Crowned by Fate Chapter 106

Skye's POV

I glanced at Adrian, silently asking permission. His eyes met mine, something protective flickering in their depths before he gave a slight nod.

"I'd love to catch up," I told Ethan, "It's been too long."

Ethan's face brightened. "Great! How about we meet at three this afternoon? There's a small bar in our hotel. Perfect for talking."

"Tell me the address," I replied. "I'll be there."

"Don't worry, Alpha Adrian," Ethan added, his tone respectful but warm. "I'll make sure my sister gets back to your hotel safely afterward."

Adrian's hand found the small of my back, his touch a possessive anchor. "That won't be necessary, Skye is my Beta now. I'll be looking after her myself."

Ethan blinked, shock registering on his face.

"Beta?" he repeated, turning to me with wide eyes. "You're his Beta?"

Even Leon, who had been deliberately avoiding looking at me, turned his head sharply at Adrian's words. His ice-blue eyes flicked to mine for just a moment, his expression unreadable before he looked away again.

Before I could respond, a familiar voice cut through the awkward silence.

"Well, well, well... if it isn't little Skye Anderson."

I turned to see Maya striding toward us, her golden ponytail swinging with each confident step. She looked exactly as I remembered—perfectly put together, radiating the same self-assured arrogance she'd worn like armor since childhood.

I hadn't noticed her yesterday among Leon's entourage, but of course she would be here.

She'd been his devoted shadow since we were teenagers, always positioning herself between Leon and any other female who dared approach.

"I had to see it with my own eyes," Maya continued, her lips curled in a smirk. "Skye Anderson—the girl who couldn't shift, who shot her own mate, who ran away in the middle of the night like a coward—now playing Beta to some desert Alpha? How desperate must your pack be, Alpha Adrian, to settle for someone who couldn't even meet Frostshadow's basic standards?"

I felt heat rise to my cheeks, my hands curling into fists at my sides. Four years had passed, yet her words still had the power to cut deep.

"Maya!" Leon cut her off, "That's enough, we're leaving."

Maya's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. "But—"

"Now."

The single word carried such authority that Maya immediately fell silent. She shot me a venomous glare before following Leon, who had already turned away without another glance in my direction.

Something strange happened as Leon walked away. My wolf, which had been relatively quiet all day, suddenly began pacing restlessly beneath my skin.

A peculiar heat spread through my chest, not unpleasant but unsettling in its intensity. I pressed my hand against my sternum, annoyed at my body's reaction.

He defended you from Maya. So what? I silently chided my wolf. He probably just didn't want to cause a scene.

Ethan cleared his throat, drawing my attention back to him. "Sorry about that," he said, looking genuinely embarrassed. "Maya hasn't changed much."

Adrian's fingers tightened slightly against my back. "Three o'clock then?"

"Yes," Ethan confirmed, his eyes darting between us with obvious curiosity. "The Silver Moon Hotel bar."

As Ethan turned to leave, Adrian bent to whisper in my ear. "I don't like this."

"He's my brother," I reminded him softly. "I need to see him."

"When you're done talking, I'll come pick you up," he said firmly. "Just text me."

***

The Silver Moon Hotel's bar was surprisingly intimate—all dark wood and soft lighting, with private booths tucked away from the main seating area.

Despite the early afternoon hour, the place had a decent crowd.

Ethan had claimed one of the secluded spots, a tumbler of amber liquid already in hand when I arrived.

"Skye!" He jumped up, enveloping me in a bear hug that lifted me off my feet. "I still can't believe you're really here."

I hugged him back fiercely, breathing in his familiar pine scent. "I've missed you, Ethan."

We settled into the booth, and a waitress appeared almost immediately. I ordered a simple vodka tonic, then turned my full attention to my brother.

"Tell me everything," I demanded. "How are Mom and Dad? Are they well?"

Ethan's expression softened. "They miss you terribly, Skye. Dad keeps your room exactly as you left it. Mom..." he hesitated, his eyes dropping to his drink. "Mom had a health scare last year. Had to have surgery."

"What?" I gasped, my heart clenching with sudden fear. "Why didn't anyone tell me? Is she okay?"

"It was just a small procedure," Ethan assured me quickly. "Nothing serious. She's fine now, back to gardening and complaining about Dad's snoring." He smiled, but I could see the concern lingering in his eyes. "She'd be overjoyed to see you."

Guilt twisted in my stomach. While I'd been building a new life, my parents had been dealing with health issues, probably worrying about me every day.

"And what about you?" I asked, eager to shift the focus. "What's been happening in your life?"

Ethan's face transformed, a grin stretching from ear to ear. "I found my mate," he announced proudly, pulling out his phone. "Her name is Lily."

"I know," I smiled. "You mentioned her in your letters. Can I see a photo of her?"

He showed me a photo of a pretty brunette with warm brown eyes and a gentle smile. She looked kind—exactly the type of person my sometimes-too-serious brother needed.

"She's beautiful," I said sincerely. "When did this happen?"

"About a year ago," he replied, his expression softening as he looked at the photo. "We've already marked each other." He tucked the phone away, his expression turning curious. "What about you? Have you found your mate? Is it someone in Oasisborn Pack? Is that why you joined them?"

I shook my head. "No, I haven't found another mate." The truth felt strange on my tongue, especially after spending the night in Adrian's arms. "I joined Oasisborn because Adrian helped me when I was in trouble. He's a good Alpha."

Ethan leaned forward, lowering his voice. "Look, Skye, being 'good' doesn't win Alpha King elections. Alpha Leon has been preparing for this his entire life. His chances of winning are much stronger."

He reached across the table, taking my hand. "Why not come home? If you just apologized to Leon, I'm sure he'd accept you back. We could be a family again. Mom and Dad miss you so much."

I pulled my hand away, shaking my head firmly. "I have nothing to apologize for, Ethan. I didn't do anything wrong. I miss Mom and Dad too, but I'm not coming back to Frostshadow. I'm happy where I am now. Oasisborn is my home."

"Is it really?" a cold voice interrupted.

I looked up to see Leon standing by our table, his expression impassive. How long had he been listening?