Or would <b>she </b><b>want </b>something <b>mure </b>for us, something alive?


    As I wavered, my eyes betraying my conflict. Adrian leaned in again, ilis kiss was softer, a question, his hands hovering at his sides, giving me the choice to pull away.


    Instead, I leaned into him, my lips meeting his with a hunger that startled me. My hands did up his chest, curling around his shoulders, pulling him <b>closer </b>The kiss deepened, igniting something primal


    Adrian¡¯s arms wrapped around my waist, lifting me effortlessly. Without breaking the kiss, he pushed open my apartment door, carrying me inside. <b>The </b>door clicked shut, sealing us away from the world


    He set me down in the living rooms, stepping back slightly, his eyes locked on mine. ¡°If you want me to leave, tell me now,¡± he said, his voice rough with desire but his gaze sincere<b>. </b>¡°I¡¯ll go, and we¡¯ll never speak of this again.¡±


    In answer, I reached for him, pulling him back. Our lips crashed together, my reservations crumbling. His hands tangled in my silver hair, tilting my <b>head </b>to deepen the kiss, a low growl rumbling in his chest.


    My fingers fumbled with his shirt buttons, urgency making me clumsy. Adrian¡¯s hands joined mine, steady, shrugging the fabric off to reveal his tanned chest, muscles defined under moonlight streaming through the curtains. Scars crisscrossed <b>his </b>skin, stories of battles won. I traced one along his corbone. feeling the rough texture. His breath caught, eyes closing briefly, a thicker of vulnerability that made my heart ache.


    <b>His </b>hands found my shirt¡¯s hem, pausing as he searched my eyes. I nodded, lifting my arms, and he pulled it over my head, exposing my skin to the cool tit Goosebumps rose, but his warm <b>lips </b>chased them away, kissing my shoulder, my corbour, the curve of my neck


    Each touch sent shivers through me, desire warring with guilt. I wanted this, <b>craved </b>it, but Nadia¡¯s memory lingered, a shadow I couldn¡¯t escape.


    Adrian lifted me, carrying me to the bedroom with steady steps that belled the urgency in his touch. He <bid </b>me on the bed, his amber eyes glowing in the dim light, hunger mirroring my own.


    ¡°You¡¯re <b>beautiful</b>,<b>¡± </b>he murmured, voice raw with awe. ¡°So beautiful it hurts.¡±

 Casts 98

    Skyr¡¯s POV


    I pulled him down beside me, our remaining clothes falling away¨Chis jeans, my leggings, discarded in a tangle of limbs.


    My hands explored him, tracing his abdomen, the curve of his hip, the warmth of his skin. His body was a map of strength, each scar a story I wanted to


    know.


    His lips trailed down my throat, lingering at my pulse.


    ¡°Skye,¡± he whispered, my name a prayer. His hand cupped my <b>breast</b>, thumb hbrushing the sensitive prak, drawing a gasp. The sensation was electric, pulling


    into the moment, away from guilt,


    1 arched into him, nails grating his back<b>, </b>urging him closer a mouth moved lower, kissing across my stomach, stubble grazing my skin, a delicious contrast to his soft lips<b>. </b><b>At </b><b>the </b><b>curve </b>of my hip, he paused, looking up, eyes asking for trust. I nodded, breath shallow, and he continued, lips and tongue exploring with a tenderness that tightened my chest.


    Guilt surged, sharp, <b>Nadia </b>loved him. How can I take this? But Adrian¡¯s touch grounded m?,<fn3144> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? F¦ÉndNovel</fn3144>


    <b>his </b>hands steady as they parted my thigh..


    His breath was warm against my core, and when his mouth found me, the world narrowed to that point. A moan escaped, unbidden<b>, </b><b>as </b>pleasure colled in. belly, drowning doubts


    <b>¡°Adrian</b>,¡± I gasped<b>, </b>fingers threading through his dark hair, anchoring myself. He growled, the vibration sending sparks through me. His tongue moved deliberately, teasing, tasting, building a rhythm that let me trembling. Each stroke reminded me I was here, alive, feeling with an intensity that bordered on


    The contradiction <b>tore </b><b>at </b>me- guilt for betraying Nadia¡¯s memory, need to surrender to Adrian. This act, this connection, was a defiance of death, proof <b>was </b>still breathing. Sex with Adrian was a tether to life, pulling me <b>back </b>from despair.


    He sensed my tension, his hand finding mine, fingers intertwining. ¡°Stay with me, <b>Skye</b>,¡± he murmured, voice muffled. st frel,¡±


    I let go, <b>pleasure </b>washing over me, pushing guilt aside. My hips moved with him, chasing the edge, and when he slipped a finger inside, curling it, I cried out, arching off the bed. The intensity built, pressure threatening to break me, and I weed it, craving release to prove I was alive.


    He moved <b>back </b><b>up</b>, lips finding mine, tasting <b>of </b>us. I wrapped my legs around his <b>waist</b>, pulling him closer, needing him fully. His erection pressed against mr, <b>hard</b>, warm, and I reached down, guiding him. Our eyes locked, <b>a </b>silent <b>queation</b>, and I hesitated, heart pounding.


    ¡°Adrian,¡± I whispered, voice trembling, ¡°be gentle. This¡­ this is my first time


    His <b>eyes </b>softened, <b>a </b>flicker of <b>understanding</b>. ¡°<b>I </b>know,¡± be said, voice low, reassuring. He kissed me softly<b>, </b><b>a </b>promise in the gesture, then positioned himself, entering me slowly, inch by inch. The stretch was intense, a mix of slight pain and overwhelming fullness, but his careful pace eased me into it. His <b>gaze </b>never left mine, watching for <b>any </b>sign of difort, his arms trembling with restraint.


    <b>I </b>gasped, hands gripping his shoulders, adjusting to the sensation. He paused, letting me breathe, <b>his </b>forehead resting against mine. ¡°You <b>okay</b>?¡± he whispered.


    I <b>nodded</b><b>, </b><b>a </b>small smile <b>breaking </b>through. ¡°Keep going.¡±


    He moved again<b>, </b>slow <b>and </b>deliberate, each thrust measured, letting me feel every detail¨Cthe heat of him, the way be filled me, the connection binding us <b>The </b>pain <b>faded</b>, reced by pleasure that built with each movement. My body rxed, molding to his, and I pulled hini closer, needing more.


    Guilt l?ngered, a quiet ache, but the intensity of our connection overwhelmed f. With <b>each </b>thrust, I felt alive, present<b>, </b><b>as </b>if this act pulled me back from the void Nadia¡¯s death had left. Adrian¡¯s love was a lifeline, reminding me I could still feel joy, still crave life,


    ¡°Faster,¡± I whispered, voice shaky with need. He obliged, hija driving deeper, friction building heat that consumed me. <b>Our </b>breatha mingled, sharp, uneven.. as ver mured in sync. His lips found my neck, <b>kissing</b><b>, </b>nipping, each touch sending sparks through nie.


    Iclung to him, nails digging into his shoulders, anchoring myself as pleasure but to a crescendo, My body tightened, meres <b>alight</b>, the <b>edge </b>approaching. ¡°Adrian,¡± I gasped, voler braking, ¡°Tm=¡±


    ¡°Let go.¡± he urged, voice a growl against my ear. His <b>hand </b>slipped between us, fingers circling my clit with perfect pressure. It was too much, and I shattered, my climax crashing over me. My vision blurred, body trembling as I cried out, tears spilling down my cheeks.


    The tears weren¡¯t just pleasure¨Cthey were grief, guilt, love, relief. Adrian¡¯s name was a sob as I clung to him, shaking. He followed, his release marked by a low groan, body tensing before he copsed, his weight grounding me


    Wey tangled, breaths slowing. My tears wet his shoulder, and he pulled back, concern in his eyes. ¡°Skye, you okay?¡± he asked, thumb brushing a tear away,


    I nodded, throat tight. The tears were cathartic, cleansing the guilt. In his arms, I felt alive, truly alive, in a way I hadn¡¯t since Nadia¡¯s death. Sex with Adrian was <b>a </b>reminder I could still feel, still love, still fight..


    He kissed my forehead, tender. ¡°Whatever happens at Silvercrest Mountain,¡± he whispered, ¡°we face it together. As Alpha and Beta<b>, </b>but also <b>as </b>something more. Something ours.¡±


    I curled closer, his heartbeat steady beneath my ear. Tomorrow brought politics, challenges, the election¡¯s weight.


    But tonight, we were <b>Skye </b>and Adrian, Finding sce, cherishing the present before the storm.

 Casts 99

    Chapter <b>99 </b>


    <b>Adrian¡¯s </b>POV


    Not lost, not missing¨Cdead.


    Nadia¡¯s absence left a void in the pack, in me.


    for six months, I buried myself in the Alpha King election, fighting to <b>reim </b>my candidacy after the Council¡¯s reassement, forging alliances with western -packs, and rallying support.


    <b>But </b>through it all, one truth anchored me: I love <b>Skye</b>.


    Choosing her as my mate wasn¡¯t a fleeting impulse. It was a decision carved from months of reflection, from the raw rity that life offer only one chance to seize what matters.


    Nadia¡¯s death taught me that. Life doesn¡¯t give second chances. I won¡¯t let fear or hesitation steal what I have with Skye.


    Skye stood before me, ber silver hair catching the moonlight, her green eyes wide with a mix of desire and doubt, I knew her guilt, the shadow of Nadia¡¯s memory that haunted her. It haunted us all, but I refused to let it chain us.


    ¡°skye,¡± I said, my voice steady despite the heat coursing through me, ¡°Nadia wanted us to live, to be happy. This¨Cus¨Cit¡¯s not a betrayal. It¡¯s <b>a </b>choice to embraer what we have.¡±


    Her lips parted, but no words came. I stepped closer, brushing a strand of hale <b>from </b>her face, my fingers lingering on her soft <b>skin</b><b>. </b>


    ¡°I love you want you to be my <b>mate</b>.¡±


    That was all it took. The kiss was fine, igniting every nerve in my body.


    My hands slid to her <b>waist</b>, pulling her close, feeling the warmth of her through her thin shirt. Her fingers tugged at my jacket, and I helped her, shedding it to the floor, my shirt following.


    I lifted her shirt, <b>pausing </b>to meet her eyes, seeking permission. <b>She </b>nodded, and I pulled it over her head, revealing pale skin that glowed in the dim light. Her breasts were soft curves, her nipples hardening under my gaze.


    I kissed her neck, tasting her, feeling her pulse race beneath my lips. She shivered, a small gasp escaping, and I smiled against her skin, loving how she responded to me.


    Carrying her to the bedroom, Iid her on the bed, her silver hair fanning across the pillow


    pillow. <b>She </b><b>was </b>beautiful, every inch of her.


    I shed my jeans, my arousal evident, but I focused on her, wanting this to be perfect. Her leggings came off next, sevealing long legs and the <b>soft </b>mound between her thighs. My mouth went dry, desire tightening my chest


    ¡°<b>Adrian</b><b>,</b>¡± she murmured, reaching for me. I joined her, our bodies pressing together, <b>skin </b>against <b>skin</b>. My lips traced her jas, her throat, down to her lireasts. I took one nipple in my mouth, sucking gently, feeling it pebble under my tongue.<fn9f86> Follow current nov?ls on FindN0vel</fn9f86>


    <b>She </b>arched, a moan spilling from her, and my <b>cock </b>throbbed<b>, </b>straining against her thigh. I wanted her, needed her, but this was her first time. I¡¯d be gentle,


    make it about her


    My hand <b>slid </b>down her stomach, fingers brushing the soft curls at her core. She tensed, then rsed as I kissed her, my fingers expluring her warmth. She was wet, slick <b>under </b>my touch, and I groaned, the sound muffled against her lips.


    I circled her clit, slow and deliberate, watching her face¨Cher eyes Buttered <b>shirt</b>, lips parting, a flush spreading across her checks. Her pleasure <b>furle </b>my body humming with the need to <b>please </b>her,


    <b>¡°</b>Tell me what you want,¡± I whispered, my voler rough.


    ¡°You¡± <b>the </b>breathed, ber han gripping my shoulder. ¡°I want you.¡±


    I positioned myself between her legs, my ection brushing her entrance. She teased, her eyes meeting mine, a flicker of nervousness.


    ¡°De gentle,¡± she said, vinice small. ¡°It¡¯s my first time.¡±


    ¡°<b>I </b><b>knew</b>,¡± I said, kisting her softly, reassuring her. I entered her slowly, inch by inch, watching her face for any sign of pain. She was tight, her warnth emveloping me, and 1 gritted my teeth, fighting the urge to thrust. Her breath hitched<b>, </b><b>a </b>small winceing her features, and I passed, letting her adest.


    ¡°You okay?¡± I asked, m voce strained.


    She nodded<b>, </b>her hands sliding to my hips<b>, </b>urging me on. ¡°Kerp


    I moved again, slow, shallow thrusts, letting her body open to me. The sensation was overwhelming¨Cher heat, her tightness, the way she clung in me. movement sent <b>sparks </b>through me, my oock pulsing with need, but 1 focused on her, on the way her breaths grew quicker, her hips starting to meet mine.


    The pain in her eyes faded, reced by wonder, and I kissed her, deep and hungry, our tongues tangling <b>as </b>we found a rhythen


    Her scent filled me, buman and clean, no trace of wolf. I loved it, loved how she was wholly herself, untouched by pack markers. As we moved, my scr began to mingle with hers, a primal im that <b>stirred </b>something <b>deep </b>in me<b>. </b><b>She </b>wasn¡¯t marked yet, not in the ceremonial way, but in this moment, with im body joined to hers, she was mine. The thought sent a surge of possessiveness through me, my thrusts growing deeper, more insistent,


    ¡°Adrian,¡± she gasped, her nails digging into my back, leaving trails of heat. Her legs wrapped around me, pulling me closer, and I groaned, the pressure building in my core. I wanted to <b>lose </b>myself in her, but I held back, wanting her to feel everything first. My hand slipped between <b>us</b>, fingers finding her clit again, rubbing in tight circles. Her moans grew louder, her body tightening around me, and I felt her edge approaching.


    ¡°Let po. Skye,¡± I murmured, my lips brushing her ear. ¡°I¡¯ve got you,¡±


    She shattered; ber elimas hitting with a try, her body trembling beneath me. Tears spilled from her eyes, piersing in the moonlight, and my heart clenched. I slowed, kissing her cheeks, wiping the tears with my thumb.


    I held her <b>through </b>it, my own release still at bay, wanting to be her anchar


    When her tremors subsided, I moved again, my need too strong to ignore. Her eyes met mine, soft and trusting, and I let go, thrusting deeper, the pleasure. colling tight. My climax hit, a low growl escaping <b>as </b>I <b>spilled </b>into her, my body shaking with the force of it. I copsed beside her, pulling her close, our breatha ragged in the quiet.


    Her skin was warm, slick with sweat, and I pressed my face to her <b>neck</b><b>, </b>inhaling. My scent clung to her now, marking her in <b>a </b>way that felt primal,


    No formal mark yet, but she was mine<b>, </b><b>and </b>I was hers.


    The thought settled something restless in me, a prace I hadn¡¯t felt since Nadia¡¯s <b>death</b>.

 Casts 100

    Adrian¡¯s POV


    After a moment, I rose, lifting her gently.


    ¡°Come on,¡± I said, carrying her to the bathroom. The mall shower was cramped, but I didn¡¯t care.


    1 <b>turned </b>on the warm water, guiding her under the spray. She leaned into me, her body soft and pliant,


    I traced the curve of her shoulder, the dip of her waist, the soft skin of her thighs, cleaning away the evidence of our joining <b>hut </b>savoring the way my scent lingered on her.


    She watched me, her gray green eyes soft, a small s


    smile ying on her Eps. ¡°You¡¯re thorough,¡± she teased, her voice boarse.


    ¡°I want youfortable,¡± I said, kissing her forehead. I lingered on her neck, where my scent was strongest<b>, </b>a quiet im that made my chest tighter.


    I loved how <b>the </b>smelled of me now, like she belonged to mepletely


    Back in bed, I wrapped her in a towel, then pulled her into my arms, drying her hair with gentle strokes. Her skin <b>was </b>warm, h


    her body rxed against min and I felt a fierce protectiveness.


    This was her first time, and I¡¯d wanted it to be right, <b>to </b>show her how much she meant to me. Her pleasure, her trust¨Cit was everything.


    We slipped under the covers<b>, </b>her head resting on my chest. Her breathing slowed, but I sensed a tension in her.


    ¡°<b>You </b>nervous?¡± asked, my voice low.


    ¡°A little,¡± she admitted, her fingers tracing circles on my skin. ¡°The election¡­ it¡¯s so much.¡±


    I tilted her chin, meeting her eyes,


    ¡°I¡¯ll win, Skye,¡± I said, my.


    <b>voice </b>firm with conviction. ¡°For <b>Nadia</b>, for the pack, for us. I¡¯ll win, and we¡¯ll build the future we want. Together.¡±


    She <b>nodded</b>, a small smile breaking through. ¡°Together,¡± the echoed, nestling closer.


    I held her, my mate, as sleep pulled us <b>under</b>, her warmth anchoring me. For the first time in month, I felt whole, ready to face whatever came next.


    A sharp knock at the door jolted us <b>awake</b>, the sound cutting through the early morning stillness.


    ¡°Who is it?¡± I called, already sliding from the bed, reaching for my discarded jean.


    ¡°Its Ryder,¡± came the reply, muffled <b>through </b>the door. ¡°Is <b>Skye </b>there? <b>I </b><b>came </b>to help with her luggage-


    I pulled on my pants and crossed to the door, opening it just enough <b>to </b>see Ryder¡¯s face. His <b>expression </b>shifted from impatience to shock as he registered my state of undress, my scent mingled with Skye¡¯s, and the unmistakable evidence of what had transpired between us.


    ¡°<b>Alpha </b>Adrian,<b>¡± </b>he said, his voice carefully neutral despite the surprise in his eyes. ¡°I <b>was </b>looking for <b>Skye</b>. I came to help her with the luggage for our flight.¡±


    1 nced back <b>at </b>the clock on Skye¡¯s wall. Isn¡¯t it & bit early for that?¡±


    A hint of his old humor flickered across <b>Ryder¡¯s </b><b>Jace</b>. ¡°Alpha, it¡¯s almost eight. You¡¯re usually up by Six¡±


    | ran a hand through my tousled hair, suddenly aware of how this must look. Behind me, I heard Skye moving around, likely getting devised.


    <b>¡°</b><b>Ryder</b>, do you want to join us for breakfast <b>Skye </b>called from inside the apartment, her voice remarkably <bposed</b>. <b>¡°</b>We can get <b>the </b>lumen that we


    <b>Ryder </b>shook his head, taking a step back. No need. I¡¯ll go get Lydia <b>and </b>meet you at the airfield, <b>He </b><b>turned </b>to trave, but I <b>proch¨¦t </b>gy


    ¡°Ryder, about Skye and me. I began, unsure how in exin to this young wolf who had once openlypeted for her attention.


    To my surprise, he didn¡¯t tract with jealousy of anger.


    I understand, Alpha,¡± he said quietly. Some things aren¡¯t meant to he fuced. I think I always knew she belonged with you. Right now, I <b>just </b>want to forut on making you Alpha King. That¡¯s what matters most.¡±


    I watched him <b>walk </b>away, struck by his growth. The boy who had once challenged me an brazenly |


    had be a man I could truly rely on.<fna6c3> The source of th?s content is FindN()vel</fna6c3>


    Two hours of driving and a three¨Chour flightter, aived at Silvercrest Mountain in southeastern Wisconsin¨Cthe ancient, neutral territory where werewolves had conducted Alpha King elections for centuries.


    This sacred location had been chosen by the earliest North American packs precisely because of the area¡¯s powerful connection to wolf spints.


    <b>The </b>


    e mountain itself was a <b>majestic </b>sight, tising above a sprawling forest <b>like </b><b>a </b>sentinel watching over the werewolf world.


    Snow capped <b>its </b><b>peaks </b>despite the rtively wild November weather, and the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the lodge¨Cstyle buildings that had


    <b>been </b><b>constructed </b>at its <b>base</b>.


    The election grounds consisted of several structures¨Ca central arena where physical challenges would take ce, a grand hall for political debates and ceremonies, and several smaller <b>buildings </b>for amodations and meetinic.


    It was nearly <b>six </b>in the evening when our group reached the Silver Moon <b>Lodge</b><b>, </b><b>a </b>centuries¨Cold establishment built exclusively for werewolves.


    Winter darkness had already descended, the forest around us ck and imprable beyond the lights of theplex.


    After the long journey, all any of us wanted was to check into our pre¨Cbooked rooms and rest before tomorrow¡¯s opening ceremonies.


    ¡°Reservation for Oasisbom Park,¡± I told the young woman at the front desk, sliding my identification across the polished wooden counter.


    <b>She </b>tapped at herputer, a frown creasing her forehead. Im sorry, Mr. Crawford, but it seems your reservation was canceled<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Canceled?¡± Skye stepped forward<b>, </b>confusion in her voice. There must be <b>some mistake</b>. We <b>confirmed </b>just <bst </b>werk.¡±


    The clerk¡¯s expression <b>grew </b>apologetic. ¡°I tried calling you yesterday evening. Ms. Anderson. Three calls, actually, to inform you about the situation, but there was no answer.¡±


    Skye and I exchanged nces, a flush rising to her cheeks as we both remembered exactly why she hadn¡¯t answered her phonest night. My hand found hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze.


    Regardless,¡± I <b>said</b>, my voice taking on the edge of authority I used as Alpha, ¡°you can¡¯t simply cancel a confirmed reservation without <b>our </b><b>approval</b>.¡±


    ¡°I understand your frustration, sir, the clerk replied, her professional demence never slipping. <b>I </b>sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. We fully refunded your deposit <bst </b>night when we couldn¡¯t <b>reach </b>you.¡±


    Lydia moved forward, her masked <b>face </b>revealing nothing of her thoughts. Perhaps there are rooms ablewhere?¡±


    The clerk shouk het head. ¡®I¡¯m afraid nut. Someone lus reserved the entire hotel for the duration of the election.¡±


    ¡°The entire hotel Skye repeated, <b>incredulous</b>. ¡°Who <b>would </b><b>do </b><b>that</b>?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not at liberty to share that information, the clerk said, though her eyes <b>darted </b>nervously to the left.


    I followed her gear <b>and </b>feh my blood run cold


    I followed her <b>gaze</b>, my attention immediately sharpening. Through the grand intrance <b>doors</b><b>, </b>a group of werewolver was making their way into the lobby- at least ten alming, <b>all </b>impably dressed in tailored suits and evening <b>wear</b>.


    Their leader walked with the unmistakable confidence of an Alpha, surrounded by attentive Beins and warrines who moved in perfect formation around him.

 Casts 101

    <b>Chapter </b><b>101 </b>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b><b>POV </b>


    <b>I </b><b>knew </b>we would encounter Leon at the Alpha <b>King </b>election. It was inevitable. But I hadn¡¯t expected it to happen so soon and so suddenly.<fn5a91> Discover more novels at Find1Novel</fn5a91>


    The moment he strode through the grand entrance doors of Silver Moon Lodge, time seemed to slow. Four years had passed since I¡¯dst seen him, yet <b>I </b>recognized him instantly.


    Leon had changed.


    Gone <b>was </b>the casual attire he once preferred. No more worn jeans and simple t¨Cshirts that spoke of practicality. Now he wore an impably tailored charcoal suit that emphasized his broad shoulders. A crisp white shirty beneath, and an expensive watch glinted at his wrist.


    <b>Yet </b>the essence of Leon remained unchanged.


    His face was still clean¨Cshaven without a hint of stubble<b>. </b><b>His </b>golden hair, slightly longer than <b>I </b>remembered, was meticulously styled without a single strand out of ce. His cold blue <b>eyes </b>still held that same detached calction. They <b>seemed </b>to weigh everything against some invisible standard few could <b>meet</b><b>. </b>


    <b>A </b>strange sensation rippled through my body <b>as </b><b>I </b>watched him. It <b>wasn¡¯t </b>quite pain or recognition. It <b>was </b>something both familiar and alien that <b>I </b>couldn¡¯t name. My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin. I forced myself <b>to </b>breathe evenly.


    ¡°Alpha Leon!¡± The hotel clerk¡¯s voice cut through my thoughts. Her tone was suddenly warm and deferential. It <b>was </b><b>a </b><b>stark </b><b>contrast </b>to the apologetic but firm dismissal she¡¯d given us moments before.


    <b>¡°</b><b>Your </b>additional guests have arrived as expected. Would you like me to arrange an <b>escort </b>to their <b>suites</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Leon approached the desk. His entourage moved in perfect synchronization behind him like dancers who had rehearsed this entrance a thousand times. <b>As </b>he drew nearer, his gaze swept across our small group. He passed <b>over </b>Adrian with barely a flicker of acknowledgment beforending <b>on </b>me.


    His step faltered slightly, <b>just </b>for a heartbeat, before his eyes narrowed in recognition.


    Before either of <b>us </b>could speak, a familiar voice called out from the entrance: ¡°Skye? SKYE<b>!</b><b>¡± </b>


    My heart leaped as Ethan burst through the cluster of Frost shadow wolves. <b>His </b><b>face </b>was alight with disbelief and joy.


    My brother looked nearly the same as I remembered. Perhaps his shoulders <b>were </b>a bit broader<b>, </b>his sandy hair cropped shorter than he¡¯d worn it in our youth. But his green eyes<b>, </b><b>so </b>like our mother¡¯s<b>, </b>still crinkled at the corners when he smiled.


    ¡®<b>I </b>can¡¯t believe it¡¯s really you!¡± He crossed the distance between us in three long strides and swept me into a <b>fierce </b>hug that lifted me off my feet. ¡°Look at you! You¡¯re even more beautiful than I remembered!¡±


    I returned his embrace with equal <b>fervor</b><b>. </b>Tears stung my <b>eyes </b><b>as </b>I breathed in his familiar <b>scent </b>of pine and <b>cedar</b><b>, </b>the woods of our childhood home. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you so much,¡± I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.


    Ethan set me down but <b>kept </b>his hands on my shoulders. He studied my face with undisguised wonder. ¡°I heard <b>you </b>have your wolf now, is that right?¡± His smile widened. ¡°My little <b>sister</b><b>, </b>a true silver wolf. I always knew you had it in you<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>1 </b>


    ¡°Ethan.¡± Leon¡¯s cold <b>voice </b>sliced through our reunion like a de. ¡°We need to confirm the room assignments. The Council members will be arriving <b>within </b>the hour.¡±


    Ethan¡¯s smile faltered, but he kept one arm protectively around my shoulders. <b>¡°</b><b>Of </b><b>course</b><b>, </b>Alpha. <b>Just </b>give me a moment with <b>my </b><b>sister</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Adrian moved to my side. His <b>presence </b>was warm and solid. ¡°We should <b>be </b>going,¡± Lydia interjected softly. <b>¡°</b><b>We </b><b>need </b>to find <b>alternative </b><b>amodations </b>before nightfall.


    <b>¡°</b>You haven¡¯t booked <b>a </b>hotel <b>yet</b>?¡± Ethan asked, looking between us with concern. ¡°But the election begins <b>tomorrow</b><b>!</b>¡±


    <b>¡°</b>We <b>had </b>reservations<b>,</b><b>¡± </b><b>I </b>exined, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. ¡°But <b>apparently </b>someone canceled them <b>and </b><b>rented </b><b>the </b><b>entire </b><b>hotel</b>.


    Ethan¡¯s expression cleared. ¡°That¡¯s <b>easily </b>solved! We have several extra rooms. You can stay in the suite next to <b>mine</b><b>. </b><b>He </b><b>turned </b>toward <b>Leon</b>. His <b>enthusiasm </b>dampened slightly under our Alpha¡¯s cial stare. Right, Alpha Leon<b>?</b><b>* </b>


    <b>¡°</b>Your sister doesn¡¯t belong to Frostshadow Pack anymore,¡± Leon replied, his voice devoid of emotion. ¡°She has no right <b>to </b><b>our </b><b>hospitality</b><b>. </b>


    painfully reminiscent <b>of </b>that fateful night four years <b>ago </b><b>when </b>I felt my cheeks burn with humiliation as Ethan stood awkwardly between us. The scene was Leon had rejected me publicly. Once again, my brother was caught in the middle. His loyalty to his Alpha warred with his love for me.


    Adrian¡¯s arm slipped around my waist in a deliberate disy <b>of </b>solidarity. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have agreed to <b>Skye </b><b>staying </b>with you anyway<b>,¡± </b><b>he </b><b>said</b><b>, </b>his voice carrying the quiet authority of an Alpha. ¡°She belongs with us<b>.</b>¡±


    Leon¡¯s gaze dropped to Adrian¡¯s arm around my waist<b>. </b><b>A </b>sh of something crossed his features before his expression <b>smoothed </b><b>back </b><b>into </b><b>cold </b><b>indifference</b>. It might have been anger or disgust<b>. </b>


    E


    ¡°I <b>was </b>wondering what pack you¡¯d aligned yourself with,¡± he said, addressing me directly for the <b>first </b>time<b>. </b><b>¡°</b>I <b>expected </b>something more substantial. <b>Not </b>some minor desert pack that can¡¯t even afford decent <b>amodations</b>.¡±


    My spine stiffened.


    ¡®Did you inherit only your father¡¯s wealth and none of his virtues<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>I asked, ¡°Alpha James would never <b>have </b>been so petty.¡±


    Beside me, Ryder snorted with surprisedughter. He quickly disguised it <b>as </b>a cough when Leon¡¯s cold gaze swung toward him.


    ¡°Still sharp¨Ctongued, I see,¡± Leon said, his voice dangerously soft. ¡°That won¡¯t help your Alpha win this election.¡± He turned away and <b>gestured </b>impatiently to his entourage. ¡°Ethan<b>, </b>see to <b>the </b>rooms. The rest <b>of you</b><b>, </b>prepare for the Council¡¯s arrival.¡±


    <b>As </b>the Frostshadow <b>wolves </b>dispersed, Ethan leaned close to me. ¡°I¡¯ll find you tomorrow after the North American Council meeting,¡± <b>he </b>whispered <b>urgently</b>. ¡®Mom and Dad miss you terribly.¡±


    The mention of our parents sent aplicated <b>wave </b>of emotions through me. Longing, fear<b>, </b>hope<b>, </b>guilt. ¡°How <b>are </b>they<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>I asked, my voice catching.


    ¡°Tomorrow,¡± he promised, squeezing my hand. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about everything.¡± With a final, wistful smile, he followed his pack toward <b>the </b>elevators.


    Leon passed by me without another nce. As his shoulder brushed against mine<b>, </b>a strange <b>electric </b>current rippled through me. My heart stuttered, then raced. Warmth bloomed across my skin. The sensation was so unexpected and unwee that I had to fight the urge to <b>gasp </b>aloud.


    I turned, watching him walk away. I searched for any sign that he¡¯d felt it too. But his stride never faltered. His expression never changed. He remained <b>as </b>cold and unreachable as ever, but his coldness and arrogance couldn¡¯t hurt me anymore.


    Adrian¡¯s hand found mine, warm and reassuring.


    Are you okay?¡± he asked quietly.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, I lied, forcing a smile.


    But inside<b>, </b>my wolf was restless. It paced with agitation for reasons <b>I </b><b>couldn¡¯t </b><b>or </b><b>wouldn¡¯t </b>understand.

 Casts 102

    Chapter <b>102 </b>


    Skye: <b>PUV </b>


    As Leon walked away, the strange heat that had surged through my body gradually subsided. My wolf, which had been pacing resticuly beneath my don slowly calmed I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart.


    It must be anger, I told myself, host the lingesting resentment after all this time


    I turned to Adrian, forcing a smile ? didit quite feel. Ters find a new hotel quickly. To sather not sleep on the street tonight.¡±


    Ryder nodded emphatically beside us. ¡°Absolutely, Us guys might survive a night in the cold, but we can¡¯t let ourdies suffer. He winked at Lydia<b>, </b>who merely tilted her head, the expression above her mask unreadable as always.


    We made our way through the hustling streets surrounding Silvercrest Mountain. The aes was <b>alive </b>with activity as werewolves from across the continent gathered for the election. As we turned onto what seemed to be the main hotel district, I noticed a considerable crowd gathered outside one of therger establishments.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening over there? Lasked, gesturing toward themotion


    Lydia nced in that direction, her melodic voice tinged with surprise. <b>¡°</b>You don¡¯t know? That¡¯s Silverscreen Pack¨CAlpha Xavier and his entourage ¡¤ She adjusted her mask slightly. ¡°Xavier is quite <b>famous </b>among younger wolves, especially females. They say even his battle gear bes fashion statements the moment he wear them.¡±


    Adrian <b>chuckled </b>softly beside me. ¡°He¡¯s always been that way.¡±


    I turned to him, surprised. ¡°You know him?¡±


    ¡°We attended the same Alpha heir training camp years ago, when I was still with Stormbowl, <b>Adrian </b>exined, his amber eyes reflecting memories from a time before I knew him. ¡°He <b>had </b>a ir for the dramatic even then<b>.¡± </b>


    I gestured <b>away </b>from the <b>crowded </b>hotel. ¡°Let¡¯s not stay anywhere near there. We need somewhere quiet to prepare for tomorrow¨Cnothing fancy, just peaceful.¡±


    Adrian nodded, his hand finding the small of my back as we continued our search. His touch was <b>warm </b><b>and </b><b>reassuring</b>, <b>a </b>silent reminder <b>of </b>our new


    connection.


    After nearly an hour of <b>searching</b>, we <b>finally </b>found a small, tucked away inn on the outskirts of the main district. The establishment <b>was </b><b>modest </b>but clean, run by an elderly werewolf couple who greeted <b>us </b>with genuine warmth. They offered us <b>four </b>individual <b>rooms </b>along the same hallway, with <b>Adrian¡¯s </b>directly adjacent to mine.


    <b>Since </bst night, when Adrian had formally <b>asked </b>me to be his mate, he¡¯d abandoned any pretense of keeping our rtionship professional in public. His casual touches, the way his gaze lingered on me it all spoke of a man no longer hiding his feelings<b>. </b>


    1 was arranging my clothes in the small dresser when a soft knock preceded Adrian entering my room. He closed the door behind him, his tall frame making the modest space feel even smaller


    ¡°We could share a room<b>, </b><b>you </b>know,¡± he suggested, <b>his </b>voice low and intimate. There¡¯s no need for pretense anymore.¡±


    I folded <b>a </b>shirt, avoiding his intense gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t want you distracted. You barely sleptst night¡­


    He moved closer, leaning down to whisper in my vat, ¡°It was only


    ly three times. Hardly enough to affect my performance.<b>¡± </b>


    <b>Heat </b>rushed to my face instantly, memories of our night together shing vividly in my mind. I busied <b>myself </b>with the clothes<b>, </b>trying to hide my embarrassment.


    Adrian¡¯s fingers gently caught my chin, turning my face toward <b>his</b>. <b>His </b><b>expression </b>had grown serious. ¡°Were you really <b>okay </b>earlier? <b>When </b>you saw Leon? <b>I </b>felt something¡­ different from you<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>I </b>sighed, unable to lie <b>to </b>himpletely. ¡°It¡¯s been four years since I <bst </b>saw him. I thought I was over my anger<b>, </b>but apparently not. Seeing him again stitted up more emotions than I expected.¡± I ced my hand over <b>his</b><b>. </b><b>But </b><b>dont </b>worry¨CI wont let my personal feelings interfere with the election.¡±


    Aditansted shout to <b>say </b>more when tydia appeared at the open doorway.


    Dinner is ready downnales, the announced, her g?re moving between un kimsingly. ¡°Unless you¡¯d prefer I have something sent up to your


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not necessary,¡± I replied quickly, my checks burning. ¡°Well join you downstairs.¡±<fnf262> Official source is Find¡ïNovel</fnf262>


    The Inn¡¯s dining room was small bit tory, with warm wooden paneling and soft lighting that created an intimate atmosphere. <b>The </b>elderly unremill couple. had prepared a simple but hearty meal. One dish in particr¨Ca venison stew with herbs and got vegetables¨Creminded me powerfully of my mother i


    oking during the long skan winters. Anothei, a berrypete for dessert, used the samebination of wild berries my mother would gather during the britt summer months.


    We had barely settled at our table when the quiet atmosphere was disrupted by voters and footsteps approaching the entrance. The door swing open<b>, </b>admitting a group of werewolves who carried themselves with the easy confidence of those ustomed ir attention.


    At their center stood a strikingly handsome man with a close¨Ccropped red buzzcut and movie¨Cstar good looks,


    He wore a form¨Cfitting ck turtleneck beneath a tailored white zer, paired with designer jeans that seemed custom¨Cmade for his athletic build. His only essory was <b>an </b>oversized watch that looked both <b>expensive </b>and high¨Ctech.


    He scanned the small dining room, his gazending on our <b>table</b>. Recognition shed in his eyes, and a brilliant smile spread across his face.


    ¡°Adrian!¡± he <b>called </b>out, striding toward us with arms outstretched.


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 Casts 103

    Chapter <b>103 </b>


    Adrien rose to his feet, surprise evident in his expression. ¡°Tarder? What are you doing here? I thinight you d be at the Grand Pund with poe


    The handrem welt taughed, the sound rich and melodione. ¡°Too crowded, too many cameras. Sometimei erm I need a


    me, culosity brightrising his part. And who might this be?¡±<fn0370> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find[?]ovel</fn0370>


    This is Skye Anderson, my Beta,¡± Adrian said, his hand settling protectively at the small of my hack. The touch west oubtle but deliberate. And this is Ba pose of out. Einest warrions, and Lydia, mut herbal specialist andincil member ¡±


    Xavier¡¯s gare lingered in my bait, bis eyes widening with genuine appreciation. ¡°Your halt is extresedinary. 1e liquid moonlight.¡± He franed clover. Insemnation evident in his expression. ¡®Is that dyed? The enlin is absolutely perfect.!


    ¡°It¡¯s natural, Treplied, feeling a fish rise to my cheeks at his intente scrutiny. Thank you for thepliment, Alpha Zevier.¡±


    His attention shifted seamlesh to Lydia, who had remained characteristically quiet beside un ¡°And your mask, he continued, gesturing forward her decorated face covering. ¡°Abacutely exquisite craftsmanship. You look like a beautiful massin from an ancient legend


    Lydia lowered her head slightly, clearly fostered by the unexpected praise. I watched her reaction with interest. Most people¡¯s first response to Lydia¡¯s mask was unosity or difort. Their eyes filled with questions they were to polite to ask. But Xavier had immediately framed it as something beautiful. Something to be admired rather than <b>exined</b><b>. </b>


    I was beginning to understand Xavier¡¯s widespread poprity. It wasn¡¯t just his movie¨C<b>star </b>good looks or <b>his </b>fashionable artire. There was something penuinely maic about his personality. A warmth and inclusivity that made everyone in his orbit feel special. This realization sent a ripple of concer through me


    The Alpha King election wouldn¡¯t be the straightforward path to victory we¡¯d hoped for. Even powerful <b>packs </b>like Frontshadow hadn¡¯t produced an Alpha King in twenty¨Ceight <b>years</b>.


    Thepetition was steeper than I¡¯d imagined. Truly exceptional Alphas were everywhere.


    While I was lost in thought, Xavier leaned casually against our table, his charm tumed up to full wattage. ¡°You know,¡± he said conspiratorially to Lydia and me, ¡®you two remarkable women should consider joining Silverscreen Pack, Texas is no ce for beauties with such distinctive features. The Califomia rumahine <b>would </b>suit you both perfectly.¡±


    Adrian yfully punched Xavier¡¯s shoulder<b>, </b>a gesture of familiarity that spoke of their shared history. ¡°Thepetition hasn¡¯t even started<b>, </b>and you¡¯re already trying to poach my pack members?¡± He shook his head with mock disappointment. ¡°You must be really insecure about your own team!¡±.


    <b>Xavier¡¯s </bughter filled the small dining room, drawing smiles from everyone present. ¡°<b>Just </b>keeping you on your toes,cent before the real challenges begin.¡±


    old friend. Can¡¯t have you getting


    The remainder of dinner passed in a surprisingly pleasant atmosphere. Xavier regaled us with stories from Hollywood and <b>the </b>celebrities who asionally sought shelter within his pack¡¯s territory. By the time we finished the delicious berrypote, I felt <b>a </b>strange mixture of nostalgia and anticipation for what<ul><liy <b>ahead</b>. <b>The </b>familiar <b>taste </b><b>had </b><b>transported </b>me <b>back </b><b>to skan </b>summers <b>with </b>my <b>mother</b>.</li></ul>


    We excused nurselves early, needing rest before tomorrow¡¯s opening ceremonies. As I walked down the hallway toward my room, <b>Adrian¡¯s </b><b>voice </b>echoed in my mind through our pack bond.


    Skyr, can I see you for a moment? want to <b>discuss </b>tomorow¡¯s strategy for the Council chamber.


    I turned toward his room, only to collide with a half¨Cnaked figure emerging from a <b>door </b>I¡¯d assumed was a linen closet. Xavier stood before me, a small Towel wrapped precariously around his waist. Water droplets stili glistened on his sculpted chest. I took an instinctive step backward, feeling heat rise to my


    ¡°What are <b>you </b>doing here? I blurted <b>out</b>, my eyes stubbornly fixed on his face to avoid looking anywhere else.


    Xavier gestured casually toward the room behind him. ¡°I live here,¡± he replied with that easy smile. ¡°Well, temporarily at least.¡± He <b>ran </b>a hand through his damp hair, sending water sputtering across the hallway. ¡°There¡¯s no hot water in my shower. I was just going to find someone to fix it.¡±


    The door to Adrian¡¯s room swung open, and he stepped into the hallway<ol><li>y. His expression darkened instantly at the some before him. Without besitation, he</li></ol>


    Chapter 40s


    <b>Dyed </b><b>to </b>ity side, his arm sliding ponentively atmund ¨C


    chou might want to put the tomi chith?s<b>, </b>Kavier: <b>You¡¯ll </b>be the first one eliminated tomorrow.<ol><li>his voice carrying</li></ol>


    * Kavier ¨¤ eyes Dickered between uk. Amusement danced in their depths as he registered Adrien¡¯s territorial disy, ¡°Always looking mo


    <b>aren </b><b>1 </b>yes, Adrian?¡± He adjusted his towel with deliberate downed. ¡°How thoughtful


    The awkward silence stretched for a moment too long. I cleared my throat, turning toward Adrian. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to discuss somethi


    <b>¡°</b><b>Yes</b>,¡± Adrian replied, his gaze still locked with Xavier x in sente


    sitive made standoff. ¡®We shredil talk. In private.¡±


    Once safely inside Adrian¡¯s room with the <b>door </b>firmly cloved behind us, he began pacing. Tration was evident in every line of his body,


    ¡°Maybe I should have kept you hidden in the desert,¡± he muttered, imming and through his hair in frustration, ¡°the <i>day </i>out in publle, and already there are men circling like vultures.¡±


    1 crossed


    ¦°


    arms, raising an eyebrow at his outburst. ¡°What are you talking about? Xavier was friendly to everyone, including Lydu.<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°I¡¯m a man,¡± Adrian countered, his amber eyes shing. I <b>know </b>exactly what goes through a man¡¯s mind when he looks at a woman like that.


    I sighed, shaking my head at his unexpected jealousy. ¡°What did you actually want to discuss about tomorrow? The opening ceremony starts early, and <b>we </b>all need rest.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s expression softened. His shoulders dropped slightly as he moved closer. ¡°Honestly? I just wanted to see you,¡± he admitted, his voice lowering. ¡°Is that such a crime?¡±


    I tried to maintain my stem expression, but felt it slipping. ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything important to discuss, then I should get <b>back </b>to my room. We both need sleep if we¡¯re going to make a good impression tomorrow.¡±


    Itomed toward the door, my hand reaching for the handle when Adrian¡¯s fingers wrapped gently around my waist, stopping me in my tracks. The heat of his touch sent electric currents racing up my arm. My body¡¯s immediate response to him was both thrilling and unsettling,


    ¡°Don¡¯t gu,¡± he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. ¡°Not yet.<b>¡± </b>


    Chapter Comments

 Casts 104

    <b>Sky¡¯s </b>POV


    ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡± Adrian schispered, kik voiler mugh with emotion. ¡°Not yet.


    My pulse quickened as he moved closer. Itis eyes locked on mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. I couldn¡¯t help but chose my tyre, Walter what seemed inevitable.


    that the kiss never came.


    Instead, I felt his fingers gently pinch my earlobe. My eyes flew open in surprise. <b>Adrian </b>face was inches from mine.


    Thon¡¯t move,¡± he mamured.


    I remained perfectly still Confusion reced anticipation as 1 felt him slip something cool onto my earlobe. When he finished with one ear, he moved to the other with the same careful attention.<fn036e> Th?s chapter is updated by find?novel</fn036e>


    ¡°There,¡± he said with satisfaction as he stepped back slightly. ¡°Perfect.¡±


    ¡°What did you just do? I asked, reaching up to touch my eat.


    Adrian¡¯s lips curved into a smile. ¡°You closed your eyes. Were you expecting me to kiss you?¡±


    Heat rushed to my face. ¡°Who would want you <b>to </b><b>s </b>them? I retorted. Embarrassment made my voice sharper than intended.


    His smile widened into something more <b>mischievous</b>. He leaned forward and pressed his lips lightly against the shell of my ear. Shivers raced down my spine. Before I <b>could </b>react, he took my shoulders and guided me toward the bathroom


    ¡°Come see,¡± he said. He positioned me in front of the mirror while standing behind me. <b>His </b>arms encircled my waist.


    In the mirror¡¯s reflection, I saw what he had done. Delicate emerald earrings hung from my ears. The deep green stones caught the light with every movement of my head. <b>They </b>were exquisite. Their teardrop shape was surrounded by tiny diamonds that made them sparkle like <b>stars</b>.


    They match your eyes perfectly,¡± Adrian said. His chin rested on my <b>shoulder </b><b>as </b>we gazed at our reflection. ¡°Do you like them?¡±


    I nodded. I felt transfixed by the way the green stones seemed to intensify the color of my eyes. ¡°They¡¯re beautiful,¡± I whispered, touching one <b>earring </b>gently, I love them.¡±


    ¡°I meant to give them to you this morning,¡± Adrian exined. His breath felt warm against my neck. But <b>Ryder¡¯s </b>unexpected arrival disrupted my ns.¡± His expression grew thoughtful as his eyes met mine in the mirror. ¡°I <b>noticed </b>you haven¡¯t worn earrings for months <b>now</b>.¡±


    The reminder sent a cold <b>wave </b>through me. <b>Six </b>months ago, Nadia <b>had </b><b>consumed </b>the wolf poison <b>hidden </b>in my earring. That poison was meant for me. She <b>had </b>sacrificed herself to give me a chance to escape. The memory of her convulsing body and blood spilling from her lips remained vivid and <b>painful </b>


    Adrian seemed to sense the shift in my mood. <b>His </b>arms tightened around me, offeringfort without words. ¡°Don¡¯t <b>punish </b>yourself for others actions,¡± he said quietly. Understanding showed in his eyes. ¡°Nadia made her choice. She wouldn¡¯t want you to stop living because of it. He turned me to face him directly. I want you to shine at tomorrow¡¯s opening ceremony. The western <b>packs </b>need to see the strength that stands behind me.¡±


    I nodded, swallowing past the lump in my throat, ¡°You re right,¡± I agreed, touching the earrings again. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You should get some rest, Adn said. His hands didn¡¯t


    ¡®t leave <b>my </b>waist.


    my waist. A mischievous grin crossed his <b>face</b>. ¡°Unless you¡¯d prefer to stay <b>here </b>tonight?¡±


    I rolled my eyes <b>and </b>pushed away from him. ¡°When did you be so inappropriate? This is like <b>you </b><b>at </b>all.¡±


    ¡°Im only inappropriate with you,¡± he replied, fis voice <b>dropped </b>to <b>a </b>seductive pur: ¡°Consider it a privilege.¡±


    I slipped from his embrace and headed toward the door before temptation could win out. ¡°Goodnight, Adrian,¡± I said firmly. I couldn¡¯t quite suppress my smile. ¡°We both need actual sleep tonight if we¡¯re going to make a good impression tomorrow.¡±


    <b>1/3 </b>


    As <b>I </b>closed <b>his </b>door <b>behind </b>the


    Vr <b>tugged </b>at m? tipis despite myself.


    This softughter. It sounded when and affectionate My Pres


    The next morning dawned bright wind cless. The weather was perfect for the Alpha King election a opening ceremony. Our small group Jobby<b>. </b>We all wore our formal pack at


    Adrian and Ryder wote identical deep midnight blue suits with silver ents. These were dasidary¡¯s official roles. The tatlored cut emphustand Ams bread shoulders. It also gave Ryder a more mature appearance than his years,


    Lydia and 1 were matching silver dresses with midnight blue trim. The elegant designs projected both strength and unity. Our coordinated outfits market ? clearly as a cohesive pack despite our small numbers..


    We were about to depart when Xavier appeared. He looked impable in a white suit that seemed to have been poured onto his athlete frame. Ifia red buzzcut was styled to fashionable perfection. His smile was dazzling at he approached ut.


    ¡°Perfect timing!¡± be exchimed. ¡°We can share transportation.


    Adrian shook his head firmly. ¡°Thanks for the offer, but we¡¯ll make our own way there. If we go with you, we¡¯ll undoubtedly get caught in traffic with all your admirers blocking the road. We need to arrive on time.¡±


    Xavier¡¯sugh was good¨Cnatured despite the rejection. ¡°Your loss. Thedies always appreciate a grand entrance.¡±


    ¡°We prefer punctuality <b>over </b>spectacle,¡± Adrian replied with a friendly but dismissive smile. ¡°See you at the ceremony.¡±


    The journey to Silvercrest Mountain¡¯s grand ceremonial hall was brief but tense. We all understood the significance of today¡¯s events. The opening ceremony would establish hierarchies and alliances. These could determine the entire election¡¯s oue,


    We approached the imposing stone entrance. It was decorated with ancient werewolf symbols and modern banner representing the North American ??????


    ment when Dasisborn would officially step onto the continental stage. Adrian would be measured against the


    I felt a flutter of nervousness. This was the moment most powerful Alphas in <b>existence</b>.


    We had barely reached the entrance when Adrian suddenly stiffened beside me


    I followed his gaze to see <b>a </b>group of werewolves entering from another direction. They <b>carried </b><b>a </b>distinctive ocean scent simr to Adrian¡¯s but somehow colder and more metallic.


    From Adrian¡¯s reaction, 1 immediately knew this must be Stormbowl <b>Pack</b>.


    At their center stood an imposing man with <b>hard </b>features and calcting eyes.


    He shared little physical resemnce with Adrian. The way he carried himself with absolute authority marked him clearly as an Alpha. This had to be Maxwell Crawford. He was Adrian¡¯s uncle and the <b>man </b>who had stolen his birthright


    Maxwell was tall and broad¨Cshouldered. His <b>dark </b>hair was streaked with silver at the temples. <b>Beside </b>him stood a slender woman with elegant features who could only be Adrian¡¯s mother. Her eyes matched her son¡¯s amber color. They dated nervously between her brother¨Cinw and her son,


    it was impossible to avoid the encounter. Our paths converged at the entrance. Both groups were forced to acknowledge each other.


    ¡°Adrian,¡± Maxwell said. His voice dripped with false cordiality. ¡°I¡¯d heard <b>rumors </b>you¡¯d entered the election, but I didn¡¯t quite believe it. Such ambition for someone with so little experience.¡±

 Casts 105

    <b>Chapter </b><b>105 </b>


    ¡°Uncle,¡± Adrian replied. His voice remained steady despite


    tension evident in his jast. ¡®Mam.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s mother give a slight noi, Hei eyes boiefly met her son¡¯s bedare dropping away. The conflict in her expression was clear, Love for her son with loyalty to her current bumband.


    dismissi


    Maxwell¡¯s gare swept dismissively over ear small gir


    lip curled slightly


    ¡°Is this all you brought? 1 expected at least a show of force, Il not actual strength. His eyes settled on Ryder. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me this boy is your Bet? Cer <b>find </b>a well whose voice has changed yet?¡±


    ¡°Actually.¡± Adrian said smoothly, Ryder is


    Enest watts. This is my lets,


    Maswell¡¯s eyebrows shot up as <b>he </b>turned to me. A bark of brighter escaped his


    ¡°A female Beta? How progressive of you.¡± He shook his head. Amusement danced in his cold eyes. ¡°You truly believe you can win the Alpha King election with a woman as your second? This snt a children¡¯s game, nephew. It¡¯s werewolf politics.¡±


    Four years ago, Maxwell and I met once¨Cbut it looks like neither of us recognizes the other now.


    ¡°Perhaps if more Alphas chose their Betas <b>based </b>on intelligence <b>and </b><b>loyalty </b>rather than testosterone levels, the westeri territories wouldn¡¯t be in such disarray.¡± I replied. ¡°But I suppose thinking beyond brute strength requires more sophistication than some can manage.¡±


    Maxwell¡¯s face darkened with anger. His eyes shed red at the edges.


    Adrian¡¯s mother gasped softly. <b>Her </b><b>gaze </b><b>darted </b>nervously between us.


    For a tense moment, I thought Maxwell might actually attack. His hands had partially shifted. ws extended from his fingertips<b>. </b>


    Before the <b>situation </b><b>could </b>escte further, trumpets red from <b>inside </b>the ceremonial hall. They signaled the ceremony¡¯s imminent start.


    ¡°Come, Maxwell, Adrian¡¯s mother said hurriedly. She ced a restraining hand on her husband¡¯s


    ¡°We¡¯ll bete.¡±


    Maxwell¡¯s eyes remained locked with mine for another heartbeat. Then he allowed his wife to lead him away.


    As they walked toward the entrance, I caught Adrian¡¯s mother ncing back. Her <b>expression </b><b>showed </b><b>aplex </b>mixture of fear, sadness, and something that


    might have been pride.


    ¡°Last time he worked <b>behind </b>the scenes to cancel your Alpha King candidacy,¡± I <b>said</b>, my voice low with concern ¡°We need to be careful around him. Who <b>knows </b>what tricks he¡¯ll try to pull nest.¡±


    ~~¡°Well,¡± Ryder murmured <b>as </b>we watched them disappear inside, ¡°that <b>was </b>certainly an encouraging start to the proceedings.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s hand found mine. He squeezed gently


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to defend me,¡± he said quietly.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t defending you,¡± I replied. ¡°I was defending <b>us</b>¨COasisborn, We may be small, <b>we </b>may be new, but we¡¯re not weak. And I hate men who look down on women like that ¡±


    A smile tugged at his lips. Then let¡¯s not keep them waiting. It¡¯s time they learned exactly what Oasisborn <b>is </b>capable of¡±


    The Grand Ceremonial Hall of Silvercrest Mountain took my breath away.


    1/3-


    Chapter <b>105 </b>


    <b>¨C </b>Massive stone columns rose to a vaulted ceiling printed


    beneath full moons, al


    <b>that </b>had shaped nor history.


    Hundreds of candles flickered in Iran chandeliers suspended above it.


    The circr chamber was arranged like an amphitheater, with stone benches rising inmerntile sings around a centrst tfomi<b>. </b><b>Each </b>dem banya designated section marked by their park colori and symbols.


    The eastern times ocupled nearly half the chamber, their numbers a stark reminder of the power imbnce in well politics.


    ¡°This way,¡± Adrian murmurd, guiding nu small groep toward the westem section. I felt mumerous even tracking vor minements.<fn0e9e> This update is avable on FindN()vel</fn0e9e>


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s staring at us,¡± I whispered to Lydia.


    ¡°Not at us,¡± she corrected softly. ¡°M was <b>pack</b>. Wete strangers to them¨Cthe newest pack to enter thesepetitions in decades. They¡¯re curings about what threat we might pose.¡±


    Trumpets ted, echoing through the chamber. Conversations ceased as twelve elders entered from behind the central tform. Each more ceremonial india robes embroidered with silver wall silhouettes. They formed a circle around the raised dain


    The oldest among them¨Ca white <b>hatred </b>woman with a deeply lined face¨Cstepped forward. She raised her arms, and silence fell.


    ¡°I am Elder Selene, First Voice of the North American Werewolf <b>Council</b>,¡± she announced. ¡°For four centuries, we have gathered here to choose who shall lead. The Alpha king stands <b>as </b>guardian of our traditions, territories, and future.


    ¡°Forty¨Ctwo Alphas have qualified for this election. By the next full moon, only one wi


    Four younger wolves approached carrying stone bowls containing earth, water, <b>fire</b><b>, </b>and a single white feather. The elders began a melodic chant in an <b>ancient </bnguage. The elements in the bowls glowed with ethereal light.


    After the ceremonial rituals, Elder 5


    Selene exined the trials.


    ¡°Now, we shall exin the Four Trials. These trials test qualities essential to true leadership.¡±


    A broad¨Cshouldered elder stepped forward. ¡°The Trial of Strength tests physical power. Each candidate must face the Guardian Beast alone, armed only with courage <b>and </b>resolve


    I leaned toward Adrian. ¡®Guardian Beast?¡±


    ¡°A werewolf of <b>extraordinary </b>size and strength, Adrian replied quietly. Chosen every fo


    four years. No one knows who it is until they enter the <b>arena</b>.¡±


    The next elder moved to the <b>center</b>. ¡°The Trial of Wisdom challenges not the candidate alone, but the pack they lead. Knowledge, strategy, and judgment will determine who advances


    A third elder took her ce. <b>¡°</b><b>The </b><b>Trial </b>of Will tests endurance in its purest form. Many strong Alphas have fallen here, where mind and body must withstand what few could imagine.¡°His gaze swept across the candidates, lingering momentarily on each face. ¡°<b>Pain </b>is temporary. Failure is forever.¡±


    Finally, <b>Elder </b>Selene returned to center stage, her presencemanding despite her diminutive stature,


    ¡°The Trial of the Moon,¡± she announced, ¡°is the final and must sacred challenge. Its nature remains unknown to all but those who have faced it.¡± Her eyes gleamed with an inner light that seemed almost supernatural ¡°Only those truly worthy can pass the Moon Goddess¡¯s judgment ¡±


    She addressed the assembly once more. ¡°The trials will span <b>four </b>weeks. The Trial of Strength begins tomorrow at dawn. Tonight, celebrate. Tomorrow, the path to kingship begins.¡±


    As people filed out, I felt both anxious and excited. The trials <b>sounded </b>more dangerous than I had anticipated. Adrian¡¯s expression remained calm and determined.


    <b>¡°</b>We should prepare for tomorrow,¡± he <b>said</b><b>, </b>¡°The Trial of Strength will eliminate many candidates immediately.¡±


    Ryder nodded. ¡®I heardst election, the Guardian Beast broke three Alphax ribs in the first minute. Only seven evennded <b>a </b>hit.¡±


    ¡°Not particrly reassuring.¡± I replied divls, raming ? prin from our young warrior,


    We had almost reached the main donuts when Ethan appested, his fare fighting up with enthusias


    ¡°Skyri h


    he called out, hurrying over. The been looking for you. We need in talk properly catch up on everything.


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    Chapter <b>106 </b>


    I nced at Adrian, silently asking permission. His eyes met mine, something protective flickering in their depth before he g


    T¡¯d love to catch up, I told Ethan, It¡¯s been too long. ¡±


    Than¡¯s face brightened, Treat! How shout we meet at there this afternoon? Theres a small bar in our hotel. Perfect for talking.¡±


    ¡°Tell me the address,¡± I replied. ¡°T1l be there.¡±


    try, Alpha Adrian,¡± Ethan added, his tone respectful but warm. III make note my sister gets back to your hotel safely afterward.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s hand found the small of my back, his touch a possessive anchor. ¡°That won


    Ethan blinked, <b>shock </b>registering on his


    ¡°Beta<b>?</b>¡± he repeated, turning to me with wide eyes. ¡°You¡¯re his Beta?¡±


    necessary, Skye it my Beta now. Fl be looking after her myself.¡±


    Even Leon, who had been deliberately avoiding looking at me, turned his head sharply at <b>Adrian¡¯s </b>words. His ice¨Cblue eyes fired to mine for just a moment, his expression umreadable before he looked away again.


    Before I could respond, a familiar voice cut through the awkward silence.


    ¡°Well, well, well¡­ if it isn¡¯t little Skye Anderson,¡±<fnbe74> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find?novel</fnbe74>


    <b>I </b>turned <b>to </b>see Maya striding toward us, her golden ponytail swinging with each confident <b>step</b>. She looked exactly <b>as </b>I remembered¨Cperfectly put together<b>, </b>radiating the same self¨Cassured arogance she¡¯d worn like armor<b>, </b>since childhood.


    I hadn¡¯t noticed her yesterday among Leon¡¯s entourage, but of course she would be here.


    She¡¯d been his devoted shadow since we <b>were </b>teenagers<b>, </b>always positioning herself between Leon and any other female who dared approach.


    ¡°I had to see it with my own eyes,¡± Maya continued, her lips curled in a smirk. <b>¡°</b><b>Skye </b>Anderson¨Cthe girl who couldn¡¯t shift, who shot her own mate, who ran away in the middle of the night like <b>a </b>coward¨Cnow ying Beta to some devert Alpha? Hine desperate must your pack be, Alpha Adrian, to settle for someone who couldn¡¯t even meet Frostshadow¡¯s <b>basic </b>standards?¡±


    I felt heat rise to my cheeks, <b>my </b>hands curling into fists at my sides. Four years had passed, yet her words still had the power to cut deep.


    ¡°<b>Maya</b><b>¡°</b><b>¡± </b>Leon cut her off, ¡°That¡¯s enough, we¡¯re leaving


    Maya¡¯s mouth opened and closed <b>like </b><b>a </b><b>fish </b>out of water. ¡°But-¡±


    ¡°Now


    The single word carried such authority that Maya immediately fell silent. She shot me <b>a </b>venomous se before following Leon<b>, </b><b>who </b><b>had </b><b>already </b>turned away without another ner in my direction.


    Something strange happened as Leon walked away, Aty wolf, which had been rtively quiet all <b>day</b>, suddenly began pacing restlessly beneath my skin.


    A peculiar beat spread through my chest, not unpleasant but unsettling in its <b>intensity</b>, I pressed my <b>hand </b>against my sternum, annoyed at my body s


    reaction<b>. </b>


    He defended you from Maya. So <b>what</b><b>? </b>I silently chided my woll. He probably just didn¡¯t want to cause <b>a </b>scene.


    Ethan cleared his throat, <b>drawing </b>my attention back to him. ¡°Sorry about that,¡± he said, looking genuinely embarrassed. ¡°Maya hasn¡¯t changed <b>much </b>¡±


    Adrian¡¯s fingers tightened slightly against my back. Three o¡¯clock then?¡±


    Ya<b>. </b>F?kan teknfirmed<b>, </b><b>hit </b>esha darting betwer


    Ai Ethan turned in lekre, Adrian bent to whoger in my rat. ¡®I don¡¯t like this.¡±


    ¡°<b>He¡¯s </b>my brother,¡® I reminded him softly. ¡°I need to ser him.


    ¡°When you¡¯ve done talking, 111e pick you up,¡® he said famly. ¡°Just text me.


    The Silver Moon Hotel¡¯s bar was surprisingly intimate¨Call dark wood and soft lighting, with private booths tucked away from the main seating area.


    Despite the early afternoon hour, the ce had a decent crowd.


    Ethan had imed one of the secluded spots, table of nmber inquid already in hand when I arrived.


    ¡°Skye!¡± He jumped up, enveloping me in a bear bug that lifted me off my feet. I still can¡¯t believe you¡¯re really here.¡±


    1 hugged him <b>back </b>fiercely, breathing in his familiar pine scent. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you, Ethan,


    We settled into the booth, and a waitress appeared almost inmediately. I ordered a simple vodka tonic, then turned my fall attention to my brother.


    Tell m


    me everything.¡± I demanded. ¡°How are Mom and Dad? Are they


    well?


    Ethan¡¯s expression softened. ¡°They miss you terribly, Skye. Dad keeps your room exactly as you left it. Mom¡­¡± he hesitated, his eyes dropping to his drink, ¡°Mom had a health scarest year. Had to have surgery,¡±


    ¡°What?¡± I gasped, my heart clenching with sudden fear. ¡°Why didn¡¯t anyone tell me? Is she okay?¡±


    ¡°It was just a small procedure,¡± Ethan assured me quickly. ¡°Nothing serious. She¡¯s fine now, back to gardening andining about <b>Dad¡¯s </b>snoring.¡± He amiled, but I could see the concern lingering in his eyes. ¡°<b>She¡¯d </b>be overjoyed to see you.¡±


    > Guilt twisted in my stomach, While I¡¯d been building a new life, my parents had been <b>dealing </b>with health issues, probably worrying about me every day


    ¡°And <b>what </b><b>about </b>you?¡± I asked, eager to <b>shift </b>the focus. ¡°What¡¯s been happening in your life?¡±


    Ethan¡¯s face transformed, a grin stretching from ear to ear. ¡°I <b>found </b>my mate,¡± he announced proudly, pulling out his phone. ¡°Her name is Lily.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± I smiled<b>. </b><b>¡°</b><b>You </b>mentioned her in your letters. Can I see a photo of her?


    He showed me a photo of a pretty brte with warm brown <b>eyes </b>and a gentle smile. She <b>looked </b>kind¨Cexactly the type of serious brother needed.


    person my sometimes¨Ctoo-


    ¡®She¡¯s beautiful,¡± I said sincerely. ¡°When did this happen?¡±


    ¡°About a year ago,¡± he replied, his expression softening <b>as </b>he looked at the photo. ¡°We¡¯ve already marked each other. He tocked the phone <b>away</b>, his expression turning curious. ¡°What about you? <b>Have </b>you found your mate? Is it someone in Dasisborn <b>Pack</b>? Is that why you joined them?


    I shook my head, ¡°No, I haven¡¯t <b>found </b>another mate. The truth felt strange on my tongue, expecially after spending the night in Adrian¡¯s ans. ¡°I joined Oasisbon because Adrian helped me when I <b>was </b>in trouble. He¡¯s <b>a </b>good Alpha,¡±


    Ethan leaned forward, lowering his voice. ¡°Look, <b>Skye</b>, being ¡®good¡® doesn¡¯t win Alpha King elections. Alpha Lean has been preparing for this his entire life. His chances of winning are much stronger.¡±


    He reached <b>across </b>the table, taking my hand. ¡°Why note home? If <b>you </b>just apologized to Leon, I¡¯m sure he¡¯d ept you back. We could be a family again. Mom and Dad <b>miss </b><b>you </b>so much.¡±


    I pulled my hand away, shaking my head famly. ¡°I have nothing to apologise for, Ethan. I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. I miss Mom and Dad too, but I¡¯m noting <b>back </b>to Frostshadow. I¡¯m happy where I am now. Oasisburn is my home.¡±


    1990, 2/3


    <b>Chapter </b>106


    <b>¡°</b><b>Is </b>it really?¡± a rold voice interni?teil.


    I looked up to see Lean standing by our table, bis expression Impassive. How long had he been listening?


    Chapter Comments


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    they were literally at the hotel yesterday


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 Casts 107

    A pack of mulcasts and rejects, led by an Alpha with delusions of grandeur,¡± Leon continued, his Mae eyes fixed on me with ufortable Intensity. To that truly where you belong, <b>Skye</b>?¡±


    ¡°Alpha Leon.¡± Ethon began, ¡®I was just¡ª¡±


    ¡°I heard.¡± Leon rut him off. ¡°And let me make something perfectly clear. Frustshadow would never ept a traitor back into its ranks. No matter what.¡±


    Before I could respond, a curvaceous woman in a dress that left little to the imagination sidled up to Leon. Her red lips curved into a seductive smile as she ced a hand on his chest.


    ¡°Ive been noticing you for a while<b>, </b>Alpha,¡± she purred, leaning closer. ¡°Buy a girl a drink?¡±


    To my surprise, <b>Leon </b>didn¡¯t rebuff her. Instead, his aim slipped around her <b>waist</b>, pulling her against his side. Without another word to us, he led her toward the bar, her gigglingughter trailing behind them.


    ¡°What was that?¡± I demanded, turning back to Ethan. ¡°Leon¡¯s acting like he doesn¡¯t e picking <b>up </b>random women in bars<b>?</b>¡±


    even <b>have </b>a mate. He rejected me for shooting him, but he¡¯s okay with


    Ethan¡¯s expression grew serious. That¡¯s just it, Skye. Lean hasn¡¯t found another mate <b>since </b>you left. There¡¯s been no one.¡±


    ¡°What? But its b


    But it¡¯s been four years I protested, watching Leon whisper something <b>in </b><b>the </b>woman¡¯s ear that <b>made </b>herugh. ¡°He acts like he doesn¡¯t care at all.¡±


    ¡°Thats just it¨Che acts,¡± Ethan replied quietly. ¡°Leon hasn¡¯t been the <b>same </b>since you left. He¡¯s harder, colder. Throws himself into training and pack duties.¡±


    <b>I </b><b>decided </b>to change the subject. ¡°Tell me more about Mom and Dad. Hose are they really doing? You said Moms


    s been gardening?


    As Ethan began sharing <b>more </b>details about our parents¡® lives, I <b>nced </b>toward the har. Leon <b>and </b>the woman were already gone.


    I tried to <b>focus </b>on Ethan¡¯s stories <b>about </b><b>Dad¡¯s </b>new fishing boat and Mom¡¯s prizewinning roses, but a part of my mind kept wandering.<fna2a6> Original content can be found at find?novel</fna2a6>


    After a while, a sudden, sharp painnced through my chest. I gasped, pressing my hand <b>against </b>my sternum<b>. </b>


    <b>¡°</b><b>Skye</b>? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ethan¡¯s concerned voice reached me <b>as </b>another wave of pain washed over me, stealing my breath.


    Something was wrong


    I clutched at my sternum, feeling as though invisible ws were bearing at something deep <b>inside </b>me.


    ¡°Skyet Ethan¡¯s voice sounded distant despite his proximity. His hands gripped my shoulders as I <b>doubled </b>over. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I gasped, the words barely escaping through gritted teeth.


    I¡¯m taking you to our room. We brought our pack dorter with us thepetition¨Cbe can examine you.¡±


    I shook my head, trying to straighten despite the waves of pain crashing through my body. ¡°No, I should go <b>back </b>to my own hotel. I¡¯m not part of Frostshadow anymore.¡±


    ¡°<b>This </b>isn¡¯t the time to worry about pack loyalties/ Ethan insisted<b>, </b><b>his </b>voice firm but gentle. ¡°The first trial starts tomorrow. You might not bepeting, but Alpha Adrian will <b>need </b>his Beta at full strength. <b>You </b>can¡¯t let him face the Guardian Beast while worrying about <b>you</b>.¡°


    The mention of Adrian made me hesitate. I couldn¡¯t let personal difort interfere with our purpose here. After a moment¡¯s consideration, I nodded reluctantly


    Fine. But just a quick eumination.¡±


    Without wring, Ethan scooped sta


    bil back a cay.


    ¡°Sorry<b>,</b>¡± he marmured, adjusting his hold to support me morefortably.


    When we reached Ethan¡¯s rem, he carefully deposited me on the bed. The moment I crossed the threshold, something strange happened¨Cthe pan <b>in </b>Toy chest intensified dramatically.


    <b>¡°</b><b>Its </b>worse I gasped, curling ento my side. ¡°Why is it worse?¡±


    Ethan¡¯s brow furrowed with concern. The doctor will be here any minute,¡± he promised, sitting beside me and taking my hand. ¡°Tott hold on.¡±


    True to his word, a sharp knock sounded at the door less than five minutester. Ellian admitted a middle¨Caged man with salt and pepper hair <b>and </b>intelligent eyes behind wire¨Crimmed sses.


    ¡°This is Dr. Kingsley.¡± Ethan introduced. ¡°Do you still remember him?¡±


    I nodded


    The doctor approached with a professional smile, setting his <b>medical </b>bag on the nightstand. ¡°Ms. Anderson, I understand you¡¯re experiencing some chest pain. Can you describe the sensation for me<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    I did my best to exin the tearing, burning feeling centered directly behind my sternum. Dr. Kingsley listened attentively, asionally nodding as he checked my pulse and examined my eyes.


    ¡°No <b>fever</b><b>,</b>¡± he noted, removing the <b>stethoscope </b>from my chest. Heart rate is elevated but not dangerously <b>so</b><b>. </b>Breathing sounds clear.¡± He continued <b>his </b>examination methodically<b>, </b>testing my reflexes and palpating gently around the painful area.


    After several minutes of careful assessment, <b>he </b><b>sat </b>back with a puzzled expression. Physically, everything seems normal. No signs of poisoning or injury that I can detect


    ¡°<b>But </b>the pain is real.¡± I insisted. ¡°It feels like something¡¯s breaking inside me.


    Dr. Kingsley¡¯s expression shifted to one of careful consideration. ¡°M. Anderson, where is your mate at the moment?¡±


    The question caught me off guard. ¡°I don¡¯t have one,¡± I replied automatically. ¡°Well, I mean, I¡¯m seeing someone currently, but <b>he¡¯s </b>not my <b>mate</b>.¡±


    The doctor¡¯s eyebrows rose significantly. ¡°Not your mate? Are you <b>certain</b>?¡±


    <b>¡°</b><b>Of </b>course I¡¯m certain,¡± I said, what defensively. ¡°Leon rejected me years ago, you know¡±


    Dr. Kingsley frowned, rubbing h


    his chin thoughtfully. ¡°This is most unusual. The symptoms you¡¯re describing are ssic signs of mate¨Chond distress, typically triggered when one¡¯s mate is being unfaithful or forming an intimate connection with another.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± I insisted. ¡°Like <b>I </b><b>said</b>, I don¡¯t have a mate.¡±


    ¡°Could <b>your </b>partner be


    <b>be </b><b>your </b><b>true </b>


    <b>true </b>mate


    te without your knowledge?¡± the doctor pressed. ¡°Sometimes the bond forms gradually, especially in cases where there s been previous trauma to the mating instinct.¡±


    I shook my <b>head </b>firmly. ¡°No, <b>Adrian </b>and I both know were not mates. We¡¯ve discussed it explicitly.


    Dr. Kingsley¡¯s frown deepened. <b>Then </b>I¡¯m at a loss to exin your symptoms. There¡¯s nothing <b>physically </b>wrong with you¨Cno poison, no injury, no illness. Yet your body is reacting exactly as if your mate bond is bring vited.


    A troubling thought suddenly urred to me. ¡± it could it be possible to have a second mate?¡± I asked hesitantly. ¡°A second chance after rejection?¡±


    The doctor¡¯s eyes widened slightly. ¡°It¡¯s rare, but not unheard of. The Moon Goddess asionally grants a second <b>mate </b>to those who have suffered rejection.¡° He studied me with renewed interest: ¡°Ms. Anderson, is it possible your second chance mate is here, at the Alpha King election?¡±


    The possibility hat me like a physical blow. In all our preparations for thepetition, I had worried about Adrian potentially meeting his true <b>mate </b><b>among </b>the gathered packs.


    Chapter <b>107 </b>


    Not once had I considered that I might find my nun second chance mate here.


    Chapter Comments


    Jamie DeWitt


    yeah¡­ but you didn¡¯t ept it.. soooo¡­

 Casts 108

    <b>Chapter </b>108


    Skye¡¯s


    1¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± I admitted, the words barely edible. I haven¡¯t felt an


    The


    (started tuddenly! Dr. Kingsley asked.


    1 nodded, thinking back to the moment in the bar. ¡°Tast a few minutes ago.


    And you were where, exactly?<b>¡± </b>


    In the hotel bar, talking with my bentber.¡±


    Dr. Kingsley¡¯s expression grew contemtive. ¡°Who else was present?¡±


    1 thought <b>back </b>to the crowded bar, trying to remember the faces I¡¯d seen. ¡°Many people. But¡­ I hesitated, reluctant to voice the name. ¡°Leon was there. He came to our table, then left with sonte woman.¡±


    Understanding dawned in the doctors eyes. ¡°Alpha Leun? Your former mate?¡±


    I nodded reluctantly.


    ¡°And you say he left with a woman? In what context?


    Heat rushed to my face as I recalled <b>the </b>scene. She approached him at our table. They seemed¡­ intimate. He put his arm around her and they walked away together,¡±


    Im not entirely certain whether <b>your </b>pain is due to Alpha Leon or possibly a Second Chance Mate,¡± Dr. Kingsley said, his brow furrowed in contemtion. ¡°The symptoms align with mate bond distress, but without further evidence¡­.


    He turned to face me directly. ¡°My rmendation is that you confirm this directly with Alpha Leon. If the mate bond between you hasn¡¯t truly been severed, your wolves will sense it immediately when you¡¯re in close proximity.


    The doctor shifted his attention to my brother. Beta Ethan, where is Alpha Leon currently? Would it be possible for you to ask him toe here and help


    us confirm this situation?


    Before Ethan could answer, an exaggerated feminine moan echoed through the wall¨Cloud, theatrical, and unmistakable in its implication. The sound <b>was </b>followed immediately by a wave of pain so severe that I gasped, doubling over on the bed.


    Ethan¡¯s face flushed deep red. ¡°I¡¯ll, uh¡­ I go get <b>Alpha </b>Leon in a hit,¡± he stammered, avoiding eye contact with both of us. ¡°I think he¡¯s¡­ not avable <b>at </b>


    the mument¡­..¡±


    1


    The meaning behind my brother¡¯s awkward avoidance became instantly clear. Leon was with that woman from the bar. They were having sex. Right now. In


    the room adjacent <b>to </b><b>ours </b>


    Another moan prated the wall, this one even more dramatic than thest, followed by the rhythmic <b>creaking </b>of furniture. Each sound corresponded with a fresh stab of pain in my chest, as though someone were physically tearing something from inside me.


    ¡°I see,¡± Dr. Kingsley said quietly, his professional demeanor intact despite the obvious situation.


    se by the phys<ul><li>physical</li></ul>


    I pressed my hands against my ears, trying to block out the sounds from the neighboring room. Humiliation burned through me, made wone pain


    After everything th<fnf593> Checktest chapters at fin?novel</fnf593>


    that had happened between the public rejection, the years of separation¨Chose could <b>run </b>still affect me this way?


    The sounds from the neighboring room had finally stopped, but the pain in my chest continued to throb with <b>dull </b>persistence. Dr. Kingsley offered me a <b>ss </b><b>of </b>water, which I epted with trembling hands. My thoughts were a chaotic tangle of confusion, embarrassment, and growing dread


    ¡°Is there any way <b>to </b>confirm this without involving Leon directly? Lasked, desperate for an alternative.


    Dr. Kingsley shook his head. Im id not. Mate bonds air enmples and highly individualized, Wilmat diner can only specte.¡±


    Ethan paced the room, bis expression temibled. ADILA


    mind <b>link </b>


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± I asked, alsmed.


    Contacting Leen¡± Ithan replied, his fons elsewhere. He needs in know what a happening ¡°


    ¡°No!¡± I protested, but it was toote than¡¯s eyes had already taken on the distant look of active telepathic cication.


    The next thirty minutes crawled by with excmciating slowaru. I sat rigid on the edge of the bed, alternating between hoping Leon would refuse toe and dreading the confrontation that seemed increasingly inevitable, Dr. Kingsley busied himself with reviewing notes on his tablet, necasionally ncing at me with clinical interest.


    When the knock finally came, it was <b>sharp </b>and decisive threemandin


    made


    ade my wulf stir restlessly beneath my


    Ethan opened the door, revealing Leon in the hallway. He had changed clothes since the bar, hir hair still slightly damp as


    The realization of why he¡¯d needed to shower sent another spike of pain through my chest.


    Leon¡¯s cold blue eyes swept the room, settling on me with unnerving intensity: Before Dr. Kingsley could even begin to exin the situation, Leon spoke, his voice carrying the same detached authority I remembered from years ago.


    ¡°I believe our mate band still exists,¡± he stated tly, as if discussing the weather. ¡°Or perhaps it <b>was </b>broken when I rejected you, and you are now Second Chance mate. I believe <b>I¡¯ve </b>just verified that fact.¡±


    The clinical coldness of his deration knocked the breath from my lungs. ¡°What?¡± I gasped, struggling to process his words. ¡°You had sex with that woman just to verity whether our mate bond exists? You¡¯re still the same heartless hastard <b>you </b>were four years ago!¡±


    Pain mixed with indignation as I realized the full extent of his cruelty. He could have approached me directly, could have initiated a conversation like a masonable perion. Instead, he¡¯d chosen the most brutal method possible to make his point,


    Leon¡¯s lips curled into a cold smirk. ¡°And when you were intimate with Adrian, was that not equally


    hurtful to me?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not the same!¡± I protested, heat rushing to my face. ¡°I didn¡¯t know! I had no <b>ides </b>our hand might still exist.¡±


    ¡°How could you not know? Lean countered, his voiceced with skepticism. ¡°Your wolf should have sensed it the moment we reunited yesterday. Mine certainly did


    I thought back to the strange sensations I¡¯d experienced¨Cthe inexplicable heat in my chest, the restlessness of my wolf when Leon <b>had </b>walked away<b>. </b>Everything suddenly made terrible sense. But I¡¯d genuinely never connected those feelings to our mite bond. After four years of believing it severed, how <b>could </b>I have possibly recognized the signs?


    ¡°So this <b>was </b>deliberate revenge?¡± I asked, my voice shaking with barely controlled emotion. ¡°You were purposely trying to hurt me?


    Leon scoffed, <b>his </b>expression hardening. ¡°Revenge? Against you? Do you really think I need to bother with such pettiness?¡±


    The dismissive arrogance in <b>his </b>tone cut deeper than any insult could <b>have</b>. In his eyes<b>, </b>I wasn¡¯t even worth the effort of revenge¨Cjust a <b>nuisance </b>to be <b>dealt </b>with, <b>a </b>problem to be solved through clinical experimentation.


    As we red at each other, the <b>tension </b>thick enough to choke on, my phones shrill ring broke the standoff. Adrian¡¯s name shed across the trembling fingers, I epted the call.


    screen. With


    <b>¡°</b><b>Skye</b>?¡± Adrians warm voice filled my car, instantly triggering a wave of guilt. Toutside the hotel bar, ready to pick you up. Are you still with <b>your </b>


    brother?¡±


    I swallowed hard, suddenly aware of the enormity of what I needed to tell him. ¡°I¡¯m in Ethan¡¯s hotel room,¡± I managed to say, my <b>voice </b>steadier than I expected. ¡°There¡¯s something¡­ something we need to <b>discuss</b>, I <b>think </b>it would be better to talk in person.


    There was a brief pause on the other end of the fine to everything okka??


    tjan asked, concern avident in his tone,


    ¡°No,¡± I admitted, watching from¡¯s cold eyes back my every movement. But Did rather exin


    ¡°Till be right there.¡± Adrian replied without hesitation. What¡¯s them number?¡±


    Chapter Comments


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    so her brother is going to allow his sister to stay in pain so his alpha can getid. seriously, she needs to stop talking to her brother all together. he¡¯s trash, just like Leo¡­.


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 Casts 109

    MW


    After providing the information and ending the call, I turned back to face Leon. The realization that I would soon have to exin thing to Adrian made my heart clench with dirad


    How could I possibly tell the man I¡¯d spent the night with that my former mate -the ene who had rejected and humiliated me might


    More importantly, how would this affect Adhian¡¯s perfomance in too trial? The Alpha King election was to important to be derailed by personal drama, se I couldn¡¯t see how to mold it now.


    As there thoughts tumbled through my mind, I met Leon¡¯s icy gaze with newluund determination. Whatever games he was ying, whatever cruel satisfaction he derived from this situation, I wildst let him destiny what Adrian and I had built together.


    One way or another, I would find a solution that protected both Adrian and


    the f


    The tension in the room intensified when Adrian entered. Concern filled his face <b>as </b>he noticed the doctor¡¯s presence. He quickly crossed the room and reached for my hands to check me for injuries,


    ¡°Skye, what happened? Are you hurt?¡± His fingers traced my arms, his voice tight with worry.


    ¡°I¡¯m not hurt.¡± I assured him, despite the persistent ache in my chest. ¡°Not physically, at least.¡±


    Adrian looked between me, Ethan, the <b>doctor</b>, and finally at Leon, who stood with his amis crossed<b>, </b>watching us with cold detachment.


    <b>¡°</b><b>You </b>said there was something <b>you </b>needed to tell me,¡± Adrian reminded me,


    turning his <b>attention </b>back to me. ¡°What is it? What¡¯s going on?


    I couldn I find the right words <b>at </b>first. How could I exin this <b>cruel </b>twist of fate? I took a deep breath <b>and </b>met his eyes.


    ¡°Alpha Leon¡­. he might be my Second Chance Mate, I finally said.


    Adrian frome, his expression changing from concern to disbelief. That¡¯s impossible,¡± he stated tly. ¡°He rejected you four years ago. The bond was <b>broken</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>He looked at Leon with hardened eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of <b>such </b>a thing, Are you sure this isn¡¯t some kind of mistake?¡±


    Leon shrugged with contempt. ¡°I assure you, I wish it were a mistake. Unfortunately, the facts <b>are </b>undeniable.¡±


    ¡°Ms Anderson¡¯s symptoms strongly suggest a <b>mate </b>bond in distress. Dr. Kingsley added <b>clinically</b>. ¡°It <b>appears </b>the bond with Alpha Leon either was never <b>fully </b>severed, or has been reestablished <b>as </b>a Second Chance hand.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s jaw tightened <b>as </b>be processed this information. His hand found mine and squeezed gently: Leon¡¯s eyes narrowed <b>at </b>our contact,


    The silence that followed felt suffocating. Ethan shifted ufortably. The doctor busied himself with his medical bag. Leon remained cold and impassive


    I couldn¡¯t hear it any longer. This cruel joke had to end.


    ¡°<b>You </b>can reject me again,¡± <b>I </b>said to Leon, my voice steady despite my trembling limbs. Right now, Let¡¯s end this farce immediately


    Leon looked genuinely surprised. He <b>clearly </b>hadn expected me to request rejection.


    ¡°So eager to be rid of me?¡± he asked with arrogance. ¡°You found <b>yourself </b>a boyfriend and now you¡¯re in <b>such </b><b>a </b>hurry to sever our mate bood? As I recall, four years ago you were crying, begging me not to reject you<b>.</b>¡±


    My face heated with anger. ¡°That was four <b>years </b>ago.¡± I replied coldly. ¡°Four years ago, I had pour judgment when it came to men. I was young <b>and </b>naive.


    Lean¡¯s <b>face </b>darkened with <b>fury</b>, his eyes shing g red. Ethan quickly stepped between us with raised hands.


    ¡°Let¡¯s all calm down,¡± my brother siged with a reptouchtal bok. This mn¡¯t helping zumine.


    I noticed a small, satisfied smile on Adrians free, clearly appreciating me serbet jah at


    Leen looked dismissively at Adrian before turning <b>back </b>to me, ¡°I wil


    ng <b>back</b>.


    ver pur mate bead¡± he dered family. But not now. The fire triat ar election begins tomorrow. Breaking a mate hond would weaken ut both considerably. After the election concludes, ?ll make at official ¡±


    I nced at Adrien for his reaction. ¡°Alpha Adn, what do you think?


    The question showed respect for him as my Alpha while acknowledging out deeper rtionship. I needed to know he was <b>okay </b>with this arrangement


    ¡°I respect whatever decision you make, Skyr,¡± he said sincerely. But I agree that right now, with the trials beginning tomornm, might not be the best time?


    I turned back to Leon defiantly. Tine. We¡¯ll wait until after the election to break the hund I wouldnt want you to have an excuse for when you lour


    Leon¡¯s <b>face </b>contorted <b>with </b>rage. ¡°Lose? To him? He gestured dismissively toward Adn. ¡°A pathetic Alpha from a makeshift park of rejects? make it past the first <b>trial</b>. And you¨Ca Beta who couldn¡¯t even shift mail recently¨Cyou think your judgment of what makes a priserful Alpha mutters?¡±


    ed to prepare for tomorrow,


    ¡°I guess we¡¯ll see, won¡¯t we?¡± I replied coolly. I tumed to Adrian. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We need to


    Without hesitation, Adrian bent down and lifted me into his arms. The <b>sudden </b>movement startled me, but I quickly wrapped my arms around his neck for bnce. His gesture clearly stated his loyalties to everyone in the room.


    My <b>checks </b>flushed at how intimate this must appear<b>, </b>especially in front of my brother. I buried my face against Adrian¡¯s chest, breathing in his familiar


    As Adrian carried me toward the <b>door</b>, Lean¡¯s voice stopped us.<fn1300> The rightful source is FindN()vel</fn1300>


    We paused. Adrian¡¯s body tensed as we both turned to face my former mate


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 Casts 110

    Skye¡¯s POV


    We paused at the donners, Adrian¡¯s body tensed beneath my arms at we both to studied us.


    ?n fare Leon. His cold blue eyes held an almost calcting almams at b?


    ¡°Before you leave.¡± Leon said, his voler emotionless and clinical, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing we need to discus. He gestured toward Dr Kindley, Dorse ¨C would you exin to them the physical implications of our situation?


    Dr. Kingsley cleared his throat ufortably. ¡°When werewolves establish a mate bond, their physical and emotional states be intertwined. If one mute engages in¡­ intimate rtions with another patty, the betrayed male experiences significant plonical pain.¡±


    Heat nished to my face as I realized what Leon <b>was </b>implying. Adrian¡¯s arms tightened arsond me protectively.


    ¡°The intensity of this effect diminishes with distance,¡± the doctor contiend. Many miles apart, the connection bes negligible. However, in close proximity, soch as within the xaine Loren, He trailed off, the implication clear.


    <b>¡°</b>You¡¯re suggesting that Skye and I abstain from sex during the election,¡± Adrian stated bluntly, his voice tight with controlled anger.


    Leon¡¯s expression remained impassive. ¡°I¡¯m not suggesting anything. I¡¯m stating a fact. Any sexual activity between you two would cause me considerak difort, which would naturally impact my performance in the trials.¡±


    I squirmed in Adrian¡¯s arms, embarrassment wanting with indignation. ¡°You u can¡¯t seriously think you have any right to dictate my personal life after four


    ¡°I¡¯m merely pointing out the reality of our situation,¡± Leon replied smoothly. ¡®Every action has consequences. If you choose to continue your¡­ arrangement with Adrian, I¡¯ll be forced to seek simr relief<b>. </b>And I suspect the resulting pain would affect you <b>far </b>more severely than it would me.


    His tone was so matter¨Cof¨Cfact, so devoid of emotion, that I wanted to scream. He was discussing our intimate lives as if negotiating a business deal.


    Ethan cleared his throat ufortably, his face fushed with embarrassment. He stood abruptly <b>and </b>moved toward the door, gently tugging the doctors


    sleeve.


    Alpha Leon,¡± my brother said, his voice strained, I think I¡¯m not suited <b>to </b>participate in this conversation. Skye is my sister.


    Leon waved dismissively. ¡°Fine. You¡¯re excused.¡±


    Before leaving, Ethan pulled out his phone. ¡°<b>Skye</b>, let me get your number. It¡¯s been too long since we¡¯ve talked.¡±


    I recited my number as he entered it into <b>his </b>contacts. His expression softened as he met my eyes.


    ¡°I know <b>you </b>don¡¯t belong to Frostshadow anymore,¡± he said quietly, ¡°but no matter which pack you¡¯re <b>part </b>of, you¡¯ll always be my sister.


    The simple sincerity in his voice brought tears to my eyes. I managed <b>a </b>small nod as he squeezed my hand orst time <b>before </b>slipping out with the doctor.


    now you¡¯re threatening to sleep with other women just to hurt Skye?¡± Adrian¡¯s voice had dropped dangerously low. ¡°That¡¯s a new low, even for you.¡±


    Leon shrugged, unmoved by Adrian¡¯s anger. ¡°Not a threat¨Csimply cause and effect. Besides, it¡¯s hardly my fault that our mate bond remains intact. The Moon Goddess works in mysterious ways.¡±


    ¡°You sound pretty confident for someone whos bout to lose the Alpha King election,¡± <b>I </b><b>said</b>, finding my <b>voice </b>again. ¡°Are you that worried about your performance that you need to ensure there are to distractions?<b>¡± </b>


    A flicker of annoyance crossed Lean¡¯s otherwise stoic features. ¡°I have <b>no </b>doubts about my victory. However, I¡¯d prefer to win on my own merits rather than because my opponent¡¯s Beta was incapacitated by ate bond distress.¡±


    Adrian took <b>a </b>step toward Leon, his muscles <b>coiled </b>with barely suppressed rage. ¡°You have no right to <b>dictate </b>what happens between me and Skye. Nane


    Chapter 110<fn8ac8> Latest content published on find?novel</fn8ac8>


    ¡°Perhaps not.¡± Leon conceded. ¡°But think shoud ft logically. Your park is already at a numeriest afford to have your Beta crippled seith pain because you resilda t contend your signi for a few


    His words bil home. The second trial would indeed require tramwork, and Dosiahnen man afford any weaknesses, I nced at Adrian, seeing the sa realization dawn in his eyes.


    ¡°Fine,¡± I said, before Adrian could respoist. One month. Na sexual contact between Adrian and me until the election in ma


    Skyr Adrian began to pistest.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a month,¡± 1 interrupted, meeting his gare steadily. ¡°And he x right about one thing we can¡¯t afford any disadvantages during the triate


    teen nodded, satisfaction evident in his roll smile.


    ¡°A wise decision,¡± Leon said. ¡®I have a formal


    ement dessen up by morning. Nothingplicated ¨C just a promise that both puties will refrain from sexual contact for the duration of the Alpha King election.¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary, Adrian growled. We don¡¯t need your paperwork.


    ¡°Oh, but I insist.¡± Leon replied, his smile never reaching his eyes. ¡°Consider it insurance against¡­ forgetfulness.¡±


    Without waiting for a response, Adrian turned and carried me from the room, his jaw clenched so tightly I could hear his teeth grinding together.

 Casts 111

    Crowned by Fate


    The the hac daar betel privind in tema silence, Adriana i and frustration vaidiating from him in


    were white on the steering wheat, his eyes ford in the road


    I¡¯m sorry,¡± 1 Anally said, my voice small in


    confined space. This isn¡¯t what I wanted.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s expression softened slightly as he nced at


    When we arrived at our modest inn, Adrian semprised me by circling to the pattenger side and Iching me into his arms again before ( czujkt


    Adrian, I can walk perfectly fine,¡± I protested, though part of me enjoyed the security of his emberre


    ¡°I know,¡± he replied, his voice rough as he carried me through the lobby but let me hold you. Please


    As we made our way down the hallway toward out rooms, we encountered Alplu Xavier emerging from his site. His eyebrows shot up at the carrying me, a knowing smile spreading across his handsome face.


    ¡°Well, well,¡± he drawled, leaning casually against his douframe. I thought the romance was supposed to begin after the Alpha King is crowned.


    rht of Adrian


    Adrian red at him with such intensity that Xavier¡¯s smile faltered slightly. Without a word, Adrian shouldered past him and camed me directly to bes mom<b>, </b>nudging the door open with <b>his </b>foot.


    Once inside, he gently ced me on his bed, his amber eyes zing with a primal hunger that set my pulse racing. Without warning, he leaned down and imed my mouth in <b>a </b>kisa that scorched my senses.


    This wasn¡¯t like our previous kisses¨Cgentle and exploring. This <b>was </b>fer


    <b>was </b>feral,manding, and fiercely possessive.


    His hands knotted in my silver hair, pulling with a sharp tug that drew a soft man from my lips. His tongue swept against mine, demanding surrender, a low growl rumbling in his chest. I clutched his shoulders, nails digging in as 1 matched his fire.


    His hands reamed, one sliding down my spine to grip my hips, yanking me against him until I felt every hard line of his body.


    ¡°You¡¯re mine, Skye,¡± he rasped, voice rough with need. His lips attacked my neck, teeth grazing my pulse before sacking hand, eliciting a gasp that melted into a whimper.


    My head fell back, and he growled <b>again</b>, emboldened. His fingers <b>traced </b>the curve of my waist, then higher, cupping my breast with <b>a </b>bold squeeze that sent heat pooling low in my core,


    ¡°Say it,¡± he demanded, thumb circling with maddening precision. ¡°Say you¡¯re mine.¡±


    ¡°Adrian.¡± I moaned, voice trembling as his mouth descended, kissing the swell of my chest with acaring intent.


    He tagged at my blouse, exposing more skin, his lips and tongue tracing the edge of my bra, each touch a possessine brand. My fingers tangled in his dark hair, pulling him closer despite myself, lost in the storm of his desire.


    For a moment, I <b>was </b>lost in him, consumed by the heat of his im. But as his fingers grazed the edge of my shirt, reality snapped back. I ced my palma against his chest, gently pushing him away,


    ¡°Adrian,¡± I <b>gasped</b>, struggling to catch my breath. <b>We </b>can¡¯t I just promised-


    <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>know,¡± he interrupted, pressing his forehead against mine. His breathing <b>was </b>ragged, his eyes closed as he fought for contrul. ¡°<b>I </b>know I just¡­ I needed to


    touch you. <b>Just </b>one more time.¡±<fn4482> Chapters first released on f?ndnovel</fn4482>


    He pulled back, running a hand through his dark hair in frustration, <b>I </b><b>can¡¯t </b>believe this is happening. That bastard rejects you, abandons you for four years, and now suddenly has the right to dictate what happens between us?¡±


    I reached for his hand, threading my fingers through his. ¡°It¡¯s only <b>a </b>month, Adrian, Weve waited this long. We can <b>wait </b>a little longer.¡±


    He sat beside me on the bed, his shoulders slumping slightly. ¡°It¡¯s not post about the im on you at all drives me


    ¡°<b>I </b>know,¡± I said softly. ¡°Believe me. I¡¯m Together.


    happy about it sithey tut after the


    tion, Leon will formally break the band,


    Adrian tormed to me, vulnerability evident in his expression. ¡°What if he began, then hesitated. What if when the timees, you decide keep the bond? He in prius fated mate, aliri all. Some would say that a sarred¡±


    The feat in his voice Iroke my heart. I cupped his face between my palms, forcing him to meet my gaze


    Leen rejected me once, and I survived,¡± I said firmly. ¡°I built a new life, found a new pack, and fell in love with an Alpha who s not just what I can do for his ambitions. I choour you, Adn. Mate hund er no mate bond.¡±


    Some of the tension cased from shoulders.


    his st


    feaned forward, pressing a gentle kits in my forehead.


    Stay with me tonight,¡± he whispered. ¡°Just to sleep. I don¡¯t want to be alone ¡°


    ¡°Of course,¡± I agreed, relieved that he wasn¡¯t pulling away.


    Adrian rose from the bed, grabbing one of the pillows <b>and </b>tossing it onto the nearby sofa. I watched in confusion as he collected a spare hanket from


    closel


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Setting up the sofa for myself.¡± he exined matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. ¡°You take the bed.¡±


    I looked at the king¨Csized bed, then back at


    without touching.¡±


    the narrow sofa that would barely amodate his tall frame. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous. This bed is huge. We can sh


    Adrian¡¯s lips quirked in a half¨Csmile. ¡°Either you¡¯repletely oblivious <b>to </b>your own appeal, or you trust me far too much. I¡¯m a man, <b>Skye</b>. A man in love with a beautiful woman. I don¡¯t think I could lie beside you <b>all </b>night and maintain the self¨Ccontrol <b>that </b>agreement <b>requires</b>.¡±


    Heat rushed to my cheeks at his <b>frank </b>admission. <b>¡°</b><b>Oh</b>.¡±


    ¡°Oh, indeed,¡± he replied, his smile growing more genuine. ¡°So I¡¯ll take the sofa. But knowing you¡¯re here, in my room, is enough.¡±


    As I watched him arrange his makeshift bed, a <b>wave </b>of tenderness washed over me. Despite the turmoil of the day, despite Leon¡¯s cruel maniption and the unexpectedplications of the mate bond, one truth remained clear: Adrian was the man I wanted. The man I chose.


    And no magical bond could change that.

 Casts 112

    <b>Chapter </b>112


    LIGT <b>PAY </b>


    ¨C 1 mmed try Trst past the control panel, thirrasing the treadmills speed in its maximum setting. My feet pranded spallet be


    thundering rege in my chest. The hotel¡¯s rooftop gym was mercifully empty at this heat, allowing me to wat any frustration


    The Image of Adrian carrying Skye out of the room¨Cher silver hair cascading over his arm, her face buried against his chest ¨C reyed in my chind ha torbate, ach time I recalled it, my well led with postesthe faty.


    How dare be touch what¡¯s ours? my wall growled<b>. </b>


    ¡°Sheat up,¡± I muttered betweenbored becalls. ¡°She¡¯s not mus


    But even as I said it, I knew it was entirely true. The mate haul that had sparked to life yesterday proved otherwar.


    When my team and I had Test and at the <b>base </b>of Silvercrest Minntain, my wolf had be inexplicably agitated. A restless energy had surged through my veins as my wolf paced beneath my skin, suddenly alert and eager.


    She¡¯s here, he¡¯d whispered with uncharacteristic excitement. Our mate is here.


    At first, I¡¯d been intrigued. If my mate was qualified to attend the Alpha King election, she must be powerful¨Ceither an Alpha herself or at least a high ranking Beta in a prominent pack. The possibility <b>had </b>been surprisingly appealing. A strong mate would benefit Frostshadow and potentially boost myt chances in the election.


    I¡¯d rented the entire hotel to ensure my team would have peace and privacy during thepetition. I¡¯d nned to settle in, then perhaps explore the town, following my wolf¡¯s instincts to locate this mysterious mate.


    Instead, I¡¯d walked into the hotel lobby and immediately locked eyes


    ves with Skye Anderson¡­


    The girl I¡¯d rejected four years ago stood there, no longer the awkward, chubby faced teenager who couldn¡¯t shift. In her <b>ce </b>was a woman with sharp,


    onfident <b>eyes </b><b>and </b>a lithe, powerful body. Her silver <b>hair</b>, once dull and unremarkable, now gleamed like polished metal under the lobby lights. Her poste spoke of newfound strength and purpose¨Cthe bearing of someone who had endured hardship <b>and </b>emerged stronger for it.<fn4d5e> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel</fn4d5e>


    My wolf had gone wild at the sight of her, howling inside my mind with primal recognition. It¡¯s her! It¡¯s hert Our mate!


    Id dismissed the notion immediately. It was impossible. I¡¯d rejected <b>Skye </b>years ago, severing our mate bond permanently. My wolf must be confused, mistaking some residual connection for the real thing.


    But then I¡¯d noticed the protective way Adrian stood beside her, the casual intimacy with which he <b>touched </b>her arm, and something dark <b>and </b>possessive <b>had </b>risen within me. The surge of jealousy had been so unexpected<b>, </b>so visceral, that it had momentarily stolen my breath.


    Why should I care who touched her? Why should it matter <b>to </b>me at all?


    I ran faster now, pushing <b>my </b>body to its limits, trying <b>to </b><b>outpace </b>these unwee thoughts. Sweat poured down my Eace, soaking through my shirt as my muscles burned with exertion.


    After returning to my room yesterday, my wolf had continued to <b>gue </b>me. How could you let our mate <b>leave </b>with another male? hed demanded, <b>pacing </b>restlessly breath my skin.


    ¡°You¡¯re wrong.¡± I¡¯d insisted. ¡®She can¡¯t be our mate. rejected her years ago.¡±


    <b>Today</b>, when I¡¯d seen her at the bar with Ethan, that <b>same </b>strange sensation had returned-


    1¨Ca pulling in my chest, an inexplicable awareness of her presence that seemed to intensify when <b>she </b>was near. The idea that Skye Anderson might truly be my mate¨Cstill, after all this time¨Cseemed like a cosmic joke.


    She had her wolf now, had somehow managed to shift despite herte development. She¡¯d even be Beta to that insignificant desert <b>pack</b>. The thought was almostughable. A <b>pack </b>like <b>Oasisborn </b>probably had such low standards that anyone with a pulse could qualify <b>as </b>Beta.


    To settle the matter once and for all, I¡¯d decided on a drastic test. The woman at the bar had been eager enough, practically throwing herself at me. Taking her to my room had been effortless, and she¡¯d certainly been enthusiastic in bed.


    The confirmation that she was, indeed, still my mate had left me with storm of conflicting esietions. My wolf insisted we should reim i -now that she¡¯d finally managed to shin. But before 1 could even decide how to approach the difusion, <b>Skye </b>had Blindanded me with hey


    for rejection.


    <b>The </b>memory of Adrian lifting her into his arms, her body perfectly cradled against his chest, sent another spike of rage thmligh me | minded <b>a </b>again<b>, </b>my fert pounding the treadmill with punishing foren.


    Her scent had changed since I¡¯dst seen her. The faint, almost human smell I remembered had been reced by something more distinctly werewall¨Cbodyered with Adrian¡¯s oceanic scem, as if he¡¯d deliberately marked her as his.


    She belongs to us, my wolf insisted. Not him.


    ¡°It¡¯s just the mate bond, I argued aloud, my voice haish with exertion. ¡°It¡¯s biological, nothing more.


    Herte shift only confirmed what I¡¯d always knows shecked the natural power and talent that defined true Alpha material. A well that took so long te emerge was inherently weak, regardless of its uitusual coloring.


    I would win <b>the </b>Alpha King election. I would prove my superiority over Adrian and every otherpetitor. And when I stood victorious, crowned as ruler of all North American werewolves, I would reject Skye Anderson a second time¨Cpermanently, irrevocably.


    I would make her understand once and for all that someone as weak as her belonged with a loser like Adrian. They could build their pathetic little desert <b>pack </b>together while I ruled over the continent


    The treadmill beeped in warning as 1 pushed it beyond its rmended limits. I ignored it, focusing instead on the burning in my lungs and the ache in my muscles¨Canything to distract from the persistent tug in my chest pulling me toward a silver¨Chaired woman who should mean nothing to me.


    But did mean nothing to me.


    Absolutely nothing at all.


    Chapter Comments


    Jamie


    I don¡¯t think the rejection worked because she hadn¡¯t shifted yet

 Casts 113

    <b>Chapter </b><b>113 </b>


    Dawn broke over Silvendres Juntain with a golden light that seemed almost mocking in fta cheerfuln¨¦n.


    <b>The </b>est tell of the Alpha King election would begin tades, and my stomach chored with anry. Last night¡¯s revtion about me mate will weighed hruvdy on my mind, but I forced marli to focus on the more immediate challenge ahead.


    Adrian and I solved in silence found thekeside where the Trial of Strength would take ce. His hand asionally brisked mine, our shipshen ngerement with Leen preventing any meer intimate inntact.


    I don¡¯t like how these Stormhoud wolves are eyring us,¡± Ryder muttered, falling into step hende in. His gue dated from group to group and prised. ¡°Everyone¡¯s sizing each other up before the trial even begins.¡±


    Focus on nur missions, not theirs,¡± I reminded him.


    ???


    Lydia walked a few paces behind, her masked face revealing nothing of her thoughts, though I noticed how she carefully chierved meryone we pried. The omate pouch at her hip likely contained various herbal preparations¨Cremedies for whatever injoies might neear during today¡¯s trint.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± I asked, breaking the silence as we approached the gathering crowd of candidates and spectators,


    Adrian¡¯s eyes met mine, filled with determination. ¡°As ready as I¡¯ll ever be. Whatever they throw at us<b>, </b>I can handle it.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>We¡¯ve got


    your back<b>, </b>Alpha,¡± Ryder <b>added </b>with quiet confidence, standing taller than I remembered.


    We arrived at the ceremonial arena erected beside Silvercrest Lake, a massive body of water that stretched toward the horizon like <b>a </b>sheet of polished silver.


    Forty¨Ct


    y¨Ctwo candidates stood in ordered rows, each we and gold favored by most traditional parks


    As we


    their <b>pack¡¯s </b>colon. Adrian¡¯s midnight blue <b>and </b>deep green stood out among the sea of reds, cks,


    moved toward our designated area, I spotted Leon with his Frostshadow Pack delegation. He stood tall in a sleek deep green wetsuit that entuated his athletic build, surrounded by admirers and park members. His blue eyes caught mine across the crowd, and for a brief moment, I felt that strange pull in my chest again¨Cthe unwanted reminder of <b>our </b>mate bond.


    He excused himself from <b>his </b><b>group </b>and approached us. The crowd seemed to part instinctively for him.


    ¡°<b>Adrian</b>,¡± he acknowledged with a curt nod before turning to me. I trust you slept well, Skye? No¡­ difort?¡± <b>His </b>subtle emphasis <b>made </b>his meaning clear. He was checking if we <b>had </b>vited our agreement.


    ¡°Perfectly fine, thank you,¡± I replied coldly. ¡°How generous of <b>you </b>to concern yourself with my wellbeing after all these years.¡±


    A hint of a <b>smile </b>touched his lips. ¡°Just ensuring fairpetition. I would I want any¡­ distractions affecting Adrian¡¯s performance today.¡± His gaze traveled to theke. ¡°The water is quite cold. I hope coastal swimming <b>has </b>prepared him adequately¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll manage, Adrian said, his voice level despite the obvious provocation. ¡°Perhaps worry about your own chances, Leon.¡±


    He turned to Loun¡¯s smille widened. ¡®Oh, I¡¯m not worried. Frostshadow wolves <b>are </b>raised in frigid <b>skan </b>waters. This will feel like a warm <b>bath </b>to leave, then paused. ¡°A <b>word </b>of advice, Adrian. There¡¯s an old saying among northern <b>packs</b>: In cold water, even the strongest wolf can be prey.¡± Remember that when you¡¯re down there.¡±


    With that ominous warning, he returned to <b>his </b>delegation, leaving a wake of tension behind him.


    ¡°Ignore him,¡± I whispered to Adrian. ¡°He¡¯s trying to get in your head


    Elder Selene <b>stepped </b>onto the raised tform her white robes billowing in the morning breeze. Silence fell over the <b>crowd </b><b>as </b>she <b>raised </b>her hands.<fn65d6> The source of th?s content is find?novel</fn65d6>


    <b>¡°</b><b>Alphas </b>of North America,¡± she called, her <b>yoire </b>carrying surprising strength for ones aged. Today begin your journey toward the crown. The Trial of Strength <b>has </b>tested the might of candidates for centuries, revealing those truly worthy of leadership.¡±

 Casts 114

    Maimura rippled through the crowd as massive screen flickered in life, disying underwater fastige of what appeared to be ancient rates.


    ¡°Beneath there waters lies the soberged fortress of Alpha King Almir, built four resturies ago and imed by flood during the feat De Within walls rests a chamber containing forty¨Ctwo gold coins me for each candidate.


    The screens shifted to show a central chamber filled with gleaming gold coins. But my breath caught as the camera panned to prve what garded them.


    The Abyssal Direwolf,¡± Elder Selese announced as gasps echoes around us. A creature of ancient Irgend, need for this trial


    The beast was unlike anything I¡¯d ever seen. It was a massive woll¨Clike creature with scales instead of for. Its body was at least three times the size of a normal werewolf, Webbed pas ended in ws that looked capable of sluedding metal. Mows of shark like teeth filled its elongated snout. <b>Most </b>terrifying were its eyes¡ªmilky white and sightless, roolved for the darkness of the derp


    <b>¡°</b>Your task is simple, Elder Selene continued. ¡°Each candidate will be provided wetsuit equipment with one hour of oxygen apply. You must navigate the submerged fortress, retrieve a single gold coin from the chamber, and return to the sufice¨Cl while evading the Abyssal Direwolf.¡±


    She paused, her gaze sweeping across the candidates. ¡°Three rules must be observed,


    First, shifting is forbidden.


    Second, whilebat between candidates is permitted, killing is not¨Cany <b>candidate </b>responsible for another¡¯s death will be immediately disqualified. Candidates may steal coins from each other during the trial. A coln in your possession is not secure until you reach the surface with it.


    My heart raced as 1 processed the challenge.<fnfa67> For original chapters go to FindN()vel</fnfa67>


    Third, the Council bears no responsibility for il


    ty for those who ignore <b>our </b>warmings. If you find yourself in mortal danger, signal for rescue and withdraw from the trial. There is no honor in pointless death¡±


    og and diving along the


    ¡°Adrian,¡± I whispered, gripping his arm<b>. </b><b>¡°</b>Please be careful. Winning isn¡¯t worth your life.¡±


    <b>He </b>covered my hand with his, eyes still fixed on the screens disying the underwater beast. ¡°Tll be fine, <b>Skye</b>. I grew up swimming


    nast. Water is practically my second bome.¡±


    ¡°This <b>isn¡¯t </b>just about swimming. I insisted. ¡°That thing down there


    <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>know,¡± he said <b>softly</b>. ¡°But I can handle it. <b>Trust </b>me.¡±


    We were interrupted <b>as </b><b>assistants </b>began distributing the specialized wetsuits to each candidate. The suits were clearly customized, featuring each <b>pack¡¯s </b>colors and symbols <b>while </b>incorporating <b>advanced </b><b>diving </b>technology.


    I helped Adrian check his equipment, my fingers <b>trembling </b>slightly <b>as </b>I verified the oxygen <b>tank </b>and regtors. The <b>suit¡¯s </b>material was unlike I¡¯d seen before¨Calmost metallic in texture, yet flexible as silk.


    ¡°It¡¯s reinforced with some kind of protective fiber, <b>Adrian </b>noted, examining the material. ¡°Should provide some defense against both the cold and the


    Direwolf¡¯s dawn.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not exactly reassuring. I muttered.


    All too soon, Elder Selene was calling the candidates to line up along theke¡¯s edge. I walked with Adrian to his position, my chest tight with anxiety,


    ¡°Remember, you don¡¯t need to be the first one <b>out</b>, I reminded him. ¡°<b>Just </b>make it <b>back </b><b>safely</b>.¡±


    <b>Adrian </b>squeezed


    my


    hand onest time before pulling on his diving mask. ¡°Til see you in hour, he promised, his <b>voice </b>muffled behind the equipment.


    Ryder moved beside me at Adrian took his position at theke¡¯s edge. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± <b>he </b>said quietly. ¡°Til be watching the entire time. If anything goes wrong, I¡¯ll dive in immediately to rescue him. I won set anything happen to our Alpha.¡±


    Elder Selene raised her hand, and silepre fell over the <b>gathered </b>crowd. ¡°Candidates, <b>on </b>my <b>signal</b><b>, </b>the Trial of Strength begins.¡±


    Chapter <b>114 </b>


    I held my breath as her hand dropped. ¡°Hepat

 Casts 115

    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    Forty two Alphas plunged into the water simultaneously, creating a massive ssh that sent water droplets flying through the air


    like diamond shards.


    The fortress was massive¨Ca sprawlingplex of stone buildings now covered in algse and coral after centuries underwater. Shadowy entrances gaped like hungry moichs, promisine darkness and danger within.


    The camera l


    ferds switched constantly betweenpetitors, creating a disorienting me of their underwater journey.


    Please be careful,¡± I whispered, though Adrian couldn¡¯t hear me. ¡°Juste back to me.¡±


    Among the crowd of Alphas, my eyes were drawn instantly to Adrian. His imements were fluid and powerful, cutting through the water with an athlete¡¯s precision. He glided ahead of manypetitors.


    ¡°Look!¡± I gasped, pointing at one of the screens. ¡°That¡¯s Maswell!¡±


    Adrian¡¯s uncle appeared suddenly from a side passage, deliberately colliding with Adrian in what couldn¡¯t possibly be an ident.


    The impact sent Adrian spinning, his oxygen bubbles swirling in chaotic patterns as he fought to regain his orientation. Maxwell powered forward without hesitation, leaving Adrian to recover <b>as </b>precious seconds ticked away.


    ¡°That bastard!¡± Ryder snarled beside me, <b>his </b>hands clenching into fists. He just rammed Adrian to slow him down!¡±


    That despicable Maxwell!¡± <b>I </b>spat out.


    Though momentarily set back, Adrian quickly regained hisposure and continued toward the fortress.


    Took at those Alphas, Ryder pointed to a group of three who were deliberately avoiding the main entrance, swimming around the perimeter of the fortress <b>instead</b>. ¡°They trying to find a <b>back </b>way in. Smart move.¡±


    <b>I </b>nodded, impressed by their strategy. ¡°If everyone fighting to get through the front door, finding another entrance could-


    My words died in my throat as something massive and terrifying burst from the <b>shadows </b>at the rear of the fortress. The creature moved with <b>shocking </b>speed for <b>its </b><b>size</b>, jaws opening to reveal row upon row of needle¨Csharp teeth, The Abyssal Direwolf lunged at the closest <b>Alpha</b><b>, </b><b>who </b>barely managed to twist


    A second Alpha wasn¡¯t so lucky. The beast¡¯s jaws mped around his leg, the reinforced wetsuit providing only momentary protection before giving way. Blood bloomed in the water as the Alpha desperately tried to break free. Within seconds, bis emergency beacon activated, sending a pulse of red light through the water as he began to sink,


    ¡°Moon Goddess, I whispered, horror freezing my blood. ¡°I thought there was only one Direwolf guarding the central chamber!¡±


    Rescue divers immediately deployed from <b>a </b>nearby boot, racing toward the injured Alpha as the D Direwolf retreated back <b>into </b>the shadows. The injured candidate was <b>quickly </b>brought to the surface, his trial ended before it had truly begun.


    But my relief was short¨Clived. On three different screens, more Alphas encountered simr ambushes from different directions. Another Direwolf emerged from the wastern wing of the fortress, a third from the western approach, and a fourth <b>guarded </b>the northern passages.


    There are four of them,¡± Ryder breathed, his face pale with shock. ¡°Four Abyssall Direwolves?


    The realization sent panic spiraling through me. Adrun was swimming directly toward the northern entrance<b>, </bpletely unaware of the <b>beast </b>waiting to


    ambush him.


    ¡°This <b>is </b>insane!¡± I turned to confront the neatest Council Elder, unable to contain my outrage. ¡°Why didnt you war them about multiple Direwaben? These are supposed to be trials, not <b>death </b>traps!¡±


    The Elder¨C<b>gray</b><b>¨C</b>haired man with eyes like flint¨C<b>regarded </b>me with cool detachment. ¡°Would your enemies announce their numbers before an attack, Beta? Would they provide you with a map of their defenses?¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t wear,¡± I argued, struggling in keep my voicevel.¡± ¡°I s supposed to be a fair assessment of strength


    ¡°On the contrary,¡® the Elder replied, his voice carryling centuries of werewold tradition. The Alpha Ring surprises that could meen file or deaths for their park. A leader who esperti failures in batti


    screens where Alphas no fimight desperately against ambushes they couldn t have anticipata survival<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    I wanted to argue fether, but the truth in his words silenced me. Still, my heart pounded painfully as I turned back to the screens, despermaly search


    Adrian


    There his midnight blue for glidel cautiously through a half¨Ccopsed archway. The camera angle shifted, revealing the northem and barking an beyond his line of sight, its massive body coiled to strike.<fne4d0> Latest content published on </fne4d0>


    ¡°Adnan,¡±<ul><li>I whispered, knowing he couldn¡¯t heat me. ¡°Behind you!¡±</li></ul>


    The beast lunged forward, water exploding around its massive form. For nor bumible moment, I thought I was about to watch Adrian being torn apart, that at the list possible second, he twisted sideways, propelling himself through a narrow gap in the stonework. The Daewolf & momentum carried it part him, ifr ws scraping against the ancient stones as it tried to reverse direction in


    Adrian didn¡¯t hesitate. While the creatie strapded to maneuver in the light corridor, he shot formand, using the beast i confusion in pain valuable distance. His tactical awareness and quick reflexes had saved him where brute strength alone would have failed.


    ¡°He made it,¡± I said, relief washing through me. ¡°He¡¯s past the northern Direwoll.¡±


    Ryder nodded, a grin spreading across his young face. ¡°Did you see that move? Pure Alpha Adrian style¨Cusing brains over brawn.¡±


    Bat our relief was premature. As Adrian swam deeper into the fortress, approaching the central chamber where the gold coins waited, the four Direwolves began to converge. They moved with unnerving coordination, as if responding to some silentmand.


    ¡°Something¡¯s wrong,¡± ¡°I said, dread pooling in my stomach. ¡°Look at their movement patterns. They¡¯re herding the candidates.¡±


    Ryder followed my gaze, his expression darkening. ¡°You¡¯re right. They¡¯re not just guarding territory¨Cthey¡¯re driving everyone toward the center¡±


    On thergest screen, we could now see the central chamber where the gold mins gleamed. Candidates who had survived the initial ambushes <b>were </b>arriving from different directions, each believing they¡¯d outsmarted the <b>dangers</b>. But as they reached for the <b>coins</b>, the true nature of the trap became apparent.


    The chamber had only one exit


    And all four Direwolves were now positioning <b>themselves </b>to block it,


    ¡°It¡¯s not just a test of strength, It¡¯s a test of cooperation. They have to work together to escape.


    But cooperation <b>was </b>thest thing on these Alphas minds. As more candidates crowded into the climber, grabbing coins and turning to leave, the first confrontations broke out. Alphas shoved each other aside, using their rivals <b>as </b>shields against the approaching Direwolves,


    The camera focused on Adrian as he entered the chamber, quickly assessing the deteriorating situation. He snatched a coin and immediately backed <b>away </b>from the growing chaos. <b>But </b>before he could n his escape, a massive explosion rocked the underwater structure.


    Stone and debris filled the water, and suddenly every scheen went ck. The entire arena fell silent for one breathless moment before erupting into chaos.


    Screams and <b>shouts </b>echoed across thekeside as spectators leapt to their feet, Council members rushed toward the control stations, their formalpare shattered. <b>Pack </b>members who had apanied their Alphas to thepetition pushed forward, demanding answers that no one seemed to have,


    <b>I </b>stood frozen, my heart suspended between beaty staring at the dark screens that had swallowed Adrian and at least fifteen other Alphas¨Cnow <b>trapped </b>with limited oxygen and four converging prodators

 Casts 116

    Skye¡¯s POV


    Elder Selene stepped faward, tabing her hands free


    ¡°Please, themanded, her voice carrying no The mygen supply in their equipment willst few


    What happened down their? somerine


    prone shouted from the cam


    Elder Selene¡¯s expression remained carefully neutral. ¡°We believe there was an underwater rockslide. Such events are end like the fortress. Our underwater cameras were damaged, but the trial continuet.¡±


    minutes ticked by with


    We fell silent again, watching theke¡¯s unface for any sign of returningpetitor. The m


    A ripple disturbed the water, and a chret went up as the first Alpha since the explosion torfand, followed in quick session, each emergence met with relieved eries from their respective pat


    ing a podden enim in His t


    Then I saw him¨CMaywell, Adrian¡¯s scle, cutting through the water with powerful strokes. As he reached the shore, he held up not one but the golden


    ins, his smile smug as Council members nished to verily his haul:


    My stomach twisted as Maxwell¡¯s gaze found mine. He sauntered over, water streaming from his wetsuit, his expression of mork con


    ¡°Still waiting for your Alpha?¡± he asked, making a show of checking the time. ¡°The <b>trial </b>ends in five minutes. Perhaps you should consider your


    ¡°What are you talking about? Lasked.


    ¡°Stormbowl Pack is always looking for fresh talent. A pretty little thing like you would make an excellent housemaid.¡±


    gare traveled down my body <b>in </b>a way that made my skin crawl. Before I could respond, Ryder lunged forward, grabbing Marwell¡¯s wetsuit cor.


    What did you do to him? Ryder growled. If you hurt Alpha Adrian¡ª¡±


    Maxwe movement <b>was </b>blindingly fast. His fist connected with Ryder¡¯s jaw. Lydia rushed to <b>Ryder¡¯s </b>side as he struggled to rise, blood trickling from his


    ¡°You should teach your pups better manners,¡± Maxwell said, brushing off his wetsuit as if Ryder¡¯s touch had contaminated it. ¡°If Adrian doesn¡¯t return, because hecked the strength and cunning necessary for thispetition. Natural selection at its finest.¡±


    My eyes darted to the massive clock <b>disyed </b>at the edge of theke. Three minutes


    1 kicked off my shoes and stripped off my jacket in one fluid motion.


    ¡°Skye, what are you doing?¡± Lydia gasped, her eyes widening <b>as </b>she realized my intent.


    ¡°I¡¯m going after him,¡± I stated, already moving toward the waters edge.


    Are


    <b>you</b><b>. </b>


    <b>insane</b>?¡± Ryder called, scrambling to his feet. ¡°You don¡¯t have diving equipment The


    | There are monsters down there!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± I replied.


    I didn¡¯t <b>wait </b>for further protests. <b>Taking </b>a deep breath, I dove into the icy waters of Silvercrest Lake


    The cold hit me <b>like </b>a physical blow, knocking the air from my lungs. For <b>an </b>instant, I regretted my impulsive decision. lending me strength as I forced my eyes open in the murky depths<ol><li>But it</li></ol>


    then my wolf started within me.


    Visibility was pour, but I <b>could </b>make out the looming shape of the underwater fortress below.


    Alphas were emerging from various exits, all heading toward the surface with their prec<fnb741> Follow current nov?ls on F¦ÉndNovel</fnb741>


    Where was het


    A shadow moved to my right, and I turned, hope ting in my chest. But it was just anotherpetitor, a female Alpha I didn startled as she saw me swimming Without equipment. She gestured upward, clearly suggesting I return in the mofarm, but I shook my warch.


    The pressere <b>in </b>my lungs became unbearable. I had no choice¨CI needed to surface or tisk drowning: With a final, desperate look armind, my movements bing shipwith as mypris deprivation took its toll.<ol start="4"><li>still patelling its teritory</li></ol>


    A flicker of monument caught my eye somethingrge and predatory gluding through a distant corridor tine of the Direwolves, still. froze, pressing myself against a wall, hoping my silver hair wouldn¡¯t catch its attention in the murky water.


    Just as I was about to admit defeat and return to the sce, a sh of midnight blue appeared in my peripheral vision. I turned, limpe sorging arms, there he was. Adrian, swimming through a hall colligord cmiider, a golden ruin clutched in his band


    I kicked toward him, my heart pounding with equal parts and the desperate


    Rebel hit me so powerfully that I nearly exhaled my precious remaining need for oxygen. His head turned at my approach, and his eyes widened in shock at he recognized me


    Without besitation, he pulled the regtor from his mouth and offered it to me. I took a grateful breath of air, the dizziness receding an oxygen flowed into my s starving lungs. Adrian¡¯s eyes never left mine, a thousand questions in their amber depths.


    I returned the regtor to him, pointing urgently toward the surface. We needed to get <b>out </b>of here. Adrian nodded, but before


    shape loomed behind him¨Cone of the Direwolves<b>, </b>its blind eyes swiveling as it detected our presence.


    Adrian pushed me behind him, his body positioning protectively between me and the creature. The beast lunged forward, jaws snapping Adrian barely vaded the attack, pulling me with him as we darted through a narrow opening in the stonework


    We swam frantically, Adrian passing me the regtor every few seconds so I could take another breath. The Direwall pursued us relentlessly, its massivVE. body somehow squeezing through passages that should have been too small for it


    I spotted a ray of light from above<b>, </b>an exit. We kicked hard, racing toward the surface with thest of our strength.


    The Direwolf abandoned its chase as we neared the exit, retreating back into the darkness of the fortress.


    Relief washed over me, but exhaustion was quickly taking its toll. My limbs felt leaden, my movements growing sluggish despite my best efforts. <b>Adrian </b>noticed immediately, wrapping a strong arm around my waist to help propel me upward.


    Underwater, our eyes locked. His were full of worry, thanks, and something more that made my pulse race. He pulled me closer, took out his regtor, and Lissed me.


    Adrian¡¯s kiss gave me a surge of energy, but I suddenly remembered thepetition time was almost up. I quickly pulled away. ¡°Hurry! We need to get the gold coin to the Council!¡±


    Adrian modded, understanding my urgency. As we began swimming toward the surface, I nced behind us


    When I turned, I saw Leon staring at me with eyes sharp as knives.


    Chapter Comments


    Jamie DeWitt


    aaahhh.. no I need more!!! lol update please!!!?

 Casts 117

    Adrian¡¯s arm remained firmly send my waist as we swam toward the shore where Ryder and Lydia waited terious expressions.


    ¡°Thirty seconds remaining Elder Selene anniminced, her voice carrying across the water.


    Adrian summoned his remaining strength and propelled us forward with powerful kicks. As we reached the shallows, <b>Ryder </b>rushed in, helping ding te onda drynd just as the final countdown began.


    Thu.. nine¡­ right¡­


    Adrian fumbled with his wetsuit, extracting the gold coin and raising in triumphantly as his chest heaved with exertion.


    Three¡­two on The Trial of Strength ispletel


    Elder Selene stepped forward, her white robes billowing in the breeze. ¡°Candidates who have sessfully retried a coin, please present them the


    I copsed onto the grass<b>, </b>coughing upke water as lydia knelt beside me, draping a nket over my shoulders. What were you thinking?¡± the hissed, though concern softened her rebuke. You could have drowned!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what I was thinking.¡± I replied, my voice still raspy from theke water. ¡°I was just so worried about him. My gaze followed Adrian as he joined the line of sessful candidates.


    Amotion near the verification table drew everyone¡¯s attention. Leon stood before the Council Elders, his expression cool andposed as he ced not one, but five golden coins in front of them. Shocked whispers spread through the crowd.


    ¡°Five coins?¡± Ryder muttered beside me. ¡°How <b>is </b>that <b>even </b>possible?¡±


    Eider Selene examined the coins carefully before addressing the gathered crowd. ¡°Alpha Leon of Frostshadow Pack has presented five coins. ording to rules, while each candidate needed only one <b>coin </b><b>to </b><b>advance</b><b>, </b>there was no limit set on how many could be retrieved.¡±


    Another Alpha, a <b>broad</b>¨Cshouldered man with copper skin and intricate tribal tattoos, stepped forward. ¡°Alpha Rodrigo of Ironwater Pack,¡± Elder Selene announced, ¡°The <b>first </b><b>to </b><b>surface </b>with a coin, advancing to the next <b>trial</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    My attention returned to Adn <b>as </b>he presented his single coin. Though <b>his </b>achievement should have been celebrated, I noticed how Leon¡¯s unprecedented haul had stolen most of the attention.


    Only twenty Alphas had sessfullypleted the trial. Elder Selene s face <b>grew </b>somber as she addressed the remaining candidates. Two Alphas have lost their lives in pursuit of the crown. Twenty others failed to retrieve coins <b>within </b>the allotted time and are thus eliminated from thepetition.¡®


    Her p


    pronouncement seemed callous, two <b>deaths </b>treated <b>as </b>mere statistics rather than lives lost. But nobody else appeared troubled by this. The remaining candidates <b>nodded </b>solemnly, epting the dangers as part of their chosen path.


    ¡°The second trial willmence one <b>week </b>from today,¡± Elder Selene continued. ¡°Use <b>this </b>time <b>wisely </b>to recover <b>your </b>strength and prepare yourselves. The Trial of Wisdom will test not just the candidate, but the entire pack.¡±


    As the ceremony concluded, I noticed <b>a </b>group of female werewolves gathering near Alpha Rodrigo, wearing matching shirts with his name emzoned across them. They cheered <b>and </b>performed a choreographed dance routine that drew appreciative whistles from onlookers.


    Not to be outdone, another <b>group </b>wearing Leon¡¯s pack colors assembled nearby, their routine considerably more provocative.


    ¡°<b>Looks </b>like the Alpha King candidates already have fan clubs,¡± Lydia remarked dryly.


    I nced at Lydia and noticed her gaze lingering on Alpha Rodrigs. There was an odd expression on her face¨Csomething between recognition and unease Her fingers tightened slightly on the nket <b>she¡¯d </b><b>wrapped </b><b>around </b>my shoulder


    ¡°<b>You </b>recognize that Alpha?¡± I <b>asked</b>, curious about her reaction.


    Alpha, B¨¢t something in her manner made me wonder if she was telling the truth.


    ¡°They more quickly, I noted, unable to keep the distante from my yoire as I watched the women fawning iner Lein. I knew it shouldn¡¯t nothing to <b>me </b>anymore, yet the right still caused an ufortable twist in my chelt.


    The town transformed as night fell, streets filling with celebrating werewolves, Music poured from every bar and restaurant, the almosphere eledile wil extent. Nobody seemed to spare a thought for the two Alphas who would never return to their pa?ky,


    We made our way to a small pih several blocks from the main festivities, seeking a quieter ce to dpress after the day¡¯s events. Adrian had changed into dry clothes, but I noticed he moved stiffly, wincing slightly when he thunght no one was watching.<fn7dac> Fresh chapters posted on find?novel</fn7dac>


    ¡°Alpha Adriant¡± a familiar voice called as we entered the establishment. Xavier waved from <b>a </b>corner booth, his signature white attire somehow immacte despite the <b>day¡¯s </b>challenges. ¡°Join me! I¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡±


    As we approached, Xavier stood and sped Adrian¡¯s forearm is a warrior a greeting. ¡°I owe you my life, friend. If not for you, I be one of the cities they¡¯re so casually dismissing


    Adrian shook his head modestly. ¡°You would have done the same.


    ¡°Not everyone would.¡± Xavier replied, his usual carefree demeanor reced by something more serious. <b>That </b>bastard Leon certainly wouldn¡¯t.¡±


    We settled into the booth as Xavier ordered <b>drinks </b>for everyone. Once the server departed, his expression darkened.


    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe what he <b>did </b>down there,¡± Xavier continued, his voice low with anger. ¡°What kind of Alpha Meals from his fellow wolves when they¡¯re fighting for their lives?¡±


    I leaned forward, curiosity burning. ¡°What exactly happened underwater? The cameras went out for nearly twenty minutes.¡±


    Xavier took a long sip of his drink before answering. ¡°We¡¯d all reached the central chamber, grabbed our coins, and were preparing to leave when the <b>four </b>Direwolves converged on the <b>only </b>exit. We were trapped<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°So what did you <b>do</b><b>?</b>¡±


    <b>7</b><b>¡± </b>Ryder <b>asked</b>, captivated


    ¡°The logical thing, we formed a n to work together. Xavier¡¯s eyes found Adrian¡¯s with genuine respect. ¡°Your Alpha suggested we coordinate our movements to confuse the beasts, create <b>an </b>opening for escape. It was working too.¡±


    ancient s <b>structural </b><b>failure</b>. In the chaos that followed, Leon used the


    His expression hardened. Then there was that explosion¨Cprobably from some opportunity to grab coins from stunnedpetitors. He even tried to take mine.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s when Adrian intervened?¡± I guessed.


    Xavier nodded. ¡°Adrian blocked him, gave me time to recover. I certainly wasn¡¯t the only one Leon robbed down there, but thanks to your Alpha, I still had my coin when the dust settled.¡±


    Anger bubbled in my chest. <b>¡°</b><b>Thats </b>despicable! We <b>should </b>report him to the Council.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡± Xavier shrugged helplessly. As Elder Selene <b>said</b>, there was no rule against taking multiple coins. He <b>was </b>technically within his rights, justpletely without honor.¡±


    We continued discussing the day¡¯s events, but my mind kept returning to the reality that I was still bound to Leon. The thought <b>that </b>such a dishonorable wolf was my mate¨Cwhether by fates cruel joke og some Second Chance bond¨Cfilled me with revulsion.


    Crowned by Fote

 Casts 118

    Adrian¡¯s arm remained firmly send my waist as we swam toward the shore where Ryder and Lydia waited terious expressions.


    ¡°Thirty seconds remaining Elder Selene anniminced, her voice carrying across the water.


    Adrian summoned his remaining strength and propelled us forward with powerful kicks. As we reached the shallows, <b>Ryder </b>rushed in, helping ding te onda drynd just as the final countdown began.


    Thu.. nine¡­ right¡­<fn4ae5> ?????? ???? FindN()vel</fn4ae5>


    Adrian fumbled with his wetsuit, extracting the gold coin and raising in triumphantly as his chest heaved with exertion.


    Three¡­two on The Trial of Strength ispletel


    Elder Selene stepped forward, her white robes billowing in the breeze. ¡°Candidates who have sessfully retried a coin, please present them the


    I copsed onto the grass<b>, </b>coughing upke water as lydia knelt beside me, draping a nket over my shoulders. What were you thinking?¡± the hissed, though concern softened her rebuke. You could have drowned!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what I was thinking.¡± I replied, my voice still raspy from theke water. ¡°I was just so worried about him. My gaze followed Adrian as he joined the line of sessful candidates.


    Amotion near the verification table drew everyone¡¯s attention. Leon stood before the Council Elders, his expression cool andposed as he ced not one, but five golden coins in front of them. Shocked whispers spread through the crowd.


    ¡°Five coins?¡± Ryder muttered beside me. ¡°How <b>is </b>that <b>even </b>possible?¡±


    Eider Selene examined the coins carefully before addressing the gathered crowd. ¡°Alpha Leon of Frostshadow Pack has presented five coins. ording to rules, while each candidate needed only one <b>coin </b><b>to </b><b>advance</b><b>, </b>there was no limit set on how many could be retrieved.¡±


    Another Alpha, a <b>broad</b>¨Cshouldered man with copper skin and intricate tribal tattoos, stepped forward. ¡°Alpha Rodrigo of Ironwater Pack,¡± Elder Selene announced, ¡°The <b>first </b><b>to </b><b>surface </b>with a coin, advancing to the next <b>trial</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    My attention returned to Adn <b>as </b>he presented his single coin. Though <b>his </b>achievement should have been celebrated, I noticed how Leon¡¯s unprecedented haul had stolen most of the attention.


    Only twenty Alphas had sessfullypleted the trial. Elder Selene s face <b>grew </b>somber as she addressed the remaining candidates. Two Alphas have lost their lives in pursuit of the crown. Twenty others failed to retrieve coins <b>within </b>the allotted time and are thus eliminated from thepetition.¡®


    Her p


    pronouncement seemed callous, two <b>deaths </b>treated <b>as </b>mere statistics rather than lives lost. But nobody else appeared troubled by this. The remaining candidates <b>nodded </b>solemnly, epting the dangers as part of their chosen path.


    ¡°The second trial willmence one <b>week </b>from today,¡± Elder Selene continued. ¡°Use <b>this </b>time <b>wisely </b>to recover <b>your </b>strength and prepare yourselves. The Trial of Wisdom will test not just the candidate, but the entire pack.¡±


    As the ceremony concluded, I noticed <b>a </b>group of female werewolves gathering near Alpha Rodrigo, wearing matching shirts with his name emzoned across them. They cheered <b>and </b>performed a choreographed dance routine that drew appreciative whistles from onlookers.


    Not to be outdone, another <b>group </b>wearing Leon¡¯s pack colors assembled nearby, their routine considerably more provocative.


    ¡°<b>Looks </b>like the Alpha King candidates already have fan clubs,¡± Lydia remarked dryly.


    I nced at Lydia and noticed her gaze lingering on Alpha Rodrigs. There was an odd expression on her face¨Csomething between recognition and unease Her fingers tightened slightly on the nket <b>she¡¯d </b><b>wrapped </b><b>around </b>my shoulder


    ¡°<b>You </b>recognize that Alpha?¡± I <b>asked</b>, curious about her reaction.


    Alpha, B¨¢t something in her manner made me wonder if she was telling the truth.


    ¡°They more quickly, I noted, unable to keep the distante from my yoire as I watched the women fawning iner Lein. I knew it shouldn¡¯t nothing to <b>me </b>anymore, yet the right still caused an ufortable twist in my chelt.


    The town transformed as night fell, streets filling with celebrating werewolves, Music poured from every bar and restaurant, the almosphere eledile wil extent. Nobody seemed to spare a thought for the two Alphas who would never return to their pa?ky,


    We made our way to a small pih several blocks from the main festivities, seeking a quieter ce to dpress after the day¡¯s events. Adrian had changed into dry clothes, but I noticed he moved stiffly, wincing slightly when he thunght no one was watching.


    ¡°Alpha Adriant¡± a familiar voice called as we entered the establishment. Xavier waved from <b>a </b>corner booth, his signature white attire somehow immacte despite the <b>day¡¯s </b>challenges. ¡°Join me! I¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡±


    As we approached, Xavier stood and sped Adrian¡¯s forearm is a warrior a greeting. ¡°I owe you my life, friend. If not for you, I be one of the cities they¡¯re so casually dismissing


    Adrian shook his head modestly. ¡°You would have done the same.


    ¡°Not everyone would.¡± Xavier replied, his usual carefree demeanor reced by something more serious. <b>That </b>bastard Leon certainly wouldn¡¯t.¡±


    We settled into the booth as Xavier ordered <b>drinks </b>for everyone. Once the server departed, his expression darkened.


    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe what he <b>did </b>down there,¡± Xavier continued, his voice low with anger. ¡°What kind of Alpha Meals from his fellow wolves when they¡¯re fighting for their lives?¡±


    I leaned forward, curiosity burning. ¡°What exactly happened underwater? The cameras went out for nearly twenty minutes.¡±


    Xavier took a long sip of his drink before answering. ¡°We¡¯d all reached the central chamber, grabbed our coins, and were preparing to leave when the <b>four </b>Direwolves converged on the <b>only </b>exit. We were trapped<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°So what did you <b>do</b><b>?</b>¡±


    <b>7</b><b>¡± </b>Ryder <b>asked</b>, captivated


    ¡°The logical thing, we formed a n to work together. Xavier¡¯s eyes found Adrian¡¯s with genuine respect. ¡°Your Alpha suggested we coordinate our movements to confuse the beasts, create <b>an </b>opening for escape. It was working too.¡±


    ancient s <b>structural </b><b>failure</b>. In the chaos that followed, Leon used the


    His expression hardened. Then there was that explosion¨Cprobably from some opportunity to grab coins from stunnedpetitors. He even tried to take mine.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s when Adrian intervened?¡± I guessed.


    Xavier nodded. ¡°Adrian blocked him, gave me time to recover. I certainly wasn¡¯t the only one Leon robbed down there, but thanks to your Alpha, I still had my coin when the dust settled.¡±


    Anger bubbled in my chest. <b>¡°</b><b>Thats </b>despicable! We <b>should </b>report him to the Council.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡± Xavier shrugged helplessly. As Elder Selene <b>said</b>, there was no rule against taking multiple coins. He <b>was </b>technically within his rights, justpletely without honor.¡±


    We continued discussing the day¡¯s events, but my mind kept returning to the reality that I was still bound to Leon. The thought <b>that </b>such a dishonorable wolf was my mate¨Cwhether by fates cruel joke og some Second Chance bond¨Cfilled me with revulsion.

 Casts 119

    <b>Chapter </b><b>119 </b>


    ¡°Pentry words frem a man was 11 t? riiminated before the third trial, Teon unneled. Liboy ying Alpha alle you can:


    ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± I intrinsted, heat Bonding my cheeks at what hord heen shout to revad. ¡°This for the ce


    Lenin¡¯s jaw Hightened, a muscle iwitching beneath his skin. Ter a moment, I thought he might actually attack Adrian, rom¨¦espences be damnes merely surped back<b>, </bposing himself with visible effort.


    ¡°Enjoy your temperary anangement,¡± he said gebly. ¡°When the election, when mor mate band is officially all you want.¡±


    an y house with your desert deg


    ¡°Big talk from someone who stole eins from unconsciouspetitors, Ryder interjected, unable to contain himself any longer.


    Leon¡¯s attention snapped to Ryder, his expression darkening. ¡°The catelul, pup. The adults are talking ¡°


    Adrian shifted slightly, positioning himself between Leon and Ryder. We¡¯re done here,¡± he said firmly, effectively ending the confrontation.


    As the tension began to dissipate, Elban pilled me aside, his voice lowering. ¡°I called Mom and Dad,¡± he admitted. ¡°Told them I saw you. He hesitated, uncertainty crossing his features. ¡°They¡¯d love to hear from you this week. Even just a short call


    The thought of speaking to my parents after four <b>years </b>sent a mixture of lunging and anxiety through me. ¡°Okay,¡± I agreed softly ¡°Ell call them¡±


    Fatigue suddenly washed over me, the day¡¯s events catching up all at once. ¡°I need to get back to the hotel, I murmured to Adrian. Tim exhunted¡±


    He nodded, understanding without words as he guided me toward the exit.


    As we stepped outside, a somber procession moved slowly down the street¨Cwerewolves dressed in formal ck, carrying two wooden coffins draped with pack colors. The sight of the funeral <b>procession </b>for the Alphas who had <b>died </b>during the trial hit me with unexpected force.


    I gripped Adrian¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°This isn¡¯t a game,¡± I whispered, the reality of the election¡¯s stakes suddenly crystal clear. ¡°People are actually dying for this


    Adrians fingers intertwined with mine, his expression grave. ¡°No, it¡¯s not a game. It never was.¡±


    Back at our hotel, Adrian <b>and </b>I stood awkwardly outside my door. The no¨Ccontact agreement with Leon hung between us like an invisible barrier.


    ¡°Thank you for saving me today,¡± I said softly. <b>That </b>was incredibly foolish of me, diving in without equipment.¡±


    ¡®It was,¡± Adrian agreed. ¡°But I understand why you


    u did it


    As he shifted his weight, I noticed him wince again, his hand instinctively moving to his ribcage. ¡°You¡¯re hurt,¡± I said, concern sharpening my voice. ¡°Let me


    Before he could protest, I ushered him into my room and <b>gently </b>tugged <b>his </b>shirt upward. I gasped at the sight of his chest¨Ca massive bruisespread across his left side, the skin mottled purple <b>and </b>ck.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± he <b>said </b>dismissively. Just a few broken ribs. They¡¯ll heal by morning¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t nothing, Adrian! I eximed, my fingers hovering over the injury. ¡°<b>Was </b>it the Direwolf? Or did someone do this to you?¡±


    He hesitated<b>. </b>¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    ¡°It was Leon, wasn¡¯t it?¡± When he didn¡¯t answer, I knew I <b>was </b>right.¡±


    *I¡¯ll get Lydia¡¯s healing salve, Wait here.¡±


    I returned momentster with the medicinal cream. As I gently applied it to his injuries, our eyes <b>met</b><b>, </b>and the intensity in his gaze made my breath catch.<fnfe9c> Content originallyes from f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fnfe9c>


    172


    Chapter 1:19


    Enribing that ticklen seith. When


    | you is <b>the </b>water without equipment; my ri


    The raw vulnerability to hit expression made my throat Highten: ¡°I thought Fif left you,¡± ¡°I admired. ¡°I couldn¡¯t hot wait on thate, haping


    Promise ine, he insisted.


    ¡°1 Prombe,¡± I whispered.


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 Casts 120

    <b>Chapter </b>120


    My hands trembled as <b>I </b>dialed the number Ed memorized years ago but never used, Tint years. Four years since I¡¯d heard my m¨¢t <b>once</b>, twice, three times. With each ving, my ansicly grew. Maybe they¡¯d changed their number. Maybe they didn¡¯t want to talk to i


    ¡°Hello?¡± My mother¡¯s voice, bentathe and questioning, poured through the speaker.


    ¡°Mom?¡± My voice ticked on that single syble. [I+


    There was a brief silence, then a gasping sch. ¡°Skyr? Oh my goddess, Skyet li li really you, eweetheart


    Tears stung my eyes at the tow motion in het volte, ¡°Yes, Mom. Its rally me


    ¡°Oh, my baby girl¡± Her voice trembled with joy and disbelief. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. Hold on, let me sit down before I fall over


    I smiled through my tears, picturing her in our family kitchen, probably clutching her thest. way she always did when overwhelmed Adrim, etting beside me on the hotel bed<b>, </b>gave my shoulder a reassuming squeeze.


    ¡°Ethan told me


    ,¡± she continued, her words tumbling out in a rush. ¡°I¡¯ve been hoping you¡¯d call. How are you? Are you eating enough? Where have


    you been all this time?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mom,¡± I assured her, wiping away tears. ¡°How are <b>you</b>? Ethan mentioned you had surgeryst year. Are you fully recovered?


    <b>¡°</b>Oh, that?¡± She dismissed it with a characteristic lightness I remembered so well. ¡°Just a little procedure, nothing to worry about. I¡¯ve been back <b>to </b>gardening for months now.¡±


    ¡°You should <b>have </b>told m


    I said softly.


    ¡°How could we, sweetheart? We had no way to reach <b>you</b>.<b>¡± </b>The pain <b>in </b>her voice made my chest <b>ache</b>. <b>¡°</b>But that doesn¡¯t matter now. You¡¯re calling, and thats what mounts.¡± Her tone brightened ¡°Mom,¡± I asked hesitantly, ¡°did you receive the birthday gift I sent you? The moonstone pendant with the wolf carving!¡±


    ¡°Oh, sweetheart, yes! Her voice brightened immediately. It¡¯s beautiful! I wear it every <b>day</b>. Your father


    <b>er </b>says the blue stone reminds him of thekes <b>back </b>


    home where you used to y <b>as </b>a pup.¡±


    My heart warmed at her <b>words</b>. Despite our years apart, she had epted my small gesture of reconnection with such joy.


    ¡°I¡¯m d you liked it,¡± I <b>said </b>softly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if <b>you¡¯d </b>want anything from me after¡­ everything.¡±


    ¡°Skye.¡± my mother¡¯s voice became serious, ¡°there has never been a moment when we didn¡¯t want to hear from you. Not a <b>single </b><b>day </b>passed when we didn¡¯t hope for <b>a </b>call, a letter¨Canything.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright<b>, </b>sweetheart.¡± Her forgiveness <b>came </b>instantly, without reservation. ¡°Tell me about your life now. Are you happy? That¡¯s all I <b>care </b>about ¡±


    smiled, looking up at Adrian. I am, Mom. I¡¯m really good, actually. I shifted finally¨CI <b>have </b>my wolf now. She¡¯s silver, just like my <b>hair</b>.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful, honey!¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m the Beta of my pack now,¡± I continued, unable to keep the pride from my voice. ¡°Oasisbon Pack. We¡¯re in Texas,


    the desert.¡±


    After years of feeling like a disappointment, I thought she would finally be proud of me. I¡¯d achieved everything <b>a </b>werewolf parent could want for their child


    -I <b>had </b>my wolf, I held a position of respect and power. I was no longer the embarrassingtent wolf who couldn¡¯t shift.


    But my mother¡¯s response surprised me.


    ¡°Oh, <b>Skye</b>,¡± she said softly. ¡°You <b>know </b>I never cared about any of that, don¡¯t you? Whether you had <b>a </b>wolf or not, whether you were putiful or not it never mattered to me. All your father and I ever wanted was for you to be safe and happy. That¡¯s all¡±


    Her <b>words </b>hit me <b>like </b>a <b>physical </b>blow A


    All these years, I¡¯d believed my failure <b>to </b>shift had been a source of shame for my parents. I¡¯d carried that burden,


    <b>1/3 </b>


    <b>that </b>belief that <b>I </b>wasn¡¯t good <b>enough</b><b>, </b>which worthy of the?y l¨¤m without my wolf BDI


    Lnced at Adrian, who <b>was </b>watching me with gentle eyes. ¡°Tam bife, Mom,¡® I said, my voice stendues now. And fanppy, tra


    ¡°Ethan tell me you¡¯ve following your Alpha to the Alpha King election,¡± she continu¨¦t, concern edgling into her viden. ¡°Thine briste are Two Alphas died just yesterday! ft there any way you could withdraw now? Come home Instead?¡±


    9, Main,¡± I said geatly but firmly, I¡¯m not willudrawing. Adrian is going to win, And


    ning to help him do it


    ¡°Winning isn¡¯t important, Skye, she pleaded. ¡°Coming back alive in what matters. After you left, during that first year, I visited in many packets to ¡°you. Do you knowst New Year¡¯s, dining our pack celebration, I saw a girl with silver hair across the bonfire<b>? </b>My heart nearly stopped¨CI thought it w ¡®pondea home. Iran all the way across the grounds, only to discover it was someone else entirely.¡°


    Her voice <b>broke</b>, and I could hear her struggling not to try.


    <b>¡°</b>I <b>keep </b>looking for you in every crowd, Skye. Every silver haired girl makes my heart Teap before it breaks all over again.¡±


    The pain in her voice made <b>tears </b>stream down my face again. Adrian¡¯s arms tightened around me, offering silent support.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Mom,¡± I managed, trying to sound stronger than I felt. I promise I¡¯lle home for New Year¡¯s this year. You ll see me across that bonfire for real.


    ¡°You promise<b>? </b>


    ¡°I promise.¡± Lassured her. ¡°How¡¯s <b>Dad </b>doing?¡±


    ¡°Your father is very busy now. Alpha Leon took Ethan to thepetition, <b>so </b><b>your </b>father is helping manage the pack in their absence.¡± She sighed. ¡°He works too <b>hard</b>, but I¡¯ll tell him you called as soon as he gets home. He¡¯ll be so happy, Skye.¡±


    I heard <b>a </b>female voice calling in the background, and my mother¡¯s muffled response.


    ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± I asked. ¡®Is that <b>Ethan¡¯s </b>mate? Lily, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s her,¡± Mom confirmed, sounding pleased that I remembered. ¡°We¡¯re going shopping for baby things today. She¡¯s due in five months.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be an aunt?¡± Joy bubbled up inside me at <b>this </b>unexpected news.


    ¡°Yes, sweetheart. And I¡¯ll be a grandmother.¡± The happiness in her voice was unmistakable. ¡°I wish you could be here for the birth¡±


    ¡°Maybe <b>I </b>can,¡± I <b>said</b><b>, </b>surprising myself with how much I wanted that.


    ¡°I should go.¡± Mom said reluctantly. ¡°Lily is waiting. But promise me you¡¯ll call again soon? And please, please be careful at thatpetition. I couldn¡¯t bear to lose you again.¡±


    ¡°I promise, Mom. I¡¯ll be fine, and I¡¯ll call again soon.¡±


    ¡°I love you, Skye, Never forget that<b>.</b>¡±


    ¡°I love you too, Mom¡±


    I ended the call and stared at the phone in my hands, feeling lighter than I had in years. After <b>so </b>long. I¡¯d finally reconnected with my parents. The weight of exile that I¡¯d carried <b>for </b>four years seemed to lift from my shoulders.


    1 settled <b>back </b>against Adrian¡¯s chest, drawingfort from his warmth. He pressed a gentle <b>kiss </b>to the top <b>of </b>my head.


    ¡°Your mother really loves you,¡± he observed, <b>a </b>voice soft. ¡°I could hear it in


    every word.


    ¡°She does,¡± I agreed, still marveling at this revtion. ¡°Your mother must love you too, you know.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s expression turned slightly bitter. ¡°Perhaps,¡± he said, but his tonecked conviction<fn4692> ?????? ???? Find?Novel</fn4692>


    Crowned by Fate

 Casts 121

    <b>My </b>heart ached for him as I remit mbered how his mother had chosen Maxwell ¨Chad chosen to stand beside the man who had stolen Adriana birthright. <b>couldn¡¯t </b>imagine the betrayal he must have felt.


    ¡°She must have her reasons,¡± I suggested gently, reaching up to touch his cheek, ¡®Reasons we might not understand.¡±


    she,¡® he wrived with a small, und smile.


    Seeing the shadow in his eyes, I decided in change the subject. ¡°We have five days in prepare for the next trial,¡± I said, sitting op straighter. ¡°The Trial of Wisdom is always different each year. We should study the past challenges to prepare.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s expression cleared, grateful for the shift inensation. ¡°Good idea. The Council archives should have records of previous trials. I¡¯ll ask Gerrett to research them remotely from Dasishem.¡±


    ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, the Trial of Wisdom is a teampetition, I continued, my mind already working through potential scenarios. ¡°We need to make sure our team is fully prepared, Lydia and Ryder will need to be at their best


    Adrian nodded, his eyes warming as he watched me slip into my Bets role so naturally. ¡°Our team is small but strong,¡± he assured me. ¡°Together, there¡¯s nothing we can¡¯t face.¡±


    ¡°Task Garrett to look into past trials,¡± I said, pulling out my phone to send a quick message. ¡°<b>He¡¯s </b>excellent at research, and we need <b>as </b><b>much </b>information as possible.¡±


    Half an hourter. I received a call From Garrett


    Garrett¡¯s excited voice greeted me <b>as </b><b>soon </b>as I epted the <b>call </b><b>¡°</b><b>Skye</b>! Is Adrian with you? Put me <b>on </b><b>speaker</b>!¡±


    I pressed the speaker button, exchanging a curious nce with Adrian. ¡°We¡¯re both here, Garrett. What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Fint things first¨Ccongrattions on passing the first trial, Alphat¡® Garrett¡¯s <b>enthusiasm </b><b>was </b>palpable even through the phone. ¡°Everyone at Osborn is celebrating! Venus arranged a feast for tonight, and Marcus has the entire park involved in security drills. They¡¯re determined to have us ready for whatever


    <bes </b><b>nex</b>.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s expression softened at the mention of nur pack members. ¡°<b>Thank </b>them for us, Garrett. Your support means everything.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>Oh, and thats not all, Garrett continued<b>, </b>the <b>sound </b>of rapid typing apanying his words. ¡°I¡¯ve sent you both emails with detailed archives of past Trials of Wisdom. It¡¯s fascinating stuff¨Cand frankly, a bit terrifying¡±


    My phone pinged with the iing email notification, and I quickly scanned the massive document Garrett had assembled. It <b>was </b>impressivelyprehensive, with detailed ounts of trials dating back decades.


    This is incredible, Garrett,¡± I said, genuinely impressed by his thoroughness. This must have taken hours topile.¡±


    ¡°Happy to help,¡± he replied, though I could hear the exhaustion in his voice. ¡°Oh, and Venus had another brilliant idea. We¡¯ve set up official Oasisbon social media ounts <b>to </b>build support for Adrian¡¯s candidacy. Venus is rallying the westem territories, especially appealing to non¨Cwerewolfmunities who¡¯ve suffered under the current eastern¨Cdominated leadership.¡±


    Adrian raised an eyebrow. ¡°<b>Social </b>media? That sounds more like something Alpha Xavier would do.


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Garrett eximed. ¡°We can¡¯t let the easter <b>packs </b>dominate every arena. Venus says building public support could be crucial, expecially forter stages of thepetition<b>.</b>¡±


    ¡°Thank her for me,¡± Adrian <b>said</b>, his tone warm with appreciation. ¡°You¡¯re all doing amazing work back home. We couldn¡¯t <b>ask </b>for better support.¡±


    There was <b>a </b>brief pause before Garrett¡¯s voice returned, nus more serio. <b>¡°</b>One more thing you both should know. <b>Based </b>on my <b>analysis </b>of pastpetitions, the Trial of Wisdom is significantly more dangerous than it sounds.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked, an ungary feeling settling in my stomach.


    <b>1/2 </b>


    ¡ª thy <b>not </b>just en <b>intelligent</b><b>, </b>test, Gt¡±


    Streneli eich year. The Council cleverly di


    fect by darsifying these desika differently ¨C theyre feconded an str


    Adrian and I exchanged concerned nces. ¡°How is that possible?¡± <b>i </b><b>asked</b>. I thoug


    <b>danger </b>


    Widum Trial was about strategy and hostelse hot phoni


    ¡°That¡¯s what makes it so insidious,¡± Carrell replied. ¡°Candidates expect physical challenges from the Strength Trial and prepare secundi¨¦gly. <b>But </b><b>the </b><b>bris </b>Trial.. <b>I¡¯s </b>designed to kill you through your mistakes. Through pour judgment, faulty reasoning, he misced trust¡±


    A chill ran down my spine at Garrett¡¯s words. Adrian stewightened, his expression hardening with resolve.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be careful,¡± he promised. ¡°Send us every scrap of Information you can find. We need to be prepared for anything.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>Already done.¡± Garrett assured us. ¡°Just¡­ watch each other¡¯s backs<b>, </b>okay? There¡¯s a reason they schedule a full They want you at full strength for whates next,


    week between the first and second trials.


    After ending the call, Adrian and I spent the remainder of the afternoon huddled over Garrett¡¯s documentation, studying video recordings of past trials wich Ryder and Lydia. The more we watched, the more sobering our mood became.


    ¦°


    In one particrly disturbing trial from twelve years ago, teams were trapped in abyrinth filled with poisonous gas. The test wasn¡¯t simply to find the mot -it was to identify which team members should receive the limited supply of antidote. Several Alphas had sacrificed themes, believing they were saving their teams, only to discoverter that their ¡®poison had been harmless while their teammates <b>died </b>from the real toxin


    ¡°This is psychological warfare,¡± Lydia observed, her usually melodic voice tight with concern. They¡¯re not just testing knowledge¨Cthey¡¯re testing character, loyalty, and the ability to make impossible choices.¡±


    Ryder, who had been uncharacteristically quiet throughout our <b>study </b>session, finally spoke up. ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll make us turn against each other? Force us to choose <b>who </b>lives and who dies?¡±


    The young warrior¡¯s question <b>hung </b><b>heavy </b>in the air, Adrian ced a reassuring hand on his shoulder. ¡°Whatever they throw <b>at </b>us, we face it together. Nopetitions, no sacrifices. We survive as pack or not at all.¡±


    I nodded in agreement, though the videos had shaken me more than I wanted to admit. In every recording, I saw the same pattern¨CAlphas forced to weigh the lives of their pack members against their ambition to be Alpha King. Some chose their teams; others chose the crown. Neither decision guaranteed survival.


    My phone vibrated in my pocket, pulling me from these dark thoughts. I nced at the screen, expecting another message from Garrett with additional information.


    Instead, I found myself staring at a text from an


    unknown


    number.<fnd953> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n fin?novel</fnd953>


    Tomorrow afternoon. Silver Spoon Cafe. Come alone. -Maya

 Casts 122

    Crowned by Fate


    Chapter <b>122 </b>


    <b>Sker¡¯s </b>POV


    I stared at the message,binada and suspicion warting within nie.


    What could. Maja possibly want that requited a private meeting?


    And more importantly, should I go?


    <b>¡°</b>You look exhausted,¡± Adn said, ncing at his watch. ¡°It¡¯s neatly six. Why don¡¯t we get some dinner and rest? We¡¯ve been at this all day


    ¡°God, yes. My brain ¨¤ feels like moth after all this research. I¡¯m starving Ryder stretched beside us, his lean muscles tensing as he arched his hack


    Adnan nced at Ryder and Lydia. ¡°Why don¡¯t you to head down t? Well join you in a minute?


    They nodded and beaded downstairs to the restaurant. As their footsteps faded, Adrian gently caught my arm.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked softly. ¡°You¡¯ve seemed distracted.¡±


    Maya from Frostshadow wants to meet with me tomorrow.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s expression immediately darkened. ¡°<b>Maya</b>? Is Leon behind this?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, she doesn¡¯t mention him in the text.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t trust her, this could be a ploy to convince you to return to Frostshadow.¡±


    I shook my head, remembering Leon¡¯s cold demeanor. ¡°<b>Why </b>would Leon want me <b>back</b><b>? </b><b>You¡¯ve </b>seen how he treats me¨Clike I¡¯m barely worth acknowledging.¡±


    Adrian pulled me closer, his arm sliding around my waist. ¡°He¡¯s putting on an act, he murmured<b>, </b>his lips brushing my hair. ¡°I can see <b>right </b>through him. He mares about you nose, maybe even wants to take you back, Why else would he act so antagonistic toward me specifically?¡±


    ¡°If he cares at all,¡± I said, leaning indo Adrians waith, its only because of our mate bond. There¡¯s no real emotion behind it.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s lips moved to my neck, his breath hot against my skin.


    ¡°I hope you¡¯re right. I wish I could mark you right now,¡± he whisper¨¦d, his voice dropping to a husky rumble that made my wolf stir restlessly beneath my


    I pulled away reluctantly, remembering our agreement. ¡°Ryder and Lydia are waiting for us downstairs. We should go.


    Donner was pleasant but subdued<b>, </b>all of us feeling the weight of the uing trial. As we finished our meal, my phone buzzed with another message from Maya. Despite my better judgment, I checked it under the table


    I <b>have </b><b>a </b>secret about <b>Alpha </b>Adrian. Don¡¯t you want to know?


    The cryptic message annoyed me. Why couldn¡¯t she just say what she wanted? I excused myself from the table and stepped outside the restaurant to call her


    Whatever you have to say, say it now.¡± I demanded when <b>she </b>answered. ¡°We¡¯re not close enough to be meeting for coffee, Maya. ¡°


    1 genuinely have information about Adrian that you need to hear,¡± she replied, her voice surprisingly serious. ¡°Information that concerns ha salety. If you dunt beline me, thats your choice.¡±


    skipped a beat at the mention of Adrians saf


    is safety, but I kept my voice steady. ¡°Adrian <b>is </b>yo


    yourpetition now. Why would you help us??


    Im not offering this freely,¡± Mays said with a hint of her usual arroganer. ¡°I have conditions.¡±


    ¡°What renditions?¡± I asked, curiosity getting the better of


    tow at 2 PM,e to the Silver Spoon Caf¨¦ aline. Il wait live minutes, then Di


    She hung up before I could respond, <b>leaving </b>me staring at my phone in frustration. Maya mually berous. After considering it for several minutes, I texted back;


    Fine. I¡¯ll be there.


    manner made me wonder if the wat actually


    The Scher Leal Cald wa


    the nest


    moon. I scanned the room carefully, my heart beating faster than I cared to admit, Four years had passed since I¡¯d faced Maya one in one. Four years since the girl who¡¯d been my childhood rival had stood smugly beside Leon as he rejected i


    She sat in the corner, immactely chessed as always<b>, </b>her goblen hair shimmering under the calf lights. for a brief moment, I was transported back to Frostshadow Pack¨Cyoung <b>Skye</b>, awkward and uncertain, perpetually in the shadow of perfect Maya who excelled at everything


    But I wasn¡¯t that girl anymore.


    Maya looked up as I approached, her blue eyes assessing me with the same dismissive scrutiny I remembered from our youth, Behind her usual arrogance, there was unmistakable hostility¨Cthe kind reserved for someone she considered both a threat and an enemy.


    ¡°You came,¡± she said simply


    I slid into the seat across from her, meeting her gaze directly. ¡°What¡¯s this secret?¡± I asked without preamble<fnf50f> Discover more novels at FindN0vel</fnf50f>


    about him, why are you


    ¡°in a hurry, aren¡¯t you?¡± Maya smirked, stirring her cofferrily. ¡°You must really care about your Alpha. Since you care so much at here trying to seduce Leon? Isn¡¯t one man enough for you?¡±


    The usation stung more than it should <b>have</b>. Some things never changed¨CMaya had always been quick to paint me as the viin in any semnario involving Leon.


    ¡°Watch your words,¡± I snapped<b>, </b>my patience <b>wearing </b>thin. I haven¡¯t tried


    it than anyone.¡±


    to seduce Leon. He¡¯s my Second Chance Mate, and trust me, I¡¯m more upset about


    <b>Maya¡¯s </b>perfectly groomed eyebrows rose. ¡°Oh, <b>please</b>. You¡¯re loving having two Alphas fighting over you. Why else would you keep drawing Leon¡¯s attention?¡±


    I rulled my eyes, exasperated. ¡°I¡¯m not drawing his attention. If Leon wasn¡¯t worried about breaking our bond affecting his performance in thepetition, Id have severed it already.¡±


    A flicker of something¨Cperhaps hurt?-crossed Maya¡¯s fare before her mask of indifference returned.


    Skye, you¡¯ve changed,¡± <b>Maya </b>said, studying me with an unreadable expression.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t.¡± I teplied coldly. ¡°Now tell me what you know about Adrian.¡±


    *I¡¯ll only tell you u if you promise me something. During the entire election period, you cannot appmach Leon, speak to him, or meet with him of your own


    ¡°Fine, I agree,¡± I didn¡¯t hesitate for a secund.


    My


    pick response seemed to surprise <b>Maya</b>.


    Skye, you really have changed,¡± she said, looking genuinely taken aback


    havent,¡± I repeated, then <b>pressed</b>, ¡°Now


    ????


    me about Adrian.¡± :


    Maya smiled slightly, then her expression turned serious.


    ¡°Someone is nning to kill Alpha Adrian during the second trial

 Casts 123

    <b>hapter </b>123


    Shyri <b>POV </b>


    ¡°What?¡± <b>I </b><b>leaned </b>forward, my Volce dropping to an urgent whisper. <b>¡°</b><b>Who</b>? Where did you hear this?¡±


    May took a sip of her caffer, seemingly enjoying my traction a bit too much hele her expression turned serious again. Last night at the <b>bar</b><b>,</b><b>¡± </b>¡°exined. ¡°After you all left early. I was upset after out confimitation, auf went to the alley behind the bar for a cigarette.¡±<fnc7e1> Official source is FindN()vel</fnc7e1>


    She tacked a strand of golden hair behind her ear<b>, </b>her eyes never leaving mine. ¡°That¡¯s when I overheard two men talking. They mentioned Casisbon Pack and Alpha Adrian specifically.¡±


    ¡°What exactly did they say? I pressed, every muscle in my body tenseil,


    ¡°One of them said- and I quote¨CIm not just going to make sure he gets eliminated in the second trial. I¡¯m going to make sure he dies in it.¡± Maya <b>a </b>blue


    yes held mine steadily. ¡°They were talking about your Alpha, <b>Skyr</b>.¡±


    A chill ran down my spine. ¡°Did you see who they were? Did you recognize their voices?¡±


    Maya shook her head. ¡°<b>I </b>couldn¡¯t see their <b>faces </b>clearly in the dark, and they weren¡¯t wearing anything with <b>pack </b>insignias. They were careful.¡±


    I studied her face, searching for any sign of deception. ¡°How do I know you¡¯re telling the truth? This could be some kind of trick¡±


    Something shed in Maya¡¯s eyes¨Cirritation, perhaps, or indignation. ¡°I have absolutely no reason to lie <b>about </b>this<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>she said tly. ¡°Look, with your current capabilities, you¡¯re not even realpetition. Adrian barely scraped through the first <b>trial</b>¨Cyou won¡¯t make it past the second one anyway.¡±


    She leaned forward, her voice hardening. ¡°But I don¡¯t want him dead. If he dies¡­ her gare turned calcting, ¡®you¡¯d inevitably return to Lean¡¯s side because of your mate bond. That¡¯s thest thing I want to see happen.¡±


    I sat back processing her words. As much as I hated to admit it, Maya¡¯s twisted logic made sense. She had no motive to fabricate this warning¨Cher jealousy over Leon provided enough reason for her to want to keep me away from him, even if that meant helping Adrian <b>stay </b>alive.


    ¡°Thank you for the information, I finally <b>said</b>, the words feeling strange on my tongue.


    A small, bitter smile yed at the corners of <b>Maya¡¯s </b>mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. I¡¯m not doing this to help you


    ¡°I know,¡± I replied<b>, </b>gathering my things to leave. ¡°But I appreciate it nheless.¡±


    As I stood to go. <b>Maya¡¯s </b>voice stopped me. ¡°Remember our agreemei


    Don¡¯t approach Leon.¡±


    I nodded once before walking <b>away</b>. <b>That </b>was one <b>promise </b>I <b>had </b>no difficulty keeping.


    <b>Back </b>at our hotel, I found Adrian poring over maps and documents <b>spread </b>across a small table. His amber eyes immediately locked with mine <b>as </b>I entered, sensing my tension


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked<b>, </b>setting down his pen.


    1 closed the door behind me and crossed the room, my <b>voice </b>low despite us being alone. ¡°<b>Maya </b><b>had </b>actual information to share. Someone is nning to eliminate you during the second trial¨Cpermanently¡±


    <b>Adrian¡¯s </b>expression turned <b>grave </b>as I ryed everything Maya had told me. When I finished, he remained silent for a long moment, his jaw tightening as he considered the implications.


    ¡°Could it be your uncle Maxwell?¡± I suggested, perching on the edge of the bed. ¡°He¡¯s been hostile since the moment <b>we </b><b>arrived</b>. Maybe he sees you as a genuine threat now.¡±


    Adrian shook his head slowly, his brow furrowed in thought. ¡°Maxwell has had people watching me for years, but he¡¯s never tried to kill me. He¡¯s content with having taken Stormbord.¡±


    <b>1/2 </b>


    Chapter <b>123 </b>


    That was before you entered the <b>Alpha </b>King election. I countered. ¡°Maybe your ambition has made himvan


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Adrian conceded, though he still seemed unconvinced. ¡°But it¡¯s too early to make usations <b>without </b>evidence.


    I paced the small room, my mind racing through possibilities. ¡°What about Gravestone Pack We destroyed their Alpha and dissolved their tenboro some survivor dipped into thepetition seeking revenge?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s more likely scenario,¡± Adrian agreed, leaning back in his chair. ¡°Regardless of who¡¯s behind it, were at a disadvantage. They know their target<b>, </b>but we don¡¯t know <b>our </b>enemy.¡±


    I stopped <b>pacing </b>and turned to him, determination hardening my resolve. ¡°I should tell Ryder and Lydin immediately. And we should contact Venus¨Cwe need more protection for you.¡±


    To my surprise, Adrian shook his head firmly. ¡°No, we keep this between us for now,¡±


    Think about it, Skye,¡± he said, <b>his </b>voice calm but authoritative. ¡°If I¡¯m their target, they¡¯ll likely leave you and the others alone. Telling Ryder and Lydia will <b>only </b>distract them from focusing on the uing trial.¡±


    He stood, closing the distance between <b>us</b><b>. </b>


    ¡°And if we want to identify who¡¯s behind this, we need to appear unaware so they¡¯ll act more boldly and reveal themselves.¡±


    His logic was sound, but anxiety still churned in my stomach. ¡°I don¡¯t like this, Adrian. You¡¯re deliberately making yourself bait.¡±


    Adrian reached out, drawing me into his arms. His familiar ocean <b>scent </b>washed over me, simultaneously calming and intensifying my fears. Trust me,¡± he murmured against my hair. ¡°I¡¯ve survived worse odds. And thank you for bringing me this information¨Cit gives us an advantage they don¡¯t <b>know </b>we have<b>.</b>¡±


    I rxed against him, allowing <b>myself </b>to draw strength from his confidence. Yet beneath my temporarily soothed nerves, a deep¨Cseated worry remained.


    I¡¯m sleeping <b>in </b>your room tonight,¡± I stated, my tone leaving no room for argument. ¡°I can¡¯t leave you alone with this threat hanging over you


    ill smile yed at the corners of Adrian¡¯s mouth. ¡°Well, in that case, I suppose there¡¯s a silver lining to this situation after all,¡±


    A small smile


    Despite my anxiety. I found myself returning his smile. ¡°Don¡¯t get any ideas<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>I wamed, though there <b>was </b>no real admonishment in my tone. ¡°I¡¯m just <b>making </b>sure no one assassinates you in your sleep.¡°.


    His arm


    arms tightened around me. ¡°My fierce Beta,¡± he murmured, pressing a gentle <b>kiss </b>to my forehead. Always watching over <b>me</b>.¡±


    As night fell and we prepared for bed, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling <b>that </b>we were walking into darkness with only the faintest light to guide us


    The second trial was still days <b>away</b>, but the countdown had already begun¨Cboth to the test i


    and to whatever danger lurked in wait for Adrian.


    That night, <b>as </b>Adrian¡¯s breathing deepened into sleep beside me, I remained alert, my senses attuned to <b>every </b>noise, every shadow,


    Whoever wanted him dead would have to go through me first.


    Chapter Comments


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    anticipation is killing me!


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 Casts 124

    I woke to the gentle sound of a tray being set down beside my bed. Blinking away sleep. I found Adrian arranging breakfart¨Cdech di Steaming coffee on the nightstand


    The aroma of freshly brewed roller filled the mom, enticing me to sit up.


    ¡°Gand morning.¡± he said, his voice warm as he noticed me stirring. ¡°Sleep well?¡±


    ncing at the clock. I bolted upright. Nine thirty? Why did you take me? I was supposed to train with Ryder and Lydia this morning


    Adrian sat on the edge of the bed, pour coller in


    iwio a mug beloste handing it evident in his eyes. ¡°1 thought you needed the rest moir than


    que. You were having nightmaresst night,¡± he exined, concem


    I epted the coffee gratefully, trying to recall the dreams that had apparently disturbed my sleep. Only fragments remained¨Cwater, darkness, and of desperate searching. The allermath of our underwater trial, in doubt.


    ¡°Did I say anything?¡± I asked, reaching for a pastry-


    Adrian shook his head: ¡°Just thrashing and mumbling. You calmed down when I held you,¡±


    The thought of Adrian watching over me through the night brought warmth to my checks.


    sly finished my breakfast when my phone rang, an unknown mumber shing on the screen, with slight hesitation, I answered.


    <b>Td </b>barely


    ¡°Hello!¡±


    Hello, little warrior


    My heart skipped a beat at the familiar voice and nickname that only one person had ever used.


    ¡°Dad?¡± I whispered, hardly believing my ears.


    ¡°The one and only,¡± he replied, his deep voice filled with a warmth I¡¯d missed desperately. ¡°Your mother told me you called. I had to hear your voice for


    Tears pricked my eyes as I gripped the phone tighter. ¡°It¡¯s so good to hear you.¡±


    ¡°<b>Look </b>at you now,¡± he continued, pride evident in his tome. A true warrior after all. My daughter, the Beta of Oasisbon Pack<b>. </b>I always knew you had it in


    you.¡±


    1 still carry Tink everywhere,¡± I told him, referring to the dagger hed gifted m flute¨C1 handy ever y it. Guess I don¡¯t have much musical talent.¡±


    birthday. ¡°It¡¯s saved my life more than once. Unlike Ethan¡¯s bone


    My father¡¯s chuckle rumbled through the phone. ¡°<b>You </b>always were more warrior than musician. His voice softened. ¡°These past years, they must have been difficult for you.¡±


    ¡°I managed,¡± I said, not wanting to worry him with details of my struggles


    ¡°Do you remember what I told you when I gave you Tink?¡± he <b>asked</b>.


    I smiled at the memory. ¡°<b>You </b><b>said </b>you hoped I never need to use it. But <b>Dad</b><b>, </b>I couldn¡¯t live under your protection forever. I needed to find my own way.¡± I nced at Adrian, who was quietly gathering the breakfast dishes. ¡°I¡¯m doing well now, I promise.¡±


    ¡°Whatever path you chose, I respect it, my father said solemnly. ¡°But I cant help worrying about this Alpha days¡­¡±


    a King election. The second


    trial is in tw


    You participated in the Alpha King election with Alpha James, didn¡¯t <b>you</b>?¡± I ended <b>him</b>. ¡°<b>You </b>made it through the second trial.


    There was a hay pause before he triponded, ¡°We did, but it war.


    on speakri.


    Bad, can you tell us about this Seesaw game? My trom is here listening


    taking


    The setup is deceptively simple, my father began,


    it is a lent bram with metal boxes ¨C about four square meters each


    mum quality. ¡°A mantive stone be edge of a cliff acts as a fulcrums. attached to either end. Each team is locked inside one of the frees.


    Texchanged concrined ners with Adrian as my father continued


    The floor of each box is made of <b>wir </b>meth ¨C not tight enough in prmida talid fasting, but enough to hold your weight. Through it, you can and nothing but wir beneath you and the deadly drop to the torks belme,¡±


    Ryder let out a low whistle, but remained silent as my father describied the challenge.


    ¡°A <b>clock </b>starts ticking. Survive bnced the seesaw for ten minutes, and your tram pautes the trial. But immediately, our box begin to tip downwind.¡±


    What happened?¡± Lydia asked, her eyes named in concentration.


    ¡°The opposing team was shedding weight,¡± my


    my father exined. ¡°They w clothes. To counter, we had to do the same.¡±


    were dropping everything through the meth floor¨Cequipment, weapons, even their


    His voice grew heavier. In the final minutes, one of our warriors. he tore off his <b>own </b>arm and dropped it through the mesh to Tighten our side. We won the narrowest margin. The other team all fell, suffering severe injuries<b>.</b>¡±


    A horrified silence filled the room. Ryder¡¯s face had paled, while Adrian¡¯s jaw tightened with tension.


    ¡°It seems victory demands a terrible price, Ryder finally <b>said</b>, <b>his </b><b>usual </b>carefree demeanor reced by somber realization.


    My father¡¯s heavy sigh came through the speaker. ¡°That¡¯s just it¨Cthere was no need for any price at all.¡±<fnf517> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find_Novel(.</fnf517>


    We all leaned forward in surprise.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Lasked.


    ¡°If both teams had simply remained still¨Cif no one had <b>panicked </b>and started dropping items¨Cboth boses would have stayed perfectly bnced for the entire ten minutes. Both teams would have <b>passed. </b>


    The revtion hit us <b>like </b>a physical blow, So simple, yet so easily merlooked when fear takes hold.


    But in that moment of crisis<b>, </b>with the <b>timer </b>counting down and your life seemingly hanging in the hunce, cooperation is the <bst </b>thing on anyone¡¯s <b>mind</b>,¡±


    father continued. ¡°Fear makes enemies of potential allies. Panic clouds judgment.¡±


    Adrian nodded slowly, understanding dawning in his eyes. ¡°The trial isn¡¯t testing physical strength at all¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± my father confirmed. ¡®Calm minds and cooperation¨Cthats the true key to the wisdom trial. Butpetition and fear make people lose their ability to think clearly and trust others.¡±


    Thank you for this insight, Adrian said earnestly. ¡°It could save lives. I promise you, no matter what happens, I¡¯ll protect Skye with my


    ¡°Not with your life, young Alpha,¡± my father corrected gently. ¡°With your wisdom. That will serve her far better.¡±

 Casts 125

    The day of the second trial had finally arrived. As we gathered at the ceremonial grounds, I found myself questioning the consteliami


    Before entering the Alpha King election, im gol had been simple; win at any cost. The crown world af


    gre to fight for all werewolves who suffered ininstler, I would create a world where packs like thatithorn wouldn¡¯t have to endure the cruelty <b>of </b>Alphas, where instrasts could find belonging.


    But as I stood in the precipice of the second trial, Skyes hand warm in mine, Ryder and Lydis nking on with unservering patty, old help bert question myself. Would I truly pay an price for victory?


    No. If winning meant sacrificing the people who mattered most, the ones who had believed in me when I had nothing, then such a victory would be hollow, meaningless. What was the point of being Alpha kme if I beat what made the title worth having?


    Perhaps sensing me tension, Skye squrered my hand prasti


    the remaining twenty teams.


    bew thiength from her touch, Kering myself in focus as Elder Selene stepped forward to


    The Trial of Wisdom,¡± Elder Selene announced, her voler carrying across the silent gathering, ¡®consists of two phases. First, each park must ovee a unique challenge as a team. Those who seed will progress to the second phase¨Cdirectpetition between packs.¡±


    Her ancient eyes swept across the candidates, sharp despite her years. As with the first trial, if you find yourself in mortal danger, signal for rescue and withdraw. There is no shame in living to fight another day.¡±


    A thin smile touched her lips. ¡°<b>After </b>all, the Council <b>is </b>not an organization of assassins. Our purpose is <b>to </b>select a worthy Alpha King, not to collect


    The attempt at humor fell t among the tensepetitors. I scanned the gathering, wondering which of these Alphas harbored murderous intentions toward me. <b>Maya¡¯s </b>warning echoed in my mind¨Csomeone wanted me eliminated permanently.


    My gaze settled briefly on Maxwell. My uncle¡¯s expression revealed nothing, his face a mask of calm determination. If he was nning my demise, he hid it well


    When Elder Selene concluded her speech, attendants <b>guided </b>each team to separate locations. Our group <b>was </b>led to a small <b>wooden </b>cabin set apart from the


    ¡°Your first challenge is called The Arrow Shower,¡± the attendant exined<b>, </b>gesturing toward the door. ¡°<b>Every </b>ten minutes, arrows will fire from the <b>walls</b>. After thirty minutes, <b>the </b>door will unlock automatically.¡± With an upsettling smile, he added. ¡°Good luck,¡± before walking away.


    Inside, <b>the </b>cabin was sparsely furnished¨Cjust arge round wooden table in the center, nothing else. The walls were unremarkable, giving no indication of the deadly projectiles they would soonunch.<fn39b2> For original chapters go to F?nd-Novel</fn39b2>


    ?


    Skye immediately approached the table, rapping her knuckles against its surface. ¡°Solid <b>wood</b><b>,</b>¡± she observed, eyes calcting. ¡°We could use this <b>as </b><b>a </b>She nced around at us. ¡°Help me dismantle it.¡±


    ¡°Eve got this,¡± Ryder volunteered, his <b>eyes </b>gleaming with determination as his mails elongated into ws. With a few powerful swipes, he separated the tabletop from its base.


    shield.¡±


    Working quickly, he split the wooden disk into four roughly equal sections. ¡°Seems simple enough,¡± he remarked, helling one of the makeshift shields, ¡°We stand back¨Cto¨Cback, use these to block the arrows, and wait it out.¡±


    <b>¦°¦°¦¥ </b>


    1 frowned, unease prickling at the <b>back </b>of my neck. ¡°It feels <b>too </b>straightforward,¡±


    ¡°Perhaps were fortunate this year,¡± Lydia suggested, her melodic voice reassuring behind her mask. The night before we left Oasisbom, I performed <b>a </b>divination. The <b>cards </b><b>predicted </b>good fortune for our <b>journey</b>.¡±


    The sends had barely left her lips when the first arrows shot from the walls, whistling through the air with deadly precision.


    ¡°<b>Defensive </b>positions<b>?</b>¡± <b>I </b><b>shouted</b>, raising my shield.


    The <b>formed </b>i Ilent <b>clitic</b><b>, </b>each curvering a section of the Ton


    deeply in our thalekhin thick.


    <b>Just </b>as we settled into a shythm of blocking the projectiles, Ryder¡¯s agonized cry pierced the air. Blood streamed from Ne dit where in serb Him. Looking up <b>in </b>hotion, we realised wit mistake¨Carrunks were nine raining down from the reiling


    <b>¡°</b>The ceiling¡°¡± I raised my shield higher, adjusting to protect our heads, ¡®Cover overhead?¡±


    The others moved to follow my exemple, but I quickly stopped them. ¡°Not The shields aren¡¯t big enough. Il poard alime, mu keep protecting the aldrit


    Despite my warring, our defensive formation left my lower body exposed. Paisnced through my leg My knees weakened as blood soaked through my pants.


    ¡°Adrian!¡± Skye¡¯s voice reached me, thick with tears and feat


    Lan arrow found its merk, then another<b>, </b>


    Chapter Comments


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 Casts 126

    Adrian¡¯s FTV


    My legs throbbed here the army had struck, bloed visking. couldnt melek This was unly the beginning


    Despite the mementary popolna, !


    The gross will


    cill return in ten minu


    1 announced, m


    snice tight with pain. ¡°We need to find a biting before then i


    Skye immediately dropped to her knees beside


    examining my Injuties


    simies with


    hands. Her forest green eyes widened with rm as the arced the


    ¡°You¡¯ve been hit five times in your lower legs, the said, her voice trembling slightly. ¡°Theres in much blood, Adrian/


    oured her, trying to keep my tone steady despite the burning pain. ¡°I¡¯m an Alpha, remember? The woods will heal quickly


    I scanned our team, relieved to see that Skye and Lydia had escaped unscathed. Ryder had suffered only the miner war injury. My relief was short- ?nved, however, as my legs suddenly gave out beneath me. If not for Hyder and Skye¡¯s quick reflexes, I would have copsedpletely.


    Ryder nced at his watch, his young face grim with determination. That barragested exactly one mice. We¡¯ve got about see minutes before the next wave hits.¡± His eyes darted around the room. ¡°We need a n, <b>fast</b>.¡±


    I stared at the four wooden shields we¡¯d created, frustration building as I tried to envision a better defense strategy. Our current approach had failed miserably. We couldn¡¯t possibly survive two more arrow hamages.


    Lydia reached into her pocket, producing <b>a </b>small ornate container. ¡°This salve will <b>elerate </b>healing,¡± she exined, her voice calm despite the urgency of our siteation. ¡°It contains herbs I gathered specifically for the trials.


    Skye didn¡¯t hesitate. With careful precision, she pulled much arrow from my legs, ignoring my stifled grunts of pain. Tearing a strip from Ryder¡¯s already damaged t¨Cshirt, the wiped away the blund before applying Lydia¡¯s olntment.


    ¡°The bealing process has already started,¡± I told her, noting the familiar tingling sensation as my Alpha physiology began repairing the damage. ¡°Useless on me. Ryder needs it for <b>his </b>ear too.¡±


    ian 1 just any healing salve,¡± Skye replied, her fingers working deftly as she spread the green paste over my wounds. ¡°Lydia and I developed it together. It contains bamboo leaves¨Cnot only spends healing but dulls pain tool<fneaac> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find¡¤novel</fneaac>


    ¡°Bamboo leaves¡­¡± I repeated slowly, something clicking in my mind.


    Despite Skye¡¯s protests, 1 pushed myself to my feet, limping toward our improvised shields. An idea was forming¨Csomething so simple we¡¯d overlooked it in


    <b>our </b>panic


    ¡°Ryder,¡± I called out, split these shields again. Make right pieces instead of <b>four</b>.¡±


    Without question, Ryder obeyed, his ws making quick <b>work </b>of the wooden panels.


    <b>Skye </b>approached, her eyes bright with excitement. ¡°You ve figured it out,


    haven¡¯t


    I <b>nodded</b><b>, </b>a n crystallizing. ¡°Have any of you ever seen newly sprouted bamboo <b>shoots</b>? The way they emerge from the ground<b>?</b>¡±


    Lydia¡¯s eyes lit up with understanding beneath her mask. ¡°Of course!¡± she eximed. ¡°If we arrange these panels in the formation of bamboo shoots¡­


    ¡°¡­we create apletely enclosed shelter, I fished, relied that she¡¯d grasped the concept so quickly.


    Recognition dawned on <b>Skye </b><b>and </b>Ryder¡¯s faces <b>as </b>they too understood the strategy.


    ¡°That¡¯s brilliant!¡± Ryder eximed, jumping excitedly before wincing as the movement aggravated his injured ear. ¡°Ouch!¡±


    <b>¡°</b>We need to work quickly, I warned, chec


    Together, we arranged the wooden panels into aical structure, mepping the


    from the earth. The design was simple yet effectise the aes theating down firm the


    We barely managed in squerre inside mir makeshift fortress before the second were of me whistled through with resounding thuds, but nom prated the ovepping wooden panels. The design held, protecting on from all


    When the third and final battage came, one of our panels cracked under the sustained avvnicht, the anima finally stepped.


    As silence descended upon the cabin, we coted ents the flow, exhausted but hiumphant.


    sir. The projectilen i


    That was amazing. Alpha, Ryder grinned, his youthful enthusiasms retaining despite his injured ear. ¡°With thinking this wholepetition.¡±


    m? defini


    going to win


    This victory belongs to <b>all </b>of us,¡± I replied, looking around at my small but determined teams. ¡°If Skye and Lydia hadn¡¯t mentioned the bombon leaves. | might never have thought of the solution.¡±


    Skyeughed, the


    sound light with relief after our ondeal. ¡°I hereby dere bamboo my new favorite treet¡± she proimed, earning chuckles from all of on


    The wounds on my legs had nearly closed, my Alpha healing elerated by <b>Lydia¡¯s </b>salve. Ryder¡¯s ear would take longer to heal. Skye applied morn nintmmt to his wound, causing his face to flush bright red. Whether from the exertion <b>of </b>our defense or Skye¡¯s proximity, I couldn¡¯t tell.


    This wasn¡¯t the time for jealousy, I reminded myself. We had survived the first phase of the trial that was what m


    mattered.


    The cabin door swung open with a soft click, revealing our path forward. We had passed this part of the challenge. Now, we only needed to ed teampetition toplete the second trial.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± I said, leading our team toward the doorway. ¡°Stay alert. This trial is far from ver


    We had barely stepped into the adjoining room when the floor beneath <b>us </b>began to crumble and copse


    ¡°What the fuck!?¡± Ryder shouted as the ground disappeared beneath our feet


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    Crowned by Fate

 Casts 127

    Adriana TV


    ¡°Everyone, May calm!¡± I shouted as the fo continand in crumble beet Me and ma


    direction, their eyes wide with panic as wooden nks spluttered and fell away. The apting floated My pack meshers stambled in belos a shren cliff face drepping into darkness. The sight sent a fresh wave of terme through our small group.


    Intact section. ¡®Not mother damn


    ¡°shit¡± Ryder eximed, his foot slipping through a newly formed pan. He barely managed to leap


    The Council members are on devima! Skye ihmited over the cracking sounds of splintering wood. ¡°How do they me up with in many drefly


    My mind shed to Skye¡¯s father¡¯s story from two days agn¨Cthe tale of the Seesaw challenge and its hidden lesson, stay calm. Think ifestly. The Council purpose wasn¡¯t to collect corpses; they wanted in Test is, not kill us. There had to be a ition..


    As if answering my thoughts, several chains slowly descended from the lleg, dangling just within reach.


    ¡°There!¡± I posted upward. ¡°Everyone grab


    Ryder reacted instantly, his athletic frame propelling him useand as he secured his grip on the nearest chain. Skye followed with equal agility, her sihver hair <b>catching </b>the dim light as she sung herself to safety.


    But Lydia¨Cber physical abilities weaker than the others as she was never <b>trained </b><b>as </b>a warrior¨Cmissed her grab. A sharp my escaped her lips as she began to fall


    I lunged forward, my hand shooting out to catch her arm. The <b>sudden </b>weight nearly pulled my shoulder from its socket, but I held firm, gritting my teeth against the pais


    ¡°I¡¯ve got you,¡± I assured her, muscles straining as I maintained my grip. ¡°I won¡¯t let go.¡±


    Lydia nodded, her eyes wide with fear behind her decorative mask. After <b>taking </b>a shuddering breath, she reached up with her free hand to grasp the chain above us, then wrapped both arms around it in a death grip, her knuckles white with the effort.


    Just as we <b>all </b>secured <b>ourselves </b>to the dangling chains, a figure appeared in the doorway. A man in Council robes observed us with an unnervingly calm expression¡ªa stark contrast to our precarious position suspended over the abyss..


    He began to apud slowly, ¡°Congrattions, Alpha Adrian. I¡¯m impressed that your entire team has <b>made </b>it this far


    Anger red in my chest at <b>his </b><b>casual </b>demeanor while my pack dangled in mortal danger. <b>¡°</b>Skip the pleasantries,¡± I growled. ¡°Can¡¯t you see some of us are


    ¡°Please, don¡¯t be rmed,¡± the man replied, his voice infuriatingly steady. He nced up at our suspended forms before continuing. ¡°You¡¯re currently undergoing the final phase of this trial. There¡¯s a lever beside me¨Cif I pull it, you¡¯ll be safely lowered to the ground behind this door. No one will be


    harmed.¡±


    Fellowing his gaze, I noticed a small, unassuming lever beside the wooden door. The dim lighting had concealed it from our initial inspection.


    ¡°Listen carefully,¡± the man continued, <b>taking </b>a step forward. This game is called Yes or No. Your team may <b>ask </b>me three questions in total, to which I will answer only ¡°Yes¡± or ¡°No. I will not lie. After your the?r questions, if 1 agree to help you, I¡¯ll pull the lever. If my answers remain ¡°No, you fail the trial.¡±


    I tightened my grip on my chain, mind racing. The questions with only yes or no answers? This was an unexpected challenge.<fnbfb0> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find?Novel</fnbfb0>


    <b>So </b>will <b>you </b>


    <b>you </b>let un down now!¡± <b>Ryder </b>sted out.


    ¡°Stop!¡± I tried to intervene.<ol><li>e. but it wo</li></ol>


    was toote


    the man replied without hesitation. Two question remaining.


    ¡°Ryder Skye <b>hissed</b><b>, </b>ring at our young warrior. ¡°Don¡¯t say another word!¡±


    <b>Ryder </b>hung from his chain with one hand, using the other in weralch the <b>back </b>of his head shrepichle,


    From now on, I¡¯ll ask the questions,¡® I annointed, forcing my voice to remain steady despite


    diew a drep breath, i


    efully considering our options. The situation demanded pretion we couldn¡¯t afford another wasted section


    But the more I thought about it, I realized we didn¡¯t need three questions. We didnt even need to


    This game wasn¡¯t about convincing him to pull the lever it was about understanding the logic of ¡°Yes¡± and ¡°Mn.¡±


    momentarily, then asked with delibeiste precision: ¡°If my third question were to ask whether you your answer in this second question¡°¡±


    I pull the lever,


    1¡­ The man altered, clearly caught elf piant. Then a broad smile spread across.


    dacross his face at he henke intoughter.


    ¡°Alpha Adrian, you truly are an interesting clintacter.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve won,¡± I stated coldly. ¡°Now lower <b>as </b>deers¡±


    Ryder¡¯s confusion was evident even through his strained expression. ¡°What just happened? How did we win?¡±

 Casts 128

    <b>Chapter </b>128


    The rebed man slowly walked in the wall and pulled the lever un chains brem in slide pand the donnery, carrying at sap


    As our fret troched solid ground, I immediately went to bolias tide, steadying her with a roppantiar


    ¡°Are yes hurt?¡± I asked, noticing how she cradled one hand against her chest.


    She shook her head, the feathers on bei mask rustling softly with the movement. ¡°


    Just some minor abrasions from gripping the chain in tightly¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± the assured me, opening her palm to reveal cre


    Satisfied that her injuries werent setions, I turned my attention back to the group. As we moved further from the abyss toplete safety, Footiced Ryderc expression remained puzzled.


    ¡°Alpha <b>Adrian</b>, <b>why </b>did we win?¡± he asked, confusion evident in his voice. He never actually answered Tee. How could you be so nume


    Before I could respond, Skye reached over and lightly


    by smacked the back of Ryder¡¯s head.


    1 never realized you were this slow!¡± she eximed, shaking her head in mock exasperation. Think about what Adrian jot asked him


    Ryder¡¯s brow furrowed as he tried to work through the logic. ¡°He asked¡­¡­. If my third question were to ask whether you would pull the lever, would your answer match your answer to this second question?¡±


    Skyr nodded encouragingly. Exactly. Now think about it. If the man had answered No to that question, then when Adnan asked the third question you pull the lever¨Cthe man would have to answer¡­<fnd1e1> This text is hosted at F¦Énd£Îovel</fnd1e1>


    ¡°Yes 7: Ryder ventured hesitantly.


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Skye¡¯s eyes lit up with approval. ¡°Because his answers couldn¡¯t match. And if he had answered Yes to Adrians second question, then when Adrian asked ¡°Will you pull the lever? as the third question, the man would again have to answer¡­¡±


    to match!


    ¡°<b>Yes</b><b>,</b>¡± Ryder repeated, understanding finally dawning on his face. Because the answers would have to m


    ¡°So no matter what he answered to the second question, he¡¯d have to say Yes to pulling the lever for the third question, Skye concluded. ¡°Adrian trapped him in a logical paradox where saying No to helping us became impossible.¡±


    I watched Skye with admiration as she patiently exined the puzzle to Ryder. Her intelligence, coupled with her natural teaching ability, only strengthened my resolve to make her my mate permanently once the election was over.


    ¡°Alpha Adrian,¡± Ryder turned to me, eyes wide with astonishment, ¡°how did youe up with that solution so quickly<b>?</b>¡±


    I suppressed a smile at his youthful wonder. ¡°When time is limited and lives are at stake<b>, </b>you leam to think efficiently.¡± I replied. Though perhaps when this election is over, you should consider supplementing your physical training with some time at a human university. Logic and philosophy might serve you


    The robed man approached us as our chains deposited <b>as </b>safely on solid ground. ¡°Congrattions on passing this phase of the trial,¡± he said, genuine respect in his voice. ¡°Very few candidates solve the paradox on their first attempt. The second round of teampetition willmence at 2 PM thin afternoon.¡± He gestured toward a corridor. ¡°For now, let me escort you to lunch. You¡¯ve earned some rest before the next challenge.¡±


    As we followed him through the stone hallways, I gought Skye¡¯s eye. The pride in her gaze warmed me more than any victory ever could.


    Skye¡¯s <b>POV </b>


    The dining hall was notably less crowded than it had been this morning, confirming my suspicions that many teams had failed the first phase of the <b>trial</b>. I scanned the room anxiously, searching for Ethan¡¯s familiar <b>face </b>among the remainingpetitors.


    My gaze locked with Leen¡¯s actos the, but he quickly looked andy,  rald Ishar but Ethan was nowhere to be seen. My stomach tightened with wony


    deliberately avoiding mine. the appeared enharmed From Nic trial,


    Without ess to om phones during thepetition, I had no way to contact my hierher. A sense of snease settled mer me at i med to Adnan


    I don¡¯t see Ethan anywhere,¡± I skil, unable to hide my concern. I want to ask Leon what happened Maste th


    Adrian¡¯s amber mos flicked toward tren, his expression hardening slightly. Ile


    you,¡± he offered, already rising from his seat


    ¡°No,¡± I ced my hand on his arm. I don¡¯t want to create any tension between ymt two. 111 joot ask a quick question and roma


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Adrian nodded, though I emild see he wasn¡¯t entirelyfortable with the idea.


    I had barely taken three steps toward Leon¡¯s table when Mays intercepted me, becking my path with as crised mer her chest


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± she bissed, her voice low. ¡°You promised me you wouldnt approach Leon to him diely Remember deal


    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to <b>talk </b>to Leon,¡± I whispered urgently. ¡°Wheres Ethan? Why isn¡¯t he here?!


    Maya¡¯s expression softened slightly at the milon of my brother. He was injured during the trial, the exined 1 be taking his ce in this afternoon teampetition.¡±


    My anxiety spiked. I grabbed Maya¡¯s arm, fingers digging into her flesh. ¡°How bad is it? What happened to him?¡±


    ¡°Let go!¡± Maya wrenched her arm from my grasp, rubbing the spot where I¡¯d held her, ¡°When did you get so strong?¡± She red at me before continuing. 1 don¡¯t know exactly what happened. Warriors get injured all the time in thesepetitions, You should worry more about yourself and your Alpha.


    Her words jolted me back to her earlier warning about someone plotting to eliminate Adrian during today¡¯s trial. The teampetition would provide the perfect opportunity for such an attempt.


    ¡°Maya,¡± I said, lowering my voice further, ¡°please take care of Ethan for me. Make sure he¡¯s okay.¡±


    She rolled her eyes, <b>but </b>I caught a flicker <b>of </b>sympathy beneath her <b>usual </b>hostility. ¡°Of course I will. I hate you, not your brother.¡±


    I returned to our table, my mind heavy with concerns about both Ethan and the potential threat to Adrian. Lost in thought, I barely noticed when Adrian lifted a spoonful of creamy mushroom soup to my lips.


    ¡°You need to eat,¡± he said gently. ¡°Keep your strength up for this afternoon.¡±


    I blushed, not used to such public disys of affection from him. ¡°I can feed myself, I mumbled, though I didn¡¯t pull away.


    ¡°Don¡¯t overthink things. Adrian whateveres next.


    said, his voice low enough that only I could hear. ¡°Ethan will be fine. Right now, we <b>need </b>to focus on preparing ourselves for


    <b>I </b>nodded solemnly, taking arge gulp of the rich soup. Whatever challenges <b>awaited </b>us in the afternoonpetition, we would face them together¨Cand we would be ready for any attempt on Adrian¡¯s life.


    POST COMMENT


    Chapter Comments


    Jamie


    the deal was for no physical intimacy, since I¡¯m petty I¡¯d totally eat the food Adrian fed me, right in front of Leon. any little acts of love and caring I¡¯d eat up and y into right¡­


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    112 Comments

 Casts 129

    Adrian 1 P09


    The afternoon teampetition was about to begin. As we approached the designated location, I noticed a familiar group abends waiting on Ma?a, and ten other Festshades Puck warriors stand by The Entrance, their potturei stiffening when they


    Roder immediately tensed beside me, ¡°What had


    ered. ¡°Why did it have in


    Maya¡¯s eyes iactured as she looked out way, her lips ceiling into a mockin


    The hostility between or packs was palpable, like electricity crackli maintain hisposure


    ced a calming hand on byder a slopeder, silently reminding him tu


    cartured antimism. Wee,petitors


    Before the sctuation could escte, the door swung open. A young man in formal attive greeted us with Please,e inside


    Something about the host struck me immediately. Despite his youth ¨C he couldn¡¯t have been more than twenty fror¨Che carried of someone much older. His bright blue eyes possessed an unusual intensity, studying everything with calcted precision.


    ristocratic appearance. His dark hair was styled


    His clean¨Cshaven face featured sharp cheekbones and a strong jawline that gave him a somewhat aristocratic Immacte underot, not a strand out of ce.


    <b>I </b>couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that I¡¯d seen him before, though I couldn¡¯t ce where or when. Thepetition had featured dozens of officials and roordinators; perhaps he d eveneen one of our earlier trials


    I surveyed the interior as we entered. The building¡¯syout was simple¨Ca central area that branched into two identical corridors, each with several doors along its length


    The host produced two small <b>stacks </b>of cards from his pocket, <b>his </b>long, nimble fingers handling them with surprising dexterity. Though youpete as four- person teams, rach member has an individual role,¡± he exined, extending one <b>stack </b>toward me and the other toward Leon. ¡°Please, select your identity


    Before I could reach for them, <b>Skye </b>stepped forward and took the entire stack from the host¡¯s hand<b>. </b>


    ¡°Miss! That¡¯s not the procedure the host began to protest, his familiar voice triggering another wave of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Where had I heard that particr cadence before?


    ¨C ¡°I¡¯m just shuffling them,¡± Skye interrupted, quickly mixing the cards before handing them to me. ¡°Alpha Adrian, you should distribute them to our team.¡±


    I understood her caution. With potential threats lurking in thispetition, even small precautions were warranted.


    I handed each team member a card before examining my own.


    Mine read ¡°RECEIVER in bold letter


    Tm the Sender, Ryder announced, looking at his <b>card</b>.


    ¡°Im the 1


    Lydia was


    Hostage, Skye


    <b>e </b>said, her expression carefully neutral.


    thest to check her card. ¡°I¡¯ve drawn¡­ Spy,¡± she revealed, looking up at me uncertainly.


    Before the host could <b>exin </b>further, Maya¡¯s indignant voice cut through the room.


    ¡°What? Im the Spy ?!¡± she eximed, her face contorting with outrage. ¡°This is ridiculous! No one is more loyal to Lean than me!¡±


    Leon¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Maya,¡± he reprimanded, control yourself. How could you reveal your role so carelessly?¡±<fn71b3> The rightful source is f?ndnovel</fn71b3>


    The host <b>waved </b>off the concern, a silver si ring catching the light as he gestured dismissively. That ring¡­ I narrowed my <b>eyes </b>slightly, trying to recall where I might have seen it before. It seemed too ornate for <b>someone </b><b>so </b>young¨Cperhaps <b>a </b>family heirloom with some kind of emblem.


    That perfectly fine. Everyone knowing each other¡¯s roles <b>doesn¡¯t </b>affect the game,¡± he said. His voice carried the practiced smoothness of someone


    meone who had


    given many presentations despite his youth.


    Lydia rose from


    enthusiasm<ol><li>h. ¡°Now, would all those who drew the pe cand please pard</li></ol>


    while Maya reluctantly stepped forward fem Leon¡¯s team: They both stood before the hort, who began apuding with anexpected


    Please give a nerd el apploose for en spirt!¡± be dered


    This lonely pping echoed through the room as everyone else remained silent, watching with varying degrees of confusion. As he continued speaking, i


    harity was bing distracting. Found myself studying his mannerisms more than listening to his words. The magging fa


    ¡°First, I most congratte you two,¡± he continued once his solo apuse died down. ¡°Yive drawn the most ential rates in this game. An spies, you must infiltrate the enemy team¨Cwhich means you I be switching siilet now.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Maya¡¯s eyes wide


    widened in


    in harrot as she painted at me. ¡°You expect me to join their tesen les mice dripped with disgust


    Lydia nced at me nervously, I gave her a reassining mod. Go to Alpha Lenn¡¯s team,¡® I fiild her. ¡°I trust you


    Maya approached our group with visible reluctance, arms crossed tightly over her chest and chin held high in defiance. Every step she took toward un seemed to cause her physical pain.


    As she joined our ranks<b>, </b>I found my attention draven back to the host. His youthful energy seemed at odds with the methodical, almost calcting way he observed our interactions. The way he stood with his weight slightly favored to one side, his right hand caully resting in his pocket¨CI¡¯d definitely sem this stance before, but the contest remained frustratingly out of reach.


    <b>Once </b>the exchange wasplete, the host began exining the rules of thepetition.


    The game space consists of two parallel corridors with identicalyouts. Each team will upy one corridor,¡± he exined, gesturing to the branching from the main room. Your objective is to sessfullyplete the challenge and exit safely within thirty minutes.


    He moved toward the first door in the nearest corridor, which had ¡°SENDER¡± written on it.


    ¡°This is the Sender¡¯s rooms, he exined, pushing the door open to reveal a sparse interior containing only a table with a pen and envelope. ¡°Once the game begins, both Senders must remain in their respective cours. Your task is to create a message containing vital code and have it delivered.¡±


    Ryder peered into the empty space. ¡°If we can¡¯t leave the room, how do we deliver the message?¡±


    ¡°Simple¨Cthrough the Spy, the host replied with a smile that didn¡¯t quite <b>reach </b>his eyes. The familiarity of <b>his </b>expression gnawed at me again. Had we crossed paths at some Council meeting? Or perhaps during a previouspetition?


    ¡°Please, follow me, delivering messages.¡±


    he added, leading us back into the hallway. ¡°The corridor is where the Spies operate. You¡¯ll move through your assigned hallway,


    ¡°We¡¯re trusting the Spres with our messages? several voices <b>asked </b>almost simultaneously


    ¡°Exactly!¡± The host rodded enthusiastically. ¡°That¡¯s why they¡¯re the key yers in this game. Spies <b>can </b>choose to help you by delivering messages faithfully


    they can sabotage you by altering the contents.¡±


    We followed him t


    to the second door along the corridor. Inside was arge ss¨Cfronted cab that resembled an oversized even


    The Receiver must stay


    in this room, the host instructed, his tone shifting to something more serious.


    ¡°And the Hostage¡­¡± He pointed to the ss cab. ¡°The Hostage will be confined in thisrge oven


    ¡°So within thirty minutes, the Receiver must use Information from the message delivered by the Spy to open the ovenect? I said


    <b>pescu </b>


    the Hostage.


    In that

 Casts 130

    Adrians P


    <b>POV </b>


    The host nodded, visibly impressed. ¡°Alpha Adrian, you grasp the concept quickly?¡±<fn6426> Find the newest release on Find?Novel</fn6426>


    Leon, who <b>had </b>remamed mostly silent, suddenly spoke up. ¡°And if we fail to open it in time? What happens then?


    The hosts smile took on a darker edge.


    ¡°What do you think happens to meat left too long in an oven?¡±


    Then the host walked over to a small red button mounted on the wall beside the oven.


    ¡°However, there¡¯s one more important rule. If you wish to forfeit, you may press this rm button ¨C Inut only during the first twenty seven minutes of the


    A low growl escaped my throat before I could stop it. The thought of Skye trapped in that ¡°oven¡± while it heated up made my blood run cold.


    The ovens password consists of six digits,¡± the <b>host </b>continued, unfazed by my reaction. ¡°Once the game begins, the password will appear on a screen in the Senders room. However, the Sender cannot simply write down these six numbers. They must create a puzzle or riddle that the Receiver can solve to determine the password.¡±


    I turned to <b>Skye</b>, my decision immediate. ¡®111 <b>take </b>your ce. I can¡¯t let you risk this.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not permitted, the host interjected before Skye could respond


    Leon stepped forward, his posture rigid with barely controlled anger. I agree with Adrian for once. <b>Frostshadow </b><b>Pack </b>doesn¡¯t <b>have </b>a tradition of sacrificing our women.¡± His eyes locked onto mine<b>, </b><b>filled </b>with usation, ¡®I told you before¡ªif <b>you </b><b>can¡¯t </b>protect my mute, return her to us,¡±


    His mate?!


    The possessive term made my wolf snarl internally, but I forced myself to remain calm. Looking at Leon¡¯s <b>face</b>. I <b>could </b>see genuine concern beneath his <b>hard </b>exterior. Despite everything, he still cared for <b>Skye</b>.


    <b>Maya </b>stepped forward, her voice <b>thick </b>with impatience. ¡°Excuse me, but shouldn¡¯t the miles present <b>cand </b>swapping? Otherwise, what¡¯s the point of drawing roles in the first ce?¡±


    The host nodded. ¡°Indeed, role exchanges are prohibited. Additionally, mind¨Clinking and shifting are forbidden during this challenge.¡±


    Before i emulid pentest further, Skye ced her hand on my arm. ¡°Even if it were allowed, I wouldn¡¯t switch with you. Have you forgotten? I¡¯m your Beta. Protecting you is part of my duty.¡±


    <b>I </b>captured her hands in mine, my resolve hardening. In front of everyone, I leaned <b>forward </b>and <b>pressed </b><b>a </b><b>kiss </b>to her forehead.


    I won¡¯t let anything happen to you.¡± I promised. ¡®If I can¡¯t open that oven before the final three minutes. I¡¯m hitting that rm. No <b>question</b>.¡±


    Leon cheated his throat loudly. ¡°Let¡¯s get started then. We¡¯re wasting time without another <b>word</b>, he led <b>his </b>team toward the opposite corridor.


    <b>With </b>heavy steps, I personally escorted <b>Skye </b>to the <b>ss</b><b>¨C</b>fronted oven. As I closed the door, sealing her inside, she offered me a reassuring smile through the ss. Her calm demeanor only strengthened my determination.


    Stay focused, I told myself. The worst oue is just forfeiting thepetition.


    But as I took my position in the Receiver¡¯s room, a nagging voice in my head reminded me that losing thispetition could mean losing our chance at the Alpha King title¨Cand the protection my pack, desperately needed.


    The electronic timer on the wall began its countdown from thirty minutes. I paced the room, m? The steady tick <b>tick</b><b>¨C</b><b>tick </b>hammered against my nerves like tim dagen


    eyes constantly daring between door and the clock


    Twenty¨Cfive minutes remaining, Still no sign of Maya.


    ed at Skye through the g


    ss. The maintained her inmonante, givi


    air an cermmaging mat


    How could she remain in calm while trapped in that contraption?


    Tinally, at the rightren minute mark, the diu swung open. Maya sauntered in, envelope beturen iwi fingers as if it were something distastefod she¡¯d found on the butte


    ¡°What took you so long?¡® I powled


    and in a dingday


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry, Was I supposed to mish? Nobody specified a delivery timeframe.¡± She dropped the catelessness. Good <b>luck</b><b>, </b>Alpha.¡±


    nti my ontstretched hand with deliberate


    I tore open the envelope as she sauntered back toward the door, finding a sheet of paper with a musical staff drown on it..


    Ryder had sketched out <b>musical </b>notes¨Cis backgrond in mic making perfect are for this puzzle. Looking at the pattern, I quickly understood six¨Cdigit code coresponded to the notes: 720¡Á10.


    A flicker of doubt crossed my mind. Had Maya tampered with the message?


    I had no way to know, but I couldn¡¯t waste time second guessing. I approached the keypad on the oven and entered the number.


    Nothing happened


    I tried the sequence backward: 013027.


    Still nothing.


    I <b>nced </b>at Skye, <b>who </b>offered <b>an </b>encouraging nod. Her calm in this situation was remarkable, almost as if she <b>knew </b>something I didn¡¯t.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she mouthed through the ss. ¡°<b>Try </b>again.¡±


    The clock showed fifteen minutes remaining. I studied the musical notation again, wondering if I¡¯d misinterpreted the puzzle. Perhaps the notes represented something else entirely?


    1 tried variousbinations, transposing the notes to different keys, counting the spaces between them.


    The realization hit me like a physical blow¨C<b>Maya </b>must have altered the message.


    The clock ticked down mercilessly. Five minutes. Four minutes. Three minutes and thirty seconds.


    Enouch.


    My decision was made. With three minutes remaining. I moved toward the red rm button.


    ¡°I¡¯m ending this,¡± I called to <b>Skye </b>through the ss ¡°Your safety matters more than anypetition.¡±


    As my hand reached for the rm, Skye suddenly lunged forward, pounding frantically on the ss door. Her eyes were


    were wide<b>. </b>


    ¡°<b>Wait</b>!¡± she shouted, her voice muffled by the parrier between us. ¡°Don¡¯t press

 Casts 131

    Adrian¡¯s POV


    <b>-1 </b>pressed my palm against the ghee reprinting ni, hudration and fear battling within the


    -If Maya changed the messige, 11 never goes the right code.¡±


    ¡°Jest Try one more time, Skye pleaded. Please


    I shook my head, my decision already made. I¡¯m not risking


    Despite her continord protests, 1 strode to the red button on the wall, My heart thundered in my chest an I mmed door to immediately swing open


    Nothing happened.


    I pressed it again. Then again. The door remained sealed tight, with Skye still trapped inside.


    tagainst It, expecting the oven.


    ¡°What the hell¡± Confusion washed over me as I nced between the button <b>and </b>the oven. The countdown timer continned its merciless descent; thirty seconds remaining.


    Skye¡¯s expression <b>shifted </b>from p


    panic to curiosity. ¡°Maybe it unlocks automatically when the trial ends?¡±


    My wolf bristled beneath my <b>skin</b>, instincts screaming that something was very wrong. ¡°No. This <b>isn¡¯t </b>right.¡±


    I rushed back to the oven, pressing my face close to the <b>ss</b>. ¡°Im not waiting another second with you in that damn oven!¡±


    I gestured for her to move back, and once she¡¯d pressed herself against the far wall, I threw <b>my </b>shoulder against the door. The impact sent shockwaves through my body, but the door didn¡¯t budge. I tried again, then again, each attempt more desperate than thest.


    The room offered nothing I could use as a tool¨Cno chair, no metal object, nothing to break the <b>ss</b>. Ten seconds remained on the timer.


    ¡°Stand back,¡± I growled, no longer caring about the rules.


    My massive gray wolf lunged at the <b>door</b>, expecting the ss to shatter under my weight..


    Instead, I bounced off, the impact jarring my skull. The ss clearly not ordinary ss remained intact without even a crack


    The timer on the wall froze at zero, and in that same moment, the lights <b>inside </b>the oven flickered to life with an ominous orange glow. Heat. The oven was activating.


    <b>No</b><b>! </b>


    Skye¡¯s hands flew to her head as the temperature began to rise. I could see beads of sweat already forming on her forehead. Terror unlike anything I¡¯d ever known gripped me. I threw myself against the door again and again, my wolf howling in desperation as blood from <b>my </b>injuries smeared the ss.


    The door to the room burst open, and Ryder rushed in, his eyes widening at the scene before him.


    Without besitation, Ryder joined me, and together we mmed into the oven <b>door</b>. The reinforced ss finally <b>gave </b>way with a shattering <b>crack</b><b>, </b>and I rushed forward to <b>pull </b>Skye from the heat.


    Her skin fell hot to the touch<b>, </b><b>and </b>angry red buchs marked her exposed arms. My wolf whimpered at the sight of her injuries, the scent of burned flesh making my stomach turn.


    I shifted back to human form, heedless of my nakedness, and immediately mind¨Clinked our pack healer.


    Lydia, <b>Skye¡¯s </b>injured, Barne


    De meticubes<b>, </b>I barked at Ryder, who redded


    When be returned momentster with a spare shirt and pants, I dressed quickly, then gathered thye bile my ama


    ¡°letting her go.


    I¡¯m <b>taking </b>you to Lydia,¡± I told ri, my velce leaving on room the argument. Her skin was still too hot against mine, and I could feel hel trevoding d


    By the time we reached the main hall, tron¡¯s team was already there, clustered together in apparent celebration.


    Uron¡¯s eyes widened when he saw Skye in my arms, her burned skin visible despite my attempts in shield her from view


    ¡°What happened to her?¡± he demanded, striding toward un.


    ignoring himpletely, I manched directly to the host, who stand at the center of the hall with his clipboard


    ¡°Why the hell didn¡¯t that forfeit button wink?¡± 1 maled, furytely contained. ¡°You nearly killed her!


    The host¡¯s expression remained neutral<b>, </b>almost bored. ¡°Vini¡¯ne certain you pressed the button? I received no forfeit signal from your team¡±


    I pressed it. Multiple times.¡± My voice dropped dangerously low. ¡°And now my Beta is injured because of your malfunction.¡±


    ¡°I regret the injury to your Beta,¡± he replied, not sounding regretful at all, but I received no forfeit signal. <b>You </b>were all informed before participating that Injuries and even death are possible oues in these trials. We bear no responsibility.


    My wall surged forward<b>, </b>demanding retribution, and I barely kept him contained. <b>Skye¡¯s </b>hand tightened on my arm, grounding me.


    ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± Leon interjected, his tone dripping with mockery. ¡°But why would you peed to forfeit anyway? I specifically told Maya not to tamper with the message before the trial.¡± He turned to me with an arrogant smirk, ¡°Couldn¡¯t figure out your own pack member¡¯s code?


    Maya stepped forward, her <b>eyes </b>gleaming with malice. I just delivered it a few minuteste to make you sweat. I never touched what was inside the envelope. If you¡¯re <b>too </b>stupid to solve a simple puzzle, that¡¯s hardly my fault.¡±


    I stared at her in disbelief ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡±


    Shifting Skye carefully in my arms, I pulled the crumpled paper from my pocket and handed it to Ryder. ¡°Is this your musical notation? Was the <b>code </b>


    Ryder examined the paper, his brow furrowed. ¡°Yes, absolutely. That¡¯s exactly what I drew, and that¡¯s the correct code.¡±


    1 turned <b>back </b><b>to </b>the host. ¡°Something isn¡¯t right. If the code was correct, I should have been able to open the oven. And when I tried to forfeit, the button didn¡¯t work. I want answers.


    For the <b>first </b>time, the host looked troubled. Tll have someone investigate mediately.¡±


    Before he <b>could </b>say more, Elder Selene¡¯s voice echoed through the hall over the speaker system. ¡°All participants, please gather in the main <b>auditorium</b>. The results <b>of </b>the Wisdom Trial will be announced shortly.¡±


    ¡°Go.¡± Skye whispered<b>, </b>her voice pained. Tll be fine with Lydia.¡±


    her to Lydia¡¯s care. I pressed my lips against her forehead. ¡°This isn t over¡±<fn2516> For more chapters visit f?ndnovel</fn2516>


    ¡°Ill be back for <b>you </b><b>as </b>soon <b>as </b>I can, I promised, reluctantly transferring her to


    Ryder and I made our way to the auditorium, my mind <b>racing </b>with suspicions. Something had gone very wrong in that trial room¨Csomething that felt deliberate rather than idental.


    The auditorium buzzed with tension as Elder Selene took the stage. Her ancient eyes swept petoss the gathered Alpha before she unfolded a stroll


    ¡°The following eleven Alphas have sessfullypleted the Wisdom Trial and will advance to the next stage of the Alpha King Election,¡± she announced, her voice carrying throughout the hall.


    Name after name <b>was </b>


    ne was called, each met with cheers from <b>their </b>supporters. I waited, my hands clenching into fists.


    When the eleventh and final name was called -and it an 1 mine ¨C I them with rold certainty that we had heen sabotaged.


    Chapter Comments


    1

 Casts 132

    Skye¡¯s Pow


    <b>lydia¡¯s </b>cool lingits worked methodically mer my burned skin.


    These burns are deeper than I¡¯d like,¡± Lydia murmured. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if they II leave permanent scars.


    I wired <b>as </b>the medicine stung my taw flesh. ¡°It¡¯s just a little


    more worried about whether well advance to the next round.¡±


    My well paced restlessly beneath my skin, rted by both the pain and the uncertainty. She had been siminually quiet during the trial, but now her anxiety matched my ow


    ¡°That over most have been tampered with. How else would the emergency hatton feil? And if your code was correct¡­.


    ¡°It was,¡± I insisted.


    The <b>speakers </b>in the corner of the room crackled to life, interrupting our conversation. Elder Selene¡¯s authoritative nice filled the small space.


    ¡°The following eleven Alphas <b>have </b>sessfullypleted the Wisdom Trial and will <b>advance </b>to the next stage of the Alpha


    a King Election.¡±


    I held my breath as she listed name after name. Alpha Morgan. Alpha <b>Xavier</b>. Alpha Leon. Alpha Rodrigo. More names followed, each one increasing the pressure in my chest.


    was called and Adrian¡¯s wasn¡¯t among them, something snapped inside me.


    When the eleventh name was


    ¡°<b>No</b>¡°¡± I leapt from the examination table, ignoring the sharp


    pain that s


    shot <b>through </b>my arm. ¡°This is wrong! We solved the puzzle!¡±


    ¡°<b>Skye</b><b>, </b>wait!¡± Lydia called, reaching for my half¨C<b>bandaged </b>arm. ¡°Let me finish wrapping your burns <b>at </b>least


    Grudgingly, I allowed her toplete the <b>bandaging</b>, my foot tapping impatiently against the floor as she wrapped both arms in clean white gauze until they resembled ster casts.


    The moment she secured thest bandage, I bolted from the room.


    I could hear Elder Sele¡¯s voice growing louder as I approached. ¡°We congratte our finalists and remind all participants that the third trial will


    This trial was rigged! I shouted, bursting through the double doors


    Every head in the auditorium swiveled toward me.


    Elder Selenes <b>ancient </b>disdain


    eyes narrowed as she took in my disheveled <b>appearance</b>. Wolves from every <b>pack </b>stared, some with shock, others with amusement or


    I caught <b>sight </b>of Adrian standing near the front, his face a mixture of surprise and concern. He moved toward me, but I stepped forward before he could reach me.


    ¡°Alpha Adrian solved the puzzle correctly,¡± I continued, my voice <b>carrying </b>through the stunned silence. The emergency button failed <b>to </b><b>work</b>. Something was deliberately tampered with!!!


    Elder Selene¡¯s voice cut through the murmurs that had begun to rise. ¡°Who <b>are </b><b>you </b>to interrupt these proceedings?¡±


    I straightened my spine. ¡°Im Beta Skye of the Oasistom Pack, and I demand justice for


    for my Alpha.¡±


    The murmurs grew louder. From the corner of my eye, I saw Leon leaning forward in his seat, watching me with an unreadable expression,


    ¡°Oasisbor Pack?¡± someone neered from the <b>back </b>even heard of int


    Another voice joined in: ¡°Losing is losing. Don¡¯t me the equipment when <b>you </b>fail.¡±


    more <b>it </b>with the <b>Council </b>


    Adrian reached me then<b>, </b>bls hand waim against my lower back, ¡°kkyr,¡± he whispered, ¡°ymi should be resting ¡±


    ¡°No, I hime! back. ¡°This isn¡¯t tight, and you know ||


    Elder Selene stadjest os for a long moment before addressing the audience. ¡°This session is adjonened. Finalists, please review your Information <b>packett </b>


    As the crowd began to disperer, many throwing curious nces out way, Elder Selene hickoned us forward Youn,e with me.


    She led us <b>to </b>a private office adorned with ancient wolf artife and genealogy charts. Three other Elders sulted inside, their expressions gre


    For the next twenty minutes, we exined everything¨Cthe dyed message delivery, the correct code confirmed by Ryder, the malfunctioning forfeit button, the oven activating despite reaching zern.


    ¡°Do you have any witnesses besides your men pack members? Elder Selene asked, her fingers steepled beneath her chin.


    ¡°Alpha Leon,¡± I said without hesitation, he was there when Ryder confirmed the code was correct. And you can exantine the oven¨Cit clearly malfunctioned¡±<fneea8> Fresh chapters posted on find~novel</fneea8>


    The Elders exchanged nces before Elder Selene spoke again. ¡°You must understand that we take the integrity of the Alpha King Election very seriously. We will investigate your ims thoroughly and provide a response within three days. However, we¡¯ll need a detailed written ount from both of you by


    As we left the office, my mind raced with frustration and determination. ¡°We need to <b>find </b>Leon,¡± I said. ¡°His testimony could make all the difference.


    Adrian¡¯s jaw lightened. ¡°Having you anywhere near Leon is thest thing I want right now,¡± His <b>eyes </b>softened as they swept over my bandaged arms. ¡°<b>But </b>you¡¯re right. We need him.¡±


    We found Leon at the hotel bar, lounging in a corner booth with a beer in hand. ¡°How amusing,¡± he drawled as we approached. ¡°Why would I help you?¡±


    I slid into


    into the seat across from him, ignoring Adrian¡¯s protective stance beside me. ¡°You should be thrilled, right? One lesspetitor to worry about.¡±


    Lean¡¯s eyes shed. ¡°<b>You </b>think I need Adrian eliminated to win? You¡¯re more naive than I thought.¡±


    Then prove it,¡± 1 challenged. ¡°Tell the truth <b>about </b>what happened <b>today</b>¡±


    Leon took <b>a </b>slow sip of his beer, <b>studying </b>me over the rim. ¡°You know, if I truly didn¡¯t want Adrianpeting, he <b>wouldn¡¯t </b>have made it past the application


    <b>process</b><b>. </b>


    Adrian stiffened beside me. ¡°What are you saying?¡±


    The North American Council rejected your application initially,¡± Leon <b>said </b>casually. ¡°Something about illegitimately iming Cravestone <b>Pack </b>resources. I simply suggested they look more closely <b>at </b>your qualifications.¡±


    ¡°It was you?¡± <b>Adrian¡¯s </b>voice had dropped dangerously low. ¡°We thought Maxwell was behind that.¡±


    Leon¡¯s hand mmed down on the <b>table</b>, beer sloshing over the rim of his ss. ¡°I was protecting the integrity of the election! I didnpeting!


    want a


    rule¨Cbreaker


    Iughed bitterly. ¡°You¡¯re still afraid of <b>losing</b>, just like four years ago.¡±


    <b>His </b>eyes burned into mine for a long moment before he stood, towering over our table. Tine. I¡¯ll give you your statement tonight. But when you advance, I¡¯ll <b>make </b>sure you lose fair and squate in the arena.¡±

 Casts 133

    As tron stormed tway, I exhaled slowly, trying in calm my


    wing heart.


    As we crossed toward the elevators, I spotted Alpha Xavier lounging in noe of the plot armchairs, scrolling thigh his phone.


    when he nced up and now us, a saddle spread across his face. He stood, pocketing his


    ¡°Congrattions on making it to the finals, Alpha Xavier¡® I offered, trying to sound sincere despite my frustration.


    Xavier shrugged. ¡°Just lucky, I guess. The spy in my game tuned out in he a fan.


    ¡°Linck is part of strength,¡± I replied.


    His expression turned more serious as he looked at my bandaged arms. I heard about what happened. Thats some seriously messed up shit


    turned to Adrian. For what it¡¯s worth, I think the Elders will make this right. I look forward to facing you in the next round.


    ¡°Count on it.


    As Xavier walked away, I couldn¡¯t help wondering if we¡¯d found <b>an </b>ally or just anotherpetitor ying a more subtle game.


    Once inside our room, Adrian carefully locked the door behind us before turning to <b>me </b>with concern etched across his features.


    ¡°Let me see those bandages,¡± he said softly.


    sat on the edge of the bed as he knelt before me, gently unwrapping the gauze from my arms. His touch was feather¨Clight, but I still winced when the air Hot boy raw skin.


    ¡°They restarting to heal,¡± he murmured, examining the bams. ¡°The redness is failing a little.¡±


    As he applied fresh ointment and rewrapped my arms with <b>clean </b>bandages, <b>his </b>jaw tightened,


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Skye. I should have protected you better. I never should have let you enter that damn oven.¡±


    This isn¡¯t your fault.¡± I insisted ¡°We couldn¡¯t have <b>known</b>.


    1, but you¡¯re the


    one who got hurt.¡± His hands stilled on my bandages. ¡°<b>Whoever </b>


    ¡°Maya warned you that someone wanted to eliminate me in the second trial, but is behind this, <b>I </b>swear I find out.¡±


    I frowned, thinking about <b>Maya¡¯s </b>cryptic warning.


    ¡°Do you think Maya was lying? Maybe she <b>was </b>trying to mislead <b>us </b>from the start?¡±


    I couldn¡¯t imagine what <b>she </b>would gain from <b>such </b>deception, but nothing about <b>this </b>situation made sense.


    ¡°But whos palling the strings here?¡±


    Adrian finished securing my bandage, then stood, pulling <b>me </b>gently to my feet. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it tonight. What you need now in rest.


    In one smooth motion, he lifted me into his arms, cradling me against his chest.


    <b>¡°</b><b>And </b><b>a </b><b>proper </b>shower,¡± he added with <b>a </b><b>small </b>smile. Let me take care of <b>you </b>tonight.¡±


    <b>My </b>wolf purred with contentment as I rxed against him, allowing


    gmyself this moment of vulnerability.


    <b>1/3 </b>


    The thrill ring of my phone johol me awake the next morning.


    ¡°I <b>fumbled </b>for the device on the nightstand, wincing when I identally stretch


    The disy showed an unfamiliar number.


    my inbred sim


    Hoping It might be news from the Council about their investigation, I quickly answered.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    You wanted a statement. I¡¯ve written . Leon¡¯s deep voice sent an unwee shock through my system. My wilf instantly stirred, alext and agitated,


    I sat bolt upright, forgetting my inimy, ¡°111e get it right away


    Pain shot through my arm, and I hissed involuntarily.


    Don¡¯t bother. I¡¯m already downstairs in front of your bestel.¡±


    I moved to the window and pulled the curtainside, sleek ck Porsche was parked directly below, and there was Leon, leaning against it with his phone pressed to his eat.


    Even from this distance, his presencemanded attention. A group of young women passing by turned their <b>heads </b>to stare at him, giggling among themselves


    If I didn¡¯t know what a jerk he could be, I might have found myself staring too.


    ¡°wait there. I¡¯ll be down in a minute,¡± I said, ending the <b>call</b>.


    t


    Adrian wasn¡¯t in the room¨Che always woke earlier than me, I carefully changed into a <b>loose </b>t¨Cshirt, trying not to disturb my bandages, and made my way downstairs.


    Leon straightened as I approached<b>, </b>his eyes immediately going to my bandaged arms. He <b>looked </b>infuriatingly good in dark jeans that emphasized his broad shoulders.


    ¡°Alpha Lean,¡± 1 greeted formally, keeping my <b>distance</b>.


    ¡°Here. He handed me a sealed envelope.


    I took it, surprised at how quickly he¡¯d prepared it. ¡°Thank <b>you</b>.¡±


    and a fitted gray henley


    I lips curved into a smirk. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. I¡¯m not doing this to help you. I just want your boyfriend to lose hair <b>and </b>square, His voice hardened. ¡°Someone like <b>him </b>shouldn¡¯t have been allowed topete in the first ce.¡±


    My gratitude evaporated instantly.


    Leon¡¯s gaze lingered on my injured arms, his brow furrowing<fnf763> Newest update provided by findnovel</fnf763>


    Why aren¡¯t those healing properly? You¡¯ve shifted now, haven¡¯t you? Your self¨Chealing abilities should be stronger<b>.</b>¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re getting better,¡± I replied stiffly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t affect your chances in the election.¡±


    I knew that even though Leon had never marked me, our mate <b>bond </b>still existed on some level. My injuries could potentially affect him, however slightly, and that knowledge made me ufortable.


    <b>¡°</b><b>Skye</b>.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s voice came from behind me. I turned to see his approaching. Without hesitation, he remused his jacket and draped it over my shoulders.


    ¡°You¡¯re wearing too little, you ll catch a cold,¡± he murmured, his hand lingering prodectively at my


    I handed him the envelope. ¡°Alpha Leon heought his statement.


    Adrian regarded Leen coolly. Thank you?


    ¡°Dont you have a pinpei doctor looking after her? Leon asked, his tone usatory. ¡°If not, I could take her back in my noite. My pack physitien should examine those lepas.¡±


    Adn¡¯s arms slid around my waist, drawing me closer to his side.


    That won¡¯t be necessary.


    Leen nced


    ced up at the hotel behind me, his expression openly disdainful.


    ¡°You¡¯re staying here? This dump? His gaze swept over the cacked signs and faded walls. ¡°If you can¡¯t afford the election, don¡¯t show up at all.¡±


    He stepped closer. ¡°Come on. I¡¯m <b>taking </b>you somewhere better.¡±


    I stiffened. ¡°It¡¯s quiet here. We¡¯re fine.¡±


    Adrian moved between us in a <b>sh</b>. ¡°I appreciate your statement. But take one more step, and I won¡¯t stay polite.¡±


    The air shifted¨Cthick with challenge. Leon¡¯s <b>jaw </b>clenched, his eyes narrowing.


    ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± he asked, voice low.


    ¡°I¡¯m promising.¡± Adrian replied,


    They stood just feet apart, tension crackling like lightning. My wolf tensed, ready for the sh.


    1 stepped between them, forcing a smile. ¡°This hotel has amazing coffee. The owner grinds it herself every morning. Leon, you want to try some?¡±


    Leon <b>looked </b>at me like I¡¯d lust my mind.


    ¡°I didn¡¯te here for coffee.¡±


    ??


    ¡°No, but maybe you should sit down before you <b>say </b>something you¡¯ll regret,¡± I said softly.


    Chapter Comments


    1

 Casts 134

    Chapter <b>134 </b>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    Le?e¡¯s gare was sharp, his eyes unitoring as if trying in cat themigh my defenses. ¡°Wicht egret,¡± he said, wo <b>to </b>help <b>you</b>.


    Before I could respond, his hand shot out and gripped my


    and i nouldn¡¯t suppress the small grip that escaped my lips


    -tight where the skin was still tender and cur beneath my sleeve. Pain jnfred up my shoulder


    Adrian moved before I could blink. A low, threatening growl rumbled from deep in his chest as he stepped forward, every muscle coiled


    Leon¡¯s face shifted. His expression, once edged with initation, falleret. For a heartbeat, he looked stunned¨Calmost guilty.


    He let go abruptly, his hand dropping to his side like it had betrayed Him. A silence stretched between us, awkward and hear


    Then, without looking me in the eye, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small jar of pale, golden cream. He extended it to me stiffly, as if offering a weapon rather than medicine,


    ¡°This is for healing scars,¡± he said tly. Then, as if needing to rify, he added, then asked me to bring it to you


    The mention of my brother <b>struck </b>something tender in me. Ethan¨Calways thinking of me, even now,


    My fingers brushed the cool ss of the jar as I took it, but before I could say a word, Leon turned sharply.


    Heyanked open his car door.


    ¡°Wait!¡± I called, stepping forward. ¡°How <b>is </b>Ethan? 1 beard he was injured yesterday.¡±


    Leon paused, one foot inside the <b>car</b>. He nced hack over <b>his </b>shoulder, jew tight. ¡°Ethan is my Beta. I wouldn¡¯t let anything happen to him.¡±


    His eyes slid past me to Adrian. His voice turned hard again. ¡°Before I be Alpha King, take care of my mate properly.¡±


    With that, he climbed into the Porsche and mmed the door. The engine mared to life, tires screeching as he sped <b>away</b><b>. </b>


    Adrian was still tense beside me, his fists clenched at his sides. I reached out <b>and </b><b>gently </b>touched his arm.


    ¡°Let¡¯s take the statement to Elder Selene,¡± I said softly.


    Elder Selene¡¯s office smelled faintly of old parchment andvender oil. The atmosphere was calm, but undercut with tension.


    ¡°After a thorough examination,¡± she began, her voice formal but tinged with regret, ¡°we¡¯ve determined that the oven¡¯s control wires were <b>damaged </b>by rodents. The code you entered was correct, which means Alpha Adrian has officially passed the second trial. I¡¯ll make the announcement shortly.¡±


    Adrian stood tall, but I could feel the anger radiating off him.


    ¡°Why


    hy wasn¡¯t the equipment inspected beforehand?¡± he asked tightly.


    ¡°They were,¡± Selene said, sighing. ¡°The staff checked all devices the night before. No faults were found. No one anticipated rats chewing through wiring. It was<b>¡­ </b>a tragic coincidence.¡±


    Ryder, who had been pacing nearby like a caged woll, exploded. ¡°Coincidence? Skye <b>nearly </b><b>died </b>in there! You call that an ident?¡±


    ¡°Every triales with its own dangers.¡± Selene <b>replied </b>coolly. <b>¡°</b>You all epted those risks by entering the election. However, the oversight is ours. The staff involved will be disciplined.¡±


    ¡°I want to speak to the person who inspected that o


    oven<b>,</b>¡± Adrian said.


    ¡°He¡¯s already been dismissed,¡± Selene answered. ¡°But I can give you bls contact information. I hope you¡¯re not seeking revenge. As I said, we believe this simply an ident.¡±


    I stepped forward, my y voice calm. ¡°Thank you, Elder Selene. We won¡¯t pursue trondile. We¡¯re just d the truth came to fight,¡±


    meint it.<ol><li>Adrian staying in the race meant everything. The pain in my arms was a small price to pay.</li></ol>


    ¡°Bat¡ª¡± Ryder started, only to stop when I gave his arm a gentle squeeze..


    Lydia, who had been silently observing the entire exchange, suddenly spoke. ¡°May I examine the damaged oven?


    Elder Selene¡¯s brow furrowed slightly at the request, clearly displeased with <b>Lydia¡¯s </b>implied mistrust, but she nodded.


    ¡°Of course. This way<b>.</b>¡±<fnc19e> The source of th?s content is find?novel</fnc19e>


    The scent of burnt <b>metal </b>


    al <b>and </b>soot still lingered in the testing room, clinging to the walls like ghosts. As we stepped into the room, my breath caught.


    The scorched remains of the oven stood in silent usation, ckened and broken, I could still remember the searing heat, the panic as the door refused to open, the air bing smoke¨Cthick <b>and </b><b>deadly</b>.


    Safe now. With you. My wolf¡¯s voice was a whisper in my mind, trying to soothe me.<ul><li>he</li></ul>


    Adrian must have sensed it. His arm wrapped protectively around my waist, pulling me close. ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± he murmured against my hair.


    Lydia approached the oven without hesitation. Her movements were clinical<b>, </b><b>eyes </b>scanning <b>every </b><b>detail</b>. Her fingers brushed the damaged wires.


    ¡°Definitely bite <b>marks</b>,¡± she said after <b>a </b>long <b>moment</b>. ¡°Not clean cuts. The instion¡¯s been gnawed.¡±


    Elder Selene crossed her arms. ¡°Exactly. As I exined.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it really was just an ident,¡± I offered <b>softly</b>, half to reassure myself.


    But Lydia didn¡¯t answer right away. She lifted the frayed <b>wire </b>close to her face and inhaled. Her brow furrowed.


    ¡°There¡¯s honey on these wires.¡±


    The words dropped <b>like </b><b>a </b>stone into


    o still water. The silence that followed was deafening.


    Honey


    Not something that just happens <b>to </b>end up on electrical equipment. But the perfect <b>lure </b>for rats.


    My heart slowed in my chest, then kicked into a harder rhythm.


    Someone had wanted those wires chewed. Someone had turned an ident <b>into </b><b>a </b>weapon.


    ¡°This wasn¡¯t an <b>ident </b><b>at </b>all,¡± Lydia said grimly.


    <b>Chapter </b>Comments


    POST COMMENT NOW


    Crowned by Fate


    Chapter <b>135 </b>

 Casts 135

    Skye¡¯s POV


    Adrian walked around the room, yes scanning every cornes,


    ¡°These moms arepletely empty.¡± he said, running his hand along the pristine wills, ¡°Nothing here. No food, no waste¨Cnotructly the kind of environment where rats would naturally gather,¡±


    1 crossed my arms, careful not to imitate my healing burns. ¡°You think someone deliberately nted rats here?¡±


    Ryder scratched his head, perplexed. His <b>usually </b>carefree expression had given way to genuine concern. ¡°Bot who would go through all that trouble? If it¡¯s <b>a </b>rival pack, why specifically target ? Compared to some of the centuries¨Cold wolf packs, were hardly the biggest therat.¡±


    Adrian shook his head, his jaw tightening. I¡¯m not certain but until we know the truth, everyone needs to stay alert.¡±


    Elder Selene¡¯s normally serene face had hardened into something cold and distant. The air around her practically crackled with displeasure as she stepped forward


    ¡°<b>You¡¯re </b>all overthinking this,¡± she said, her once warn voice now brittle. ¡°Every trial phase is strictly monitored by Council staff. The suggestion that someone could deliberately sabotage the equipment is¡­ imusible at best.¡±


    I didn¡¯t miss the change in her demeanor. Our discovery was essentially questioning the Council¡¯s authority andpetence¨Csomething that clearly didn¡¯t sit well with her.<fn2bc2> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn2bc2>


    Lydia knelt beside the damaged oven, her scared face unreadable as the examined the evidence. ¡°May I take some photographs? And preserve the wire


    Elder Selene sped her hands behind her back, her posture stiffening further. ¡°Do as you wish. But I believe you¡¯re wasting valuable <b>time </b>time that would be better spent preparing for the next trial,¡±


    I stepped forward<b>, </b>choosing my words carefully. ¡°The North American Council operates independently of all packs, beyond the authority of any Alpha. I haveplete faith in the Council¡¯s rigor and fairness, especially under your management, Elder Selene.¡±


    ¡®Soothe the ego before it bes an enemy, my wolf whispered.


    by ttery worked. Elder Selene¡¯s expression softened slightly, the severe lines around her mouth rxing.


    <b>¡°</b><b>You¡¯re </b>a level¨Cheaded Beta, she said with a nod <b>of </b>approval. ¡°If you ever tire of your current position, you might consider work with the North American Wolf Council. We value analytical minds.¡±


    ¡°<b>Thank </b>you for the generous offer,¡± I replied, genuinely touched despite the circumstances. I¡¯m honored you would consider me


    After Lydia had collected her evidence, we left the testing facility, the weight of suspicion following us like a <b>shadow</b>.


    <b>Back </b>at our small hotel, we were greeted by streamers, <b>balloons</b>, and champagne, Alpha Xavier was waiting for us, practically bouncing with excitement.


    ¡°Congrattions!¡± he beamed, popping open a bottle of champagne that sprayed foam everywhere. ¡°The Council just made the official announcement ¨CAlpha Adrian has passed the <b>second </b>trial and will <b>advance </b>to the next phase! I had to throw together a little celebration,¡±


    The tension we¡¯d been carrying seemed to melt away <b>as </b>our small <b>pack </b>filled the lobby Ryder <b>whooped </b>loudly, <b>pping </b>Adrian on the back. Even Lydia¡¯x serious face had softened into a <b>rare </b>smile


    a <b>tray </b>of freshly baked cookies that filled the room with the smell of vani and chooniate.


    Our elderlyndy appeared from the kitchen, carrying <b>a </b>tray


    ¡°These are still warm, dears,¡± she said, offering g the tray around. ¡°Nothing celebrates good news like homemade cookies.¡±


    <b>She </b>turned to Adrian with a grandmotherly smile. ¡°Who knows? This year¡¯s Alpha King might just emerge from my little hotel! Wouldn¡¯t that be something


    to tell the grandkids?¡±


    After an hour of eelebration, I slipped away in hur room, needing a moment of quiet. The day¡¯s events¨Cthe instigation, Elder Selene¡¯s reaction, and now this impromptu party¨Chad left me mentally exhausted. I¡¯d just started reorganizing our supplies for the next trial when my phone buzzed


    My mother¡¯s name on the screen sent an unexpected wave of homesickness through me.


    <b>¡°</b><b>Skye</b>? Sweetheart, are you alright?¡± Her voice was strained with worry


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mom,¡± I said, trying to sound casual. I hadn¡¯t told her about my <b>injuries</b>, not wanting to worry her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me, youngdy<b>. </b>I know about the ident.¡±


    My heart sank. ¡°How did you ¨C


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter,¡± she cut me off. Thispetition is too dangerous. Ithan <b>was </b>hurt yesterday, and now you. I can¡¯t bear the thought of losing both my children to this¡­ this political game.¡±


    I moved to the window, lowering <b>my </b>voice. ¡°Did Leon tell you about me?


    The brief silence on the other end confirmed my suspicion. No one else would have informed her about my injuries


    ¡°Alpha Leon is concerned <b>about </b>you, Skye,¡± she finally said, her <b>tone </b>softening. ¡°He told me¡­ he told me he¡¯s your Second Chance Mate.¡±


    Of course he did. <b>I </b>suppressed <b>a </b>sigh.


    ¡°Listen to me, sweetheart,¡± she continued, her voice taking on <b>that </b>persuasive quality I knew too well. If you just apologized to Alpha Leon, asked <b>for </b>his forgiveness, he would take you back. <b>You </b>have your voll now¨Cthat¡¯s all he ever wanted<b>.</b>¡±


    The old wound reopened, raw and painful.


    give him strong heirs?¡± My


    ¡°Mom! Have you forgotten how he rejected me publicly? How he was <b>ready </b><b>to </b><b>take </b>a Breeder <b>because </b>he feared I couldn¡¯t give trembled with barely contained emotion. ¡°I will never apologize to him.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes a woman <b>needs </b>to be patient, more


    more <b>understanding- </b>


    ¡°I can¡¯t do that, Mom, I interrupted firmly


    Her sigh was heavy with resignation. Im not trying to control your life, Skye, I just mass you, I want you back with <b>us </b>at Frostshadow <b>Pack</b><b>, </b>surrounded by


    Fundy. The word echoed in my chest.


    Despite everything, I missed them too¨Cthe familiar forests, my fathers deepugh, Ethan¡¯s protective presence, even my


    my mother¡¯s overbearing concern.


    But when I looked around at the small house where Adrian and <b>our </b>pack had gathered, I recognized another kind of family


    <b>One </b>I¡¯d chosen.


    ¡°I miss you too,¡± I admitted, my voice softening. ¡°But I have my own life now. I something <b>here</b>,¡±

 Casts 136

    kies


    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


    ¦°¦¥¦±¦©


    ¡°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¨Cconsciously. ¡°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¨Clength <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¨Cconsensation 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¨Cor 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.

 Casts 137

    The moment Adrian and i trek and start at with their chosenpanions, an MINY


    Bang banger note. 1 hoping me


    meson., Alphins from all options at the


    Alphe King Thomas tree from his vest at the head of de naam,manding inmeta nempt back in reveal a face etched with bath wisdom and ruthlessMALE


    stood tall and beet chersidered, his call and


    The evirmenisi medallion of the Alphe kine gleamed kesinti


    abeat, catching the light


    For a brief moment, I found myself pictoring Addan wearing that medallion, standing tall


    ¡°Distinguished Alphas, his deep voive resonated through the hall, I congratte each of you in mrviving the moond nial.¡± (Pr eyes, chara at a predators, veeps across the room. Your strength, cunning, and determination have brought you this for¨Cbut the fear test


    we feast as mals, as brothers and sisters of the moon.¡±


    He mised his crystal ss. To the future of our kind, to the strength of our packs, and to the worthy Alpha who will next wee


    I took a small sip of the champagne, thankful when servers began bringing out the first course.


    I took a small sip of the champagne, thankful when servers began bringing out the first course. Leon satdiretly across from me. mine. The less I had to speak<b>, </b>the better.


    Adrian leaned closer, Try the smoked salmon, he murmured, serving <b>a </b>portion onto my te before I could respond it¡¯s excellent


    Throughout the first course, Adrian continued his attentive care<b>¨C</b>cutting my venison into perfect bite¨Csized pieces, ensuring my wine ss and filled, his fingers asionally brushing mine in reassurance.


    ¡°How domestic,¡± a melodic female voicemented from my other side. I turned to find a striking woman with copper colored hair and calcting eyes watching us with amusement. ¡°Alpha Adrian personally cutting <b>his </b>Beta¡¯s <b>meat</b>. How¡­ naval¡±


    the first trial.


    I recognized her immediately¨CAlpha Morgan of the Cascade Pack, the woman who had warned me at theke during the


    She was the only female Alpha present at tonight¡¯s banquet, with her Beta, a middle¨Caged man, sitting respectfully beside her.


    ¡°Alpha Morgan,¡± I acknowledged with a polite <b>nad</b>.


    Her lips curled into <b>a </b>knowing smile. ¡°You two certainly <b>don¡¯t </b>behave like a typical Alpha and Beta. When I saw you dive into thatke after <b>him </b>during the first trial, I knew there was more between you then <b>pack </b>hierarchy.¡±


    you for your warning that day,¡± I said, <b>genuinely </b>gratefull despite my embarrassment. ¡°I didn¡¯t realer who you were then


    Thank you f


    Morgan waved <b>a </b>dismissive hand. I simply hate to see any young, beautiful girl in danger.¡± Morgan looked at Adrian, then turned back to me. ¡°Is he your


    1 shifted ufortably under her perceptive gaze,


    Weir Famil


    family,¡± <b>I </b>answered her question, acutely aware that


    could hear every word.


    The word family felt safe¨Ctrue in its own way without revealing too much. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to call Adrian my mate <b>or </b>lover with Loun sitting <b>directly </b>across from us, the mate bond between us thrumthing <b>like </b>a taut wire despite my efforts to ignore it


    Adrian, however, <b>had </b>no such reservations. He and <b>actuss </b>me, <b>his </b>amber eyes meeting Morgan¡¯s with unwavering confidence.


    <b>¡°</b><b>Skye </b>is my future Luna,¡± he stated firmly, his <b>hand </b>seitling possessively on my lower <b>back</b><b>. </b>


    The temperature around our section of the table seemed to drop sermal degrees. I didn¡¯t need to <b>look </b>up to feel Lean¡¯s fury¨Cit crashed against my consciousness through <b>our </b>bond like waves <b>against </b>a clif.


    <b>1/3 </b><ol><li>The knife in bis hand bent Flightly under his grip.</li></ol>


    ¡°Khitan,¡± I mormored, ting my hand on his mm. ¡°My as are healing well. You dos i need ne fin over m? so much. ¡°


    <b>The </b>Bath of hurt in his eyes made my chest constrict, but I couldn¡¯t tisk <b>a </b>confrontatie between him and Leon.


    Not <b>herr </b>


    Alpha Morgan¡¯s gare darted betieren ut and Leon, her expression shifting in one of delighted realization.


    ¡°Oh my,¡± she chuckled softly. ¡°The plot thickens. A Lima imed by one Alpha while honded to another? You¡¯re going to make this election very <b>Skye </b>Anderson.¡±


    Across the table, Maya ced a perfectly cut piece of sainton on Leon¡¯s te, leaning close to him


    ¡°Your favorite<b>, </b>she purred.


    Leon didn¡¯t even nce at the offering, his eyes boring into mine with an intensity that made my wolf whine in distress.


    Maya followed his <b>gaze </b>to me, her expression morphing into <b>one </b><b>of </b>pure hatred.<fn64bf> Readplete version only at F?ndNovel</fn64bf>


    I leaned toward <b>Adrian</b>, my lips nearly touching his ear.


    ¡°I told you we shouldn¡¯t havee


    After dinner came the dancing. <b>Crystal </b>chandeliers dimmed to create an intimate atmosphere <b>as </b><b>a </b>small orchestra began <b>ying</b>.


    ir and extended his <b>hand </b>to me


    Adrian rose from his chair


    ¡°Dance with me,


    I hesitated, looking at <b>his </b>outstretched hand. ¡°I should <b>warn </b>you¨Cduring those years I wandered, I worked a lot of <b>jobs</b><b>. </b>Bartender, waitress, men bouncer once. But never a <b>dancer </b>


    His smile, warm and reassuring, made my heart Batter. Til teach your<b>¡± </b>


    Before I could protest further, he led <b>me </b>to the dance floor, positioning one of my hands on his shoulder while his own settled at my waist. his palm burned through the <b>thin </b>fabric of my dress.


    ¡°Just follow my lead, he whispered, beginning to move with confident <b>grace</b>.


    The warmth of


    For someone so physically powerful, Adrian <b>moved </b>with surprising elegance. His steps were <b>precise</b><b>, </b>guiding me effortlessly across the floor until I began to rx into the rhythm<b>. </b>


    ¡°You¡¯re really good at this, I admitted, impressed by his skill.


    *Required course at the Alpha Heir Academy,¡± he exined with a slight smile. ¡°Before my father died, I was being groomed as Alpha. Dancing<b>, </b><b>diplomacy</b>, even proper dining etiquette¨Call part of the curriculum.¡°


    The mention of his father brought a shadow across his features. I squeezed his <b>hand </b>gently.


    ¡°He would be proud of you,¡® I said softly. ¡°Sering the Alpha youve be, the pack you¡¯ve built¨Cbe¡¯d be so proud<b>, </b>Adrian.¡±


    The music swelled around us as Adrian pulled me closer, his cheek resting again my temple. For a moment, we moved <b>as </b>one, forgetting the politics, the ¡ª trials, and the watching eyes. Just Adrian <b>and </b>me, swaying to the music.


    Then Alpha King Thomas¡¯s voice broke through the <b>spell</b>.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen,¡± he announced, ¡®bu mut next disce, I invite you all to exchange partners. Tonight we are not riests but friends catetrating out shared heritage. Please, select a new partner for this next walte


    Adrian grip on my waist tightened momentarily before he reluctantly stepped back


    1 nced around nervously, spotting Leon making his way toward me with determined strides. My heart hammered in my chest¨CI wasnt ready mnfrontation.


    Before Leen could reach the, however, an older man with silver streaked dark halt and familiar amber eyes intercepted me,


    ¡°May I have this dance, Ms. Anderson? Maxwell¡¯s polished voice held no room for refusal,

 Casts 138

    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POW


    From the ner of my rye, I Adrian¡¯s mother approaching her sem, het hand on his arm as she whispered something in his eat.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± she called ba me. ¡°I just need a moment with Adrian.¡±


    I turned back to Maxwell, whose expression remained pleasantly nestral as he extended his fund.


    With no graceful way to refuse, I epted, allowing <b>Adn¡¯s </b>uncle to lend me away from where Leon stond frozen, his expression darkening further.


    ¡®I remember you now, Maxwell said as we began to dance, is movements were precise butcked Adrian¡¯s natural fluidity. ¡°You¡¯re that girl from Frontshadow Pack four years ago¡ªthe one without a wolf, Hlow extraordinary to find you with my nephew, Fate his tunious ways, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    1 maintained a cold smile. Speaking of curious ways, arent you supposed to be finding a suitable Breeder for Alpha Leon? How¡¯s that project pring?


    Maxwells eyebrow quicked upward. ¡°I abd find an excellent female warrior for the role. Unfortunately, she ran away with Adrian.¡±


    My stop faltered. ¡°Nadia<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    The four¨Cyear¨Cold wound reopened instantly. Nadia, Adrian¡¯s loyal Beta who <b>had </b><b>fled </b>Stormhowl Pack with him. The only exnation for Maxwell¡¯s wants.


    He confirmed with <b>a </b>slight nod. The very same. I notice she¡¯s not herepeting. Did she not join you for this momentous asion?


    Grief and anger twisted together in my chest. She¡¯s dead.¡±


    ¡°A¡± Marwells expression held no genuine remorse. ¡°Unsurprising. Adrian has always been too <b>soft </b>to properly protect his women<b>, </b>which brings me to a proposition that might interest <b>you</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>¡°</b>What proposition?¡± I asked, struggling to keep my voice steady as memories of Nadia flooded through me.


    He twirled me under his arm before continuing. ¡°You could convince Adrian to return to Stormbowl Pack. If he helps me secure the Alpha King position, I guarantee his ce as my heir. He would remain the future Alpha of our ancestral pack¡±


    I missed a step.


    I stared at him, disgusted by <b>his </b><b>casual </b>maniption. ¡°And why would I help you?¡±<fn90f5> The rightful source is f?ndnovel</fn90f5>


    ¡°Because, my dear, whether you¡¯re Adrian¡¯s Luna <b>or </b>not, you clearly want what¡¯s best for him. And returning to his birthright is <b>far </b>better than dying for some desert nusis that no wolf <b>should </b>call home.¡±


    I finally understood Maxwell¡¯s purpose in exchanging dance partners.


    My gaze drifted to where Adrian stood with his mother across the room. Her expression was rarest, her hands sped around her son¡¯s as she spoke. I <b>had </b>lile doubt she was delivering the same proposal.


    ¡°Adrian would <b>never </b>agree to your shameless request,¡± I said, shaking my head firmly. ¡°He <b>knows </b>exactly what you are.¡±


    Maxwells pleasant mask slipped, revealing the cold calction beneath.


    ¡°You survived the oven incident by sheer luck. Perhaps next time, <b>you </b>won¡¯t find escape so easy!¡±


    My blood ran cold. ¡°The oven door that


    hat wouldn¡¯t open<b>¨C</b>w


    1¨Cwas that your doing?¡±


    Maxwell¡¯s!


    Laugh was


    was <b>soft </b>and chillingt


    ¡°I hardly need such crude methods to eliminate threats. If I wanted Adrian dead<b>, </b>I would have executed him when he betrayed Stormhowl four years <b>ago</b>. I wouldn¡¯t put <b>his </b>mother through that


    <b>1/2 </b>


    <b>¡°</b>Betrayed?¡± 1 <b>challenged</b>, <b>my </b>voice rising despite my efforts to remain re, ¡°Wein: it you who Selrayed him? You rate whart.


    Maxwell¡¯s fingers suddenly dog into my arm, his grip palofully tight. ¡°Mind your winds, be warned, his voler dropping to a dancer speaking to an Alpha.¡°


    I <b>bit </b>back a gasp of pain, refleting to give him the satisfaction.


    The pressure of his fingers would leave bruises, but I maintained eye contact, refusing to look <b>away </b>until the music finally ended.


    As the dance concluded, Adrian appeared at my side, his face a careful mask that didn¡¯t quite hide the tension in his jaw


    He nodded curtly to his uncle before leading me away from the dance floor.


    ¡°What did Maxwell tell you?¡± he <b>asked </b>once we were safely away from listening ears.


    He wants me to convince you to abandon the election,¡± I exined, epting a flute of champagne from a passing serve. ¡°Return Oasisbon Pack to Stormbowels control. In exchange, he promises that once he bes Alpha King, you¡¯ll inherit leadership of Stormhow Pack.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s eyes searched mine. ¡°And what do you think of his offer?¡±


    ¡°I told him to go to hell,¡± I replied without hesitation


    The smile that spread across Adrian¡¯s <b>face </b>made my heart skip.


    ¡°Thank you for standing with me,¡± he <b>said </b>softly, clinking his ss against mine.


    After two sses of champagne, the tension in my shoulders had finally begun to wise.


    ¡°I <b>need </b>to use the restroom,¡± I told Adrian, who nodded and promised to wait for me.


    <b>tou </b>


    The hallway outside the ballroom <b>was </b>mercifully quiet after the noise and pressure of the banquet. I took my time, savoring the brief solitude before heading <b>back</b>.


    As I emerged from the restroom, the sharp scent of alcohol hit me before I saw him. Leon stood in the hallway, his tall frame leaning against the wall, his eyes ssy with drink but focused intently on me. I attempted to <b>walk </b>past without acknowledging him, but he pushed away from the wall, blocking my path.


    The scent of whiskey clings <b>to </b>him <b>like </b><b>a </b>second skin, my wolf observed with disapproval.


    The mate bond between <b>us </b>pulsed with ufortable awareness as he stood silently before me, his presence impossible to ignore.


    <b>¡°</b><b>Skye</b>,¡± he finally spoke.

 Casts 139

    <b>Chapter </b><b>139 </b>


    <b>Sky¡¯s </b>For


    I took two steps back, perving myself against


    against the wall as Leon¡¯s imposing figure blocked my path. The hallway suddenly felt too narrow, to continNG


    ¡°Alpha Leon, you¡¯re drunk,¡± I said firmly, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rapid heating of my heart.


    Leen scoffed, standing straighter as if to prove me wrong.


    The the Alpha of Frostshadow Pack. How could I possibly be drunk?¡±


    I go find Maya to take you back to your hotel,¡± I offered, attempting in slide past hi


    He moved with surprising speed for someone intoxicated, his arm shording out to block my excape, effectively pinning me against the wall. His other <b>hand </b>nted firmly beside my head, caging me in.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere,¡± he grundel


    Before I could protest, Leon grabbed my arm, pushing up my sleeve.


    ¡°Did you use it?¡± <b>he </b>demanded, examining my skin. ¡°The healing salve I gave you¨Cdid you apply it?¡±


    Ifrate, ddenly remembering how he¡¯d imed the medicine came from Ethan. Had it been from Leon himself all along?


    122


    I answered cautiously, not wanting to provoke him further. ¡°I used it. Thank you. Now, will you please let go of my arm?¡±


    Instead of releasing me, Lean moved closer, his fingers traveling up to <b>grasp </b>my neck. Not choking, but firmly holding as he tilted my head to examine the <b>skin </b>there.


    I shoved against his chest. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Checking to see if you¡¯ve broken our agreement,¡± he replied, his eyes narrowing as they scanned my neck. ¡°You promised me that <b>during </b>the election, <b>you </b>wouldn¡¯t have sex with him or allow him to mark you.¡±


    ¡°I havent vited our agreement,¡± I <b>sapped</b>. ¡°You, on the other hand¨C1 could report you for sexual harassment right now.¡±


    Leon¡¯s grip loosened, but <b>his </b><b>lips </b><b>curved </b>into an amused smile that made <b>my </b>stomach clench.


    ¡°Sexual harassment? He chuckled darkly. ¡°<b>Don¡¯t </b>forget, <b>Skye</b>, <b>you¡¯re </b>still my mate. Anything I do to you is perfectly within my rights.¡±


    His fingers shifted to grasp my chin, tilting my face up toward his.


    I should have fought harder, should have <b>twisted </b>away and fled. But something inexplicable happened when his skin touched mine.


    Instead of <b>revulsion</b>, I felt a flicker of¡­ desire?


    My wolf numbled with contentment in my mind, practically purring at <b>his </b>proximity.


    No, I told myself firmly. This is wrong.


    I gathered my <b>resolve </b>to push <b>him </b>away, but before I <b>could </b><b>act</b>, Leon <b>bent </b><b>down </b>and pressed his lips <b>against </b>mine.


    My eyes widened in shock, my body froen in ce by the unexpected assault. The mate¨Cbond between red to life, sending warmth cascading through my verta <b>against </b>my will.


    <b>kyr </b>


    Adrian¡¯s voice cut through the baze like a knife.


    Deer Leon¡¯s shoulder, I usotted him standing several yards away, bis elporssion shifting repofly from surprise to anderen age


    My brat biched with pani


    I struggled again Leon with renewed strength, but to my horror, he pulled me closet into an embrare. There was on mittaking the deliberate chailenge di his actions ¨C he was intentionally provoking Adrian


    In a blen of moties, Adrian chased the distance between them. His fist monnected wi


    om a jaw with a sickening reack, the force finally separating un


    He wiped a trickle of blood from his fip, looking almost antidiet.


    tron telesed me leisurely, as if he had 1 just been punched in the


    Adrian struck again, his next blow aimed at Leon¡¯s stomach.


    ¡°You fucking bastard,¡± he snarled<b>, </b>tage contorting his features


    ¡°Skye is my mate.¡± ¡°Leon replied with infuriating calmness. Besides, she wasn¡¯t exactly fighting me off. In fact, the seemed to be enjoying ¡° to me with calcted shoe. ¡°Wereist vesi, Skyr


    Fury boiled<fn4769> Find the newest release on F¦Énd£Îovel</fn4769>


    inside


    me at his maniption.


    ¡°How dare you twist things like that?¡± I shouted. ¡°You forced yourself on met


    Adrian pulled me away from Leon, positioning himself protectively between us. Before I could stop him, he lunged forward again.


    This c


    time, Leon was ready. He blocked Adrian¡¯s strike and countered with one of his own. Within seconds, they were locked in a violent struggle, trading blows that echoed through the hallway


    ¡°Stop! Both of you!¡± I cried, helplessly watching as they grappled.


    Themotion drew attention. Party posts <b>began </b>spilling into the hallway, forming a growing circle of spectators around the fighting Alphas


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Alpha Leon <b>and </b>Alpha Adrian? someone whispered loudly.


    ¡°Why are they fighting before the third <b>trial </b>even begins?¡± another wondered.


    heard Alpha Adrian¡¯s <b>Beta </b>was Alpha Leon¡¯s mate, a female voice offered, sending a wave of whispers through the crowd.


    Maya pushed through the onlookers, her eyes narrowing when she spotted me. ¡°Wasn¡¯t Adrian enough for you?¡± the hissed. ¡°Why must you keep tempting <b>Leont </b>


    ated to <b>disappear </b>into the floor.


    The weight of judgmental stares settled on me from all directions, each gaze filled with disapproval and disgust. I <b>wanted </b>


    Alpha Xavier attempted to intervene, stepping between thebatants only to receive an errant punch to his fase for his troubles. He staggered back, cursing.


    ¡°What is the meaning of this? The authoritative voice of Alpha King Thomas silenced the murmuring crowd. He strade through the parting spectators, ha presencemanding immediate respect.


    Both Adrian and Leun paused mid¨Cswing, chests heaving, faces bloodied.<ul><li></li></ul>


    ¡°If either of you throws another punch, Alpha King/Thomas warned, ¡®you will be immediately disqualified from the third trial. Is <b>that </b>understood?


    The therat of disqualification finally prated their rage¨Cclouded minds. They separated, though the hostility between them remained palpable


    Alpha King Thomas dismissed the <b>onlookers </b>with a <b>wave </b>of his hand


    Return to the banquet. There¡¯s nothing more <b>to </b>see here.¡±


    As the crowd reluctantly dispersed, he <b>turned </b>his attention to the four of <b>us </b>remaining¨CAdrian, Leon, <b>Maya</b><b>, </b>and myself.


    sparked this chaldih disy, he stated zuidly. An Alpdia selin cannot contred her emotions is not fr


    | padded repeatedly, mortified by the


    Taking Adrian¡¯s arm, I tugged him away before things could escte bother


    Tats go, I whispered urgently.


    sn¡¯t happen again.


    Adrian allowed me to lead him away, though his eyes remained fixed on ten mile turned the corner.nded several solid blows.


    His fier was already swelling


    behind us, I could hear Maya¡¯s concerned voice as the attended to Leon. The damage was done¨Cnot just to their faces, but potentially to thes thepetition. And all because of me.


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    she should have just rejected him in the first ce, regardless of thepetition, think she would be over it before the next trial, since she doesn¡¯t <b>want </b>to be mated with him.


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 Casts 140

    <b>Chapter </b>140


    She¡¯s <b>POV </b>


    Rydech eyes widened when he saw Adrian¡¯s face as we approached the ear.


    Bruises were already forming along his jaw, the skin around his tight eye beginning to swell.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Ryder asked, gate darting between us. <b>In </b>the third


    wo days away? Why would ynu-


    ¡°hat drive,¡± I cut him off, sliding into the backset, Take us back to the hotel.


    Adrian climbed in beside me, maintaining a deliberate distance. His eyes fixed on the window, expression unreadable save for the muscle twitching in his clenched jaw. I¡¯d never seen him like this¨Ccoll, withdrawn, almost flightening in his silence. This wasn¡¯t the warm man I¡¯d fallen for


    ¡°So¡­¡± Ryder attempted after a few minates of ufortable silence. ¡°Did you guys mert Alpha King Thomas? I heard he¡¯s nearly seven feet tall¨Cis that


    ¡°Yes,¡± I answered tly, staring at my hande


    ¡°Where¡¯s Lydia?¡± Ryder tried again. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t she be with you?¡±


    Alpha Xavier will bring her backter.¡±


    I suck <b>a </b>nce at Adrian. His profile was rigid, eyes dark and stormy as they reflected the passing streetlights. His fingers drummed against his thigh- lightly controlled rhythm betraying his inner turmoil.


    ence stretching between us like a physical barrier.


    Ryder finally seemed to understand that conversation want wee. He focused on driving, the silence


    When we arrived at the hotel, I quickly thanked Ryder and moved toward the entrance, eager to escape to my room and process everything that had happened. I needed space, needed to think


    A strong band wrapped around my <b>waist</b>, stopping me


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Adrian¡¯s voice was deceptively <b>soft</b>.


    o my room,¡± I replied without turning. I thought you might want <b>some </b>time alone<b>.</b>¡±


    Tor


    ¡°Why would <b>you </b>go back to your <b>room</b>?¡± His grip tightened slightly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you sleeping in mine tonight?¡±


    I finally turned to face him. His expression had transformed from cold detachment to something possessive, almost <b>predatory</b>.


    ¡°Adrian, <b>I- </b>


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk upstain,¡± he interrupted, guiding me firmly toward the elevator<b>. </b>


    The ride up <b>was </b>excruciating. Neither of us spoke, but <b>could </b>feel waves of anger radiating from him. His scent had changed¨Csharper, more dominant, with notes of aggression I¡¯d never detected before.


    <b>Once </b>inside his suite, he locked the door and turned to me. His movements were measured, controlled, but his eyes betrayed the storm within.


    ¡°Did you really resist him?¡± Adrian asked, his voice dangerously low as he stepped closer.


    He captured my chin between his <b>fingers</b>, riding <b>my </b>face up. ¡°Leon. Did you actually resist him, or was that just for my benefit?¡±


    Anger red in my chest. ¡°Are you seriously <b>asking </b>me that? You¡¯re going to believe his maniptive bullshit?¡±


    <b>1/3 </b>


    ¡°He¡¯s your mate<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>Adn growled, the word mate dripping with contempt: ¡°Your blood esili in his. Don¡¯t tell me you felt nishing.


    Something dark Mashed in Adrian¡¯s eyes. Without warning, he lifted me off my feet and tossed me is the bed. I bounced against the attra momentarily stunned.


    ¡°Then prove it to me,¡± he demanded, looming <b>over </b>mr.


    Before I could respond, he was on the bed, his weight pinning me down. His hands grabbed at my dress, tearing at the f<ul><li>fabric with characteristic</li></ul>


    His fingers grated my skin, rough and urgent, as he pulled the pieces may. He leaned in, his lips crashing against mine in a forceful kiss, stealing my


    breath<fnd9ed> Chapters first released on F¦ÉndNovel</fnd9ed>


    I tried to turn my head, but his hand gripped my jaw, hobling me in ce. Its other hand slid down my body, fingers brushing over my chest and stomach, leaving a trail of heat.


    Then, with a sharp tur, he tore my panties off, the sound of ripping fabric echoing in the room. His body pressed closer, his intent clear as he positioned himself, trying to <b>push </b>himself into me. <b>His </b>breath <b>was </b>hot against my ear, heavy with need,


    His fingers dug into <b>my </b>hips, pulling me against him, his <b>touch </b>both familiar and foreign. He <b>kissed </b>my neck, lips trailing down to my corbone, sucking hard enough to leave marks<b>. </b><b>His </b>hands reamed lower, exploring <b>my </b>thighs, sperading them with a possessive grip.


    My ski My skin burned <b>under </b>his touch, a mix of <b>desire </b>and fear. His eyes, <b>dark </b>with hunger, locked onto mine as he pressed himself closer, his arousal enidest. He whispered my <b>name</b>, <b>voice </b>thick with lust, his fingers teasing sensitive skin.


    I used to love his touch, his <b>kisses</b>, but the way he treated me now only brought pain.


    ¡°Adrian, stop!¡± I pushed <b>against </b><b>his </b>chest. ¡®Not like


    e this!¡±


    He wasn¡¯t listening. His eyes had taken on an amber glow¨Chis wolf rising close to the surface.


    ¡°You¡¯re mine,¡± he growled, his mouth descending to my neck, teeth grazing the sensitive skin where a mating mark <b>would </b>be ced. ¡°I should have marked you already.¡±


    Terror shot through me¨Cnot of Adrian himself, but of what this meant. A <b>mark </b>given in <b>anger</b><b>, </b><b>in </b>jealousy, would bind us forever in the worst possible <b>way</b><b>. </b>This wasn¡¯t love this was possession.


    Stop it! I shouted, struggling harder.


    ill make you forget him,¡± Adrian muttered, his voice deeper, rougher. ¡®I¡¯ll <b>make </b>sure everyone knows you¡¯re mine.¡±


    When his teeth pressed harder against my neck, preparing to break <b>skin</b>, something in me snapped. I summoned all my strength and pped him hard across the <b>face</b>.


    The crack echoed in the <b>sudden </b>silence.


    <b>Adrian </b>froze, blinking rapidly as if waking from a trance. He stared at me, then at my torn dress, horror dawning in his eyes as he realized what bed almost


    done.


    \¡®<b>Skye</b>¡­he whispered, voice <b>breaking</b>. ¡°I didn¡¯t <b>mean- </b>


    1 scrambled away from him, clutching the ruined <b>fabric </b>of my dress against my body, bears streaming down my fare.


    ¡°I am not a trophy to be fought over, I said, my voice shaking with rage and hurt. ¡°I¡¯m not fome possession for you and run topete for


    I fled to my own room, mming the door behind me and sliding down against it as sobs <b>wracked </b>my body.


    The tattered remains of my dress hung from my shoulders¨Ca physical reminder of how <b>quickly </b>trust could be torn apart.

 Casts 141

    Adrian¡¯s POV


    The moment Skye fl


    fled from my resin, the haze of age clouding my


    y mind began to cleat


    I stared down at my hands, the same hands that had just term her dress, that hud gripped her too mughly, that had tried to im her against her will.


    he fuck ha


    What the <b>fuck </b>had 1 jest done?


    I¡¯d never been this aggressive with anyone I cared about, especially not Skye. The look of betrayal in her eyes cut deeper than any <b>physical </b>wound could


    But the image of Leon kissing her, his tongue pushing into her mouth, kept reying in my mind like a nightmare I couldn¡¯t escape,


    I wanted to rip that bastards tongue out by the root. The very thought of him tinching what was mine made my wolf howl with territorial fury.


    Mine. Protest. im.


    I pushed my wolf down, disgusted with myself. Skye wasn¡¯t property. She wasn¡¯t something to be imed or marked out of jealousy.


    But Leon <b>was </b>her true mate


    As long as their mate bond remained intact, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he could take her from me <b>at </b>any moment. The pull between mates ran deeper than logic or choice, I knew this better than most


    his kiss


    Had Skye truly resisted <b>his </b>


    I couldn¡¯t bear to think too dreply about it. I knew how powerful a mate bond could be, how it could override every other consideration.


    Falshback


    It <b>had </b>been a rainy day! four years ago when my life changed


    ged forever. The skies had opened up, pelting our territory with sheets of water that seemed to mirror the grief that <b>would </b>soon engulf <b>us</b>.


    My father¡¯s Beta and several warriors carried <b>his </b>body back to <b>our </bpound. Their faces were prim, clothes soaked with <b>rain </b>and blood.


    In my mind, my father had always been the strongest person in the world; indestructible, powerful, eternal. I had never in


    Imagined <b>a </b><b>day </b>woulde when would fall.


    ent of death clung to him, mingling with the metallic tang of blood <b>and </b>the


    As theyid his body down in our ceremonial <b>hall</b><b>, </b>1 <b>rushed </b>forward<b>. </b>The scent of earthy smell of the forest where he had fallen.


    His once strong body was now <b>a </b><b>canvas </b>of deep gashes and <b>savage </b>wounds. His throat <b>had </b>been torn open, the killing blow from whatever enemy had finally bested him


    Looking at <b>his </b><b>body </b>covered in <b>wounds</b>, I broke down <b>sobbing</b>, my knees giving way beneath me. My ws extended involuntarily, digging into the wooden floor <b>as </b>I howled. But as the Alpha heir of the Stormbowl Park, I forced myself to regainposure quickly. <b>Our </b>people needed strength, not <b>tears</b>,


    ording to <b>our </b>ancient werewolf tradition, we kept vigil over the deceased for seven days.


    We ced <b>exactly </b>seven white candles in a perfect circle around the coffin, which had to remain lit for the entire period. The elders taught us that the light guided the spirit, preventing the departed from falling into darkness and helping them find their way to paradise instead


    The circle represented temal protection<b>; </b>our pack bonds transcending even death.


    For the first two nights, my mother insisted on watching over my father¡¯s body <b>alone</b>.


    1/31


    Chapter <b>141 </b>


    By the third night, I worried about her exhaustion and decided to take her ce, giving her time to rest,


    When I approached the mourning hall, strange am?nda trached my enhanced hearing


    Low mani, a man and woman¡¯s intertwined sighs of pleasine, cut though the silence of the night with disturbing rity. Along with these chce nesun came that unmistakable scent: sex, sweat, and the muusky aroma of


    The scents were so strong they nearly masked the ceremonial incense burning around my father¡¯s body.


    Who would be so disrespectful as to defile my father¡¯s mourning hall this way?


    I decided to catch them and banish them from the


    m the pack immediately. My will use close to the surface, rage building with each step I took


    As I moved closer, however, I heard a familiar voice that stopped me culd.


    I love you, Lillian. I¡¯ve always loved you.¡±


    Lillian, my mother¡¯s name


    I froze as I heard my uncle Maxwell repeating her name over and over, his voice thick with passion.


    I could hear their movements against the wooden floor of the adjacent prayer room,


    the rustling <b>of </b>clothes, the quickening of breath


    ¡°We can be together now,¡± he whispered. ¡°It¡¯s our time.¡±


    I turned <b>and </b>silently


    walked away, bile rising in my throat


    That night, I didn¡¯t sleep.


    I shifted and ran along the beach <b>until </b>dawn, the cold wind and pounding <b>surf </b>failing to wash away what I¡¯d discovered. My paws dug deep into the wet sand, my howl lost in the crash of <b>waves </b>against the shore.


    The next day, I gathered my courage and confronted my mother. Her scent still carried traces of my uncle, making my


    stomach <b>turn</b>.


    Why would you betray Father like this?¡± I <b>asked</b><b>, </b>my voice barely controlled.


    A sh of panic crossed her eyes before her expression smoothed into practiced calm. She sat down at her vanity, fingers nervously tracing the edge of my father¡¯s photograph.


    my actual ¡°Your father and I were a political match, <b>Adnan</b>,¡± she exined softly. I was never his true mate. After I married him, I discovered Maxwell was mate.¡± Her eyes took on a faraway look, her fingers now absently touching her neck where a mate mark would be ced. But by then, I was already pregnant with you. I had to reject Maxwell <b>and </b>stay with your father¡°


    I didn¡¯t know how to process this revtion.


    intended to defend my father¡¯s honor, but I couldn¡¯t deny the love I saw in my mother¡¯s eyes when she spoke of Maxwell.


    The way her voice softened, how her scent changed; it wasn¡¯t the behavior of someone driven purely by lust or disrespect


    Was this the power of the mate bond? Strong enough to ovee loyalty, rows, even basic decency?


    Now, sitting alone in my hotel room, I wondered what Leon truly meant to her.


    If the connection between mates was <b>as </b>powerful <b>as </b>what Ed witnessed between my mother, and uncle, how long could Skye mally resist it?.


    My well whined<b>, </b>arious and confused. We had nearly marked her tonight, an act that would have bound her to us forever. But a mark given in anger and possession rather than love would have been unforgivable.


    Chapter 141<fn69b8> Th?s chapter is updated by find?novel</fn69b8>


    I needed to make this right, but first, I needed to understand what I was truly afraid of.


    Was it losing Skye?


    <b>Or </b>was it bing like my father<b>, </b>a man who married a woman whose heart secretly belonged to someone


    I pressed my palms against my eyes, trying to block out the memories, but they persisted.


    My mother¡¯s voice echoed in my mind: ¡°1 was never his true mate.¡±


    What if, despite everything <b>Skye </b>said about choning me, the mate bound eventually pulled her back to Leon?


    The questions tormented me as the night grew deeper, and Skye¡¯s absence from my bed felt like a physical wound that wouldn¡¯t heal.


    Chapter Comments

 Casts 142

    <b>Chapter </b>142


    I stood before the mirror in my hotel bathroom, dabbing at the bonise forming at the corner of my mouth,


    I savored the memory of Skye¡¯s kiss, the ineriness of her lips still lingering on my tongue.


    A Damiliar beat surged through my body, something primal and get that I¡¯d never experienced before meeting Skye. My wolf paced restlessly beneath my skin, his agitation bleeding into my thoughts.


    ¡°Why did you let another male take out mate away?¡± he miled, pushing exainst my conncloinnest with inprecedented force. ¡°She belongs with unt


    I¡¯m not a kidnapper or a rapist, I mattered aloud, gripping the edge of the sink. ¡°I won¡¯t force any woman, even if she is our mate


    My wolf responded with a momsful whine that echoed themagh my minal, his


    quish surprisingly painful,


    Despite the winter chill outside, I tumed the shower temperature to its lowest setting. The key water hit my skin like needles, but it did little to cool the burning need coursing through my veins. I needed to wash away this restlessness, this weakness that threatened to derail everything I worked for.


    Later, lying on the hotel bed. I couldn¡¯t stop my mind from reying that kiss with Skye. The softness of her lips, the surprised gasp that escaped her before the responded. Even memories from four <b>years </b>as suddenly became crystal clear ¨C the hunting festival where I¡¯d touched her soft skin, felt that first spark of connection before learning she couldn¡¯t shift.


    ¡°We should never <b>have </b>rejected <b>her</b><b>, </b>my wolfmented,


    Maya¡¯s room


    i¡¯s room was just down the <b>hall</b>. If <b>physical </b><b>release </b><b>was </b>all I needed<b>, </b>she would, eagerly amodate me. <b>She¡¯d </b><b>made </b>her interest clear mough over the


    But the thought left me cold<b>. </b><b>My </b><b>mind </b><b>conjured </b>only images <b>of </b><b>silver </b>hair and forest¨Cpeen eyes. No one else would satisfy this hunger.<fn72d9> Readplete version only at Find_Novel(.</fn72d9>


    The thought of <b>Skye </b>lying in Adrian¡¯s bed, his hands on her body, his scent marking her <b>skin </b>¨C rage exploded through me before <b>I </b><b>could </b>control it. My fian countered with the headboard with a sickening track.


    The


    e entire r bed fr


    frame copsed beneath me with a thunderous crash, dropping me unceremoniously to the Boor.


    ¡°What the fuck??¡± I growled, disentangling myself from the splintered wood and twisted sheets.


    I called the front desk<b>, </b>and within twenty minutes, hotel <b>staff </b>arrived with a <b>recement </b>bed<b>. </b><b>The </b><b>service </b>manager surveyed the destruction with <b>a </b>knowing insale that made my skin crawl.


    These things happen, sir,¡± he said with a wink. ¡°Especially between¡­ <b>enthusiastic </b>couples.¡±


    Ethan appeared in the doorway just as they were finishing, his eyes widening <b>at </b>the scene.


    ¡°Alpha Leon<b>,</b>¡± <b>he </b><b>said</b>, his voice deliberately <b>formal</b>, ¡°perhaps you should conserve your energs. The third trial is only two days away.¡±


    Oner the staff departed<b>, </b>I turned to Ethan with a scowl. ¡°I didn¡¯t bring any woman <b>bark </b>here.¡°


    ¡°Of course not,¡± he replied, though his expression remained skeptical.


    As he turned to leave, I called out, ¡°Ethan, wait hesitated, uncertain how to phrase my question. ¡°What would you think <b>about </b>your sister returning? Since she¡¯s my Second Chance <b>Mate</b>, <b>perhaps </b>she would be the best choice as Luna for our pack.¡±


    Ethan¡¯s face immediately lit up, excitement radiating from him. ¡°You want Skye to cong back? That <b>would </b><b>be </b>amazing!¡± He grinned broadly. ¡°I bet she doesn¡¯t even have a decent dress in that Dasibor Pack. She always loved pretty things, you know.¡±


    His enthusiasm was almost childlike, the joy of a brother imagining his family reunited. But as quickly as it appeared, the excitement in his eyes dimmed. His brow furrowed<b>, </b><b>and </b>his scent shifted to something more cautious<b>, </b>tinged with worry.


    <b>1/2 </b>


    ¡°Wait,¡± he said, studying my face mote carefully. ¡°You rejected bet when she needed you most. Now that shey shifted, now that thes proven herself powerful¡­¡± He paused, the doubt clearly growing.


    The change in Ethan¡¯s demoranor was immediate. For the first time since I known him, he looked at me not as his future Alpha, but at an equal ¨C perhaps


    ¡°Why are you pursuing her now?¡± he demanded, his voice tight. ¡°Is it because you love her, or because she¡¯s suddenly powerful enough to be worthy of


    His words stuck like a physical blow.


    She wandered alone for years, Ethan continued, his pain evident. ¡°No wolf, no money, no family. Do you have any idea what she endured? If you truly love my sistri, Ell support you. But if you don¡¯1¡­¡± He shook his head. Perhaps letting her go would be your greatest kindness, ¡°


    I sat heavily on the edge of my new bed, genuinely confused. Did I love Skye? What was love, really?


    After my mother¡¯s death, I¡¯d focused solely on bing Alpha King, fulfilling her dying wish. While other boys discussed girls and watched pom, I trained. I studied. I prepared.


    I¡¯d had plenty of bedmates but never a rtionship worthy of the name.


    ¡°Do you love Lily?¡± <b>I </b>asked him suddenly.


    ¡°Of course!¡± The answer came without hesitation, his eyes softening at the mere mention of his <b>mate¡¯s </b>name. The transformation was remarkable the hard lines of his <b>face </b>gentled, and <b>his </b>scent shifted to something warm and content.


    Was that love? That immediate, unquestioning certainly?


    I felt desire for Skye, yes. Possessiveness, definitely. But th


    that glow that Ethan carried when speaking of Lily¡­ I couldn¡¯t honestly calm to feel that


    ¡°She is ours, my wolf insisted, but even be sounded uncertain now, confused by my human contemtion.


    Perhaps this burning need <b>was </b>merely the mate band¡¯s biological imperative. A chemical reaction, nothing more.


    How could I love her!


    I barely know her now<b>, </b>and what I remembered <b>was </b>a girl too weak to shift, too emotional to control herself during a hunt. The mate bond was simply nature¡¯s trick, a biological urge masquerading <b>as </b>something deeper.


    ¡°When I be Alpha King.¡± I said finally, more to myself than to Enhan, ¡°when we <b>formally </b>dissolve the mate <b>bond</b><b>, </b>this feeling will <b>fade</b>.¡±


    Ethan¡¯s expression was unreadable as he nodded and left.


    I stared at the closed door, my determination hardening. I couldnt afford distractions, not with the <b>trials </b>underway. My mother¡¯s dying wish had been forme to be Alpha King, to restore our family¡¯s ancient legacy. I would not let her down for a fleeting desire, no matter how powerful.


    My wolf whined softly, but I silenced him with a thought.


    Now was not the time for love. Now was the time for power.

 Casts 143

    Skye¡¯s <b>Pow </b>


    I couldn¡¯t understand why Adrian, who had always been in calm and collected, addrely transformed into one barly


    After leaving his mom and returning to my own, I preed back and forth, my mind racing.


    Nadia had ener told me, just before she died; that Adrian had a deeply sensitive side¨Cthat be meen enjoyed reading poetry. It might seem old fashioned to kounger werewolves, but I cherished knowing that softness existed beneath his Alpha exterior.


    But tonight, all he¡¯d shown me was violen


    1y in bed, staring at the ceiling as the digital clock on the nightstand ticked from 1:53 to 100 AM. I kept expecting¨Choping¨Cherde knock door, exin himsell, apologize.


    But the hallway remained ilent, the distance between our mom feeling like miles rather than fet<fn3b52> Find the newest release on find¡¤novel</fn3b52>


    He carried me home after my first shill, I remembered, tears


    is welling in my eyes. His hands had been so gentle then, his voice soothing as he exined what


    was happening to me..


    How could that same man look at me with sich cold rage?


    Even more disturbing was that <b>strange</b>, inexplicable pull I felt toward Leon. I knew with absolute certainty that I didn¡¯t love him¨Chow could Lafter hed rejected me and left me to wander alone for years?


    Yet when he¡¯d <b>kissed </b>me, 1 hadn¡¯t immediately pushed him away.


    If I had stopped it sooner¡­


    But this wasn¡¯t entirely my fault, was <b>it</b><b>? </b>I hadn¡¯t invited Leon¡¯s advances.


    What right did Adrian have to <b>punish </b>me, to <b>look </b>at me like I was some kind of traitor?


    My wolf whimpered softly in my mind,


    ¡°We hurt hini,¡± the suggested.


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t own us,¡± I whispered into the darkness.


    ¡°But we want him to,¡± my wolf replied, and I couldn¡¯t find the strength to argue


    Sleep never came. By morning, my eyes were swollen and red, stinging with exhaustion. The first thing I did after <b>dragging </b>myself out of bed was gather <b>up </b>the tom green gown and drop it unceremoniously into the trash can


    ¡°What are you <b>doing</b>?¡± Alpha Xaviers voice startled me as he passed by in the hallway. ¡°That¡¯s <b>a </b>Valentina original! My designer friend created that especially for the G¡±


    I shrugged, avoiding his concerned gaze. It¡¯s damaged.¡±


    surely it can be repaired-


    111 by her another une,¡± Adnan¡¯s deep voice came from behind me, and I stiffened. I hadn¡¯t heard his door open, hadn¡¯t caught his scent approaching.


    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± I replied coldly, not turning to face him.


    Alpha Xavier <b>nced </b>between us, his expression shifting from <b>confusion </b>to understanding


    ¡°I just remembered my Beta needed to discuss something with me. Excuse me.¡± He disappeared down the hallway <b>with </b>impressive speed.


    Chapter <b>143 </b>


    The silence that followed felt thick enough to choke on


    tumped to <bnk </b>at Adrian, and my heart clenched.


    His usually immacte appratance was disheveled his dark hair mossed as if he¡¯d been minning his hands though it all night, shadown darkening beneath kis ander eyes. The crisp button down shirt be some had alivious wrinkles, something I¡¯d never seen on him leban


    He hadn¡¯t slept either.


    ¡°Skyr, I¡¯m sorry¡±


    The third <b>trial </b><b>was </b>just two days away. My anger and hurt feelings suddenly seemed secondary to what we were really here for. We couldn¡¯t affed to the distincted by rtionship drama.


    <b>¡°</b><b>We </b>need to talk<b>,</b>¡± we both said simultanerody


    The unexpected synchronicity almost made i


    de me smile, despite everything.


    I pulled my phone from my pocket and called Ryder. ¡°Taka <b>Dylia </b>and review the third trial materials. We¡¯ll join youter.¡±


    After hanging up, 1 gestured Tesand the hotel restaurant. ¡°Parakfast?¡±


    <b>Adrian </b>modded, and we walked <b>side </b>by side, careful not to touch, the space between us measured and intentional.


    <b>We </b>found a quiet corner booth far from the <b>other </b>diners. Adrian pulled out my chair before I could, then moved to his own seat.


    When <b>the </b>waitress arrived<b>, </b>he ordered for both of us¨Cremembering exactly how I liked my <b>eggs </b><b>and </b>that I preferred apple juice to orange.


    When my juice arrived, he reached for the ss before I could, pouring it carefully <b>for </b>me as if we were at a formal dinner rather than a hotel breakfast.


    top, 1 said quietly.


    His hand froze mid¨Cair, the pitcher of juice still tilted. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    This¡­ pretending everything is normal. Acting likest night didn¡¯t happen.¡±


    ¡°I already apologized to you.¡± Adrian <b>said</b>.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t about an apology,¡± I replied, frustration creeping into my voice. ¡°Until we get through the third trial, I <b>think </b>we need to put all personal feelings aside. From now on, I¡¯m just your Beta. You¡¯re my Alpha, That¡¯s IL¡±


    Adrian carefully set down the pitcher, his face unreadable. ¡°You¡¯re serious<b>? </b>Now you want to worry about <b>pack </b>hierarchies and formalities? Are you deliberately trying to distance yourself from me?¡®


    ¡°That s


    not what I meant,¡± I replied, frustration <b>creeping </b>into my voice. I trying to focus <b>on </b>what matters right now. I¡¯m not trying to push you away¡ªI¡¯m trying to make sure we seed. <b>Have </b>you forgotten why we¡¯re here? Have you forgotten <b>Nadia</b><b>? </b>


    The mention of her name made Adrian flinch, his amber eyes darkening with grief. For a moment, I regretted bringing her up, using her memory <b>as </b><b>a </b>


    <b>weapon</b>.


    ¡°I could never forget,¡± he said softly, <b>the </b>anger draining from his expression. He <b>stared </b>at his untouched coffee for a long moment before nodding ¡°You¡¯re right. From this moment un, personal feelings take a backseat. I¡¯m your Alpha, you¡¯re my Beta. We focus on the trial.¡±


    He reached across the table, his warm fingers <b>euphing </b>against mine. I <b>hadn¡¯t </b>realized how much I craved his touch until that moment¨Chow much I missed the casual intimacy we¡¯d developed over these menth together.


    ¡°Well talk about everything elseter, he proposed, <b>his </b>voice low and earnest. ¡°After the trial.¡±


    I <b>nodded</b>, relief and disappointment warring within me. After the trial,¡±


    ¡°We should review the <b>trial </b>materials after breakfast,¡± I <b>said</b>, picking up my fuck to focus on the eggs that no longer looked appetizing.


    Adrian nodded, his face settling into theposed mask he wore as Alpha. Of mine. The others will be waiting¡±

 Casts 144

    Aber breakfast with Adrian, we gathered in a small conference room the hotel had provided for mar term


    1 sat with myptop open, a frown riched on my face as I reviewed the materials Gament had sent mer. The others were gathered arthed due deck, asially focused on the opening trial.


    Something was adding up. I dialed carretts number, drumming my fingers impatiently as I waited.


    1, see you sure the information you collected is correct?¡± I asked when he answered, my brose formed with concem.


    Carrell, i


    ¡°I triple¨Cchecked everything, skye, G


    * Garrett replied, ¡°The server data,


    chived footage, the participant reports¨Cins all there. There¡¯s nothing missing or


    ¡°But this doesn¡¯t <b>make </b>sense, I pressed. ¡°The first two trials had detailed records and information. This is part¡­ nothing.¡±


    I ended the


    se call with a frustrated sigh and turned to the others.


    ¡°Something¡¯s off. The information about the third Will Trial inpletely different from what Garrett collected for the first no trials. There¡¯s almost nothing useful here.¡±<fn79d5> Discover more novels at FindN()vel</fn79d5>


    Adrian motioned for the remote, and I passed it to him He started the video from the previous election¡¯s <b>third </b>trial.


    We watched as different teams walked into a small forest on the <b>mountainside</b>. Within minutes, a <b>thick mist </b>nulled them, obscuring everything from view.


    ¡°What the hell<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Ryder muttered beside me


    The camera remained focused on the fog covered area for what seemed like an eternity,


    Finally, after nearly an hour, the mist gradually dissipated. Some participants were carried out unconscious. Others stumbled from the forest screaming, the fares contorted in terror


    ¡°Is the fog toxic?¡± Ryder asked Lydia.


    She shook her head slowly. I¡¯m not sure.¡±


    I chewed my lip, staring at the disturbing footage<b>. </b>


    ¡°I¡¯m going to call my father. He might know something


    Adrian nodded. <b>¡°</b><b>Good </b><b>idea</b>. <b>Your </b>father¡¯s advice helped us get through the second trial¡±


    I dialed my father¡¯s number as everyone watched, hoping he¡¯d have some insight into what we were facing.


    ¡°Skye?¡± His voice came through clearly, is everything alright?


    ¡°Hey, Dad. I need to <b>ask </b>you about the third trial in the Alpha King Election. Do you know anything about it?¡±


    There was a pause before he replied. The sorry, Skye. In thest election, our team didn¡¯t make it past the second trial<b>, </b><b>so </b>my knowledge of the third is limited<b>.</b>¡±


    My heart sank


    -Nothing at


    some participants ended up in psychiatric facilities afterward. There were rumors that they lost their minds.¡±


    ¡°What I do know,¡± he continued,


    that son


    173


    Chapter <b>144 </b>


    The Will Trial is anne <b>kind </b>of mental attack from what I underirend. It won¡¯t harm you physically, but if the difference between that


    a walking corpset Don¡¯t let your peard down, not for a trend..


    ¡°I be careful,¡± I promiend, trying to round more confident then I felt well make


    Aureling the call, I looked at Adn who nced at hit


    ¡°We should take a break, he suggested. ¡®Clear mir bradi before diving back in:


    I nodded, feeling a headache forming at my temples. ¡°I¡¯m going to grab a s from the vending machine dosamtain.¡±


    i


    The hallway was mercifully quiet as i made my way down the wooden staircase of the cory hotel.


    Near the vending machines, a hotel employee in a crisp uniform approached me.


    ¡°Miss Skye?¡± she asked politely.


    Liensed automatically


    ¡°Alpha Rodrigo of the Ironwater Pack requests an <b>audience </b>with your team.¡±


    I blinked in confusion. ¡°<b>Alpha </b>Rodrigo?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Miss <b>Skye</b>, she confirmed with a respectful <b>nod</b>. ¡®He¡¯s waiting in the lobby.¡±


    Apha Rodrigo. The name was familiar from the first trial.


    He¡¯d been the first to get our of theke, finishing well ahead of everyone else.


    Like Leon, he had amassed <b>quite </b>a following on werewolf social media,plete with fan clubs <b>and </b>merchandise,


    But our paths had never crossed. Oasisbon Pack had no connections or dealings with the Ironwater Pack


    Why would he seek <b>us </b>out now


    Curiosity overrode my caution as I followed the employee to the lobby.


    Alpha Rodrigo stood near the entrance, his imposing figure impossible to miss. He had bronze skin that gleamed under the hotel lights, with <b>thick </b><b>dark </b>hair styled impably. His muscr build strained against his <b>tailored </b>suit, <b>and </b>when he turned toward me, I caught <b>a </b>glimpse of intelligent <b>dark </b>eyes assessing<ol><li><b>me</b><b>. </b></li></ol>


    ¡°Alpha Rodrigo.¡± I greeted him formally, maintaining a respectful distance. I¡¯m Skye, Beta to Alpha Adrian of the Oasisbon Pack. How may I assist <b>you</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    His full lips curved into a polite smile, but there was something guarded in his expression.


    ¡°I appreciate your prompt response, Beta Skye, he applied, his voice carrying a slight ent I couldn¡¯t <b>quite </b>ce. However, I¡¯m not here to speak with Alpha Adrian.¡±


    I <b>naised </b>an eyebrow. ¡°Uh?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here for Lydira,¡± <b>he </b>said, his tone shifting subtly. ¡°Or I <b>should </b>say Lydia, as she¡¯s known now.¡±

 Casts 145

    <b>¡°</b><b>¡°</b>Lydia?¡± I asked cautiously, velig Alpha Andrian What do you


    a with her?


    Alpha Bodrigo¡¯s dick eyes need slightly. She¡¯s an old friend. We haven¡¯t seen each other in a long time, I¡¯d like to speak with her,


    I studied his face, searching im any sign of deception.


    never brand Lydia mention knowing yoni,¡± I replied carefully.


    A sh of irritation crossed Alpha Bodriges features. ¡°Does Talia tepnit everything to you? 164 mire hardened. ¡°Rete!¡±


    The way he emphasized my rank made it clear he expected obedience. Typical Alpha beberior


    I stepped back and closed my eyes briefly, establishing a mind¨Clink with tydu.


    ¡°Lydia, there¡¯s someone here iming to be your friend. Alpha Rodrigo from Inwater Pack wants to see you¡±


    There was a prolonged silence before she responded.


    ¡°I be right down.¡±


    A few minutester, Lydia <b>appeared </b>at the staircase. When she spotted Alpha Rodrigo, her steps visibly slowed. Even with the mask that partially covered her face, I could see the shock in h


    her eyes.


    But within seconds, herposure returned. Her shoulders straightened as she approached us.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening, Skye Lydia asked<b>. </b>


    This Alpha wanted to see you.¡± I exined, preparing to <b>leave </b>and give them privacy.


    Before I could step away, <b>Lydia¡¯s </b>hand caught my arm, her grip surprisingly tight. The message was clear ¨C she didn¡¯t want to be alone with his


    Lydira,¡± <b>Alpha </b>Rodrigo <b>said</b>, his voice suddenly <b>softer</b>,


    ¡°Alpha Rodrigo, you must be mistaking <b>me </b>for someone else. My name <b>is </b><b>Lydia</b>, not Lydira.


    ¡°I recognized you at the banquet yesterday,¡± he insisted. ¡°You may have <b>changed </b><b>your </b>name, but you can¡¯t change your voice or your scent. I <b>would </b>never <b>forget </b><b>you</b>¡­ not in a lifetime.¡±


    ! <b>Besides</b>, you¡¯re mistaken. I¡¯m not who you re


    ¡°A lifetime?¡± Lydia¡¯s t tone turned <b>mocking</b>. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a bit young to be talking about Hetimes, Alpha Rodrigo? Bei


    looking for.¡±


    Rodrigu¡¯s gaze dropped to her wrist. ¡°If you¡¯ve truly forgotten <b>me</b><b>, </b>why do you still wear the coral bracelet I gave you?¡±


    Lydia nced down at her right wrist, her fingers brushing over the delicate coral beads. With deliberate slowness, she unsped it and held it out to him.


    ¡°It¡¯s just


    just an ordinary Bracelet. You must be confused,¡± she <b>said </b>coolly. ¡°If you like it so much, you §ã§Ñn have


    Alpha <b>Rodrigo </b>took the bracelet, clutching it tiglylly in his hand. I noticed his fingers trembling slightly-


    ¡°Skye, we should return to reviewing those files, Lydia said, tugging at my arm as she turned to <b>leave</b>.


    Alpha Rodrigo suddenly reached out, grabbing <b>Lydia¡¯s </b>arm with enough force to stop her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t <b>go</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>1/3 </b>


    *Please let of me,¡± Laid, her delight with initation


    ¡°Tadina, Eve been searching fin von le seater Rodrigo continued it if the bada i spoken.


    ¡°She asked you to let go,¡± Vinterrupted. ¡°She already said she doesn¡¯t know you.


    Alpha Rodriges eyes shed with anger. ¡°This is between us.


    Thi man nel concern Skye, hit it certainly concerns met


    Alpha Xavier¡¯s voice thundered through the lobby


    Take your b


    hands off her. Now. Xavier¡¯smand was a low, dangerous growl.


    Rodrigo wierd but didnt release Lydia. The two Alphas stood locked in a


    power singer,<ol><li>neither willing to hack down.</li></ol>


    ¡°Remove your hand,¡± Karrier demanded, or I¡¯ll remove it for you.¡±


    several hotel guests hurried away from the escting confrontation.


    you continue harassing my mate, Xavier continued. I have no choice but to file aint with the Council Elders and Is that what you want. Alpha Rodrigo?¡±<ul><li>your candidary</li></ul>


    ys carried himself like a carefree yboy, but seeing


    The two Alphas stood chest to chest, their powerful frames vibrating with tension. Xavier always I realized he was truly a powerful Alpha beneath that facade.


    Alpha Rodrigo stared at the in shock.


    ¡°Is this true?¡± he asked Lydia, his voice barely audible despite the aggression in his stance. ¡°He¡¯s your mate? How is that possible? You shouldn¡¯¨C


    ¡°Xavier is indeed my mate! Lydia interrupted firmly, cing a hand on Xavier¡¯s arm <b>as </b>if to restrain him. ¡°Now please lease!¡±


    At that moment, <b>Adrian </b>and Ryder appeared at the lobby entrance. They immediately sensed the confrontation and moved quickly toward us,anking protectively,


    ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting for you,¡± Adrian said, moving to my side. His gaze shifted between the two bristling Alphas. ¡°Is there a problem here?


    The addition of another Alpha to the mix seemed to finally break the bugh Rodrigos determination. His expression transformed into one of profound sadness. He stepped back, breaking the standoff with Xavier,


    ¡°No problem, Alpha Adrian,¡± he said quietly. ¡°I apologize. I mistook Lydia for someone else,¡±


    Before turning to leave, Rodrigo held out the coral bracelet, offering it back to Lydia. <b>This </b>bracelet¡­ it¡¯s as beautiful as your hair once was.


    Once <b>Rodrigo </b><b>was </b>out of sight, Lydia tumed to Xavier.<fndf3e> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n f?ndnovel</fndf3e>


    Thank you, Alpha <b>Xavier</b><b>,</b><b>¡± </b>she said, ¡°I really appreciate you pretending to be my mate.¡±


    <b>mate </b>would be fortunate, Lydia, Xavier <b>said </b>with a genuine smile. ¡°It was difficult to pretend. And are you in on


    man who gets to be your mate


    <b>Double</b>?¡±


    ¡°No, nothing to worry about,¡± Lydia replied with practiced politeness.


    Throughout the afternoon, I couldn¡¯t help noticing how distracted Lydia seemed.


    Her usual sharp focus was missing, and <b>several </b><b>times </b>I caught her staring into space, lost in thought.


    The third trial would be another teampetition. If any team member waint fully present, <b>it </b>could jeopardize <b>Adrians </b>chances of advancing. With this concern weighing on my mind, I knocked on Lydia¡¯s door that evening


    When she opened it, hetes were immed with ard


    ? can we talk?¡® Tasked gently. ¡°You knew Alpha Bodalgo, don¡¯t pal

 Casts 146

    ¡°Think ¡­


    di¡¯s been present when


    1 wann¡®) deliberach, hiding anything firm you all. I just didnt want engine pleasant bedtime tale,


    cant to hear the mo


    You and he were loverst i probed gently


    deeply<fnb1d9> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? F¦ÉndNovel</fnb1d9>


    ¡°Care¡°¡± India let out a bitterugh that made my heart clench. ¡°Let me tell you


    exactly how he ¡®caret bar na


    Her eyes grow distant, focusing on something far beyond the hotel room walls. The mask the always wore couldn¡¯t hide the pe


    face


    him


    up with my mother in a small town on the border between the United States and Mexico. My mother was a witch, and as for my father¨CI never met


    wasn¡¯t until my first shift at eighteen that I discovered I had werewolf blood running through my veins.


    Before that awakening. I lived like any ordinary human girl. No father, no <b>pack</b>, but these absences never troubled me mich. My mother s and the quiet life w <b>led </b>suited <b>us </b>both


    ove was enough.


    But at neen, a rullege.


    hiking trip changed the trajectory of my entire existence.


    I found Rodrigo bleeding and broken at the bottom of a ravine. His leg <b>was </b>twisted at an unnatural angle, and deep gashes covered his torso


    <b>Any </b>normal human would have died from those injuries, but somehow, he was still breathing


    My instincts kicked in immediately. I used what little medical knowledge my mother had taught me, cunshined with makeshift splints from my own clothes. It took hours to stabiler him <b>enough </b>to move


    s and bandages tom


    The way he looked at me when he finally opened those dark eyes, like I was his personal miracle, <b>his </b>salvation¡­


    He was the first werewolf I¡¯d ever knowingly encountered.


    Strong, confident, <b>devastatingly </b><b>handsome</b>¨Cit was impossible not to be drawn to him.


    <b>What </b>I didn¡¯t know then was that he was an Apha. What I certainly did


    wow was that he already had a m


    Our first year together <b>was </b>like a dicam.


    Rodrigo pursued me with the intensity of a hunter tracking pory, but his touch was always gentle, leverent. He¡¯d dave <b>six </b>hours just <b>to </b>spend <b>a </b>weekend


    with me, bringing extle flowers <b>and </b>stories of pack life that fascinated my Mted heart.


    He taught me about my wolf side, my self grew stronger, more confident. I ilimught Fit found my ce in the world¨Cb


    The vernd year of our rtionship began with subtle changes.


    His visits became less frequent, <b>his </b>excuses more borate. But whenever doubt crept in, he¡¯d appear with that ranked smile and those p that made me forget every question.


    Then one night, everything shattered


    Three female warriors burst into my apartment. Before I could react, they


    by had me bound and gagged, dating mint <b>a </b>ck SUV.


    The drive felt endless<b>, </b>my wolt bowling in confusions and fear.


    They threw me into a basement cell¨Cno windows, just concrete walls and a single flickering braidh. For hours, I waited in terrified silence.


    When she finally appeared, I understood immediately. The Luna mark on her neck, the rage in her eyes, the way she carried herself with entitled fury¨Cthis was Rodrigo mate,


    ¡°Bitches like you are all the same! She backhanded me so hard I tasted blood. ¡°A pathetic half¨C<b>breed </b>thinking she can seduce an Alpha?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t seduce him!¡® I gasped, spitting crimson. ¡°Rodrigo and I are truly <b>in </b>love! I had <b>no </b>idea he was an Alpha, and I certainly didn¡¯t know he had a gater


    Every <b>word </b>was truth. Having lived <b>outside </b>pack society my entire life, how could I <b>have </b>known?


    22


    The concept of mates, of Alpha obligations¨Cthese were foreign to me. All <b>I </b><b>knew </b>was that during our first year together, Rodrigo had been everything Id ever dreamed of in a partner.


    ¡°Lying whore!¡± My exnation earned me <b>a </b>kick to the ribs that left me gasping.


    *Im not lying! Let me see Rodrigo! I¡¯ll prove I¡¯m telling the truth!¡±


    The Luna¡¯s smile turned predatory. ¡°You think he truly loves you? Fine. I¡¯ll <b>show </b>


    exactly <b>how </b><b>much </b>Rodrigo loves you.¡±


    That night, they dragged me <b>from </b>the basement. Heavy <b>doses </b>of wolfsbane kept me docile, my limbs refusing to cooperate.


    They shoved me into <b>a </b>bedroom closet-her bedroom¨Cpositioning me where I could see through the ts.


    I heard Rodrigo¡¯s footsteps approaching. My heart leaped with desperate hope. I tried to <b>call </b>out, to beg for help, but the wolfsbane had paralyzed my vocal curds along with my body.


    Through the narrow gaps, I <b>watched </b>


    igo enter<ol><li>r. He moved straight to his mate, <b>pulling </b>her into his arms with practiced ease. The kiss wild and tender¨Cexactly like the kisses he¡¯d given me</li></ol>


    ¡°Darling,¡± <b>his </b>voice was soothing, apologetic. ¡°I¡¯ve <b>already </b>exined everything. That half¨Cbreed saved my life, then threw herself at me, I only slept with her oner out of gratitude. I promise it won¡¯t happen again. You¡¯re my mate, the only one I¡¯ll ever love.¡±


    What followed was <b>a </b>performance designed to destroy me. His mate made sure to meet my eyes at the worst moments, het triumphant smirk a dagger to my heart.


    ch, every moan, every passionate moment¨Call carefully orchestrated to show me the truth.


    Every touch, every


    I¡¯d been nothing but a <b>diversion</b>. A grateful fuck for saving his life.¡±


    The woman I thought was done with her tortyle, but that night was only the

 Casts 147

    <b>Chapter </b><b>147 </b>


    India¡¯s POV


    The maning after, they dragged me back to the basement. My body ached from being crammed in that closet for hours, but the physical pain was nothingpared to the devastation in my heart.


    Days burred ingethet in that concrete prison. They fed me just enough to keep me alive, solfshanecing every meal to keep my wolf subdued. I lost track of time until one afternoon, the Luna returned with a new from of torture.


    11 heard your nose is like a cute little wildcats?¡± She held up a phone screen inches from my fare.


    | saw cur old chat messages¨CBodrigos texts praising my upturned nose, calling a sexy,paring me to a wildest. The memory Hit me like a physical blow.


    It had been our first anniversary. He¡¯d gives me a red coral bracelet that I¡¯d worn every day since. I¡¯d been so happy, so carefree, that I¡¯d gotten ice cream on my nose while celebrating. <b>He¡¯d </b>kissed it away,ughing at my clumsiness before apologizing that he had pack business that night.


    After he left, he¡¯d sent that text:


    ¡°Your nose se cute and upturned, like <b>a </b>very little wildcat.


    Now his mate pressed the hilt of a silver dagger against that same nose, turning <b>to </b>one of her warriors. ¡°Cor it off.


    The warrior hesitated. ¡°Luna<b>, </b>that¡¯s-


    ¡°Did I stutter? Her voice tumed deadly. ¡°The whore seduced my mate with her looks. Let¡¯s see how many men<fn9c0f> The rightful source is find¡¤novel</fn9c0f>


    men she can seduce without her pretty little nose¡±


    blood pouring


    The pain <b>was </b>indescribable. They held me down as the silver de sliced through cartge and flesh. I screamed untill my throat was raw, down my face, choking on the metallic taste. The silver prevented any healing, ensuring the wound would scar permanently-


    But she wasn¡¯t done. <b>Over </b>the next week, she systematically destroyed everything Rodrigo had everplimented about my appearance. <b>My </b>¡°silly hair¡± was <b>hacked </b>off in uneven chunks. My ¡°graceful fingers were broken and allowed to heal crooked<b>. </b>


    ¡°There<b>,</b>¡± she said finally, holding up a mirror to show me my reflection. ¡°Look at yourself. See how many men will want you now, you hideous creature.


    The woman in the mirror <b>was </b>unrecognizable. Where once there had been beauty, only rain remained. The hole where <b>my </b>nose had been was the worst¨Ca gaping wound that would never properly heal <b>thanks </b>to the wolfsbane, they¡¯d <b>rubbed </b>into it.


    *Tai not going to kill <b>you</b>,¡± <b>the </b><b>Luna </b>announced, her satisfaction evident. ¡°Death would be too merciful. Live with your ugliness. Let it remind you every day of what happens when <b>you </b>touch what belongs to another.¡±


    They dumped me on the side of a highway, miles from anywhe


    anywhere, I dragged myself t


    to the nearest town, keeping to shadows, hiding my destroyed fee.


    When I finally <b>made </b>it home, my mother¡¯s screams echoed through our small house. She wept until her eyes were swollen shut, holding me as I sobbed our the whole terrible story.


    Over the next <b>days</b>, she threw herself into her work with frightening intensity. My mother <b>was </b><b>gifted </b>with poison¨Cparticrly those that worked <b>on </b>werewolves. She created <b>something </b>special: coloress, odorless, and instantly lethal even to the strongest Alpha.


    make them <b>pay</b>, <b>she </b>promised, her gentle hands now <b>steady </b>with <b>deadly </b>purpose. ¡°Both of them.¡±


    She used <b>our </b>savings to <b>hire </b>informants, <b>tracking </b><b>Rodrigo </b>and his mate¡¯s movements. When she learned of their uing vacation to a private resort, she began nning her revenge.


    But I couldn¡¯t let her risk herself for my mistakes.


    The night before she nned to leave, I waited until she <b>was </b>asleep. I took the poison vial from her workshop, along with the travel documents <b>shed </b>prepared. My mother had taught me well over the years¨C<b>I </b>knew how to move unseen, how to blend with shadows despite my disfigurement.


    The resort was beautiful, isted, <b>perfect </b>for a romantic getaway. I watched them from a distance, my beam turning <b>to </b><b>stone </b>as I observed their happiness<b>, </b>


    <b>1/2 </b>


    Theyughed over dinner, fed each other dessen, walked hand¨Cin¨Chand along the beach<b>, </b>


    On theirst night, I made my move<b>. </b>


    The Luna <b>liked </b>to take a moonlight


    im alone while Rodrigu showered. I waited in the shadows by the pool, the poison vial cold in my patim. When emerged from the water, reaching for her towel, I <b>was </b>there.


    ¡°Remember me?¡± I pulled back my hood, revealing my mitted <b>face</b><b>. </b>


    He scream died in her throat as I forced the poison between her lips. It worked exactly as my mother had promised¨Cinstant, silent, final. She crumpled to the pool deck, her eyes wide with shock that faded to emptiness.


    I should have ran then. Should have disappeared into the night. But I needed Rodrigo to know, needed him to


    to understand why.


    I was still standing over her body when his Beta found me.


    The scandal <b>rocked </b>the werewolf world. A prominent pack¡¯s Lana, murdered by a disfigured witch. The story spread like wildfire, growing more twisted with each telling.


    The version people loved most painted me <b>as </b>a seductress <b>who¡¯d </b>used love potions to ensnare an Alpha, then poisoned his mate out of jealousy. In their narrative, Rodrigo was the grieving widower, seeking justice for his beloved Luna.


    Every member of the Ironwater Pack howled for my blood. They suggested burning me alive, ying me, entombing me in concrete and dropping me in the ocean. When it came to torture, werewolves had vivid imaginations.


    But I survived.


    The night before my execution¨Cthey¡¯d settled on burning¨CRodrigo came to my cell. He¡¯d arranged <b>for </b>another female prisoner to take my ce<b>, </b>someone already condemned whose death would satisfy the bloodthirsty crowd.


    saved my life once,¡± he said, not meeting my eyes. ¡°I owe <b>you </b>that much. We¡¯re even now,


    I pointed to the hole where my nose <b>had </b>been. ¡°Even? Can you give me <b>back </b>my face? Can you <b>undo </b>what you did to me? Why d


    did you lie to me?¡±


    ¡°My Luna is dead. You got your revenge.¡± His voice was thick with emotion, his brow furrowed deeply. He couldn¡¯t look directly at my ruined <b>face</b><b>, </b>his gaze sliding away whenever he tried. ¡°I <b>had </b>my reasons for what I did. Sometimes we don¡¯t have choices.¡±


    Beasons. Choices.


    Every <b>man </b>seemed to have his reasons. Just like my father had his reasons for abandoning my mother, for never acknowledging I existed.


    ¡°Just go,¡± Rodrigo said. ¡°Don¡¯t let my people catch you again.¡±


    From that <b>day </b>forward, I wore a mask. The physical scars were bad enough, but the emotional ones can deeper. Trust, love, hope¨Cshed cut those <b>away </b><b>as </b>thoroughly as she¡¯d carved up my face.


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    Crowned by Fate

 Casts 148

    She¡¯s POV


    Isten on the edge of Lydia¡¯s bed, my hands timbling <b>as </b>her story settled into my bones like winter frost. The horror of what shed andure own past pain reem almost trivial.<fn2fd3> Original content can be found at FindN()vel</fn2fd3>


    My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin, responding to the mocktail of emotions surging through me shock, heartbreak, mid a rage so pure it boined white¨Chot in my chest.


    ¡°That bastard,¡± I whispered, my voice cracking. ¡°That absolute bastard ¡±


    My fingers curled into fists, nails digging into my pales. How could Rodrigo stand there at the trials, ying the grieving widower, when he¡¯d nechestrated Lydia¡¯s destruction?


    The hypocrisy made me sick<b>. </b>


    ¡°Lydia,¡± I said, turning to face her folly. ¡°A man like that doesn¡¯t deserve your love. He never did. My mice grew stronger, fueled by protective fury. ¡°Be doesn¡¯t deserve to be Alpha King either. We¡¯re going to beat him in this election. We¡¯re going to destroy that monster¡±


    I reached for her hands. My fingers traced along her wrist until they found the red coral bracelet, still there after chains.¡±


    these years. The smooth beads felt like


    Do you still hate him?¡± I asked softly, stroking the bracelet with my <b>thumb</b>.


    -won peace. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, Skye. I wont let Rodrigo affect


    Lydia shook her head slowly. ¡°It was many <b>years </b>ago. Her voice carried the weight of hard¨Cw my emotions anymore.¡± A bitter <b>smile </b>touched her lips. ¡°In fact, I won¡¯t let any man affect my emotions again.¡±


    She lifted her wrist, the coral catching themplight. I keep this bracelet as reminder. Every time I see it, I remember not to make stupid mistakes. Not to trust so blindly.¡±


    ¡°If Rodrigo tries anything¨Cif he even looks at you wrong¨CAdrian and I will protect <b>you</b><b>,</b>¡± I said fiercely. <b>¡°</b><b>You </b>re <b>pack </b>now. <b>You¡¯re </b><b>family</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Lydia¡¯s voice softened with genuine warmth. Then her <b>dark </b>eyes sharpened, studying me with the analytical garee to reDT 16 ¡°Speaking ofplicated men¡­ what¡¯s going on with you, Alpha Adrian, and Alpha Leon?¡±


    I released a long, exhausted sigh that seemed toe from my toes. ¡°I don¡¯t want to <b>deal </b>with rtionship drama right now either. The third trial is in two days.¡± I stood, smoothing down my clothes. All I want to focus on is winning this election.¡±


    Leaving Lydia¡¯s room, I felt the wei


    weight of her story pressing down on my shoulders.


    As I turned theer toward my room, I nearly collided with a solid wall <b>of </b>muscle. Adrian stood there, obviously returning from ate training session, his hair still damp with sweat.


    1 froze, awkwardness Blooding through me like ice water. After <b>our </b>fightst night, I didn¡¯t know what to say. Besides, I probably shouldn¡¯t sleep in his <b>room </b>tonight, even though I¡¯d promised him a few days ago that I¡¯d stay by his <b>side </b>24/7 during the election


    Adrian broke first. ¡°Why are you still up? His voice <b>was </b><b>carefully </b>neutrall, but I caught the concern underneath.


    ¡°I <b>was </b>talking with Lydia.<b>¡± </b>


    His expression shined, understanding dawning. ¡°About Alpha Rodrigo this afternoon?¡±


    I nodded, swallowing hard.


    I know everything now. The <b>words </b><b>can </b>put thick with <b>emotion</b>, God, Adrian, <b>what </b>she went through. <b>Someone </b>like Lydia, someone so good, she didn¡¯t deserve any of that.¡±


    <b>1/2 </b>


    Addon¡¯t chealden dropped sli


    He leaned against the wall<b>, </b>amber eyes distant with memory.


    <b>¡°</b>Before you joined us, she was part of our pack council, but the wasnt like Venus¨Call outgoing and worn. Lydia kept everyone at aversngeli, <b</b>, you¡¯ve been with us the shortest time, but she opened up to you more than she ever did with the rest of us.


    ¡°Her nose.¡± I said quietly. Do you think reconstructive surgery might be possible?¡±


    Adrian scratched his head.


    I honestly don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve wondered, but I never dared ask what she wanted. She terms¡­ not to care about it.¡± Ilis mike grew determined. ¡°But if the wants surgery. I¡¯ll find the money. I¡¯ll search the whole world for the best stic surgeon.¡±


    ¡°No woman doesn¡¯t care about <b>her </b>appearance,¡± I said firmly ¡°Look at men¨Ceven Alpha Xavier uses beauty face masks every day.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with men using face masks? Xavier¡¯s voice made us both jump. His door swung open, revealing the Alpha in silk pajamas and<b>, </b>indnically, a green face mask. ¡°You have no idea¨Call the Hollywood actors are using ¡®beauty butt masks¡® now! I can share some with you if you¡¯d like¡°.


    ¡°No, thanks!¡± Adrian and I spoke in perfect unison


    Despite everything. I almostughed.


    Then it hit me like lightning. Alpha Xavier!¡± I smacked my forehead. ¡°You have connections to the best stic surgeons in the world¡±


    <b>Xavier </b>raised one perfectly groomed eyebrow. ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I need to ask yeu ¨¤ favor,¡± I <b>said</b>, hope blooming in my chest. After the Alpha King election ends, <b>could </b>you introduce me to the best reconstructive surgeon <b>you </b>know?¡±


    Chapter Comments


    Jamie


    poor Lydia! that nasty Luna deserved what she got.

 Casts 149

    <b>Chapter </b>149


    You need a stic surgeon for what?¡± Kasier hanked me up and down, then added with characteristic fair, ¡°You¡¯re already


    Pefore I could answer, Xavier seemed to pit it together himself.


    ¡± fordia, isnt it?¡± His voice turned ter¨ªZUL.


    I nodded, relief flooding through me that I didnt have to exin.


    ¡°Can you help me find one? Especially someone who specialiers in note reconstruction


    edy beautiful


    ¡°Cider it done¡± Xavier waved his hand dismissively, Il arranging world¨Css medical care was as simple as ordering coffee ¡°Leme this


    I nced between Adrian and Navier, choosing my words carefully.


    Please keep this between us for now. Until we¡¯re one hundred percent certain a surgeon can restore her note, I don¡¯t cant to say anything. This in my iden¡ª I haven¡¯t even asked her yet. And 1¡­ My voice <b>caught </b>slightly.


    don¡¯t want to give her hope only to disappoint her.¡±


    Both men nodded solemnly, Adnan¡¯s amber eyes held understanding, while <b>Xavier </b>made <b>a </b>ripping motion across his lips.


    ¡°Not a word.¡±¡°¡± Adrian promised.


    ¡°My lips are <b>sealed</b>,¡± <b>Xavier </b>agreed.


    [ <b>you</b>.¡±


    Thank you. Both of y


    1 bid them goodnight and headed toward my room, my heart feeling lighter than it had in days.


    Behind me, I heard Xavier¡¯s voice drop to a <b>teasing </b>whisper. ¡°So, still in the doghouse?¡±


    99


    Adrian growled response <b>was </b><b>too </b>low to catch, but I didn¡¯t need to hear it. I kept walking, a small smile tugging at my lips despite everything.


    The thought of doing something meaningful for Lydia lifted the <b>dark </b>cloud <b>that </b>had hung over me since my fight with <b>Adrian</b>.


    Maybe I couldn¡¯t fix my ownplicated mess, but I could try to help heat someone else¡¯s wounds.


    The third trial arrived with all the pomp and ceremony the Council could muster.


    Thepeting packs <b>had </b>dwindled significantly, but the audience seats remained packed to capacity. Even eliminated Alphas lingered with their teams, studying every detail for future reference, <b>Pride </b>and strategy kept them watching¨Calready nning for the next election cycle.


    <b>Our </b><b>pack </b>stood nearest the stage in matching team uniforms, the fabric bearing the <b>Oasishorn </b>stem across our backs. The unity felt good, solid. <b>Like </b>we belonged together.


    1 heard there¡¯s a fifty¨Cyear¨Cold Alpha whospeting for the fourth time, Ryder murmured beside me. ¡°He was eliminated in the previous round.¡±


    There¡¯s nothing shameful about that. 1 kept my eyes forward, watching for Elder Selene¡¯s arrival. ¡°I think maintaining that fighting spirit at his age is


    admirable.¡±


    ¡°Skyr¡¯s right.¡± A


    Adrian said from my other side. I wonder if any of us will have that kind of fire when were fifty¡±


    ¡°I just hope when I¡¯m fifty, I¡¯m still with all of your <b>Ryder </b>grinned <b>at </b>Adrian, <b>his </b>youth shining through despite the tension in the ait,


    vile stood to my left, but chli talved high, defence r¨¦dulting from every line of her body. Following |


    matross the field.


    The bastard:


    I met his eyes and let a slow, contemptunus smile curve my lips. Let him see we weren¡¯t afraid. Let him know Lydia had <b>pack </b><b>new</b>¨Cpeople- between her and anyone who tried to hari her again.


    As 1 tumed my attention hack to the stage, my gate collided with another pair of ice¨Clilue eye.


    Leon stood with his team, looking energized and ready.


    Our eyes met briefly,


    His <b>gaze </b>was <b>as </b>cold as ever. Looking at him now, you¡¯d never imagine that three nights. he¡¯d kissed me with desperate hunger. I supposed it really was just the alcohol. The thought brought me relief.


    I looked away first, focusing on the stage as Elder Selene began her ascent.


    Elder Selene swept onto the tform, nked by the other Council elders. Unlike her usual stren demeanor from the previous trials, today she seemed unusually enthusiastic


    ¡°Congrattions on reaching the third trial¨Cthe <b>Trial </b>of Will Her voice carried <b>easily </b>across the gathered wolves. ¡°Last year¡¯s theme was the Purple Mist. This year, we present the Butterfly Dream <b>Maze</b>.¡±


    She paused dramatically, clearly savoring the moment,


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t it sound romantic? Poetic, even? The elders <b>and </b>1 designed every element ourselves.¡± Pride dripped from every word<b>, </b>her <b>eyes </b>practically glowing with delight.


    ¡°I think Elder Selene is like one of those anime viins,¡± Ryder whispered. ¡°What¡¯s romantic about a death trap?¡±


    Adrian shot him a sharp look. Ryder immediately fell silent, though I caught the ghost of agreement in Adrian¡¯s eyes.


    Elder Selene continued, oblivious <b>to </b>or uncaring of the orman rippling through the crowd. ¡°The rules are simple, Each team will enter through one of twelve different entrance into the maze. You <b>have </b>one hour to find your <b>way </b>out. Those who seed advance to the next round<b>.</b>¡±


    Her smile turned sharp, predatory


    ¡°But the Butterfly Dream Maze is special. To escape, you must rely on your heart, not your mind.¡±


    She paused briefly before continuing.


    ¡°Unlike the previous trials, you cannot forfeit <b>once </b>inside. Or rather, I should say you won¡¯t have the ability to forfeit.¡±


    My father¡¯s words echoed in my mind:


    The third trial tests mental fortitude above all else. If someone¡¯s mind shattered inside that maze, if they lost themselves to madness or despair, they wouldn¡¯t even remember how to quit.


    ¡°Since this is a team trial, pack members may help each other,¡± Elder Selene continued. ¡°Of course, opposing teams may also¡­ interact. The pause before ¡°Interact¡± sent another wave of unease through the frowd. ¡°Use whatever methods you deem necessary.¡±<fnd3ba> Fresh chapters posted on Find~Novel</fnd3ba>


    She surveyed the assembled wolves like a general reviewing troops before battle.


    ¡°Now then let the e third trial begin!¡±


    The crowd erupted in a mixture of cheers and anxious murmurs. Teams began moving toward their assigned entrances, and I felt my wolf stir uneasily beneath my <b>skin</b>.


    Chapter Comments


    1

 Casts 150

    Chapter <b>150 </b>


    The mood empted in a misture of theets and anatnes mutmors, Trams begts moving toward their enigned entrances, and I felt my volt sor an benjurth my skin.


    we approached the mare entrance, I had in admit Elder Selene was right about one thing, the design was undeniably romantic.


    The entrance won¡¯t carved from cold stone or twisted metal like Ted expected. Instead, it seemed in groom from the earth itself, an sichway woven from living vines that Moomed with midnight blue moEL


    Their petals shimmered with an otherwildly descence, as if dusted with statligt. Delicate thread can through


    the light and creating patterns that shifted with every angle.


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful!¡± I said.


    ¡°Just like women,¡± Ryder quipped, his eyes scanding the entrance warily. The more beautiful they are, the more dangerous.¡±


    I rolled my eyes. ¡°And how many women have you dated to be such an expert?¡±


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve had my share of


    ¡°There¡¯s writing here.¡± Adrian¡¯s voice cut through our banter, drawing our attention to the archway. He pointed to small, elegant script etched into the sher threads.


    I stepped closes, squinting to <b>make </b>out the delicate words:


    Long, an Eastern philosopher had a dream.


    He became a butterfly¡ªfree<b>, </b>Joyfol, drifting on the <b>wind</b><b>, </b>unaware he had ever been a man.


    Then he woke up.


    Lying in bed, he wondered:


    Was he a man who had dreamed of being <b>a </b>butterfly,


    or a butterfly now dreaming he was a man?¡±


    ¡°What does that mean? Ryder <b>asked</b><b>, </b>his brow furrowed in confusion.


    That philosopher had interesting thoughts,¡± Lydia mused. ¡°Perhaps it means Ele is but a dream? What if our lives are past dreams of the Moon Goddess¡±


    ¡°<b>Then </b>I hope my life is one of her pleasant dreams,¡± Ryder <b>said </b>with a smile.


    Adrian¡¯s jaw tightened, ¡°Let¡¯s go. We only have an hour.¡±


    We stepped through ! the archway together, and the world transformed.


    It was like tumbling down Alice¡¯s rabbit hole. The narrow paths were lined with flowers of vanges colors. Butterflies danced through the air, their wings like stained <b>ss </b>catching sunlight that couldn¡¯t possibly reach this <b>deep </b>into the maze. Nuvegber in the mountains should have killed any butterfly, yet here they thrived.


    The path beneath our feet want ordinary dirt or stone it seemed to shimmer, changing texture with each step. One moment it felt like walking on clouds, the next like wading through water, though our <b>feet </b>stayed dry.


    Chapter <b>150 </b>


    be weren¡¯t in the midig of a


    ¡°Don¡¯t wach anything<b>?¡± </b>Lydik a sharp estimant finne my hand inthes from the them. ¡°These nte socke


    1 pulled my hand back quickly, grateful for her expertise. The Bowers p?rer wees soddenly seemed stica despromi


    Wendeper into the mare, the patio twisting and turning unit of direction. The well grow higher, the viors thicker!


    Suddenly, a scream echoed thinugh the m


    high and terrified, cutting off abruptly, we all frome,


    That came from the rast, tydia said. ¡°Maybe three hundred panda:


    ¡°Should we help?¡± Ryder asked.


    ¨C Adrian¡¯s response was immediate. We dont know if it a real me part of the mare illusions. We stick


    ¦§


    We pressed on, more cautions now.


    When


    tached the first


    in the path, we stopped.


    Two passages branched off from our location. The left path glowed with soft golden light, flowers blooming in warm user colors. The right path was shrouded in silver mist, barely visible beyond a few feet.


    ¡°No signs, no clors,¡± Ryder muttered, peeing <b>down </b>each path. ¡®How are we supposed to choose?¡±


    Adrian studied each option carefully, his tactical mind working through posibilities. ¡°Remember what Elder Selene said¨Cfollow your heart, not your mind.¡±


    ¡°Great advice,¡± Ryder <b>said </b>sarcastically ¡°My heart <b>says </b>both paths look equally deadly¡±


    ¡°Wait¡± Lydia interrupted, kneeling beside the fork. Look at the butterflies.¡±


    We followed her gaze. The butterflies seemed to favor the left <b>path</b>, dancing <b>in </b><b>and </b>out of <b>the </b>golden light in intricate pa


    ¡°Nature knows,¡± she said simply.


    patterns


    Adrian considered this, then shook his head. ¡°Too obvious. This maze is designed to trick us. After a long moment, he spoke decisively. ¡°We split up.¡±


    ¡°Adrian=¡± I started to <b>protest </b>


    ¡°Two groups cover more ground,¡± he continued, his tone leaving no room for argument. ¡®<b>Ryder</b><b>, </b>you¡¯re with Lydu. Protect her at all costs.¡±


    Ryder straightened, taking the responsibility seriously. ¡°Yes, Alpha


    Adrian turned to me. ¡°You¡¯re with me.¡±


    Of course I was. Even in the middle of a trial, he <b>couldn¡¯t </b>help being protective.


    ¡°If <b>you </b>encounter danger or hit <b>a </b>dead end,¡± Adrian instructed Hyder, mind link us immediately. We¡¯ll regroup. Unlike the spy trial, we can use our connection here.¡±


    Ryder and Lydia took the left path, the golden light swallowing them within moments. Adrian gestured toward the right path, the one shrouded in silver


    I nodded, and we stepped into the fog together.


    The mist was cool against my skin, carrying a <b>strange </b>scent. <b>Visibility </b>dropped to mere feet, forcing <b>us </b>to stay close. Adrian¡¯s warmth beside me was reassuring, even as the silence between us stretched.


    2/3<fnc1cf> Updates are released by F¦ÉndNovel</fnc1cf>


    The ground beneath as began to slope downward, subtle at first, then more pronounced. My wall sense, ty e reliable, fet mather


    ¡°Why <b>haven </b>1 we encountered any other <b>packs</b>? Lasked.


    ¡°The maze must berger than we imagined, Adrian replied, his voice thoughtful. The perhaps it a designed to keep teams repinated?


    A flutter of wings made us both tense. A butterfly,rger than any I¡¯d seen before, circled us twice beforending on Adrian i shoulder Its weinige were peer Mack with silver edges.


    The butterfly¡¯s wings opened and closed slowly, almost hypnotically. Then, without warning, it hurst into a shower of silver sparks that rained den harmlessly around us.


    ¡°What the hell was that?¡± I breathed.


    Before Adrian could answer, the path <b>curved </b>sharply ahead, I adjusted my stride to match Adrian longer one. The mist began to thin slightly, revealing wall covered in intricate murals. Batterflies frozen in paint seemed to move in my peripheral vision, their wings treating patterns that made my head spen if I looked too long.


    at to touch one.


    ¡°These images¡­¡± I murmured, reaching out to


    ¡°Skye, don¡¯t¡ª¡±


    But my fingers had already brushed the painted wing. The world tilted violently, the ground beneath my feet simply ceasing to exit


    I heard Adrian¡¯s shout of rm <b>as </b>I plummeted into darkness, the butterfly mural thest thing I saw before shadows swallowed me whole.


    Chapter Comments


    Jamie DeWit


    ooopsy


    Jamie


    Marcus didn¡¯t go with them? he stayed back and helped to run the pack.


    View All 3 Comments


    2

 Casts 151

    Chapter <b>151 </b>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    I shd dowerscard, my body rushing through darkness in a long, winding tunnel. The concrete walls scraped against my skin as i spiraled deeper and deeper. Turning sharply at unexpected angles that sent my stomach hirching


    My hands desperately sought purchase against the unnoth surface, but found nothing to grip.


    ¡°Adrian!¡± I called out, my voice echoing in the narrow passage before being swallowed by the darkness,


    1 couldn¡¯t tell how <b>long </b>I tumbled through the ckness, until finally, I hit the bottom with a hand thot that knocked the wind from my lungs.


    1y there gasping, the world spinning wildly around me. My head thrubbed, and nautes rolled through my stomach in sickening whet


    1 squeezed my eyes shut, forcing myself to breathe slowly.


    Calm down. Deep breaths. In¡­ put¡­ in poi¡­..


    After several moments, the dizziness began to subside. I carefully opened my eyes<b>. </b>


    I found myself in what appeared to be a modern underground tunnel system.


    Fluorescent lights embedded in the ceiling cast a steady, clinical glow across smooth concrete walls. The air was cool and slightly damp, carrying the faint scent of earth and something metallic.


    As my


    vision cleared further, I noticed something <b>strange </b>about the tunnelwork.


    Then I looked up and saw something that made me gasp,


    Above me, visible through a ss ceiling panel, <b>was </b>another corridor¨Cupside down. I could see walkways, doon, and even what looked like <b>a </b>water <b>fountain</b>, all inverted <b>as </b>of <b>gravity </b>worked differently just a <b>few </b>meters above my head,


    ts not t,¡± I murmured as understanding dawned. The maze is three¨Cdimensional


    ¡°It¡¯s


    The entirebyrinth wasn¡¯t designed on a single ne hut as aplex three¨Cdimensional structure with multiple levels <b>operating </b>under different gravitational rules.


    This exined why we hadn¡¯t encountered other teams¨Cthe maze wai


    massive andyered.


    ¡°Some packs entrances must be underground,¡± I realized aloud. Different teams <b>could </b>be navigating <b>entirely </b><b>separate </b><b>sections </b><b>and </byers.


    ¡°Good


    Elder <b>Selene</b>! This truly <b>is </b><b>a </b>work of art!¡± I eximed, my voice echoing <b>against </b>the concrete walls.


    Beality quickly <b>pulled </b>me back to my current predicament. I needed to find Adrian and the others.


    I tumed toward the tunnel entrance and shouted:


    ¡°Adrian! <b>Can </b>you hear me? Adrian!¡±


    ur mind¨Clink.


    Only my own echo answered. I concentrated, trying to reach him through our


    Adrian<b>? </b>Where are you? <b>Can </b><b>you </b><b>hear </b>me?


    Nothing


    Adrian! Please answer inel


    I sensed something very faint presence, like a heartbeat heard through a thick wall, but no clear connection.


    attempted to reach Ryder and Lydia instead.


    Ryder? Luha? Can alvese hear me?


    Same resalt. Just vague sentations, enough in know they


    they were alive but insufficient formunication


    Mind¨Clinks between werewolves have distance limitations. If I could only sente vagar presences, we were separated by at least kilometer. But rare i coul pense them at all, we couldn¡¯t be more than three kilometers spari.


    At least we weren¡¯tpletely disconnected. They were somewhere neatly, probably in different levels or sections of the maze


    I turned back to the metal chate, determined to try retuming the way I¡¯de


    I approached the entrance, attempting to scale it. But the tunnel walls were nearly vertical and impossibly slick, like polished teel. There were no ridges crevices to use as handholds.


    After several attempts, each ending with me sliding back down after climbing only a few feet, I gave up.


    ¡°Fine, I get it,¡± I said to the tunnel. ¡°You don¡¯t want me going


    hack


    Since 1 couldn¡¯t return to my original path, I had no choice but to move forward.


    If this mate had only one exit, we¡¯d all eventually meet there, regardless of which routes we took.


    I took a deep breath and chose the straight path ahead of me.


    The corridor was well¨CEt, with smooth concrete <b>floors </b>and asional directional signs that, frustratingly<b>, </b>were written in symbols I couldn¡¯t understand.


    The tunnel stretched forward, curving slightly to the left after about fifty meters. I quickened my <b>pace</b>, hoping to find Adrian or other clues soon.


    However, as I rounded the bend, the environment began to change subtly. The clinical fluorescent lights dimmed, reced by older, yellowing fixtures that cast long shadows. The concrete walls gave way to rough stone, and the <b>air </b>grew <b>heavier</b>, carrying a familiar scent.


    A powerful sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu struck me. This smell¡­ I knew <b>this </b>ce.


    The light grew dimmer, and the corridor narrowed. My heart raced <b>as </b><b>an </b>ominous feeling crawled up my spine. This <b>wasn¡¯t </b>just any random section of the maze¨Cthis was a specific ce, somewhere I¡¯d been before.


    After passing through a heavy metal door that swung open at <b>my </b>approach. I <b>stopped</b>, drawing in a shocked breath.


    Before me stood a low stone building with small, barred windows and moss¨Ccovered <b>walls</b>. The trance <b>was </b><b>a </b>heavy metal door with a rusted but still <b>walld </b>


    <b>lock</b><b>. </b>


    The dungeon of the Gravestone Pack.


    seven months <b>ago</b>.


    From seven<fn532f> ?????? ???? Find¡ïNovel</fn532f>


    My leg began to tremble, my


    ly stomach contracting painfully.


    I knew the maze would test us, but I hadn¡¯t expected it to be so cruel, so precise in finding my deepest wounds.


    Just then, the door slowly opened with a grating <b>creak</b>. A familiar figure stood in the doorway, her ck hair disheveled, her face bearing a defiant expression despite the gentleness in her eyes.


    ¡°Nadia My voice broke


    She looked exactly <b>as </b>she had seven months ago, wearing the wedding guest dress Jessie had designed. A <b>bruise </b>circled her left eye<b>, </b>het lip was split, but she stood straight <b>and </b>tall, just as she <b>always </b><b>had</b>.


    ¡°You came,¡± <b>Nadia </b><b>said</b>, <b>her </b>voice calm and steady. ¡°I knew you would.¡±

 Casts 152

    Chapter <b>152 </b>


    <b>Skye¡¯s </b>POV


    I stared at Nadia, my throat constricting so tightly I could barely speak.


    ¡®L¡­ Trate not tral,¡± 1 finally imanaged, my mice harely above a whisper. ¡°You re not.


    The words caught in my throat, refusing toe out.


    Nadia smiled gently, almost amused by my struggle.


    ¡°What you¡¯re trying to say is that I¡¯m dead, right?¡±


    Hearing her say it sent a shock through my system. I shook my head, stepping back slightly.


    ¡°You¡¯re just an illusion, I insisted, my voice stronger now. ¡°Something the maze created to trick me


    Nadia approached slowly. She reached for my palm against her chest.


    hand, and I was too <b>stunned </b>to pull away. Her fingers wrapped around mine, warm and solid, then she ced


    I fraze, momentarily sprechless. If this was <b>just </b>an illusion created by the maze, then I had to say.


    y, it was an incredibly <b>realistic </b>one.


    ¡°You still <b>think </b>I¡¯m <b>just </b>an illusion?¡± she asked,


    I could feel it. The steady thump of a heartbeat beneath my fingers, the warmth of her skin through the fabric of her dress.


    feh possibly real.


    Looking at her face¨Cthe face of my friend, my mentor, the woman who had eventually epted me despite her initial mistrust¨CI <b>couldn¡¯t </b>hold <b>back </b>


    <b>anymore</b><b>. </b>


    Tears spilled down my cheeks, hot and relentless.


    The


    missed <b>you</b>,¡± I confessed, ¡°<b>So </b><b>much</b>.¡±


    Tve missed you too,¡± she replied, ber expression softening. She reached up to gently wipe away my tears with her thumb.


    I¡¯ve missed all of you. Don¡¯t cry. Tell me instead¨Chow is the Oaxisborn pack doing? Is everyone alright?¡±


    She took my hand and led me to sit on the cold stone floor of the dungeon, just as we used to sit together after training sessions.


    We¡¯d watch the <b>sunset</b>, sipping ice cold sodas while Ryderined <b>about </b><b>Nadia¡¯s </b>rigorous training methods. The memory was so vivid it made my barely- contained tears threaten to spill over again.


    ¡°I¡¯m the Beta now,¡± I told her, finding it strange to say those words to her of all people. <b>¡°</b>Butpared to you, I still have so much to <b>learn</b>,¡±


    I <b>swallowed </b>hard


    ¡°Ryder <b>has </b>matured a lot. He hasn¡¯t gotten <b>drunk </b>even once since¡­ well, you know. He¡¯s in charge of training all the young wolves now, and he¡¯s incredibly


    I managed a small smile.


    ¡°Venus and Marcus <b>are </b><b>deeply </b>in love. Adrian ns to throw them a huge wedding after the election is over.¡±


    <b>At </b>the mention of Adrian¡¯s name, my throat tightened painfully.


    <b>Nadia¡¯s </b>eyes softened at his name. ¡°Adrian¡­ how is he doing?¡±


    <b>1/3 </b>


    ¡°He¡¯s been preparing for the Alpha King election for mite than six months now: 1 said carefully, ¡°He¡¯s but some wright.


    ¡°I believe Adrian will <b>eed</b>. He has to


    Nadia¡¯s eyes brightened with that fierce loyalty I remembered so well.


    <b>Guilt </b>washed over me in a focating wave. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I blurted out. It should have been you by his side during these trials. I¡­I took your ce.


    ¡°I don¡¯t me you,¡± Nadia said, her voice gentle. Look at you now, you¡¯re a pool feta. You¡¯ve already helped Adrian through two trials.¡±


    Her kindness only made the pain wote. My chest ached with regret and sorrow.


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have left you behind,¡± I whispered. ¡°I shouldn 1 have tun away alone


    Nadia studied me, bet dark eyes unreadable.


    <b>¡°</b>Skye, if you truly feel sorry, there might be a way to make amends. But I don¡¯t know if you¡¯d be willing


    1 gripped her hands tightly, desperate for any chance at redemption. ¡°Anything. I¡¯d do anything to make it up to you.¡±


    Would you exchange ces with me?¡± she asked, ¡°If you stay here in this <b>dungeon</b>, I could leave, I promise I¡¯d help Adrian win the election. Fd make sore


    of it


    The request stunned me into silence.


    Nadias brow furrowed slightly. ¡°You don¡¯t want to?¡±


    ¡°L¡­ 1 stammered<b>, </b>uncertain how to respond.


    espond. ¡®It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to¡­ but Nadia, you¡¯re dead. How could you possibly leave this <b>ce</b>?¡±


    Her expression changed then, warmth draining away, reced by something colder.


    ¡°I knew it,¡± she said, her <b>voice </b>hardening. All your apologies are just empty words. Deep down, you must be happy I died. It meant you could have Adrian all to yourself, didn¡¯t it?


    ¡°Not¡± I shook my head frantically. ¡°That¡¯s not true! If I could go <b>back</b>, I would drink that coffee myself. I would have let you escape. I wish it had been me who died instead.¡±


    She withdrew her hand from mine, her lips curling into a cold smile that looked wrung on her face¨CNadia <b>had </b>never smiled like that.


    that coffee n


    ¡°Anyone can <b>say </b>


    y pretty words like that. If you truly feel sorry, would you be willing to drink that


    I followed her gate to the corner of the dungeon. There, on the stone floor, sat two coffee <b>cups</b>.


    Nadia rose to her feet and walked over, picking up one of the cups. She returned and held it out to me.


    Are you willing?¡± she asked, her <b>eyes </b>challenging me, the cup extended toward me <b>like </b>a test of my loyalty, my remorse, my worth.<fnc126> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? </fnc126>


    Crowned <b>by </b>Fate

 Casts 153

    I stared at the coffee cup in Midia¡¯s extended hand, watching thin wigs of team cut into the dank dungeon air. My fingers trembled as I reached Er (C


    The weight of my pult pressed down on me like the stone selling above. All those months of carrying the burden of her death, of mapping into her role beside Melon, of wondering if things could have been different..


    I drew in a deep, shuddering breath,


    My wolf stirred uneasily within me, sensing danger, urging me in these


    the cup away and


    ¡°This Nasha is take! Have you forgotten? Your <b>task </b>to escape the mare within an hour. Adrian in waiting for your¡± my wolf reminded me


    But Leuldn¡®


    I owe her this.


    ¡°If this is what you want,¡± I said, ¡°then 111 drink


    Belief flooded Nadia¡¯s face, softening her features into the s


    warm expression I remembered as well from our training sessions andte¨Cnight


    ¡°Skye,¡± she said softly. ¡°I knew you weren¡¯t ungrateful. I knew the guilt you carried was <b>real</b>.¡±


    She stepped closer, her hand briefly touching my arm.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll not only help Adrian win the election. Ell stay by his side forever. I¡¯ll protect him, love him the way he deser.¡±


    I nodded, a strange peace settling over me.


    Yes, what was there to worry about?


    as <b>fierce </b><b>as </b>mine, perhaps even stronger. She¡¯d loved him longer, known him better. She¡¯d be the Beta he needed, the


    Nadia¡¯s love for Adrian had always been as fpanion he deserved.


    Without allowing <b>myself </b>another moment of hesitation, I raised the qup to my lips and drank.


    The liquid burned down my throat, bitter and acid, nothing like the sweet hazelnut coffee Nadia used to make at the pack house on Sunday mornings


    Nadia watched me intently as I lowered the empty cup


    ¡°Do you have any message <b>for </b><b>Adrian</b>?¡± <b>she </b><b>asked</b><b>, </b>her <b>voice </b>gentle <b>now</b>, almost sympathetic.


    I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came. My tongue felt thick, heavy


    A tingling sensation <b>spread </b>from my throat outward, like ice crystals forming in my veins.


    So it begins.


    on the stone floor.


    The cup <b>slipped </b>from my <b>nerveless </b>fingers, <b>shattering </b>on


    Nadia¡¯s figure began to blur at the edges. She turned and walked toward the dungeon entrance: I watched her go, unable to call out, unable to move.


    The


    wolfbane worked faster than I expected,


    Fire and ice warped in my bloodstream, each heartbeat pumping the portum deeper into my system. <b>My </b>knees buckled, and I copsed unto the cold stone, gasping as painnged through my chest. It felt <b>like </b>ws tearing <b>me </b><b>apart </b>from the <b>inside </b>my own wolf <b>turning </b>against me <b>as </b>the poison attacked out


    band<fnf225> Checktest chapters at FindN()vel</fnf225>


    My well.


    <b>I </b>could feel her weakening, her silver light dimming. She who hade to me tote, who had made meplete


    My vision team, the dunge walls rippling like water. Colors bed ingether, then separated into impossible patterns.


    A lot of flies.


    Through the hate of neony, thoughts drifted like nutumn lewe


    This ending¡­ maybe it¡¯s not so bad.


    At least the gull would end. At least Nedia wild have her chance.


    But my parents


    <b>Oh </b>my parents.


    Another promise broken, another disappointment delivered. I¡¯d sworn to visit them after the election, to return to Prostshadow Pack and show them I¡¯d survived, thrived even. Mom would wait by the window, watching for me. Dad wouldn¡¯t call me his little warrior anymore, he¡¯d call me a real warrior.


    I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m so sorry.


    And Adrian. My heart clenched with a different kind of <b>pain</b>.


    There were so many things I¡¯d never told him. How <b>his </bugh made even the darkest days bearable. How his determination inspired me to be strongen. How Td choose him again <b>and </b>again, mate bond or no mate bond


    I wanted to tell you, I thought desperately, as if he could somehow hear me across the miles <b>and </b>through the mazes magic. ¡°My choice was always you, From that first night in the bar, through every <b>trial</b>, <b>every </b>danger¨Cit was <b>always </b>you.¡±


    But none of it mattered now.


    My wolf whimpered <b>once</b>, then fell silent.


    Is this what death feels like? This gradual <b>erasure</b>, this slow <b>dissolution </b>of everything that made me m??


    Butterflies


    So many butterflies swirling around me, so beautiful. 1 felt the pain slowly fading, my body bing weightless, as if I might float away with them into the endless <b>sky</b>.


    *Skye!¡±


    The <b>voice </b>cut through the fog like a <b>de</b>. Someone <b>was </b>calling my name, urgent and desperate.


    ¡°Skye, hold on!¡±


    With monumental effort, I forced my heavy eyelids open onest time


    A face swam into focus above me,


    features sharpening as my vision cleared momentarily.


    Not Adrian.


    Not Nadia


    Leon.

 Casts 154

    <b>Chapter </b>154


    I called out his nam


    In brit.


    Slendy, conciousness returned. The kaleidoscope of butterflies disappeared one by fading like morning mist. The dungeon budding Nadia diraihe nothingness, revealing the stone walls of the underground maje once more.


    As awareness flooded <b>back</b><b>, </b>I realized with a jolt that I was cruilled in Eenn¡¯s arms, my head resting against his chest, I could hear his steady heartbeat, the warmth radiating from his body.


    My well, still agitated from the heilving viim, witled slightly at the familiar scent of our kemer pack mate


    Without thinking. I drove my elbow hand into his chest.


    ¡°Ow!¡± He yelped in pain, immediately releasing his hold on me. ¡°What the bell was that for?


    thest testing to see if you¡¯re another hallucination,¡± I muttered, scrambling to put distapor between us.


    Leon red at me, rubbing his chest where I¡¯d struck him. ¡°Then why y didn¡¯t you p yourself instead?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± I said, getting unsteadily to


    <b>eadily </b>to my feet, ¡°now I¡¯m certain you¡¯re not an illusion. The real Leon would definitelyin like that.¡±


    strued to my feet, creating as much space between <b>us </b><b>as </b>the narrow passageway allowed.


    ¡°How <b>did </b>you end up here?¡± I <b>asked</b>, brushing dust from my clothes


    Leon straightened, his expression shifting to something more businesslike. ¡°I got separated from my team. I was supposed to be on the upper level, but I triggered some kind of mechanism and fell through.¡± He looked around the maze with grudging admiration. Thisbyrinth is impressively desigurd¨CI didn 1 expect it to be <b>so </b><b>three</b>¨Cdimensional.¡±


    His eyes studied me with ufortable intensity. What happened to you just now?¡±


    I didn¡¯t want to tell him about <b>Nadia</b><b>, </b>about the <b>guilt </b>that had nearly killed me even in illusion.


    Instead, I deflected. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see any hallucinations? Surely you experienced something.¡±


    ¡°I did. His expression turned thoughtful, distant, as if recalling something he¡¯d rather forget


    Then how did <b>you </b><b>break </b>free? <b>You </b>were alone.¡±


    Leon¡¯s face settled into his usual arrogant expression, tinged with contempt.


    This trial is about testing willpower. Ever since my mother died eleven years ago, I¡¯ve been preparing for the Alpha King election. Im not as weak¨Cwilled <b>as </b>you, giving up at the first sign of difficulty¡±


    ¡®I may have a weak will,¡± I shot back, ¡°but at least I¡¯m not arogant <b>like </b>you.¡±


    This isn 1 the time for arguments,¡± Leon said, his tone shifting <b>to </b>something almost¡­ friendly? ¡°We need to get out of here. Come on. III lead you <b>eur </b>


    His expected kindness <b>caught </b>me guard.


    ¡°Unless I¡¯m mistaken, werepetitors <b>now </b>Why would you help to


    Leon sighed, running a hand through his dark hair


    ¡°I just don¡¯t want


    you to lose your mind andconie some crazy person. n would be devastated, and to would your parents. Ita ¡°Do you have any idea what happened after


    ¡°you¡¯re will my male. If you go insane, it affec


    yesta apa? Your parents hear the crap out of one. Besides, he added, his voice dropping Tasek,


    ¡°You deserved (02: 1 snapped, anger. ring at his crust mention of nur bend


    Suddenly, Lren teached for my aim. I jerked away, sidestepping in maintain distance between on. Eid chosen Adrian. I couldn¡¯t do anything tha misunderstand, anything that might hurt him.


    ¡°Why are you avoiding me?¡± Leon askeil, genuinely puzzled. ¡°I¡¯m just worried we might trigger another trap and get separated again.¡±


    ¡°Tine,¡± I conceded reluctantly


    ¡°Let¡¯s focus on getting through this tunnel and back to


    ack to the surface,¡® he said, all


    Il business again. The axit has to be up there somewhere.¡±


    I nodded, thinking of Adrian. Once <b>we </b>reached the surface, I¡¯d be able to mind link him again. The thought gave me strength.


    Swallowing my pride, I grabbed the hem of Leon¡¯s shirt and followed behind him. The fabric was soft between my fingers, and i natural this felt.


    and I tried not to think about how


    Despite everything¨Cdespite choosing Adrian, despite the rejection, despite <b>four </b>years of distance the remnants of our mate bond still hummed faintly


    between <b>us</b><b>. </b>


    Looking at Leon¡¯s broad back as he navigated the maze, I felt an unwanted sense of security. My wolf, usually so wary around him now, settled into calmness


    The scene was hauntingly familiar. My mind drifted back to the Hunt Festival four <b>years </b>ago, when I¡¯d been chased by that grizzly bear. Leon had saved me then too, appearing like some fairy tale prince to rescue the helpless wolfless girl..


    But this time felt different somehow. This time, I wasn¡¯t helpless. This time, I had my own strength, my own wolf, my own choices.


    We walked in silence for several minutes, Leon choosing paths with the <b>confidence </b>of someone who understood mazes. His movements were sure, decisive qualities that would serve him well as Alpha King, I supposed.


    ¡°Stop staring at my back,¡± Leon said suddenly, not turning around.


    Heat rushed to my cheeks.


    can feel it.


    tter yourself. I wasn¡¯t <b>staring </b>at you.¡± I turned my face away, grateful he couldn¡¯t see my embarrassment.


    Chapter Comments


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    <b>2/2 </b>


    ¡°I just don¡¯t want you to lose your mind and became some crazy person, Ethan would be devastated, and so would your parents: Ith <b>expresion </b>deru ¡°Do you have any idea what happened after you ran away four years ago? Your parents beat the crap out me. Besides,¡± he added<b>, </b><b> </b>volta dropp ¡°you¡¯re still my mate. If you go insane, it affects me too.¡±


    ¡°You deserved it!¡°* 1 snapped, anger a


    at his casual mention of our bond,


    Suddenly, Leon reached for my arm. 1 jerked away, sidestepping to maintain distance between us. I¡¯d chosen Adrian. I couldn¡¯t do anything that might be misunderstood, anything that might hurt him.


    are you avoiding me?¡± Leon asked, genuinely puzzled. ¡°I¡¯m just world we might trigger another trap and get separated again.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± I conceded reluctantly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s focus on getting through this tunnel and back to the surface,¡± he said, all business again. The exit has


    be up there somewhere.¡±


    I nodded, thinking of Adrian. Once we reached the <b>surface</b>, I¡¯d be able to mind¨Clink him again. The thought gave me strength.


    Swallowing my <b>pride</b>, I grabbed the hem of Leon¡¯s shirt and followed behind him. The <b>fabric </b>was soft between my fingers<b>, </b>and I tried not to think <b>about </b>natural this felt.


    Despite everything¨Cdespite choosing Adrian, despite the rejection, despite four years <b>of </b>distance the remnants of our mate bond still hummed faintly between us.


    Looking at Leon¡¯s broad <b>back </b><b>as </b>he navigated the maze, I felt an unwanted sense of security. My wolf<b>, </b>usually <b>so </b>wary around him now, settled into calmness.


    The scene was hauntingly familiar. My mind drifted back to the Hunt Festival four years ago, when I¡¯d been chased by that grizzly bear. <b>Lean </b><b>had </b>saved me then too, appearing like some fairy tale prince to <b>rescue </b>the belpless wolfless girl


    But this time felt different somehow. This time, I wasn¡¯t helpless. This time, I had my own strength, my own wolf, my own choices.


    We <b>walked </b>in silence for several minutes, Leon choosing paths with the confidence of someone who understood mazes. His movements were sure, decisive qualities that would serve him well as Alpha King. I supposed,


    ¡°<b>Stop </b>staring at my <b>hack</b>, Leon <b>said </b>suddenly, not turning around. ¡°I can feel it.¡±


    Heat rushed to my cheeks.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself. I


    I wasn¡¯t staring at you.¡± I tamed my face away, grateful he couldn¡¯t see my embarrassment.


    Chapter Comments

 Casts 155

    Skye¡¯s POV


    We walked in silence for several minutes, the only sound our footsteps echoing against the stone walls of the underground maze.


    I kept my fingers reinted


    hem of Leons shirt, trying to ignore how familiar it felt to follow him this way.


    Suddenly, Leon broke the silence. ¡°About that night¡­ His voice was controlled, careful, ¡°I was drunk, (that bits was just a mistake.¡±


    I nearly stumbled at his unexpected words<b>. </b>The memory of his lips on mine shed through my mind, unhidden and unterframe.


    ¡°Alcohol barely affects werewolves,¡® I pointed mit, ¡®Expecially not an Alpha like you.¡±


    Leon gave a


    e a dismissiveugh.


    ¡°You think I actually wanted to kiss you? You¡¯re merestimating your appeal<b>. </b>His eyes were cold, distant. ¡°I was in a good mood that night and had some


    wolf liquor. That¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°Good. <b>That¡¯s </b>exactly what I wanted to <b>hear</b>.¡± <b>I </b>exhaled slowly.


    Relief washed over me. The kiss <b>had </b>been weighing on my conscience, <b>a </b>betrayal of Adrian even though I hadst initiated it. Now I could put it behind me where it belonged.


    ¡°Look,¡± Leon said suddenly, pointing ahrad. ¡°I think I see light.¡±


    Sure enough, the narrow tunnel began to brighten. The stale, dusty air <b>gradually </b>freshened as we <b>approached </b><b>what </b>appeared to be an exit.


    The rough stone walls gave way to smoother <b>surfaces</b>, and I could smell grass and open air.


    We finally emerged from the underground tunnel into daylight! Though high walls around us served as stark reminders we remained trapped in the mare, <b>least </b>now sunlight warmed our faces, nts <b>added </b>sshes of green, and birdsong filled <b>the </b>air. These simple elements breathed hope into our weary spirits.<fn81bc> Newest update provided by Find?Novel</fn81bc>


    ¡°Finally out!¡± I released Leon¡¯s shirt <b>immediately</b>, putting distance between us.


    My first instinct was to reach out to Adrian through our mind¨Clink.


    Adrian! Can you hear me?


    Before I could focus properly, a <b>dark </b>shape burst from the Bushes to our right. My reflexes kicked it instantly¨CI leaped backward, dropping into a defensive crouch, my wolf surging close to the surface.


    was another werewolf, one of the Alphaspeting in the election.


    As the figure staggered into view, I realized it was


    But something was terribly wrong. His eyes were bloodshot, pupils dted with terror. He was muttering to himself, swinging wildly at invisible enemies.


    ¡°Get away¡­ get away from me!¡± he screamed at nothing, his movements frantic <b>and </b>uncoordinated.


    Leon approached him cautiously.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he <b>said</b>, waving a hand in front of the Alph¡¯s face.


    The man didn¡¯t react at all, continuing to fight his invisible tormentors.


    ¡°He¡¯s trapped in a <b>hallucination</b>.¡± <b>Leon </b>said, turning back to me. ¡°Let¡¯s got


    | hesitated, watching as the Alpha dropped to his knees, tearing at his hair with such face that champs came away in his hands. His face was contorted in agony, <b>tears </b>streaming down his cheeks.


    ¡°I sald. ¡°<b>Aren¡¯t </b>we going to help him?¡±


    Leon looked at me with genuine disbelief.


    ¡°Help him? Did I hear you coscectly? He gestured toward the Alpha. We¡¯re in apetition. He¡¯s or opponent.¡±


    I watched the Alpha ms his head against the genund, nd trickling from a fresh wound art his forehead.


    ¡°I know that. But I¡¯ve heard stories about people who never recover from these hallucinations¨Cthey y stay trapped in their minds forever.¡±


    Leons expression hardened. ¡°If you want to save lives, be a doctor or a firefighter.¡± His voice was cold, pragmatic. The fact that I¡¯m not killing him right now is merry enough. If our positions were reversed, do you think he would help us?¡±


    He stepped closer, his voice dropping. ¡°Don¡¯t forget Elder <b>Selene¡¯s </b>rules¨Cmembers of different packs are allowed to attack each other.


    I fell silent, knowing Leon¡¯s logic was sound. Yet watching the Alpha¡¯s suffering made my stomach twist with pity. His agonized whimpers <b>reminded </b>me too much of my own experience with the hallucination, the crushing guilt and terror.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Leon grabbed my arm. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time left.¡±


    Then he closed <b>his </b>eyes briefly, obviously mind linking with his park members.


    I tried again to <b>reach </b>Adrian.


    Adrian? Are you there?


    Nothing but silence answered me. Worry gnawed at my insides, Where was he? <b>What </b>had happened to him?


    I quickly shifted my focus.


    Lydia? Can you hear me?


    Skye! Her relieved voice filled my mind immediately. Thank God! We¡¯ve been trying to reach you.


    Fru finally back above ground, I <b>told </b>herds there any word from Adrian?


    No, her voice was tight with concern. I¡¯m with <b>Ryder </b>now, but we havent been able <b>to </b>contact Alpha Adrian. We couldn¡¯t reach you either. Du you and Alpha <b>Adrian </b><b>get </b>separated?


    <b>in </b>


    Yes<b>, </b>I replied, not wanting <b>to </b>waste time with exnations. Listen<b>, </b>be careful of traps. This maze in three¨Cdimennal¨Cthere are underground levels. You might fall through if you trigger the wrong mechanisis.


    Underground levels? Lydia¡¯s surprise was evident. No wonder we could contact you. What should we do now? Should we turn back and search for Alpha <b>Adrian</b><b>? </b>


    I considered our options. <b>Having </b>everyone scramble around like headless chickens searching blindly would only waste precious time. Better to <b>have </b>a clear rendezvous point.


    No, you and <b>Ryder </b>keep moving forward. Try to find the realt. We¡¯ll meet there.


    Understood, Lydia agreed.


    <b>As </b>our mind¨Clink faded, dread settled in my stomach.


    Adrian was still <b>unreachable</b>. Where <b>was </b>he? Was he trapped in a hallucination? Or worse?


    ¡°Adrian¡¯s still missing.¡± I told Leon, unable to keep the worry from my voice. <b>¡°</b>Now¡±


    above ground, I should go find him. You go on ahead¡±


    Leon frowned, his brows drawing together. ¡°Do you even know where he is? For all we know, Adrian might have already made his way to the exit. Running back now might justplicate things for him.


    He paused, then <b>added</b>, ¡°I just mind¨Clinked with Ethan. Hex already at the exit.¡± A smog smile yed across his lips. ¡°If even my Beta canplete this mai easily, surely Adrian isn¡¯t worse than him.¡±


    <b>As </b>much as I hated to admit it, Leon had a point.


    Searching blindly through the mare would be foolish. The best strategy was to reach the exit and regroup


    ¡°Fine,¡± I conceded, Let¡¯s keep moving.


    I fell into step beside Leon, my thoughts racing with possibilities. Adrian was strong, capable¨Cone of the most powerful Alphas 1 knew


    He would be <b>fine</b><b>. </b>He had to be


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 Casts 156

    rowned by Fate


    Chapter <b>156 </b>


    Leen and I quickened our pare. The oppressive weight of the mare seemed to lift withi


    kanch step we took tebrand fir


    or han 1 puntered any mom dasgris.


    I think each person only fees one nightmare,¡± I said, breaking the silence between in. Once you wake up, the illusions lose their power.¡±


    Iron nodded without looking at me. The mind can only be ticked our before it lets to recognise deception.


    Tinally, I spotted a bright opening ahead of us. The mare exit appeared as a magnificent archway carved from ancient stone, intricate af rymbols ched into its surface. Golden sunlight poured through the opening, highlighting the path here on.


    Standing just beyond the archway were there familiar figures. Lihan¡¯s tall frame was unmistakable, with Maya hovering close beside him. Another Frostshadow prek member stood a few paces behind them, keeping watche


    The moment. Maya spotted us, her <b>jaw </b>droppedically before her face contorted into an exaggerated disy of outrage, the dramatically ced her hand over her heart as it shed witnessed something scandalous,


    ¡°What are YOU doing with Leen?¡± she demanded, her voice rising an <b>octave </b>higher than necessary. ¡°Did you follow him into the me to stage our team?


    Before I could respond, Leon stepped forward, his shoulders squared. ¡°Skye is my mate,¡± he stated firmly, the words sending an unexpected tremor the my chest. ¡®I sensed her danger. Of course I found her.¡±


    Maya scoffed, rolling g her eyes. ¡°She may be your mate, but right now shes ourpetition. Or have you forgotten what were here for?¡±


    Leons eyes shed dangerously as he turned to her. ¡°Are you presuming to tell me what to do, Maya?¡±


    She immediately lowered her guze, her face fhishing crimson.


    Ethan¡¯s expression shifted from surprise to relief as he rushed forward and pulled me into a tight embrace.


    ¡°Are you at?¡± he asked, pulling back to examine me. ¡°What happened in there?¡±


    ¡°Im fine,¡± I assured him, though the lie tasted bitter on my <b>tongue</b>. The <b>nightmare </b><b>had </b>left invisible wounds <b>that </b>wouldn¡¯t heal so easily.


    What about your teammates?¡± <b>Ethan </b><b>asked</b>, his brow furrowed with concern.


    ¡°We got separated,¡± I exined, trying to keep my voice steady.


    Satisfied that I wasn¡¯t injured, Ethan released me with a relieved sigh. ¡°The important thing is you made it out safely


    My thoughts immediately turned to Adrian. Ethan, have you see Adrian on your way out?¡®


    My brother shook his <b>head</b>. No sign of him.


    Panic seized my chest as I closed my eyes, focusing all my energy on reaching Adrian through our mind¨Clink.


    Adrian? Can you hear me? Please r


    Nothing but silence greeted me. I tried again, pushing harder against the mental barrier


    Adrian! Where are you?


    Still nothing. The emptiness on the other <b>end </b>of our connection felt like a physical


    There was only one exnation¨CAdrian <b>was </b>still trapped somewhere in the maze, possibly caught <b>in </b>his own nightmare. The thought of him suffering alune twisted my insides into knots.


    ¡°I have to go back,¡± I said, already tuttiing timand the entrance.


    Ethan caught my arm, his grip firm. ¡°Manlutely not.


    slutely not. You just made it out. Mom and Dad would he devstated if something happened to you?


    ay out of a maje? How fascinating. It seems your first tab


    <b>Maya </b>let out a mockingugh. ¡°Oh, lost this precious? Your chosen Adrian can¡¯t ever find trial sorcesses were nothing but dun luck after all.


    1 red at her, my wolf rising dangrinusly close in the surface. Before I could respond, I spotted two figures emerging from the made. Ipfias masked face came into view, followed by Ryder¡¯s tall form. Relief flooded through me an I broke away fmm Ethan and rushed toward them.


    ed from Adrian?¡± I asked breathlessly.


    ¡°Have either of you


    heard t


    Their grim expressions told me everything i needed in know before they rien shenk their heads.


    without another wond, I darted past them and sprinted luck toward i maze entrance. Adrian needed me, and enthing else mattered


    ¡°Skye!¡± Ryder¡¯s voice boomed behind me. ¡°We¡¯re cosing with your


    I stood frozen as she raced <b>back </b>into the maze, willing <b>to </b><b>risk </b>everything for him.


    Rage ignited in my chest, burning hot and fierce. This <b>wasn¡¯t </b>the first time.


    During the first trial, she¡¯d dived into <b>that </bke without any diving gear, knowing the dangers that lurked beneath the surface. All for Adrian.


    now she was throwing herself back into a maze filled with traps and nightmares¨Cfor Adrian


    What did she see in<fna9ea> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? findnovel</fna9ea>


    And


    see in him?


    nd up to his uncle to im his rightful ce as Alpha. A man who abandoned his birthright rather than fight for it. And this


    <b>was </b>who my mate chose over me?


    A coward who couldn¡¯t even stand up to


    My mate. The words felt hollow now. People whispered behind my back, mocking me because my own mate had chosen another man. I pretended not to care about such gossip, but every rumor was <b>like </b>a thom in my side.


    Shed once followed me everywhere, <b>desperate </b>for my attention.


    What changed?


    Adrian must have brainwashed her somehow. There was no other exnation.<ul><li>Fury boiled through my veins as I realized how foolish I¡¯d been these past days. I shouldn¡¯t have stayed up all night writing that testimony when she and <b>Adrian </b>nearly got eliminated in the second trial,</li></ul>


    I shouldn¡¯t have brought her medicine when the burned herself.


    I shouldn¡¯t have saved her from her nightmare in the tunnel.


    Every act of kindness Ed shown her had only strengthened her bond with Adrian. Every time I helped her, I was helping them work against me.


    My mate had betrayed me. The thought <b>made </b>me clench my fists so tightly my <b>knuckles </b>turned white


    You abandoned her first! my wolf growled usingly.


    Shut <b>up</b>. That <b>was </b>four <b>years </b>ago, the really still angry about something so trivial? I shot back


    <b>2/3 </b>


    My wolf whined, disagreeing with my assessment, but I pushed him down. I made a silent sus then and the is when I am Alphing wry first act


    them In the winds and watch Adtian los everything hed built. would be to disband the Oasishon Pack. I would watter ti


    o,¡± I said to my tram, turning away from the maze entrance. Elder Selene is waiting fo


    As we walked away, I didn¡¯t look back. Not even once.


    Chapter Comments


    Jamie


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    he¡¯spletely lost. I hope he gets a redemption book but not with Skr, she belongs with Adrian.


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    1

 Casts 157

    Adrian¡¯s POV


    The moment Skyen fingers toallied the buttrally mural, I karu something was wrong.


    ¡°<b>Skye</b>, no


    The ground beneath her feet singly censed to exist. One second she was standing there, and the next the wat falling through <b>a </b>perfectly circr had materialized out of nowhere.


    I longed forward, my hand barely missing the fabric of his shit at the disappeared into the dart hl.


    The hole sealed itself instantly, leaving nothing but solid earth where the bad stond moments before.


    <b>¡°</b><b>SKYE</b>!


    I mmed my lists against the batterfly mural, searching for any mechanism that might reopen the passage. The stone remained cold and unyielding beneath my desperate strikes.


    ¡°Open up, damn you!¡±


    I shifted partially, my ws extending as I tore at the ground where she¡¯d vanished. Dirt and debris flew in all directions as I dug frantically, but there w nothing, just more packed earth and stone. No sign that a hole had ever existed,


    I forced myself to stop, chest heaving as I fought for control. Panic wouldn¡¯t help <b>Skye</b>, I closed my eyes and tried to mind¨Clink her..


    ¡°Skye? Can <b>you </b>hear me?¡±


    For several agonizing moments, there was only silence. Then, faint as a whisper on the wind, I felt her presence brush against my consciousness. The link was weak, barely there, but it was enough.


    She was alive.


    Her <b>voice </b>faded before she could finish, the connection too tenuous to maintain. I tried again, pouring all my energy into strengthening our bond, but it was like trying to grasp smoke. <b>Whatever </b>had taken her was interfering with our mind¨Clink.


    I stared at the mural onest time, memorizing every detail of the painted butterflies. Their wings seemed to mock me with their stillness.<ul><li>Skye wasn¡¯t someone who acted recklessly. She was careful, calcting. But something about this mural had drawn her in,pelled her to touch it despite my warning</li></ul>


    Magit, my wolf growled. Old magic.


    There was no point staying here. I had to keep moving forward and trust that our paths would cross again.


    The <b>corridor </b>ahead curved sharply<b>, </b>and <b>as </b>I rounded theer. I stopped short.


    A house stood directly in the middle of the <b>path</b>, it weathered wooden wallspletely blocking the way forward, Not built into the maze walls, but sitting there as if someone had simply <b>dropped </b>a building in the center of the passage.


    My breath caught in my throat,


    In this <b>house </b>


    The salt¨Cstained shingles, the moked shutters painted maritime blur, the brass <i>shi </i>


    bell hanging beside the door. Every detail was exactly as I


    remembered.


    This was the fishing


    cabin where my f


    father


    But that was impossible. We were in a mare somewhere in the middle of the country, bere eat the reas


    And my fathe.. my father had been dead for four and a half year


    Lapproached slowly, half expecting the house to vanish like a mirage.


    The wooden porch treaked under my weight, the sound to familiar it made my chest tight. How times had 1 hounded up their stapt help my father prepare the dising equipment?


    examined the door carefully, running my hands along the frame to check for traps or triggers. I thought the mare would only show people their nightmares. I wouldn¡¯t be caught off goard. But there was nothing. Just an ordinary door with peeling paint and a brass handle worn smooth by


    Taking a deep breath, I pushed it open.


    The scent hit me first. Saltair and old wood, mise with the lingering arms of my father coffee. My eyes burned with unexpected as a stepped inside.


    Everything was exactly as it had been. The insin room with its stone firece and mismatched furniture. The kitchen table where we¡¯d spread out mutiral charts, nning our dives. The bookshelf crammed with field guides to Pacific marine life. Even his luckypass on the mantle, to brass surface gleaming in the afternoon light streaming through the windows,


    I moved deeper into the room, <b>my </b>fingers trailing over familiar objects. Here was the framed photo of my first sessful deep dive. I couldn¡¯t have be more than twelve, grinning beside my father with a all octopus in my hands


    There was the piece of coral we¡¯d found at forty meters, its branching structure still vibrant orange despite the years


    On the coffee table sat his dive log, open to a halfpleted entry, I recognized <b>his </b>careful handwriting:


    Current conditions favorable. Adrian shows remarkable improvement in breath control. Reached 80 meters unassisted today. So proud of my son¡­


    The entry ended mid<b>¨C</b>sentence, dated two weeks before my father died.


    I ask onto the worn <b>couch</b>, the notebook trembling in my hands. This <b>was </b>from ourst trip together, before everything fell apart,


    ¡°Why are you showing me this<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>I whispered to the empty room.


    ¡°I thought the mare would only show people their nightmares. But this wasn¡¯t a nightmare. It was <b>a </b>perfect memory, preserved like an insect


    amber.


    Perhaps that <b>made </b>it worse.


    set the notebook <b>down </b>carefully <b>and </b>made my way to the small kitchen. More memories ambushed me with every step. The dent in the cab where Id identally kicked it during a growth spurt. The mismatched mugs we¡¯d collected from various coastal towns. The ancient radio that only picked up three stations, all of them weather reports.


    And there, on the stove, a pot simmered <b>on </b>low heat.


    ish stew filled the air. Halibut <b>and </b>salmon with potatoes and herbs from my mother¡¯s garden. He¡¯d make a huge The smell of my father¡¯s fish diving trip, iming it gave us strength for the cold Pacific waters. I lifted the <b>lid</b>, and steam rose in a familiar cloud.


    batch before each


    It looked fresh, as if he¡¯d just stepped out to check the boat.


    My rational mind knew this was impossible. My father was dead, killed while protecting our pack. This house, this stew, these perfectly preserved memories were <b>all </b>just another maze illusion, designed to break mr..


    But <b>knowing </b>that didnt stop the words from caping my lips.


    The name echoed through the empty cabin, hall of the deep Innging 14 cattled for over four years. For a moment, I let myself imagine le mig might walk through that does with his easy smile and sun weathered face, might <b>tell </b>me we were going to challenge a hundred meter dive this time.<fc7> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find~novel</fc7>


    That¡¯s when i brand it. The sound of the front door opening.


    <b>1 </b>spun around, my heart hammering againd my ribs. Heavy footsteps cossed the threshold<b>, </b>apanied by lighter ones. Tan pemple


    As I moved back toward the main mom,


    them


    Maxwell stood in the doorway, his arm wrapped possessively around my mother¡¯s waist. She wore a summer dress I remembered, her hait longer than when Edst seen her. They were both smiling, looking at each other with an intimacy that made my stomach torn.


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 Casts 158

    <b>Chapter </b><b>158 </b>


    Adrien¡¯s POV<fnb87c> For original chapters go to find?novel</fnb87c>


    Maxwell and my mother walked through the door,ughing together like they didn¡¯t have a care in the world. Their eyes found frozen in the middle of the


    Maxwell¡¯s hand dropped from my mothers waist as if burned.


    ¡°Adrian?¡± My mother¡¯s voice catsied surprise. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    I fored myself to breathe normally, to push down the rage that threatened to consume me. ¡°Wee into each other.¡±


    we? Nothing strange about rondleg


    Maxwell¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°There you go again with your ridilles. You should spend less time reading those useless poems Poetry only not a man¡¯s brain-


    The confusion hit me like cold water.


    I looked at them more carefully, <b>taking </b>in details I¡¯d missed in my initial shock. They weren¡¯t wearing thepetition gear everyone had donned for the Alpha <b>King </b>trials, Instead, they wore casual summer clothes suitable <b>for </b>a beach vacation. <b>My </b>mother¡¯s hair fell past her shoulder, longer than I¡¯d seen it in years. Her face looked younger too, the worry lines that <b>had </b>appeared after my father¡¯s death notably absent.


    Understanding dawned<b>, </b>and I almostughed at the mazes trick. This wasn¡¯t real. None of it was real<b>. </b>


    ¡°I need to go,¡± I said, already turning toward the door. ¡°I have things to <b>do</b>.¡±


    ¡°<b>Wait</b>!¡± My mother¡¯s voice stopped me. ¡°I¡¯ve made dinner. Stay y and eat with us.¡±


    Maxwell moved toward the refrigerator, his movements casual and familiar in this space that should have been sacred to my father¡¯s memory. ¡°Your mother made my favorite today. Lamb stew cooked in <b>goat¡¯s </b>milk. The pulled out a bottle of red wine, examining thebel with satisfaction. ¡°You have to try it.¡±


    Lamb stew <b>cooked </b><b>in </b>goat¡¯s milk?


    I¡¯d seen the pot on the stove myself just minutes ago.


    was fish stew, halibut and salmon, the way my father always made it


    But arguing would be pointless. This <b>was </b><b>all </b>an <b>illusion</b>, a trap designed to break me. I wouldn¡¯t <b>give </b>it the satisfaction.


    \¡°I¡¯m not hungry,¡± I said, heading for the back door. ¡°Enjoy your dinner.¡±


    Maxwell strode across the mom and nted himself directly in my path, blocking my way to the back door. His hand caught my arm, his grip firm. ¡°How can you be so rude to your mother?¡°:


    ¡°Rude?¡± The word came out as a bitterugh. ¡°What about your private meetings? is that polite to my father?¡±


    My mother¡¯s face went pale<b>, </b>her <b>eyes </b>darting between Maxwell.<ol><li>me. ¡®It¡¯s not what you think, Adrian. Your uncle and I¡­¡±</li></ol>


    She turned to <b>set </b>the pot of stew on the table, her hands shaking so badly she <b>nearly </b>spilled it.


    I <b>wondered </b>if they¡¯d been meeting secretly before my father died. If they¡¯d used this fishing <b>cabin </b>for their affair, tainting every good memory I had of this ce. The thought made me <b>sick</b>. My childhood <b>sanctuary</b>, the ce where I¡¯d learned to love <b>the </b>ocean and trust my father¡¯s strength, all of it felt contaminated now.


    Maxwell settled into a chair at the have some <b>stew </b>first.¡±


    as if nothing had happened,dling stew <b>into </b>his bowl with practiced ease. ¡°Let¡¯s <b>not </b><b>argue</b>. Come, sit down and


    He filled another bowl and held it out to me. You know, Adrian, the Bible says your shouldnt boil a kid in its mother¡¯s milk. Butmb <b>cooked </b>in goar¡¯s is actually the most delicious thing. Here, taste it¡±


    I didn¡¯t take the bowl. The smell alone made my stomach turn. The wrongness of it all, the perversion of taking something cook the very creature it should <b>have </b>fed<b>. </b>


    to nurture and <b>using </b>it to


    <b>1/2 </b>


    ¡°Get out my wolf urged<b>. </b>This pler terks of betrayal ¡¤


    I <b>turned </b>toward the door, determined to leave this twisted illusion behind. I was halfway to the door when footsteps pounded on the pu <b>open</b><b>, </b>and my father¡¯s Beta stumbled in, his fare fnhed with urgency.


    ¡°Alpha!¡± He addressed Maswell, and hearing my uncle called by my father title made my jaw clench Alpha Stormbowl is under attack. He needs reinforcements immediately!¡±


    I stopped in my tracks, every muscle in my body going rigid


    Maxwell didn¡¯t even look up from his stew. ¡°No rush. Let me finish this bowl first,¡±


    My mother¡¯s reaction was even worse. She showed no concern at hearing her mate was in danger. Instead, the reached for the wine bottle, filling Maxwel ss with steady hands.


    ¡°The wine pairs perfectly with themb,¡± she said, as if we were discussing nothing more important than dinner arrangements,


    Something inside me snapped. I crossed the room in three strides and grabbed Maxwell by the cor, hauling him up from his chair. The bowl of stew ttered to the floor, spreading its contents across the worn wood.


    ¡°The day my father died,¡± I snarled, my face inches from his, <b>¡°</b><b>did </b>you deliberately choose not to save him?¡±


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 Casts 159

    <b>Chapter </b><b>159 </b>


    <b>Adnan¡¯s </b><b>POV </b>


    Maxwell¡¯s eyes gleamed with ciuri amusement as I held him by the cor. He didnt struggle ar try to break free.


    Instead, heughed.


    ¡°Your father?¡± He shook his head slowly. ¡°You want to know if I let him die? Thats the wrong question, boy. The question you should be asking is why a Supposed Alpha midn¡¯t handle a simple pack of regu


    1 tightened my grip. ¡°You were supposed to send reinforcements. You were his brothert


    ¡°Brother?¡± Maxwell spat the word like it tasted boul. ¡°Your father never now me at a leather, I was always post the happened to the golden son. Well, something di happen, dida ( AF


    My mother stepped forward, cing her hand on my arm. ¡°Adrian, please. Let him go.<fnd91f> This text is hosted at f?ndnovel</fnd91f>


    I shrugged her off, keeping my focus on Maxwell. ¡®Ile trusted


    d you. The pack trusted you to protect them?¡±


    the backup n if something


    The <b>pack </b>needed a strong <b>leader</b>,¡± Maxwell said, his voice dropping to a growl. ¡°Not some port who spent more time reading books than training weerrion Your father was weak, Adrian. Too weak to survive in our world.¡±


    My wolf surged forward, and I felt my ws extending.


    ¡°Take that back.¡±


    The truth hurts, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Maxwell¡¯s smile widened, ¡°Just like it hurt when those rogues tore through his defenses. I heard he called for help three times before <b>they </b><b>finally </b>brought him down. <b>Three </b>times, Adrian. A real <b>Alpha </b>would have handled it himself¡±


    I mmed him against the wall, the wooden boards creaking under the impact. ¡°You let him die. You wanted his position, so you let rogues <b>kill </b>him?¡±


    Maxwell¡¯s expression shifted to <b>mock </b>sympathy. ¡°Speaking of letting people die, I heard about that girl who followed you when you left Stormhoel. What


    My blood turned to it.


    <b>¡°</b><b>Such </b>a waste,¡± he <b>continued</b>, watching my reaction with satisfaction ¡°She was an excellent warrior, Strong, loyal, beautiful. I had ns for her, you <b>know</b>. Alpha Leon needs strong females for breeding stock. ¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡± I growled, but he kept talking


    ¡°If she¡¯d stayed in Stormbowl, if she¡¯d epted my arrangement, she¡¯d be alive right now. Comfortable, protected honored as the mother of future Alphax Instead, she followed <b>you </b>into the desert to <b>build </b>your little <b>refugee </b>camp. And where <b>is </b><b>she </b>now, <b>Adrian</b>? Oh, that¡¯s right, She¡¯s dead.¡±


    The rage


    e that had been building inside me exploded. I released Maxwell and shifted partially, my ws fully extended, Eangs dropping.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare speak her name!


    Maxwell shifted <b>too</b><b>, </b>meeting <b>my </b><b>attack </b>head on. We crashed through the kitchen table, sending dishes flying. The small cabin shook with the force of our


    <b>I </b>was faster than him, stronger than I¡¯d been four years ago when I¡¯d left Stormbowl. My ws raked across his chest, drawing blood. He stumbled back, surprise flickering in his eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯ve grown stronger,¡± he admitted<b>, </b>circling me warily. ¡°<b>But </b>strength without wisdom is just destruction waiting to happen.¡±


    He <b>urged </b>at me, aiming for my throat. I <b>judged</b><b>, </b>spinning to <b>strike </b><b>at </b>his exposed side. But suddenly my mother <b>was </b>there, moving with supernatural speed to block my attack


    Time seemed to slow na my <b>ws</b>, already in motion, met flesh that shoulde ive been there.


    The sound was soft, almost gentle. <b>Like </b>puncturing wort paper. My ws slid through her cheat at if he were made of mist


    But the blood that sprayed across niy face was het. <b>Real</b>. <b>The </b>


    metallic taste filled my


    stared in horror at what Ed dute.


    My mother looked down at the ws protruding from her chest, then op at me. Her eyes held in anger, only a deep, infinite sadness.


    ¡°Adrian,¡± she whispered, bloed bubbling from her lips.


    I yanked my hand back, and she crumpled to the font. The blood spreading beneath her was too bright, to real to be an feel its warmth on my skin.


    ¡°LILLIAN!¡± Maxwell¡¯s rear shook the cabin. He dropped to his knees beside her, gathering her into his arms.


    illusion. I could smell it, faste it,


    1 stood froten, staring at my bloodstained <b>ws</b>. This couldn¡¯t be real. The maze treated illusions, not reality. But the blood was in warm, and my mother¡¯s eyes were already ring over.


    -Mom? I fell to my


    <b>to </b>my knees beside them. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to, I wasn¡¯t aiming for you. Please, this isn¡¯t real. This can¡¯t be real!!


    She reached up with a trembling hand, touching my face. Her fingers left bloody streaks on my cheek<b>. </b>


    ¡°My boy,¡± she breathed. ¡°My sweet boy.¡±


    Then her hand fell limp, and the light faded from her eyes.


    ¡°You killed her,¡± Maxwell said, his <b>voice </b>hollow with shock. Then louder, filling with rage. ¡°You killed your own mother!¡±


    1 shook my head frantically, pressing my <b>hands </b>against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding that had already stopped.


    ¡°No, this is the maze. This is just an illusion. She¡¯s not really <b>dead</b>. She can¡¯t be!¡±


    Maxwell stood slowly, my mother¡¯s blood staining <b>his </b>clothes. His eyes burned with hatred. ¡°First you got Nadia killed with your foolish dreams. Now you ve murdered your own mother. How many more people will die because of you, <b>Adrian</b>?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t kill Nadia,¡± I said, but <b>my </b>voice shook. ¡°I tried to save her!¡±


    ¡°<b>You </b><b>led </b>her into danger. You convinced her to leave the safety of Sturmhoud for <b>your </b>pathetic desert pack. Her blood is on your hands, just like your mother¡¯s.¡± He gestured at the body between us ¡°Look at what you¡¯ve done. Look at her!¡±


    I couldn¡¯t look away. My mother


    y still, her chest no longer rising and falling. The blood had stopped flowing, pooling dark and thick around her body.


    ¡°You¡¯re just like your father,¡± Maxwell spat. ¡°Weak Reckless. Destroying everything you <b>touch</b>. He got himself killed, and you¡¯ll do the same. But not before you take down everyone foolish enough to care about you¡±


    -Your mate, your <b>pack </b>members, anyone who gets close to you,¡± Maxwell <b>continued </b>relentlessly. ¡°They¡¯ll all die <b>because </b>of your ipetence. You can protect anyone. <b>You </b>can¡¯t even control yourself!¡±


    I felt myself breaking. The carefully constructed walls I¡¯d built around my guilt and <b>grief </b>crumbled. Nadia¡¯s face shed before my eyes, the way she¡¯d buked in those final moments. Nok my mother joined her, another ghost to haunt me.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I whispered to my mothers still form so sorry.¡±


    The cabin <b>door </b>creaked open.


    Through my tears and the haze of grief, <b>I </b>saw a figure silhouetted in the doorway. Salver <b>hair </b>caught the light <b>as </b>Skye stepped inside, her green eyes taking in the camage before <b>her </b>

 Casts 160

    Adrian¡¯s POV


    Skye rushed to my side


    She dropped to her knees beside me, not caring about the nd pooling around my mother¡¯s body. Her green eyes searched my fare with an intensity that cut through my grit


    ¡°Adnan,¡± she said softly, cupping my face in het hands. ¡°Look at me. This isn¡¯t real


    I shook my head, unable to tear my gare from my mothers still fam. ¡°I killed her. My clown went right through her chest, I felt it, Skye. I felt her die


    ¡°No¡°Her voice was firm, gentle but insistent. This is the maze ying with your mind. Your mother isnt here. Shes back in Stormbowl, alive and well.


    Maxwell stood watching us, his expression uncradable now,


    Skye pulled me against hes, wrapping her arms around me tightly. I buried my face in her shoulder, breathing in her scent. She smelled like pine forests and winter mornings, <b>hike </b>home. My body shook with suppressed sebi,


    It¡¯s okay,¡± she whispered, stroking my


    by hair. ¡°None of this <b>is </b>real. The maze feeds on your pailt and fear. It¡¯s showing you what you¡¯re most afraid of.¡±


    I pulled back slightly to look at her. Tears blurred my vision, but I could see the certainty in her eyes. ¡°But the blood¡­¡±<fnbd05> Original content can be found at find?novel</fnbd05>


    ¡°Ts an illusion.¡± She wiped the tears from my cheeks with her thumbs. ¡°Just like everything else in this ce.¡±


    I <b>nced </b>back <b>at </b>where my mother¡¯s <b>body </b>had been. The floor was clean, No blood, no signs <b>of </b>violence. Even the broken furniture had vanished. Marwell was gone too, as if he¡¯d never been there at <b>all</b>.


    ¡°Ser?¡± Skye <b>said </b>gently. ¡°It wasn¡¯t real.


    The relief that flooded through me <b>was </b>overwhelming. I sagged against her, letting her hold my weight. But the guilt remained<b>, </b>eating at me from the


    couldn¡¯t protect Nadia,¡± I said, my <b>voice </b>breaking. ¡°She died because of me. Because I wasn¡¯t strong enough, wasn¡¯t fast enough¡±


    Skye¡¯s armi


    arma tightened around me. ¡°That wasn¡¯t your fault.¡±


    ¡°And I couldn¡¯t protect you either I touched the faint scar on her shoulder, a reminder of the attack that had nearly killed her. ¡°You got hurt because of me. Everyone who gets close to me gets hurt.¡±


    She pulled back to look at me, her expression fierce. ¡°Stop that. You don¡¯t have to carry the weight of the world on your <b>shoulders</b><b>, </b>Adrian. You don¡¯t <b>have </b>to be responsible for everyone and everything.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m an Alpha<b>,</b>¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯s my job to protect my <b>pack</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°But who protects you?¡± She touched <b>my </b>chest, right over my heart. ¡°You¡¯re so busy trying to save everyone else that you¡¯re destroying yourself. You don¡¯t


    have to do <b>this</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    I frowned, not understanding. ¡°Do what?¡±


    ¡°Any of it.¡± She took my harch <b>in </b>hers, ber touch parm and grounding. ¡°You don¡¯t have topete for Alpha King. You <b>don¡¯t </b>even have to be an Alpha i don¡¯t want to. We could leave all of this behind.¡±


    The suggestion was so unexpected that I could only stare at her. ¡°What are you saying?¡±


    <b>A </b>smile yed at theers of her lips. ¡°I¡¯m saying we have choices. We could walk <b>away </b>from <b>pack </b>politics, from the elections, from all the fighting and bloodshed. Just you and me, exploring the world together.¡±


    Think about it, she continued<b>, </b>her eyes beight with possibility. We could


    get married in a little church somewhere, just the two of us. No pack traditions, no ceremonies, just our love¡±


    The <b>picture </b>she painted was a vivid 1 could almost see it. A simple wedding, hei in a white dress, wildflowers in her had. No pafitics, no responda


    ¡°We could find <b>a </b>small town somewhere,¡± she went on, warming to her theme. ¡°Get jobs, blend in with the hemant. I could work at another bar, you could r construction or teach self-defense. We¡¯d have a little house with a garden


    I found myself drawn into her vision despite my doubts. ¡°A garden?¡±


    She nodded enthusiastically. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to grow things. Tomatoes, herbs, maybe some Bowers. We¡¯d have a porch swing where we could sit in the evenings, watching the sunset.¡±


    And children?


    Her smile grew softer, more intimate. ¡°As many as you want. Little ones with your amber eyes and my stubbornnes Wed teach them to be strong <b>but </b>gentle, to choose their own paths.¡±


    I could see it so clearly. <b>Skye </b>pregnant with our child, her hand on her swollen belly. Teaching our sons to be honorable, our daughters to be Gerce. Birthday parties and bedtime stories, scraped knees and first days of school,


    ¡°They wouldn¡¯t have to worry about pack hierarchies or politics,¡± she continued. They could just be kids. Go to human schools, make human friends. Have the childhood we never got to have.¡±


    ¡°But they¡¯d still be werewolves,¡± I pointed out.


    ¡°And we¡¯d teach them control, teach them our ways. But they wouldn¡¯t be bound by them. They could choose whether to join <b>a </b>pack or live among humans. Their lives <b>would </b>be their own.¡±


    The life she described was everything I¡¯d never <b>dared </b>to dream of Peace. Simplicity. Freedom from the constant weight of leadership and responsibility.


    war, no challenges, no one trying to kill <b>us </b>for power.


    ¡°We could grow old together,¡± she said softly. ¡°Watching our grandchildren y in that garden. No wars, no Just love and family <b>and </b>time.¡±


    I felt myself wavering. The temptation was so strong. To <b>leave </b>everything behind, to choose happiness over duty.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I said finally. ¡°My <b>pack </b>needs me. They¡¯re counting on me to create a better world for all werewolves.¡±


    She moved closer, ber hands sliding up my chest. ¡°But what about what <b>you </b>need? What about what we <b>need</b>?


    Chapter Comments


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 Casts 161

    Adrian PLTV


    Her touch tent sparks through nie, even though the fabric of my shit.


    This close, I could see the gilid Becks in her green eyes, count each silver eych.


    ¡°I want you to mark me,¡± she said suddenly


    I Minked, exught off guard. ¡°What?¡±


    sure lingers, ¡°Make me<ul><li>me yours forever. Then will never</li></ul>


    ¡°<b>Mark </b>me. Right now.¡± Her hands moved to the buttons of my shirt, working them open with sure separated, no matter what happens.¡±


    ¡°Skye, we¡¯re still in the mare, I usid, ratching her hands. ¡°This might i be the right time


    Sheughed, a sound <b>like </b><b>silver </b>bells. <b>¡°</b><b>What </b>does that matter? Chat love is teal whether we¡¯re in a maze or a pce or standing under the stars. Mark me, Adrian


    A thought track me then, making me hesitate. I want to mark you more than anything. But you still have a mate bond with tron. I don¡¯t know if marking <b>you </b>while that bond exists would hurt you.¡±


    Her green


    shed with something I couldn¡¯t quite identify. I don¡¯t care.¡±


    ¡°No, Intes to me.¡± She cupped <b>my </b>face in her hands, her gaze intense. I love you. Only you. Not Leon, not anyone <b>else</b><b>. </b><b>You </b>are the only man I will ever lor, and I will never, never betray you.¡±


    The ferocity in her <b>voice</b>, <b>the </b>fierce certainty in her eyes, shattered myst defenses. She meant it. Every word. But a <b>small</b>, nagging voice in my mind whispered that this wasn¡¯t the <b>Skye </b>I knew¨Cthis boldness, this relenting pursuit, felt foreign, almost too perfect. Yet, as her hands slid up my chest, warm and insistent, my doubts began to blur, melting under the heat of her touch


    ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± I asked one more time, my voice barely above a whisper, warching her <b>face </b>for any trace of hesitation.


    <b>Tve </b>never been more sure of anything in my life. She <b>pulled </b>my head down until our foreheads touched, ¡°Mark me, Adrian. Make me yours in every way


    that matten.<b>¡± </b>


    My resolve crumbled. I captured her mouth in a <b>searing </b>kiss, pouring all my love and <b>desire </b>into it. She responded eagerly, her hands resuming their work on<fnc922> Follow current nov?ls on Find1Novel</fnc922>


    shirt butto


    Let mefort you,¡± she whispered against my lips. ¡°Let me take the pain away,¡±


    Her mouth moved to my neck<b>, </b>kiding and sucking at the sensitive skin there. I tilted my head back, giving her better es. <b>My </b>wolf rumbled with pleasure,


    wanting <b>more</b>.


    Something¡¯s wrong, a small voice in the <b>back </b>of my mind whispered.


    But when Skye¡¯s teeth grazed my throat<b>, </b>all rational thought fed


    She <b>pushed </b>my shirt off my shoulders, her hands exploring the muscles of my arms and back<b>. </b>Everywhere she touched felt like <b>fire</b><b>, </b>burning away the grief and guilt until only desire remained.


    I captured her mouth again, kissing her deeply,¡®She tasted sweet, like honey and summer ra. My hands tangled in her silver hair, holding her <b>close </b>as our tongues danced together.


    he pressed <b>against </b>me, soft carves molding to hand nes. The scent of <b>her </b>arousal filled my nostrils, making my wolf <b>pace </b>restlessly. He wanted to im


    <b>her</b>, to mask her as ours forever.


    When <b>she </b>pulled back to catch her breath, het lips were sollen from our kisses. Her eyes had darkened to forest green, pupils blown wide with desire.


    ¡°Touch me,¡± shemanded, guilding my hands to her wait,


    I obeyed, sliding my palms up her sides, feeling the heat of her skin though her shirt. She arched into my fou


    with a mh main that nearly undid me.


    My mouth found her that, kissing the spot where her pulse fluttered like a trapped bird. She tilted her brad, offering me better ess, offering me everything.


    ¡°Do it,¡± she breathed. ¡°I need to feel your teeth in my skin, your im on my soul,¡°


    Myngs dropped, responding to her plea. The unge to bite, to im, was overwhelming. My wolf hauled his approval, desperate to bind her to us form.


    I kissed lower, following the elegant line of her throat is where it met her shoulder. The perfect spot for a mating mark. My teeth scaped at her skin, not breaking it yet, just teasing.


    ¡°Please, Adrian,¡± she gasped, her hands gupping my shoulders, nails digging into my skin. ¡°I need you I need this.


    Her body pressed closer, her hips grinding against mine, the friction sending a jolt of pleasure through me that made my vision blur. She was relentless, her hands sliding under my waistband, her touch bold and unapologetic, pulling me deeper into the haze of desire.


    My mind was melting, drowning in her scent, her touch, her voice. Nothing existed but Skye and the primal need to make her mine. My fam pred harder against her skin, ready to pierce, ready to im.


    A <b>voice </b>cut through the haze of lust like a de <b>of </b><b>ice</b>.


    I fraze, my teeth still against Skye¡¯s throat. That voice. I knew that voice,


    Slowly, reluctantly, I pulled back and turned toward the source of the interruption.


    Another Skye stood in the doorway.

 Casts 162

    Adrian¡¯s POV


    The world th om its axis an I sted at the second Skye standing in the dar retracting an shock counted throwth my veins like inn water.


    ?rnu linnered atonand the thye pressed against me.


    Two Skyet.


    Two identical women with her hair and eyes <b>like </b>rain¨Csoaked leaves, wearing the tame paring testleh in my mind.


    standing in the same


    m


    same mem. My wolf whined in monfusion,


    I stepped back from the <b>Skye </b>in my arms, putting distance between us at my mind rared. One of them had to be an illusion created by the mine. But which


    Or had been trapped in an illusion all along, never truly waking up?


    Achill ran down my spine. What If either of them was real?


    ¡°Adrian,¡± the Skye in the doorway saud, her voice tight with urgency. ¡°Get away from her. She¡¯s not me


    The Skye <b>beside </b>meughed, but there was no humor in it. ¡°Nice try. I¡¯m the one <b>who¡¯s </b>been with him this whole time.¡±


    They red at each other, and I watched in growing horror as they moved with identical grace, their expressions mirroring each other perfectly. Even the way they tilted their heads, the way their hands clenched into fists¨Ceverything was exactly the same.


    ¡°You¡¯re theke,¡± doorway¨C<b>Skye </b>spat, stepping into the room. ¡°The real Skye would never push Adrian to mark her Isn¡¯t the time of ce.¡±


    middle of a dangerous maze. This


    And you think the real skye would interrupt the most intimate moment of our lives?¡± The Skye beside <b>me </b>crossed her arms, her green eyes shing. ¡°You don¡¯t love Adn. You¡¯re just a maze construct trying to confuse him.¡±


    ¡°I love him more than my own life,¡± doorway¨C<b>Skye </b>said fiercely. ¡°Which is why I wouldn¡¯t risk his safety by distracting <b>him </b>when we¡¯re still


    __ ¡°Danger<b>?</b>¡± The other <b>Skye </b>scoffed. ¡°The only danger here in you. I¡¯ve been by Adrian¡¯s side,forting him, loving him. Where were you?¡±¡°¡±


    Fighting through the maxe to find him!¡±


    ¡°Convenient eu


    I looked between them, my head spinning. Every gesture, every inflection, every sh of emotion across their faces¨Cidentical.<fn4e7a> Find the newest release on Find?Novel</fn4e7a>


    Even their scents were the same¨Cneither had the typical werewolf smell, just the familiar fragrance of my shampoo and body wash. Ever since we¡¯d confirmed our rtionship, she¡¯d been using the same products as me. Vie even used the same toothpaste.


    ¡°Adrian,¡± the Skye beside me said softly, reaching for my hand. ¡°Remember when <b>you </b>found me in that bar? How you <b>saved </b>me from that drunk? I was so scared, but you made me feel safe for the first time since leaving my pack<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    My heart clenched at the memory. It was true.


    But then doorway¨C<b>Skye </b>spoke, ¡°What the fuck? So wereparing who the wolf <b>wine</b><b>? </b>You <b>punished </b><b>us </b>with five hundred push¨Cups.¡±


    in knows


    more secrets now?¡± She crossed her arms. ¡°Remember when Ryder and I stole


    That was true too. The memory was crystal clear in my <b>mind</b><b>. </b>


    ¡°Remember nur


    our first run together?¡± The Skye beside me stepped closes. Td just shifted for the first time, and I was 10 stayed by my side, making sure I didst hurt myself.¡±


    <b>clumsy</b><b>. </b>You personally taught me


    Remember when I cooked for the pack for the first time?¡± <b>Doorway </b><b>Skye </b>countered. ¡°I burned everything, and the kitchen was full of smoke. But you ate very bite and said it was delicious¡±


    Both memories were seal, Both had happened. My chest tightened as they motinant


    ¡°The night you hold me after my nightmares about Leon


    ¡°When you showed me the sunrise from the mountain peak-


    Our first kiss under the full moon


    ¡°The way you look at me when you think I¡¯m not watching


    They spoke over each other, their voices blending into a painful symphony of shared memoties. Fach one true, each one precios. The Skye beside me grabbed my arm, while doorway¨CSkye stepped closet, teaching for my other hand.


    Im real. Adrian,¡± they


    y said in perfect unison, and the synchronization sent


    other chill through me.


    ¡°Stop.¡± I said, my voice hoarse, ¡°Just¡­ stop.¡±


    They both fell silent, watching me with identical expressions of hurt and desperation. It was like looking at a reflection in a shattered mirror¨Cthe same image repeated, but somehow wrong.


    ¡°Alpha Adrian! We finally found you!¡± Ryder¡¯s nice called out <b>as </b>he burst into the room with Lydia close behind. ¡°Skye ran so fast we almost fost-


    He stopped mid¨Csentence, his eyes going <b>wide </b><b>as </b>he took in the scene. ¡°How are there two Skyes? Is this another illusion? I thought the illusion <b>only </b>happened once?¡±


    Then a grin spread across his face. Actually, two is perfect! This maze isn¡¯t so bad after all. <b>It </b>knows exactly what I want. If Skye <b>had </b>a twin sister, I¡¯d marry her for sure!


    ¡°Ryder, in your dreams one of the Skyes snapped. ¡°Just wait till I get out of here and see how I punish you<b>.</b>¡±


    ¡°Ryder!¡± I snapped. This is not the time for jokes?¡±


    He raised his hands in surrender, but the amusement didn¡¯t entirely leave his eyes. Surry, Alpha. Just trying to lighten the mood.¡±


    I turned to Lydia, desperate for her insight. ¡°Lydia, what do you think? Which one is real?<b>¡± </b>


    She <b>studied </b>both Skyes with careful attention. The silence stretched between us, heavy with tension. Both Skyes watched her, hope and fear warring on their identical faces.


    Finally, Lydia spoke, her voice gentle but knowing. ¡°Alpha Adrian, you already have the answer in <b>your </b>heart. You just don¡¯t want to let go, <b>da </b>you?¡±


    Chapter Comments


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 Casts 164

    That made usugh even harder.


    Leave it in Ryder to remember the exact price of his shoes in a moment like this


    A lead crackle filled the air as speakers around thepetition grounds came to life.


    ¡°Attention all participants. The third trial has concluded. All empetitors must gather at the main stage immediately¡±


    Ourughter died as reality set in. We¡¯d survived, but we still didn¡¯t know if we¡¯d advanced to the finals. We weren¡¯t allowed to bring watches ipetition, and in the maze, there had been no sense of real time.


    We made our way <b>back </b>to the main yes, join the cd of wolves gathering before the elevated stage. Elder Selene stood at the center, her siber catching the afternoon ligt. Her expression remained neutral as she surveyed the assembled parks.


    ¡°The third trial tested your ability to ovee illusion and deception,¡± she began, ¡°Only those who could see through the maze¡¯s tricks and maintain their true purpose could <b>seed</b><b>.</b>¡±


    <b>She </b>paused, then announced:


    ¥í©`


    ¡°Five packs have proven worthy <b>to </b>advance to the <b>final </b>round of the Alpha King Election.¡± Her voice took on a formal tone. Alpha Rodrigo of fromwater


    <b>Pack</b>.<b>¡± </b>


    Apuse erupted from <b>one </b>section of the crowd. Rodrigo <b>stepped </b>forward. If I didn¡¯t know he was the one who had hurt Lydia, I might have been fooled by his serious and dignified appearance.


    Alpha Leon of Frostshadow Park¡±


    More apuse, Lean moved with confident grace, every inch the alpha prince he¡¯d been raised to be.


    Alpha Maxwell of Stormhoul Pack¡±


    My jaw tightened as my uncle¡¯s name <b>was </b>called. He <b>smirked </b>in my direction before taking his ce.


    Alpha Xavier of Silverscreen <b>Pack</b><b>¡± </b>


    The youngest section of the crowd went wild. Xavier waved like the celebrity he fashioned himself to be..


    Elder Selene¡¯s eyes found mine across the crowd. My <b>team </b>and I were still making our way through the mass of wolves, having arrivedst from our position


    near the maze exit.


    And finally, she announced as we reached the stage area<b>, </b>¡°<b>Alpha </b>Adrian of Oasisbon Pack.¡±


    The silence was deafening.


    Then the whispers started, rippling through the crowd like wind through Iravens,


    ¡°Gasshom Pack? How is this possible?


    ¡°Must have been <b>pure </b><b>luck</b><b>. </b>No <b>way </b>they beat exjablished <b>parka </b><b>on </b>merit,¡±


    I heard they¡¯ve only been established for two years. This has to be a mistake,¡±


    ¡°Desert wolves in the Alpha Kingpetition? What¡¯s best,


    I kept my expression neutral, but I could feel the weight of hundreds of skeptical stares


    The other advancing alphas studied me with varying expressions.


    Xavier pped loudly for me, calling mit ¡°Well done, Alpha Adnt


    But Leon, Mayer, and Rodrigo looked at me <b>like </b>1 was prry that had somehow escaped the hunt. Their eyes promised that wouldn¡¯t happen resin


    Maxwell gate was particrly venomous. My uncle had clearly not expected me in


    Elder Selene raised her band, and the whispers died instantly,


    this far,


    ¡°Silence,¡± shemanded. The trials judge worthiness, not reputation. These five


    or packs have earned their ce.¡±


    She continued. ¡°The Alpha King <b>has </b>ranged for all advancing packs to enjoy the Spirit Spring. This is no onlinary hot spring. Its waters carry ancient healing properties that will restore your wounds and replenish your strength for next week¡¯s final trial.¡±


    Excited mums reced the earlier skepticians..


    The Spirit Spring was legendary, avable only during Alpha Kingpetitions. Its waters could heal even serious injuries overnight.


    Elder Selene turned to <b>leave </b>the stage, her duty <b>done</b>. But Ryder¡¯s voice stopped her.


    Tider Selene!¡±


    he paused, turning back with raised eyebrows. The crowd¡¯s attention shifted to my young warrior.


    She


    ¡°My shoe,¡± Ryder said withplete seriousness. ¡°I lost it in the maze. I need the Council to retum it to me.¡±


    The <b>silence </b>this time <b>was </b>different. Shocked. Incredulous. In this formal setting, with the weight of the Alpha King Election hanging over us, Ryder was worried about footwear.


    <b>Several </b>alphas actuallyughed. Not kindughter, but the mocking kind that said <b>we </b>didn¡¯t belong here.


    How could we be seriouspetition if our warrior¡¯s biggest concern was a missing shoe?.


    Elder Selene¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but I caught the slight twitch at the corner of her mouth. ¡°I will have someone search for <b>your </b>shoe, young warrior<b>.</b>¡±


    ¡°Thank you<b>, </b><b>Elder</b>.¡± Ryder <b>said </b>with obvious relief.


    As the crowd began to disperse, I noticed a familiar figure approaching. My mother moved through the crowd with the grace that had made her a respected Luna in two different <b>packs</b>.


    Her eyes found mine, <b>and </b>for the first time in years, <b>I </b>saw genuine pride there.


    ¡°Adrian,¡± she said softly when she reached <b>us</b>. ¡°Congrattions. You¡¯ve done well.¡±


    The sincerity <b>in </b>her voice caught me off guard. Since I¡¯d left Stormbowl Peck<b>, </b><b>our </b></divmunications had been mi


    mal and strained.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I managed


    She nced at my <b>team</b>, her gaze lingering on <b>Skye</b>, I <b>was </b>hoping we could talk tomorrow. All of us.¡± She looked between Skye and me meaningfully. There are things that should be discussed.¡±


    The nightmare from the maze mashed through my mind. My mother¡¯s tears. Her helplessness. The fear that I <b>was </b>walking the same path as my father.


    <b>¡°</b>Alright.¡± I agreed. ¡°Tontorrow¡±


    She led, a real sulle that reminded me of better time, then disappeared hack into the crowd.


    As we made our way toward the hotel, the weight of what <b>had </b>just happened settled <b>over </b>me. We made it to the finals, but barely-


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said suddenly, stopping in the middle of the path. My team turned to look at me. ¡°I mean it. If you hadn¡¯te for me in that me, I don¡¯t think I would have made it through ¡°


    ¡°That¡¯s what <b>pack </b>does,¡± Lydia said simply.


    Still, I insisted. Thank you¡±


    We resumed walking, and curiosity got the better of me. ¡°Ime


    dal you two break free from the itions? Ryder? Lyda?


    ¡°What about you, Ryder?¡± I asked.


    Ivdia spoke first. ¡°My witch bloodline gives me some resistance to mental maniption. Once I recognited the pattern, I realized the pollen from those flowers and the powder on the butterfly wings had hallucinogenic properties. After that, beecking free was simply a matter of will ¡°


    He


    e shrugged, suddenly locking embarrassed. ¡°My illusion was But then Lydia woke me up.¡±


    bad. I was just back at Danishorn Park, training with everyone. It felt so mal, so happy.<fn1bc8> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find[?]ovel</fn1bc8>


    His simple words <b>hit </b>harder than he probably intended. For Ryder, paradise wasn¡¯t glory or power or escape. It was home, with his park


    Finally, I turned to Skye, She¡¯d been quiet since we¡¯d left the stage, <b>and </b>I¡¯d been


    ¡°What about you<b>? </b>How did you break free from the maze¡¯s illusion?¡±


    She


    n avoiding asking her about her experience. But I needed to know.


    e met my eyes, and something flickered in those green depths. An emotion I couldn¡¯t quite read.


    ¡°Leon woke me up,¡± she said simply.


    Chapter Comments


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 Casts 165

    <b>Chapter </b>165


    Skye¡¯s POV


    I expected Adrian to be angry,


    After what he told him about Iron waking me from the maer¡¯s illusion, I braced myself for the storm. Ever since Lean kissed me while drunk that night, things between Adrian and me had been tense.


    ¡°I hate that guy,¡± Adrian said quietly as we walked back to the hotel. But I¡¯m grateful he saved you. Thats all that matters. You¡¯re safe.¡±


    I nced at Adrian in surprise. His expression held only concert and sincerity.


    Something had charged in that mare. The Adhian who emerged wasn¡¯t the same one who entered. The possessive fury that used toe him at any mention of Leon had been <b>reced </b>by something else,


    Maturity? eptance<b>? </b><b>I </b>couldn¡¯t quite name it.


    ¡°You¡¯re staring,¡± he said, a slight smile turging at his lips.


    ¡°You¡¯re different,¡± I admitted. ¡°Before, just heating Leon¡¯s name


    old make you..


    ¡°Lose control?¡± He finished for me. ¡°I know. I¡¯m sorry for that. For all of it.


    We reached the hotel, and Adrian stopped at the elevator, turning to face me fully. <b>Tve </b>been thinking. <b>Since </b>you won¡¯t move back to my room, yours. I don¡¯t care about the sleeping arrangements. I <b>just</b>¡­ I can¡¯t be separated from you again. Not after today.¡±


    The vulnerability in his voice caught me off <b>guard</b>. This wasn¡¯t a demand or a deration of possession. It was <b>a </b>request, almost a plea.


    ¡°Adrian¡­¡±


    ¡°Please, <b>Skye</b>. We almost lost each other in that maze. When I was trapped in that illusion, all I could think about was that I might never see you again. Never get to tell you. He <b>paused</b><b>, </b>running a hand through his dark <b>hair</b>. ¡°Just let me stay close. That¡¯s <b>all </b>I¡¯m asking¡±


    How could I refuse when he looked at me like that? Like I was his anchor in a storm.


    ¡°Okay,¡± I said softly. ¡°You can move to my room.¡±


    The smile that spread across his <b>face </b><b>was </b>brilliant, boyish almost. It reminded me that despite everything he¡¯d been through, Adrian was still young. We


    both were.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he <b>said</b>, pulling me into a <b>gentle </b>embrace. Thank you.¡±


    We spent the afternoon rearranging the room, Adrians things mingling with mine in a way that felt surprisingly natural. <b>Adrian </b>hanging his clothes mest to mine in the closet. Our toiletries sharing <b>space </b>on the bathroom counter


    ¡°You know,¡± Adrian said as he folded his shirts, I never thanked you properly foring after me in the maze.¡±


    ¡°You thanked all of us already,¡±


    ¡°No, I mean you specifically.¡± He set down the shirt <b>and </b>moved closer. ¡°When I heard your voice calling my name, it was like¡­ <b>like </b>finding solid <b>ground </b>after <b>drowning</b>. You brought me <b>back</b>, Skye.¡±


    The intensity in his gaze made my heart skip. ¡°We <b>brought </b>each other <b>back</b>,¡± I <b>said</b>. ¡°That¡¯s what we <b>do</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    He nodded slowly. ¡°We <b>should </b>get ready for dinner. Xavier invited us to loja him.¡±


    An hourter, we made our way to the hotel restaurant where Alpha Xavier was already waiting. <b>He¡¯d </b>secured <b>a </b>private dining room, and as we entered, he -stood with that more stor smile of h


    <b>Chapter </b>165


    ¡°Adrian! <b>Skyet </b>And the wonderful Lindia,¡± he greeted warmly. Please, it I¡¯ve ordered some wine. We should celebrate <b>making </b>31 to 15


    <b>Lydia </b>had joined un, though Ryder begged off, iming exhaustion. As we witted arrend the table, I studied Xavier mije closely, Unlike the and showed no signs of fatigue or injury. His clothes were immacte, his demeanorpletely rxed. It was as if he¡¯d spent the day at ¨¨ apu father <b>than </b>fighting through a maze of illusions.


    ¡°You look remarkably well for someone who justpleted the third trial,¡± I observed.


    Xavierughed, a rich sound that probably charmed audiences in his films. ¡°Ah, the benefits of understanding the game. You see, I¡¯ve acted in several movies. Horror, psychological thriller, even a few possances. If I wasn¡¯t heir to an Alplis position, Ed probably be a full time actor.¡±


    He poured wine for each of us,


    graceful and practiced.


    me, the third trial was simply performing in a one hour at y. Once


    recognized the illusion for what it was, I just had to y my part until the curtain fell


    ¡°Must be nice,¡± 1 muttered, temembering my own desperate struggle in the mare. ¡°Some of us aren¡¯t so lucky with our scripts.¡±


    ¡°You know what I want


    st to do most right now?¡± I continued, feeling bold from the wine and exhaustion. ¡®I want to punch you in the face. Your seem to have been born under a lucky star, getting all the good roles.¡±


    Instead of taking offense, Xavierughed even harder. ¡°It¡¯s not entirely luck, my dear Skyr. Before I became an actor, I spent two years studying psychology


    That caught our attention. Even Adrian looked surprised.<fn0f3f> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? F¦ÉndNovel</fn0f3f>


    Psychology Lydia asked. ¡°That¡¯s unusual for a wolf.¡±


    ¡°Exactly what my father said,¡± Xavier agreed. ¡°<b>Most </b>wolves think psychology <b>is </b>useless. After all, we have our defined roles within the pack. We follow our Alphasmands. Our society is built on instinct and <b>hierarchy</b>, notplex emotional understanding.¡±


    He swirled his wine thoughtfully. ¡°But humans¡­ their minds work differently. Moreyers, moreplexity. I even <b>visited </b>human psychiatric hospitals during my studies. Can you guess what I discovered?¡±


    ¡°That lots of people <b>are </b>just born <b>bad</b>?¡± I suggested, only half joking.


    ¡°You¡¯re not wrong,¡± Xavier conceded. ¡°But I noticed something else. The psychiatric wards had significantly more female patients suffering from depression.¡±


    Thefortable atmosphene shifted slightly. <b>Lydia¡¯s </b>expression grew guarded.


    Xavier held up a hand quickly. I¡¯m not being sexist or stereotyping. I¡¯m simply sharing an observation. Sometimes, perhaps, women¡¯s hearts are softer. More susceptible to emotional trauma. <b>Take </b>Alpha Morgan, for example. She was a strong contender, everyone expected her to make the finals. But she couldn¡¯t break free from the third <b>trial</b>. They say she¡¯s still trapped in the illusion. She might gopletely insane.¡±


    A chill ran down my spine. That could have been me. If Leon hadn¡¯t called my name, hadn¡¯t broken through <b>the </b>illusions


    hold¡­


    ¡°Alpha Morgan is still in town? Lydia <b>asked </b>suddenly. ¡°I could prepare some herbs, see if they might help wake her.¡±


    Xavier¡¯s eyes lit up with genuine excitement. ¡°Really? You could do


    id do that? I¡¯ll contact her Beta immediately. This in wonderful!¡±


    Before anyone could react, Xavier had swept Lydia into an enthusiastic hug. ¡°You¡¯re <b>as </b>kind <b>as </b><b>you </b>are beautiful¡°¡±


    Lydia¡¯s face flushed crimson. She pushed against Xavier¡¯s chest, extracting herself from the embrace with obvious embarrassment. ¡°¡­ I try my best. But I can¡¯t guarantee it will <b>work </b>


    Xavier stepped back, running a hand through his perfectly styled hair with sudden sheepishness. ¡°Sorry. I get carried away sometimes. upational hazard of being an actor. We¡¯re very¡­ expressive.¡±

 Casts 166

    <b>Chapter </b><b>166 </b>


    Skyes¡¯s POV


    Xavier¡¯s sleek ck car glided through the evening streets, the city lights casting shadows actors our faces. Adrian cat in the passenger seat while I erled In the back with Lydia, watching her filert with the leather satchel containing her herba,


    The went of those hesht was soothing, a gentle hagrance that helped calm my nerves.


    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Xavier announced, pulling into the underground parking of an upscale hotel. Morgan Beta said they¡¯re in the penthouse quite


    The elevator doces oprited to reveal a man pacing the hallway. He looked to be in his forties, with silver threading through his dark hair and worry lines etched deep around his eyes. Despite the stress evident in his pastate, I could see why someone might call him handsome¨Cstrong jrw, broad shoulders, the kind of presence thatmanded respect.


    ¡°Alpha Xavier,¡± he said, his voice hoarse. Thank you foring. Im Daniel, Alpha Morgan¡¯s Bera.¡±


    He shook Xavier¡¯s hand, but his gave kept darting back toward the suite door, an if he couldnt bear to be away from his Alpha for even these few moments. The nervous energy rolling off him made my wolf stir uneasily.


    ¡°These are the friends I mentioned,¡± Xavier said smoothly. ¡°Alpha Adrian of Cesisbon <b>Pack</b>, <b>his </b><b>Beta </b>Skye, and their pack¡¯s herbalist, Lydia.¡±


    Daniel barely acknowledged the introductions, already turning back to the door. ¡°Please,e quickly. She¡­it¡¯s getting worse


    We followed him into the suite, and immediately the scent of distress hit me. Fear, pain, confusion¨Call mixed together in a cocktail that made my stomach tern. Daniel led us to the bedroom, and what I saw there made my heart clench.


    Alpha Morgany on the king¨Csized bed, her powerful frame looking surprisingly small against the <b>white </b>sheets. Her face, which I¡¯d seen so confident andmanding during the trials, was now twisted in agony, Sweat beaded on her forehead, trickling down her temples <b>to </b>soak into her <b>dark </b>hair. Her eyebrows were drawn together in a permanent frown, and her lips moved soundlessly, forming words only she could hear.


    But what struck me most was Daniel¡¯s behavior. He immediately dropped to his knees beside the <b>bed</b>, reaching out to grasp her hand without any hesitation. The gesture was intimate, protective, far beyond what duty required.


    This isn¡¯t just loyalty, my <b>wolf </b>whispered. <b>This </b>is love.


    ¡°Has the <b>Council </b>sent their docton? Adrian asked, his professional Alpha voice cutting through the heavy atmosphere.


    Daniel looked up, and I saw the exhaustion in <b>his </b><b>eyes</b>. Three diffegent doctors. They¡¯ve <b>all </b><b>said </b><b>the </b>same thing.¡± <b>His </b><b>voice </b>cracked slightly. They <b>gave </b>her sedatives to keep her calm, Before that, she was<b>¡­ </b>She was screaming. Crying. Sometimes she¡¯d <bugh </b><b>at </b>nothing, this horrible broken sound. The sedatives are the only thing keeping her from hurting herself.¡±


    ¡°What else did they rmend?¡± I asked softly,


    ¡°They want to transfer her to a specialized facility. Run brain scans, bring in psychiatric specialists.¡± His grip on Morgan¡¯s hand tightened.


    Xavier stepped <b>forward</b>, gesturing to Lydia. This <b>is </b>why I brought them. <b>Lydia </b>here is Oasisbon <b>Pack¡¯s </b>herbalist. She¡¯s offered to help.¡±


    For the first time since we¡¯d arrived, Daniel really looked at Lydia. His gaze traveled over her form, lingering on the mask that concealed her features, I saw


    ¡°I appreciate the offer,¡± <b>he </b><b>said </b><b>slowly</b><b>, </b><b>¡°</b>but 1 need fo know <b>who </b>I¡¯m trusting with my Alpha¡¯s life. <b>Would </b>you <b>remove </b><b>your </b><b>musk</b>? I can¡¯t allow someone who won¡¯t even show their face to treat her.¡±


    The room went still. Lydia¡¯s shoulders tensed, and I could practically feel her shrinking into herself. The silence stretched ufortable and heavy-


    Xavier, <b>bless </b>him, immediately moved to diffuse the situation. ¡°Daniel, <b>please </b><b>understand </b>your concern, but I can personally vouch for Lydia. You know Alpha Morgan invested <b>in </b>my films¨C<b>she¡¯s </b>been a supporter <b>of </b>mine for years. And both <b>Adrian </b><b>and </b><b>I </b>have advanced to the finals. We have nothing to gain by harming her. This is purely an act of friendship.¡±


    Daniel¡¯s expression wavered, torn between his protective instincts and desperation. His gaze d


    dropped to Morgan¡¯s pain¨Ctwisted face, and I saw the moment 1,


    ¡°1-. forgive me,¡± he said quietly. ¡°I¡¯m not thinking clearly. Please, if you can help her


    1 could feel Lydia¡¯s hurt despite her silence, Moving closer, I caught her hand again and whispered, ¡°I believe in you. We all da


    the straightened <b>slightly </b>at my words, then reached into her satchel with renewed purpose. She pulled out two small boxes, their contents giving off a fau


    ent even through the packaging.


    ¡°These are calming incenses, she said, pressing them into my hands. ¡°Please light them and ce them at the lead of the bed. The smoke needs to be close to her.¡±


    I nodded, taking the boxes carefully. The license sticks were hand¨Crolled, herbs I didn¡¯t recognize bond together with delicate thread. I found matches on the bedside table and lit them, watching the smoke curl up inzy spitals. The scent was soothingvender mixed with something earthier, and a hint <b>of </b>oriental water lily.


    Lydia moved to the opposite side of the bed from Daniel, settling herself in the edge with careful movements. She reached out and took Morgan¡¯s ofker hand, bertoch gentle despite the gloves she wore.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± <b>Daniel </b>asked, tension creeping back into his voice.


    ¡°Wolves from different packs can¡¯t normally mind¨C<b>link</b><b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Lydia exined softly. ¡°But I have¡­ other blood. It gives me the ability to attempt connection across <b>pack </b>binds. The chance isn¡¯t high, entering someone¡¯s consciousness requiresplete trust, which is hard to achieve when they¡¯re lost in illusion.¡±


    She closed her eyes, her body going still as stone. The room fell silent except for Morgan¡¯sbored breathing and the soft crackle of the incense


    We all stood frozen, afraid to disturb <b>whatever </b>delicate process was taking ce. I found myself holding my breath, Adrian¡¯s hand finding mine in light. Even Xavier¡¯s usual easy confidence had given way to teme anticipation.


    One minute passed. Then <b>two</b>. Three


    dim


    Suddenly, Morgan¡¯s body convulsed. Her <b>back </b>arched off the bed, muscles straining against invisible restraints. A guttural sound tore from her throat, move animal than human. Her free <b>hand </b>wed at the sheets, shredding them with partially shifted ws.


    ¡°What did you do to her? Daniel snarled, lunging across the bed to grab <b>Lydia¡¯s </b>shoulders. His hands shook her roughly, breaking whatever connection the been trying <b>to </b>form ¡°What did you DO?¡±


    Lydia¡¯s eyes flew open, disoriented and fearful behind her mask. Before she could form a response, struggling, Instead, she began to sob softly, her body trembling with quiet, heartbroken cries,


    Through her tears, in a voice thick with sorrow and quil


    she whispered


    before any of <b>us </b>could intervene, Morgan stopped


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 Casts 167

    Tanel!¡°¡± | aid ained, wondering if I id beard wome. The name felt familiar sty timane, hot in this context, it made no sense, I turned to Adrim,


    irmation.  che saying mer!


    ching his amber ever le


    Adriana bers, firmwed slightly, the same confusion I felt reflected his expression. Before either of on erald mice war thenights Bartler, Morge¡¯s lips


    The repetition sent a chill down my spine. This was 1 random rambling or confound muttering. This wat


    into her schonscious that even sedatives couldn¡¯t sile


    My mind raced back to our pack meetings, to the times Garrit had briefed us on thepetition


    He¡¯d been through, professional, preventing detailed information about each majne contender including Alpha Margm. Hed mentioned her as the only female Alpha in the summing, how the d built her power hase by championing women¡¯s rights across the continent. Hed womed us not to underestimate her because of her gender¨Cthat getting this far required exceptional strength,


    But never, not once, had he mentioned any personal connection.


    Has Garrett ever mentioned Alpha Morgan to you?¡± I asked Adrian quietly, keeping my voice low enough that only he could hear. Beyond thepetit


    Adrian shook his head slowly. ¡°<b>No. </b><b>But </b>then again, I don¡¯t make a habit of prying imo people¡¯s private lives.¡±


    I could see the wheels turning in his mind, the <b>same </b><b>suspicions </b>forming that were crystallizing in mine. Our information specialist, our trusted


    I proven imvaluable in preparing for these <b>trish</b>¨Ccould be really be connected to one of Adrian¡¯s strongest rivals?


    Adrian straightened, addressing Daniel directly. This Garrett that Alpha Morgan kreps mentioning¨Cdo you know who he is


    Daniel¡¯s hands still gripped Morgan¡¯s fingers, his knuckles white with tension. I watched him wrestle with something internal, <b>loyalty </b>warring with desperation on his weathered face. His eyes darted between us and his Alpha, clearly weighing whether to share what might be deeply personal information.


    Lydia spoke up from where she¡¯d retreated after Daniels rough handling. Alpha Morgan seem trapped in memories of this Garrett, Whatever happened between them, it¡¯s what¡¯s keeping her locked in these delusions.¡±


    ¡°The longer she remains in this state,¡± Lydia continued gently, the harder it will be to bring her back. Her mind is


    is creating its own


    its own prison.¡±


    That seemed to break through Daniel¡¯sst walls of resistance. He looked down at Morgan¡¯s face, stal twisted in anguish,


    ¡°Garrett


    tt is Alpha


    ha Morgan¡¯s younger <b>son</b>,


    he <b>s </b>


    <b>said </b>


    the words seeming to physically pain <b>him</b>.


    The shock hit me like a physical blow. Adrian¡¯s body tensed beside me, and even <b>Xavier¡¯s </b>usual <b>easy </b>confidence flickered. I heard my own sharp intake of breath


    The Garrett who won first ce in the speed races? That Garrett?¡±


    Daniel¡¯s head snapped up, genuine surprise recing some of the grief on his <b>face</b>. ¡°You know about that? His voice <b>held </b>a <b>note </b>of wonder. I didnt think anyone still remembered. It¡¯s been <b>years </b>since¡­ sice he had that victory.


    ¡°I was there,¡± Xavier interjected, stepping forward slightly. ¡°That speedpetition¨CI watched the whole thing. The kid <b>was </b><b>incredible</b>. Never seen <b>anyone </b>


    like that¡±


    Adrian and I exchanged nces with Lydia. The pieces were falling into ce with unconfortable rity. <b>Our </b>Garrett, with his brilliant mind and damaged leg, who¡¯d be imahuable to Dasisburn Pack a intelligencework, Morgan¡¯s son, who¡¯d once been a champion nunner.


    ? ?Small world,¡± 1 murmured.


    Daniel¡¯s attention sharpened on us like a dle. ¡°Why? You know something about him? Hope and fer bettled in his voter. ¡°It¡¯s been theen years since he left home. Just disappeard one day, and Morgan¡­ ale s never forgiven herself. She snuches for himi penatantly, even bized private investigators, but he vanished like smoke.¡±


    ¡°Garrett <b>works </b>for us now. Hey Dasisbom <b>Pack¡¯s </b>information manager,¡± Adrian


    found, there¡¯s no finding him.


    Daniel¡¯s <b>eyes </b>ted with sudden life, hope transforming his exhausted features. But caution quickly crept hack


    Adrian shook his head slowly, and I watched Daniel¡¯s hope crumble. ¡°The damage was to severe Some things can¡¯t he healed, not even with our regenerative abilities.¡±


    Daniel¡¯s face crumpled with fresh grief. He turned back to Morgon, stroking her hair with infinite gentleness.


    ¡°That¡¯s our fault. All of it. We failed him that Morgan kes him. God, she loves that boy more than life itself. She had her reasons for¡­ for what happened. Things can¡¯t exin, things that would sound like excuses even if I tried.¡±


    Xavier, who¡¯d been uncharacteristically quiet, finally bust out with frustration. ¡°What are you all talking about? What happened to He looked between us with growing annoyance. Is there some rule that says I can¡¯t know what going <b>on</b><b>?</b>¡±


    ( leg? What remane


    was so clear that even Xavier closed his mouth with an audible click<b>. </b>


    Lydia fixed him with a look that could have frozen fire. The silentmand to shut up was<fn1150> Discover more novels at Find¡ïNovel</fn1150>


    by and incense can provide temporary calm, but they¡¯re bandages on a


    ¡°Alpha Morgan can¡¯t wake up because she¡¯s trapped in guilt over Garrett. These herbs severed artery. They won¡¯t bring her back to consciousness.¡±


    Daniel seized on her words like a drowning man grasping for rope. He grabbed <b>Lydia¡¯s </b>shoulders again, desperation making his movements sharp. You have another way. You must <b>have </b>another way, Please, tell me you do.¡±


    Lydia swayed slightly under his grip, <b>clearly </b>ufortable with the contact.


    ¡°Daniel,¡± Xavier said, <b>his </b>voice carrying a warning. ¡°Easy there.¡±


    Daniel released Lydia<b>, </b>his hands dropping to his sides, but his eyes remained fixed on her with burning internity. ¡°Please. If there¡¯s anything¡­


    Lydia tumed to look directly at Adrian. ¡°There might be one option,¡± she said slowly. ¡°Alpha Adrian, would you consider allowing Garret toe here? To per Alpha Morgan?¡±


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 Casts 168

    (fourth trist. It i


    Adian reached for his phone in soon as Lydia suggested contacting Garrett. The phone rang bice before a familiar voice neered


    ¡°Alpha, is everything alright? It¡¯s bue


    Terrell, Adrian said. ¡°We passed the third trial.¡±


    I already knew that I knew yod moke it though.¡± Garrett a enthusiasm came through clearly. ¡°I¡¯m gathering intelligence. focus on diplomatic rtions between packs¡±


    ¡°Actually, that¡¯s not why I¡¯m calling. It¡¯s about your mother,¡±<fnb47b> Chapters first released on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fnb47b>


    Silence. Then Gamett¡¯s voice became cautious. ¡°What about ber?¡±


    Adrian nced at Daniel. ¡°Shes here with us. She¡¯s been unconscious for a day, trapped in her mind. She keeps calling for you.¡±


    That has nothing to do with me


    keeps apologizing to you¡± Adrian continued gently. ¡°Whatever happened, its consuming her. Her Beta tapt-


    ¡°Stop. Getts voice cracked. I don¡¯t want to hear it.¡±


    Im not asking as your Alpha. I¡¯m asking as your friend. See her. <b>You </b>don¡¯t have to forgive her, but I think you need to see her.¡±


    After a long pause: ¡°I think about it.


    ¡°Garrett-


    I think about it¡± The line went dead.


    Adrian lowered the phone. ¡°Helle,¡± he told Daniel confidently,


    How can you be sure?¡±


    Because he didn¡¯t refuse outright,¡± I said. ¡°Garrett never leaves things unfinished.¡±


    Twenty


    y miratester,


    Adrian¡¯s p


    phone buzzed-


    Fight booked Landing at AM<ul><li><b></b>Adrian showed Daniel the message. Tomorrow maming.</li></ul>


    Belief transformed Daniels <b>face</b>. ¡°Thank you. I don¡¯t know how to repay.


    that take care of your Alpha.¡±


    As we left, Xavier stopped Lydia. ¡°That incense smells incredible.<ol><li>e. Could I have <b>some</b>? These trial¡­ I <b>haven¡¯t </b>been sleeping well.¡±</li></ol>


    Lydia studied him, then nodded. 13


    prepare


    ¡°You¡¯re brilliant,¡± Xavier said. The <b>way </b>you handled everything in there pretty amazing


    <b>Lydia </b>actually blushed. ¡°It¡¯s just experience.¡±


    At our hotel, Lydia distributed <b>incense </b>bundles to <b>each </b>room. When she reached ours, Adrian stopped her. ¡°I don¡¯t need une. Skye and I share.¡±


    Xavier raised rytow Hey, dont forget were in elections, and on a honeyman.


    Later, hing in Altaics ems, sighed. Terryone cartes <b>unch </b>diep wind


    Adrian tilted my


    Tour. But we als hter imise joys. He traced my cheekleta. ¡°Berget happinesses


    Like this, he kissed me sofily. ¡°Like


    up next to you. Like having a true partner in all this mi


    The sharp knock at our


    me at exactly 8:47 AM, Alrian was already dressed, having been up for an hour preparing for Garratt¡¯s arrival


    Garrett stood in the hallway, and my heart clenched at the sight of him. Dark circles thadowed his eyes, making them look braised. Despite his attempted


    old demens when Morgan was mentioned, the mider of his sleepless night told a different story.


    ¡°Garrett,¡± Adrian said warmly, palling him into a log.


    Alpha


    ¡°Just Adrian today, Adrian said, releasing him. ¡°<b>You¡¯re </b>here as family, nut pack.¡±


    1 stepped forward and hugged Garrett too. ¡°Thank you foring,¡± I whispered.


    Did I have a choice he smiled.


    Even Lydia energed from her room, offering a nod of acknowledgment. ¡°Your mother¡¯s condition has stabilized overnight. The incense is helping keep her


    Garrett¡¯sw tightened at the mention of Morgan


    ¡°Let¡¯s just get this over with


    We made <b>our </b>way to Morgan¡¯s hotel room in tense silence. Daniel must have been watching for us because the door opened before we could knock


    ¡°Cartett?¡± Daniel¡¯s eyes wide with disbelief. ¡°You actually came ¡°


    Garrett¡¯s limp was more pronounced than usual as he entered the mom, whether from the long flight or emotional stress, I couldn¡¯t tell. He stopped several feet from the bed, staring down at the woman who¡¯d haunted <b>his </b>absence for three years.


    Morgan <b>looked </b>smaller than I remembered from the trials, fragile in a way that seemed wrong for an Alpha. Her <b>face </b>was peaceful now, the calming incense doing its work, but traces of dried tears still marked her cheeks.


    ¡°Three years,¡± Garrett said finally. ¡°Three <b>years </b>since I¡¯ve seen her face.


    Caretta hand hovered over Morgan¡¯s face, not quite touching. Then he <b>ced </b>his palm on her forehead.


    Nothing happened for a long moment. Then Morgan¡¯s eyelids fluttered. Her eyes opened slowly, focusing with difficulty.


    ¡°Garrett?¡± The wood was barely a breath. Her eyes widened, tears immediately pooling. ¡®No¡­ no, I¡¯m dreaming again. You¡¯re not really here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± Gamett said, <b>his </b>voice <b>cracking </b>despite his efforts to stay controlled


    Morgan¡¯s hand shot out, gripping <b>his </b>wrist with surprising strength. Her fingers <b>traced </b>his <b>face </b>as tears serrated down her cheeks


    ¡°My boy. My beautiful boy. <b>You </b>came <b>hack</b><b>¡± </b>


    She tried to sit up, hands reaching for him desperately, ¡°Garrest, al Carrett, I¡¯m so sorry. It in


    ¡°You¡¯re awake Good.¡± Garrett pulled back abruptly, his mask mming hack into ce. How that you¡¯re fine. Ill be going.¡±


    He turned toward the dom in one sharp movement.


    ¡°Nol Morgan tried to swing her legs out of bed too quickly for her weakened state. She would have fallen if Daniel adn longed forward <b>to </b>catch


    ¡°Garrett, please! Morgan clung to Daniel but her eyes never left her son¡¯s retreating hack. ¡°Are you have you been these three years? Are you eating well? Is your leg¡ª


    anny with mati understand. I de But please


    Garrett stopped but didn¡¯t turn around. I positioned myself to see his profile and my heart broke at the sight. His eyes were red rimmed, moisture gathering. despite his best efforts.


    Morgan continued, her voice breaking with sobs, ¡°I know I failed you. I know I didnt give you the justice you deserved. But you¡¯re both my sonst I couldot bear to see you hurt, but I couldn¡¯t bear to see your brother imprisoned either. You¡¯re all I have left in this world. I was selfish, I was greedy, I wanted to <b>keep </b>you both. Every day for three years, I¡¯ve hated myself for it. Every single day, Garrett. Please¡­..¡±


    I moved to Garrett¡¯s side, gently touching his arm. ¡°Maybe you <b>should </b>talk <b>to </b>your mother,¡± I said softly. Really talk, Clear the air once and for all


    re¡¯s jaw was clenched so tight. But he didn¡¯t pull away from my touch.


    I locked meaningfully at Adrian, then at Xavier and Lydia. Adrian understood immediately


    ¡°Let¡¯s give them some privacy,¡± he <b>said </b>quietly. ¡°Daniel, that includes you.¡±


    Daniel looked like he wanted to protest, but one look at Morgan¡¯s face and he nodded. We filed out of the rood quietly, leaving mother and son to face three years <b>of </b>silence<b>. </b>


    As I closed the door behind us, I <b>said </b>softly. <b>¡°</b>Take all the time you need.¡±

 Casts 169

    <b>Chapter 169 </b>


    2


    Skye¡¯s POV


    Leaving Morgan¡¯s room, I caught Adn¡¯s arm and gently reminded him, ¡°We have dinner with your mother tonight.¡±


    Adrian ran a hand through his hair and let out a long sigh. The tension from the encounter with Morgan and Garrett clearly still weighed


    on him.


    ¡°I¡¯m actually a little nervous,¡± I admitted as we walked down the hotel corridor. ¡°I don¡¯t know if your mother likes me.¡±


    Adrian turned to me, his amber eyes softening. ¡°Whether she likes you or not doesn¡¯t matter, Skye.¡±


    ¡°I know, but I still hope we can get everyone¡¯s blessing.¡± I bit my lip, thinking about how my own family had reacted to my choices. ¡°Family support means something, even in ourplicated world.¡±


    Adrian pulled me closer. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. No one can help but like you.¡± He kissed my forehead gently. ¡°Trust me on this.¡±


    That evening, we met Adrian¡¯s mother at what was supposedly the best restaurant in town. The ce screamed elegance with its crystal chandeliers and white tablecloths. Lillian was already seated when we arrived, her posture perfect as she sipped her water.


    Unlike my mother who could talk enough for three people, Adrian¡¯s mother had a quiet, dignified air about her. Her amber eyes and straight nose had clearly been passed down to Adrian.


    What I hadn¡¯t expected was her directness. After we¡¯d barely ordered drinks, she looked straight at Adrian and asked, ¡°Will you make Skye


    <b>your </b>mate?¡±


    I nearly choked on my water, and Adrian looked momentarily caught off guard. But he recovered quickly, his voice unwavering.


    ¡°Yes, I am certain.¡± Adrian said, squeezing my hand tightly.


    Lillian then turned her prating gaze to me. ¡°And you, Skye? Are you certain about choosing Adrian as your mate? I heard Alpha Leon <b>is </b>actually your mate.¡±


    I took a deep breath, aware of the weight behind this question. Though I was still Leon¡¯s mate, I was absolutely certain that I chose Adrian. I nodded with conviction.


    <b>¡°</b>Yes, <b>I </b>am.¡±


    Lillian¡¯s expression softened, the lines around her mouth rxing slightly. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to interfere in your personal matters,¡± she said, focusing on her wine ss<b>. </b>¡°It¡¯s just that¡­¡± She paused, looking directly at Adrian. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to repeat my mistakes.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s jaw tightened slightly. ¡°Mother-<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°If I had been more decisive back then¡­¡± Lillian stopped herself, forcing a smile. ¡°Today should be about celebrating your advancement <i>in </i>the trials. I shouldn¡¯t bring up old wounds.¡±


    The waiter arrived with our appetizers<b>, </b>providing a momentary distraction. When he left, Lillian reached for her phone, scrolling through something with a frown creasing her forehead.


    <b>10:07 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>2 </b>


    ¡°I think there are some rumors you need to address,¡± she said, turning the screen toward us. ¡°People are talking.¡±


    I leaned forward to look at what appeared to be a social media page titled ¡°WolfWatch: Election Edition. The first post I saw made my stomach drop.


    ¡°How Skye Anderson betrayed her true mate and her pack for power.¡±


    Below it were hundreds ofments, each one worse than thest.


    ¡°She betrayed Leon, turning her back on her destined mate. What kind of she¨Cwolf does that?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s nothing but a slut, toying with two Alphas at once. Talk about hedging your bets.¡±


    ¡°Two Alphas? Please. I heard she¡¯s been making rounds with several contenders. Smart strategy¨Cwhoever bes King, she bes Queen.¡±


    My hands trembled as I scrolled further down. There were photos¨Cpictures I didn¡¯t even know existed.


    Adrian with his arm around me entering our hotel.


    Leon kissing me at the banquet when he was drunk.


    Even a blurry shot of me getting out of Alpha Xavier¡¯s car.


    All of it presented as evidence of my supposed promiscuity and maniption.


    ¡°This is ridiculous,¡± Adrian growled, his eyes shing with anger as he looked over my shoulder.


    ¡°Ridiculous or not, it¡¯s spreading,¡± Lillian said calmly, taking back her phone. ¡°These allegations could affect your standing in the election, Adrian. The Council might question your judgment if your potential Luna is seen as¡­ morallypromised.¡±


    I felt sick to my stomach. The restaurant suddenly seemed too hot, too crowded. Every whispered conversation at nearby tables felt like it might be about me. <fn83b7> Newest update provided by find?novel</fn83b7>


    Adrian took my hand under the table, his grip firm and reassuring. ¡°Anyone who believes this garbage isn¡¯t worth our concern,¡± he said, but I could see the calction in his eyes. He knew as well as I did that perception mattered in politics, especially wolf politics.


    ¡°How many people have seen this?¡± I asked.


    Lillian¡¯s expression was sympathetic but practical. ¡°Enough. It¡¯s being shared in packs across the country.¡±


    I stared at my untouched appetizer, appetitepletely gone. After everything I¡¯d been through¨Crejection, exile, finding a new ce with Adrian¨CI was now being painted as some kind of calcting harlot using her body for political gain.


    The worst part was knowing that some would believe it. After all, wasn¡¯t it easier to believe I was a maniptive slut than to ept that I had found love after rejection?

 Casts 170

    <b>Chapter </b><b>170 </b>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    Adrian¡¯s hand mmed down on the table with enough force to make the silverware jump. His eyes zed with fury as he turned <b>to </b><b>his </b>


    mother.


    <b>87 </b>


    ¡°Who posted this garbage?¡± he growled.


    Lillian shook her head slowly. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Could be one of yourpetitors. Or maybe just some rabid fangirl of Alpha Xavier or <b>Alpha </b>Leon.¡± She took another sip of her wine. ¡°Young women can be quite vicious when ites to their fantasies being threatened.¡±


    Adrian¡¯s jaw clenched as he scrolled through morements on his phone. ¡°I¡¯ll have Garrett wipe every trace of these lies from the inte. Every. Single. One.¡±


    I could feel the rage radiating off him in waves. His protective instincts were in overdrive, and while part <b>of </b>me loved him for it, <b>I </b><b>couldn¡¯t </b>let my drama derail his campaign. Not when we¡¯de so far.


    ¡°Adrian,¡± I said, cing my hand over his. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    He looked at me in disbelief. ¡°Fine? Skye, they¡¯re


    calling you-¡±


    ¡°I know what they¡¯re calling me.¡± I forced a smile. ¡°You know what? I¡¯ve never had this many women jealous of me before. I¡¯m choosing to take it as apliment. Clearly, I must be doing something right if they¡¯re this threatened.¡±


    Lillian¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly, the first genuine reaction I¡¯d seen from her all evening. She studied me carefully.


    ¡°Interesting,¡± she murmured. ¡°I trust my intuition, and my intuition tells me you¡¯re not the type of woman these posts im you are.¡± She set down her wine ss with deliberate precision. ¡°I¡¯m Adrian¡¯s mother. He¡¯s my only child. I don¡¯t want to see him hurt.¡± <fnafb2> Readplete version only at Find1Novel</fnafb2>


    I met her gaze directly, understanding what she wasn¡¯t saying. She¡¯d seen the posts about Leon being my true mate. She had questions. Concerns<b>. </b>


    ¡°<b>I </b>understand,¡± <b>I </b>said quietly. ¡°After the election is over, I¡¯ll immediately break the mate bond with Leon. You have my word.¡±


    Something shifted in Lillian¡¯s expression. The tension around her mouth eased, and she gave me the first genuine smile of the evening. Relief, maybe. Or approval.


    ***


    <b>As </b>Adrian and I were leaving the restaurant, I noticed several girls pointing at me and whispering. One even pulled out her phone to take


    a photo. Adrian walked over and stopped the two young women before they could capture anything.


    On the ride back to the hotel<b>, </b>Adrian muttered, ¡°When I find out who did this, I¡¯m going to cut off their hands.¡±


    I leaned against his shoulder. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be angry anymore.¡±


    But I was secretly worried whether this gossip would affect Adrian¡¯s campaign. We hade to the final stage, and absolutely nothing could go wrong now.


    <b>10:07 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>2 </b>


    We found Garrett in the hotel lobby, looking in good spirits. I guessed Morgan must have recovered. Hisptop bag was slung over his shoulder, and he was chatting animatedly with Ryiler.


    ¡°Lydia set me up with a room,¡± Garrett announced, grinning. Apparently, I¡¯m worth keeping around.¡±


    Ryder pped him on the shoulder. ¡°This calls for a drink! Come on, I know just the ce-


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯ll have to wait,¡± Adrian interrupted. ¡°Garrett, I need you to handle something. Now.¡±


    The serious tone wiped the smile from Garrett¡¯s face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Adrian handed him his phone, already open to the WolfWatch page. I watched Garrett¡¯s expression darken as he scrolled through the posts. When he looked up at me, his face was tight with anger.


    ¡°Who did this?¡± he asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I need you to find out,¡± Adrian said.


    Garrett was already pulling out hisptop, setting up on a nearby coffee table. His fingers flew across the keyboard, lines of code I couldn¡¯t understand filling the screen.


    ¡°Rookie job,¡± he muttered after less than ten minutes. ¡°They registered the ount yesterday. Posted from¡­¡± He squinted at the screen. ¡°The Silver Moon Lodge. Room can¡¯t be traced without hacking their system, but the IP address is definitely from there.¡±


    The Silver Moon Lodge. My stomach dropped.


    ¡°Maya,¡± I breathed.


    Adrian¡¯s head snapped toward me. ¡°The woman from Leon¡¯s team?¡±


    I was already pulling out my phone, jabbing at her contact. It rang once before going straight to voicemail. Declined.


    My fingers shook slightly as I typed out a text:


    ##Meet me at the bar in Silver Moon Lodge lobby. Now. Or I tell Leon exactly what you¡¯ve been doing.##


    The response came within seconds: Fine.


    I stood abruptly, fury finally overtaking the shock. ¡°I need to deal with this.¡±


    ¡°Not alone,¡± Adrian said, already moving to follow me.


    I didn¡¯t argue. Part of me wanted to handle Maya myself, woman to woman. But the rational part knew Adrian¡¯s presence would carry more weight. An Alpha¡¯s protection meant something<b>, </b>even to someone as petty as Maya.


    The Silver Moon Lodge bar was mostly empty at this hour. Maya sat in a corner booth, shoulders hunched, stirring her drink with vicious little movements.


    ¡°Why?<b>¡± </b>I asked without preamble as I slid into the seat <b>across </b>from her. Adrian remained standing, a looming presence that made Maya shrink back slightly.


    <b>10:07 </b><b>Thu</b>, <b>Oct </b><b>2 </b>


    She shrugged, not meeting my eyes. ¡°I was in a mood. Didn¡¯t think anyone would actually care about some random posts.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t think?¡± Adrian¡¯s voice was sharp. ¡°Or didn¡¯t care?¡±


    Maya¡¯s eyes shed. ¡°I deleted them already, okay? What more do you want?¡±


    A public apology,¡± Adrian said. ¡°Posted from your real ount. Taking full responsibility for the lies.¡±


    20


    ¡°No way<b>.</b>¡± Maya shook her head violently. ¡°If I do that, Leon will know it was me. You promised you wouldn¡¯t tell him!¡± She pointed <b>an </b>using finger at me.


    Adrian leaned forward slightly. ¡°Then I suggest you prepare for awsuit. Defamation of character <b>is </b>serious business. And <b>as </b>a member of Alpha Leon¡¯s team, I¡¯m sure the media would love to hear how his supporters are spreading lies about other candidates¡® mates.¡±


    He straightened, taking my hand. ¡°Your choice<b>.</b>¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± Maya¡¯s voice cracked as we turned to leave. Her hands clenched into fists on the table. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll do it. I¡¯ll post the stupid apology.¡±


    The relief I felt was short¨Clived. We were almost at the bar entrance when a familiar scent hit me. Pine and winter frost. My wolf stirred uneasily.


    Leon walked through the door, his dark eyes immediately finding mine. Time seemed to slow as our gazes met.


    Lillian¡¯s warnings echoed in my mind. The rumors<b>. </b>The spection. Thest thing I needed was another photo of Leon and me together for people to twist.


    I gave him a brief nod, nothing more than basic acknowledgment, and tightened my grip on Adrian¡¯s hand. We moved to walk past him.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Leon¡¯s voice was sharp with sarcasm. ¡°Is this how you treat someone who saved your life?¡±


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 Casts 171

    <b>Chapter </b>171


    687


    Skye¡¯s POV


    I watched Adrian tense beside me as his eyes locked with Leon¡¯s. To prevent their confrontation from escting, I gently squeezed Adrian¡¯s palm, a silent signal that there was no need to engage. I turned to Leon, keeping my voice deliberately neutral.


    ¡°I think I already said thank you,¡± I said. ¡°Besides, you didn¡¯t rescue me just out of concern, did you? You were worried our mate <b>bond </b>wasn¡¯t fully dissolved yet, and I might affect your candidacy. You were only helping yourself.¡±


    Leon¡¯s mouth twitched, a sh of anger crossing his features before settling into a cold smirk. ¡°<b>Is </b>that what you think?<b>¡± </b>He stepped closer. ¡°Let me remind you of something. You passed the second trial only because I had Maya give you the correct answers and provided evidence to the Council.¡±


    His eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he continued. ¡°You survived the third trial because I saved you. And the final <b>trial</b><b>?</b>¡± He shook his head slowly<b>. </b>¡°Alpha Adrian, next time you won¡¯t be so lucky. The final round is an individualpetition. No one <b>can </b>help you<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Adrian moved forward, positioning himself slightly in front of me. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that,¡± he growled. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind erasing the title ¡®Alpha Leon¡® either.¡±


    Before they could escte further, I tugged on Adrian¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯m tired. We should go.¡±


    Without warning, Adrian scooped me into his arms, cradling me against his chest. ¡°Then let¡¯s go back to shower and sleep,¡± he announced, loud enough for Leon to hear.


    I buried my face against Adrian¡¯s chest, not wanting to see Leon¡¯s expression. The steady thump of Adrian¡¯s heart beneath my ear was oddly calming as he carried me away.


    ¡°You seem thinner than before,¡± Adrian murmured as we walked. ¡°The thermal springs prepared by the Alpha King open officially tomorrow. You should go with Lydia and Ryder. Everyone needs a day to rx.¡±


    He held me tighter, his lips brushing my ear as he whispered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry you¡¯ve endured so much hardship because of me. For the final trial, I promise I¡¯ll win.¡±


    I pressed my forehead against his neck, breathing in hisforting scent. ¡°I know you¡¯ll win,¡± I whispered back. ¡°But I don¡¯t want you to feel too pressured.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Thermal springs!¡±


    When Adrian announced after dinner that we were going to the hot springs tonight, Ryder practically bounced three feet into the air with excitement.


    Alpha Xavierughed, his perfect white teeth shing. ¡°It¡¯s just some hot water. Why are you so excited?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t been to hot springs in <b>five </b><b>years</b>,¡± Ryderined. ¡°Living in the desert is rough. People like you from big cities wouldn¡¯t understand.¡±


    Adrian red at him. ¡°What? If you want to move to Los Angeles, I won¡¯t stop you.¡±


    <b>10:07 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>2 </b>


    Chapter 171 <fn2687> Original content can be found at Find~Novel</fn2687>


    Ryder quickly raised both hands in surrender. ¡°I never said that.¡±


    <b>87 </b>


    At seven that evening, we arrived at the reportedly healing thermal springs. A staff member guided Lydia and me to select swimwear<b>, </b>both surprisingly conservative.


    When we emerged from the changing rooms in our bathing suits, we encountered Adrian in the hallway. <b>I </b>caught the sh of appreciation in his eyes as they swept over me.


    Adrian raised an eyebrow, pulling me into his arms. ¡°You look <b>sexy</b>,¡± he murmured. ¡°I wish I could join you in the springs.¡±


    ¡°Maybe <b>we </b>should take a long vacation after the election is over,¡± I suggested<b>, </b>smiling <b>up </b>at him.


    Just then, a familiar voice came from behind us. I turned to see Leon.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope the losers will still be in the mood for a vacation when this is over,¡± he said sarcastically.


    I pursed my lips and quipped, ¡°When did you develop this habit of eavesdropping on private conversations, Leon?¡±


    Leon snorted, ¡°Who¡¯s eavesdropping? You¡¯re blocking the hallway.¡± I shifted to the side, making <i>a </i>gesture of invitation with my hand.


    Leon stormed off toward the men¡¯s section of the springs with anger in his steps.


    ¡°See you in an hour,¡± I told Adrian, giving him a quick kiss before following Lydia toward the women¡¯s thermal pool.


    The women¡¯s area was beautifully designed with natural rock formations surrounding steaming pools of various sizes. Soft lighting created


    a peaceful atmosphere, and the air was heavy with mineral¨Crich steam promising rxation and healing.


    When we entered, Maya was already there, lounging in a provocative red bikini. Seeing us, she whispered something to the three female warriors beside her. All three immediately stepped back, their expressions morphing into disgust.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I asked, confused by their reaction. ¡°Is there something in the water?¡±


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Maya replied with a smirk, looking at herpanions. ¡°But something dirty is about to get in.¡±


    Chapter Comments


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 Casts 172

    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¨Ccolored 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¨Cfilled 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¨Crich 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


    A


    <b>78 </b>


    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.

 Casts 173

    <b>Chapter </b>173


    Adrian¡¯s POV


    Steam rose from the hot spring as 1 rxed with several pack members. The mineral water soothed my muscles after days of <b>Alpha </b><b>King </b>Election preparations. Ryder lounged nearby, while Garrett and Xavier were discussing a movie I¡¯d never heard of.


    Our peaceful moment shattered when Lydia burst in wrapped in a towel. The men in the pool erupted into chaos.


    ¡°Is this the massage therapist Alpha King arranged for us?¡± a wolf warrior joked, eyebrows raised suggestively.


    ¡°Shut up,¡± I growled, immediately sensing something was wrong. Lydia¡¯s face was etched with panic, and more importantly, Skye <b>wasn¡¯t </b>with her.


    I quickly climbed out of the water, grabbing a towel to wrap around my waist. ¡°Lydia, what are you doing here<b>? </b>Where¡¯s Skye<i>?</i>¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s gone, Alpha Adrian,¡± Lydia said, her voice tight with anxiety. ¡°Skye is missing.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Ryder jumped up from the water, not bothering with modesty as he stepped onto the stone tiles<b>. </b>¡°What do you mean missing<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Garrett and Xavier also moved to the edge of the pool, concern evident on their faces.


    ¡°She went to the bathroom about an hour ago,¡± Lydia exined, her words tumbling out. ¡°When she didn¡¯te back, <b>I </b>checked everywhere. The bathroom, changing rooms<b>, </b>even the lobby. I tried mind¨Clinking her multiple times but got nothing. I thought maybe she came here to find you, but¡­¡±


    I immediately attempted to mind¨Clink with Skye. <i>Skye</i><i>? </i><i>Skye</i>, <i>can </i><i>you </i><i>hear </i><i>me</i><i>? </i>Nothing but silence answered me.


    ¡°It must be Maya,¡± Lydia continued, anger shing in her eyes. ¡°She and her friends were harassing <b>us </b>at the women¡¯s spring. Skye defended me and threw them out. Maya threatened that it wasn¡¯t over.¡±


    I scanned the spring, noticing Leon and Ethan were no longer present. ¡°Ryder, get dressed. We¡¯re going to find her.¡±


    I quickly pulled on my clothes and rushed outside. Leon and Ethan were just climbing into their SUV when I called out to them.


    Leon turned, surprise flickering across his face before his expression hardened. ¡°What do you want?¡± he asked coldly.


    I strode forward and grabbed his cor, pushing him against the vehicle. ¡°Where¡¯s Maya?<b>¡± </b>


    Leon shoved me back, his eyes shing with anger. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you? Don¡¯t you have enough women in your own pack? Why do you always go after women from mine?¡±


    ¡°Skye is missing,¡± I snarled. ¡°And I think your little friend Maya had something to do with it.¡±


    Ethan stepped between us, his face serious<b>. </b>¡°Missing? What are you talking about?¡±


    By now, Ryder, Garrett, and Xavier had joined us outside, forming a protective semicircle behind me.


    Leon¡¯s expression shifted slightly. He pulled out his phone and made a call. ¡°Maya,e to the parking lot. Now.¡±


    <b>10:30 </b><b>Fri</b>, <b>Oct </b><b>3 </b>M


    Within minutes, Maya appeared, her wet hair suggesting she¡¯d just left the hot springs. Her confidence wavered when she saw the assembled group.


    ¡®What did you do to Skye? Leon demanded. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to stop causing trouble? What did you promise me yesterday?


    Maya shifted ufortably. ¡°I just said a few words to her. She nearly choked my friend to death! We¡¯re even now.¡±


    ¡°Did you take her?¡± I asked, stepping forward. ¡°Where is she?¡±


    Confusion crossed Maya¡¯s face. ¡°Take her? Why would I do that? She¡¯s the one who kicked us out of the springs.¡±


    Ethan crossed his arms. ¡°Maya, Skye is missing. Are you absolutely sure you had nothing to do with it?¡±


    ¡°I hate her, yes,¡± Maya admitted. ¡°I¡¯d love to p that smug look off her <b>face </b>sometime. But kidnap her? Kill her? I¡¯m not insane.¡± She nced at her watch. ¡°How long has she been missing? Ten minutes? Half an hour? You¡¯re all making a big deal out of nothing. Are all Oasisborn pack members this fragile? Maybe she went back to the springs or returned to the hotel.¡±


    I had no good response. She made a valid point, even if I didn¡¯t want to admit it.


    ¡°Lydia,¡± I said, turning to her. ¡°Go back and check the springs and changing rooms again.¡±


    ¡°Ryder, head to the hotel immediately,¡± I ordered.


    Leon grabbed Maya¡¯s arm. ¡°If I find out you¡¯re lying, or if you cause any more problems, I¡¯ll have you expelled from the pack. I¡¯ve had enough of your childish behavior.¡±


    Ethan stepped forward. ¡°We¡¯ll help search. She couldn¡¯t have gone far.¡±


    An hourter, we reconvened in the hotel lobby. Lydia had checked every inch of the hot springs. Ryder had searched our rooms and the hotel grounds. Xavier and Garrett had questioned staff and other guests. Ethan and Leon had driven around the surrounding area.


    No one had seen Skye. No one had heard from her. She had simply vanished. <fn5fc7> Newest update provided by ?ovelFind</fn5fc7>


    My heart sank as the reality hit me. This wasn¡¯t a misunderstanding or Skye wandering off. The woman who had be so important to me, my pack, and my future wasn¡¯t just missing.


    Skye had truly been taken.

 Casts 174

    <b>Chapter </b><b>174 </b>


    Adrian POV


    <b>¡°</b>I¡¯ve checked everywhere. There are no security cameras installed in this area to protect guests¡® privacy,¡± Garrett said with visible frustration, running his hand through his damp hair.


    I paced back and forth across the hotel lobby, my mind racing through every possible scenario of what might have happened <b>to </b>Skye. The tight knot in my stomach grew with each passing minute.


    ¡°But this hot spring belongs to the House of Representatives,¡± Ethan said optimistically. ¡°Nobody can just walk in except for staff and VIP guests<b>.</b>¡± He paused, his expression softening. ¡°Maybe she just went out for a run? My sister has always been headstrong. She once left home without telling anyone.¡±


    I shot Ethan an irritated nce. ¡°The Skye I know isn¡¯t impulsive or irresponsible. She¡¯s extremely disciplined and has <b>a </b>strong sense of duty.¡±


    Leon checked his watch with an impatient gesture. ¡°If you want to stay and help, then stay,¡± he told Ethan tly<b>. </b>¡°She is <b>your </b>sister<b>, </b>after all.¡± Without another word, he turned and walked away.


    Ethan watched him leave before turning back to me. ¡°Have you and Skye offended anyone recently? Or noticed anything strange happening?¡±


    His question triggered a memory that made my blood run cold. I recalled Skye being locked in an oven, suffering burns. The electrical switch coated with honey that was chewed through by mice¡­


    Self¨Creproach washed over me. I¡¯d been too careless, toocent.


    Nothing unusual had happened in the past few days, so I hadn¡¯t taken Maya¡¯s previous warnings seriously. But now, doubt and fear crawled through my mind like poison.


    <b>Yet </b>one question kept repeating itself: if someone wanted to kill me, why target Skye?


    Rage and terror simultaneously surged through my veins.


    Leon¡¯s POV


    I didn¡¯t return to the hotel as I¡¯d implied. Instead, I drove straight to the North American House of Representatives building.


    In the privacy of my car, <b>I </b>cursed Adrian under my breath. What kind of useless Alpha couldn¡¯t even protect one woman? I¡¯d heard his previous Beta was female too, and she ended up dead at the hands of the former Gravestone Pack Alpha. Now Skye was with him, and she¡¯d mysteriously vanished.


    I couldn¡¯t understand what these women saw in him that inspired such devotion. The thought made my anger spike, and before <b>I </b>realized it, I had pulled up at the entrance of the House of Representatives.


    If only staff and invited guests could <b>ess </b>that hot spring, then perhaps Elder Selene would need to get involved to find any leads<b>. </b>


    1/2 <fn8727> Official source is Find[?]ovel</fn8727>


    10:31 Fri, <b>Oct </b>3 M


    A guard stopped me at the entrance. When he recognized who I was, he quickly lowered his head. Alpha Leon, what brings you here sote? Is there something I can assist you with?¡±


    ¡°I need to see Elder Selene,¡± I stated firmly. ¡°Please inform her.¡±


    ¡®Do you have an appointment, sir?¡± the guard asked hesitantly.


    ¡°No, but this is urgent. Go and inform her now.¡±


    The guard stood his ground. ¡°I¡¯m very sorry, but we have strict protocols. An appointment is required.¡±


    Growing impatient, I moved to push past him. Just then, another car pulled up, and Adrian stepped out. Our eyes met, and I could tell he was as surprised to see me as I was to see him.


    Ethan approached me with a friendly nod. ¡°Alpha Leon, I thought you¡¯d gone back to the hotel. Are you here to ask Elder Selene about Skye too?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m only here because I don¡¯t want this to affect my election in two days,¡± I replied coldly.


    The guard, seeing the growing group at the entrance, finally relented and went to notify Elder Selene.


    We waited in silence. Adrian, typicallyposed and controlled, now resembled an agitated animal, shifting his weight from foot to foot, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.


    Suddenly, the silence was broken by a phone ringing. Adrian quickly answered, and I watched as the color drained from his face.


    The call ended abruptly with a series of beeps loud enough for all of <b>us </b>to hear.


    ¡°Who was it?¡± Ethan and the masked woman asked in unison.


    Adrian¡¯s voice was tight with controlled rage. ¡°I don¡¯t know. He said Skye is in his hands now. If we want to ensure her safety, we need to follow his instructions¡±


    The words hung in the night air like a death sentence. I felt a strange twisting in my chest that I refused to acknowledge as concern for Skye. After all, she was just my mate by fate¡¯s cruel joke, nothing more.


    But as I looked at Adrian¡¯s devastated expression, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if there was more to this story than a simple kidnapping.


    Someone was ying a dangerous game, and Skye had somehow be a central piece on the board.


    Chapter Comments

 Casts 175

    <b>Chapter 175 </b>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    Consciousness came back to me like a slow tide, my mind struggling throughyers of fog before I could piece together a single coherent thought. I tried to move but my limbs felt like they were filled with lead. Every muscle in my body protested against even the slightest


    motion.


    Drugs. Again.


    The bitter aftertaste in my mouth confirmed it. Whoever had taken me had used both a sedative and wolf suppressants. Thebination was brutally effective, leaving me helpless as a newborn pup.


    I blinked several times, trying to adjust to the dim lighting. Thest thing I remembered was being at the hot spring, the warm water soothing my muscles after days of tension. Now I was¡­ where exactly?


    Looking down at myself, I realized someone had changed my clothes. The swimsuit I¡¯d been wearing was gone, reced by an oversized, threadbare men¡¯s t¨Cshirt that smelled of stale cigarettes and cheap detergent. The thought of unknown hands on my unconscious body made my skin crawl.


    My mouth was sealed with duct tape, the adhesive pulling painfully at my skin. Both my wrists and ankles were bound with rough rope, secured to some kind of metal ring embedded in the wall behind me. When I tried to pull against my restraints<b>, </b>they seemed to tighten automatically, digging deeper into my flesh.


    A burning sensation followed, far more intense than regr rope burn should be. Wolfsbane. The ropes had been treated with it, making them doubly effective against my kind. Even if I had my full strength, the poison would weaken me significantly.


    I forced myself to stop struggling. No sense in making the ropes tighter or allowing more wolfsbane to seep into my bloodstream. Instead, I focused on gathering information about my surroundings.


    The air here was noticeably warmer than it had been in the trial town. Wherever I was, we¡¯d traveled some distance. The room was small andpletely windowless, with concrete walls and a single metal door. The only light came from a bare bulb hanging from the ceiling, casting long shadows across the floor.


    The smell hit me next. Mold and dampness. Old concrete. The musty scent of earth surrounding me on all sides.


    Underground.


    I was in some kind of basement or cer.


    Memories crashed over me like an icy wave. Being trapped underground with Nadia. The darkness. The uncertainty. The knowledge that no one might find us in time. My heart rate spiked, and I forced myself to take slow breaths through my nose.


    Don¡¯t panic. Think.


    At least my captor had dressed me. That suggested they wanted me alive, at least for now. No signs <b>of </b>sexual assault either, which was one small mercy in this nightmare.


    I needed to figure out who had taken me and why. Maya¡¯s warning echoed in my mind.


    <i>Someone </i><i>wants </i><i>to </i><i>kill </i><i>Adrian</i><i>. </i>


    <b>10:31 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b>3 M


    Was this connected? Using me to get to him seemed like an obvious strategy. The final trial was approaching rapidly.


    What better way to throw Adrian off his game than by kidnapping someone close to him?


    But who would benefit most from Adrian¡¯s failure? The other candidates all had motives.


    20 78


    Maxwell, Adrian¡¯s uncle, had always feared his nephew might one day return to reim his birthright. Even though Adrian had shown no interest in the Stormhowl Pack, Maxwell¡¯s paran might have driven him to extreme measures,


    Rodrigo seemed like another possibility. He appeared to still harbor feelings for Lydia, and he certainly wouldn¡¯t want Adrian to win. The history between them could easily be motivation enough for such desperate measures.


    Then there was Leon. The hostility between him and Adrian had be increasingly obvious. Leon had even sworn to erase the Oasisborn pack¡¯s name from the werewolf world. But would he really target me this way?


    His arrogance and pride made such underhanded tactics seem beneath him. Unless he¡¯d been drinking wolf liquor again and lost control of himself.


    And what about Xavier? The Hollywood Alpha with his perfect smile and media training. His friendly demeanor could easily be a fa?ade hiding darker intentions. Those who seem the most harmless often conceal the most dangerous <b>secrets</b><b>. </b>


    I tried to shift my position to relieve the pressure on my shoulders. The ropes immediately tightened, sending fresh waves of burning pain up my arms. The wolfsbane was working its way deeper into my system, making it harder to focus.


    How long had I been here? Hours? Days? Without windows or any external cues, time became impossible to measure. My throat was parched, suggesting it had been a while since I¡¯d had water.


    The sound of footsteps outside the door jerked me from my thoughts. Heavy boots against concrete,ing closer. Keys jangled, metal scraped against metal as a lock turned.


    I stiffened, forcing my face into a neutral expression. Whoever wasing through that door would not see fear from me. I was a wolf, even without my shift. I would face whatever came next with the same resilience that had kept me alive this long.


    The door swung open slowly, hinges protesting with a long, ominous creak.


    A silhouette filled the doorway, backlit by brighter light from the hallway beyond, making it impossible to identify who stood before me.


    ¡°Hello, Skye,¡± the man greeted me from the doorway, his voice deep and resonant in the small concrete room. <fnb441> The source of th?s content is findnovel</fnb441>


    Though I couldn¡¯t make out his features clearly, something about his posture and the way he carried himself suggested youth. The scent that reached me confirmed he was werewolf, but I didn¡¯t feel the crushing pressure that typically radiated from Alphas. This was someone of lower rank.


    With a quick movement, he ripped the tape from my mouth. The sudden sting brought tears to my eyes, but I refused to make a sound.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± I demanded, my voice hoarse from disuse.


    Instead of answering, he tilted his head slightly. ¡°Sleep well?¡± His tone <b>was </b>casual, almost friendly, as if we were acquaintances meeting at a coffee shop rather than captor and prisoner in a basement.


    Why did that voice sound familiar? I searched my memory, trying to ce it among the countless wolves I¡¯d encountered over the past


    <b>10:31 </b>Fri, <b>Oct </b>3 M


    <b>few </b>years<b>. </b>


    1:1


    The man stepped further into the room, the dim light gradually revealing more of him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t remember me already?<i>¡± </i>There was amusement in his voice now, tinged with something darker.


    He reached into his pocket and pulled out a lighter and cigarette. With a practiced flick, he lit it, drawing deeply. For a brief moment, the me illuminated his features clearly.


    Recognition struck me like a physical blow. That face. Those eyes. The memory clicked into ce.


    ¡°It¡¯s you?¡±


    Chapter Comments

 Casts 176

    Crowned by Fate


    <b>Chapter </b><b>176 </b>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    ¡°It¡¯s you?¡± I stared at the man standing before me, recognition dawning. ¡°You¡¯re the staff member from the second trial.¡±


    He leaned against the wall, taking another drag from his cigarette. A smirk spread across his face, revealing yellowed teeth.


    <b>¡°</b>Well, well. I thought you women only remembered the shiny Alphas,¡± he sneered, flicking ash onto the concrete floor. ¡°Surprising that you¡¯d remember someone like me.¡±


    Hisment only deepened my confusion. This didn¡¯t make sense. Why would a council worker kidnap me<b>? </b>What could he possibly gain?


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you staff from the North American Council? Why would you kidnap me? Who ordered <b>you </b>to do this<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>The questions tumbled out of me in rapid session.


    He exhaled a cloud of smoke that driftedzily toward the ceiling. ¡°Too many questions, sweetheart.¡±


    He dropped the cigarette to the floor and crushed it beneath his boot. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small container of pills. My stomach twisted as I watched him shake several into his palm.


    He crouched beside me, his face ufortably close. The stench of tobo and stale coffee washed over me as he grabbed my jaw with surprising strength. His fingers dug into my cheeks, forcing my mouth open.


    ¡°Swallow these like a good girl,¡± he muttered, shoving the pills past my lips.


    I tried to resist, but his grip was too strong. He reached to the corner of the room and grabbed a bottle of water, unscrewing the cap with his teeth. Before I could spit the pills out, he was pouring water into my mouth.


    The liquid rushed down my throat along with the medication, causing me to choke and cough violently. Water spilled down my chin and soaked the front of my shirt.


    ¡°Rx,¡± he said, standing back up. ¡°It¡¯s not poison. Just something to keep you from shifting.¡±


    I fought to catch my breath, ring up at him through watery eyes. ¡°What do you want with me? Are you using me against Adrian?¡± My voice was raspy from coughing. ¡°The oven in the second trial¨Cyou sabotaged it, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    A smile spread across his face. ¡°You¡¯ve already figured it out, haven¡¯t you? All you need to do is lie here quietly for two days. If Adrianes for you, I¡¯ll let you go.¡± His smile disappeared. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t show up, well¡­ I can¡¯t promise anything.¡±


    ¡°Two days?¡± I asked, trying to make sense of his timeline. ¡°Why two days specifically?¡±


    ¡°Because the day after tomorrow is the final trial for the Alpha Kingpetition.¡± He stated it matter¨Cof¨Cfactly.


    This information gave me some relief. I¡¯d only been unconscious for a day. Thepetition was still on track.


    ¡°So you¡¯re trying to prevent him frompeting in the Alpha King election?¡± I pressed. ¡°<b>Is </b>Alpha Maxwell behind this<b>? </b>Or Alpha Rodrigo?¡±


    He didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he pulled out another strip of duct tape and moved toward me.


    <b>10:31 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>3 </b>M


    ¡°Wait,¡± I said quickly. ¡°I need to use the bathroom.¡±


    He didn¡¯t pause. ¡°If you need to piss, do it right here.¡± His voice turned cold. ¡°You think I¡¯m that stupid?¡±


    He pressed the tape firmly over my mouth and left without another word, the heavy door mming behind him.


    A


    Alone again, anxiety coursed through me. I had to escape before the final trial. Adrian needed topete¨Ctoo much was at stake. <fnbec8> Updates are released by F¦ÉndNovel</fnbec8>


    I surveyed the room, looking for anything that might help me. The concrete walls were solid, the floor bare except for some dust and debris. The door was metal and firmly locked. My restraints were secured to a metal ring embedded in the wall.


    I tested the ropes binding my wrists, pulling hard despite the burning sensation from the wolfsbane. The effort only resulted in the ropes cutting deeper into my skin, drawing blood that trickled down my arms.


    Hours passed before the door opened again. My captor returned with a paper bag that smelled of grease and meat. My stomach growled involuntarily¨CI hadn¡¯t realized how hungry I was<b>. </b>


    He ripped the tape from my mouth in one quick motion.


    ¡°I brought food,¡± he said, unwrapping a hamburger and cing it on the floor in front of me.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to untie my hands,¡± I said. ¡°How am I supposed to eat like this<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Heughed. ¡°You and Adrian passed the third trial, which means you¡¯re both resourceful and strong. I¡¯m not giving <b>you </b>any chance to escape.¡± His eyes gleamed with malice. ¡°Eat like the dog you are, or go hungry. Your choice.¡±


    He leaned against the wall, lighting another cigarette, clearly intending to watch my humiliation. I swallowed hard, maintaining what little dignity I had left.


    ¡°Your life must be truly pathetic,¡± I said, meeting his gaze. ¡°Is this really what brings you joy? Tormenting a woman?¡±


    His expression hardened. He extinguished his cigarette against the wall and left without another word.


    When the door closed, I stared at the hamburger. Pride wasn¡¯t worth starving over. I lowered my face to the floor and awkwardly took bites of the food. As I ate, I heard a soft scratching sound from the corner of the room.


    2


    A rat.


    Suddenly, I remembered something Lydia had mentioned¡ªthe oven switch in the second trial had been covered with honey, attracting rats that chewed through the wires. An idea formed.


    I twisted my body awkwardly, maneuvering my face toward my right wrist. Using my mouth and tongue, I smeared the hamburger¡¯s grease and sauce onto the ropes binding me. The process was humiliating, making me look like an animal licking at the ground, but desperation outweighed dignity.


    The small creature kept its distance, beady eyes watching me warily. Minutes passed, and I began to lose hope.


    Then, cautiously, the rat approached. It seemed to determine I posed no threat and climbed onto my wrist. I forced myself to remain perfectly still despite the repulsive sensation of its tiny ws and furry body against my skin. Its cold tail brushed against my arm, sending a shiver of disgust through me.


    I prayed the wolfsbane wouldn¡¯t harm the rodent as it began nibbling at the food¨Csmeared rope.


    The rat¡¯s tiny teeth worked at the fibers, and gradually, I felt the binding loosen.  skye has no special power nor intelligence, she¡¯s just ordinary wolf, after 176 chapters she doesn¡¯t show smartness, nor special po¡­ More

 Casts 177

    <b>Chapter </b>177


    Skye¡¯s POV


    1 felt a rush of triumph surge through me.


    This is what they call giving someone a taste of their own medicine, If he hadn¡¯t used rats to sabotage the oven switch, I never would have thought of this method!


    I knew the man would return soon. With my right hand slightly loosened, I frantically worked to untie my left wrist, fingers trembling <b>as </b><b>I </b>picked at the knots. My heart pounded in my chest as I heard footsteps approaching outside. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I quickly freed my ankles, carefully arranging the ropes to make it appear as though I was still bound and helpless.


    The door swung open with a metallic screech. I instantly went limp, letting my head hang as if exhausted. Through half¨Cclosed eyes<b>, </b>I watched him scan the room, his gaze stopping on the food scraps scattered across the floor.


    ¡°Looks like someone was hungry after all,¡± he smirked<b>, </b>pulling out his phone.


    The camera sh blinded me, harsh light burning my retinas. I instinctively turned away, squeezing my eyes shut. Before I could recover, his rough hand grabbed my chin, fingers digging into my skin as he yanked my face upward.


    ¡°Why so shy?¡± His breath reeked of cigarettes as he leaned in closer. ¡°How is your Adrian supposed to see you clearly if you keep hanging your head like that?¡±


    I red at him, muscles tensing beneath the loosened ropes. ¡°Adrian will find you, and when he does, you¡¯ll wish you neverid eyes on


    me.¡±


    His face inched closer until I could count the pores on his skin.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never liked hurting beautiful women,¡± he whispered, thumb brushing my cheek in a gesture that made my skin crawl. ¡°But what can I do when you¡¯re the one Adrian loves?¡±


    After snapping several more photos, he pulled a roll of duct tape from his pocket. The sound of it tearing off the roll sent a chill down my spine as he pressed it firmly over my mouth, sealing away my protests.


    My pulse quickened as he turned to leave. This was my only chance.


    I waited until he took three steps toward the door, then exploded into action. In one fluid motion, I tore my hands free, gripping the loosened rope that had bound me. My legs, stiff from being bound, nearly betrayed me as I stumbled the first step, but adrenaline propelled me forward.


    Iunched myself at his back, swiftly looping the rope around his neck and pulling it tight. My momentum mmed us both against the wall. He grunted in surprise, hands wing at the rope as I tightened my grip.


    His body thrashed beneath me, trying to shake me off, but I locked my ankles around his waist<b>, </b>clinging to him like a vise as I pulled the rope even tighter.


    ***


    Adrian¡¯s POV


    10:31 Fri<b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>3 </b>M <fnb05e> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find{n}ovel</fnb05e>


    Elder Selene received us in her private chambers, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows across her face. Her eyes, sharp and calcting, moved from me to Leon, then Xavier, before she spoke.


    ¡°What brings three of our most promising Alpha candidates to my door in the middle of the night?¡± she asked, gesturing for us to sit


    I remained standing, too agitated to sit still. ¡°My Beta, Skye, has gone missing from the hot springs,¡± I said, my voice fight with controlled


    rage.


    ¡°When did this happen?¡± Elder Selene straightened in her chair.


    ¡°About two hours ago,¡± I replied, pacing the small room. ¡°We¡¯ve searched every inch of the grounds.¡±


    ¡°Are you certain she¡¯s missing? I know everyone has been under a lot of pressuretely. Perhaps she just wanted some time alone.¡¯Elder Selene suggested, her tone measured.


    I spun toward her, jaw clenched. ¡°The kidnapper already called me. He told me to follow his instructions from now on¨Cor else¡­¡±


    ¡°The call came through while we were all in themon area,¡± Leon added, stepping forward. ¡°Skye is my mate. <b>I </b>can¡¯t sense her presence nearby. She might not even be in town anymore.¡±


    A muscle twitched in my jaw hearing Leon im Skye as his mate, but I swallowed my irritation. Now was not the time to argue about who was Skye¡¯s mate.


    Elder Selene¡¯s expression hardened. She pulled out her phone and made a call, her voice sharp with authority.


    ¡°Check the whereabouts of all council members. See who left town tonight,¡± she instructed. ¡°And verify the locations of all advancing Alphas and their team members.¡±


    After ending the call, she turned to us. ¡°Return to your quarters. I¡¯ll contact you when I have information.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m staying here,¡± I said firmly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to miss any updates.¡±


    Elder Selene frowned. ¡°This is against the rules, Alpha Adrian.¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± I said, desperation creeping into my voice. ¡°I can¡¯t just sit in my room while Skye is in danger.¡±


    After a tense moment, she nodded. ¡°Very well. You may wait in the council lounge.¡±


    My phone vibrated against my hip. I answered immediately, putting it on speaker.


    ¡°Adrian, I traced the call,¡± Garrett said, his voice tense. ¡°It came from a public phone booth in Port Artemis.¡±


    My blood ran cold. Port Artemis was barely thirty miles from Stormhowl Pack territory. Rage flooded through me,


    hot and overwhelming.


    ¡°Maxwell,¡± I growled, already striding toward the door. ¡°I¡¯m going to find him.¡±


    Elder Selene moved with surprising speed, blocking my path. ¡°Adrian, control yourself. We need evidence before making usations.¡±


    The door burst open, and her assistant rushed in, clutching a file to her chest. Her face was flushed from running.


    10:31 Fri, <b>Oct </b><b>3 </b>M¡­


    ¡°We¡¯ve identified only one staff member who left town tonight,¡± she announced breathlessly, handing the file to Elder Selene. ¡°His name is Victor Reeves<b>.</b>¡±


    Elder Selene passed the file to me. With trembling hands, I opened it and found myself staring at a personnel photo.


    Recognition hit me like a physical blow¨CI knew him. He was the staff member from my second trial.


    ¡°Is it him?¡± Leon said from behind me.


    I stared at the photo, memories flooding back.


    ¡°It¡¯s him,¡± I said.

 Casts 178

    <b>Chapter </b>178


    Adrian¡¯s POV


    78


    1 asked Elder Selene to provide me with Victor¡¯s information, scanning through the file as soon as she handed it over. The moment I saw his pack affiliation, everything clicked into ce.


    ¡°Stormhowl Pack,¡± I muttered, the realization hitting me like a physical blow. ¡°That¡¯s why he looked familiar during the second trial.


    Ryder, who stood beside me, mmed his fist against the wall. ¡°So he¡¯s the bastard who threw Skye in that oven and almost burned her alive?¡±


    ¡°I still have evidence of the sabotage,¡± Lydia said. ¡°The wires were deliberately damaged. It wasn¡¯t an ident.¡±


    Xavier and Leon exchanged shocked nces, clearly processing this revtion.


    ¡°You mean someone deliberately tried to kill Skye before?¡± Xavier asked, his usualposed demeanor slipping. ¡°Why didn¡¯t anyone report this to the Council?¡±


    Leon¡¯s face darkened with fury. ¡°If I had known someone from Stormhowl Pack was targeting her¡­¡± His voice trailed off as his fists clenched at his sides. ¡°How did no one make this connection earlier?¡±


    I couldn¡¯t answer. Instead, I mmed my fist into the wall, creating a sizeable dent in the ster. Pain shot up <b>my </b>arm, but it was nothingpared to the guilt consuming me. Skye had been hurt because of me. Because of my past. Because of my enemies.


    ¡°This is my fault,¡± I growled, staring at the damaged wall. ¡°This is on me. They wereing for me¨Cnot her.¡±


    The thought that the perpetrator had been right under our noses while I remained oblivious filled me with self¨Cloathing. <b>I </b>should have been more careful, more vignt. I should have protected her better.


    ¡°Elder Selene,¡± I turned to face the older woman, struggling to control my voice. ¡°When did Victor start working for the North American Werewolf Congress<b>?</b>¡±


    Elder Selene¡¯s expression tightened. ¡°One moment, I¡¯ll have my assistant check.¡±


    She made a quick call, and we waited in tense silence. Her difort was evident as she shifted in her seat.


    ¡°This is¡­ unfortunate,¡± she finally said. ¡°I never would have thought one of our staff members capable of such heinous acts.¡±


    She cleared her throat before continuing. ¡°Every year, we recruit promising young wolves from various packs to work at the Congress. With the Alpha King election this year, we brought on additional staff. But I assure you, our hiring process is extremely rigorous.¡±


    Her attempt at exnation did little to calm my growing rage.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just a coincidence,¡± she offered, though even she didn¡¯t sound convinced. ¡°Victor left town, perhaps he just had urgent business<b>? </b><b>As </b>for the oven in the second trial, maybe¡­ maybe it really was just an ident?¡±


    Just then, her assistant entered with a folder. ¡°Here¡¯s the additional information you requested, Elder Selene.¡±


    The assistant looked at us nervously. ¡°Victor Reeves officially joined the Congress staff in June of this year.¡±


    <b>10:31 </b>Fri<b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>3 </b>M


    A


    I flipped through Victor¡¯s file again, noting his impressive credentials. Exceptional agility, physical prowess, Intelligence¡­ every metric indicated a promising future. No criminal record whatsoever.


    Why would someone with such potential risk everything to target me?


    There was only one answer that made sense: Maxwell. My uncle must have orchestrated this, using Victor as his pawn.


    ¡°Ryder,¡± I said, closing the file. ¡°We¡¯re going to find Maxwell.¡±


    I turned to Xavier and Leon. ¡°You two should head back. What¡¯sing next¡­ that¡¯s between me and my family.¡±


    Xavier ced a hand on my shoulder. ¡°If you need anything at all, I¡¯m just a call away.¡±


    I nodded gratefully. ¡°Thanks. Would you mind taking Lydia back?¡±


    Lydia hesitated, clearly wanting to stay with me.


    ¡°Lydia, wait with Garrett at the hotel for my update,¡± I told her firmly.


    Leon stepped forward, his posture rigid. ¡°I¡¯ming with you. Skye is my mate. I have a duty to uncover the truth and ensure her safety.¡±


    I wanted to argue, to tell him that he¡¯d lost any right to call Skye his mate when he rejected her. But this wasn¡¯t the time for that fight. Reluctantly, I nodded, and we reached a temporary truce for Skye¡¯s sake.


    When we arrived at Maxwell¡¯s hotel, the staff refused to let <b>us </b><ol><li>in. </li></ol>


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, but it¡¯s past visiting hours,¡± the receptionist said firmly.


    My patience, already worn thin, snappedpletely. I mmed my fist down on the reception desk, cracking the polished surface.


    ¡°Get him on the phone. Now.¡±


    Ryder backed me up, unleashing a string of profanities that made the hotel staff flinch.


    Ourmotion attracted attention. The receptionist hurriedly picked up the phone, her hands shaking.


    ¡°Mr. ckwood, there are two Alphas insisting on seeing you,¡± she said, voice trembling. ¡°They¡¯re causing quite a scene in the lobby.¡±


    Minutester, Maxwell appeared in the elevator, his expression morphing from annoyance to shock when he saw us.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing here at this hour?¡± he demanded, ncing at the broken reception desk.


    I didn¡¯t bother answering. Instead, I lunged forward andnded a solid punch to his jaw.


    Maxwell recovered quickly, retaliating with a blow to my stomach. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you<b>?</b>¡± he growled.


    Leon intervened, positioning himself between <b>us</b><b>. </b>¡°Sorry for the disturbance,¡± he said to Maxwell, though his tone suggested otherwise. ¡°We just want to know if you ordered Victor to kidnap Skye.¡±


    <b>10:31 </b>Fri, <b>Oct </b><b>3 </b>M


    What the fuck? Maxwell¡¯s brow furrowed in genuine confusion. ¡°What are you talking about?*


    ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb,¡± I snarled. ¡°Who else would it be?¡±


    Maxwell wiped blood from his lip. ¡°Victor? You mean that warrior from Stormhowl who went to work for the Congress? What does <b>that </b>have to do with me? Why don¡¯t you go ask Elder Selene? She¡¯s his boss now, not me.¡±


    <b>Just </b>then, my mother stepped out of the elevator, her silk robe wrapped tightly around her. <fn41a3> Follow current nov?ls on f?ndnovel</fn41a3>


    ¡°I heard everything,¡® she said, her voice calm despite the tension. She turned to me. ¡°Adrian, I truly don¡¯t think your uncle has anything to do with this.¡±


    My anger red hotter. ¡°Of course you¡¯d defend him. He¡¯s your¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t bring myself to say the word ¡°mate¡± aloud.


    ¡°I care about Skye too,¡± my mother insisted. ¡°Why would I allow anyone to harm her? I promise you, your uncle is not involved in this!<b>¡± </b>


    Maxwell straightened his shirt, looking indignant. ¡°I haven¡¯t sunk so low that I need to target women to get what I want.¡±


    My mother took his arm, leaning into him slightly. ¡°This Victor person¡­ perhaps you could help investigate him? He was from Stormhow<b>! </b>Pack, after all.¡±


    Chapter Comments

 Casts 179

    Crowned by Fate


    <b>Chapter </b><b>179 </b>


    Adrian¡¯s POV


    At my mother¡¯s request, Maxwell¡¯s Beta quickly gathered Victor¡¯s personal file for us.


    ¡°Victor Reeves, <b>24 </b>years old,¡± I read aloud, scanning through the documents. ¡°Ile was eligible to be Maxwell¡¯s Beta four years ago <b>but </b>lost thepetition.¡±


    ¡°Says here he had been drinking wolfsbane liquor the night before the Beta selection,¡± Ryder noted, reading over my shoulder. ¡°Maxwell punished him for that afterward.¡±


    The file continued: He eventually became a regr patrolman in the Stormhowl Pack. This June, he joined the North American Werewolf Congress as an ordinary staff member.


    None of this appeared out of the ordinary.


    Ryder frowned. ¡°From this information, Victor doesn¡¯t seem to have any connection to <b>us</b>. Why would he want to kill you<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    I shook my head, equally confused. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Maxwell looked defensive. ¡°When I approved Victor¡¯s transfer to the Congress<b>, </b>I only wanted to expand our influence there. Whatever he¡¯s done has nothing to do with me.¡±


    Leon¡¯s face darkened with anger. ¡°I despise men who take women hostage. He doesn¡¯t deserve to call himself a warrior.¡±


    Just then, my phone vibrated with a text from an unknown number. I opened it to find a photo of Skye.


    My blood turned to ice.


    She was wearing only an oversized men¡¯s t¨Cshirt, looking exhausted. Her arms and legs were bound with rope, not chains. Despite her condition, her silver hair was matted with blood at the temple, but her forest¨Cgreen eyes remained spirited, burning with defiant anger.


    ¡°Son of a bitch,¡± I growled, my hands shaking with rage as I passed the phone to Leon. <fn4b28> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find[?]ovel</fn4b28>


    His reaction mirrored mine¨Cpure, unfiltered fury. ¡°If he¡¯s harmed her¡­¡±


    The phone rang, disying the same unknown number. I answered immediately, putting it on speaker.


    ¡°Hello, Adrian.¡± Victor¡¯s smooth voice filled the room. ¡°I trust you received my little gift?<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°If you touch her-¡± I began, but he cut me off with augh.


    ¡°Toote for that, I¡¯m afraid. She¡¯s quite the fighter. Had to restrain her properly after she tried to escape.¡±


    Leon looked ready to shift right there in the hotel room. I ced a warning hand on his arm.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± I demanded.


    <b>10:31 </b>Fri, <b>Oct </b>3 <b>M</b>***


    ¡°November 25th. Port Artemis.¡±


    The call disconnected.


    Skye¡¯s POV


    Nadia once told me that a small frame is not a weakness, not if you know how to move with it. ¡°Let their strength work against them,¡± she said, twisting her own body like water around a muchrger opponent. I had never been more grateful for those lessons.


    The rope burned in my palms, soaked through with wolfsbane, the fibers cutting into skin already raw and blistered. But I held on.


    He rammed us against the wall again. The back of my skull bounced off cold concrete, and I felt something sharp snap in my side. Pain tore through me, hot and white. I gritted my teeth and tightened the rope. His fingers dug into my wrists, trying to pry me off, but my grip didn¡¯t loosen. He tried to grab the rope, but I pulled upward, pressing my forearm into the back of his neck, cutting off his air.


    He bucked again, mming me against a steel beam. My spine screamed in protest. Something cracked. I might¡¯ve cried out, or maybe the sound never left my throat. My legs, locked tight around his waist, began to tremble. But I didn¡¯t let go.


    His movements slowed, hands now iling instead of wing. He dropped to one knee, then the other. His head lolled forward, body shuddering. I held the pressure for another three seconds¨CNadia had drilled that into me. Never <b>assume </b>he¡¯s out until the limbs stop


    moving.


    1


    When his arms finally went ck, I let go. He copsed face¨Cfirst, body twitching once before going still. My fingers refused to uncurl, the rope practically fused to my palms. I staggered to my feet, nearly falling from the pain in my ribs, and stumbled toward the door.


    It wasn¡¯t locked.


    The air hit me like a p¨Cwet and cold and sharp. I sucked it in like I¡¯d never breathed before. Night had fallen. There were no streetlights, no glow of city behind the trees. Just the deep hum of crickets and the far¨Coff sound of waves crashing against rock. I could smell the ocean.


    I ran.


    Bare feet hit uneven stone. Sharp edges sliced into the soft skin of my soles. I barely noticed. Pain had be so constant, it was apanion now. The path was narrow, a crude trail through knee¨Chigh grass and sharp brambles. Branches tore at my arms. I kept running.


    The stars blinked down, cold and uncaring. My breath came ragged. My chest ached where my ribs had cracked. But I didn¡¯t stop. He wasn¡¯t dead. He¡¯d wake up soon. And when he did, he¡¯de after me.


    I couldn¡¯t shift. Whatever sedatives he used were still dulling my senses. My body felt human, fragile. My muscles burned with effort. If I shifted, I could outrun him. Fight him. Maybe even win. But now, like this, I was just prey on the run.


    The path curved, sloping downhill. Gravel gave way to mud. My foot sank into a puddle. I slipped, skidded forward, catching myself on hands that screamed in pain. I pushed on.


    Somewhere behind me<b>, </b>I thought I heard a sound. A rustle. Maybe an animal. Maybe him.


    My heart pounded faster.


    <b>10:32 </b>Fri, <b>Oct </b>3 M


    Then, through the dark, I saw it. A flicker of light.


    A single bulb glowed in the distance, barely visible through a cluster of trees. A shack, maybe a cabin. The roof sagged on one side. One window was boarded, the other smeared with grime. But light meant someone was there.


    I veered toward it, ignoring the sharp sting in my feet, the way my breath rasped like sandpaper in my lungs. Each step felt like fire. I imagined the little mermaid walking on des with her stolen legs. At least she had love waiting for her.


    All I had was the hope that whoever lived there would open the door.

 Casts 180

    Chapter <b>180 </b>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    I pounded on the door.


    The chaotic noise insideughter, clinking bottles, and low growls¨Cdied down. The door creaked open, just a sliver, and a wave of cigarette smoke and stale beer hit me.


    Through the gap, I saw two men huddled around a card table, their eyes snapping to me. The air felt thick, heavy with something predatory. These weren¡¯t ordinary guys. They were werewolves. Rogues, by the look of them¨Cunkempt, rough, with a wild edge to their


    stares.


    I¡¯d jumped out of one mess only tond in another. <fn60f3> Follow current nov?ls on find?novel</fn60f3>


    The guy who opened the door leaned against the frame, his gaze crawling over me like I was something to eat. His buddies <b>at </b>the table froze, cards forgotten, their eyes lighting up.


    One of them let out a low whistle.


    ¡°Well, damn. What¡¯s tonight, our lucky night? A pretty girl shows up at our door? This is too good to be true.¡±


    The guy at the door smirked, his teeth yellowed, his voice dripping with sleaze. ¡°Hey, sweetheart, what¡¯s the deal? <b>You </b>lost or something?¡±


    I was still catching my breath from running, my chest heaving. ¡°Sorry to bother you,¡± I said, trying to keep my voice steady. ¡°Can I borrow a phone? I need to make a call. I¡¯ll make it worth your while.¡±


    ¡°Worth our while?¡± The guy at the door chuckled, and the other twoughed, the sound rough and hungry. ¡°Oh, honey, what kind of payment you offering?¡±


    The other two stood, closing in on me, their grins twisted with something ugly.


    The one closest to the table licked his lips. ¡°How about a little touch? Maybe a kiss? Or, hell, why stop there? We let you use the phone all you want if you y nice.¡±


    Fury exploded in my chest, hot and sharp. I¡¯d had a hell of a day, nearly lost my life, and now I was stuck with these rogue creeps?


    No way!


    The guy by the door reached for me, his hands aiming for my chest. I moved fast<b>, </b>grabbing his arm, twisting it back until I heard a crack. My foot mmed into the back of his knee, and he dropped, howling.


    ¡°Fuck! Let go!¡±


    The other two froze for a second, then stepped forward, their faces darkening. My eyes darted to the one on the left, and my stomach


    lurched.


    He looked so much like Kane¨Ctall, red hair, a jagged scar slicing down his face<b>. </b>But he was leaner, sharper. Kane was dead. I¡¯d seen his head roll. This guy wasn¡¯t him. Just a cruel coincidence. I forced myself to breathe, to focus.


    10:32 <b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b>3 M


    The Kane lookalike tilted his head, sizing me up. ¡°Not bad,¡± he said, his voice low, almost Impressed. ¡°Not many female wolves can move like that. You¡¯re a fighter, huh?¡±


    He stepped closer and pried my grip off his buddy¡¯s arm with ease, his strength unnerving. This guy was the leader, no question. The one on the floor scrambled back, still cursing under his breath.


    I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze. ¡°I¡¯m Skye, Beta of the Oasisborn pack. I just need to borrow a phone to call my Alpha, Adrian. I don¡¯t want trouble. Help me out, and I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re rewarded.¡±


    The scarred guy raised an eyebrow. ¡°Adrian? The one who took down Kane and tore apart the Gravestone pack<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Yeah,¡± I said, keeping my voice firm. ¡°That¡¯s him. He¡¯s already passed three trials in the Alpha King selection. He¡¯s on track to win. Help his Beta, and he¡¯ll owe you. Big time.¡±


    The guy on the floor snorted, rubbing his arm.


    ¡°A favor from some Alpha King wannabe? That¡¯s a long shot, sweetheart. Promises don¡¯t mean shit.¡±


    The third rogue, a stocky guy with a shaved head,ughed. ¡°Yeah, why wait for some future payoff when we got something way better right here?¡± His eyes raked over me, and I fought the urge to gag.


    The scarred guy didn¡¯tugh. He just watched me, his expression unreadable. ¡°Adrian¡¯s got a reputation,¡± he said slowly. ¡°But my boys are right. A bird in the hand¡¯s worth more than some Alpha¡¯s IOU. Who¡¯s to say you¡¯ll even follow through?¡±


    I took a step back, my heart pounding. The guy I¡¯d dropped was back on his feet, looking ready to lunge again. I needed to shut this down


    fast.


    ¡°Hold on,¡± I said, raising my hands. ¡°I¡¯m not just Adrian¡¯s Beta. I¡¯m also Alpha Leon¡¯s mate. From the Frostshadow pack. You touch me, and I swear, both of them will hunt you down. You won¡¯t walk away from that.¡±


    For the first time, I was d Leon was still my mate. It was leverage, and I¡¯d use it.


    The stocky guy¡¯s face twisted, his brow furrowing. ¡°Alpha Leon? The bastard who locked us up four years ago?¡±


    I blinked, caught off guard. ¡°You know Leon?¡±


    The scarred guy¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile. ¡°Know him? Oh, we go way back.¡±


    The way he said it sent a chill down my spine. There was history there, and not the good kind. I cursed myself for bringing up Leon¡¯s name. Their expressions shifted¨Canger, resentment, something darker.


    I edged back toward the door, ready to bolt. But the scarred guy moved faster, mming the door shut with a flick of his wrist. The lock clicked, trapping me inside.


    My mind raced. If it came to it, I¡¯d fight. I¡¯d go down swinging before I let them touch me. No way was I letting these rogues win.


    But the scarred guy didn¡¯t make a move. He just stood there, studying me, his eyes narrowing like he was weighing his options.


    After a long moment, he spoke.


    10:32 Fri, <b>Oct </b><b>3 </b>M¡­


    ¡°I¡¯ll help you. But I¡¯ve got one condition.¡±


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    Crowned by Fate


    <b>Chapter </b><b>181 </b>


    90


    Skye¡¯s POV


    <b>¡°</b>What¡¯s the condition?¡± I asked, my voice steady despite the knot in my stomach.


    The scarred guy leaned back, his chair creaking. ¡°Name¡¯s Beck,¡± he said, his eyes locking onto mine. ¡°I¡¯m Kane¡¯s cousin.¡±


    My heart sank. The resemnce made sense now, but it didn¡¯t ease the dread creeping up my spine. Adrian killed Kane. Leon had some bad blood with these guys, and I¡¯d just walked into their den. I was screwed.


    Beck must¡¯ve seen the panic sh across my face because he smirked, grabbed a beer from the table, and took a slow sip. ¡°<b>Rx</b>, Skye. I¡¯m not holding a grudge. Hell, I owe Adrian one for taking out Kane.¡±


    I blinked, caught off guard. ¡°Why?¡±


    He leaned forward, elbows on the table, his voice low and bitter. ¡°Kane¡¯s the reason I¡¯m a rogue. This scar?<b>¡± </b>He pointed to the jagged line across his face. ¡°Got it dueling that bastard. I gave as good as <b>I </b>got, but Kane didn¡¯t fight fair. He ganged up on me with his Gravestone goons and kicked me out. Five years ago, I was done.¡±


    <b>I </b>studied him, trying to gauge if he was spinning a story. Beck¡¯s tone had a raw edge, but the way he puffed out his chest screamed he was trying to save face. A guy like him didn¡¯t want to look weak, especially not in front of his crew.


    He waved a hand, cutting through the silence. ¡°Point is, I don¡¯t give a damn about Kane. But I do care about a future. Here¡¯s my condition: me and my boys join Oasisborn pack.¡±


    I nced at the other two. The stocky one with the shaved head was ring at me like I was a problem he wanted to solve with his fists. The guy I¡¯d dropped earlier was still rubbing his arm, his ego probably bruised more than his body. These weren¡¯t exactly model pack members. Letting them into Oasisborn would be like inviting wolves to a sheep pen.


    ¡°No offense<b>,</b>¡± I said, choosing my words carefully, ¡°but that¡¯s not my call. I can talk to Adrian, maybe get you a payout instead. Name a price.¡±


    Beck¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he leaned back, crossing his arms. ¡°Money¡¯s nice, but I¡¯m thinking long¨Cterm. You¡¯re Adrian¡¯s Beta. If you vouch for us, he¡¯ll listen. Don¡¯t y like you¡¯ve got no pull.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying that,¡± I shot back. ¡°But it¡¯s not just Adrian. The pack¡¯s council has to sign off. Every member gets a say.¡±


    The stocky guy snorted. ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re just dodging, sweetheart. No sincerity.¡±


    Beck tilted his head, studying me. ¡°Exactly. If you¡¯re not serious about working with us, maybe we don¡¯t need to work with you.¡±


    Before I could respond, a sharp knock echoed through the room. My stomach dropped. Through the cracked, grimy door, I caught a whiff of a familiar scent¨Cthe guy who¡¯d kidnapped me. He was here.


    I pressed a finger to my lips, shooting Beck a pleading look. Don¡¯t sell me out.


    Beck¡¯s eyes flicked to the door, then back to me. He got it. With a quick nod, he jerked his head toward the back of the cabin. ¡°Get her out of sight,¡± he muttered to the stocky guy.


    <b>11:27 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>4 </b>


    <b>1901 </b>


    The rogue grabbed my arm, rough but not brutal, and hustled me into a small, musty room in the back. The door clicked shut behind me, leaving me in near darkness<b>, </b>straining to hear what was happening.


    Through the thin walls, I caught Beck¡¯s voice, casual but firm. ¡°Hey, man, what¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Sorry to bother you,¡± came the other voice, low and urgent. ¡°You seen a silver¨Chaired girl around here? About five¨Csix, early twenties<b>?</b><b>¡± </b><fn236e> This update is avable on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn236e>


    Beckughed, the sound rough. ¡°A silver¨Chaired girl? In the middle of nowhere? Buddy, you¡¯re chasing ghosts.¡±


    ¡°I need to check inside,¡± the guy pressed, his tone sharper.


    Beck¡¯s voice hardened. ¡°This is my ce. No one¡¯sing in without a damn good reason. You got a warrant or something?¡±


    The air felt charged, even from where I was hiding. I could picture Beck standing tall, blocking the doorway, his crew backing him up. The guy outside hesitated¨CI could hear his boots shuffle on the porch.


    ¡°Fine,¡± the guy muttered. ¡°If you see her, you let me know. She¡¯s trouble.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sure,¡± Beck said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye out.¡±


    The door mmed shut, and I let out a breath I didn¡¯t realize I¡¯d been holding. A momentter, the back room door opened, and Beck¡¯s silhouette filled the frame.


    ¡°He¡¯s gone,¡± he said, his voice low. ¡°But that guy was looking for you, wasn¡¯t he? Which means you owe me now. My condition just got pricier.¡±


    I stepped out, my jaw tight. ¡°What do you want now?¡±


    Beck crossed his arms, his scar catching the dim light. ¡°You get us into Oasisborn. And I want a chunk of Kane¡¯s old territory. Call itpensation for my trouble.¡±


    The stocky guy piped up, his voice thick with resentment. ¡°Boss, you sure about this? This chick¡¯s bad news. Four years ago, we got locked up because of her. A whole damn month in Frostshadow¡¯s cells.¡±


    I frowned, thrown off. ¡°What are you talking about? I never got you locked up.¡±


    Beck¡¯s lips curled into a grim smile. ¡°Oh, you didn¡¯t pull the trigger, but you were the reason. We were just passing through Frostshadow¡¯s territory, minding our own business. One night, and boom¨CAlpha Leon¡¯s got us in cuffs. Said we kidnapped some silver¨Chaired girl from his pack. Sound familiar?¡±


    My stomach twisted. Four years ago, I¡¯d run away from Frostshadow. Leon must¡¯ve thought these rogues had something to do with it. ¡°That was a misunderstanding,¡± I said, my voice quieter than I meant. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Sorry doesn¡¯t cut it,¡± the stocky guy snapped, but Beck raised a hand, silencing him.


    ¡°Water under the bridge,¡± Beck said, though his tone suggested otherwise. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a battered old phone, holding it out. ¡°So, what¡¯s it gonna be? You make the call, get us what we want<b>, </b>or I drag you back out there and hand you <b>over </b>to your friend.¡±


    I stared at the phone, my mind racing. I didn¡¯t trust Beck or his <b>crew</b>, but I was out of options. If I didn¡¯t y along, I¡¯d be back in the hands of my kidnapper. At least with the phone, I had a shot at reaching Adrian.


    11:27 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>4 </b>


    E


    ¡°Deal,¡± I said, snatching the phone from his hand.


    Beck¡¯s smirk returned, but he didn¡¯t say anything. I dialed Adrian¡¯s number, my heart pounding as it rang. And rang. No answer. My chest tightened, but I didn¡¯t have time to panic. I tried Lydia instead.


    The line clicked, and her voice came through, sharp with worry. ¡°Skye? Oh my God, where are you? What happened<b>?</b>¡±


    <b>¡°</b>I¡¯m okay for now,¡± I said, keeping my voice low, my eyes flicking to Beck. ¡°Where¡¯s Adrian?¡±


    Lydia¡¯s voice cracked with relief, but the tension was still there. ¡°He¡¯s with Ryder. They¡¯re headed to Port Artemis to find you.¡±


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 Casts 182

    Chapter <b>182 </b>


    6907


    Skye¡¯s POV


    ¡°Port Artemis?¡± I repeated, gripping the phone tight.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lydia confirmed. ¡°Adrian got a message from your kidnapper¨CVictor, apparently. He told Adrian to meet him in Port Artemis. So Adrian and Ryder booked flight about three hours ago. They¡¯re probably already there by now.¡±


    I turned to Beck, keeping my voice low. ¡°Is this Port Artemis?¡±


    He gave a short nod. ¡°You¡¯re in the eastern district. Industrial side. Mostly old warehouses and cabins like this one.¡±


    That lined up. ¡°Lydia,¡± I said into the phone, ¡°I¡¯m okay. I managed to escape, sort of. I¡¯m with someone who helped me¨Cfor now. I <b>don¡¯t </b>trust himpletely, but he¡¯s not hurting me<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°I heard voices. Male voices,¡± she said, concern rising. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re safe?¡±


    I forced calm into my tone. ¡°For the moment. But we need to warn Adrian. The man who kidnapped me <b>is </b>setting Adrian up. If he walks into this without backup, it could be a trap.¡±


    ¡°The man who kidnapped you is named Victor.¡± Lydia exined. ¡°Skye, He used to be a regr patrol warrior in the Stormhowl Pack.


    ¡°Is this tied to Maxwell?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Lydia said. ¡°Maxwell ims he has nothing to do with it. But you know how that goes. Still, we don¡¯t have proof. Can you send me your location?¡±


    I nced at Beck, who was watching me with narrowed eyes. ¡°Can you give me the address of this ce<b>?</b>¡±


    He rattled off something that sounded like a numbered lot in an abandoned shipping zone. I repeated it into the phone.


    ¡°I¡¯m on my way,¡± Lydia said immediately.


    ¡°No,¡± I cut in. ¡°Don¡¯te. You and Garrett just stay at the hotel. No need to do anything else.¡±


    Lydia hesitated. ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure<b>,</b>¡± I said. ¡°<b>Just </b>make sure he gets this address<b>.</b>¡±


    We hung up. I stared down at the screen, fingers trembling, and opened a message to Adrian.


    I¡¯m in Port Artemis. East district. Lot 84. It¡¯s an old cabin near the shipping yard. Don¡¯t <b>trust </b>Victor. It¡¯s a trap. Pleasee.


    I hit send. That was all I could do now.


    The silence that followed was thick. The three rogues were back at the table, pretending not to watch me. I found a spot near the wall, sank down, and tried to make myself small. I didn¡¯t sleep. I couldn¡¯t. Every time I closed my eyes, <b>I </b>felt their <b>eyes </b>on me. I wrapped my arms around my knees, bracing myself.


    11:27 <b>Sat</b>, <b>Oct </b>4


    A


    90


    Time passed. An hour? Two? I didn¡¯t know. Light began to seep through the cracks in the boarded windows. My eyes were gritty. My limbs ached, I felt like I¡¯d been wrung out and left to dry. Then the phone buzzed.


    Adrian.


    I snatched it up and answered before the second ring. ¡°Adrian?¡±


    ¡°Skye.¡± His voice broke. ¡°Thank God. Are you okay? Are you hurt?¡± <fn8773> Newest update provided by find?novel</fn8773>


    Tears sprang to my eyes the moment I heard him. ¡°I¡¯m okay. Just tired. I¡¯m so sorry. I tried to escape sooner. I-¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± he said, cutting me off gently. ¡°You did everything you could. You¡¯re alive. That¡¯s all that matters.¡±


    His voice was hoarse, tight with emotion. I could picture him¨Cjaw clenched, pacing, probably ming himself.


    ¡°I¡¯m on my way,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m close. Just hold on. Stay where you are. Please, Skye, just hang in a little longer.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± I whispered.


    He paused. ¡°You sound scared.¡±


    ¡°I was,¡± I admitted. ¡°But now that I¡¯ve heard your voice¡­¡± I took a shaky breath. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be there soon,¡± he said again. ¡°Just hold on.¡±


    When the line went dead, I clutched the phone to my chest and tried to breathe through the tightness in my throat.


    About twenty minutester, tires crunched outside. Doors mmed. The rogues nced at each other, tense but quiet. Beck stood, walking over to the window.


    ¡°It¡¯s your guy,¡± he muttered. ¡°Looks like the prince showed up after all.¡±


    I was on my feet before I even knew I¡¯d moved. Beck didn¡¯t try to stop me as I pushed past him and swung the door open.


    Adrian was already running toward me. His eyes locked onto mine and everything else disappeared. He was breathless, pale with worry, but still the strongest thing I¡¯d ever seen.


    When he reached me, his arms wrapped around me like they were meant to be there. I buried my face in his chest, breathing in the scent of him. Clean linen, cedar, and something I could never name but always recognized as home.


    His hand cradled the back of my head. ¡°I¡¯ve got you,¡± he murmured. ¡°You¡¯re safe now. No one¡¯s going to touch you again.¡±


    I clung to him like I¡¯d drown if I let go. For a long moment, neither of <b>us </b>said a word. I just let myself feel it. His heartbeat against mine. The warmth of his arms. The way he held me like I mattered more than anything else.


    ¡°You came,¡± I whispered.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to tear Victor into pieces!


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


    I didn¡¯t realize I was crying until his thumb brushed away the tears on my cheek.


    Behind him. I noticed another figure walking toward us. Striking blond hair that gleamed in the morning light.


    My heart stuttered.


    ¡°Leon?¡±


    1 stared, stunned.


    He¡¯de too.


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    <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>¨Cfor protecting herst night.¡±


    ¡°Wait a second,¡± Leon said, his eyes narrowing as he pointed at Beck. ¡°I know you. Four years ago¡ªyou 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¨Cthree 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¨Cready 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¨Ctwo 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¨Cyear 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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    Skye¡¯s POV


    <b>A </b>


    <b>¡°</b>The <b>final </b><b>trial¡¯s </b>tomorrow<b>, </b>Adrian. We¡¯re running out of time. Can¡¯t we deal with Victor after it¡¯s over<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Adrian¡¯s jaw tightened, his eyes dark with resolve. ¡°No, Skye. We can¡¯t let Victor slip away. If we don¡¯t catch him now, he¡¯ll disappear<b>, </b>and <b>as </b>long <b>as </b>he¡¯s out there, he¡¯s a threat to you. I won¡¯t risk your safety again.¡±


    ¡°But-<b>¡± </b>


    He cut me off, his <b>voice </b>low but heavy with guilt. ¡°When you got hurt in the second trial, I should¡¯ve paid more attention. I was <b>so </b>focused on the election I missed the danger right in front of me. That¡¯s how Victor got to you. I won¡¯t make that mistake again.¡±


    The care in his voice<b>, </b>the way he med himself¨Cit warmed me in a way I couldn¡¯t exin. But I didn¡¯t want him to carry that weight, not when the whole pack was counting on him. We¡¯d fought too hard to reach the final trial.


    ¡°What about tomorrow?<b>¡± </b>I asked. ¡°The trial¡¯s a big deal. You can¡¯t just¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll call Elder Selene,¡± he said, his tone steady. ¡°I¡¯ll ask to push the trial back. Right now, you need rest. A hot shower, some food, a real bed. That¡¯s what matters.<b>¡± </b>


    I caught a whiff of myself and wrinkled my nose.


    ¡°Yeah, I do kinda stink.¡±


    Ryder, leaning against the wall, chuckled. ¡°Alpha, you take Skye to a hotel. I¡¯ll handle Victor. I¡¯ll track that bastard down in the next 24 hours, I swear.¡±


    Beck stepped up, thumping his chest. ¡°I¡¯m in too. Consider it a wee gift from us rogues to Oasisborn. I¡¯ve been in Port Artemis for almost a year. I know every corner of this ce like the back of my hand.¡±


    ¡°Good. Ryder, I¡¯ll have Garrett help you. He can pull every security feed in the city.¡±


    With that, Ryder and Beck took off with the others, splitting up to start their hunt. Adrian and I headed for a hotel.


    We found a quiet ce a few miles away, nothing fancy but clean.


    As soon as <b>we </b>stepped into the room, Adrian¡¯s eyes softened with concern. ¡°You¡¯re not fine, Skye. I know you¡¯re hurt bad. Let me check you over.¡±


    ¡°Just a few broken bonesst night, but they¡¯re mostly healed now<i>.</i><i>¡± </i>


    Before I could protest, he scooped me up, carrying me to the bathroom like I weighed nothing.


    ¡°Don¡¯t argue,¡± he said, his voice gentle but firm. ¡°Just let me take care of you. Those injuries? They¡¯re on me. I should¡¯ve been there,¡±


    I didn¡¯t fight him. The truth was, I was exhausted..


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


    0903


    In the bathroom, he set me down on the edge of the tub and turned on the shower, letting the steam fill the small <b>space</b>.


    He peeled <b>the </b>fabric away slowly, his touch careful but deliberate, like he was afraid I¡¯d break. His fingers grazed my skin, sending <b>sparks </b><fn536e> Newest update provided by find?novel</fn536e>


    through me. My breath hitched as he traced the bruises along my ribs<b>, </b>his jaw tightening with every mark he found.


    ¡°God, Skye,¡± he murmured, ¡°Look at you.<b>¡± </b>


    2


    He stood, helping me to my feet, and guided me into the shower. The hot water hit my skin, soothing the aches but doing nothing <b>to </b><b>calm </b><b>the </b>heat building inside me.


    Adrian stayed close, his hands steady as hethered a cloth with soap. He moved slowly, washing the grime from my shoulders, <b>my </b><b>arms</b>, his touch firm but gentle. Every brush of his fingers against my skin made my pulse race.


    ¡°You¡¯re safe now,<b>¡± </b><b>he </b>said, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through me. His hands slid down my back<b>, </b>careful around the tender spots, but the way his fingers pressed into my skin felt like more than just care. It was intimate, electric.


    My body responded before my mind could catch up, a flush spreading from my face down my neck.


    He noticed. His eyes darkened, but he didn¡¯t pull away. Instead, he leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear as he washed my hair, his fingers threading through the strands. The sensation made me dizzy, desire curling tight in my stomach. I wanted to lean into him<b>, to </b>close the small distance between us, but I stayed still, letting the moment stretch.


    When the water ran clear, he turned off the shower and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around me. His hands lingered, drying my skin with slow, deliberate strokes. Every touch felt like a promise<b>, </b>like he was trying to erase every bruise, every second of fear. My heart pounded, and I knew he could hear it.


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna put a hundred holes in Victor for this,¡± he growled.


    I reached out, touching his cheek. ¡°Adrian, stop. I¡¯m okay now. Because of you.¡±


    He looked up, his eyes softening, though the anger still lingered. He stood, gently pulling me into his arms, and whispered, ¡°I was <b>so </b>scared, Skye. I was terrified of losing you.¡±


    I ran my fingers through his slightly curly hair. ¡°You need to call Elder Selene. About the trial.¡±


    He sighed, stepping back to grab his phone. I sat on the edge of the bed, pulling the robe tighter as he dialed.


    ¡°Elder Selene, it¡¯s Adrian. I need to request a dy for the final trial. We¡¯ve had an emergency¨CSkye was attacked, and we¡¯re dealing with the threat now.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t hear her response, but Adrian¡¯s face hardened. He listened for a long moment, then pinched the bridge of his nose. <b>¡°</b>I understand, but¡ª¡±


    She cut him off, I could hear her voice now<b>, </b>sharp and unyielding.


    ¡°Are you joking? That¡¯s impossible! If you¡¯re not there tomorrow, you¡¯re out. No exceptions<b>.</b>¡±


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


    Crowned by Fate

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    <b>Chapter </b><b>185 </b>


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    890


    Skye¡¯s POV


    As soon as Elder Selene hung up, the line went dead with a sharp click. Adrian lowered the phone slowly, his jaw tight.


    I sat up fast, the hotel robe slipping slightly from my shoulder. ¡°Adrian, we still have time. If we book the next flight now, <b>we </b>can make it back before the trial starts.¡±


    He shook his head, not looking at me right away. His eyes were fixed on the wall like he was trying to burn a hole through it. ¡°Victor works for the North American Council. He kidnapped you. That means the Council has blood on their hands too. They don¡¯t get to brush this off like it¡¯s nothing.¡±


    Before I could argue, his phone buzzed again. He checked the screen. ¡°It¡¯s Xavier.¡±


    He picked up.


    ¡°Adrian!¡± Xavier¡¯s voice was upbeat. ¡°Lydia told me Skye¡¯s safe<b>. </b><b>Is </b>that true?¡±


    I leaned toward the phone. ¡°Yes.¡±


    Adrian nced at me, his expression softening. ¡°Actually, it wasn¡¯t me who saved her. She escaped on her own.¡±


    There was a pause, then Xavier¡¯s voice came back loud and impressed. ¡°No way! That¡¯s incredible! Skye, you have to tell me everything when you¡¯re back.¡±


    I smiled, but Adrian¡¯s face had already hardened again.


    Xavier continued, ¡°So¡­ the final trial¡¯s tomorrow. Did you book your flight yet?¡±


    Adrian answered without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving Port Artemis until Victor is caught.¡± <fnd9e2> The rightful source is Find[?]ovel</fnd9e2>


    ¡°What?¡± Xavier sounded like he couldn¡¯t believe what he just heard. ¡°Can¡¯t that wait? Just until the trial¡¯s over?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Adrian said. ¡°That bastard nearly killed her. I won¡¯t give him a single day of freedom.¡±


    There was silence for a second. Then Adrian sat up straighter. ¡°Actually¡­ I need your help.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡±


    ¡°I tried to get the trial dyed, but Selene wouldn¡¯t budge. I want you to talk to her. Help me convince her. You know how to deal with the Council.¡±


    Xavier didn¡¯t even hesitate. ¡°I¡¯m in. This isn¡¯t just about you and Skye. The Council dropped the ball here.¡±


    When Adrian ended the call, he stood and turned to me.


    ¡°You should get some rest. I need to send an email¨Cto the Council and the Alpha King. If they won¡¯t dy the trial, we¡¯ll take it public. We¡¯ll file a formalint and leak everything to the media. Poor hiring standards, no background checks, zero security. Let the whole


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


    werewolfmunity see what kind of mess they let walk through their doors.¡±


    I nodded, but rest wasn¡¯t on my mind.


    I curled up on the couch, a tray of food in front of me¡ªhotel room service: grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, steamed broli, and a warm buttered roll. A small bowl of fruit sat to the side.


    I picked at the chicken, stealing nces at Adrian, who sat hunched at the desk, typing nonstop. The glow from theptop lit up the sharp lines of his face. His brows were drawn together, lips pressed into a tight line.


    He paused once to read something, then resumed typing even faster.


    I chewed slowly<i>, </i>the food warm and good, but not enough to distract me from the tension that filled the room. The minutes dragged.


    Then Adrian¡¯s phone rang again.


    He snatched it up. ¡°This is Adrian.¡±


    Elder Selene¡¯s voice crackled through the speaker, sharper than ever.


    ¡°Alpha Adrian. After discussion with the other Elders, we¡¯ve decided to grant a dy. Three days. That¡¯s the most you¡¯ll get. This is a rare exception. In return, I expect you to drop all threats andints.¡±


    I jumped up from the couch and leaned in toward the phone. ¡°Really? Thank you!¡±


    There was a pause on the other end. ¡°Is that Beta Skye? You sound¡­ lively. Didn¡¯t seem like a near¨Cdeath situation to me.¡± Her tone was dry. ¡°You two are young. You like to make a fuss over everything.¡±


    My smile froze.


    Adrian¡¯s face darkened. ¡°So what? We have to wait until someone dies before you take your responsibilities seriously? You hired Victor. He was under your roof. You didn¡¯t screen him, didn¡¯t notice the signs, didn¡¯t protect her. That¡¯s not a ¡®fuss.¡® That¡¯s a failure.¡±


    I reached out and touched his arm. ¡°Adrian. It¡¯s okay.¡±


    I took the phone from him before he could say anything else. ¡°Elder Selene, we appreciate the extension. We¡¯ll be there on time, in three days. Thank you for helping us.¡±


    She sniffed. ¡°Just make sure it¡¯s worth it.¡±


    Then the line went dead again.


    I turned back to Adrian and threw my arms around his neck. ¡°We did it!¡± I kissed his cheek, then smiled against his skin.


    His arms wrapped tightly around me, pulling me closer<b>. </b>He lifted me off the ground and carried me back toward the bed.


    ¡°One kiss<b>?</b>¡± he murmured near my ear. ¡°That¡¯s all I get?<b>¡± </b>


    Iughed, but it caught in my throat when I saw the way he was looking at me.


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


    ¡°Adrian¡­¡±


    ¡­


    His eyes were dark, warm, full of something that made my heart skip.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be gentle,¡± he said softly. ¡°Let me make it up to you.¡±


    Then, slowly, Adrian untied my robe.


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    <b>Chapter </b><b>186 </b>


    Skye¡¯s POV


    &


    190


    Despite spending every waking moment with Adrian, we hadn¡¯t been intimate since leaving the Oasisborn pack. It wasn¡¯t just that ridiculous no¨Csex agreement with Leon weighing on us. <fnc504> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n F?nd-Novel</fnc504>


    The truth was, we were both drowning in stress, our nerves frayed from the constant tension.


    But afterst night¡¯s brush with death, my mind was too overwhelmed to care about restraint. All I could think about was Adrian¨Chis presence, his touch, his body. I needed to feel him, to know he was still here with me. I craved him inside me, binding us so tightly we¡¯d never be apart again.


    ¡°Tell me what you want. His voice was a low rumble, vibrating through the charged air between us.


    ¡°I want you to touch me.¡± My tongue darted out, wetting my lips as his hand slipped beneath my panties. A moan escaped me, my knees buckling as his fingers glided between my folds, grazing my clit before teasing my entrance.


    I knew what he¡¯d find. I was already soaked, my body aching for him.


    Adrian¡¯s forehead pressed against my shoulder, a growl of pleasure escaping him. ¡°You¡¯re so fucking wet for me, my love. I love that I do


    this to you.¡±


    His fingers slid back up, slick with my arousal, pausing at my clit to rub slow, torturous circles. My hand gripped his forearm, feeling the muscles flex as he worked me. My nails bit into his skin, anchoring him to me, ensuring he wouldn¡¯t stop until I shattered.


    His other hand moved from my neck to my breasts, his arm bracing across my torso to hold me upright as he cupped my breast. My legs spread wider as he stroked the sensitive nerves, each breath I exhaled a low, desperate moan.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, baby. You smell so good.¡± Adrian¡¯s tongue traced my neck, making my hips jerk forward into his hand. I whimpered as he slid two fingers inside me, the heel of his palm pressing against my clit with every thrust.


    My thighs trembled as I fought the rising tide of my climax, desperate to savor the sensation. But it was too much, and I cried out Adrian¡¯s name as my walls clenched around his fingers.


    I sagged against him, pressing myself into his hand, craving more. His arm held me steady, and I whimpered as he pinched my nipple, sending sparks through me.


    I writhed against him as he paused, frantic for him to continue. We had a whole night to reim, and I wouldn¡¯t stop until he was filled with me, even if I had to beg.


    ¡°Turn around, my girl.¡± His voice was strained, but his amber eyes burned with control as I nced at him over my shoulder. I loosened my grip on his arm, letting him pull away.


    I spun to face him, my chest brushing against his. My eyes fixed on his mouth as he licked his lips, his gaze lingering on my bare breasts pressed against him.


    ¡°Take off my clothes.¡± His hand rested on my thigh, and I pressed my hips into his, feeling his erection against my stomach as unbuttoned his shirt. I rubbed against him subtly, my fingers tracing the fabric over his skin, dipping into the contours of his muscles.


    When he lifted his hands to let the shirt fall, I pouted at the <b>loss </b>of his touch. My hands roamed his chest, and I looked up at him, desire


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


    Chapter 186.


    <b>ʶ </b>


    90


    ring as his thumb brushed my lip.


    My eyes rolled back as his mouth found my core, the sudden warmth making me gasp. I wanted to see him, to watch him on his knees, worshipping me. When I propped myself up and nced back, the sight was breathtaking¨CAdrian, still gripping himself, his knees spread wide as he devoured me. He pulled back slightly when he felt me move, but his hand never stopped.


    My arousal glistened on his chin, and I ached to flip over, to grind against his tongue as he consumed me.


    The air was thick with our shared need, and I couldn¡¯t wait any longer. ¡°Adrian, please,¡± I whispered, my voice raw. ¡°I need you inside


    me.¡±


    His eyes darkened, a hungry edge to them. ¡°You sure, Skye? Once I start, I¡¯m not stopping.¡± His voice was a promise, rough and unyielding.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want you to stop,¡± I breathed, pulling him closer. ¡°I want all of you.¡±


    He didn¡¯t hesitate. In one fluid motion, he shed his pants, his erection springing free, thick and ready. My mouth watered at the sight, but before I could act, he lifted me effortlessly, pinning me against the wall. My legs wrapped around his waist, and I gasped as the tip of him brushed my entrance.


    ¡°Tell me you¡¯re mine,¡± he growled, his lips grazing my ear.


    ¡°I¡¯m yours,¡± I moaned, my nails digging into his shoulders. ¡°Always.¡±


    With a single thrust, he filled me, stretching me in a way that made my head spin. <b>I </b>cried out, my body arching against him as he set a slow, deliberate pace. Each movement was deep, iming, his hands gripping my hips to guide me.


    ¡°Fuck, Skye, you feel so good,¡± he murmured, his breath hot against my neck. ¡°So tight, so perfect.¡±


    I clung to him, lost in the rhythm of our bodies. His thrusts grew faster, more urgent, and I felt the pressure building inside me, a tidal wave ready to crash. ¡°Adrian, I¡¯m close,¡± I gasped, my voice trembling.


    ¡°Let go, baby,¡± he urged, his lips capturing mine in a searing kiss. ¡°Come for me.¡±


    His words pushed me over the edge. My climax hit me like a storm, my body shuddering as waves of pleasure tore through me. I screamed his name, my walls pulsing around him, pulling him deeper. My vision blurred, my senses overwhelmed by the intensity, the feeling of him moving inside me, anchoring me to this moment.


    Adrian groaned, his thrusts slowing as he rode out my orgasm, his hands gentle now, caressing my skin.


    ¡°That¡¯s my girl,¡± he whispered, pressing a kiss to my forehead. ¡°We¡¯re just getting started.¡±


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    D:.


    I stare down at Skye, revelling in her pink¨Cstained cheeks, her parted lips and panting breaths, her full, lush breasts<b>. </b>


    Her body quivers in the aftermath of her climax.


    She is radiant.


    €90


    My girl,my queen, lost in the pleasure I have provided.


    I run the tips of my tongue across my lips. Her essence lingers there, ambrosial and alluring, ensuring that my hunger will never be sated. I will spend eternity craving more, more, more.


    I crown her entrance once more and push in as carefully as <b>I </b>can, she bites her lips to stop herself from screaming.


    ¡°Don¡¯t hold it in, Skye. ¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± She agrees with a nod. I go back to what I¡¯m doing. She starts writhing beneath me when I push in the tip of my cock into her tight little pussy. I can see it stretching to amodate it. She squeezes my hand and clutches my side, breath hitching. I pull out and she lets out a sigh of relief as she looks down.


    ¡°It¡¯s so big.¡±


    ¡°I know, baby. I know.¡± I push just the tip of my dick in again and lower myself on her body.


    I kiss her lips. I nt soft kisses all over face before kissing her lips again whilst trying to go deeper.


    ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± She moans in my mouth. I close my eyes and give one deep thrust, breaking through her barrier and all hell breaks loose. Her body wriths underneath mine and I have to wrap my arms around her to hold her still.


    ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t. It¡¯s too much.¡± I stay still in her as I nt more kisses on her face.


    3


    ¡°Just rx. Rx.¡± My words work like magic. She stops fighting me and stays still. I pull out and thrust into her again. I feel every inch of her slick inner walls as they glide around my shaft. That friction sent waves of pleasure through him, all of which wound tight and low in my belly.


    It takes all my willpower to stop myself from thrusting into her too quickly. I want to savour this moment. The feeling of her body taking me inch by inch, of her cunt stretching around me, so wet, so tight, so hot. I want to relish the look of pleasure upon her face. I want to revel in her every reaction. The tiny twitches of her body, the sensual whimpers from the back of her throat, the fluttering of hershes, the parting of her lips with her shallow breaths.


    She is perfect.


    And she is mine.


    Tension grips my limbs as my pleasure builds to a new, impossible height. My self¨Ccontrol is bound only by a fraying twine, and those sensations slice through each thread, one by one, until the restraints finally break.


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


    With a growl, I snap my hips forward, burying myself in her fully.


    190


    Skye gasps and arches her back, brushing her hard nipples against my chest. I wrestle back my control, if only barely, and pause. Her pussy pulses around me; I can feel every tremor, no matter how small, every quiver, feel even the beating of her heart. She fits around <i>me </i>perfectly. Her body wees me, beckons me, begs me for more and offers everything in return.


    All the desire roating in my soul like a ravenous beast, all the need, cannot not prevent me from appreciating this moment, this intimacy. Cannot prevent me from appreciating Skye.


    All I have to do now is sink my canines into her neck and mark her and we¡¯ll be one. But I won¡¯t.


    ¡°You are mine alone.¡± I rasp, dipping my head to brush my lips across her forehead. Even that small movement causes enough friction to shake me to my core and quicken my heart.


    Raising her knees, Skye tips her head back and trails kisses along my jaw toward my ear, where she whispers:


    ¡°Please don¡¯t stop.¡±


    I draw back my hips and lift my head. Staring into her eyes, I thrust again. This time, a shudder wracks us both.


    ¡°Oh God, I can feel those inches.¡± Skye lifts a hand to my face and strokes it before slipping her fingers into my hair.


    Despite the overwhelming sensations flooding me, I am stricken with pride. The corner of my mouth quirks as I push into her again<b>. </b>


    ¡°My cock pleases you?¡±


    ¡°Very much,¡± She says with a moan. Her pussy clenches around my shaft upon my next withdrawal. That moan urges me on, and I continue pumping into my mate with slow, measured thrusts, each deeper than thest. She moves with me, flows with me, inplete


    unison.


    Our fingers remained tightlyced, neither of us willing to sever the connection.


    ¡°My Skye.¡± I rasp, my rhythm growing more urgent. She spreads her thighs wider and meets me thrust for thrust, weing me ever deeper. Her brows furrow, and her grip on my hand tightens. Her voice is strained, aching, and raw when she says, ¡°I, I need you.¡±


    ¡°You have me.¡±


    I drop my head and capture her mouth with mine as she tenses around me. She cries out, and I take that cry into myself eagerly. Her nails scrape my scalp, and her pussy contracts around my cock, sucking and pulling as heat rushes from her.


    Her pleasure is my undoing.


    My muscles seize, making my rhythm falter, and my breath catches in my throat. The pressure at my core swells, suddenly too great for me to bear, and each tiny movement of Skye¡¯s body only intensifies the sensation. My thoughts are fractured. Everything I want. Everything I see and do, everything I experience and suffer, all of it breaks apart into meaningless shreds but for one thing¡­


    A snarl rips out of my throat as cum erupts from me. My free hand darts to her hip, pinning her in ce<b>. </b>I continue pumping my hips forcefully, erratically, resisting the oblivion promised by my climax for as long <b>as </b>possible. <fndd30> Content originallyes from find[?]ovel</fndd30>


    Wrapping her arm around my neck, Skye holds me tight as her body quivers<b>. </b>


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


    90


    She squeezes her eyes shut and presses her forehead to mine. Curving my body over her, sheltering her, protecting her, I thrust into her one final time, burying my cock deep, and holding myself there while pleasurable shocks echo through us.


    Unwilling to withdraw from her and relinquish the rapturous heat of her body, unwilling to sever our connection, I slip my arm behind her shoulders and roll onto my back, drawing her atop me. I wrap my arms around her, cocooning her in my embrace.


    I will never let you go.


    I could not bear it.


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


    Crowned by Fate


    <b>Chapter </b><b>188 </b>


    Leon¡¯s POV


    6903


    I couldn¡¯t stand it. My wolf couldn¡¯t stand it either.


    Driving to the airport, the image of Skye pushing me away with disgust before crawling into Adrian¡¯s arms yed on repeat in my mind. I was about to explode with rage. Every time I blinked, I saw her turning to him, choosing him over me. The memory burned like acid in my


    veins<b>. </b>


    ¡°Why are you leaving? Why are you abandoning Skye to him? Skye is our mate!¡°My wolf demanded, wing at my insides, making my skin feel too tight, like it might split open any moment.


    ¡°Shut up!¡± I shouted without thinking.


    The driver¡¯s eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. ¡°Sir, are you okay?¡± he asked cautiously.


    Only then did I notice my reflection¨Cpale face, furrowed brow, looking absolutely wretched. My eyes had a wild, almost feral quality that would rm any human.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I snapped. ¡°Just drive.¡±


    I shouldn¡¯t havee to rescue her at all. But when I remembered the bruises covering her wrists and legs, my heart felt like it was being stabbed. This had to be just the mate bond talking. I needed to break this bond with her as soon as possible. She was nothing but trouble.


    My phone rang. It was Ethan.


    ¡°Alpha Leon, did you find my sister?¡± he asked, concern evident in his voice.


    ¡°Yes, I found her. She¡¯s safe now,¡± I replied bitterly. ¡°With that useless boyfriend of hers. She¡¯s even stooped so low as to befriend Rogues.¡±


    ¡°Thank God,¡± Ethan sighed with relief. ¡°But what do you mean about Rogues? How did Skye get involved with them?¡±


    ¡°Remember those three Rogues we locked up four years ago? They rescued herst night.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s quite a coincidence,¡± Ethan said. ¡°But the important thing is she¡¯s safe. Should I continue having our people track Victor¡¯s whereabouts?¡±


    I hesitated before answering, ¡°No, don¡¯t bother.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure? We have men in position who could-¡±


    ¡°I said no,¡± I cut him off. ¡°It¡¯s pointless now.¡±


    Last night, when I insisted on going to Port Artemis with Adrian, I¡¯d ordered Ethan to gather some Frostshadow warriors to investigate Victor¡¯s family. Now it seemed unnecessary. Skye had made her choice, and it wasn¡¯t me.


    ¡°As you wish, Alpha,¡± Ethan replied formally. ¡°When will you return? The final trials for the Alpha King election are about to begin.¡±


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


    ¡°I¡¯m at the airport now. I¡¯ll be back as soon as possible.¡±


    After hanging up, I stared out the window at the passingndscape. The city was getting busier as we approached the airport. My will paced anxiously within me, growing more agitated with each mile that separated us from Skye.


    Sitting alone at the airport waiting for my flight, a sudden stabbing pain shot through my chest.


    The sensation was unfamiliar, but I quickly realized what it was¨Cthe feeling of mate betrayal. My heart pounded with agony, each beat sending waves of pain through my body. My wolf howled in rage and despair, thrashing against my control.


    I doubled over, clutching my chest as sweat beaded on my forehead. The pain was unbearable, radiating from my core to every extremity. Bile rose in my throat as mental images assaulted me¨CSkye and Adrian together in some airport hotel, her body writhing beneath his. The very thought made me want to shift and destroy everything around me.


    The pain intensified, like molten metal poured directly into my veins. My vision blurred, and I could hear my wolf¡¯s anguished howls echoing inside my skull. Aftering all this way to save her, this was how she repaid me? By sleeping with another Alpha? The betrayal cut deeper than any knife.


    ¡°Sir? Are you alright?¡± An airport employee rushed over, concern etched on his face. ¡°Do you need medical assistance?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I growled through gritted teeth. ¡°Leave me alone.¡±


    But the employee was already on his phone, calling for help. Within minutes, medical staff arrived with a wheelchair and equipment.


    ¡°Sir, we need to check your vitals,¡± a paramedic said. ¡°Your symptoms could indicate a serious cardiac event.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this,¡± I protested, spotting my boarding information on the disy. ¡°My flight is boarding now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we can¡¯t let you board in this condition,¡± the paramedic insisted. ¡°We need to run some tests first.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± I argued, my voice rising. ¡°I have to get back for the election. It¡¯s crucial.¡±


    The airport staff exchanged confused nces at my mention of the election.


    ¡°Sir, are you on any medications?¡± one asked cautiously. ¡°Or have you taken any substances that might exin your behavior?¡±


    I realized how I must look to these humans¨Csweating, in pain, talking about wolf hierarchies. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I repeated, struggling to control my temper.


    ¡°Security,¡± the first employee called, waving over two uniformed officers. ¡°We have a situation here<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Sir, we¡¯re going to need you toe with us for a quick screening,¡± one officer said firmly. ¡°It¡¯s standard procedure when passengers disy concerning symptoms.¡±


    ¡°This is ridiculous,¡± I snarled, standing up despite the pain. ¡°I¡¯m not on drugs. I need to catch my flight.¡±


    ¡°Then the screening will be quick,¡± the second officer said, stepping closer. ¡°But you¡¯re not boarding any ne until <b>we¡¯re </b>certain you¡¯re not a threat to yourself or other passengers.¡±


    2/3 <fnbaeb> This text is hosted at </fnbaeb>


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


    ??


    1961


    I wanted to roar with frustration. I couldn¡¯t shift or reveal my true nature to these humans. I had no choice but toply with their drug testing and health screening,


    ¡°Fine,¡± I spat. ¡°Make it fast.¡±


    They led me to a small room near security where a technician took blood and urine samples. The whole process was humiliating¨Cbeing treated like amon drug addict when I was the son of an Alpha, soon topete for the title of Alpha King.


    An hourter, after being cleared by their medical team, I rushed to rebook my flight, missing my original one entirely. The airline staff seemed reluctant to help after the earliermotion, moving with deliberate slowness as they processed my new ticket.


    When I finallynded in the middle of the night, my phone buzzed with a notification from Elder Selene announcing that thepetition would be postponed by three days.


    It had to be Adrian pulling strings behind the scenes! I never thought the always¨Cprincipled Elder Selene would adjust the election schedule for him. Such a thing had never happened before in our history.


    *Fuck!¡± I kicked a nearby trash can, sending it flying across the terminal. Several travelers jumped, staring at me in rm. Airport security started moving in my direction.


    Why did Adrian always get what he wanted?


    Chapter Comments


    1 Reviews >


    Jamie


    7 days ago


    I mean¡­didn¡¯t he purposely put Skye through betrayal pains just to prove a point? hypocrite.


    10


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 Casts 189

    <b>Chapter </b><b>189 </b><fn0a8a> Find the newest release on F¦ÉndNovel</fn0a8a>


    Adrian¡¯s POV


    The sun started rising, and I held her tighter as she began to stir.


    194


    ¡°Mh.¡± Her soft moan of contentment as she nuzzled into my chest allowed me to rx<i>. </i>


    420


    I pushed aside my hesitation and kissed the top of her head, ¡®Good Morning.¡±


    ¡°Good Morning. How did you sleep? I kept my voice low. The calm quiet of the morning felt like a peaceful bubble as the room grew brighter with every passing minute. I didn¡¯t want to disrupt that.


    ¡°I love sleeping in your arms,¡± She smiled with her lips together before kissing my chest.


    ¡°I love having you in my arms.¡±


    ¡°Thank you foring to find me.¡± Her fingers danced over my chest, and I chuckled when she began to circle my nipple.


    ¡°I¡¯ll always find you.¡± I began to roll over, wanting toy on top of her and kiss her senseless but caught myself once I had turned onto my shoulder. I was positive that the fastest way to ruin the morning would be for me to make her feel crushed or trapped in this bed.


    She pushed herself up, her forest¨Cgreen eyes meeting mine, her lips just inches away when my phone suddenly rang, breaking the spell


    between us.


    I sighed, reaching for the device on the nightstand. ¡°It¡¯s Ryder.¡±


    ¡°Alpha Adrian, we found him,¡± Ryder¡¯s voice came through clearly, a hint of satisfaction evident in his tone. ¡°We¡¯ve got Victor secured at the motel I mentioned yesterday. Been working on him for about an hour, but he¡¯s not talking much yet.¡±


    My body tensed immediately, wolf instincts rising to the surface. ¡°Send me the address. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±


    I hung up and quickly got dressed. My wolf was alert now, ready to confront the threat to our pack.


    Skye sat up, pulling the sheet around herself as she watched me with concern. ¡°They found Victor?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± I confirmed, running a hand through my hair. ¡°You can stay here and rest. You don¡¯t need to face that asshole.¡±


    Skye¡¯s


    eyes shed with determination as she slid out of bed and reached for her own clothes. ¡°I¡¯m not that fragile, Adrian. I¡¯m your Beta now, and I need to know who¡¯s behind all this.¡± She pulled on her jeans with quick, efficient movements. ¡°If I don¡¯t find out, it¡¯s not just me who¡¯s in danger. It¡¯s you, Ryder, Lydia¡­ all of us.¡±


    I nodded, admiring her strength even as my protective instincts wanted to shield her from more trauma. I stepped closer and ced a gentle kiss on her forehead. ¡°I¡¯m so lucky to have you.¡±


    We grabbed breakfast sandwiches from a drive¨Cthrough and headed to the motel where Ryder had directed us. The morning traffic was light, and I drove with one hand on the wheel, the other asionally reaching for Skye¡¯s, needing the reassurance of her touch.


    Beck stood outside the rundown motel watching our arrival, his broad shoulders and Kane¨Clike features instantly recognizable. His twopanions lounged nearby, watching the parking lot with alert eyes despite their casual postures.


    11:29 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>4 </b>


    ¡°I know the owner,¡± Beck said as we approached, jerking his thumb toward the office. Already squared things away with him. Whatever you need to do to that piece of shit in there, no one¡¯s gonna interrupt.¡±


    I nodded my appreciation. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°No problem, Beck replied, gesturing to hispanions who were eating from arge bucket of fried chicken despite the early hour. ¡°Want some? They always order too much.¡±


    ¡°We already had breakfast,¡± Skye replied, standing close to my side.


    Beck shrugged. ¡°Your guy¡¯s in the storage room at the end of the hall. Ryder¡¯s been keeping himpany?


    <b>90 </b>


    When I first met Beck yesterday, I had formed a terrible impression of him. Maybe because he looked so much like Kane, with the same sharp jawline and calcting eyes. After learning he was Kane¡¯s cousin, my guard went up even more. But perhaps I¡¯d judged too harshly. He was rough around the edges, clearlyfortable with violence, but didn¡¯t seempletely unprincipled.


    I pushed open the storage room door, keeping Skye protected in the curve of my arm. The smell of blood and sweat hit me immediately. Inside the dimly lit room, Ryder was delivering another punch to Victor¡¯s stomach, the sound of flesh hitting flesh echoing off the CORCrete walls.


    Victor was thoroughly tied to a metal chair bolted to the floor, his face already swollen and bloody. His Stormhowl Pack tattoo was visible on his forearm.


    ¡°Hold up,¡± I called to Ryder, who stepped back immediately, wiping blood from his knuckles onto his jeans. I approached Victor slowly, my Alpha presence filling the small room. ¡°You were a Stormhowl warrior. Whye after me and my Beta? If Maxwell threatened you or has leverage over your family, just tell me. I can help.¡±


    Victor spat a mouthful of blood onto the floor, the red stternding near my boots. His eyes burned with hatred as he looked up at me. ¡°This has nothing to do with Alpha Maxwell,¡± he snarled through swollen lips. ¡°And I never intended to hurt your pretty Beta. me her bad luck for bing yours.¡±


    I felt Skye tense beside me but kept my focus on Victor. ¡°I don¡¯t even know you. Why would you want me dead?¡±


    Victorughed harshly, the sound rattling in his chest. ¡°Yeah, the high and mighty Alpha¡¯s son wouldn¡¯t remember someone from the slums, would he? That¡¯s exactly why you deserve to die!¡±


    My patience evaporated. I grabbed his throat with one hand, squeezing just enough to make him struggle for breath, my ws slightly extending. ¡°Cut the cryptic bullshit. Say what you need to say, and maybe I¡¯ll consider giving you a clean death.¡±


    The venom in Victor¡¯s eyes shifted to something more mncholic as I loosened my grip. His next words hit me like a physical blow, knocking the air from my lungs.


    ¡°Do you remember Nadia?¡± he asked, his voice suddenly quiet. ¡°I¡¯m her mate.¡±


    2

 Casts 190

    <b>Chapter </b><b>190 </b>


    Victor¡¯s POV


    I was ten years old when my mother and I joined the Stormhowl Pack. Before that, life was a nightmare. My father was a Rogue, violent, unpredictable, dangerous. My mother wasn¡¯t his mate; she was his prisoner. He forced himself on her, and when she became pregnant with me, she stayed with him. Not out of love, but fear.


    We lived in a series of abandoned cabins, never staying in one ce for more than a few months.


    Father would disappear for days, then return with blood on his clothes and rage in his eyes. On good days, he¡¯d bring food. On bad days, he¡¯d bring bruises. Mother would shield me with her body when his temper red, taking blows meant for me. Those nights, she¡¯d sing softly to me after he passed out, her voice trembling but determined to give me some smallfort.


    When I was ten, Stormhowl warriors finally tracked my father down and killed him. My mother didn¡¯t want us to be Rogues ourselves, so she took me to the Alpha¡¯s house. She knelt on their doorstep in the pouring rain<b>, </b>begging the Alpha to ept us into the pack.


    That was the first time I saw Adrian.


    I remember every detail of that moment. The grand house with its stone columns and ss windows. The warmth spilling out into the cold night. And Adrian standing there, watching <b>us </b>with curious eyes.


    He wore clean clothes, expensive ones. His hair was perfectly trimmed, his skin unmarked by bruises or dirt. A watch glinted on his wrist. He looked like something from another world.


    Meanwhile, I stood there in clothes three sizes too big, soaked to the bone, mud caking my worn out shoes. My hair hadn¡¯t been cut in months. My stomach growled loudly enough for everyone to hear.


    ¡°Please, kneel,¡± my mother whispered, tugging at my arm. ¡°Show respect to the Alpha family.¡±


    I yanked my hand away and ran. Not far, just to the edge of the property where I could hide behind a tree and watch. I wasn¡¯t going to kneel. Not to anyone.


    The next day, we were officially epted into the Stormhowl Pack. They gave us a small house on the outskirts of pack territory. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was more than we¡¯d ever had before.


    My mother was ecstatic. <fndc3a> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find¡¤novel</fndc3a>


    ¡°This is our home now,¡± she said, her face brighter than I¡¯d seen in years. That night, she made my favorite dinner: venison stew with wild mushrooms and fresh herbs. She even bought a cream cake from the pack bakery and put wildflowers in a jar on our tiny kitchen table.


    ¡°Things will be different now,¡± she promised.


    For a while, I believed her.


    Then I started school. The first day, a group of boys cornered me during lunch.


    ¡°Look at the Rogue¡¯s whelp,¡± one of them sneered. ¡°Bet he doesn¡¯t even know how to read.¡±


    <b>189 </b>


    They were right. I didn¡¯t. Not well, anyway.


    ¡°My dad says your mom spread her legs for a Rogue,¡± another boy said, shoving me against the wall. ¡®Says you don¡¯t belong here<i>. </i>


    I fought back, of course. Earned myself a ck eye and a split lip. The teacher who pulled us apart gave me detention. Not them. Just me, The troublemaker. The outsider.


    It wasn¡¯t just me. Two women who lived next door to us stopped my mother while she was hangingundry.


    ¡°The pack housing is for real pack members,¡± one said loudly enough for everyone to hear. ¡°Not Rogue whores.¡±


    The other womanughed. ¡°I lock my doors at night now. Never know what Rogue blood might do.¡±


    I came home to find my mother crying. I begged her to leave, to go somewhere else. Anywhere else.


    ¡°We can¡¯t,¡± she said, wiping her tears. ¡°Here, you have a free home. Free education. We need to endure this<b>, </b>not run away with our <b>tails </b>between our legs.¡±


    What she didn¡¯t understand was that I wasn¡¯t afraid for myself. I was afraid for her. I couldn¡¯t stand seeing her hurt.


    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to their gossip,¡± she told me. ¡°Study hard. Be a strong warrior. Then they¡¯ll respect us<b>.</b>¡±


    So that¡¯s what I did. I worked harder than anyone. I¡¯d never been to school before joining the pack, so I was behind in everything: reading, writing, physical training. There were no shortcuts, only extra hours of practice.


    After sses, I¡¯d sneak into the training grounds to work on mybat skills. That¡¯s where I first noticed her, a chubby girl practicing alone just like me. We never spoke, but there was something about her determination that mirrored my own.


    Over the years, that girl changed. She lost weight, grew taller, became beautiful. She still kept to herself mostly, but I noticed she started attracting attention from other guys. I learned her name from the boys in the locker room: Nadia.


    In our graduation trials, our scores were almost identical. I beat her by two points in physicalbat; she beat me by three in academic testing. Somehow, I felt proud of her. Happy for her. We were kindred spirits, outsiders who had fought for everything we had.


    Then I discovered something that changed everything: Nadia was my mate. My wolf recognized her instantly during a training exercise in the woods. One moment we were sparring, the next we were in each other¡¯s arms, giving in to the mate bond that pulled us together.


    The forest around us disappeared. There was only her scent, her warmth, her touch. We made love on the forest floor, desperate and tender all at once. Her skin was soft against mine, her voice whispering my name like a prayer. For those few hours, I wasn¡¯t the Rogue¡¯s son. I was just a man with his mate,plete for the first time.


    It was beautiful. Perfect. For the first time in my life, I thought things were finally going my way.


    After she got dressed, she rejected me.


    ¡°I can¡¯t be with you, Victor,¡± she said, her voice cold, her eyes avoiding mine. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    No exnation. No chance to fight for what we had. Just a wall between us where there had been intimacy.


    I was devastated. I drank wolf whiskey that night, trying to numb the pain. Whether it was the alcohol or the rejection, I don¡¯t know, but


    11:29 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b>4


    the next day I failed in my Beta trial. Ten years of hard work, all for nothing.


    My mother tried to console me. ¡°There will be other chances,¡± she said. But I could see the disappointment in her eyes. All those years of enduring insults and istion, and I had nothing to show for it.


    A weekter, Nadia left Stormhowl with Adrian. I saw her looking up at him as they packed their things, her eyes full of admiration. That¡¯s when I understood why she¡¯d rejected me.


    Everyone loved Adrian. The golden prince who never had to struggle for anything in his life. Born into privilege, guaranteed sess. The heir to everything I¡¯d fought so hard to earn a small piece of.


    What woman wouldn¡¯t prefer him?


    Chapter Comments


    <b>g </b>


    green wolf Nation


    7 days ago


    2 Reviews >


    Stormhollow was Nadia and Adrian¡¯s pack. Frosyshadow was Leon and Skyes pack


    37


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