Chapter b152 /b

bSkye’s /bPOV

I stared at Nadia, my throat constricting so tightly I could barely speak.

‘L… Trate not tral,” 1 finally imanaged, my mice harely above a whisper. “You re not.

The words caught in my throat, refusing toe out.

Nadia smiled gently, almost amused by my struggle.

“What you’re trying to say is that I’m dead, right?”

Hearing her say it sent a shock through my system. I shook my head, stepping back slightly.

“You’re just an illusion, I insisted, my voice stronger now. “Something the maze created to trick me

Nadia approached slowly. She reached for my palm against her chest.

hand, and I was too bstunned /bto pull away. Her fingers wrapped around mine, warm and solid, then she ced

I fraze, momentarily sprechless. If this was bjust /ban illusion created by the maze, then I had to say.

y, it was an incredibly brealistic /bone.

“You still bthink /bI’m bjust /ban illusion?” she asked,

I could feel it. The steady thump of a heartbeat beneath my fingers, the warmth of her skin through the fabric of her dress.

feh possibly real.

Looking at her face–the face of my friend, my mentor, the woman who had eventually epted me despite her initial mistrust–I bcouldn’t /bhold bback /b

banymore/bb. /b

Tears spilled down my cheeks, hot and relentless.

The

missed byou/b,” I confessed, “bSo /bbmuch/b.”

Tve missed you too,” she replied, ber expression softening. She reached up to gently wipe away my tears with her thumb.

I’ve missed all of you. Don’t cry. Tell me instead–how is the Oaxisborn pack doing? Is everyone alright?”

She took my hand and led me to sit on the cold stone floor of the dungeon, just as we used to sit together after training sessions.

We’d watch the bsunset/b, sipping ice cold sodas while Ryderined babout /bbNadia’s /brigorous training methods. The memory was so vivid it made my barely- contained tears threaten to spill over again.

“I’m the Beta now,” I told her, finding it strange to say those words to her of all people. b“/bButpared to you, I still have so much to blearn/b,”

I bswallowed /bhard

“Ryder bhas /bmatured a lot. He hasn’t gotten bdrunk /beven once since… well, you know. He’s in charge of training all the young wolves now, and he’s incredibly

I managed a small smile.

“Venus and Marcus bare /bbdeeply /bin love. Adrian ns to throw them a huge wedding after the election is over.”

bAt /bthe mention of Adrian’s name, my throat tightened painfully.

bNadia’s /beyes softened at his name. “Adrian… how is he doing?”

b1/3 /b

“He’s been preparing for the Alpha King election for mite than six months now: 1 said carefully, “He’s but some wright.

“I believe Adrian will beed/b. He has to

Nadia’s eyes brightened with that fierce loyalty I remembered so well.

bGuilt /bwashed over me in a focating wave. “I’m sorry, I blurted out. It should have been you by his side during these trials. I…I took your ce.

“I don’t me you,” Nadia said, her voice gentle. Look at you now, you’re a pool feta. You’ve already helped Adrian through two trials.”

Her kindness only made the pain wote. My chest ached with regret and sorrow.

“I shouldn’t have left you behind,” I whispered. “I shouldn 1 have tun away alone

Nadia studied me, bet dark eyes unreadable.

b“/bSkye, if you truly feel sorry, there might be a way to make amends. But I don’t know if you’d be willing

1 gripped her hands tightly, desperate for any chance at redemption. “Anything. I’d do anything to make it up to you.”

Would you exchange ces with me?” she asked, “If you stay here in this bdungeon/b, I could leave, I promise I’d help Adrian win the election. Fd make sore

of it

The request stunned me into silence.

Nadias brow furrowed slightly. “You don’t want to?”

“L… 1 stammeredb, /buncertain how to respond.

espond. ‘It’s not that I don’t want to… but Nadia, you’re dead. How could you possibly leave this bce/b?”

Her expression changed then, warmth draining away, reced by something colder.

“I knew it,” she said, her bvoice /bhardening. All your apologies are just empty words. Deep down, you must be happy I died. It meant you could have Adrian all to yourself, didn’t it?

“Not” I shook my head frantically. “That’s not true! If I could go bback/b, I would drink that coffee myself. I would have let you escape. I wish it had been me who died instead.”

She withdrew her hand from mine, her lips curling into a cold smile that looked wrung on her face–Nadia bhad /bnever smiled like that.

that coffee n

“Anyone can bsay /b

y pretty words like that. If you truly feel sorry, would you be willing to drink that

I followed her gate to the corner of the dungeon. There, on the stone floor, sat two coffee bcups/b.

Nadia rose to her feet and walked over, picking up one of the cups. She returned and held it out to me.

Are you willing?” she asked, her beyes /bchallenging me, the cup extended toward me blike /ba test of my loyalty, my remorse, my worth.fnc126 ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? /fnc126

Crowned bby /bFate