The Professor's Mate Clause novel Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27

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CHAPTER 27

ADRIAN

“She is with who?”

Marcus stands in my office doorway. His face is carefully blank.

“Kelvin Brooks. They met at the coffee shop near campus thirty minutes ago. Now they are at a restaurant on Fletcher Street.” He does not move. Does not come closer. Smart. “Do you want me to pull

the surveillance team?”

“No.” The word comes out as a growl. “Keep them there. I want eyes on her every second.”

“Adrian…”

“She is with Kelvin.” I stand up. My chair falls backward. Crashes against the wall. “The man who killed her mother. The man whose father wants her dead. And she is having lunch with him?”

“It looks like it.”

“How did this happen? How did he even contact her? She blocked everyone.” My hands are shaking. Claws pushing through. I force them back. “Tell me.”

“We do not know yet. But he texted her last night. From a number we were not monitoring. She responded. Agreed to meet.” Marcus pulls out his phone. Shows me screenshots. “He played the apology card. Said he missed her. She took the bait.”

I read the messages. Each word is a knife. Each line makes Kael roar louder.

I miss you.

I made a mistake.

Let me help.

And she said yes. She actually said yes.

Kill him. Rip his throat out. He does not get to touch what is ours.

“Where are they now?” I grab my keys. My jacket. “Exact location.”

1

“Marios on Fletcher Street. Second floor. Private booth in the back.” Marcus moves to block the door.”

What are you planning to do?”

“What does it look like”

“I think you are about to do something stupid. Something that will make everything worse.” He does not move. “She told you to leave her alone. She rejected the bond. Going there will only prove her right. That you are controlling. Possessive. Everything she accused you of being.”

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“Get out of my way Marcus.”

“No.”

We stare at each other.

But Marcus has known me too long. Knows when to push back.

“She is with the enemy.” My voice drops. “She is sitting across from the wolf who murdered her mother. Who is planning to kill her. And you want me to do nothing?”

“I want you to think. To use your head instead of your wolf.” Marcus steps closer. “Going there angry will accomplish nothing. You will scare her. Push her further away. Make her run straight into Kelvin’s arms.”

“She is already in his arms.”

“Not yet she is not. The surveillance says they are just talking. Eating. Nothing physical. You still have time to figure this out without destroying everything.”

*We do not have time. Every second we wait he gets closer. Every moment we stand here talking he is touching her. Looking at her. Pretending he has a right.*

I shove past Marcus. Out the door. Down the hallway. They can smell it on me. The rage. The barely

controlled violence.

The Alpha losing his mind.

My phone rings. One of the surveillance wolves.

“Talk.” I answer while walking.

“Alpha they just ordered dessert. They are laughing. She looks relaxed. Comfortable.” The wolf sounds nervous. “He keeps touching her hand. She is not pulling away.”

The phone shatters in my grip. Plastic and glass cutting into my palm. Healing instantly. Breaking again

when I squeeze.

*Faster. We need to move faster. Now. Before he kisses her. Before he claims what is ours.*

I am already in my car. Engine roaring to life. Tires squealing as I peel out of the parking garage.

The drive takes ten minutes. Ten minutes of Kael screaming. Ten minutes of imagining walking in and finding them together. Finding her choosing him over me.

Finding her kissing him.

*If he touches her we kill him. We kill everyone in that restaurant. We burn it to the ground.*

I park badly. Do not care. Just get out and head for the entrance. People on the street stare. Move away. Can probably see it on my face. The wolf underneath. The Alpha barely contained.

The door is locked. Private restaurant. Reservations only.

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CHABER 27

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I rip the handle off. The door swings open. The host jumps back.

“Sir you cannot-”

I walk past him. Up the stairs. Following her scent. Following the pull of the bond. Following the rage that

demands blood.

Second floor. Private booths. I scan the room. Find them in the back corner.

Freya sits across from Kelvin. She is smiling. Actually smiling. Her hair is down. She looks relaxed.

Happy.

Kelvin leans forward. Says something. She laughs. The sound cuts through me like a blade.

*He is making her laugh. Making her smile. While we stood there like fools respecting her choice. Giving her space.*

His hand covers hers on the table. She does not pull away. Just lets him touch her. Lets him pretend he has a right.

*Enough. We end this now.*

I start walking toward them. Every step controlled. Measured. Fighting to stay human. Fighting not to shift right here in this restaurant.

Kelvin sees me first. His eyes go wide.

Good. He should be afraid.

Freya follows his gaze. Turns. Sees me.

Her face goes pale. Then red. Then something else I cannot read.

I stop at their table. Look down at their joined hands. At the dessert they are sharing. At the wine glasses. At the intimate little setup.

“Adrian.” Her voice is shaky. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same question.” I look at Kelvin. “Get your hand off her. Now.”

“We are just talking.” Kelvin does not move his hand. Stupid. “She can make her own choices.”

“I said move your hand or I will remove it. Permanently.”

Freya pulls her hand away. “Stop it. Both of you. This is not what it looks like.”

“It looks like you are on a date with the man who killed your mother. The man whose father wants you dead. The man who is playing you.” I cannot stop staring at their hands. At where they touched. “So please tell me what it actually is.”

“It is none of your business. You do not own me. You do not control me.” She stands up. “I told you to leave me alone.”

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CHAPTER 21

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“And I did. I gave you space. I respected your choice. And this is what you do with it? Run straight to him? “The words come out harsh. Cold. “Did you forget everything? Forget that he cheated on you? Married someone else? That his family wants you dead?”

“I did not forget anything. But at least Kelvin is honest about being an asshole. At least he does not

pretend to be something he is not.” She grabs her purse. “Unlike you.”

The words hit like a physical blow. Kael roars. Demands I do something. Anything. Stop her from walking

away again.

“Freya wait-”

“No. I am done waiting. Done listening. Done with all of this.” She pushes past me. “Stay away from me Adrian. I mean it.”

She walks toward the stairs. I turn to follow. Kelvin stands.

“She does not want you.” He says it quietly. “She wants normal. She wants human. She wants me.”

*Kill him. Right now. Rip out his throat. Show him what happens when he touches our mate.*

I take a step toward him. See the fear flash in his eyes. Good.

“If you touch her again I will end you.” My voice is barely human. “If you come near her. If you text her. If you even think about her I will tear you apart. Slowly. And I will enjoy every second.”

“Tough words. But she is the one who chose to be here. Chose to meet me. Chose me over you.” Kelvin smirks. “Maybe the mate bond is not as strong as you thought.”

I grab him by the throat. Lift him off the ground. Slam him against the wall. Other diners scream. Run for the exits.

“Say that again.” My claws dig into his neck. Draw blood. “I dare you.”

He cannot speak. Just chokes. Claws at my hand.

*End him. Finish it. He does not deserve to live.*

I want to. Want to squeeze until his neck snaps. Until his eyes go blank. Until he pays for everything.

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