The Professor's Mate Clause novel Chapter 53

CHAPTER 53

ADRIAN’S POV

“They’re following us.” Marcus glances in the rearview mirror. “Three vehicles. Maybe more.”

“I know.”

“Lose them.”

“Working on it.” Marcus takes a hard right. “But with Clara’s condition we can’t do anything too aggressive. She needs a hospital.”

Clara lies across the back seat. Unconscious. Blood seeping through makeshift bandages. Her breathing is shallow.

She’s dying. One of my best wolves is dying because I brought them into a trap.

“We should have known. Should have sensed the betrayal.”

I know. But it’s too late for should haves.

Freya sits pressed against me. Still shaking. Still processing what she saw.

I shifted in front of her and she called me beautiful.

The girl is either insane or a saint. Maybe both.

“Adrian.” Her voice is small. “Clara’s not breathing right. Something’s wrong.”

I lean forward. Check Clara’s pulse. It’s there but weak and Fading.

“Marcus. Hospital. Now. I don’t care about the tail.”

“If we go to a hospital Asher will know. He’ll have people there. We’ll be sitting ducks.”

“Then we call Dr. Chen. Have him meet us somewhere safe.”/I pull out my phone. Dial. “We can’t let her die Marcus. She’s pack.”

The call connects. “Dr. Chen. I need you. Now. Clara’s critical. Multiple wounds. Barely breathing.”

“Where are you?” he asked calmly

“Heading east on Morrison. Being followed. Need a secure location.”

“Go to the warehouse on Fifth and Vine. I’ll meet you there in ten minutes. I’ll bring everything.”

He hangs up. I relay the address to Marcus.

“That’s deep in neutral territory.” Marcus sounds uncertain. “If we get cornered there

“We won’t get cornered. Just drive.”

Behind us the vehicles are getting closer. Gaining.

*They’re not trying to catch us. They’re herding us.”

*

I realize it too late. “Marcus. Stop. It’s a trap. They’re pushing us somewhere.

But before he can brake, a van pulls out from a side street. Blocks our path.

Marcus slams the brakes. We skid. The SUV spins. Hits the van sideways. Metal crunches. Class shatters.

The impact throws everyone forward, Freya screams. Clara’s body slides. I grab their both. Use my body to shield them from the worst.

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The vehicle stops. Smoking. Damaged. But drivable maybe.

“Everyone okay?” I check Freya first. No visible injuries. Just scared. “Freya. Talk to me.”

“I’m fine. Check Clara.”

Clara’s still unconscious. But now she’s bleeding more. The impact opened her wounds.

“We need to move. On foot.” I kick open the door. It’s stuck. I kick harder. It gives. “Marcus. With me. Everyone else defensive positions.”

The three vehicles that were following us stop. Form a perimeter. Doors open. Wolves emerge.

Too many. At least twenty. All shifted. All ready.

My pack members shift too. Five wolves. Against twenty. Not good odds.

“Freya. You run. Now. Cut through that alley. Don’t stop. Don’t look back.” I point to the narrow gap between buildings. “Go.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“That wasn’t a request.” My voice comes out as Alpha command. Hard. Absolute. “GO.”

She flinches. But doesn’t move. “No. We survive together or we don’t survive at all.”

Stubborn. Brave. Stupid.

I don’t have time to argue. Asher’s wolves are advancing

Shift. Fight. Protect our mate.

Not yet. Shifting means losing the ability to speak

“Marcus. Get Clara out of the car. Freya helps you. Move her toward that building. Find cover.”

“And you?”

“I buy you time.” I step forward. Put myself between my pack and the enemy. “How much time do you need to get them safe?”

“Two minutes.”

“Then I’ll give you five.”

I shift.

Bones crack. Reshape. Fur explodes across my skin. The wolf takes over. Kael surges forward hungry for violence.

The enemy wolves hesitate. They’ve heard stories. Know what an Alpha can do. Know I’m dangerous.

But they have numbers. They attack as one.

I meet them head-on.

The first wolf goes for my throat. I dodge. Snap my jaws around its leg. Bone crunches. It velps. Falls.

Two more come from the sides. I roll. Come up fighting. Claws rake across my shoulder. Pain flares. I ignore it. Bite down on the closest wolf’s neck. Not killing. Just disabling.

Four down. Sixteen to go.

They’re learning. Moving better Coordinating. One feints left. Another attacks right. A third goes low

I can’t block them all

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Teeth find my hind leg. Sink deep. I howl. Spin. Throw off the attacker.

Blood flows. Mine. Theirs. The concrete is slick with it.

Behind me I hear Marcus shouting, Moving Clara. Getting Freya to safety.

Good. Just need to hold a little longer.

A massive gray wolf breaks from the pack. Bigger than the others. Alpha energy radiating.

Asher. He shifted. Came to finish this personally.

We circle each other. He’s older. More experienced. Been fighting longer.

But I’m angrier. More desperate. More protective of what’s mine.

Kil him. End this. Rip out his throat.

Not yet. I need him alive. Need answers. Need to know who betrayed us, We clash

His teeth find my shoulder, My claws rake his side. Draw blood. Deep gouges.

We break apart. Both bleeding. Both winded. Both ready for more.

Then I hear it. A sound that stops my heart.

Freya screaming.

書

I turn. See Marcus on the ground. Three wolves on him. And Freya. Freya backed against a wall. Kelvin in human form approaching her.

I abandon the fight with Asher. Run toward my mate. Toward the threat.

Kelvin sees me coming. Smiles. Grabs Freya by the throat.

“Stop or I snap her neck.” He yells. “I swear to god Adrian I’ll kill her.”

I skid to a halt. Ten feet away. Too far. If I lunge he’ll do it. He’ll kill her before I reach him.

Checkmate.

“Shift back. Now. Or she dies.” Kelvin’s hand tightens. Freya gasps. Claws at his arm,

I have no choice.

I shift back. Human. Naked. Vulnerable. “Let her go Kelvin. This is between us.”

“No. This is about her. Always has been ” He drags Freya toward a waiting vehicle. “Father wants her. She’s coming with us.

“Like hell she is.” Marcus is up. shifted. Limping but fighting. He lunges at Kelvin.

Kelvin dodges. Uses Freya as a shield. Marcus pulls back. Can’t risk hitting her.

“Everyone stop.” Asher’s voice. He shifted back too. Stands there covered in blood. “Or I have my wolves rip apart your pack one by one starting with the dying one.”

Two wolves stand over Clara Teeth at her throat. Ready to kill

“Your choice Adrian. Surrender now. Come peacefully. Or watch everyone you love die ” Asher spreads his hands. “I’m feeling generous. I’ll even let the girl live. For now.

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