bSkye’s /bPOW

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 bAdn’s /buncle 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—the 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. “Nadiab?/bb” /b

The four–year–old wound reopened instantly. Nadia, Adrian’s loyal Beta who bhad /bbfled /bStormhowl Pack with him. The only exnation for Maxwell’s wants.

He confirmed with ba /bslight 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 bsoft /bto properly protect his womenb, /bwhich brings me to a proposition that might interest byou/bb./bb” /b

b“/bWhat 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 bhis /bbcasual /bmaniption. “And why would I help you?”fn90f5 The rightful source is f?ndnovel/fn90f5

“Because, my dear, whether you’re Adrian’s Luna bor /bnot, you clearly want what’s best for him. And returning to his birthright is bfar /bbetter than dying for some desert nusis that no wolf bshould /bcall 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 bhad /blile doubt she was delivering the same proposal.

“Adrian would bnever /bagree to your shameless request,” I said, shaking my head firmly. “He bknows /bexactly what you are.”

Maxwells pleasant mask slipped, revealing the cold calction beneath.

“You survived the oven incident by sheer luck. Perhaps next time, byou /bwon’t find escape so easy!”

My blood ran cold. “The oven door that

hat wouldn’t openb–/bw

1–was that your doing?”

Maxwell’s!

Laugh was

was bsoft /band chillingt

“I hardly need such crude methods to eliminate threats. If I wanted Adrian deadb, /bI would have executed him when he betrayed Stormhowl four years bago/b. I wouldn’t put bhis /bmother through that

b1/2 /b

b“/bBetrayed?” 1 bchallenged/b, bmy /bvoice 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 bbit /bback 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 baway /buntil 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 basked /bonce 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 bface /bmade my heart skip.

“Thank you for standing with me,” he bsaid /bsoftly, clinking his ss against mine.

After two sses of champagne, the tension in my shoulders had finally begun to wise.

“I bneed /bto use the restroom,” I told Adrian, who nodded and promised to wait for me.

btou /b

The hallway outside the ballroom bwas /bmercifully quiet after the noise and pressure of the banquet. I took my time, savoring the brief solitude before heading bback/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 bwalk /bpast without acknowledging him, but he pushed away from the wall, blocking my path.

The scent of whiskey clings bto /bhim blike /bba /bsecond skin, my wolf observed with disapproval.

The mate bond between bus /bpulsed with ufortable awareness as he stood silently before me, his presence impossible to ignore.

b“/bbSkye/b,” he finally spoke.