Chapter 28
Skye’s POV
“Yes,” 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 access to the ocean.”
Three years ago, my father–the Alpha of Stormhowl–died unexpectedly. My uncle Maxwell seized the Alpha position that should have been mine by 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–my old pack. I saw him then. To be honest, I didn’t like the 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 as 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–you were the lunatic swimming in the frozen lake that night?”
Adrian blinked, then laughed. “And you were the girl crying by the lakeshore!”
Suddenly, it all clicked. No wonder he’d felt so familiar when I saw him at the bar. We’d met before, on that freezing, unforgettable night.
“Funny how fate works,” Adrian said with a small smile. “It brought us back together.”
“You should be Alpha of Stormhowl,” I 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 succession fight. By our pack laws, I would have been within my rights. But I chose not to. I didn’t want to tear the pack apart with a bloody power struggle.”
“That was… 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–Nadia Ryder, and about ten others–and left to build something new.”
“But why here? Why not somewhere with forests and water, something closer to your natural environment?”
“Because it was the last place anyone would look for coastal wolves,” he answered simply. And because this oasis had been abandoned by other packs as ‘uninhabitable.‘ I saw potential where others saw only harshness.”
I hesitated before asking the next question, unsure if I was overstepping. “And your mother? What happened to her?”
A flicker of pain crossed Adrian’s face. “She chose to remain with Maxwell. They’re married now.”
I couldn’t hide my shock. “Your mother married your uncle? After he took your birthright?”
Adrian’s eyes met mine, filled with a complex mixture of resignation and old hurt.
“She claimed it was to maintain pack stability, to prevent bloodshed.” His tone suggested he didn’t entirely believe this explanation.
‘I don’t support her choice—it felt like a betrayal of my father’s memory. But I also couldn’t bear the thought of her living out her life alone,
We sat in silence for a moment.
1/3
Chapter 28
“Three years ago,” I murmured. “We both had our lives changed three years ago, in the same winter.”
Adrian turned to me, his expression softening with interest.
“You’ve heard my story. Will you share yours now? Why has a wolf like you been wandering alone?”
I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. “Compared to what you and your council members have endured, my reason for leaving seems… childish.
“Pain isn’t something to be compared 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–forever dependent on my parents‘ protection, never standing on my own.”
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 I suddenly caught the scent of my mate. So, of course, I followed it-
And ran straight into a massive grizzly bear. I freaked out, started shooting like crazy… and ended up hitting Alpha James’s son. Yeah. I shot Leon. And the kicker? He turned out to be my mate.”
Adrian’s eyebrows rose. “Leon from Frostshadow? You’re his mate?”
“You know him?” I asked, surprised by his recognition.
“He’s Alpha now,” Adrian confirmed. “Quite powerful, from what I’ve heard.”
A bittersweet feeling washed over me. “So he achieved his dream after reject me.”
“He rejected you?” 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 him compete for Alpha King.”
Adrian leaned forward slightly, his expression thoughtful.
“I believe your wolf had actually begun awakening that night,” he said. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have detected your mate’s scent. But your mate’s immediate rejection wounded your wolf so deeply that she refused to emerge.”
“You think so? No one ever suggested that to me.” I stared at him, stunned by this possibility.
“It’s happened before,” Adrian said with quiet certainty. “A traumatic rejection can suppress a partial awakening. No one in your pack mentioned this possibility?”
No, I whispered, “I always thought I was too weak, that something was fundamentally wrong with me.”
“Your wolf is healthy and strong, Skye,” Adrian said firmly. “You have nothing to be ashamed of.”
I exhaled deeply, feeling a weight lift from my chest.
For three years, I’d carried the burden of my own supposed inadequacy. To have someone–an Alpha, no less–suggest that the fault wasn’t mine was surprisingly liberating.
“This is the first time I’ve told anyone about what happened,” I admitted. “It feels… good, to finally share it.”
Adrian smiled, the warmth reaching his eyes, “My offer still stands, you know, he said. “I invited you to join Oasisborn Pack before, and that invitation remains open. What do you say now? Will you still refuse?”
‘I’m honored, truly. But looking at Venus, Nadia, and the others–they’re all so exceptional. What could I possibly contribute?”
Chapter 28
“Every member of Oasisborn brings their own unique strength, Skye. You don’t need to
A sudden commotion 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–the telltale sign of someone communicating through mind–link. The connection only lasted 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 replaced by Alpha vigilance.
“Strangers have breached our territory,” he said grimly. “Unfamiliar wolves.”
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Well, I would hope so given all he’s revealed to her.
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