Crowned by Fate Chapter 76

Adrian’s POV

I pushed open the door to Skye's room, steeling myself for what I might find.

Ryder sat beside her bed, her small hand clasped between both of his. He looked up as I entered, exhaustion etched on his young face.

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

Ryder shook his head. "Doctor says she has multiple fractures. The shift suppressant they gave her is slowing her healing." His voice caught.

"I know," I cut him off, unable to bear hearing it spoken aloud. The image of Skye's naked, battered body haunted me. If Kane or his warriors had violated her in any way, I would personally tear out their throats.

"What did the doctor say about her recovery timeline?"

"She's administering nutrients and fluids now," Ryder replied, gesturing to the IV stand beside the bed. "Says Skye should regain consciousness in a few hours."

I nodded, studying Skye's pale face. Her silver hair spread across the pillow like moonlight on snow, her features delicate yet somehow unyielding. She had survived. Against all odds, she had escaped Kane's fortress.

"Ryder, go rest," I ordered, not taking my eyes from Skye. "You need to recover your strength."

"I'd rather stay with her," he protested, his grip on her hand tightening protectively.

"That wasn't a suggestion," I replied, my voice firm. "I need all 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 hand and 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 my composure to crack. I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, face buried in my hands. For just a moment, I permitted myself to feel the full weight of guilt and fear that I had been holding at bay.

I had failed Nadia. Despite all my plans, 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 Kane's mercy.

The sharp ring of my phone shattered the silence, jerking me from my thoughts. The screen displayed an unknown number, but deep in my gut, I knew who it was before I answered.

"Adrian speaking."

Kane's smooth voice slithered through the connection like oil. "Missing something, Alpha? Or should I say... someone?"

I gripped the phone tighter, fighting to keep my voice even. The muscles in my jaw clenched so hard I thought my teeth might crack. "If you've harmed Nadia—"

"Relax," Kane interrupted, his tone mockingly casual. "Your precious Beta is still in one piece. For now." A chuckle filtered through the speaker, the sound setting my wolf on edge. "One little bird managed to escape my cage, but I still have another, don't I? Such a fascinating specimen, 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, Kane?" I demanded, though I already knew the answer. My free hand curled into a fist, claws partially extending to dig into my palm.

"The same thing I wanted twenty-four hours ago." His voice hardened, all pretense of civility evaporating. "Your territory. Your resources. Your surrender. Oasisborn Pack on its knees before Gravestone." He paused, savoring each word. "Your submission signed in blood and witnessed by the North American Council, making it irrevocable."

My wolf raged at the very suggestion. Three years of building something from nothing, of creating a haven for the broken and rejected—all of it to be handed over to this sadistic tyrant.

"You have one hour left before my deadline expires," Kane continued, the threat evident in every syllable. "After that, well..." He let the sentence hang in the air, unspoken but crystal clear. "I'd hate to damage such a valuable bargaining chip, but accidents do happen, especially when one is... frustrated."

The image of Skye's battered body flashed in my mind, fueling a rage so intense my vision blurred red at the edges.

"If you touch a single hair on her head," I growled, my control slipping as my wolf surged forward, the change rippling beneath my skin, "I will hunt you to the ends of the earth.I will tear you apart piece by piece. Every joint. Every limb. "

"Such passion! Such fire! I almost believe you mean it." 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 spectacularly, and now the great Alpha of Oasisborn is reduced to making empty threats over the phone."

I said nothing, letting the silence stretch between us. Kane had always been unable to tolerate silence.

"One hour, Adrian," he finally said, his voice tight with irritation. "The clock is ticking. You know how to reach me when you're ready to surrender."

The call disconnected with a sharp click, leaving me alone with the weight of his threat crushing 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 even when I'd left Stormhowl with Nadia and Ryder in tow, exiled from my birthright, had I 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 scarce and 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, a countdown clock ticking away her remaining minutes of safety. 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 pack needed strength, needed confidence, needed 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 Kane's threats. 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 mask, how to project certainty even when doubt gnawed at my core.

But inside, that doubt had formed a yawning chasm. What if I couldn't save her? What if Kane had already hurt her beyond our ability to heal?

What if—

A soft moan from the bed interrupted my spiraling thoughts. I turned to see Skye's eyelids fluttering, her hand moving weakly across the white hospital sheets, fingers grasping as if searching for something to hold onto.

She was waking up.