Crowned by Fate Chapter 93

Skye's POV

One week after Nadia's funeral, the desert air hung heavy with the scent of extinguished candles and grief. Four warrior graves joined Each loss struck a fresh wound in our community.

According to werewolf tradition, families must keep vigil for seven days beside their deceased relatives, ensuring candles burn continuously around the body. I had called Nadia's father, Steven Bennett, to inform him of his daughter's death, asking if he would come to maintain the vigil for her.

His answer haunted me still.

After a long silence, his voice had come through the phone, cold and final: "When Nadia chose to follow Adrian out of Stormhowl three years ago, I already mourned her. She died to me then. You bury her properly."

The line had gone dead, leaving me staring at my phone in shock. How could a father refuse to say goodbye to his daughter? How could he have hardened his heart so completely?

The question spiraled into a darker one that kept me awake at night: Would my own parents feel the same if they learned of my fate?

Had they already buried me in their hearts when I fled Frostshadow?

I found myself reaching for my phone repeatedly, my parents' numbers burned into my memory from years of writing them in journals, thinking about them during holidays, imagining calls I never made. Once, I actually dialed my mother's number, only to hang up the moment it began ringing.

Next time, I told myself. Maybe on Mother's birthday, the timing will be better.

But I knew I was just being a coward.

Seven days after the battle, Adrian finally emerged from his grief-stricken isolation and returned to his office. The dark circles under his eyes had faded slightly, though his usual commanding presence seemed dimmed, like a flame burning lower than usual.

"Skye," he said one morning, "it's time you learned what being Beta truly means."

I followed him to the Beta office - Nadia's office - with my stomach in knots.

The room still carried her scent, a faint mix of leather and sage that made my chest tighten with guilt. Her desk remained exactly as she'd left it, with training schedules meticulously organized and pack reports filed with mathematical precision.

Adrian noticed my hesitation as I lingered in the doorway. "It's yours now," he said gently, though I heard the strain in his voice. "She would want you to use it."

I forced myself to step inside, running my fingers along the edge of her desk. Part of me felt like an imposter, sitting in a chair that had been shaped by years of Nadia's presence. But another part of me straightened my spine, remembering her final request.

Take care of him. Be the Beta he needs.

"Teach me," I said, meeting Adrian's gaze directly. "Show me how to honor what she built."

Relief flickered across his features as he began explaining the daily responsibilities—coordinating training schedules, managing security rotations, mediating disputes between pack members, reviewing border patrol reports.

His voice grew stronger as he fell into the familiar rhythms of leadership, though I caught him glancing at Nadia's empty chair more than once.

By evening, as I organized the last stack of papers, Adrian appeared in my doorway.

"Call the council," he said, his expression serious. "I need to speak with everyone. Tonight."

"What's happened?"

"Just call them, Skye. Please."

An hour later, the council chamber filled with familiar faces. One absence would forever change our dynamic.

Adrian gestured to the seat beside him. "Skye." It was Nadia's seat.

The room fell silent as I moved to take my place, feeling every eye upon me. The leather creaked differently under my weight.

Adrian stood. For a moment, he seemed to gather himself, amber eyes sweeping across each council member before settling on me.

"As you know," he began, his voice steady but strained, "the Alpha King election takes place this year."

A murmur rippled through the room. The Alpha King election occurred every four years, determining who would lead all North American werewolf packs. Currently, Alpha Thomas of the Eastern Territories held the position.

"After considerable thought," Adrian continued, meeting each gaze in turn, "I've decided to enter the election as a candidate."

Shocked silence greeted his announcement. Then everyone seemed to speak at once.

"About time," Venus declared, her single fist pounding the table for emphasis. "You're exactly what this continent needs."

"The resources required for a campaign..." Garrett began, worry creasing his features. "The travel, the publicity, the political maneuvering—it's enormous."

"We can handle it," Marcus said firmly. "Our pack is stronger than ever. And after what we've just endured, Adrian is ready." His blind eyes seemed to burn with intensity.

Ryder had remained quiet, staring at his hands. When he finally spoke, his voice was hollow. "Nadia always said you'd become Alpha King someday. She believed in that dream more than anyone."

The mention of her name cast a shadow over the room. I saw Adrian's jaw tighten, his hands clenching briefly before relaxing.

"This is partly for her," Adrian admitted. "But also for every pack that's been forgotten, neglected, or abused while the Alpha King looks the other way. Kane terrorized the western territories for years with no intervention. That stops now."

I found myself speaking without thinking. "When do you announce your candidacy?"

Adrian turned to me, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. "I'll submit my formal application to the Council tomorrow. The election is in six months. That gives us time to prepare, to strengthen our position, to build the alliances we'll need."

"And Oasisborn?" Lydia inquired, her melodic voice carrying a note of concern. "Who leads in your absence?"

"I won't abandon Oasisborn," Adrian said firmly. "I'll manage remotely when possible, and Skye will travel with me most of the time. If we're both away, Venus can oversee operations here."

All eyes turned to me, but I spoke before the doubt could settle. "Venus was once Luna of a mid-sized pack. I trust her management capabilities."

Venus nodded approvingly, a slight smile playing at the corner of her mouth.

"The question is," Marcus said, "can we win?"

Adrian's expression hardened into something I recognized from our battle with Kane, absolute determination. "We will win. Because we're fighting for more than power or prestige. We're fighting for a future where packs like ours don't have to fear tyrants like Kane. Where Alphas are held accountable for their actions. Where every pack, regardless of size or location, has a voice."

His words resonated through the chamber, stirring something primal in each of us. This wasn't just about Adrian becoming Alpha King. It was about reshaping the very nature of werewolf leadership.

As the meeting continued, plans taking shape for the campaign ahead, I caught myself glancing at the empty chair that would forever belong to Nadia.

Somehow, I knew she was watching, proud of Adrian's decision, confident in his future.