The Professor's Mate Clause novel Chapter 44

CHAPTER 44

ADRIAN’S POV

Three votes.

Three of my own Council members voted to strip me of everything. To exile me from the pack I built. The packi have bled for. Killed for. Protected with my life.

Because of her.

No. Not because of her. Because of them. Because they are cowards who would rather sacrifice one person than stand and fight.

My hands are shaking as we walk out of the Council chamber. I clench them into fists. Cannot let the pack see weakness. Cannot let them know how close I came to losing control in there.

How close I came to ripping Nathaniel’s throat out for daring to threaten my mate.

Our mate. They tried to take what is ours. They will pay for that.

Not now Kael. Not yet.

When then? When they vote again? When they actually succeed in removing us?

Freya walks beside me. Silent. Her head held high but I can feel her guilt through the bond. Can feel her blaming herself for all of this.

She offered to leave. Actually stood in front of the Council and said she would go if the vote passed.

The words had made something dark and violent rise in my chest. Made Kael roar with fury. Made me want to grab her and run. Take her somewhere they could never find us. Never touch us.

But I stayed still. Stayed silent. Let her speak because she needed to. Because the Council needed to see her strength.

And it worked. Elder Margaret voted in our favor because of Freya. Because she saw something worth protecting.

Three to two. I keep my position by the thinnest margin possible. 1

It is not enough. It will never be enough.

“Alpha.” Marcus appears at my side as we reach the cars. “The pack is watching. You need to address them. Show strength. Show that the Council vote does not shake you.”

“I know what I need to do.” My voice comes out harsher than intended. Marcus does not flinch. He knows me too well. “Get everyone back to the penthouse. I will speak to them there.”

“What about Asher? The warehouse?”

“Can wait. This cannot.” I open the car door for Freya. She slides in without looking at me. The guilt is eating her alive. I can feel it.

We drive in silence. My mind races. Planning. Strategizing. Figuring out how to keep my pack unified when half the Council just declared they do not trust my judgment.

How to protect Freya when everyone sees her as the problem instead of what she is.

1/4

+25 Bus

The solution. My mate. My future. Everything that matters.

She is everything. And they want me to send her away like she is disposable.

They do not understand. Cannot understand. They have never felt the mate bond. Never had their entire world shift the mornent they found the other half of their soul.

Freya is not a burden. She is the reason I breathe. The reason I fight. The reason any of this matters.

Without her there is no pack. No position. No purpose.

Just emptiness.

We pull into the garage. I get out and come around to her side. Open her door. Offer my hand.

She takes it. Her fingers are cold. Trembling slightly.

“Are you okay?” I ask quietly. The others are out of earshot. Just us for a moment.

“That is a stupid question.” She looks up at me. Brown eyes full of pain. “You almost lost everything because of me.”

“I almost lost nothing because of you. The vote failed. I keep my position.

“Barely. Three to two Adrian. Half the Council thinks I am not worth it.”

“Half the Council is wrong.” I pull her closer. Cup her face. “You are worth everything. Worth fighting for. Worth burning the world down for if necessary.”

“You should not have to burn anything down. You should have a pack that supports you. That trusts you.” Her voice breaks. “Maybe I should leave anyway. Voluntarily. Before another vote happens.”

No. Absolutely not. Never.

“You are not leaving.” The words come out as a command. “I will not allow it.”

“You will not allow it?” Her eyes flash with anger. Good. Anger is better than guilt. “I am not yours to command Adrian. I can make my own choices.”

“You are mine in every way that matters. And I choose you. I will always choose you.” I lean down until our foreheads touch. “So no. You are not leaving. You are staying right here where you belong. With me.”

Kael purrs his agreement. Finally. Finally you say what needs to be said.

“What if there is another vote?” She whispers. “What if next time it goes the other way?”

“Then I lose my position. And we leave together. Build a life somewhere else. Somewhere they cannot touch us.”

“You would really do that? Give up everything for me?”

“In a heartbeat.” I kiss her softly. “You are my everything Freya. The pack. The position. The territory. None of it means anything without you.”

She kisses me back. Desperate. Clinging. Like she needs the reassurance as much as I need to give it.

“Alpha.” Marcus’s voice breaks the moment. “The pack is gathering. Ready when you are.”

I pull back. Straighten. The Alpha mask slides back into place. “Let’s go.”

2/4

We head upstairs. The living room is full of wolves. Twenty. Thirty. More arriving. All of them waiting to hear what I have to say. Waiting to see if their Alpha is still strong. Still worthy of following.

I release Freya’s hand. Step forward. Let them all see me. Let the dominance roll off me in waves. Reininding them exactly who I am. What I am.

“The Council voted.” My voice carries. Commanding. “Three to two. I remain Alpha. This pack remains mine. Anyone who has a problem with that can challenge me now.”

Silence. No one moves. No one speaks.

Good.

“Freya Reed is my mate. That makes her pack. That makes her under my protection. Under all of our protection. My eyes scan the room. Meeting every gaze. “Anyone who threatens her threatens me. Anyone who harms her will answer to me personally. Is that clear?”

A chorus of “Yes Alpha” echoes back.

Not all of them mean it. I can tell. Some voices are hesitant. Uncertain. But they answer because they must. Because I am still their Alpha.

For now.

“Asher Brooks wants war. He wants us divided. Wants us weak.” I continue. “The Council gave him exactly what he wanted today. But we will not give him more. We stand together. We fight together. We protect our own. Always.

11

More agreement. Stronger this time.

“Get back to your posts. Double the security. No one in or out without clearance. We prepare for whatever comes next.” I dismiss them with a gesture. “Go.”

They file out. Slowly. Some stop to nod at me. Show respect. Others avoid my eyes. Show doubt.

The division is real. Visible. Dangerous.

When the room finally empties Marcus remains. And Clara. And Freya.

“That was good.” Marcus says. “Strong. They needed to see that.”

“They needed to see their Alpha is not shaken by a Council vote. Even if he is.” I sink onto the couch. The exhaustion hits suddenly. Completely.

Three votes. Three of my own Council wanted me gone.

The betrayal burns.

“What happens now?” Clara asks. “Asher is still out there. Vanessa is in the basement. The Council is divided. Where do we even start?”

“We start with making sure Freya is safe. Everything else comes second.” I look at her. My mate. Standing across the room looking lost. “Then we deal with Asher. Then the Council. In that order.”

“And if the Council votes again?”

“They will not. Not for a while. They made their statement. Now they wait to see if I fall in line. Send Freya away like they demanded.” My jaw clenches. “They will be waiting a long time.”

3.4

THASRN 24

Marcus and Clara exchange a look.

“You are sure about this?” Marcus asks. “About risking everything for her?”

“I have never been more sure of anything in my life.”

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