bChapter /bb46 /b

bAdrian’s /bPOV

bThe /burgent knocking came againb, /bmore insistent this time. Skye started to rise from her chair, but I ced bmy /bhand bgently /bbon /bher shoulder,

Let me, I said quietly, my instincts on high alert.

She nodded, sinking back into her seat as I moved toward the door. As I approached, my heightened senses detected a familiar scent.

When I pulled the door open, Ryder stood on the threshold, his hand raised to knock again. His thick, unruly brown curls were slightly damp, as if he’d bjust /bshowered, and his boyish face was animated with that perpetual energy that seemed to radiate from him.

Upon seeing me, his beyes /bwidened in surprise, his usual carefree demeanor momentarily giving way to hesitation.

Alpha Adrian?” he stammered, clearly thrown off bnce. “You’re… here?”

Before I could respond, Skye appeared at my side, moving to stand next to me in the doorway.

“Ryder,” she greeted him with genuine warmth. “This is a surprise. bIs /beverything alrightb?/bb” /b

The uncertainty in his expression quickly gave way to his usual carefree grin, though I noted the slight tension that remained in his shoulders.

b“/bEverything’s fine,” he assured herb, /breaching into his jacket pocketb. /b“I bjust /bbwanted /bto bring you thisb./bb” /b

He pulled out a small bss /bvial filled with amber liquid–identical to the one bI’d /bgiven Skye bearlier/b. My jaw tightened involuntarily.

“It’s for your muscles,” Ryder exined, extending the bvial /btoward her. “After all those pushb–/bbups /bbtoday/b, I figured you’d be hurting.

“That’s so thoughtful,” Skye eximed, epting his gift with a smile that made something twist ufortably in bmy /bfnbe73 Readplete version only at find·novel/fnbe73

She nced at the bvial /bin her hand, then back at him. “Have you eaten dinner yet?b” /b

“Not yet,” he admitted, his eyes brightening with obvious hope.

‘Well, you’ve arrived just in time then,” she said, stepping back to wee him in. “Adrian and I made bplenty/b. Join usb?/bb” /b

And just like thatb, /bour intimate dinner for two became an awkward party bof /bthreeb. /b

bchest/b. “bThank /byoub, /bbRyder/bb./bb” /b

I forced a neutral expression as Ryder settled into the chair beside Skye’s, his movements entirely toofortable for my liking.

Their easy rapport grated on my nerves. How had they be sofortable with each other in bjust /ba few weeksb? /bI’d known Ryder for

yearsb, /bhad bwatched /bhim grow from a gangly adolescent into a capable young adult, byet /bI’d never seen this side of him–this earnest eagerness bto /bbplease/bb, /bthis focused attention.

*Remember that weekend we went hiking to the canyon?” Ryder asked Skyeb, /breaching casually bto /brefill her water bss /bbefore she even requested it. “You said you’d never seen the desert stars properly. We should bgo /bcamping sometime–the night sky out there is unbelievableb./bb” /b

“That sounds wonderful,” Skye agreed, turning to include me in the conversation. b“/bbAdrian/bb, /bhave you been to the canyon Ryder’s talking about?”

Her attempt at drawing me in only highlighted my exclusion. I nodded curtlyb, /bswallowing the bitter taste bof /bjealousy that had nothing to do with the food.

b‘/bI surveyed the entire territory before establishing Oasisborn,b” /bbI /breplied, my bvoice /bcarrying more edge than I intended. “bI’m /bfamiliar bwith /ball thendmarks within our borders.”

The conversation continued through dessert, with Ryder praising the apple tart profusely bonce /bhe learned I had made it. His bpliments /bbse /bwhich somehow annoyed me even more. When the meal finally ended, I bexpected /bhim to take his leave, but to bmy /bbgrowing /bfrustration, he b

the dishes instead.

+ genuineb, /b

athering

“Let me help with cleanup,” he insisted, already carrying tes to the sink. b“/bbIt’s /bthe bleast /bbI /bcan bdo /bbafter /bcrashing your dinnerb./b”

b1/3 /b

bChapter /bb46 /b

bI /bcaught the sh of surprise in Skye’s eyes–pleasant surprise at his thoughtfulness. Something cold band /bprimal stirred bin /bbmy /bchest

Your shoulders must be killing you after today, Rydermented to Skye as he rinsed the tes. bWant /bme to massage themb? /bbMy /bmom taught me all the pressure points for muscle recovery.”

Before I could intervene, bSkye /bshook her head. “Thanks, but I’m okay. I’ve got the oil you brought. I should be fine by morning?

Relief coursed through me at her refusal, though I kept my expression carefully neutral.

When we finally left Skye’s apartment, night had fully settled over the oasis. Ryder whistled cheerfully as we walked, seemingly oblivious to my darkening mood. Once we were a considerable distance from Skye’s building, I stopped abruptly, causing him to turn back with raised eyebrows.

Are you pursuing Skye? I demanded, cutting straight to the point.

Ryder’s smile faltered briefly before returning, less carefree and more defiantb. /b“And if I

“She isn’t your mate.” The words came out harsher than I intended.

amb? /b

“Since when did you be so traditional?” Ryder challenged, his casual demeanor giving way to something more serious. “I thought bthe /bwhole point of leaving Stormhowl bwas /bto escape all those rigid pack rules. If I don’t have a mate and bshe /bbdoesn’t /bhave ba /bbmate/bb, /bwhy shouldn’t I pursue her?” He crossed bhis /barms. “Marcus is pursuing Venusb, /band you bhaven’t /bobjected to that.”

Hisparison stung. b“/bbCreating /ba new pack doesn’t mean abandoning bevery /bprinciple from our pastb,/bb” /bI bcountered/bb, /bstruggling to maintain my Alphaposure. “Some traditions exist for good reason.”

Ryder studied me closely, his head tilting slightly bas /bunderstanding dawned in his beyes/bb. /b“Hold onb,/bb” /bhe said bslowly/b. b“/bbYou /bbstill /bbhaven’t /banswered bmy /bquestion from earlier. Why bwere /byou at Skye’s apartment tonight?”

I stiffened, unwilling to admit I’d brought the same gift as he had. “That’s none of your bconcern/b.”

A knowing grin spread across Ryder’s faceb. /b“You like her btoo/bb, /bdon’t you?”

‘Don’t be ridiculous,” I snapped, heat rising to my face despite the cool night air.

‘I knew it!” Ryder eximed, looking more delighted than intimidated bby /bmy bobvious /banger. “But even if you do like bher/bb, /bI’m not backing down just because you’re the Alpha.” He straightened, meeting my gaze directly. “Let’s have a fairpetition for her affection.”

bMy /bcontrol slipped further. “Competition? What are you talking about? There’s no-”

“For an Alpha,” Ryder interrupted, shaking his head with mock disappointment, “you sure bhave /btrouble admitting when you like someone.”

I moved forward, reaching for his cor, but Ryder anticipated my reaction. He danced backwardb, /bjust beyond my grasp, his reflexes impressively quick.

“That’s enough,” bI /bgrowled. “bAre /bbyou /blooking for additional punishmentb?/bb” /b

Instead bof /bcowering, bRyder /bughed, backing baway /bfurther. “Rememberb–/bfairpetition!” bhe /bcalled outb, /bbefore turning and sprinting away into bthe /bdarknessb, /bhis final words floating back to me on the night breeze: “bMay /bthe best wolf win!”

I stood rooted bto /bbthe /bspot, staring after his retreating form, equal parts frustrated and envious bof /bhis carefree approach to blife/b. bThe /bbweight /bbof /bbleadership /bbhad /bnever felt heavier on my shouldersb. /b

If reckless abandon was the privilege of youth, it was a privilege I had bnever /bknown. From childhood, I had been btrained /bbto /bbcontrol /bbmy /bbimpulse/bb, /bbto /bbconsider/b. bevery /bconsequence, to put the needs of others bbefore /bmy bown /bdesiresb. /b

bHow /bcould I possiblypete with Ryder’s uninhibited pursuit when I couldn’t even acknowledge my own feelings without calcting btheir /bbpotential /bbimpact /bon the bpack/b?