Chapter b49 /b

bAdrian’s /bPOV

bTwo /bmonths had passed since bSkye /bofficially joined Oasisborn Pack. In that time, I’d watched her transform from a hesitant neer binto /ban integral member of ourmunity.

The children at the orphanage adored her, Venus considered her indispensable, and even Lydia had taken to sharing her rarer herbal concoctions a privilege previously extended to no one.

Today marked the culmination of bSkye’s /bbat training assessment, the final hurdle before she could be recognized as a full warrior of the packb. /bbI /bstood iat /ithe edge of the training field, arms crossed over my chest, maintaining a carefully neutral expression despite the pride swelling within me as I watched her performance.

bAs /bexpected, her results were impressive. While her strength evaluation yielded only a marginal pass–understandable given her smaller stature and less developed muscture–she excelled in nearly every other category. Her speed tests had the evaluators exchanging nces of surprise, her grappling techniques demonstrated a fluid adaptability thatpensated brilliantly for herck of raw power, and her marksmanshipb… /b

“Holy shit, Ryder breathed beside me as Skye’s bfinal /bbullet found its target dead center. b‘/bI’ve never seen anyone shoot like that on their first assessment

Coming from our pack’s best marksmanb, /bthis bwas /bbhigh /bpraise indeed. I allowed myself ba /bbsmall /bsmile, finding it hard to believe that Skye had once identally shot her mate Leon. But in that moment, I felt grateful for her bmishap /bthree and a half years ago. Without that fateful berror/b, our paths might never have bcrossed/b.

Nadia approached, clipboard in hand, her bexpression /bprofessionally detached despite what I knew must be conflicting emotions. Whatever tension bhad /bdeveloped between her and Skye recently, she had maintained absolute fairness in the evaluation bprocess/bb. /b

“The results are clear,” she announced. “Skye bpasses /bwith distinction in marksmanship, speed, tactical bassessment/b, band /bdefensive techniquesb. /bHer strength evaluation meets minimum requirements.” She paused, then added with grudging brespect/bb, /bb“/bOverall performance bces /bbher /bbin /bthe upper quartile of our warrior bss/bb./bb” /b

The gathered evaluators nodded their approval as Skye epted the news with quiet dignity, her bsilver /bhair gleaming in the afternoon sun. The slight flush of exertion on her cheeks only enhanced her natural beauty, bringing an unexpected warmth to my chest. I quickly suppressed bit/b, maintaining bmy /bbrole as /bimpartial Alpha.

“Congrattions,” bI /bsaid formally, stepping forward to address not just Skye but all the warriors who hadpleted their bassessments /btoday. b“/bbYou’ve /bbearned /byour ces among Oasisborn’s defenders. Tonight, bwe /bcelebrate your achievement.”

A cheer went up from the gathered wolves. bAs /bthe crowd began to bdisperse/b, I made my way

bto /b

Skye’s side, lowering my voice so only she could hear.

‘Do

you remember our conversation fromst month?” bI /basked. “About the canyon?”

Her eyes brightened with recognition. “The starsb,/b” she said simply. “You promised to show me the canyon under the stars if I passed the bassessment/bb./b”

“And you’ve more than passed,” I confirmed. “I’ll make the arrangements. bWe /bbleave /btomorrow at dawn.”

bAs /bI turned to leave, already mentally cataloging the preparations needed for our btrip/b, Ryder appeared suddenly at bSkye’s /bside, his bperpetual /bbenergy /bseeming even more pronounced than busual/b.

“So you’re really taking her to Crescent Canyon?” he asked, falling into step beside me. “bI’ve /bbeen telling her about that ce for bweeks/b! The bacoustics /bbare /bincredible–perfect for music.” He patted the guitar bcase /bstrapped to his back meaningfully.

I stifled a groan. This was bprecisely /bwhat I’d been trying to avoid when I’d hung up on Skye after she bsuggested /bbringing Ryder along on bour /bbtrip/b. bNow /bbhere /bhe was, already assuming his invitation.

Before I could formte a diplomatic brejection/b, Nadia joined our bsmall /bgroup, her dark beyes /bnarrowed with suspicion. b“/bbA /btrip bto /bbCrescent /bCanyonb? /bIs this some kind of special reward for Skye’s performanceb?/bb* /b

b“/bYes,” I admitted, seeing no point in denying it. I promised to show her the canyon if she passed her assessment.

Nadia’s expression shifted, calctions clearly running behind her beyes/bb. /b“bAnd /bwhat about the other bsessful /bcandidates? bDon’t /bthey bdeserve /bequal recognition for their achievementsb?/bb” /b

bChapter /bb49 /b

bI /bbopened /bbmy /bmouth to object, but found myself suddenly surrounded bby /bbthe /benger bfaces /bbof /bbyoung /bwarriors bwho /bbhad /boverheard bout /bconversations bTrac- /bexcitement was palpable—Oasisborn’s best warriors, who had trained bdiligently /bbfor /bmonths, now looking at me with hopeful anticipation,

b“/bbA /bcanyon campout would be amazingb, /bAlpha!” “We’ve never had a group celebration like that before! Can we teally go, bAlpha /bbAdrian/b?

Their enthusiasm pressed against me like a physical force. I nced at Skye, trying bto /bgauge her reaction to this unexpected development. bTo /bbmy /bbsurprise/b, bshe /bseemed genuinely delighted by the idea of a group excursion.

It would be wonderful to celebrate together, she said, her silver hair catching the light bas /bshe nodded encouragingly. ‘Don’t you think so, Alpha?

There bwas /bno graceful way to refuse now. With Nadia’s pointed challenge, the warriors‘ eager faces, and Skye’s apparent approval, I found myself bcornered/bb. /b

b“/bbYes/bb,/b” I conceded, suppressing a sigh. “We’ll make it a group expedition. All sessful candidates are wee to join.

The cheers that followed did little to soothe my disappointment. What I had envisioned as a quiet opportunity to finally spend time alone with bSkye /bbhad /btransformed into what would essentially be a pack bfield /btrip.

bChapter /bbComments /b

Visitor

boy he really has a lot of people that cares about his feelings, not!

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1fn9f17 ???? ????s? ???????s ?? f?ndnovel/fn9f17

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