The Professor's Mate Clause novel Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

FREYA’S POV

The shower helps.

Hot water. Steam. The feeling of being clean. I stand under the spray longer than necessary. Put off going downstairs. Put off facing Adrian and whatever this morning is going to be.

Eventually the water runs cold. I get out and wrap myself in a towel. Stare at my reflection in the mirror. I look tired. Dark circles under my eyes. My hair is a mess. But I look human. Normal. Not like someone whose whole world exploded last night.

The closet has more clothes than I could wear in a month. I pick jeans that fit perfectly. A soft gray sweater. Everything still has tags. I rip them off and get dressed quickly.

No makeup. No jewelry. Just me.

I take a breath and head downstairs.

The penthouse is massive in daylight. Open space. Modern furniture. Art on the walls. Everything perfectly arranged like a showroom. The opposite of my cramped apartment with mismatched furniture and stains on the carpet.

I follow the sound of movement. The smell of food. Coffee.

The kitchen is huge. All stainless steel and dark counters. Adrian stands at the stove. He changed

clothes. Dark jeans. A white tshirt that fits close enough to show every muscle. His hair is wet like he

showered too.

He does not hear me approach. Too focused on whatever he is cooking. I watch him crack eggs into a pan. Move around the kitchen with easy confidence. Like he does this every day.

“You just going to stand there or are you going to sit?” He does not turn around. Does not look at me.

“How did you know I was here?”

“I can hear your heartbeat.” He flips something in the pan. “It speeds up when you look at me.”

My face goes hot. “That is creepy.”

“That is being a werewolf.” He finally glances back. His eyes find mine. Hold. “Coffee?”

“Yes. Please.”

He pours a cup and slides it across the counter toward me. Our fingers brush when I take it. That same electric feeling shoots up my arm. I pull back fast.

Adrian notices. His jaw tightens but he does not say anything. Just goes back to cooking.

I sit on one of the bar stools and wrap my hands around the warm mug. The kitchen smells good. Bacon.

1/3

+25 Bonus

Eggs. Toast. My stomach growls loud enough that Adrian smirks.

“Hungry?”

“Apparently.” I take a sip of coffee. It is perfect. Strong. A little sweet. Exactly how I like it. “How do you know how I take my coffee?”

“I pay attention.”

“You mean you have been watching me.”

“Yes.” He does not deny it. Does not apologize. “I have been watching you since you turned nineteen. Since I recognized what you are.”

“My mother’s journal said my father asked you to watch over me.”

Adrian stops moving. Sets down the spatula. Turns to face me fully. “He did. Years ago. Before you were born. He asked me to promise that if anything happened to him I would protect you. Help you when you

awakened.”

“So this is just you keeping a promise.”

“It started that way.” He leans against the counter. Arms crossed. “Your father was my friend. My Alpha before I became one. When he died I honored his wishes. I tracked you down. Made sure you were safe.

Asked Clara to befriend you so someone was always close.”

The mention of Clara makes my chest tight. “She lied to me for two years.”

“She protected you for two years. There is a difference.”

“Not to me.”

“I know.” He sighs. Runs a hand through his damp hair. “I know you feel betrayed. By both of us. And you have every right. But Clara cares about you Freya. That part was never fake.”

“I do not want to talk about Clara right now.”

“Okay.” He turns back to the stove. Plates the food. Sets a full plate in front of me. Eggs. Bacon. Toast.

Fruit. “Eat.”

It looks delicious. Smells even better. I pick up a fork and take a bite of eggs. They taste as good as they

look. “You can cook.”

“I have lived alone for a long time. Had to learn or starve.”

“You do not have people who cook for you? Staff or whatever rich people have?”

“I have people who manage the building. Clean common areas. But my personal space is mine. I do not like strangers in my home.” He makes his own plate and sits across from me. “Plus cooking helps me think. Keeps my hands busy.”

2/3

+25 Bonus

We eat in silence for a few minutes. It should be awkward. Tense. But somehow it is not. It almost feels normal. Like two people having breakfast together.

“Your mother was right you know.” Adrian says quietly. “In her journal. You are royalty. Your father was not just an Alpha. He was a king.”

I set down my fork. “What does that mean?”

“It means werewolf society has ranks. Alphas lead packs. But some Alphas are stronger than others. More powerful. Your father was one of them. A king among Alphas. His bloodline goes back centuries.” He pauses. “That makes you a princess by birth.”

“I do not feel like a princess.”

“You will. When your wolf wakes up you will feel the power in your blood. Feel what you are capable of.” His eyes are intense. “You are not just any werewolf Freya. You are something special. Something rare.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify