Chapter 6

LEO

A heavy silence settled between us. Freya stared up at my face, her eyes wide. “Leo, I swear to the moon goddess, I didn't do anything.”

She was pressed against the balcony railing, chest heaving, her lips swollen from my kiss.

I shook my head in disbelief. She was really good at this. Freya was the very picture of distress, her entire body language screaming devastation.

But I knew she was just a great actress. The anger was sitting so hot and tight in my chest that I could barely breathe around it.

“You swear to the moon goddess while telling such a foolish lie?” I said flatly.

Freya panted slightly. “I'm not lying, Leo. Whatever you felt just now was real. That was the mate bond. Aurelia…”

“Don't lie to me.” I warned, my voice low and firm.

My fingers flexed at my sides. How could I allow myself to be conned by her every single time?

I scoffed, chuckling derisively. “That was the same trick you tried three years ago. It didn't work then, and it won't work now, Freya.”

The night we met, when I took her hand, my knees had been almost weak from the intensity of the mate bond between us. I had never felt anything like it in my life.

I had eagerly proposed marriage to her. I even announced her as my mate in front of every Alpha in the seven territories.

The very next day, the bond was gone. She claimed her wolf had gone to sleep, but who had ever heard of something so ridiculous before?

Breaking off the marriage after that would have made me look like a fool. So I signed the contract instead and told myself three years was a small price to pay to hold onto my dignity.

I turned back to face her. “Do you have any idea how humiliating it is to be manipulated by a woman like you? I will not go through that again, Freya.”

"Leo, please just listen."

"If you ever try this again, I will have you removed from Blackclaw. Your pack will never see another resource from me again. Do you understand me?"

Her eyes widened, her swollen lower lip trembled. My eyes feasted on them, yearning for those lips. Why on earth did I have to kiss her?

I looked away from her mouth. "You are not my mate, Freya. Stop playing these tricks. The election ends in two weeks. The moment it's over, we divorce. You better stop having any illusions about that."

She stared at me for a long moment, then she laughed; a sarcastic sound I had never heard from her before, and the pitiful look on her face disappeared slowly as she stepped forward.

When she got close enough, she shoved me. “You're right, Leo. I shouldn't have any illusions, and tonight proved that better than anything.”

With those words, she wiped the back of her palm against her eyes and walked back inside.

I stood on the balcony alone, watching the door close behind her. My chest heaved, but the hunger was still there under my anger.

I knew I was being misled. Her trembling lips, the wide eyes, even pretending she didn't want me, it was all an act.

Freya knew what she stood to lose when this contract ended. There was no way she would give up without a fight.

I pushed off the railing and went back inside the banquet hall.

The room was thinning out, representatives leaving, and pack members clearing the room. I searched the room for her though I didn't mean to.

Freya wasn't there, and neither was Derek. I crossed to Ashford. “Where is Derek?”

“He left about ten minutes ago, Alpha.”

I nodded, hating that my temper cooled a bit knowing they couldn't have left together. I ran my hand through my hair in frustration.

I didn't know why seeing the two of them dancing together earlier irritated me, but it did. After the elections, I wouldn't need Freya anymore so it shouldn't bother me if another man took interest in her, right?

I didn't care about Freya at all, I reminded myself sternly, pushing away all thoughts of her.

I crossed the room to where Madame Claire and Beta Tarta were preparing to leave, pulling my expression into something appropriate.

I shook Tarta's hand. "We are honored to have hosted you this evening. I hope you'll allow us to show you the pack amenities tomorrow. Blackclaw has much to offer."

Tarta nodded. "We would be glad to, Alpha Leo."

"Your Luna is a remarkable woman. I enjoyed her company this evening. Will she be joining us tomorrow?" Madame Claire asked.

The memory of how enthralled I had been with Freya on the balcony had me irritated two folds.

To Madame Claire, I nodded. "Of course, I'll ensure she's available."

Madame Claire smiled, satisfied. I watched until their cars disappeared through the pack gates.

I reached through the mind link to Ashford and Astrid, confirming that they should clear the hall.

I pulled my phone as I walked to my study. Caroline had sent me a message. It was a photo of herself, smiling sweetly.

She texted that she had decided to stay back since I had taken Freya with me to the banquet.

Her smile captured my attention. She was just as beautiful as she had been the first time I saw her; innocent and sweet, always trying to make everyone comfortable.

She was the type of woman who should be Luna. Not like Freya, though Freya had looked stunning and elegant tonight.

Something gripped my heart, and I heaved an annoyed sigh. Why did my thoughts keep wandering towards her no matter how I tried to distract it?

Freya's face replaced all my thoughts of Caroline, haunting me even though she wasn't in the room.

I put the phone in my pocket and kept walking to my study. I entered and closed the door behind me.

“I know you so well, Leo. I knew you would come here right after the banquet.” Caroline laughed behind me.

I turned, and found Caroline walking over to me. Her soft hands took mine, and she smiled. “How did it go?”

I pulled my hand away gently, moving to my desk. “You didn't have to wait for me, Caroline.”

"I wanted to." She said, her lips turned down. “Leo, I wanted to talk about us. We should set a date to be married after the election.”

I kept my eyes turned away from her, running a hand through my hair. “I promised I would take care of you, Caroline. I meant that.”

Her eyes gleamed pitifully. “You know that's not what I'm asking. I cannot continue living here with you, Leo. People will talk. Marrying is the only way.”

"I know."

The silence stretched long and uncomfortable. Caroline placed her palm on my shoulder, but all her touch did was remind me of how I'd pinned Freya to the balcony with my body before tasting her lips.

“I see,” Caroline said finally, tears filling her eyes.

"Caroline…"

"It's fine, Leo. You've been married to Freya for three years, it's understandable that you need some time. Goodnight, Leo." She stood and walked away.

“Fuck!” I cursed.

I finally had Caroline back here with me, so why on earth did it feel as though it wasn't enough? Why was I about to destroy that?

Why couldn't I get Freya out of my head?

CAROLINE

Freya's wolf had stirred from sleep.

I sat in my room, a vicious anger tightening my stomach. Freya was a sinister woman, how else had she broken my strongest sleeping spell?

The sleeping spell I had used on her wolf, Aurelia, was deep and built to last forever.

And yet the bond had fired. I had felt the disruption from across the packhouse, and I had known immediately what it meant.

I opened the small carved box on my vanity and looked inside, fingering the silver stone inside.

If Aurelia woke fully, three years of suffering patiently while I waited for my chance would be all gone!

I closed the box. Freya's wolf could not be allowed to wake.

If she woke, then Freya herself would have to sleep forever. Dead or alive, she would have to sleep.