bChapter /bb22 /b

bSkye’s /bPOV

Thefortable atmosphere that bhad /bsettled bbetween /bAdrian and bme /bduring dinner instantly evaporated. I shifted ufortably, bmy /bbdamp /bhair dripping onto bthe /bborrowed clothes that hung loosely from my frame.

1… I bbegan/bb, /bbut Adrian stepped forwardb, /bbhis /bvoice calm byet /bauthoritative.

bSkye /bbshifted /btoday,b” /bhe exined, moving to stand slightly between us. “Her bfirst /btransformation. She has a lot to learnb, /bso I invited her to stay the bnight/bb. /bDr. Chen will bexamine /bbher /btomorrowb./bb” /b

bNadia’s /beyes widenedb, /bdarting between us as understanding bdawned /bin her expression. She set her bss /bdown with more force than bnecessary/bb, /bliquid sloshing bover /bbthe /bbrim/bb. /b

‘So you brought her to your house?” bHer /bvoice rose slightlyb. /bb“/bbAdrian/bb, /bbyou /bknow what happens after ba /bbwerewolf’s /bfirst shiftb. /bThe urges, the- She cut herself off, ncing at me with undisguised disapproval.

Heat rushed to my cheeks. I knew exactly what Nadia bwas /bimplying–that I might seduce Adrian, taking advantage bof /bbmy /bpost–shift state and his generosity.

The usation bstung/bb, /bespecially when bmy /bbbody /bbwas /bstill humming with unfamiliar sensations that bI /bwas desperately trying to ignoreb. /b

b“/bbI /bunderstand byour /bbconcern/b,” I said quicklyb, /bwanting to defuse the tension. b“/bbI’m /bfeeling much better nowb. /bbIf /bbpossible/bb, /bbperhaps /bsomeone bcould /bdrive me back to Boring tonight binstead/b.”

Adrian’s expression hardened slightlyb, /ba sh of rare impatience crossing his features.

b“/bNadiab, /bwhy bare /bbyou /bso prejudiced against Skyeb? /bbShe’s /bba /bguest who needs our help, nothing more.b” /b

“I’m your Beta,” Nadia reminded him, chin lifted defiantly. “bIt’s /bmy responsibility to protect byou /band look out for your best interestsb./bb” /b

The tension between them crackled in the bair /blike static electricity. I stood awkwardly to the side.

After a momentb, /bbNadia’s /bbposture /bshifted, a decision clearly made.

She marched to the living room and dropped onto the sofa with dramatic finality. “bIf /bSkye’s staying here tonight,” she announced, patting the cushion bbeside /bher, then I’m staying too. Right here on this couch.”

Adrian’s shoulders rose and fell in a resigned sigh. The mix bof /bexasperation and affection in his expression spoke volumes about btheir /brtionship–clearly bdeeper /band more bplex /bthan bjust /bAlpha and Beta.

“While byou’re /bbeing bso /bvignt,” bNadia/bb–/bcontinued, triumph edging her bvoice/bb, /b“bwe /bmight as well bdiscuss /bthe training facility designs I brought,”

Adrian shook his headb, /ba reluctant smile tugging at his lipsb. /b“bYou /btruly are tireless, aren’t byou/bb?/bb” /b

bHe /bturned to me, his expression softening. “Skyeb, /bplease bfeel /bfree bto /bstayb. /bAfter Dr. Chen examines you tomorrowb, /bbI’ll /btake byou /bout for another shift training session.”

I bhesitated/b, weighing bmy /boptions. The truth bwas/bb, /bI had bnowhere /bbelse /bto go, band /bthe promise of learning bmore /babout bmy /bwolf–this new part of bmyself /bI’d bwaited /bso long to discoverb–/bbwas /btoo tempting bto /brefuseb. /b

b“/bAlright, bI /bbagreed /bquietly. “Thank byou/b.b” /b

bAs /bI turned to head bback /bto the bguest /broomb, /bbI /bcaught sight bof /bNadia moving closer to bAdrian/bb, /bspreading blueprints across the bcoffee /bbtable/bb. /bbShe /bthrew me a bquick /bbnce/bb, /bba /bsmallb, /bbsatisfied /bsmile bying /bat her lips–like she’d bwon /bsome contest I hadn’t bknown /bbwe /bbwere /bin.

bThere /bbwas /bsomething familiar in bthe /bbway /bshe positioned bherself /bbnear /bAdrian, in the barely contained adoration that shone in her eyes bwhen /bshe looked at

him.

I recognized it because I’d once bfelt /bsomething bsimr /bfor Leon, that mixture bof /bbrespect/bb, /badmirationb, /bband /bblonging/b.

b173 /b

bChapter /bb22 /b

Adrian band /bbNadia’s /brtionship bclearly /bwent beyond professional boundaries. The way bhe /bindulged her interference in his personal life spoke of a deep bond.

bBut /bit wasn’t my ce to analyze their rtionship. I was just a temporary visitor in their world, a passing stranger who would soon return to my solitary bexistence/bb. /b

bBesides/bb, /bafter my transformation today, I’d confirmed what I’d already suspected–Adrian wasn’t my second chance mate.

bThat /bpeculiar, visceral connection I’d felt with Leon, however painful its oue, was absent with Adrian despite his kindness and undeniable appeal.

I closed the guest room door behind me, leaving them to their blueprints and ns for a future I wouldn’t be part of.

The bnext /bmorning, I woke to the scent of coffee and bacon wafting through the house.

When I emerged from the guest room, Lucy was setting tes of food on the dining table, Adrian already seated reviewing documents on hisptop while Nadia poured herself coffee.

Breakfast was a strange affair. I remained mostly silent, picking at my food and offering brief bresponses /bwhen directly addressed.

Nadia, by contrast, barely paused for breath as she detailed various cost–saving measures for the training facility, her enthusiasm for the topic bseemingly /binexhaustible.

Adrian listened attentively, asking asional questions, but I couldn’t help noticing how his eyes would drift to me during Nadia’s more technical exnations.

After bwe /bfinished eating, Adrian announced he would drive me to the pack hospital for my examination. Predictably, Nadia immediately volunteered.

I’ll take you both,” she insisted, already grabbing the car bkeys /bfrom the hook by the door. “I need to speak with Dr. Chen about medical supplies for the new facility banyway/bb./bb” /b

Dr. Chen’s examination room was bright and modern, equipped with medical technology I hadn’t expected to find in such a remote location. She conducted a thorough checkup, listening to my heartb, /bexamining the now–healed gunshot wound, and drawing bloc or testing.

b“/bYour physical condition is excellent,” bshe /bconcluded, removing her stethoscope. b“/bRemarkably bso /bfor someone who just shifted for the bfirst /btime.b” /bShe nced at her tablet, scrolling through notesb. /b“Your sudden transformation was most likely triggered by thebination of life–threatening trauma and the presence bof /bbAlpha /bblood in byour /bsystemb./b”

b“/bAlpha blood?” I repeated, confused.

bDr. /bChen looked surprised.

b“/bbYes/b, from the transfusion. When you arrived with the gunshot wound, you had lost too much blood. Without your wolf active, you wouldn’t have survived the surgery to remove the bullet.” She gestured toward Adrian, who stood quietly in the corner of the room. “Alpha Adrian donated his blood for your transfusion. It’s what saved your life.*

x

bI /bstared at Adrian in shock. “Your bloodb?/bb” /b

The magnitude of what he’d done hit me suddenly. Alpha blood was bprecious/b, known for its healing properties and rarely given to anyone outside immediate family or high–ranking pack membersb. /bFor him to have shared it with meb, /ba lone wolf he barely knew….

“That’s why you healed so quickly,” Dr. Chen continued. b“/bAlpha blood contains powerful regenerative propertiesb, /bespecially when given directly from Alpha to recipient.”

A wave bof /bemotion washed over me–gratitude mixed with a sense bof /bindebtedness that felt almost overwhelming.

bIn /bbthree /bbyears /bbof /bsolitary bexistence/b, I’d grown/ustomed to fending for bmyself/bb, /bbto /bexpecting the worst from strangersb. /bAdrian’s selfless act bwas /bbmore /bbkindness /bbthan /bbI’d /bbexperienced /bfrom anyone since leaving my pack.

How bcould /bI ever brepay /bsuch a debt? I wondered silently. And why would he do this for ba /bstrangerb? /b

b2/3 /b

bChapter /bb22 /b

bI /bblooked /bbup/bb, /bmeeting bAdrian’s /bamber eyes across the room.

bWhy /bbdidn’t /byou tell me yesterdayb?/bb” /bbI /basked softly.

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