Skye’s bPow /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–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

1y in bed, staring at the ceiling as the digital clock on the nightstand ticked from 1:53 to 100 AM. I kept expecting–hoping–herde knock door, exin himsell, apologize.

But the hallway remained ilent, the distance between our mom feeling like miles rather than fetfn3b52 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 bstrange/b, 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 bkissed /bme, 1 hadn’t immediately pushed him away.

If I had stopped it sooner…

But this wasn’t entirely my fault, was bit/bb? /bI hadn’t invited Leon’s advances.

What right did Adrian have to bpunish /bme, to blook /bat 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 bdragging /bmyself out of bed was gather bup /bthe tom green gown and drop it unceremoniously into the trash can

“What are you bdoing/b?” Alpha Xaviers voice startled me as he passed by in the hallway. “That’s ba /bValentina 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 bnced /bbetween us, his expression shifting from bconfusion /bto understanding

“I just remembered my Beta needed to discuss something with me. Excuse me.” He disappeared down the hallway bwith /bimpressive speed.

Chapter b143 /b

The silence that followed felt thick enough to choke on

tumped to bnk /bat 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 btrial /bbwas /bjust 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“/bbWe /bneed to talkb,/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 bDylia /band review the third trial materials. We’ll join youter.”

After hanging up, 1 gestured Tesand the hotel restaurant. “Parakfast?”

bAdrian /bmodded, and we walked bside /bby side, careful not to touch, the space between us measured and intentional.

bWe /bfound a quiet corner booth far from the bother /bdiners. Adrian pulled out my chair before I could, then moved to his own seat.

When bthe /bwaitress arrivedb, /bhe ordered for both of us–remembering exactly how I liked my beggs /bband /bthat I preferred apple juice to orange.

When my juice arrived, he reached for the ss before I could, pouring it carefully bfor /bme 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 likest night didn’t happen.”

“I already apologized to you.” Adrian bsaid/b.

“This isn’t about an apology,” I replied, frustration creeping into my voice. “Until we get through the third trial, I bthink /bwe 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 seriousb? /bNow you want to worry about bpack /bhierarchies and formalities? Are you deliberately trying to distance yourself from me?‘

“That s

not what I meant,” I replied, frustration bcreeping /binto my voice. I trying to focus bon /bwhat matters right now. I’m not trying to push you away—I’m trying to make sure we seed. bHave /byou forgotten why we’re here? Have you forgotten bNadia/bb? /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 bas /bba /b

bweapon/b.

“I could never forget,” he said softly, bthe /banger draining from his expression. He bstared /bat 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 beuphing /bagainst mine. I bhadn’t /brealized 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 elseter, he proposed, bhis /bvoice low and earnest. “After the trial.”

I bnodded/b, relief and disappointment warring within me. After the trial,”

“We should review the btrial /bmaterials after breakfast,” I bsaid/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”