bChapter /bb26 /b

Skye’s POV

By nightfall, the oasis had transformed. String lights illuminated the central gathering area where over two hundred pack members had assembled

For a pack only two years old, the size was impressive–most new packs struggled to attract even fifty members in their first bfew /byears.

bI /bsupervised final preparations for the bar area, arranging bottles and confirming that the ice supplies wouldst the night. The setup was professional bbut /bfestive, with colorfulnterns illuminating the drinks station and handwritten signs describing the special cocktails I’d created for the asion.

As the celebration officially began, Adrian delivered a brief speech about Oasisborn’s progress, followed by a traditional Alpha howl that bthe /bentire pack joined–a sound that stirred something primal and lonely within me.

It had been three years since I’d participated in such a ritual, and the harmonious voices rising together in the desert night made my throat tighten with unexpected emotion.

Once the formalities concluded, music began ying through speakers disguised among the vegetation, and pack members broke into smaller groups–some dancing, others gathering around food tables or collecting drinks from bmy /bstation.

I found myself enjoying the simple pleasure of mixing drinks, chatting briefly with pack members who approached the bar. Unlike in Boring, I didn’t need bto /bhide what I was here.

When a young female wolf shyly asked if I could show her how to mix a particr cocktail, I didn’t bhave /bto pretend I couldn’t lift the heavy bottles with one hand or that I couldn’t smell the faint traces of nervousness in bher /bscent.

“Here you go,” I said, sliding a vibrant blue drink bacross /bthe bar to Venus, who had approached during a momentary lull. “bOcean /bBreezeb–/bbmy /bbown /bcreation.

She epted it with a nod of thanks. “You seem to be fitting in well,” she observed, taking a sip and raising her eyebrows in appreciation. b“/bbI /bwas skeptical when Adrian said he’d invited an outsider to help with our celebration, but you’ve proven me wrong.”

Before bI /bcould respond, Ryder appeared, practically bouncing with energy bas /bhe leaned bacross /bthe bar. “Come on, bartenderb! /bYou’ve been stuck behind this counter all night. Time for a dance break!”

“I can’t just leave the bar-” I began, but Venus interrupted with a dismissive bwave/bb. /b

‘Go ahead. I’ll keep an beye /bon things for a while.” Seeing my hesitation, she added, “I worked bmy /bway bthrough /bcollege bartending in New Orleans. I might bbe /bmissing an arm, but I can still pour a decent drink.”

hrough

With that settled, Ryder eagerly pulled me toward the dancing area where dozens of bpack /bmembers moved to the rhythm of an upbeat song. It bhad /bbbeen /bbso /blong since I’d participated in anything resembling normal socialization that bI /bfelt awkward at bfirst/bb, /bmy movements stiff and self–conscious.

*Loosen up!” Ryder shouted over the musicb, /bdemonstrating with his own enthusiastic if slightly uncoordinated dance moves. “Nobody’s bj /b

Gradually, bI /ballowed myself to rx, the music and energy of the crowd working their magic.

byou /bbhere/bb!/bb* /b

Here, amid the dancing,ughing wolves, the music pulsing through the desert night, and the asional harmonious howls rising above it all, I bexperienced /ba fleeting sense of belonging.

As Ryder spun me in an impromptu twirl, I caught sight of Adrian standing at the edge of the gathering, a drink untouched in his hand. Even bfrom /ba distance, I could feel the weight of his bgaze/b–intense, assessing, and heated in a way that sent an unexpected shiver down my spine.

For a moment, our eyes locked across the crowded bspace/b, and everything else seemed to fade away–the music bing distant, the dancers baround /bbme /bblurring into insignificance,

Then someone jostled me, breaking the connection, and I turned away.

bI /bbexcused /bmyself from the dancing crowd and made my way back to the bar, where I quickly poured myself a ss of iceb–/bbcold /bblemon /bbwater/b, bhoping /bbit /bbwould /bcalm bmy /bunusually bracing /bheart.

bI /bbhad /bbbarely /btaken a few bsips /bwhen Adrian materialized bbeside /bmeb, /bhis quiet bapproach /bbalmost /bstartling.

bChapter /bb26 /b

b“/bbWould /byou like to take a walkb? /bAdrian asked, “There are some things I’d like to discuss with you. Privately

My fingers tightened around the cold ss. b*/b1 should stay here,” I replied, gesturing to the bar area. “I’m responsible for→

“The celebration will be winding down in about an hour,” Adrian said, his gaze sweeping over the gathering. “Most have already had their fill of drink. His beyes /breturned to mine, patient but somehow insistent. “Venus can manage if anyone needs anything else.b” /b

bI /bhesitatedb, /bcaught between curiosity about what he wanted to discuss and the safety of staying in this public space. The sensible choice bwould /bbbe /bbto /bbpolitely /bdecline, to maintain the professional distance that would make my inevitable departure easier.

Alright, I found myself saying instead, setting down my half–finished water. “A short walk.“,

We made our way through the celebration, gradually leaving

among the desert nts. The sounds of the party faded to behind the music andughter until we reached a quieter path illuminated by scatterednterns

on the sandy path.

a

distant hum, reced by the gentle chorus of night insects and the soft crunch of our bfootsteps /b

‘It’s been a while since you’ve attended a werewolf celebration, hasn’t bit/bb?/bb” /bAdrian asked, breaking the silence between us. “How does it feelb?/bb” /b

“It’s… nice,” I admitted. “bI /bfeared bthey /bwouldn’t…” I trailed offb, /bbunsure /bhow to finish my thought without sounding insultingb. /b

Adrian nced at me, his expression thoughtful. “You thought Marcus, Venusb, /bbor /bLydia bwouldn’t /bbept /bbyou/bb?/bb” /bbHe /bshook his head slightlyb. /b“You seemed quite shocked when you met them today.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks bas /bembarrassment washed over me. “Was I that obviousb?/bb” /bbI /bbasked/bb, /bbmortified/bb. /b“Please believe bme/bb, /bbI /bdon’t have any bprejudice /bagainst them. It’s just… they’re bso /bdifferent from any pack council members bI’ve /bbever /bencountered.”

Adrian sighed, his expression softening bas /bhe looked toward the distant celebration lights.

“They’re all bexcellent /bpartners and warriors,‘ he said, his voice filled with unmistakable brespect/bb. /b“They’re survivors of life’s bcruelties/b. No- he bcorrected /bhimself, they’re fightersb./b”

I hesitatedb, /bcuriosity warring with politeness. b“/bMay I ask… what happened to them? How did they be…b” /b

bI /bstumbled over my words, suddenly self–consciousb. /b“I’m bsorry/bb, /bthat’s probably too personal. I shouldn’t have asked.”fned69 The rightful source is Find★Novel/fned69