The Professor's Mate Clause novel Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

FREYA’S POV

The penthouse looks normal when we arrive.

No broken windows. No bodies. No signs of a fight. Just Adrian’s pack members standing in the living room looking tense.

Marcus steps forward as we enter. “They left five minutes before you got here. Knew you were coming. Waited long enough to make a point then disappeared.”

“What point?” Adrian’s voice is cold.

Marcus holds out a piece of paper. “They left this.”

Adrian takes it and reads. His jaw clenches. He crumples the paper in his fist.

“What does it say?” I ask.

“Nothing important.” He tosses it in the trash. Turns to Marcus. “Double the security. No one gets in this building without clearance. And I want eyes on Asher at all times.”

“Already done.” Marcus glances at me then back to Adrian. “Anything else?”

“No. Everyone can leave. We are fine.”

The pack members file out. Marcus is the last to go. He nods at me before disappearing into the elevator.

Then it is just us.

The silence feels heavy. Adrian stands with his back to me staring out the window. His shoulders are tight. Tense.

“What did the note say?” I set the box from the bank on the counter.

“That I have three days to hand you over for pack justice. Or they come take you by force.” He does not turn around. “They are calling for a tribunal. Want you judged by the High Council.”

My stomach drops. “Can they do that?”

“They can try.” He finally faces me. His eyes are dark. Tired. “But I will not let it happen. You are under my protection. They will have to go through me first.”

“Adrian-”

“I am not discussing this tonight.” He runs a hand through his hair. “You have been through enough today. We both have. Let’s just…. not think about it for a few hours.”

He is right. I am exhausted. Emotionally drained. My father’s letters. The safe deposit box. The rush back here expecting a fight.

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It is too much.

“Okay.” I lean against the counter. “What do you want to do instead?”

“I should make dinner. You need to eat.”

“You do not have to take care of me all the time.”

“I know. But I want to.” He moves to the fridge and starts pulling things out. Vegetables. Chicken. “Go change into something comfortable. Relax. I will call you when it is ready.”

I want to argue. Want to tell him I can take care of myself. But honestly I do not have the energy.

So I go upstairs to the guest room and change into the soft pants and tshirt from last night. Wash my face. Stare at myself in the mirror.

My eyes look different. Older maybe. Like I aged years in the span of days.

I am not the same person who walked into that wedding. Not the same girl who thought her biggest problem was a cheating boyfriend.

That Freya feels like a stranger now.

When I come back downstairs Adrian is cooking. The kitchen smells amazing. Garlic. Herbs. Something

savory.

I sit at the counter and watch him work. He moves with easy confidence. Chopping vegetables. Stirring sauce. He looks relaxed doing this. Almost happy.

“Where did you learn to cook?” I ask.

“My mother. Before she died she made sure I could take care of myself.” He glances at me. “She said a man who cannot feed himself is not a man at all.”

“She sounds smart.”

“She was. Strong too. She raised three kids mostly alone. My father was always busy with pack business. She held everything together.” He plates the food. Chicken with roasted vegetables. Simple but perfect. “She would have liked you.”

The comment catches me off guard. “Why do you say that?”

“Because you remind me of her. Fierce. Stubborn. Refuses to back down even when you probably should. “He sets the plate in front of me. “She would have respected that.”

We eat in comfortable silence. The food is delicious. I finish everything on my plate without realizing it.

“Better?” Adrian asks.

“Yeah. Thank you.”

He takes our plates to the sink. Washes them by hand even though there is probably a dishwasher. I

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watch his back. The way his shoulders move. The strength in his arms.

I should not be noticing these things. Should not be thinking about how he looks. How he moves.

But I cannot help it.

“Come here.” His voice is quiet.

“What?”

“Just come here. Please.”

I slide off the stool and walk to where he stands. He turns to face me. His eyes search mine.

“I need to say something and I need you to just listen. Can you do that?”

I nod.

“I know you do not trust me. I know you think everything I feel is just obligation or a promise to your father. And maybe at first that was part of it.” He reaches up and brushes hair behind my ear. His fingers linger against my cheek. “But somewhere along the way it became real. You became real. And now when I look at you all I see is my future.” 1

My breath catches. “Adrian”

“I am not asking you to feel the same way. Not asking you to forgive me or trust me or anything else. I just need you to know that what I feel is real.” His thumb traces along my jaw. “The bond brought us together. But this. What I feel when you are near. That has nothing to do with fate.”

He is so close. Close enough that I can feel the heat coming off his body. Close enough that if I leaned forward just a little our lips would touch.

“I do not know what I feel.” The admission comes out as a whisper. “Everything is so confusing. I am angry at you. But I also feel safe with you. I want to push you away but I also want…”

“Want what?” His voice is rough.

“I do not know. That is the problem. I do not know what is real and what is just the bond.”

“Then let me show you.” He cups my face with both hands. “Let me prove to you that this is real.”

“How?”

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