Crowned by Fate
Chapter 181
57o Lesbid, mý vodce steady despite the boot in my stomach
The seated guy feed back, his chais cresting. “Name’s eck,” he said, his king in. I’m pertin
My best sank. The resemblance made sense now, but it didn’t eate the dread creeping up my spine. Adrian killed Kane, tean had some bad blood with these
Beck serve seen the panic fish neteis my fher became he smirked, grabbed a beer from the table, and took a shes tip. “Pelan, Skye. Tai not holding grader. Hell, 1 ose Adrian en for teking out kane‘
1’blinked, caught off guard. “Why?”
The leaned forward, elbows on the table, his voice low and bitter. “Kane’s the reason I’m a fogue. This gear?” Ila pointed in the jazzed line arres “Get it dueling that bastard. I gate as good as I get, but kane didn’t laut fair. He ganged up on me with his Gravestone goons and kicked me out. Five years
1 studied him, trying to grupe if he was spinning a story. Beck’s tone had a new edge, but the way he puffed out his chest screamed he was trying to save face. A pay 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 Casinom pack.”
I glanced at the other two. The stocky one with the shaved head was glaring at me like I was a problem he wanted to solve with his fists. The pay 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 Oundsborn would be like inviting wolves to a sheep pen.
o offense.” 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–term. You’re Adrian’s Beta. If you vouch for us, he’ll listen. Don’t play 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 anorted. “Sounds like you’re just dodging, sweetheart, No sincerity.”
Beck tilted his head, studying me. “Exactly. If you’re not serious a
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 dour, I caught a whiff of a familiar scent -the 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.
The mugur grabbed my arm, rough but not brutal, and bustled me into a small, musty room in the back. The door clicked shut behind me, leaving me in near darkness, straining to hear what was happening.
Through the thin walls, I caught Beck’s voice, caspal but
“Hey, man, what’s up?”
“Sorry to bother you,” came the other voice, low and urgent. “You seen a silver–haired girl around here? About five–six, early twenties?”
Beck laughed, the sound rough. “A silver–haired girl? In the middle of nowhere! Buddy, you’te chasing ghosts”
“I need to check inside,” the guy pressed, his tone sharper.
1/2
Chapter 781
Bede’s votek hrdened. This to my plate. No unra ensine in
The air felt charged, even from where I was billige, I could pieture Beck standing tall, blocking the doorway, his crew backing him up. The guy outside hesitated -1 could bear hh boots shuffle on the porch.
“Fine” the guy mattered. “Il you the hen, you let me know, She’s
Tiyah, por,” Berk said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “11) keep an eye out.
The door slammed shut, and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. A moment later, the back room door opened, and Beck’s silhouette filled the
“He’s gone,” he said, his veier Iime. “Tut that guy was looking for you, wasn’t he? Which means you see me now. My condition just got pricier.”
I stepped out, my jaw tight, “What do you want now?
Beck crossed his arms, bis scar catching the dim light. “You get us into Casishom, And I want a chunk of Kane’s sild territory. Call it compensation for my trouble
The stocky gus piped sap, 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 get 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–Alpha Leon’s got us in cuffs. Said we kidnapped some silver–haired 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, or I drag you back out there and hand you over to your friend.”
I stared at the phone, my mind racing. I didn’t trust Beck or his crew, but I was out of options. If I didn’t play along. I’d be back in the hands of my Lidnapper. At least with the phone, I had a shot at reaching Adrian.
“Deal,” I said, snatching the phone from his hand.
beck’s smink returned, but he didn’t say anything. I dialed Adrian’s number, my heart p
pounding g 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?”
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. “ile’s with Ryder. They’re headed to Port Artemis to find you.”
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