Crowned by Fate Chapter 141

Skye’s POV

I couldn't understand why Adrian, who had always been so calm and collected, suddenly transformed into someone I barely recognized.

After leaving his room and returning to my own, I paced back and forth, my mind racing.

Nadia had once told me, just before she died, that Adrian had a deeply sensitive side—that he even enjoyed reading poetry. It might seem old-fashioned to younger werewolves, but I cherished knowing that softness existed beneath his Alpha exterior.

But tonight, all he'd shown me was violence.

I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as the digital clock on the nightstand ticked from 1:59 to 2:00 AM. I kept expecting—hoping—he'd come knock on my door, explain himself, apologize.

But the hallway remained silent, the distance between our rooms feeling like miles rather than feet.

He carried me home after my first shift, I remembered, tears welling in my eyes. His hands had been so gentle then, his voice soothing as he explained what was happening to me.

How could that same man look at me with such cold rage?

Even more disturbing was that strange, inexplicable pull I felt toward Leon. I knew with absolute certainty that I didn't love him—how could I, after he'd rejected me and left me to wander alone for years?

Yet when he'd kissed me, I hadn't immediately pushed him away.

If I had stopped it sooner...

But this wasn't entirely my fault, was it? I hadn't invited Leon's advances.

What right did Adrian have to punish me, to look at me like I was some kind of traitor?

My wolf whimpered softly in my mind.

“We hurt him,” she suggested.

"He doesn't own us," I whispered into the darkness.

“But we want him to,” my wolf replied, and I couldn't find the strength to argue.

Sleep never came. By morning, my eyes were swollen and red, stinging with exhaustion. The first thing I did after dragging myself out of bed was gather up the torn green gown and drop it unceremoniously into the trash can.

"What are you doing?" Alpha Xavier's voice startled me as he passed by in the hallway. "That's a Valentina original! My designer friend created that especially for the Gala."

I shrugged, avoiding his concerned gaze. "It's damaged."

"But surely it can be repaired—"

"I'll buy her another one," Adrian's deep voice came from behind me, and I stiffened. I hadn't heard his door open, hadn't caught his scent approaching.

"That won't be necessary," I replied coldly, not turning to face him.

Alpha Xavier glanced between us, his expression shifting from confusion to understanding.

"I just remembered my Beta needed to discuss something with me. Excuse me." He disappeared down the hallway with impressive speed.

The silence that followed felt thick enough to choke on. I finally turned to look at Adrian, and my heart clenched.

His usually immaculate appearance was disheveled—his dark hair mussed as if he'd been running his hands through it all night, shadows darkening beneath his amber eyes. The crisp button-down shirt he wore had obvious wrinkles, something I'd never seen on him before.

He hadn't slept either.

"Skye, I'm sorry." His voice was rough.

The third trial was just two days away. My anger and hurt feelings suddenly seemed secondary to what we were really here for. We couldn't afford to be distracted by relationship drama.

"We need to talk," we both said simultaneously.

The unexpected synchronicity almost made me smile, despite everything.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and called Ryder. "Take Lydia and review the third trial materials. We'll join you later."

After hanging up, I gestured toward the hotel restaurant. "Breakfast?"

Adrian nodded, and we walked side by side, careful not to touch, the space between us measured and intentional.

We found a quiet corner booth far from the other diners. Adrian pulled out my chair before I could, then moved to his own seat.

When the waitress arrived, he ordered for both of us—remembering exactly how I liked my eggs and that I preferred apple juice to orange.

When my juice arrived, he reached for the glass before I could, pouring it carefully for me as if we were at a formal dinner rather than a hotel breakfast buffet.

"Stop," I said quietly.

His hand froze mid-air, the pitcher of juice still tilted. "What's wrong?"

"This... pretending everything is normal. Acting like last night didn't happen."

"I already apologized to you," Adrian said.

"This isn't about an apology," I replied, frustration creeping into my voice. "Until we get through the third trial, I think we need to put all personal feelings aside. From now on, I'm just your Beta. You're my Alpha. That's it."

Adrian carefully set down the pitcher, his face unreadable. "You're serious? Now you want to worry about pack hierarchies and formalities? Are you deliberately trying to distance yourself from me?"

"That's not what I meant," I replied, frustration creeping into my voice. "I'm trying to focus on what matters right now. I'm not trying to push you away—I'm trying to make sure we succeed. Have you forgotten why we're here? Have you forgotten Nadia?"

The mention of her name made Adrian flinch, his amber eyes darkening with grief. For a moment, I regretted bringing her up, using her memory as a weapon.

"I could never forget," he said softly, the anger draining from his expression. He stared at his untouched coffee for a long moment before nodding. "You're right. From this moment on, personal feelings take a backseat. I'm your Alpha, you're my Beta. We focus on the trial."

He reached across the table, his warm fingers brushing against mine. I hadn't realized how much I craved his touch until that moment—how much I'd missed the casual intimacy we'd developed over these months together.

"We'll talk about everything else later," he promised, his voice low and earnest. "After the trial."

I nodded, relief and disappointment warring within me. "After the trial."

"We should review the trial materials after breakfast," I said, picking up my fork to focus on the eggs that no longer looked appetizing.

Adrian nodded, his face settling into the composed mask he wore as Alpha. "Of course. The others will be waiting."