Five Years Later.

Freya's POV:.

“Damn it all!” I muttered, slapping the alarm clock silent, the beeping finally cutting off. 

Blinking groggily at the digital display, I realized it was 1:00 PM, and a gasp left me. ‘Why in the realms had it gone off at one and not at 10:00 AM like I'd intended?’ 

My mind, still fogged from sleep, pieced it together slowly, and I recalled how I'd stumbled back from the laboratory late last night, well past midnight, my eyes. Normally, I'd set the alarm for around 8:00 AM to get an early start, but I'd craved just a bit more rest, so I'd aimed for 10:00. But with those sleepy eyes, fumbling in the dark, I must have botched it, setting it for PM instead. 

Frustration boiled up as I threw off the covers because I was so upset precious hours were wasted when every minute counted in the lab, that I rushed out of bed. The room spun slightly from the abrupt movement, but I pushed through, hurrying to the adjoining bathroom. 

I brushed my teeth furiously, the minty foam bubbling as I scrubbed, glancing at my reflection in the mirror to see that my auburn hair was a wild mess. Hissing, I stripped and stepped into the shower, steam filling the air as I soaped up and rinsed off in record time. 

Drying off haphazardly, I dressed in a simple blouse, jeans, and comfortable flats, my mind already racing ahead to the lab. We were deep into developing a serum to combat a rare genetic mutation affecting werewolf pups in allied Packs. Delays could mean lives lost, and as the anonymous genius behind Moonclaw's medical breakthroughs, the weight fell squarely on me.

Taking a few deep breaths, I made my way out of the Packhouse, the  I hurried across the manicured grounds to the laboratory annex Dante had built for me, a modern structure of glass and steel.

As I entered, Dr. Harlan, one of my lead scientists, looked up from his workstation, his glasses perched on the end of his nose, with dark circles under his eyes. He was a wiry man in his fifties, with salt-and-pepper hair and a perpetual hunch from poring over data.

"Dr. Aria.” He said with a tired nod, his voice gravelly. "You're later than usual today."

“I overslept.” I offered an apologetic smile, though guilt gnawed at me. “What about you, have you slept at all, Harlan? You look like you could use a break.”

He waved it off, adjusting a slide under the microscope. "I'll sleep later. The mutation's progression data came in overnight; it's fascinating, if alarming."

I slipped on a face mask, and donned my lab coat as I asked. "Did you find anything new last night? Any breakthroughs on the enzyme inhibitors?"

Before he could respond, the door to the lab swung open, and another scientist, Lila, a young woman with braided black hair and sharp eyes hurried in, her clipboard in hand. "Dr. Aria, sorry to interrupt, but Aya's nanny is waiting in the lobby for you. She says it's urgent."

My heart skipped a beat, maternal instinct kicking in like a reflex. "Alright, I'll be right there." I said, not bothering removing the mask or coat as I rushed out through the swinging doors.

The lobby was a bright space with potted plants and waiting chairs, and there stood Fiona, Aya's nanny, wringing her hands anxiously. She was in her mid-thirties, with mousy brown hair tied back and a plain dress that spoke of her unassuming nature as the perfect, and loyal caregiver I'd chosen after Aya's birth.

"Fiona, what's wrong?" I asked, my voice muffled slightly by the mask as I approached, worry creasing my brow.

She looked up, her gray eyes wide with concern. "Aya is missing."

Her words sent a brief spike of alarm through me, but I tamped it down. "Where was she last seen?”

Fiona nodded quickly, her words tumbling out. 

"She insisted on going to the garden this morning, saying that she wanted to pick flowers for you. I took her there, and everything was fine. The  she asked for a snack and I went to get it but when I returned, she wasn't there. I've searched the benches, the flower beds, and even the fountain but there's no sign of her."

Hearing her, I wasn't scared because this wasn't the first time. Aya, my spirited five-year-old with her curly auburn hair and emerald eyes mirroring mine, had a habit of hiding to get my attention because she felt neglected, and convinced my long hours in the lab meant I didn't love her enough. 

But only I knew the sacrifices I'd made that drove me to work tirelessly, and remaining indispensable to Dante so he'd never cast us out.

Five years ago, I would have been executed, my life snuffed out at dawn on Dante's cold order because he was so annoyed at discovering that I was his mate. But I was just as stunned and upset, because after Mason broke my heart, cheating with Selene and plotting my demise, the goddess gave me a wicked man who'd locked me up as my second-chance mate.

But I'd swallowed my anger, and I instead focused on my survival by trying to convince him that I wasn't a spy so I lied to protect myself, claiming to be Aria from Heighten Grounds who was attacked while gathering herbs, because revealing that I was Freya, Alpha Mason’s wife, would have meant being sent back to Bloodhall, where my unborn children would be taken and I would be killed. 

I had no idea why I lied, but I hoped that he wouldn't try to verify my story, but instead he ordered my execution at dawn because I wasn't useful to him. Desperate, I stopped him by saying I could be useful and revealed that I was a healer capable of helping Moonclaw Pack, which was being devastated by a deadly virus and lacked the promised vaccine. 

Though Dante initially refused, Gideon, his Beta, intervened. Only then did Dante then give me an ultimatum to create a vaccine within one month or die. So, for 30 days, I worked relentlessly with scientists, creating a vaccine that eradicated the virus. 

Then Dante built a lab, where we developed medicines for diseases and army enhancements. Much later, we agreed neither to reject nor accept the bond because rejection would weaken us and since I was pregnant, and he wanted to reclaim his late father's seven Packs, it wouldn't be a good idea if we were weakened.

For months, I worked relentlessly to prove my worth even further but when I went into labor, I lost one of my twins and only had one beautiful daughter who I named Aya. 

Holding her for the first time, I swore she'd have the best life so whenever Aya accused me of not loving her, it hurt but right now wasn't the time for tantrums because days ago, Dante said his cousin needed help for a sick son. 

This cousin would be arriving today, plus I still had ongoing research so Aya's hiding would ruin my schedule still, I needed to find her. 

“Fiona, search everywhere she's hidden these past two years and I'll check the garden again." I said, dragging myself back to the present.

Fiona nodded. "Yes, ma'am. I'll find her." As I turned, a maid approached, out of breath. "Dr. Aria, I was told to call you to the living room because Alpha Dante's cousin, his wife, and nephew have arrived."

Hearing this, my stomach twisted because the timing couldn't be any worse. "Alright. Fiona, continue the search. I'll be right back.”

With that, I rushed to the living room, however, nothing prepared me to see Mason, my still-legally-bound husband seated on the sofa and beside him, was Selene, smug as ever, and a boy no older that five resting weakly against her

I should have screamed, torn the face mask off and spat their names out. Instead, I stood frozen, forcing my expression blank, because I couldn't believe that the southern region alliance marriage story Gideon had told me days ago led here. 

Still frozen, I watched as Dante stepped forward from where he’d been leaning against the fireplace, arms crossed, blue eyes scanning my face with that unnerving intensity he always carried.

“Aria.” He said, pointing toward Mason. “This is my cousin, Alpha Mason of Bloodhall Pack, his mate Selene, and their son Ethan.”

‘This has to be a joke!’ I muttered under my breath, refusing to believe that Dante, my second-chance mate, the man I’d bargained my life and my freedom with, shared blood with the man who’d once promised me forever and then planned to use me as a broodmare before discarding me like refuse.