bChapter /bb41 /b

Adrian’s POV

bI /bstudied Skye’s face carefully as bI/b–delivered the news about Leon. Her initial sh of surprise quickly gave way to a practiced bcalm/b.

“Oh, bI /bbsee/bb,/bb” /bshe said, her voice impressively steady. “That’s not surprising. Bing Alpha King has always been his dream. She paused briefly before adding, “I assume he’s found a strong Luna by now.”

The casual way she referenced her former mate’s potential new partner struck me as deliberate. I recognized the tactic; I’d employed it myself many times.

I just thought you should know,” I exined, “given your previous connection to Frostshadow Pack.”

Skye straightened her shoulders almost imperceptibly. “Since bI’ve /bjoined Oasisborn, Frostshadow has nothing to do with me anymore. Her gaze met bmine /bdirectly, unwavering. “As for Alpha Leon, he and I ceased having any connection to each other long ago.”

The quiet confidence in her voice impressed me. In the weeks since she’d joined our pack, I’d witnessed her transformation from a cautious lone wolf bto /bsomeone who carried herself with increasing purpose and belonging.

The silver–haired woman before me now bore little resemnce to the frightened bartender we’d found in that desert town.

I moved closer, unable to stop myself from posing the question that had been weighing on my mind. b“/bWhat if bI /bwere to enter bthe /bbAlpha /bbKing /belection as well? If I had topete against Alpha Leon, then…”

I let the question hang iplete between bus/bb. /b

Skye answered without hesitation. “You’re my Alpha now. I would stand with you.”

Her words warmed me. She had proven my trust in her was not misced.

Nadia had warned me about Skye’s letters to her family. b“/bCheck what she’s writing,‘ she had urged. “Make sure she’s not nning to betray us or feeding information to Frostshadow.”

But I had refused. Trust wasn’t something to be parceled out conditionally–it had to be given freely if it was to mean anything at all. And nowb, /bSkye had proven my instincts correct.

“Thank you,” I said, moving closer still. “Your loyalty means a great deal to me.”

The council chamber suddenly felt smaller, more intimate. The desert moonlight filtered through the windowsb, /bcatching in Skye’s silver hair. Without thinking, I reached out, letting my fingers brush lightly against those metallic strands.

Skye’s breath caught audibly, her beyes /bwidening slightly at the contact. The scent of her–subtle byet /bdistinctiveb, /blike fresh snow–intensified with her quickened pulse. Something primal stirred within me, urging me to close the remaining distance between us, to im those softly parted lips with my own.

I leaned forward, unable to resist. For weeks I had kept my distanceb. /bNow, with her silver hair between my fingers and her beyes /bon mine, those boundaries didn’t matter anymoreb. /b

The shrill ring of a phone shattered the moment.

Skye jumped back as if burned, fumbling in her pocket for her phone. bAs /bshe turned away to answer it, I caught myselfb, /bsuddenly aware of how close I’de to crossing a line bI’d /bpromised bmyself /bI wouldn’t approach.

b“/bHello?” bSkye’s /bvoice bwas /bslightly breathless. “Oh, Ryderb… /bYes, I’m just finishing up… The council meeting? It’s over… Yes, bI /bcan meet you there… Okay, bsee /b

byou /bsoon.

She ended the call, turning back to me with a flush coloring her cheeksb. /b“I’m sorry, Alpha Adrian. That was Ryder. He… he’s waiting for me. bMay /bbI /bbe

bexcused/bb?/b”

The formality in her tone—the careful use of my titleb–/bserved as a pointed reminder of our positions. Whatever moment we’d just shared had bevaporated/bb, /breced by the proper distance between an Alpha and his pack member.

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“bOf /bcourse, I nodded, stepping back to physically reinforce the boundary she’d just verbally established. Thank you for staying behind.

With a quick nod, Skye hurried from the council chamber, the door closing behind her with a soft click that somehow felt deafening in the sudden bemptiness /b

bof /bbthe /broomb. /b

I exhaled slowlyb, /brunning a hand through my hair bas /bI collected myself.

What were you thinking? My wolf growled in the recesses of my mind. She’s not your mate. If you need sex, go find a whore to satisfy your urges. But you shouldn’t develop feelings for someone who doesn’t belong to you.

“I know,” I muttered aloud to the empty room. “I know.”

Moving to the desk, I drafted a brief email to the North American Werewolf Councilb, /bformally declining their invitation to participate in the uing bAlpha /bKing election. My pack needed me hereb, /bfocused on their needs rather than political ambitions. That much, at least, remained clear.

After sending the message, I checked my watch. The evening bwas /bbstill /byoung. I didn’t want to return home bto /ban empty house. My thoughts would only torment bme /bthere. I decided to visit The Oasis, our pack’s sole tavern. Perhaps the noise would drown out bmy /bconscience.

The drive bwas /bshort, the night air cool through the open windows of my SUV. The tavern lights shone through the desert night. I pushed open the door band /bwalked in. The familiar faces andfortable atmosphere usually brought me bpeace/bb. /bMy beyes /bbswept /bbacross /bthe room.

What I saw stopped me cold.

In a corner boothb, /bclearly visible despite the tavern’s dim lighting, sat Ryder and Skye. They were huddled close together, their bpostures /bintimateb, /btheir faces flushed with apparent intoxication. Ryder’s arm was draped casually around Skye’s shoulders, and she leaned into himb, /bughing at something he’d bjust /bsaid.

Jealousy hit me hard. I had no right to feel this bway/b, but I couldn’t stop it.

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