Chapter 143
Skye’s Pow
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–that 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
1 lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as the digital clock on the nightstand ticked from 1:53 to 100 AM. I kept expecting–hoping–herd come knock door, explain himsell, apologize.
But the hallway remained ilent, the distance between our mom feeling like miles rather than fet
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 explained what
was happening to me..
How could that same man look at me with sich cold rage?
Even more disturbing was that strange, inexplicable pull I felt toward Leon. I knew with absolute certainty that I didn’t love him–how could Lafter hed rejected me and left me to wander alone for years?
Yet when he’d kissed me, 1 hadn’t immediately pushed him away.
If I had stopped it sooner…
But this wasn’t entirely my fault, was it? I hadn’t invited Leon’s advances.
What right did Adrian have to punish me, to look 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 dragging myself out of bed was gather up the tom green gown and drop it unceremoniously into the trash can
“What are you doing?” Alpha Xaviers voice startled me as he passed by in the hallway. “That’s a Valentina original! My designer friend created that especially for the Gala”
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 glanced between us, his expression shifting from confusion to understanding
“I just remembered my Beta needed to discuss something with me. Excuse me.” He disappeared down the hallway with impressive speed.
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Chapter 143
The silence that followed felt thick enough to choke on
tumped to lank at Adrian, and my heart clenched.
His usually immaculate 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 trial was 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 relationship drama.
“We need to talk,” 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 Dylia and review the third trial materials. We’ll join you later.”
After hanging up, 1 gestured Tesand the hotel restaurant. “Parakfast?”
Adrian modded, and we walked side by side, careful not to touch, the space between us measured and intentional.
We found a quiet corner booth far from the other diners. Adrian pulled out my chair before I could, then moved to his own seat.
When the waitress arrived, he ordered for both of us–remembering exactly how I liked my eggs and that I preferred apple juice to orange.
When my juice arrived, he reached for the glass before I could, pouring it carefully for me as if we were at a formal dinner rather than a hotel breakfast.
top, 1 said quietly.
His hand froze mid–air, the pitcher of juice still tilted. “What’s wrong?”
This… pretending everything is normal. Acting like last night didn’t happen.”
“I already apologized to you.” Adrian said.
“This isn’t about an apology,” I replied, frustration creeping into my voice. “Until we get through the third trial, I think 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? Now you want to worry about pack hierarchies and formalities? Are you deliberately trying to distance yourself from me?‘
“That s
not what I meant,” I replied, frustration creeping into my voice. I trying to focus on what matters right now. I’m not trying to push you away—I’m trying to make sure we succeed. Have you forgotten why we’re here? Have you forgotten Nadia?
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 as a
weapon.
“I could never forget,” he said softly, the anger draining from his expression. He stared 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 euphing against mine. I hadn’t realized how much I craved his touch until that moment–how much I missed the casual intimacy we’d developed over these menth together.
“Well talk about everything else later, he proposed, his voice low and earnest. “After the trial.”
I nodded, relief and disappointment warring within me. After the trial,”
“We should review the trial materials after breakfast,” I said, picking up my fuck to focus on the eggs that no longer looked appetizing.
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Adrian nodded, his face settling into the composed mask he wore as Alpha. Of mine. The others will be waiting”
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