Crowned by Fate Chapter 120

Skye's POV

I stared at the message, confusion and suspicion warring within me.

What could Maya possibly want that required a private meeting?

And more importantly, should I go?

"You look exhausted," Adrian said, glancing at his watch. "It's nearly six. Why don't we get some dinner and rest? We've been at this all day."

"God, yes. My brain feels like mush after all this research. I'm starving." Ryder stretched beside us, his lean muscles tensing as he arched his back.

Adrian glanced at Ryder and Lydia. "Why don't you two head down first? We'll join you in a minute."

They nodded and headed downstairs to the restaurant. As their footsteps faded, Adrian gently caught my arm.

"What's wrong?" he asked softly. "You've seemed distracted."

"Maya from Frostshadow wants to meet with me tomorrow."

Adrian's expression immediately darkened. "Maya? Is Leon behind this?"

"I don't know, she doesn't mention him in the text."

"I wouldn't trust her, this could be a ploy to convince you to return to Frostshadow."

I shook my head, remembering Leon's cold demeanor. "Why would Leon want me back? You've seen how he treats me—like I'm barely worth acknowledging."

Adrian pulled me closer, his arm sliding around my waist. "He's putting on an act," he murmured, his lips brushing my hair. "I can see right through him. He cares about you now, maybe even wants to take you back. Why else would he act so antagonistic toward me specifically?"

"If he cares at all," I said, leaning into Adrian's warmth, "it's only because of our mate bond. There's no real emotion behind it."

Adrian's lips moved to my neck, his breath hot against my skin.

"I hope you're right. I wish I could mark you right now," he whispered, his voice dropping to a husky rumble that made my wolf stir restlessly beneath my skin.

I pulled away reluctantly, remembering our agreement. "Ryder and Lydia are waiting for us downstairs. We should go."

Dinner was pleasant but subdued, all of us feeling the weight of the upcoming trial. As we finished our meal, my phone buzzed with another message from Maya. Despite my better judgment, I checked it under the table.

I have a secret about Alpha Adrian. Don't you want to know?

The cryptic message annoyed me. Why couldn't she just say what she wanted? I excused myself from the table and stepped outside the restaurant to call her directly.

"Whatever you have to say, say it now," I demanded when she answered. "We're not close enough to be meeting for coffee, Maya."

"I genuinely have information about Adrian that you need to hear," she replied, her voice surprisingly serious. "Information that concerns his safety. If you don't believe me, that's your choice."

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Adrian's safety, but I kept my voice steady. "Adrian is your competition now. Why would you help us?"

"Oh, I'm not offering this freely," Maya said with a hint of her usual arrogance. "I have conditions."

"What conditions?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"Tomorrow at 2 PM, come to the Silver Spoon Café alone. I'll wait five minutes, then I'm gone."

She hung up before I could respond, leaving me staring at my phone in frustration. Maya's unusually direct manner made me wonder if she was actually serious. After considering it for several minutes, I texted back:

Fine. I'll be there.

***

The Silver Leaf Café was half-empty when I arrived the next afternoon. I scanned the room carefully, my heart beating faster than I cared to admit. Four years had passed since I'd faced Maya one-on-one. Four years since the girl who'd been my childhood rival had stood smugly beside Leon as he rejected me.

She sat in the corner, immaculately dressed as always, her golden hair shimmering under the café lights. For a brief moment, I was transported back to Frostshadow Pack—young Skye, awkward and uncertain, perpetually in the shadow of perfect Maya who excelled at everything.

But I wasn't that girl anymore.

Maya looked up as I approached, her blue eyes assessing me with the same dismissive scrutiny I remembered from our youth. Behind her usual arrogance, there was unmistakable hostility—the kind reserved for someone she considered both a threat and an enemy.

"You came," she said simply.

I slid into the seat across from her, meeting her gaze directly. "What's this secret?" I asked without preamble.

"In a hurry, aren't you?" Maya smirked, stirring her coffee lazily. "You must really care about your Alpha. Since you care so much about him, why are you here trying to seduce Leon? Isn't one man enough for you?"

The accusation stung more than it should have. Some things never changed—Maya had always been quick to paint me as the villain in any scenario involving Leon.

"Watch your words," I snapped, my patience wearing thin. "I haven't tried to seduce Leon. He's my Second Chance Mate, and trust me, I'm more upset about it than anyone."

Maya's perfectly groomed eyebrows rose. "Oh, please. You're loving having two Alphas fighting over you. Why else would you keep drawing Leon's attention?"

I rolled my eyes, exasperated. "I'm not drawing his attention. If Leon wasn't worried about breaking our bond affecting his performance in the competition, I'd have severed it already."

A flicker of something—perhaps hurt?—crossed Maya's face before her mask of indifference returned.

"Skye, you've changed," Maya said, studying me with an unreadable expression.

"You haven't," I replied coldly. "Now tell me what you know about Adrian."

"I'll only tell you if you promise me something. During the entire election period, you cannot approach Leon, speak to him, or meet with him of your own initiative."

"Fine, I agree." I didn't hesitate for a second.

My quick response seemed to surprise Maya.

"Skye, you really have changed," she said, looking genuinely taken aback.

"You haven't," I repeated, then pressed, "Now tell me about Adrian."

Maya smiled slightly, then her expression turned serious.

"Someone is planning to kill Alpha Adrian during the second trial."