Chapter 6

Freya’s POV

The room was somewhat stuffy, and Kane was staring at me. His large bulk filled up the room, and his rage was nearly as much as a wall. I did not give way; his anger should not frighten me.

You are a big talker to come in here, Kane, growls, as he paces in front of me. Now you are making accusations? Against Sophia, of all people?"

I say, I tell you the truth, and I am not going to lie, my heart is bounding. It is the rogues with whom Sophia is working. She's planning to betray you."

Kane suddenly pauses, and his keen blue eyes look full into mine. "Do you have any proof? Or is that another of thy pitiful tries To win a favour?

He hurts me with his words, yet I squeeze my fists, and I do not want him to be able to see that. I witnessed her meeting a ruffian by the name Liam. They have some game on, and it includes putting you down.

Scepticism is in Kane. "Why would Sophia do that? She's my Luna-in-waiting. She's loyal to this pack."

I breathe, and I have to keep myself together. You do not really know her as well as you think. She is a go-getter, and she will do anything to acquire what she wants.

Kane does not react immediately; instead, he looks at the window and thinks over what I have said. It is a heavy silence; the tension in the room is nearly overwhelming.

At last, he wheels about and looks at me without a visible expression. You know, Freya, I will ensure you regret it in case you are lying.

"I'm not lying," I say firmly. "You'll see soon enough."

I am sitting opposite Kane in his personal study, and my hands are clasped together. The air that exists between us is full of unspoken tension, yet I continue. I have to get him to listen.

She has been associating with rascals for weeks, I start. I heard her say she was going to make out the council against you.

Kane squints, and he does not speak. I consider it an encouragement to soldier on.

"She's using Liam as a pawn," I say. He believes that she is assisting the rogues to take over the pack, yet I believe she has her personal interest to pursue.

"And what's that?" Kane asks, voice low.

I am uncertain how much to spill. I do not know whether she has a whole lot planned, but I do know that she is dangerous. You need to be careful."

Kane is sitting back in his chair, with an inexpressible expression. "Why are you telling me this? You would be interested in this pack after all that has happened?

I feel his query is startling, yet I do not express it. Already, because I do not want innocent lives to be lost. Expertly, whatever I feel about you or this pack, I cannot see people suffer without my help.

Kane looks at me long, and his keen eyes cause me to feel naked. "I don't trust you, Freya. However, in case what you say is true, I will take care of it.

It was not much, but it was a beginning.

The atmosphere of tension in the study is broken by the noise of the door that slams open. Kane and I look round, and in the doorway stands Lucian, with blazing eyes.

"What are you doing here?" Kane, up!, and stands on his feet.

I came to assist, Lucian says in a calm and firm voice. "Freya's telling the truth. Your pack is at stake, and you must have as much help as you can get.

Kane sets his teeth, and his eyes are squinting. "You're a rogue. Why should I have faith in what thou sayest?

Lucian enters the room even deeper, and his presence dominates the tension in spite of it. It is because I do not want Freya to be hurt. And like it or not, she is the one who gets you a chance in your pack again.

I peep back and forth between the two men, with the air filled with enmity. "Lucian, maybe you should—"

No, Lucian breaks in and does not once glance away at Kane. "He needs to hear this. You have been deaf to things taking place under your very nose, Alpha. Your Luna-in-waiting is scheming thy ruin, and the rascals are about to attack.

The fists of Kane are tight at his sides, and his face is full of doubt and anger. "And what do you get out of this? Why should a rogue put his life at risk for the benefit of my pack?

Lucian smiles, shaken in his confidence. I have my reasons, by which I mean. Nevertheless, till now, you may have my assistance, or you may see your pack burn.

The eyes of Kane move towards me, and the battle is reflected in them. Finally, he nods reluctantly. "Fine. But in attempts to do so, pirate, I will kill you with my own hands.

Fair enough, Lucian repeats, which has a touch of amusement in it.

The entire room was incredibly stressful as Lucian and Kane were competing on the strategies, and you could certainly notice how they did not trust each other at all. I simply remained there and attempted to make sense of all that had recently occurred.

The door creaked so creepily, and I turned to face Sophia, who entered the house. She only looked over us and had a perfectly neutral expression, as though she were attempting to appear innocent.

"What's going on here?" she inquired, with an easy sadness, and with something of wonder.

Kane sat himself straight, and his face grew all hard. Pack security, we are talking about pack security.

Sophia gazed at me, and I could see a bit of something, recognition, but also something darker, a glow in her eyes. Freya said she with an artificial sweetness. "What a surprise to see you."

I struggled to look back, and my heart was racing. "I'm here to help."

Her face did not look as happy as her eyes. "How noble of you. But do you think you can trust your... friend?

Instead, she turned to look at Lucian, who grinned at her. Trust is a two-way street, huh? Yes, said he, light, but jabbing with his words.

She just barely suppressed her smile and turned back to Kane. You can ask me, there is anything I can do.

Nodding his head, Kane looked like nothing much. "I'll keep that in mind."

When Sophia had walked away, I was unable to clear my mind of the conviction that she had something on her mind that she was concealing. The manner in which she was gazing at me as though she were solving some puzzle sent shivers down me.

I gave a look to Lucian and said, She knoweth.

Lucian darkened his face. "Then we're running out of time."

His words were so heavy, and this was the first moment I understood that everything is serious.