bChapter /bb30 /b

bSkye’s /bPOV

Before I could even process what was happening, Adrian’s fist connected with Kane’s jaw.

The force of the blow sent the intruding Alpha stumbling backward, though he managed to maintain his footing.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Adrian roared.

His eyes shed dangerously, and I could sense his wolf straining against the surface, eager to emerge and defend what it considered its territoryb–/bbwhich/b, apparently, included me.

I stood frozen, my skin crawling where Kane’s tongue had left its wet trail. The vition of such an intimate bact/b–werewolves only bscent/b–marked those they considered mates or pack–left me feeling both disgusted and oddly exposed.

Surprisingly, Kane didn’t return Adrian’s aggression. Instead, he straightened himself, touching his jaw with an almost appreciative bexpression /bbefore ba /bmeaningful smile spread across his faceb. /b

“Interesting, he drawled, his predatory eyes fixed on me rather than Adrian. b“/bbA /bwolf with no scent. bIs /bshe your newest brecruit/b?”

His tone suggested he’d discovered something far more valuable than he’d bexpected/b.

“You’ve crossed a line,b” /bAdrian warned, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. “If you dare touch her again-”

Kane’s emerald eyes peered past Adrian’s shoulder, finding mine despite the barrier.

“A woman as beautiful and unique as you should consider joining Gravestone Pack instead, he called to meb, /bignoring Adrian bpletely/b.

Why waste your talents with these… damaged creatures?” He gestured dismissively at Venus and Marcusb. /b“Power and wealth would be byours /bbfor /bthe taking if you came with me instead.”

His repulsive smile made me instinctively retreat further behind Adrian.

Adrian’s hand shot out, gripping Kane’s cor and pulling him close until they were nose to nose.

Show some respect for my packmates,” he hissed, “or I can’t guarantee your people will leave here intactb./b”

The two wolves behind Kane immediately tensed, their bodies beginning the subtle shift that preceded transformation.

Instead of escting, however, Kane raised both hands in an exaggerated gesture of surrender. “You really can’t take a jokeb, /bcan you? We’ll be on our way

nowb./b”

Marcus stepped forward, his sightless eyes somehow more intimidating than any sighted re could be. “I’ll escort our… guestsb… /bto the announced, his bvoice /bcold.

bAs /bKane and hispanions bwere /bled away under Marcus’s watchful presenceb, /bI noticed the celebration had effectively ended.

r,” he

Pack members bwere /bbeginning to clean up, their earlier bjoy /breced by watchful vignce. The uninvited visitors had cast a shadow bover /bwhat should have been a night of pure celebration.

Adrian immediately called an emergency council meeting and, to my surpriseb, /bgestured for bme /bto join them.

“You should hear this too,” he said quietly, his hand briefly touching the small of my back as he guided me toward the main building.

In the council chamber, the atmosphere was tense.

Adrian turned to face bme /bbas /bsoon as the door closed behind us. b“/bbHave /byou made byour /bdecision?” he asked, “Will you join our packb?/bb” /b

b1/3 /b

bChapter /bb30 /b

Before bI /bcould respond, Nadia interrupted her bpacing /band nted her hands firmly on the table. ‘Since bKane /bwants bto /bbrecruit /bbyou/bb, /bbI’m /bbabsolutely /bdetermined bnot /bto let him have his wayb, /bbyou /bmust join us!b” /b

bThe /bvehemence bof /bher statement, so different from her initial suspicion of me, caught me off guard. I looked around at the assembled bcouncil/bb–/bbat /bbthese /bbroken but undefeated wolves who had built something remarkable from their pain–and found myself nodding.

“bI /bwill,” I said, “But surely you don’t just want me as a bartender? If there’s anything I can do to help, please don’t hesitate to askb./b”

Lydia’s beyes /bcrinkled above her mask in what I now recognized as ba /bsmile. “bSince /byou understand mixology, perhaps byou /bcould assist me with herbal preparations and wolf poisons,‘ she suggested, her melodic voice soft but clear. “You likely have a natural talent for it.”

The door opened abruptly bas /bMarcus returned, his expression grim. “The intruders have left our territory,” he reported before turning bin /bbmy /bdirectionb. /bb“/bbShe /bshould join my security team,” he said firmly, as though we’d been discussing this for hoursb. /bb“/bbA /bbwolf /bwithout a bscent /bis ba /bnatural–born scout. bWe /bcould use her abilities for border reconnaissance.”

“I disagreeb,/b” Lydia countered, leaning forward. “Her talents would be wasted on perimeter duty when she could be helping develop protective remedies for the pack.”

Venusb, /bwho had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke up. “We’re currently establishing an orphanage for disced wolf cubsb,/bb” /bshe exined, her single hand gesturing emphatically. “We’re desperately short–staffed. Why not assign her there firstb?/bb” /b

Their eagerness to include me in various aspects of pack life was both overwhelming and deeply touching after three byears /bof solitary existence. They didn’t just want me as a token member–they saw genuine value in what I could offer.

“I think Venus’s suggestion makes the most sense to start,‘ I said carefully, not wanting to offend anyone. “But I’d be happy bto /bhelp bLydia /bbwith /bbherbal /bpreparations in my spare time, and perhaps assist Marcus with asional border intelligence as well.”

Nadia crossed her arms, fixing me with a stern look. “Don’t forget dailybat training,” she insisted. “I won’t always be around to bprotect /byou, and you need to strengthen those underdeveloped muscles.”

Ryder nudged my arm yfully. “I could be your training partner,” he offered.

A warm sensation spread through my chest–not the burning desire of mate–recognition, but something equally powerful. beptance/bb. /bBelonging. bPurpose/bb. /bAfter years of drifting aimlessly, I suddenly had people who needed me, valued me, wanted me around. The feeling was both foreign and intoxicating.

The moment of camaraderie was interrupted when Adrian’s expression turned serious. “Kane and Gravestone bPack /bbwon’t /bleave bus /bin peaceb,/b” he warned, his voice drawing everyone’s attention. “Their sudden interest in our territory–and in Skye–concerns me.”

He turned to Marcus. “Increase border patrols, especially near theke.”

To Garrett, who had joined us silently at some point during the discussion, he said, “Track Kane’s recent activities online. I want to know what bhe’s /bbeen up

tob./bb” /b

Nadia received instructions to intensify training for the younger pack members, while Lydia was tasked with examining theke water

“It’s our primary water sourceb,/b” Adrian exined, his brow bfurrowed /bwith concern. “Kane might attempt to contaminate it.”

I found myself admiring Adrian’s meticulous thinking, the way he anticipated threats from multiple angles. bHe /bwas a natural protectorb, /bhis focus always on the welfare of those under his care.

bAs /bthe meeting concluded and council members filed out to begin their assigned tasks, bI /bprepared to head to my temporary amodations bin /bbthe /bpack’s hotelb. /bBefore bI /bcould leaveb, /bAdrian’s hand on my armb//bstopped meb. /b

“Tonight you’re staying at my ce,” he said, his voice not leaving room for argument. “I bdon’t /bbfeel /bfortable with you aloneb, /bbnot /bwith bKane /bshowing interest in you.”

His gaze held mine, concern evident in his expression. I knew this wasn’t a romantic invitation–just an Alpha protecting a member who might be in danger.

Yet bas /bI nodded my agreementb, /bI couldn’t ignore the small flutter in bmy /bstomach at the thought of spending the bnight /bunder his roof once bagain/b.fndb0d Updates are released by find(?)ovel/fndb0d