The Professor's Mate Clause novel Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28

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CHAPTER 28

FREYA’S POV

“Just drive.”

The cab driver looks at me through the rearview mirror. “Where to?”

“I do not know. Just away. Please.” My hands are shaking. My whole body is shaking. “Just drive.”

He shrugs and pulls into traffic. I sink into the back seat and try to breathe. Try to stop seeing Adrian’s face. His eyes. The blood on his hands.

Kelvin’s blood.

He almost killed him. Right there in the restaurant. Would have killed him if I had not been there. Would have ripped out his throat without hesitation.

That is what Adrian is. What he has been hiding under all the control. All the patience. All the careful words and gentle touches.

A monster.

My phone buzzes. I pull it out. Low battery. Fifteen percent. And dozens of missed calls. Adrian. Marcus. Numbers I do not recognize.

I turn it off. Cannot deal with it. Cannot deal with any of them.

The cab driver keeps glancing at me. “You okay miss? You need me to take you to a hospital or something?”

“No. I am fine. Just keep driving.”

J

But I am not fine. I am the opposite of fine. I am running with no plan. No money except the twenty dollars cash in my purse. No idea where to go or what to do next.

I left the motel this morning. Checked out because I could not afford another night. All my stuff is in my bag. Which I left at the restaurant. With Kelvin. With Adrian. With everything.

I have nothing. No clothes. No phone charger. No way to survive.

The cab driver clears his throat. “I am going to need a destination soon. Or at least payment for the

meter.”

I look at the meter. Eighteen dollars already. I pull out my twenty. Hand it to him. “This is all I have. Just take me as far as this will get me.”

He takes the money. Counts it. “That will get you maybe ten more blocks. Then you are on your own.”

“Fine. Ten blocks is fine.”

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CHAPTER 28

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He drives. I watch the city pass by. People on sidewalks living normal lives. Going to normal jobs. Having normal problems.

I want that. Want normal so badly it hurts.

But normal is gone. Has been gone since the moment I found out what I am. What Adrian is. What this

whole world is.

There is no going back. No pretending. No escape.

The cab stops. “This is it. Far as your money goes.”

I look out the window. We are in a neighborhood I do not recognize. Buildings. Shops. Nothing familiar. Nothing helpful.

“Thanks.” I get out. The cab drives away. Leaves me standing on a corner with no plan.

My phone is off. My money is gone. My only clothes are what I am wearing.

I start walking. No destination. Just movement. Because standing still feels like giving up.

A coffee shop. A library. A bus stop. All places I cannot stay. All places that will not help.

I need money. Need a phone charger. Need somewhere safe to sleep tonight.

But I have none of those things. Have nothing except the terror still clawing at my chest. The image of Adrian’s eyes. The way they glowed blue. The way his hand wrapped around Kelvin’s throat. The blood.

He would have killed him. In front of everyone. In front of me.

That is who he is when the control breaks. When the wolf takes over. That is what he has been holding

back.

And I rejected him. Pushed him away. Made him lose control.

This is my fault. If I had not gone to meet Kelvin. If I had just stayed at the motel. If I had not been so desperate for normal that I made the stupidest decision possible.

But I cannot take it back now. Cannot undo what was done.

Can only keep moving. Keep surviving. Keep trying to figure out what comes next.

A man walks past. Looks at me too long. I keep walking. Faster.

Another man across the street. Watching. Following.

Paranoia or real threat? I cannot tell anymore. Cannot trust my instincts. Cannot trust anything.

I turn a corner. The man follows. I speed up. He speeds up.

My heart pounds. I look for somewhere public. Somewhere safe. But this street is empty. Quiet. Wrong

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CHAPTER 28

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The man gets closer. “Hey. You lost?”

I do not answer. Just walk faster.

“I am talking to you.” His hand grabs my arm.

I spin around. “Let go.”

“Relax. Just trying to help. You look like you need help.” He smiles. It does not reach his eyes. “Maybe I can give you a ride somewhere.”

“I said let go.” I yank my arm. He holds tighter.

“Come on. Do not be like that. I am being nice.”

This is it. This is how it ends. Alone on a street with some creep because I ran from the one person who could actually protect me.

The irony is not lost on me.

“She said let go.”

A voice behind me. Female. Familiar.

Clara.

The man drops my arm and backs up. “Whatever. Crazy bitch.”

He walks away. Clara moves to stand next to me. She looks worried. Exhausted.

“What are you doing here?” I cannot hide the suspicion. “Did Adrian send you?”

“Yes. But also no. I was already looking for you. Have been since you left his place.” She gestures down the street. “Can we go somewhere and talk? Somewhere that is not a dark alley?”

“I do not want to talk. I do not want anything from you or Adrian or anyone.” I start walking again.

Clara follows. “You cannot keep running Freya. You have no money. No phone. No plan. Where exactly are you going?”

“I do not know. But anywhere is better than with him.”

“Because he scared you. Because you saw what he is capable of when he loses control.” Clara catches up. Walks beside me. “I get it. I do. But Freya he would never hurt you. He was protecting you.”

“By almost killing someone in a restaurant? By proving every fear I ever had about him?” I stop walking. Turn to face her. “He is a monster Clara. They all are. And I am done pretending I can survive in that world.”

“You are one of them. Whether you accept it or not. You are a werewolf. That makes you part of this world whether you want to be or not.” Clara’s voice is gentle. Patient. “And running will not change that. Will not make you human again. Will not keep you safe.”

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CHAPTER 28

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“Then what will? Going back to Adrian? Letting him control my life? Letting him decide everything?” I shake my head. “I would rather take my chances alone.”

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