The Professor's Mate Clause novel Chapter 63

Chapter 63

FREYA’S POV

Three days.

That’s how long Adrian has been unconscious. Three days of watching his chest rise and fall. Three days of holding his hand. Three days of waiting for him to wake up.

Dr. Chen says he’s healing. That his body is repairing itself. That unconsciousness is his systern’s way of conserving energy for recovery.

But three days feels like an eternity.

I barely leave his side. Clara brings me food but I don’t eat. Water I force down. Changes my bandages while I sit next to his bed refusing to move.

The bond is stronger now. I can feel him through it more clearly. Feel his pain fading. Feel his strength returning. Feel him getting closer to waking up.

But not yet. Not quite yet.

“You need to rest.” Marcus appears in the doorway. He looks exhausted. Dark circles under his eyes. New scars across his face. Freya. You’re going to collapse.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine. You haven’t slept. Barely eaten. You’re running on fumes.” He moves into the room. Sits in the chair across from me. “Adrian would want you to take care of yourself.”

“Adrian would do the same thing if our positions were reversed/

“True. Which is why I’m telling you instead of asking. Go shower. Eat a real meal. Sleep for a few hours. I’ll stay with him. If anything changes I’ll come get you immediately.”

I don’t want to leave. Don’t want to miss the moment he wakes up. But Marcus is right. I smell like three days of fear and sweat My body aches. My eyes burn.

“Two hours. That’s it.” I stand slowly. Everything protests. “And you come get me the second he wakes up.”

“Deal.”

I force myself out of the room. Down the hallway to where they set up sleeping quarters. A small bedroom. Simple but clean. Someone laid out fresh clothes on the bed.

The shower feels incredible. Hot water washing away days of grime and blood and terror. I stand under the spray until the water runs clear. Until I feel almost human again.

Clean clothes. Soft cotton. Not my usual style but comfortable. I catch my reflection in the mirror.

I look different. Thinner. Sharper. There’s something in my eyes that wasn’t there before. Something harder. More dangerous. Being kidnapped. Tortured. Fighting for my life. Watching Adrian nearly die. It changed me. Made me into something else. Maybe Clara was right. Maybe I am becoming a warrior.

The cafeteria is empty this time of night. Just me and the pack members on guard duty. Someone left food out. Sandwiches. Fruit. Things that don’t need reheating.

I force myself to eat. The food tastes like ash but I swallow it anyway. My body needs fuel. Needs strength. I can’t possibly help

Adrian if I’m falling apart.

“Mind if I join you?”

Kelvin stands in the doorway. He looks different too. Nervous and guilty. Like he’s not sure he’s allowed to be here.

“It’s a free world.”

He sits across from me but doesn’t take any food. Just sits there fidgeting with his hands. “I’m glad you’re okay. Both of you. I wasn’t sure… after I left you there… if you made it out.”

“We barely did. Thanks to you helping Adrian escape.” I take another bite. Force it down. “Why did you do it? Help us?” 1

“Because I’m tired of being my father’s weapon. Tired of hurting innocent people. Tired of hating myself.” He meets my eyes. “I know it doesn’t change what I did to your mother. Nothing can change that. But maybe I can start trying to be better. To do better.”

“You saved Adrian’s life. And mine. That counts for something.”

“Does it? Because your pack still wants to kill me. Marcus has guards on me constantly. No one trusts me. Everyone thinks I’m going to betray you all.”

“Can you blame them? You’ve given them every reason not to trust you.”

“No. I can’t blame them.” He stands. “I just wanted you to know. I’m here. If you need anything. If I can help. I owe you both that much.”

He leaves before I can respond. I sit there alone with my half-eaten sandwich and thoughts I don’t want to think.

Kelvin killed my mother. There’s no changing that. No forgiving that. But he also saved Adrian. Saved me. Risked his life to help us escape.

People are complicated. Capable of terrible things and noble things. Sometimes both at once.

I don’t know what to do with that information. Don’t know how to reconcile the man who murdered my mother with the man who helped save my mate.

So I just finish eating and head back to Adrian’s room.

Marcus is still there. Reading something on his tablet. He looks up when renter. “No change. But his vitals are stronger. Dr. Chen thinks maybe tomorrow.”

“You can go rest. I’ll take it from here.”

“You sure? It’s only been an hour.”

“I’m sure. I showered. I ate. I feel better.” It’s a lie but he seems to buy it. “Go. Get some sleep.”

Marcus leaves. I reclaim my spot in the chair next to Adrian’s bed. Take his hand. Press it against my cheek.

“Please wake up. I need you to wake up. Need to see your eyes. Hear your voice. Know you’re really okay.” My voice cracks. “I can’t do this without you. Can’t be strong without you. Please.”

His fingers twitch. Just barely. So subtle I almost miss it.

Then his eyes open. Just a crack. Blue irises finding mine. Focusing with effort.

“Freya.” My name comes out as a rasp. Barely audible. But the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.

“You’re awake. Oh god you’re awake.” I lean forward. Careful not to jostle him. “How do you feel? Are you in pain? Should I get Dr. Chen?”

“…” He swallows. Tries again. “I’m okay. Hurts. But okay. You?”

“I’m fine. Better now that you’re awake.” Tears stream down my face. “You scared me. You were so hurt. I thought… I thought I lost you.”

His hand squeezes mine. Weak but there, “Can’t lose me. I’m too stubborn to die.”

I laugh through the tears. “Yeah. You really are.”

“What happened? After the compound. How did we get out”

“Marcus and the pack. They tracked us. Fought their way in. Got us out during the chaos.” I wipe my face. “We lost three wolves in the extraction. But we made it. We’re safe.”

“Where are we?”

“Safe house. One of the pack’s emergency locations. We’ve been here three days.”

“Three days.” He tries to sit up. Grimaces. Falls back. “Fuck. Three days unconscious.”

“Your body needed to heal. Dr. Chen said you were touch and go for a while. Organ damage. Blood loss. Silver poisoning. It was bad Adrian. Really bad.”

“But I’m alive. We both are. That’s what matters.” His eyes search mine. “What about Asher? Did we kill him?”

“I don’t know. Everything after you got hurt is fuzzy. I remember fighting him. Clara and Marcus pulling us out. Then nothing until I woke up here.” I lean closer. “But we can worry about Asher later. Right now you need to focus on healing.”

“Need to…” He trails off. His eyes are closing again. “Stay. Don’t leave.”

“I’m not going anywhere. I promise.” I climb carefully into the bed next to him. Curl against his side. “Sleep. I’ll be right here when you wake up.”.

His arm comes around me. Even injured. Even barely conscious. He pulls me close. Protective. Possessive.

Mine.

Within seconds his breathing evens out. He’s asleep again but it’s different this time. Not unconscious. Just resting. Healing.

I press my ear to his chest. Listen to his heartbeat. Strong. Steady. Alive.

We survived. Against impossible odds. Against Asher’s torture. Against everything.

We survived.

And now we get to figure out what comes next. Together.

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CHAPTER 64

Chapter 64

ADRIAN’S POV

I wake up to her scent.

That’s the first thing I’m aware of, not the pain, not weakness, Just Freya. Her smell surrounding me. Vanilla and something uniquely her, Close So close.

My eyes open. She’s curled against my side, with her head on my chest. One hand fisted in my shirt like even in sleep she needs to hold onto me.

The bond hums between us. Stronger than before. The shared trauma. The blood exchange. The desperate fight to keep each other alive. It forged something deeper. Something unbreakable.

“Our mate is Safe, here and Alive.”

Kael is there. Weak but present. The silver poisoning is fading. Given time we’ll be back to full strength.

But right now I don’t need strength. Just need this. Her. This moment. This peace.

I run my fingers through her hair gently, in other not to wake her but I can’t help touching her. Making sure she’s real. That this isn’t some fever dream.

She stirs. Her eyes flutter open. Brown meeting blue. “You’re awake. Again. This time for real.”

“How long?”

“Few hours. You woke up last night. Talked for a minute. Then passed out again.” She sits up slightly. Careful of my injuries.” How do you feel?”

“Like I got torn apart by a pack of wolves and put back together wrong.” I shift. Everything protests but it’s manageable. “But alive. Thanks to you.”

“Thanks to me? You saved me Adrian. Multiple times. I’m the one who got captured. Got us both nearly killed.”

“And I’m the one who walked into Asher’s trap. Who got chained up like an amateur. Who almost died because I was too weak to protect you properly.” My hand cups her face. “We both fucked up. We both survived. Can we call it even?”

“Even.” She leans into my touch. “I was so scared. Watching you bleed out. Feeling you fading through the bond. I thought… I didn’t know what I’d do if you died.”

My chest cracks open. I bury my face in her neck, breathing her in, letting the words brand themselves over my heart. “Love you too, pumpkin. More than you’ll ever know, I can’t wait to Claim you properly. Make you mine in every way.”

“I already am yours.”

“I know. But I want the world to know it too. Want every wolf who looks at you to see my mark. To know you’re claimed. Protected. Loved.” My hand traces patterns on her back. “Want you to be my mate officially. Not just in practice but in law.”

“Then we survive. We deal with Asher. We make it through whatever comes next.” She tilts her head up. Kisses my jaw. “And then you mark me. Make me yours forever.”

“Forever.” I agree. “And nothing will ever separate us again.

CHAPTER 65

FREYA’S POV

Wiiiiii! Wooooo! Beeeep! Beeeep! Was what we heard as the alarm wakes us both.

Adrian sits up too fast. Grimaces. His wounds protest the movement. “What is that?”

“I don’t know.” I’m already moving. Grabbing clothes. “Perimeter breach maybe?”

We get dressed quickly. Well, I get dressed quickly. Adrian moves slower. Still healing. Still weak. But determined not to show it.

The hallway outside is chaos. Pack members running. Shouting. Weapons being distributed.

Marcus appears. “We’ve got company. Kelvin showed up at the perimeter with three of Asher’s wolves. Says he has information. Says he’s defecting.” 2

“Defecting.” Adrian’s voice is flat. “Or walking a bunch of enemy wolves right into our safe house.”

“That’s what I said. But he claims the wolves with him want out too. Want to join us.” Marcus looks between us. “What do you want to do?”

“Bring them in. Separate cells. Full security. We question them one by one.” Adrian starts down the hall. “And if this is a trap we

kill them all.”

The holding cells are in the basement. Reinforced. Designed to contain captured wolves. We had to build them years ago when border disputes were common. 1

Kelvin sits in the first cell. No chains. Not restrained. Just sitting on the cot looking nervous.

The three wolves with him are in separate cells. All young. Maybe early twenties. They look scared. Genuine fear. Not the cold calculation of trained soldiers.

“Adrian. Freya.” Kelvin stands when he sees us. “Thank you for seeing me. For not shooting us on sight.”

“Start talking. Why are you here? Why bring Asher’s wolves to our safe house?” Adrian’s voice could freeze fire. “And make it good. Because I’m two seconds from ripping your throat out.”

“They’re not Asher’s wolves anymore. They want out. Want to leave his pack. Join yours instead.” Kelvin gestures to the other cells. “After you escaped. After you killed three of his enforcers and disappeared. Asher went insane. Started killing his own wolves for failing to recapture you. These three are next on his list.”

“Is this true?”

twenty. I move closer to the nearest cell. The wolf inside is female, dark hair, green eyes. She can’t be more than “Yes.” Her voice shakes. “He executed my brother yesterday. For letting you escape. Said anyone who failed him would die. I’m next. We all are.”

The other two nod. Both male. Both terrified.

“So you came here. To us. Expecting what? Sanctuary?” Adrian crosses his arms. “Why should I believe any of this?”

“Because I can prove it.” Kelvin pulls something from his pocket. A USB drive. “This has everything. Asher’s plans. His communications with the High Council. His alliances. Where he’s hiding. How many wolves he has left. Everything you need to destroy him.”

Marcus takes the drive. “This could be infected. Could have tracking software. Could be a million things designed to our systems.”

Do whatever you need to do to verify it’s clean.” Kelvin looks desperate now. “I’m not lying. I’m done his war. Done with hurting innocent people. I want to help. ”

“Why?” I ask. “Why help us? You could have just run. Left Asher’s pack and disappeared. Why come here?”

“Because running won’t change what I did. Won’t make up for your mother, for how I treated you, for how I broke your heart. It won’t fix any of it.” He meets my eyes. “But helping you might. Just a little. Might be the first step toward being someone Elena would have been proud of.”

The mention of his dead mate makes something in his expression crack. Genuine pain. Genuine grief. Hard to fake.

“Check the drive.” Adrian decides. “If it’s clean and the information is valuable then we talk. If it’s a trick…” He lets the threat hang. “Well. You understand.”

“I understand. I’ll wait. Take all the time you need.” Kelvin sits back down on the cot. “Just… the three with me. They’re innocent. They didn’t kill anyone. Didn’t hurt anyone. If this is a trap it’s mine. Not theirs. Please.”

Adrian doesn’t respond. Just turns and leaves. I follow. Marcus behind us.

“I’ll have our tech people go through the drive. Should take a few hours.” Marcus says. “What do you want to do with them until then?”

“Keep them separated. Keep them comfortable but guarded. No communication between cells.” Adrian is already thinking strategy. “And run background checks. On all of them. I want to know if they’re telling the truth about being low level.”

“On it.”

Marcus disappears. Adrian and I head back to our room. The emergency alarm has stopped but the tension remains. “Do you believe him?” I ask once we’re alone. “Kelvin. Do you think he’s telling the truth?”

“I don’t know. Part of me wants to. He helped us escape. Risked his life to do it.” Adrian sits on the bed. Tired. The excitement wore him out. “But another part knows he’s Asher’s son. Knows he’s lied before. Killed before. Could be playing us.”

“If the information is real though. If he really has everything on that drive…” I sit next to him. “We could end this. End Asher. End the threat.”

“Or we could walk into another trap. Get our entire pack killed. Lose everything.” He looks at me. “I can’t make this decision on my own. Not when it affects everyone. We need to put it to a vote. Let the pack decide.”

“When?”

“After Marcus checks the drive. After we know what we’re dealing with.” He lies back. “But right now I need to rest.”

I lie down next to him. We stay like that. Silent. Both thinking about Kelvin. About the information he brought. About what it could mean.

Either the beginning of the end. Or the end of us.