bSkye’s /bPOV

30

bI /bwoke to a pounding headache, the bitter taste of heths lingering on tongue. When I tried to stand, the room titted violently, and I nearly conned to the floor, Clutching the edge of the nightstand for support, I squinted against the morning light slicing through a gap in the curtains.

With a groanb, /b1 dragged myself to the window and yanked the curtains fully open, immediately regretting the assault of bright sunlight on my bsensitive /bejeri The digital clock on my nightstand shed 9:00 AM in angry red numbers.

b“/bShit!” I gasped, my heart jumping into my throat. I’dpletely missed morning training with Nadia. The thought of facing her disapproval only intensified the throbbing behind my temples.

I stumbled to the bathroom, sshing cold water on my face in a futile attempt to wash away the lingering effects ofst night. As I raised bmy /bhead bto /blook in the mirror, my reflection startled me–silver hair tangled wildly around my flushed face, body swallowed by an oversized t–shirt I didn’t remember bputting /bollionb. /b/li/ol

That’s when the question hit me: How did I get homest night?

Fragments of memory shed through my mind. Ryder calling after the council meeting… The tavern… A ss filled with amber liquid that smelled of bpine /band moonlight. Wolf liquor–the legendary brew that could intoxicate even werewolves. Back in Frostshadow, it had been strictly forbidden. I’d never even seen it beforest night.

I remembered Ryder’s challenge, his mischievous bgrin /bas bhe /bslid the ss had overridden my better judgment.

toward me. “Bet the famous bartender is too scared to try it, bhe’d /bteased. bMy /bbpride /b

After that first sip, things became increasingly hazy. Ryder telling jokes that had me doubling over withughter. Nadia’s disapproving frown gradually softening bas /bshe ordered her own drink. Then… Adrian appearing? His face tight with anger as he towered bover /bour tableb? /b

I pressed my palms against my temples, trying to extract more details from my bfoggy /bmemory. Nothingb. /bbJust /bba /bvague impression of strong arms lifting me, the rumble of an engine, then darkness.

Who had brought me home? And more disturbingly–who had changed bmy /b

clothesb? /b

I shook my head, immediately wincing at the brenewed /bstab of pain. Perhaps Ryder would know what happened bafter /bAdrian barrived/b. With this thought propelling me, I quickly showered, threw on clean clothes, and rushed toward the training grounds, hoping I might still catch the tail end of the bsession/bb. /b

By the time I arrived, the main training area bwas /bempty–most pack members had already dispersed to their daily dutiesb. /bBut bnear /bthe sparring bcircle /bstood three figures I immediately recognized: Adrianb, /bhis tall frame rigid with authority; Ryder, his usual bcarefree /bdemeanor reced by unusual solemnityb; /band Nadia, her stance defiant despite the tension in her shoulders.

I slowed my approach, catching Adrian’s words as they carried across the empty bspace/b.

‘Five hundred push–ups!” bhe /bordered, his voice colder than I’d ever heard it. “And you’re banned from alcohol for a monthb–/bregr drinks included, bnot /bbjust /bwolf liquor.”

Ryder’s head dropped in resignation, but he made no objection.fn2f37 This text is hosted at find?novel/fn2f37

Adrian turned to Nadia, his expression unyielding. “The same goes for you. No alcohol for a month. And wolf liquor is now forbidden for all bpack /bmembers bexcept /belderly wolves requiring it for pain management.b” /b

I faltered mid–step, suddenly reluctant to draw closer. In all my time bat /bOasisborn, I’d bnever /bseen Adrian disy anger toward any pack member. His leadership had always been characterized by patience and understanding, even when enforcing discipline.

bBefore /bI could decide whether to approach or bretreat/bb, /bAdrian’s gaze locked onto mine. His amber beyes /bhardened, and I instinctively blowered /bbmy /bbhead /bbin /bsubmission.

“I’m bsorry /bI’mte,” I managed, my voice smaller than I intended. “And aboutst night… bI /bshouldn’t have drunk bthe /bbwolf /bliquorb. /bbPlease /bbdon’t /bbpunish /bbNadia- /bit wasn’t her fault. bI /bmade my own choiceb./bb” /b

Adrian’s jaw tightened. “You certainly share in the responsibility,” he said, his tone clipped. “bFive /bhundred bpush/b–bups/b. Now.b” /b

bRyder/bb, /bbwho /bbhad /bbalready /bbdropped /binto bposition /bto bbegin /bbhis /bpunishment, sprang back in his feet

b“/bbFive /bbhundred/bb?/bb” /bhe eximedb, /bbeyes /bwidening in disbelief. bAlpha /bAdrian, Skye bonly /bshifted a month ago! That kind of intensity bcould /bbe feas much for al His voice dropped to a pleading tone. “Let me take her punishment. I’ll do a thousand instead!”

bAdrian’s /bexpression darkened further, his shoulders drawing back bas /bhe faced Ryder. And who are you to her that you can take bher /bpunishment? What ele you that right?

The dangerous edge in Adrian’s voice sent a chill down my spine. I quickly stepped between them, cing a restraining hand on Ryder’s an

“I can do itb,/bb” /bI assured him, tugging gently at his sleeve to silence any further protest. “It’s my responsibility.”

Reluctantly, Ryder backed down. The three of us dropped to the ground ifit/i.

scolded children, beginning our punishment under Adrian’s watchful gate

As he prepared to leave, Adrian paused beside me, his voice low enough that only I could hear.

*One hundred is enough for you,” he said, the brief softening in his tone catching me off guard before he walked awayi. /i

By the time we finished, my arms trembled uncontrobly, and sweat stered my silver hair to my forehead. We copsed onto our backs, staring up bat /bbthe /bclear desert sky as we caught our breath.

bWas /bit you who took me homest night?” I finally asked Nadia, turning my head to see her sprawled beside me.

She scoffed, still clearly annoyed by the whole situation. “No. Adrian carried you out the tavern like a sack of potatoes. bThrew /byou over his shoulder and marched right out. Her eyes narrowed bas /bshe studied my face. “Last night, did you btwo/bb…/bb?/bb” /b

“Nothing happened,” I said quickly–perhaps too quickly. “At least, I don’t think so. I bdon’t /bremember anything bafter /bthe tavern, but I’m sure he bjust /bdropped me off and left.”

Nadia seemed satisfied with bmy /banswer, but a new awareness crept through me, bringing heat to my cheeks that bhad /bbnothing /bto do with bexertion/bb. /b

If Adrian had taken me home… had he also been the one who changed my clothesb? /b

The thought sent a wave of embarrassment washing over me. Thankfully, bmy /bflushed face from the pushb–/bbups /band the bsheen /bof bsweat /bprovided perfect bcover /bfor my sudden difort.

I stared up at the sky, trying to process what this might mean. How much had Adrian bseen/b? What had bI /bsaid or done in my intoxicated stateb? /bbAnd /bbwhy/b, despite my embarrassment, did the thought of his hands carefully removing my clothes send an inappropriate thrill coursing through meb? /b

These were dangerous thoughts–thoughts I had no business entertaining about my Alpha.

I closed my eyes, willing the forbidden images away, telling myself it was bjust /bthe afterb–/bbeffects /bbof /bthe wolf liquor making me imagine things that couldn’t possibly have happened.

After a few moments bof /bshared misery, Ryder pushed himself up with a groanb, /bextending his hand toward me.