bChapter /b142

I stood before the mirror in my hotel bathroom, dabbing at the bonise forming at the corner of my mouth,

I savored the memory of Skye’s kiss, the ineriness of her lips still lingering on my tongue.

A Damiliar beat surged through my body, something primal and get that I’d never experienced before meeting Skye. My wolf paced restlessly beneath my skin, his agitation bleeding into my thoughts.

“Why did you let another male take out mate away?” he miled, pushing exainst my conncloinnest with inprecedented force. “She belongs with unt

I’m not a kidnapper or a rapist, I mattered aloud, gripping the edge of the sink. “I won’t force any woman, even if she is our mate

My wolf responded with a momsful whine that echoed themagh my minal, his

quish surprisingly painful,

Despite the winter chill outside, I tumed the shower temperature to its lowest setting. The key water hit my skin like needles, but it did little to cool the burning need coursing through my veins. I needed to wash away this restlessness, this weakness that threatened to derail everything I worked for.

Later, lying on the hotel bed. I couldn’t stop my mind from reying that kiss with Skye. The softness of her lips, the surprised gasp that escaped her before the responded. Even memories from four byears /bas suddenly became crystal clear – the hunting festival where I’d touched her soft skin, felt that first spark of connection before learning she couldn’t shift.

“We should never bhave /brejected bher/bb, /bmy wolfmented,

Maya’s room

i’s room was just down the bhall/b. If bphysical /bbrelease /bbwas /ball I neededb, /bshe would, eagerly amodate me. bShe’d /bbmade /bher interest clear mough over the

But the thought left me coldb. /bbMy /bbmind /bbconjured /bonly images bof /bbsilver /bhair and forest–peen eyes. No one else would satisfy this hunger.fn72d9 Readplete version only at Find_Novel(./fn72d9

The thought of bSkye /blying in Adrian’s bed, his hands on her body, his scent marking her bskin /b– rage exploded through me before bI /bbcould /bcontrol it. My fian countered with the headboard with a sickening track.

The

e entire r bed fr

frame copsed beneath me with a thunderous crash, dropping me unceremoniously to the Boor.

“What the fuck??” I growled, disentangling myself from the splintered wood and twisted sheets.

I called the front deskb, /band within twenty minutes, hotel bstaff /barrived with a brecement /bbedb. /bbThe /bbservice /bmanager surveyed the destruction with ba /bknowing insale that made my skin crawl.

These things happen, sir,” he said with a wink. “Especially between… benthusiastic /bcouples.”

Ethan appeared in the doorway just as they were finishing, his eyes widening bat /bthe scene.

“Alpha Leonb,/b” bhe /bbsaid/b, his voice deliberately bformal/b, “perhaps you should conserve your energs. The third trial is only two days away.”

Oner the staff departedb, /bI turned to Ethan with a scowl. “I didn’t bring any woman bbark /bhere.“

“Of course not,” he replied, though his expression remained skeptical.

As he turned to leave, I called out, “Ethan, wait hesitated, uncertain how to phrase my question. “What would you think babout /byour sister returning? Since she’s my Second Chance bMate/b, bperhaps /bshe would be the best choice as Luna for our pack.”

Ethan’s face immediately lit up, excitement radiating from him. “You want Skye to cong back? That bwould /bbbe /bamazing!” He grinned broadly. “I bet she doesn’t even have a decent dress in that Dasibor Pack. She always loved pretty things, you know.”

His enthusiasm was almost childlike, the joy of a brother imagining his family reunited. But as quickly as it appeared, the excitement in his eyes dimmed. His brow furrowedb, /bband /bhis scent shifted to something more cautiousb, /btinged with worry.

b1/2 /b

“Wait,” he said, studying my face mote carefully. “You rejected bet when she needed you most. Now that shey shifted, now that thes proven herself powerful…” He paused, the doubt clearly growing.

The change in Ethan’s demoranor was immediate. For the first time since I known him, he looked at me not as his future Alpha, but at an equal – perhaps

“Why are you pursuing her now?” he demanded, his voice tight. “Is it because you love her, or because she’s suddenly powerful enough to be worthy of

His words stuck like a physical blow.

She wandered alone for years, Ethan continued, his pain evident. “No wolf, no money, no family. Do you have any idea what she endured? If you truly love my sistri, Ell support you. But if you don’1…” He shook his head. Perhaps letting her go would be your greatest kindness, “

I sat heavily on the edge of my new bed, genuinely confused. Did I love Skye? What was love, really?

After my mother’s death, I’d focused solely on bing Alpha King, fulfilling her dying wish. While other boys discussed girls and watched pom, I trained. I studied. I prepared.

I’d had plenty of bedmates but never a rtionship worthy of the name.

“Do you love Lily?” bI /basked him suddenly.

“Of course!” The answer came without hesitation, his eyes softening at the mere mention of his bmate’s /bname. The transformation was remarkable the hard lines of his bface /bgentled, and bhis /bscent shifted to something warm and content.

Was that love? That immediate, unquestioning certainly?

I felt desire for Skye, yes. Possessiveness, definitely. But th

that glow that Ethan carried when speaking of Lily… I couldn’t honestly calm to feel that

“She is ours, my wolf insisted, but even be sounded uncertain now, confused by my human contemtion.

Perhaps this burning need bwas /bmerely the mate band’s biological imperative. A chemical reaction, nothing more.

How could I love her!

I barely know her nowb, /band what I remembered bwas /ba girl too weak to shift, too emotional to control herself during a hunt. The mate bond was simply nature’s trick, a biological urge masquerading bas /bsomething deeper.

“When I be Alpha King.” I said finally, more to myself than to Enhan, “when we bformally /bdissolve the mate bbond/bb, /bthis feeling will bfade/b.”

Ethan’s expression was unreadable as he nodded and left.

I stared at the closed door, my determination hardening. I couldnt afford distractions, not with the btrials /bunderway. My mother’s dying wish had been forme to be Alpha King, to restore our family’s ancient legacy. I would not let her down for a fleeting desire, no matter how powerful.

My wolf whined softly, but I silenced him with a thought.

Now was not the time for love. Now was the time for power.