The Professor's Mate Clause novel Chapter 41

CHAPTER 41

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CHAPTER 41

FREYA’S POV

The penthouse feels too big now. Too empty

I pace from the living room to the kitchen and back again. My footsteps echo on the hardwood floors. Marcus watches me from his post by the door. Clara sits on the couch pretending to look at her phone.

Neither of them tells me to sit down. They know it would not help.

Adrian has been gone for thirty minutes. It feels like thirty hours.

“He will be fine.” Clara finally breaks the silence. “He is an Alpha. He has dealt with worse than Vanessa.”

“You do not know that.” I snap. Then immediately feel bad. “Sorry. I just… I hate this. Hate waiting. Hate not knowing what is happening.”

“I know.” She stands up. “But you are safe here. That is what matters to Adrian. Keeping you safe.”

“What about keeping himself safe?” My voice cracks. “What if something happens to him? What if Vanessa has more people than we thought? What if…”

“Freya.” Marcus’s called me trying to sound as firm as possible.”Adrian did not become an Alpha by being reckless. He knows what he is doing. Trust him.”

Trust him. I do trust him. That is not the problem. The problem is that I care too much. The thought of him getting hurt because of me makes my chest feel like it is caving in.

“Can you feel him?” Clara asks quietly. “Through the bond?”

I stop pacing. “What do you mean?”

“The mate bond. Even incomplete it connects you. You might be able to sense him. Feel if he is okay.” She sits back down. Pats the couch next to her. “Try. Close your eyes. Focus on him.”

It sounds crazy. But everything in my life is crazy now so why not.

I sit. Close my eyes. Try to clear my mind of everything except Adrian.

At first there is nothing. Just darkness. Just my own heartbeat pounding in my ears.

Then something else. A pull. Faint but there. Like a string tied around my chest leading somewhere far away.

I follow it. Focus on it. Let it guide me.

Anger. I can feel his anger. Hot and bright and barely contained. But underneath that is something else. Determination. Focus. Control.

He is okay. He is angry but he is okay.

My eyes open. “I felt him. Just for a second. He is alive. He is angry but alive.”

Clara smiles. “See? The bond is stronger than you think. Even without the mating mark.”

The mention of mating makes my face heat. We have done everything except that. Every time we get close I pull back. Too scared of what it means. What it will change.

“How long does it usually take?” I ask. “For Alphas to handle threats?”

1.4

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Marcus and Clara exchange a look.

“What?” Suspicion creeps in. “What are you not telling me?”

“It depends on the situation.” Marcus finally says. “If it is just Vanessa he will probably bring her back here. Question her. Find out who she is working with.”

“And if it is not just Vanessa?”

“Then it could take longer. Could get messier.” He shifts his weight. “Adrian will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Even if that means starting a war.”

“A war.” The word sounds absurd. “Over me.”

“Over his mate.” Clara corrects. “You are not just you anymore Freya. You are Adrian’s mate. That makes you pack That makes you important. Worth fighting for.”

The responsibility of that crashes over me. People could die because of me. Because Adrian chose me. Because I chose to stay.

“I never asked for any of this.” I stand again. Cannot sit still. “I just wanted a normal life. Normal problems. Now people are going to war over me.”

“You think Adrian would have it any other way?” Marcus said gently. “He has been waiting for you his whole life. Searching. Hoping. You think he would just let someone take you now that he finally found you?”

“No. But…” I trail off. Cannot finish the thought.

“But you feel guilty.” Clara stands walking over to me. “You feel like this is your fault. Like you are causing problems.”

“Am I wrong?”

“Yes. You are completely wrong.” She grabs my shoulders, making me look at her. “Vanessa and Asher were always going to be a problem. This fight was always going to happen. You are just the excuse they are using. Not the cause.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I know… Asher has hated Adrian for years. Hated the laws your father created. Hated that Adrian enforces them.” Clara’s grip tightens. “This was always going to be a war. You just gave them a reason to start it now instead of later.”

The words make sense logically. But emotionally I still feel like this is my fault.

My phone buzzes. I grab it so fast I almost drop it.

A text from Adrian.

*Found her. Bringing her in. Be home soon. Stay inside.*

Relief floods through me so strong my knees almost give out.

“He found her.” I show them the phone. “He is bringing her here.”

“Good.” Marcus pulls out his own phone. Starts typing. “I will alert the others. Gèt everything ready.”

“Ready for what?”

2/4

“For questioning, For answers. For making sure Vanessa understands what happens when you threaten an Alpha’s mate.” His expression goes hard. Dangerous. “This is going to get ugly Freya. You might want to stay upstairs when they arrive.”

“No.” The word comes out firm. Strong, “If she threatened me then I want to be there. Want to look her in the eye. Want her to know I am not scared of her.”

“You sure about that?” Clara asks. “Because Adrian in Alpha mode is not pretty. And what he will do to get information…”

“I am sure.” I am not sure at all. But I cannot hide upstairs like a coward. Not when this is about me. “I need to be there.”

Marcus looks like he wants to argue. Then he just nods. “Your choice. But stay back. Do not interfere. No matter what you or hear.”

“Okay,”

Twenty minutes later the elevator opens.

Adrian walks out first. Blood on his knuckles. His shirt torn. His eyes still glowing blue. He looks like violence personified.

Behind him two of his wolves drag Vanessa. Her perfect blonde hair is a mess. Her designer clothes are dirty. Blood drips from her nose.

But she is smiling, actually smiling, this bitch is crazy.

“Hello again Freya.” she said with a sweet sour voice.. “Miss me?”

Adrian growls “Shut up.”

They drag her to a chair in the center of the room. Tie her hands behind her back. She does not struggle. Just keeps smiling that awful smile.

Adrian walks straight to me. His hands cup my face. Checking for injuries. “You okay?”

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