Crowned by Fate Chapter 97

Skye’s POV

I pressed my hands against Adrian’s chest, gently pushing him back, my heart racing as I broke our kiss. The space between us felt both necessary and agonizing, the cool desert air sharp against my heated skin.

“Adrian, we can’t,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Tomorrow, the election campaign starts. I can’t afford to be… distracted.”

He stood motionless, moonlight carving shadows across his strong jaw. His amber eyes held mine, intense and unwavering, searching for something I wasn’t sure I could offer.

“That’s exactly why I needed to do this tonight,” he said, his voice low but charged with emotion. He took a careful step toward me, not quite closing the gap. “Tomorrow, we’re swept into politics and competition. But before that, there’s something you need to know.”

My throat tightened, a mix of fear and anticipation. “What?”

“I’m in love with you, Skye,” he said, the words simple yet heavy, settling into the quiet night. “I think I have been since that day at The Watering Hole, when you stood up to Nadia, terrified but unbreakable.”

My breath hitched, a pang in my chest. “Adrian—”

“Let me finish,” he said softly, his tone gentle but firm. “I’ve thought this through. I want you as my mate, Skye. Not just my Beta, not just my second. I want a bond with you that goes beyond pack roles.”

His declaration struck me like a blow, crumbling the walls I’d built to honor Nadia’s memory. For months, I’d buried my feelings, convinced that being his Beta meant denying this pull between us.

“This is… so sudden,” I stammered, though we both knew it wasn’t. This had been building since that night in the canyon, maybe even before. “At the election, you’ll meet Alphas and packs from across the continent. You might find your true mate.”

Adrian shook his head, a sad smile on his lips. “I’ve considered that, Skye. And I’ve decided that even if some stranger at Silvercrest Mountain is my fated mate, I’d reject her.”

I stared, stunned. Rejecting a mate was taboo, a painful act that could shatter both wolves. I knew that better than anyone, having fled my own past. “You can’t decide that now,” I argued. “You don’t know how powerful the mate bond is—”

“I know what this feels like,” he interrupted, gesturing between us. “In my heart, my mind, every part of me, I’ve chosen you. You’re my mate, Skye.”

Tears pricked my eyes, my voice barely audible. “I can only be your Beta. Like Nadia was. I promised her I’d take care of you.”

His expression softened, understanding dawning. “Is that what’s holding you back? Nadia?”

I couldn’t answer, guilt and confusion choking me. Nadia’s last words echoed—Take care of him. Be the Beta he needs. How could I reconcile that with the longing burning inside me?

Adrian stepped closer, his warmth cutting through the chill. “Skye, look at me,” he said, his voice tender.

Reluctantly, I met his gaze, his amber eyes steady and earnest.

“I’ll mourn Nadia forever,” he said, his voice thick with grief. “I’ll honor her memory, carry her dreams forward. But her death taught me something—life is too fragile to waste. We have to cherish what’s in front of us, cherish the present.”

My gaze dropped, uncertainty swirling. His fingers gently lifted my chin, guiding my eyes back to his.

“Nadia wanted me to be happy,” he said, softer now. “She wanted us both to be happy. Do you think she’d want us to deny this?”

I had no answer. Nadia had loved him silently for years—would she want me to follow that path of unspoken longing? Or would she want something more for us, something alive?

As I wavered, my eyes betraying my conflict, Adrian leaned in again. His kiss was softer, a question, his hands hovering at his sides, giving me the choice to pull away.

I didn’t.

Instead, I leaned into him, my lips meeting his with a hunger that startled me. My hands slid up his chest, curling around his shoulders, pulling him closer. The kiss deepened, igniting something primal.

Adrian’s arms wrapped around my waist, lifting me effortlessly. Without breaking the kiss, he pushed open my apartment door, carrying me inside. The door clicked shut, sealing us away from the world.

He set me down in the living room, stepping back slightly, his eyes locked on mine. “If you want me to leave, tell me now,” he said, his voice rough with desire but his gaze sincere. “I’ll go, and we’ll never speak of this again.”

In answer, I reached for him, pulling him back. Our lips crashed together, my reservations crumbling. His hands tangled in my silver hair, tilting my head to deepen the kiss, a low growl rumbling in his chest.

My fingers fumbled with his shirt buttons, urgency making me clumsy. Adrian’s hands joined mine, steady, shrugging the fabric off to reveal his tanned chest, muscles defined under moonlight streaming through the curtains. Scars crisscrossed his skin, stories of battles won. I traced one along his collarbone, feeling the rough texture. His breath caught, eyes closing briefly, a flicker of vulnerability that made my heart ache.

His hands found my shirt’s hem, pausing as he searched my eyes. I nodded, lifting my arms, and he pulled it over my head, exposing my skin to the cool air. Goosebumps rose, but his warm lips chased them away, kissing my shoulder, my collarbone, the curve of my neck.

Each touch sent shivers through me, desire warring with guilt. I wanted this, craved it, but Nadia’s memory lingered, a shadow I couldn’t escape.

Adrian lifted me, carrying me to the bedroom with steady steps that belied the urgency in his touch. He laid me on the bed, his amber eyes glowing in the dim light, hunger mirroring my own.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmured, voice raw with awe. “So beautiful it hurts.”