Chapter 2

FREYA

My stomach dropped to the floor.

I bit my lip until I tasted blood, swallowing back my gasp of shock. My chest was squeezed hard from the inside.

I waited breathlessly for Leo to push Caroline away, or at least chide her, but he didn't.

I backed away from both of them, my fingers twisted. I was even less confident now that Leo would accept our child.

Now, it made sense why Leo had forced me to sign that contract, all so he could wait three years for his first love.

I went back to my bed, falling into a deep, tired sleep. I shivered suddenly in my dream, a soft voice from far away whispering to me.

“Freya, be strong. I'll be with you soon. I'll protect our pup.” My wolf, Aurelia’s voice filled my ears.

Her voice was like a breath of fresh air. I tried to connect with her but her voice became fainter and fainter. Soon, it was completely gone.

I gasped awake, rubbing my fingers along my arm for a second as a cold draft from the door filled my office. I thought I heard footsteps hurrying away, but it was all silent.

I shivered, feeling a long lost connection to my wolf. I tried to communicate with her, and as usual, Aurelia didn't answer, but I could feel her in the back of my mind.

My heart soared with joy. This was the first time I could feel Aurelia without Leo present. What did this mean? Was Aurelia back?

I touched my lower abdomen, and spoke softly to my baby. “We will be safe. I promise you, baby.”

I went up to my room to sleep. I didn't allow myself to think too deeply about the empty sheets. Leo was probably down with Caroline anyway.

Early the next morning, I went downstairs to make breakfast before heading to work. I stopped at the door, chuckling harshly.

Caroline was already at the counter, frying a batch of pancakes. “Good morning, Freya. I'm making pancakes for Leo’s breakfast. Could you tell me how he likes them now?”

My stomach flipped, and I felt a twinge of discomfort. “Caroline, isn't it improper for you to make my husband breakfast when I'm in the house?”

Caroline dropped the spatula, her eyes glittering. “I didn't think you would mind. It's not a big deal, I usually made his breakfast before you became Luna.”

I bit my lip. Caroline had become very sensitive after her marriage with Liam ended. I didn't mean to make her uncomfortable.

“I'll take over from you. You can rest now.” I stepped forward to take the spatula from her.

She rolled her eyes. “No, Freya. Your contract with Leo is almost over, isn't it?”

I sneered, noting how the veneer of softness she wore fell off, revealing the vicious woman underneath.

Her words made me want to laugh. “What do you mean?”

“Leo should gradually adapt to my cooking skills. After all, you are about to get divorced, shouldn't he?” She said softly.

I laughed gracefully, a hint of mockery in my voice. “Until the divorce papers are signed, Leo is still my husband and I am still your Luna. You will show me some respect.”

I made my own breakfast, then poured myself coffee. Caroline and I turned to walk away at once bumping into each other.

Her plate of pancakes smashed into the floor, along with my eggs and the coffee. The whole thing became a mess.

Caroline swallowed, pressing her lips together. “How… how dare you. If you didn't want me to cook for your husband, you should have said so.”

Her eyes turned dark and narrowed maliciously. Her fingers came up, clawing at my face as she lost her temper.

She shoved me against the counter. My knee knocked against the marble counter, pain ripping through me.

Blinded by pain, I instinctively pushed her away. If she knocked my stomach against the counter, I could lose my baby.

Caroline shrieked with pain, crumpling to the floor like a lifeless doll. “Leo! Leo, please save me.” She screamed.

Her squeal of pain brought Leo running into the room. His nostrils flared as he saw Caroline curled up on the floor.

“Astrid!” Leo roared, lifting Caroline’s slumped body into his arms.

Leo’s eyes fell on me as he stood. They raked over me, and when he saw that I was unharmed, his jaw ticked.

“Freya, stay the hell away from Caroline. She's already suffered enough from that bastard Liam.” He bit off each word curtly.

My heart sank. He never even bothered with asking questions, but had already named me the problem.

I bit down hard on my tongue as he hurried to the door, ordering Astrid to bring the car to him.

My wolf whimpered in the back of my mind. Leo had never been so angry at us before.

My knees became weak and unreliable. I retched, bile rising up my throat. I ran to the bathroom and threw up harshly. My morning sickness was becoming worse as each day passed.

I forced myself to my feet, washing my face at the sink. Leo had disappeared to the hospital without even caring to ask how I was.

Still, the memory of his heated eyes raking over my skin earlier caused a shiver to race down my back.

Without warning, my heart slammed against my chest. My pulse raced faster as I heard Caroline's voice clearly in my head.

She was questioning Leo harshly. “Leo, you promised that you would come back to me whenever I came back, are you in love with Freya now?”

My skin tingled all over, goosebumps raised on my skin. What the hell was happening?

The back of my neck became taut as I waited for Leo’s answer. Aurelia was whimpering in pain, begging me to go find our mate.

Only then did I realize she had opened a mind link between Leo and I.

I held the edge of the sink, my hands shaking as I waited. Leo didn't answer immediately.

The silence became hard to bear. In the back of my mind, Aurelia made a sound I had never heard from her before. It was a raw, broken scream of pain like a wolf who had walked into a trap.

Mate. She breathed. Our mate.

"Leo." I heard Caroline's voice again, softer this time, coaxing Leo to answer.

I heard him exhale, and the sound crushed Aurelia and me. That single sigh of conflict made my heart rate double. I was suddenly dizzy.

Aurelia shuddered, and her pain radiated through me like a second heartbeat. My knees buckled under me.

Close it. I told her desperately. Please, Aurelia, close the mind link.

She refused, whining and straining toward him even now.

I shuddered as Leo’s voice answered Caroline. “I'll always take care of you, Caroline. Freya has nothing to do with all this.”

Feeling sick to the stomach, I smiled bitterly. So that was how he felt about us? I took the initiative to close the link despite Aurelia’s protest.

Leo didn't love me at all. My heartbeat slowed, and a firm resolution came to my mind.

I couldn't pretend nor deny that I loved Leo, but I would never allow him to bully me.

Leo was in love with Caroline, there was no need to prevent him from being with her. If he didn't want me, then a divorce was the only option.