The Professor's Mate Clause novel Chapter 43

CHAPTER 43

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CHAPTER 43

FREYA’S POV

We are halfway to the warehouse when Adrian’s phone rings.

His jaw tightens. He glances at the screen then at Marcus. Something passes between them. Something not good. “Answer it.” Marcus says quietly. “You have to.”

Adrian hits the button and puts it on speaker. “This better be important.”

“Alpha Metcalfe.” The voice is old. Male. Dripping with authority. “We need to speak. Immediately.”

“Elder Nathaniel. I am in the middle of something.”

“Yes. We are aware. Which is precisely why we are calling.” Papers rustle in the background. “Turn your vehicles around. Return to pack headquarters. The Council demands an emergency session.”

“The Council can wait. I have a threat to neutralize.”

“The threat can wait. Your pack cannot.” Another voice joins in. Female. Just as old. “This is not a request Alpha. This is an order from your Council. Return now or face consequences.”

My stomach drops. The way they talk to him. Like he is not an Alpha. Like he is just another wolf who has to obey. Adrian’s knuckles go white on the steering wheel. “What consequences?”

“A vote of no confidence. Removal from your position. Exile.” The old man speaks again. “We have grounds Adrian. You know we do.”

“Grounds for what?”

“For declaring you unfit to lead. For prioritizing personal matters over pack safety. For bringing war to our doorstep over a human girl.” “The pack is at risk because of your choices We will not allow it to continue.”

The car goes silent. Everyone heard that. Everyone knows what they are talking about.

Me. They are talking about me.

“She is my mate.” Adrian’s voice drops dangerously low. “Not a human girl. My fated mate.”

“A mate who was human until recently. A mate whose very existence threatens pack law. A mate who has brought the wrath of Asher Brooks down on all of us.” The woman speaks now. “We sympathize with you Adrian. We do. But one wolf cannot put the entire pack at risk. Not even you.’

“So what are you saying?” His eyes flash blue even while driving. “Spell it out.”

“Send her away. To another territory. Another country. Somewhere far from here where Asher cannot reach her. Where her presence does not endanger us all.” The old man pauses. “Or we will vote. And you will lose your position. Your pack. Everything.”

“You would exile your own Alpha over this?”

“We would protect our pack. As is our duty. As should be yours.” The woman’s voice softens slightly. “We are not monsters Adrian. We understand the bond. But you must understand our position. Seventy families. Two hundred wolves. All at risk because you refuse to make the hard choice.”

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Adrian does not respond. Just grips the steering wheel tighter

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“One hour.” The old man says. “We convene in one hour. Come. Explain yourself. Make your case. But know that our minds are set. The girl goes or you do.”

The line goes dead.

The silence in the car is deafening. Marcus stares straight ahead. The wolves in the back do not move No one knows what to say.

Adrian makes a sharp turn. The car behind us follows. We are heading back.

Toward something worse.

“Adrian.” I finally found my voice. “What just happened?”

“The Council happened.” He does not look at me. “The old guard. The ones who helped my father build this pack They have authority over me in certain situations. This apparently counts.”

“They want you to send me away.

“They want a lot of things they will not get.”

“But they said they would remove you. Exile you. Can they actually do that?” My chest feels tight. “Can they take away your position?”

“Technically yes. With a unanimous vote from all five Council members they can declare me unfit. Strip my title. Banish me from pack lands.” He said bitterly. “It is rare. Has only happened twice in pack history. But it is possible.”

“Because of me. They would do that because of me.”

“They would do it because they are cowards.” Marcus turns in his seat. “Do not blame yourself Freya. The Council has wanted to limit Adrian’s power for years. This is just their excuse.”

“But he said it himself. I am bringing war to your doorstep. Putting everyone at risk.” Guilt crashes over me.” Maybe they are right. Maybe I should leave.”

“No.” Adrian grabs my hand and. Squeezes it hard. “You are not leaving. Not because they demand it. Not because they threaten me. You are my mate and you stay.”

“Even if it costs you everything?”

“There is no everything without you.” He finally looks at me. Eyes blazing. “Do you understand? You are not the problem. You are the reason. The only reason any of this matters.”

The words make my throat tight. Make my eyes burn with tears I refuse to shed.

“But your pack…”

“Will follow me or they will not. That is their choice.” He turns back to the road. “But I will not send you away to appease old wolves who think they know better. Who thinks one person’s life matters less than the collective. That is not the kind of Alpha I am.”

The pack house appears ahead. Bigger than I expected. More compound than house. High walls. Guard towers. Serious security.

We pull through the gates. Other cars are already there. Wolves standing outside. All of them watching as we arrive.

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They know. Of course they know. Pack business spreads fast.

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Adrian parks and gets out. Comes around to open my door. Helps me out like we are arriving at a party instead of a trial.

“Stay close to me.” He murmurs. “Do not speak unless spoken to. Let me handle the Council.”

“Okay.”

Marcus falls into step beside us. Clara appears from one of the other cars. Together we walk toward the main building.

Wolves line the path. Some nod at Adrian. Show respect. Others stare at me with open hostility. Blame clear in their eyes.

This is my fault. All of it. Adrian losing his position. The pack is at risk. Everything.

The Council chamber is inside. Dark wood. High ceilings. A long table where five elderly wolves sit. Three men. Two women. All of them looking at Adrian with disappointment.

“Alpha Metcalfe.” The man in the center stands. Must be Elder Nathaniel. “Thank you for coming.”

“You did not leave me much choice.” Adrian’s voice is ice.

“No. We did not.” Nathaniel gestures to chairs across from them. “Please. Sit. We have much to discuss.”

Adrian sits. I sit next to him. Marcus and Clara stand behind us like guards.

The Council stares. At me. At Adrian. At all of us.

“Let us begin.” The woman on the left speaks. Elder Sarah maybe. “Adrian Metcalfe. You stand accused of putting personal interest above pack welfare. Of bringing unnecessary danger to our people. Of refusing to take action that would ensure our safety. How do you answer these charges?”

“I answer that they are bullshit.” Adrian leans back. Casual. Dangerous. “And that you are using fear to manipulate me into abandoning my mate.”

“Fear is not manipulation when the threat is real.” Another man speaks. Younger than the others but still old. ” Asher Brooks has declared his intent. War is coming. Because of her.”

He points at me. I resist the urge to shrink back.

“War was always coming with Asher.” Adrian counters. “Freya is just the excuse. Not the cause. You know this.”

“Perhaps. But removing the excuse removes his justification. Makes it harder for him to rally support.” Nathaniel folds his hands. “Send her away Adrian. Keep your pack safe. Keep your position. Everyone wins.”

“Except Freya who loses her home. Her mate. Everything.” Adrian’s hand finds mine under the table. “No. I will not do it.”

“Then you leave us no choice.” Sarah stands. “We call for a vote. All in favor of declaring Adrian Metcalfe unfit to lead say aye.”

My heart stops. This is it. They are actually doing it.

One by one the Council speaks.

“Aye.”

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MAPTER 43

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“Aye.”

“Aye.”

Three votes. Two more to go.

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