The Professor's Mate Clause novel Chapter 45

CHAPTER 45

ADRIAN’S POV

Three frours pass. Freya’s still sleeping against my chest. Her breathing is even. Peaceful. Completely unaware of the war raging inside me.

I cannot sleep. Every time I close my eyes I see the Council chamber. See Nathaniel’s smug face. Hear the votes being cast against me.

Against us.

Three votes. Three wolves who think they can tell me what to do with my mate. Who think they have any right to demand I send her away.

Kill them. Rip them apart. Show the pack what happens when you threaten what is ours.

We cannot kill the Council. That would be actual grounds for removal.

Then make them wish they were dead. Make them regret ever opening their mouths.

Kael has been like this for hours. Snarling. Pacing. Demanding blood. Demanding I do something instead of sitting here holding our sleeping mate.

But watching her sleep is the only thing keeping me sane right now. The only thing stopping me from doing something I cannot take back.

My phone buzzes on the table. I glance at it. A text from Clara.

How is she doing?

I type back one handed. Careful not to wake Freya.

Sleeping. Exhausted. Blaming herself for everything.

And you?

Barely holding on.

Try to hold on a little longer. We need you stable.

I almost smile. Almost. Clara knows me too well. Knows exactly how close to the edge I am walking right now.

Another text comes through. This one from Marcus.

Vanessa is awake. Asking for water. Thought you should know.

Perfect. I have questions for her anyway. Questions that need answering before Asher makes his next move.

I look down at Freya. She shifted in her sleep. Her hand fisted in my shirt like even unconscious she needs to hold

onto me.

The gesture makes my chest tight. Makes Kael purr with satisfaction.

Ours. She knows she is ours even in sleep.

refully I shift her weight. Lift her without waking her. She makes a small sound of protest but settles when I

Iking. I carry her upstairs to my bedroom. Lay her on the bed gently. Cover her with blankets.

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She curls onto her side immediately. Seeking warmth. Seeking me even though I am not there.

I watch her for a long moment. Memorizing her face. The way her hair falls across the pillow. The small furrow between her eyebrows even in sleep.

Beautiful. Perfect. Mine.

Go. Deal with the threat. Come back to her. Protect her properly.

I force myself to leave. Pull the door closed quietly behind me. Head downstairs and keep going. Down to the basement. To where we keep threats contained.

The basement is cold. Concrete. No windows. Just steel doors and reinforced walls. Built specifically for holding dangerous wolves.

Marcus stands guard outside the door. He straightens when he sees me. “Alpha. She has been quiet. No attempts to escape.

“Good. Leave us. What happens in there stays in there.”

His eyes darken. He knows what that means. Knows I am about to do things that cannot be undone.

“Understood. I will be upstairs if you need me.” He hands me the key. Walks away without looking back.

I unlock the door. The hinges creak. Inside Vanessa sits chained to a chair in the center of the room. Her perfect blonde hair is matted with dried blood. Her designer clothes are torn

She looks up when I enter. Fear flashes in her eyes before she masks it with defiance.

“Come to finish the job?” Her voice is hoarse. “Go ahead. I am not afraid of you.’

“You should be.” I close the door behind me. Lock it. “Because what I am about to do to you will make you regret ever opening your mouth about my mate.”

I cross the room. Grab another chair. Drag it across the concrete. The sound is harsh. Grating. Deliberate. I sit directly in front of her. Close enough to smell the fear underneath her bravado.

“Let me be very clear about something Vanessa.” I lean forward. “You threatened my mate. That alone would justify your death. The only reason you are still breathing is because you have information I need.”

“I already told you everything at the penthouse.” She lifts her chin. “Asher is at the warehouse. He has wolves. You already know this.”

“I know what you told me in front of witnesses. In front of my pack. Now I want the truth.” My claws extend slowly. “The real truth. No more games.”

“Or what? You will torture me?” She tries to laugh, but it comes out shaky. “I am Kelvin’s wife. Asher’s daughter in law. You cannot touch me without consequences.”

“Those consequences mean nothing when you threatened what is mine.” I grab her wrist. My claws dig in just enough to draw blood. “And I will do far worse if you do not start talking.”

Her breath hitches. The smell of fear gets stronger.

“What do you want to know?” The defiance cracks. Just a little.

ing. The real plan. Not the warehouse. Not the wolves. The actual endgame.” I apply more pressure. Blood a nto the floor. “And if you lie to me I will know. I will smell it. And then things get very unpleasant.”

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She swallows hard. Nods.

“Asher is not planning an attack. Not yet. He is smarter than that.” Her voice shakes. “He is spreading rumors Lies. Making Freya look dangerous to other packs. To the supernatural community.”

My blood runs cold. “What kind of lies?”

“That she is unstable. That her bound wolf makes her unpredictable. That keeping her alive threatens the laws her father created. That you are too obsessed with her to see reason, he is turning other Alphas against you. Making them think you are weak. That your pack is vulnerable.”

Rage simmers under my skin but I keep it controlled. “What else?”

“He has been bribing Council members. Threatening their families. Elder Nathaniel’s grandson was in an accident last week. Not really an accident. A warning.” She licks her dry lips. “Asher wants the Council to vote again. Wants them to remove you. Then he can claim your territory. Your pack. Everything.”

“And Freya?”

“He wants her isolated. Broken. Blamed for everything. He is planting evidence that she is the one causing problems. That she is manipulating you.” Vanessa looks at me with something almost like pity. “By the time he is done no pack will shelter her. No Alpha will protect her. She will have nowhere to go. No one to turn to.”

Psychological warfare. Destroying her reputation. Her safety. Her options.

“He thinks if he destroys her support system she will leave on her own. Save you the trouble. Make it look like she chose to go.” Vanessa continues. “And if that does not work he has other plans. Worse plans.”

“What plans?”

“I do not know the details. Asher does not trust me that much. But I heard him talking about exposure. About forcing the supernatural world into the open. Using Freya as the catalyst.” She pulls against her chains. “Please. I told you everything. Just let me go.”

“You think telling me changes anything? You were part of this. You helped him.” I release her wrist.”You stay here until I decide what to do with you.”

“Adrian please. I was just following orders. I did not want any of this.”

“Then you chose wrong.” I head for the door. “Everyone makes choices Vanessa. You made yours. Now live with the consequences.”

Her voice follows me out but I do not listen. Lock the door behind me. My hands are shaking with barely contained

fury.

Asher is playing a different game. Not violence. Not war. Politics. Manipulation. Destroying Freya’s life piece by piece until she has nothing left.

Until she leaves me.

Over my dead body.

I need to think. Need to plan. Need to figure out how to counter this before it destroys everything.

“rst I need to check on Freya. Make sure she is still sleeping.

And jus

vas about to take another step our eyes met

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