bChapter /bb25 /b

bSkye’s /bPOV

I looked up casually—and froze in mid–swallow, barely managing not to choke.fnce17 For original chapters go to FindN0vel/fnce17

bwasn’t /bprejudiced. I wasn’t one to discriminate. But the werewolves filing into the room were undeniably… not normal.

Leading the group was a striking ck woman in her mid–forties with high cheekbones and intelligent eyes that seemed to evaluate everything theynded on. What immediately caught my attention was that her left arm ended just below the shoulder, the sleeve of her silk blouse neatly pinned up.

Beside her walked a handsome young werewolf who couldn’t have been more than twenty–five, with chiseled features and alert eyes. Despite his youth and obvious strength, he moved with an uneven gait, his right leg dragging slightly with each step.

Behind them came a curvy young woman with cascading auburn hair. The bottom half of her face was visible–full red lips curved in a subtle smile–but the upper portion was concealed behind an intricately designed half–mask that covered her nose and eye area, leaving only mesmerizing green eyes visible through carefully crafted openings.

Last was a tall, broad–shouldered man of middle age, his muscr frame suggesting byears /bbof /bphysical training. Despite being indoors, he wore dark sunsses thatpletely obscured his eyes, giving his otherwise unremarkable face an air of mystery.

I forced myself to maintain a neutral expression as I rose from my chair, extending my hand in greeting.

These people were nothing like the pristine, physically perfect members bof /bFrostshadow Pack, where any wolf with a physical ‘defectb” /bbwas /bsubtly but bfirmly /brelegated to the lowest ranks, kept out of sight during interb–/bpack gatherings.

Adrian stepped forward, his bexpression /bwarm bas /bhe began introductions. “Skyeb, /bI’d like you to meet bsome /bof our pack council members.” bHe gestured /bto the one–armed woman. This is Venusb, /bbour /bfinancial administrator. She manages all of Oasisborn’s resources and investmentsb./bb” /b

Venus extended her right hand to shake mine, her bgrip /bfirm and confident. “So you’re the famous bartender,” she said, her voice rich with a slight Southern ent. “Looking forward to seeing what you can do tonight.”

Adrian continued, indicating the limping young man. “This bis /bGarrett, our information technology speciamunications running.” The young man nodded politely, offering a brief smile that transformed his s

is face.

“Thedy with the mask is Lydiab, /bour chief pharmacist and herbal bspecialist/bb,/bb” /bAdrian continued. Lydia inclined her head slightly but remained silent, her eyes studying me with calm interestb. /b

“And finally, Marcus, head of bour /bsecurity team.”

He stepped bforward/b, extending his hand toward me. bAs /bwe shook hands, he reached up with his bfree /bhand and removed his bsunsses/bb. /bI bbarely /bmanaged to bsuppress /ba gasp of surprise when bI /bbsaw /bhis eyesb–/bpletely whiteb, /bwithout pupils bor /bbirises/bb, /bbclearly /bblind.

b“/bYou’re quiteb… /bunusualb, /bMarcus remarked, his bdeep /bbvoice /bcutting through the room. b“/bbIf /bI didn’t concentrate, I’d

barely detect you at all.”

I shifted ufortablyb, /baware that he was referring to myck of btypical /bwerewolf bscent/b–a trait that had served bme /bbwell /bduring my byears /bof hiding, but now bfelt /blike another mark of my abnormality among bthese /bwolves.

bJust /bbas /bAdrian finished the introductions, the door swung open again and a young man bounded in, energy practically radiating from him. He had thick, unruly brown curls and a boyish bface /blit with enthusiasm. Compared to the others who had entered before, bhe /bseemed almost jarringly… ordinary.

“bDon’t /bforget about me!” he announced cheerfullyb, /bshing a bright smile bat /beveryone bin /bthe room.

Nadia immediately scowled. “Ryder, byou’re /bte. Again. That’s ten percent of your pay bdocked /bthis month.”

bThe /byoung man–bRyder/b–didn’t seem particrly troubled by this announcement. He simply shruggedb, /bhis smile bnever /bbfaltering /bbas /bhe turned his attention bto /bollibme/bb. /b/li/ol

b“/bYou bmust /bbbe /bbSkye/b!” he eximed, moving forward to shake my hand with enthusiastic vigor. b“/bI’ve heard you’re bthe /bbartender bfor /btonight’s bcelebration/bb. /bbAny /bbchance /bbyou /bcan hook ba /bbguy /bup with something bspecial/bb?/bb” /b

b1/2 /b

bChapter /b25

bYou’re /bnot even of legal drinking age, Nadia cut in sharplyb. /b

Ive already shiftedb, /band I’ll be eighteen next month,” Ryder protested, rolling his eyes dramatically. What difference does bit /bmake? It’s not like alcohol affects us the way it does humans banyway/bb./bb” /b

bVenus /bapproached, her sharp eyes bassessing /bme with undisguised interestb. /b“Adrian tells me you’re donating the specialty alcohol for tonight. That’s quite generous–bsaves /bour pack a considerable expense.”

Before I could respond, she turned to Lydia with a mischievous smile. “If you want to add something extra to the drinks, Lydia could probably help. Her herbal concoctions are legendaryb./b”

Lydia’s eyes crinkled above her mask in what I assumed was a smile, but she remained silent, leaving me to wonder if Venus’s suggestion was serious or bin /bbjest/b.

Adrian cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “Let’s focus on tonight’s arrangements, shall we?” He turned to Marcus. “Even during celebrations, bI /bwant guards stationed at all perimeter points. We can enjoy ourselves, but I don’t want everyone intoxicated at once. Keep rotation schedules tight.”

Marcus nodded, his posture straightening almost imperceptibly. “Already arranged, Alpha. Two–hour shiftsb, /btriple coverage at the northwest approach.*

As they continued discussing security details, I found myself studying these unusual council members with growing curiosity. Each bore some physical trait that would have marked them as “lesser” in my former pack, yet here they held positions of authority and brespect/b.

Adrian treated them not with the condescending tolerance I’d witnessed in other bpacks/b, but with genuine bdeference /bto their expertise.

What kind of Alpha actively sought out the damaged and differentb? /b

bChapter /bbComments /b