The Professor's Mate Clause novel Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29

CLARA’S POV

“Find her.”

Adrian’s voice through the phone is barely human. More growl than words. I have never heard him like this. Never heard an Alpha sound so close to breaking.

“I am already looking. Have been since she left your place.” I scan the street from my car. “Any idea where she might go?”

“If I knew that I would not be calling you.” He sounds wrecked. Destroyed. “She got in a cab. We lost the trail ten minutes ago.”

“Okay. I will find her. Just stay calm.”

“Do not tell me to stay calm. My mate just watched me almost kill someone. Ran from me. Is out there alone with no money and no protection.” His breathing is harsh. “Find her Clara. Before something happens. Before I lose what little control I have left.”

He hangs up. I stare at my phone. This is bad. Worse than bad. An Alpha losing his mate is dangerous. Unpredictable. Adrian could hurt someone. Could hurt himself.

Could start a war.

I pull up the pack network. Send out a message to every wolf in the city. Eyes open for a blonde human girl. Early twenties. Alone. Probably scared. Report location immediately. Do not approach.

Then I start driving, no idea or plan were I was heading too. Just instinct. Just following the vague pull of friendship and two years of watching over her.

Freya has no idea how much I have protected her. How many times I steered her away from danger. How many threats I dealt with before she even knew they existed.

She thinks I betrayed her, she thinks our friendship was fake. Thinks I was just following orders.

She is wrong. The orders came first yes. But somewhere along the way she became real. Became someone I actually cared about. Became the best friend I never meant to have.

And now she is out there alone. Vulnerable. Probably hating everyone including me.

My phone buzzes. A wolf from the east side. Spotted a blonde girl matching the description. Walking alone near Fifth and Patterson. Looks distressed.

I change direction. Speed through traffic. Get there in eight minutes.

I see her immediately, Walking fast with her Head down and her arms wrapped around herself like she is trying to disappear.

Then I see the man following her, with wrong intentions written all over him.

1/4

HAPTER 29

+25 Bonus

I park fast, rushed out and followed at a distance.i watch as he gets closer. As he reaches for her.

My wolf snarls. Wants to shift right here. Wants to tear him apart for even thinking about touching her.

But I stay human. Stay controlled. Just move faster.

He grabs her arm. She tries to pull away. He holds tighter.

“She said let go.” My voice comes out harder than I meant. Alpha command bleeding through even though I am just a Beta.

The man looks at me. Sees something in my eyes that makes him back up. Smart human.

“Whatever. Crazy bitch.” He walks away fast.

I move next to Freya. She looks at me like I am the last person she wants to see. Probably am.

“What are you doing here?” Suspicion drips from every word. “Did Adrian send you?”

“Yes. But also no. I was already looking for you. Have been since you left his place.” I gesture 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.” She starts walking.

I follow. Of course I follow. That is what I do. Follow her. Protect her. Even when she does not want it.

“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.”

The words cut deeper than they should. Because I know what Adrian is going through right now. Know the pain. The desperation. The fear of losing your mate.

“Because he scared you. Because you saw what he is capable of when he loses control.” I catch up. Walk beside her. “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?” She stops. Turns. “He is a monster Clara. They all are. And I am done pretending I can survive in that world.”

Monster. She called him a monster. Called us all monsters.

Maybe she is right. Maybe that is what we are. But we are also the only thing keeping her alive.

“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.” I keep my voice gentle. “And running will not change that. Will not make you human again. Will not keep you safe.”

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

“Alone will get you killed. Asher is still out there. Still planning. Still sending people after you.” I look around. Check for threats. Always checking. “And right now you are completely vulnerable. No pack. No

2/4

CHAPTER 29

+25 Bonus

protection. No resources. Easy target.”

She knows I am right. I can see it in her eyes. But her pride will not let her admit it.

“I will figure something out.”

“How? You have nothing Freya. No money. No plan. No way to survive.” I pull out my phone. Stare at it. At Adrian’s number. “Let me call Adrian. Let him come get you. You do not have to forgive him. Do not have to trust him. But at least let him keep you safe.”

“No.”

“Freya”

“I said no.” Her voice breaks. “I cannot see him right now. Cannot deal with him. Cannot do any of this.”

My finger hovers over Adrian’s number. One call. That is all it would take. He would be here in minutes. Would take her home. Would keep her safe.

But she would never forgive me. Would never trust me again. And the small piece of real friendship we have would be destroyed.

I lower the phone. Make a choice. Maybe the wrong choice. But mine.

“Fine. Then come with me. My apartment. Just for tonight. You can shower. Eat. Sleep. Figure out your next move.” I hold up my hands. “I will not tell Adrian you are there. Will not contact him. Just let me help you. Please.”

She stares at me. Weighing. Deciding. Trying to figure out if she can trust me.

She cannot. Not really. Because my loyalty is split. Torn between my Alpha and my friend. Between duty and choice.

But she does not need to know that yet.

“Just tonight.” She finally says. “And you do not tell him. Promise me.”

The promise is a lie. I know it is a lie even as I say it. “I promise.”

“Okay.” She looks exhausted. Defeated. “Where is your car?”

“Two blocks. Come on.” I start walking.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify