bChapter /bb63 /b

bSkye’s /bbPOV /b

Boring slowly disappeared in the rearview mirror, the chaos of the ruined wedding left behind like a smudge in the distance. I sat pressed bagainst /bbthe /bcar door, the cold metal biting into my skin, trying to calm my pulse. But peace never came.

Because just when I thought we had a moment to breathe, a shadow surged ahead of the vehicle–thennded directly in our path.fn19d6 Fresh chapters posted on F?nd-Novel/fn19d6

The driver mmed on the brakes. Tires screeched.

The car jerked violently, and I lurched forward, caught only by the seatbelt across my chest. My heart mmed into my throat.

Standing in front of uspletely unharmed, without a trace of exhaustion–was Kane.

Not shifted. Not panting. Not even sweating.

He had chased down a speeding car on foot.

Even Nadia, usually unshaken, widened her beyes/bb. /b“What the hellb…/bb” /b

bI /bswallowed hard, trying to force down the rising dread.

He was a monster. But in that moment, I had to admit–he bwas /ba powerful oneb. /b

Kane strolled casually toward the vehicle, as if he hadn’t just defied physicsb. /bThe rear door opened, and a moment bter/bb, /bhe bslid /binto the seat across bfrom /bbus /bwith infuriating ease, like this was a joyride, not a kidnapping.

He leaned backfortably, then reached into the car’s built–in mini fridge and pulled out a can bof /bbice/bb–/bcold beer. The hiss of the tab bechoed /bin bthe /bsilence.

“Beer?” he offered, holding the can up in mock politeness. “It’s been a stressful day for everyone.”

Nadia and I both turned our faces away, refusing to dignify him with a response.

He didn’t seem offended. Instead, he chuckled softly and took a long drink, the sound of the c can crinkling under his fingers filling the tense bspace /bbbetween /bollibus/bb. /b/li/ol

“Why?” I finally asked, breaking the tense silence. “Why did you have to ruin their wedding? Why are you doing thisb?/bb” /b

Kane sat bacross /bfrom us in the spacious vehicle, his emerald eyes glinting with amusement as he straightened his already–perfect tie. His two enforcers upied the front seats, the driver’s beyes /basionally flicking to the rearview mirror to bcheck /bon us.

“Must there always be a profound reason?” Kane replied with an exaggerated sigh. “Sometimes I simply enjoy bthe /bchaosb./bb” /b

Beside me, Nadia’s body remained rigid with barely contained fury. Her fingers curled into fists on herp, knuckles white with the effort of restraining

herself.

“Adrian wille for us,” I said, injecting bas /bmuch confidence into my bvoice /bas I could muster. “And when he bdoes/b, he won’t bshow /bmercyb. /b

Kane’s lips curved into a predatory smile. “Oh, I’m counting on it.”

The realization hit me like a physical blow. “This is about Adrian. You’re using us to get to him.”

‘Clever girl,” Kane praised mockingly. “Although using‘ sounds bso /bcrude. I prefer to think of you two as… incentives for negotiation.”

Nadia leaned forward, her dark eyes shing “What kind of negotiation?

“Initially, I only wanted ess to your water source,b” /bKane exinedb, /bgesturing casually as if discussing ba /bminor business transaction. “bA /breasonable request between neighboring packs, I thought. But your Alpha proved… uncooperativeb./b*

bChapter /bb63 /b

“Theke you bpoisoned/bb,/bb” /bI realized aloud. That was youb./bb” /b

bHe /bbinclined /bhis head slightly, acknowledging without explicitly confessing. bA /bregrettable esction, but sometimes one must demonstratemitment bone’s /bgoals.”

b“/bAnd what are those goals nowb? /bIdemanded.

bKane’s /bexpression hardened, the fa?ade of civility momentarily slipping to reveal the predator beneath. “Total surrenderb, /bOasisborn bPack /bbwill /bevacuate Texas entirely. Your territoryb, /byour resourcesb, /byour infrastructure–all of it bes mineb./b”

b“/bYou’re insane,” Nadia spat. “Adrian would never agree to that.”

Kane leaned forward, his gaze shifting between us with calcted assessment. “Won’t he? For his loyal Beta who’s stood by him since childhoodb? /bHis eyes settled on me, a slow smile spreading across his face as he studied me through the rearview mirror.

b“/bAnd for you… I saw how he looked at you during your pack celebration. The possessiveness in his eyes when I touched you. His voice dropped to a silky purrb. /b“You’re clearly his most cherished…panion. I wonder just how much he values you.”

bMy /bstomach turned at his insinuation, but I maintained myposureb. /b“You’ve miscalcted. Adrian prioritizes the pack above everythingb–/babove me, above Nadia, above himself. He won’t sacrifice Oasisborn’s futureb, /beven for bus/bb./bb” /b

Kane settled back in his seat, looking utterly unconcerned. “We shall bsee/bb. /bAlphas often believe themselves capable of such noble sacrificeb–/buntil the moment arrives when they must actually make the choice.”

Hours passed in tense silenceb. /bThe desertndscape gradually transformed, bing more barren and hostile as bwe /btraveled deeper into Gravestone territory. Unlike the vibrant oasis Adrian had created, Kane’s domain was deliberately intimidating–andscape of jagged rock formations and twisted, ominous btrees /bthat seemed to bw /bat the darkening sky.

As night fellpletely, we approached a fortress–likepound nestled against a cliff face. High walls surrounded a collection of austere buildings, with armed guards patrolling the perimeter. The architecture was all sharp angles and imposing stoneb, /bba /bphysical manifestation bof /bKane’s bleadership /bbstyle/b.

The SUV passed through heavily secured gatesb, /bing to a stop in a central courtyard. Unlike Oasisborn’s weingmunity bspace/bb, /bthis area resembled a military instation more than a home. Wolves in human form watched our arrival with predatory interestb, /btheir expressions cold and bassessing/b.

Kane motioned for his men to escort us from the vehicle. “Wee to my humble abode,” he announced with theatrical grandeurb. /b“I trust you’ll find your amodationsb… /badequate.”

We were led through dimly lit corridors to a lower level of the main building. The temperature dropped noticeably as bwe /bdescended a stone staircaseb, /bthe ai bing damp and heavy with the scent of earth. At the bottom, a heavy metal door opened to breveal /bwhat could only be described as a dungeon-plete with barred cells set into the rock walls.

“Your temporary residence,” Kane announced, gesturing for his men to ce us in thergest cell. “Don’t look bso /bdisappointed. The alternative bwas /bchains, but I thought this more civilized.*

The cell door nged shut behind us, the sound echoing ominously through the underground chamber. Kane instructed the guard stationed at the entranc “Watch them carefully. No one enters without my express permissionb./b”

He turned to another nearby wolf, a lean man with a scar bisecting his left eyebrow. “Prepare a proper meal for our guestsb. /bbI /bwon’t have Gravestone Pack neglects its hospitality.”

said bthat /b

As his men hurried toply, Kane approached the bars, his eyes lingering on me with unsettling intensity. “If you find these amodations ufortable,” he offered, his voice dropping to a suggestive murmurb, /bb“/bmy personal quarters are always avable.b” /b

His hand shot through the bars with surprising speed, fingers gripping my chin before bI /bcould retreat.

‘I promise I can satisfy you both far better than Adrian ever could.”