The Professor's Mate Clause novel Chapter 56

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“you father’s laws made it illegal for them to complete their bond. Wale it punishable by death for a wolf to mark a human mate. So Kelvin had to reject her. Had to break her heart. Had to watch her spiral into depression.” Asher’s hands clench into fists. “She killed herself three nonths later. Jumped from a bridge. My son has never recovered.”

“I am sorry. But that does not justify killing innocent people.”

“Innocent? You’re Alexander Reed’s daughter. His legacy. His living reminder that he could break his own laws while enforcing them on everyone else.” Asher stands. Paces. “Your existence mocka everything he preached. Human wolf hybrid. Bound wolf to hide what you are. Living proof that the laws were always about control About power. About keeping Alphas like him in charge. “My father died trying to change those laws. Trying to make things better.”

“Your father died because he was a hypocrite. Because other Alphas finally had enough of his righteousness. Because someone decided the only way to fix the system was to remove the one who created it ” Asher stops at the window. “I did not kill him. But I would have. Eventually.”

The admission hangs in the air.

“What about my mother? Did you kill her too?”

“No. That was Kelvin’s doing. Unsanctioned. Impulsive. He was trying to get information about where you were hidden. She refused to talk. He got angry. Things escalated.” Asher turns back to me. “I was furious when I found out. Killing her accomplished nothing except alerting Adrian to the danger. Made everything harder.”

“You talk about it like she was just an obstacle. She was a person. She had a life. She had me.”

“She had information I needed. And she chose to die rather than give it up. Admirable in a way. Stupid in reality.” Asher returns to his seat. “But here we are. Seven years later. You’ve finally surfaced. Finally revealed yourself. Finally given me the chance to finish what your father started.”

“Which is?”

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“Ending the Reed bloodline. Destroying the last symbol of laws that should never have existed. Proving that no Alpha is above consequences.” He picks up his fork again. “Eat. You’ll need your strength for tomorrow.”

“What happens tomorrow?”

“The rejection ceremony. You stand before witnesses and reject Adrian Metcalfe. Break the mate bond publicly. Free him to find another mate.” Asher takes another bite. “Then you die. Quickly. Painlessly. And this whole mess ends.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Then Adrian suffers. For days. Weeks. Months. I’ll keep him alive just to torture him. Just to make him wish he never met you. Just to break him completely.” Asher’s smile is cold. “But you won’t refuse. Because you love him. Because you’re just like your mother. Too soft. Too human. Too willing to sacrifice yourself for others.”

The truth of his words makes me sick. He is right. I will do whatever it takes to stop Adrian from suffering. Even if it means my own death. Even if it means breaking both our hearts.

“I want to see the other captives.” I change the subject. Need to think about something else. “You said there were others.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to know who else you’re planning to murder.”

Asher considers this. Then shrugs. “Why not? Maybe it will help you understand the scope of what I’m fighting against.” He stands. Walks to the door. Knocks twice.

The scarred woman returns.

“Take her to the holding cells. Let her see the others. Then bring her back to her cell.” Asher looks at me. “Consider this your

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last kindness. Tomorrow there will be no more.”

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The woman grabs may arm again. Drags me back through the hallways. Down different stairs. To a section of the comprend have not seen yet.

Cells line both walls. Most are occupied Wolves Humans. Some who look like they have been here for months. Years.

“These are the ones who broke laws. Who mated across species. Who refused to reject their bonds” The woman sounds bored. Boss keeps them as examples. As warnings. As entertainment when he gets bored.”

I look in each cell as we pass. See couples holding each other. See individuals broken and alone. See children. God there are children here.

“How long have they been here?”

“Depends. Some a few weeks. Some since before I started working here three years ago.” She stops at one cell. “This one’s my favorite. Human woman. Wolf mate. They’ve been here two years. Boss separated them. Keeps them if cells where they can see

each other but never touch. It drives them insane.”

I look inside. A woman sits on a cot. She looks like she is barely alive. Hollow eyes. Thin frame. Hopeless.

“Why not just kill them?”

“Where’s the fun in that?” The woman laughs. “Boss likes to prove his point. That love isn’t worth the suffering. That bonds should be rejected. That laws exist for a reason.”

We keep walking. More cells. More suffering. More proof that Asher is a monster.

Then I see him. In the last cell at the end of the row.

Kelvin.

He sits on the floor. Head in his hands. He looks up when he hears footsteps. His eyes widen when he sees me.

“Freya.”

“What are you doing in a cell?” I ask.

“Punishment. Father caught me texting someone. Trying to warn them about the steel mill ambush.” Kelvin stands. Moves to the bars. “I tried to stop this. Tried to get you out before it was too late. He found out.”

“You’re lying.”

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“I’m not. I swear. I’ve been trying to fix what I broke. Trying to make up for your mother. For everything” He looks genuinely distressed. “But he’s too smart, he always knows.”

The scarred woman pulls me away. “Enough. Back to your cell.”

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