The Professor's Mate Clause novel Chapter 31

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CHAPTER 31

ADRIAN’S POV

She is at my apartment. Safe. Asleep. Come get her but please be gentle. She is fragile right now.

I read the text three times, making sure it is real.hoping that I am not imagining it.

She is safe. Clara found her. She is safe.

The relief is so strong it nearly brings me to my knees. I grab my keys with shaking hands. Head for the

door.

Marcus appears. “What happened?”

“Clara found her. She is at her apartment.” I do not stop moving. “I am going to get her.”

“Adrian wait. Think about this. She ran from you. Told you to leave her alone. Showing up might make things worse.”

“I do not care. She is safe. She is found. I am going.” I push past him. “Nothing you say will stop me.”

He does not try. Just watches me leave with that worried look. The look that says he thinks I am making

a mistake.

Maybe I am. But I cannot stay away. Cannot leave her out there one more second. Cannot breathe until I

see with my own eyes that she is okay.

“Finally. Finally we can bring her home. Claim her. Keep her where she belongs.”

Not yet Kael. She is still angry. Still scared. We have to be careful.

“Careful got us nowhere. Careful lost her. We take her home. We keep her. We do not let her run again.”

The drive takes fifteen minutes. Feels like fifteen hours. Every red light is torture. Every slow driver

makes me want to shift and run there instead.

Clara’s building appears. I park badly. Do not care. Just get out and head inside. Take the stairs two at a

time because the elevator is too slow.

Her apartment is on the third floor. I knock once. Quiet. Do not want to wake Freya if she is sleeping.

Clara opens the door. She looks exhausted. Guilty. “She is on the couch. Still asleep. Please Adrian. Be gentle. She has been through enough today.”

I walk past her into the apartment. And there she is.

Freya. My mate. Curled up on Clara’s couch under a blanket. Hair still damp from a shower. Face peaceful in sleep.

Safe. Alive. Here.

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Something in my chest unclenches. The terror that has been choking me since she ran finally eases. Just a little. Just enough to breathe.

“Ours. She is ours. Take her home now.”

I move closer. Kneel next to the couch. Just watch her sleep. The rise and fall of her chest. The way her hand is tucked under her cheek. The small frown between her eyebrows even in sleep.

Beautiful. So beautiful it hurts.

“How long has she been asleep?” I ask without looking away from her.

“About thirty minutes. She was exhausted. Barely made it through dinner before passing out.” Clara’s voice is quiet behind me. “Adrian I am sorry. I know she asked me not to tell you. But I could not leave you wondering. Could not let you think she was in danger when she was safe.”

“You did the right thing. Thank you for finding her. For keeping her safe.” I reach out slowly. Brush a strand of hair from her face. She does not wake. “I owe you.”

“You do not owe me anything. She is pack. Protecting her is my job.” Clara pauses. “But she is going to hate me for this. For breaking my promise.”

“She will understand eventually.”

“Will she? Because right now all she sees is betrayal everywhere. You pushed her away. I lied to her. Kelvin tried to manipulate her. Everyone in her life has hurt her.” Clara sits in the chair. “And now I just

added to that list.”

She is right. Freya is surrounded by liars and manipulators and people who keep breaking her trust. And I

am the worst of them all.

I stand. “I should take her home. Let her sleep in a real bed. Somewhere secure.

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“She will wake up. She will know I called you.” Clara looks miserable. “She will never forgive me.”

“Then that is a consequence you accept. We both do.” I move to pick up Freya. Stop. “Or I could stay here. Watch her sleep. Let her wake up on her own terms. Give her that much choice.”

*No. We take her home. Now. Where she belongs. Where we can protect her properly.*

But taking her while she sleeps feels wrong. Feels like another choice stolen. Another boundary crossed.

“Stay if you want. I will make more coffee.” Clara heads to the kitchen. “But Adrian when she wakes up and sees you here it will not matter. She will still feel ambushed. Still feel betrayed. There is no good way

to do this.”

She is right again. No matter what I choose Freya will be angry. Will feel trapped. Will want to run.

So I make the selfish choice. The one Kael demands. The one my heart needs.

I stay. Sit in the chair across from the couch. Just watch her sleep. Just exist in the same space as her

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Just breathe knowing she is safe.

*This is not enough. We need to touch her. Hold her. Take her home where she belongs.*

This is all we get right now. This is all she will allow. So we take it.

An hour passes. Maybe more. I do not move. Do not take my eyes off her. Just watch. Just memorize every detail in case she runs again. In case this is all I get.

Clara brings me coffee. I do not drink it. Just hold the cup and stare at my mate.

“You look terrible.” Clara sits again. “When was the last time you slept?”

“Does not matter.”

“It matters. You cannot protect her if you collapse from exhaustion.” She leans back. “What happened at the restaurant? The wolves said you almost killed Kelvin.”

“I almost did. Would have if she had not been there.” The memory makes my hands tighten on the cup. He had his hands on her. Was making her laugh. Was pretending he had a right.”

“He does not. We both know that. But Freya does not understand pack law yet. Does not understand that being your mate means she is untouchable. Off limits to every other male.” Clara’s voice is gentle. “You scared her. Showed her the violence. Showed her what happens when an Alpha loses control.”

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