The Professor's Mate Clause novel Chapter 36

CHAPTER 36

FREYA’S POV

The shower helps clear my head. Sort of.

I stand under the hot spray trying very hard not to think about what just happened in Adrian’s bed. About his hands on me. About the sounds I made. About how easily he took me apart.

My body still feels sensitive. Alive. Every nerve ending is buzzing.

I wash quickly and get dressed in clothes from the guest room. Jeans and a soft sweater. Normal clothes that make me feel more like myself.

When I come downstairs the smell of coffee and bacon hits me immediately. My stomach growls loud enough that I am surprised the entire building cannot hear it.

Adrian is in the kitchen. He changed too. Dark jeans that fit way too well. A fitted black shirt that shows off every muscle. His hair is still damp from his shower.

He looks up when I walk in. His eyes do that thing where they flash blue for just a second before going

back to normal.

“Hungry?” His voice is rougher than usual. Strained.

“Starving actually.” I slide onto one of the bar stools. “That smells amazing.”

He plates eggs and bacon. Sets it in front of me along with coffee. Black. Exactly how I take it.

“You remembered.” I pick up the mug.

“I remember everything about you.” He leans against the counter across from me. Does not eat. Just watches me. “Every detail. Every preference. Everything.”

The intensity in his gaze makes my skin heat. I take a sip of coffee to have something to do with my

hands.

“Are you not eating?” I ask.

“Already ate. I have been up for hours.” He crosses his arms. The movement makes his biceps flex.” Could not sleep knowing you were in my bed.”

“You could have woken me up.”

“And risk you running again? No.” His jaw tightens. “I needed to let you rest. Let you feel safe.”

I take a bite of eggs. They are perfect. Of course they are. “What time is it anyway?”

“Almost ten. I let you sleep in.” He pours himself coffee. “We have a lot to cover today.”

“Training.” I set down my fork. Suddenly nervous. “What does that actually mean?”

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“It means teaching you to survive in my world. Our world.” He comes around the counter. Stands close. Too close. “Teaching you to defend yourself. To understand pack dynamics. To know who your enemies

are.”

“I already know my enemies. Asher. Vanessa. Kelvin.”

“There are more than just them. The supernatural world is bigger than you think. More dangerous.” His hand comes up to cup my face. Possessive. “And I need you ready for all of it.”

“Ready how?”

“Physically first. Self defense. Hand to hand combat. How to fight like a human since your wolf is still bound.” His thumb traces my jaw. “Then the politics. Pack structure. Laws. Who has power and who

wants it.”

My head is spinning. “That sounds like a lot.”

“It is. But you are strong enough to handle it.” His eyes bore into mine. “I have seen you survive things that would break most people. You can do this.”

“What if I cannot?”

“Then I will be there to catch you. Always.” He leans down. Kisses me softly. “You are mine to protect Freya. Mine to train. Mine to keep safe. I will not let you fail.”

The possessiveness should bother me. Should make me want to argue that I am not his property.

But the way he says it makes me feel cherished instead of owned. Like I am something precious he

would burn the world down to keep.

“When do we start?” I ask against his lips.

“Now.” He pulls back. His eyes are glowing again. “Finish eating. Then meet me in the training room.”

“You have a training room?”

“Of course I do. I am an Alpha. Fighting is part of what I am.” He heads toward the hallway. Stops. Looks back. “And Freya? Wear something you can move in, and not something I would shred easily. is will not be easy.”

He disappears before I can respond. I sit there with my half eaten breakfast trying to process everything.

Training. Fighting. Learning to survive in a world I barely understand.

This is my life now. No more running. No more pretending I am normal.

I finish eating quickly and head back to the guest room. Dig through the clothes Clara must have brought over at some point. Find yoga pants and a sports bra. A tank top.

I change and pull my hair into a ponytail. Look at myself in the mirror.

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CHAN FEW 20

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I look like I am about to take a fitness class. Not learn how to fight for my life.

The training room is in the basement. I follow the sound of movement. Of something heavy hitting something else.

The room is soooo huge, with Mats covering the floor and Punching bags hanging from the ceiling, different weights and euipment I do not recognize.

Adrian is in the centerz Shirtless now. Just gray sweatpants sitting low on his hips. His back is to me. Every muscle is defined. Moving under tan skin as he hits the punching bag.

I just stand there and stare like an idiot. Because holy hell he is beautiful. Dangerous and powerful and completely perfect.

He stops. Turns. Catches me staring. A slow smile spreads across his face.

“Like what you see?” His voice is pure arrogance.

“Shut up.” My face goes hot. “You said to meet you here.”

“I did.” He grabs a towel. Wipes sweat from his face. Does not put a shirt on. “Come here.”

It sounds like a command. Not a request. My body responds before my brain catches up. I walk to the

center of the mats.

He circles me slowly. Looking at me from every angle. “Good. You dressed appropriately.”

“You told me to.”

“And you listened. Smart girl.” He stops in front of me. “First lesson. Never take your eyes off a potential threat. I could have attacked while you were gawking at me.”

“I was not gawking.”

“Yes you were. I could smell your arousal from across the room.” He steps closer. Invades my space. But that is a distraction we will deal with later. Right now I need you focused.”

“I am focused.”

“Prove it.” He moves so fast I barely see it. One second he is in front of me. The next he is behind me. His arm wraps around my throat. Not tight. Just there. “What do you do?”

“I do not know.” Panic flares. “Let me go.”

“No. Figure it out. What do you do when someone grabs you from behind?”

My mind races. Self defense videos I watched online flash through my head. “I… I stomp on your foot?”

“Good. Do it.”

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