bChapter /bb21 /b

Adrian’s POV

bThe /bsilver woll before me was a magnificent sight–sleek and lithe, with fur that caught the desert sunlight and reflected it like freshly fallen snow.

Even in the northern territories, pure silver wolves were extraordinarily rare. I’d heard tales of them from the elders, whispered legends about silver–coated wolves possessing unique abilities, but I’d never seen one myself until now.

Her movements were uncoordinated, almost coltish, as she tried to navigate her new form.

Despite her clumsiness, her wolf was vibrant and healthy, brimming with an energy that suggested years of pent–up power finally finding release.

As I watched her race across the desert floor, her joy palpable in every bound, an unexpected pang of disappointment settled in my chest.

She bwasn’t /bmy mateb. /b

I’d known it from the first moment I’d encountered her at The Watering Hole, of courseb. /bThe distinctive pull of a mate bond was unmistakable, and I’d felt nothing of the sort.

After being forced from my father’s pack by my uncle and establishing Oasisborn Pack as a haven for outcastsb, /bbI’d /bstill harbored the quiet hope of someday finding my destined partner. Two years had passed since thenb, /bwith no bsign /bbof /bbmy /bmateb. /b

Despite that disappointment, something about Skye had sparked an interest I thought long buried beneath the responsibilities bof /bleadership.

By midday, the desert heat had grown punishing even for werewolf constitutionsb. /bbSkye’s /bbenthusiasm /bbgradually /byielded to fatigue, her tongue lolling from her mouth as she panted heavily.

bI /bguided her back toward theke, where shifting back to human form would be morefortable with water to cool her overheated body.

Her naked form, briefly glimpsed, bwas /bseared into my memoryb: /bsmall bbut /bperfectly shaped breasts, the curve of her hip narrowing to her bwaist/bb, /bskin pale and smooth as porcin.

I forced these thoughts aside, ufortable with my own inappropriate observation of someone under my protection.fn55be Readplete version only at Find?Novel/fn55be

The drive back to thepound bwas /ban unexpected test of willpower. The confined bspace /bbof /bthe SUV quickly filled with bSkye’s /bbscent/b–not the normal werewolf musk that should have emerged after her first shift, which was peculiar enoughb, /bbut something far more primal.

The sweet, heady aroma of female arousal grew more pronounced with each passing mileb. /b

I knew well that a werewolf’s first shift often triggered intense sexual desireb. /bIt was a biological imperative, the body’s bway /bbof /bcelebrating itspletion and seeking to perpetuate the bloodline.

“Danions, w

bI /brecalled my own first transformation at sixteen, how I’d spent that night with two of the bpack’s /bbdesignated /bwho helped young males through this challenging transition.

Trapped in the vehicle with her intoxicating scent, my body responded despite my best intentions. I was grateful for bthe /bdark material bof /bmy jeans, which concealed the evidence of my arousalb. /b

My mind kept returning to forbidden images: her naked form emerging from the shift, the bfeel /bof her bslick /bskin against mine as I’d held bher /bin theke waterb, /bthe way her breasts had pressed against my chest as I steadied herb. /b

I shook my head sharply, disgusted with myself for these thoughts. She was vulnerable, newly shifted, and under my protection–not an object for my base desires.

From bthe /bcorner of my eye, bI /bbsaw /bSkye resting/her head against the window, which she’d rolled down halfway. The hot desert air btousled /bher bgolden /bblonde hair as bshe /bkept her beyes /bnearly closed. Whether she was genuinely dozing or simply avoiding bthe /bawkwardness bbetween /bus, I couldn’t say.

bNeither /bbof /bbus /backnowledged the tension, maintaining a fragile silence for the remainder of the journey.

b173 /b

bChapter /bb21 /b

Given bher /bcondition, taking her directly to the medical facility seemed inappropriate. The sexual energy radiating from her would bbe /bobvious to every wolf in bthe /bbpound/b. For her dignity, and to prevent unnecessaryplications, I détoured toward my private residence instead.

bSkye/b, were here, bI /bcalled softly as I pulled into the driveway of my modest home.

Her eyes opened, surprise registering as she took in the unfamiliar surroundings.

b“/bbThis /bbis /bmy house,” I exined. “I think perhaps bI /bshould bring you to see Dr. Chen tomorrow instead… when you’re feeling more… settled.”

Understanding dawned in her eyes, a crimson blush spreading across her cheeks as she nodded wordlessly,

bMy /bhome was deliberately simple–a single–story structure with clean lines and minimal decoration. I had insisted on living quarters no more luxurious than those of other pack members, despite Nadia’s protests that an Alpha should maintain certain appearances.

Leadership, in bmy /bbview/bb, /bhad nothing to do with material disys.

“Lucy,” I called to the old maid who helped maintain my home. “Could you prepare the guest roomb? /bAnd find some suitable clothes for our visitor?”

Lucy emerged from the kitchenb, /bwiping her hands on a dishcloth. Her beyes /bwidened slightly bas /bbshe /bassessed Skye, a knowing smile ying at the cornes of her mouth, wrinkles deepening around her eyes.

“Well, this is a first, she remarked with undisguised interest. “I’ve never seen you bring ba /bbwoman /bhome before, Alpha.

b“/bIt’s not what you’re thinking,” I replied stiffly, embarrassment heating my neck.

Skye retreated to the guest room immediately after Lucy showed her in, closing the door firmly behind her. She remained there until I bknocked /bat dinner time, calling her to eat. By then, her scent had faded to manageable levels, the most intense phase of her bpost/bb–/bshift response apparently subsiding.

We ate in rtive silence, the awkwardness of earlier gradually giving way to a morefortable quietb. /b

I found myself studying her when she bwasn’t /blooking–the graceful movement of her handsb, /bthe way she tucked her golden blonde hair behind her thoughtful expression that crossed her bface /bbas /bshe gazed out the window at the desertndscape.

After dinner, Nadia mind–linked me, her voice familiar in my thoughts.

Alpha, the training facility designs for the pups are readyb. /bbI’ll /bstop by your house tonight to drop them off if that’s convenient.

That’s fine, bI /bresponded. I’ll be here.

bear/bb, /b

the

I hadn’t mentioned Skye’s presence, not out of any desire for bsecrecy /bbut simply bbecause /bit hadn’t seemed brelevant /bto bpack /bbusiness. Helping a newly shifted wolf was an Alpha’s duty, nothing more.

When Nadia knocked that evening, I opened the door to find her holding a roll of blueprintsb. /bShe handed them bover/b, then stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, heading directly toward the kitchen.

I need some lemonade after the day I’ve had,” she announced, already opening the refrigerator. “The construction bcrew /bmessed up the measurements for the eastern perimeter expansion again.”

I considered stopping her, exining that Skye bwas /bhereb, /bbut hesitated. There was nothing improper about the situation; hiding it would only create bunnecessary /bsuspicion.

Nadia had just filled a ss with the tart beverage when the bathroom door opened, releasing a cloud of steam as bSkye /bemerged, her hair damp from the showerb, /bdressed in borrowed clothes that hung loosely on her frame.

Nadia bfroze/b, bthe /bss halfway to her lips. Her eyes widened almostically before narrowing to bsuspicious /bbslits/b.

b“/bbWhat /bthe bfuck/bb?/bb” /bshe blurted, staring bat /bSkye. b“/bWhy bare /byou here?b” /b