Skye’s POV
‘Absolutely not, Adrian said, ‘I can’t allow you to drive to Boring alone, not to mention staying there overnight.
“It’s just a two–hour drive, Adrian. I’ll be fine. I’ve survived three years on my own before joining Oasisborn.
We stood in his office, morning sunlight streaming through the windows, illuminating dust particles dancing between us. The past six months had been oddly peaceful despite the constant vigilance, and now, on the eve of Jessie’s wedding, this felt like an unnecessary battle.
And during those three years, you didn’t have enemies who specifically knew your identity or connection to us, Adrian countered, “Things are different now.”
‘I promised Jessie I’d be there,” I insisted. ‘She’s held a bridesmaid spot for me. I can’t let her down.
‘I understand that. I’m not saying you can’t go–just that you shouldn’t go alone.”
I’ll go with her,” Ryder said from the doorway. “I can keep a low profile at the wedding.”
Adrian’s expression darkened immediately. “No,” he said flatly, not bothering to elaborate.
“I think I should be the one to accompany Skye,” Nadia’s voice joined the conversation as she stepped into the office.
Her relationship with me had gradually shifted into a cautious alliance over the past months, our shared commitment to Oasisborn’s security creating a bridge across the chasm of our earlier tensions.
“You?” Ryder sounded genuinely surprised. “Don’t you have training sessions scheduled for tomorrow?”
Nadia shrugged with practiced nonchalance. “You can cover them. Besides, I haven’t been to a human wedding before. I’m curious.” She turned to me. “If that’s acceptable to you, Skye?”
I nodded, recognizing the olive branch she was extending. “That would be perfect. Thank you.”
Adrian studied us both for a moment before nodding his agreement. “It’s decided then. Nadia and Skye will attend the wedding together.”
The next morning found us driving through the desert in my small red car. After an hour of companionable silence, Nadia finally spoke.
“It’s been a long time since I attended a wedding, our pack didn’t have a single union last year.”
I glanced at her, surprised by the wistful tone in her usually pragmatic voice. “Maybe werewolf marriages are just harder to come by than human ones.”
“Perhaps,” she agreed. “Humans don’t have our mate system or our longevity to consider. Their unions can be so… fragile.” She tilted her head thoughtfully. “But there’s also a certain freedom in that, isn’t there? Their choices are truly their own, not dictated by fate or biology.”
The observation struck me as unexpectedly profound coming from someone as traditionally minded as Nadia.
‘I’ve been wondering, I ventured carefully, keeping my eyes on the road ahead, “why I’ve never heard about your mate. Have you just not encountered them yet?
A flicker of something–alarm? discomfort?-passed across her face so quickly I might have imagined it.
“That’s right,” she replied with practiced casualness. “I haven’t met them yet.” She straightened in her seat, shoulders squaring. “But why should finding a mate be the only path to a complete life? I have purpose, respect, meaningful work. Isn’t that enough?”
“It absolutely is,” I agreed softly, thinking of my own complicated journey. “A-mate doesn’t define your worth.*
We exchanged smiles, and in that moment, we finally reached an understanding.
1/3
After the ceremony, I made my way through the reception, searching for a familiar face. I found Buck near the buffet table, his weathered face lighting up when he spotted me.
VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: My Ex Left Me Years Ago Then I’m Married to a Billionaire