Chapter b76 /b

Adrian’s POV

I pushed open the bdoor /bin Skye’s room, sterling myself for what I might find.

Ryderst bele bril, her small hand sped between both of his. He looked up as I entered, exhaustion sched on his face.

“Any change?” I asked, moving to the opposite side of the bed.

Ryder shook his head. Doctor bsays /bshe has multiple Tractates. The shift suppressant they gave her in slowing her healing” His voice caught.

*I know,” I cut him oft, unable to bear being it spoken aloud. The lenge of Skye’s naked, battered body hated me. If Kane or his warriors had vited her in any way, I would personally tear out their throats,

b“/bWhi

doctor say about her recovery timeline?”

“She’s administering nutrients and fluids now,” Ryder replied, gesturing to the IV stand beside the bed. “Says Skje should regain consciousness in a few

I nodded, studying bSkye’s /bpale face. Her silver hair spread across the pillow blike /bmoonlight on snow, her features delicate yetinmehow unyielding. She had survived. Against all odds, she had escaped Kane’s fortressb. /b

“Ryder, go rest,” I ordered, not taking my eyes from bSkye/b. “You need to recover your strength.”

Td brather /bstay with her,” he protested, his grip on her hand tightening protectively

“That wasn’t a suggestion.” I replied, my voice firm. “bI /bbneed /ball our warriors at full strength. We’ll be returning to Gravestone territory as soon as Skye can provide us with the information we need.”

Reluctantly, Ryder released Skye’s bhand /band stood. Call me the moment she wakes up.”

“I will,” I promised, taking the seat he had vacated.

As the door closed behind him, I finally allowed myposure to bcrack/b. I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, face buried in my hands. For bjust /bI permitted myself to feel the full weight of guilt and fear that I had been holding at bay.

momentb. /b

1 bhad /bfailed bNadia/b. Despite all my ns, all my preparations, she remained in enemy hands. My Beta, my childhood friend, the woman who had followed me into exile without hesitation–abandoned to bKane’s /bmercy,

The sharp ring of my phone shattered the bsilence/bb, /bjerking me from my thoughts. The screen disyed an unknown number, but deep in my it bwas /bbefore I answered,

“Adrian speaking.”

Kane’s smooth bvoice /bslithered through the connection like oil. “Missing something. Alpha? Or should I say someoneb?/b”

I gripped the phone lighter, fighting to keep my voice even. The muscles in my jaw clenched so hard I thought my teeth might track. “If you’ve harmed Nadia-

“Rx,” Kane interrupted, his tone mockingly casual. “Your precious Beta is still in one bpiece/b. For now.” A chuckle filtered through the speaker, the bsound /bsetting my wolf on edge. “One little bird managed do escape my cage, but I still have another, don’t 17 Such a bfascinating /bbspecimen/b, your Beta. So loyal, so devoted to you.” His voice dropped lower. So very resilient.”

The implication behind his words made my blood run cold. I paced the small hospital room, fighting the urge to put my fist through the wall.

“What do you want, Kaner I demanded, though bI /bbalready /bknew the answer. My free hand curled into a fist, ws partially extending to dig into my palm.

The same thing I bwanted /btwenty–four hours ago His voice hardened, all pretense of civility evaporating. “Your territory. Your resources. Your render Dasisbern bPack /bon bits /bknees before Granatune.” He paused, savoring each word. “Your submission signed in bblood /bband /bwitnessed by the North American

Chapter b76 /b

My wolf braged /bat the very suggestion. Three years of building something from nothing, of creating a haven for the broken and relected–10 of b10 /bbD /bhanded over to this sadistic tyrant.

“You have one hour left before my deadline explies,” Rane continued, the threat evident in every syble. After that, well…” He let the sentence bhang /bin alt, unspoken but crystal clear. “Tid hate to damage such a valuable bargaining chip, but idents do happen, especially when one is frustrated.

The image of bSkye’s /bbattered body shed in my mind, filing a rage so intense my vision blunted red

“If you touch a single hair on her head, I growled, my control slipping as my wolf surged forward, the change rippling beneath my the ends of the earth will tear you apart piece by piece. Every Joint. Every Hel

Such passion! Such fire! I almost believe you “His voice dropped to a silky whisper. But here’s the reality, Adrian. You’re out of time. Out of options. Your little rescue mission failed spectacrly, and nose the peat Alpha of Desisburn is reduced to making empty threats over the phone “

I said nothing, letting the silence stretch between us. Kane had balways /bbeen unable to tolerate silent

“One hour, Adrian,” he finally said, his voice tight with irritation. The clock in ticking. You know how to reach me when you’re ready to surrenderb./b”

The call disconnected with a sharp click, leaving me alone with the weight of his threat crashing down on my shoulders.

I stood motionless in the center of the room, the phone still clutched in my hand. For the first time in my life, I felt truly powerless.

Not beven /bwhen I’d

left Stormhowl with Nadia and Ryder in tow, exiled from my birthright, had 1 experienced this overwhelming sense of helplessness.

Then, I’d been filled with righteous determination, confident in my ability to forge something new from nothing. Even when we’d faced starvation those first months in the desert, when resources were bscarce /band hope seemed a distant dream, I’d never doubted we would survive–would thrive.

But this was different.

This was Nadia’s life in the hands of a monster, countdown clock ticking away her remaining minutes of bsafety/b. I had spent my entire life learning to protect others, to lead, to fight–and none of those skills seemed to matter now.

My hand trembled as I set the phone down on the bedside table.

As Alpha, I couldn’t allow anyone to see this weakness.

My bpack /bneeded strength, needed confidenceb, /bneeded the unshakable leader they’d followed into the desert. They needed to believe I could fix this, that I could bring Nadia home safely, that I would protect them from bKane’s /bthreats. I forced my muscles to still, my breathing to steady, my expression to harden into the mask of resolve they expected

Years of leadership had taught me how to wear this maskb, /bhow to project certainly even when doubt gnawed at my core.fn5f2f ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? fι?dnοvel/fn5f2f

But inside, that doubt had formed a yawning chasm. What if I couldn’t bsave /bher? bWhat /bif Kane had already hurt her beyond our ability to heal?

What il-

A soft

moan from the bed interrupted my spiraling thoughts. I turned to see bSkye’s /beyelids fluttering, her hand moving weakly across the white hospital sheets, fingers grasping as if searching for something to hold onto.

She was waking up.