The Professor's Mate Clause novel Chapter 75

CHAPTER 75

FREYA’S POV

Every time I close my eyes I see Lyra’s face. Young. Terrified. Sobbing about her sister. About having no choice. About doing what she had to do to keep her family alive.

She’s not much younger than me. Maybe three years. Four at most. And tomorrow Adrian will execute her.

Because she betrayed the pack. Because wolves died. Because pack law is absolute and allows no exceptions.

Even for fifteen–year–old sisters held hostage. Even for impossible choices. Even for desperation and love and doing what anyone would do to save their family.

Adrian is lying down close to me. Not sleeping either. I can tell by his breathing. By the tension in his body. By the way his hand keeps finding mine like he needs to make sure I’m still here.

“Talk to me.” I finally break the silence. “Tell me what you’re thinking.‘

“That I hate this. Hate everything about this.” “She’s barely older than a child. Forced to spy to save her sister. And tomorrow I

have to kill her for it.”

“Is there really no other option? No other way?”

“Not under pack law. Betrayal is death. Always has been. Always will be.” He rolls toward me. “If I make an exception for her, what message does that send? That betrayal is acceptable if your reasons are good enough? That pack law only matters sometimes?”

“But her reasons ARE good enough. She was protecting family. Anyone would have done the same.”

“I know. Which is why this is destroying me.” He cups my face. “But I’m Alpha. I don’t get to choose based on feelings or sympathy or what’s fair. I have to choose based on what keeps the pack safe. What maintains order. What prevents others from thinking they can betray us and face no consequences.”

I understand. I do. But it doesn’t make it easier. Doesn’t make it right.

“What about her sister? If we execute Lyra, what happens to her?”

“We rescue her. Or try to. Send a team into Asher’s territory. Extract her before he can retaliate.” He sounds tired. So tired. “it’s the least we can do. Save the innocent one. The one who didn’t betray anyone.”

“And if we can’t rescue her? If Asher kills her out of revenge?”

Silence. Heavy. Terrible. Because we both know the answer, Know that executing Lyra might doom her sister. Might make this whole tragedy even worse.

“I still have to do it.” Adrian’s voice breaks slightly. “I still have to follow pack law. Even knowing it might kill an innocent girl. Even knowing it makes me a monster. I still have to do it.”

I pull him close. Let him bury his face in my neck. Feel him shaking. Not from fear. From griet. From the weight of leadership that demands he sacrifice his humanity for duty.

“You’re not a monster. You’re Alpha. Doing what has to be done. Making the impossible choices.” I stroke his hair. “And I’ll be there. I’ll stand beside you. I’ll help you carry this burden.”

“I don’t want you to see this. Don’t want you to watch me kill someone. To see that side of me.”

“I need to see it. Need to understand what being your mate means. What being Alpha Female would require.” I tilt his face up You don’t get to protect me from the hard parts. We’re partners. We face everything together. Remember?”

He kisses me. Desperate. Needy. Clinging to something good in the darkness of what’s coming

When he finally pulls back his eyes are wet. “Tomorrow. After it’s done. I’m going to need you. Going to need to know I’m not just a killer Not just an executioner. That I’m still worth loving.”

“You’ll always be worth Towing. Always.” I kiss him again. “Nothing you do tomorrow changes that. Nothing ever could”

The pack gathers at dawn. Everyone. Even the youngest wolves. Executions are public. Tradition demands it. Demands every witness the consequences of betrayal. Remember why pack law exists. Why we trust each other with our lives.

Lyra is brought out in silver chains. She’s stopped crying. Just looks numb. Resigned. Like she knew this was coming from the moment she agreed to spy.

Adrian stands on the platform. Alpha. Judge. Executioner. All in one. The weight of it visible on his face. In his posture. In the way his hands clench and unclench.

I stand to his right. Clara on his left. Marcus behind. The inner circle. United. Even when it breaks our hearts.

“Lyra of the Moonridge Pack.” Adrian’s voice carries across the clearing. Alpha Command making everyone listen. “You stand accused of betraying this pack. Of feeding information to our enemies. Of directly causing the deaths of pack members. How d you plead?”

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