Freja POV:
My wolf stopped in her tracks, not taking a step further and lowered herself to the ground. That’s when I saw Calyx in the distance, appearing to be having a conversation with another person. But, unfortunately, whoever he was talking to was hidden behind the trees, we couldn’t see who it was, and their scent was masked.
I urged my wolf to crawl closer to them, hoping we would be able to hear them more clearly or get a better view of them. We were as close as we could get now without being detected. The other person was a female, possibly young, but the girl’s scent was still undetectable.
“We need to wait until the time is right and ensure that the plan will work.” Calyx said.
“The plan will work, I’ll get close to her, wound her and then Cain will be an easier target to take down, but we need to be sure they remain separated during everything, as they are stronger together. After a few more days, the bond will have taken effect. Once that happens, the bond they share will be their weak point.” The female confidently said.
The female voice sounded familiar, and I tried to wrap my brain around who it belonged to, but for some reason, I couldn’t figure out who.
“This plan of yours better work or el….” Calyx started to speak but was abruptly cut off by the woman.
She stepped out of the tree slightly, “Or else what? Huh?” The female questioned Calyx; anger was evident in her tone.
“Or else we are all fucked, that’s what.” Calyx bellowed out, “If something goes wrong and we are caught, we all die, painfully!” Calyx said with certainty, a slight uneasiness to his tone. He almost seemed afraid, which made me wonder about what I didn’t know about Cain.
The female let out a low growl, then leapt onto Calyx, wrapped her arms around hid neck and crashed her lips to his. I started maneuvering backwards, trying not to make a sound. They were still making out pretty hardcore; I could only see a little bit of Calyx now, as most of him were behind the tree, as he pressed the female into it.
I was finally a safe distance away and entirely out of their line of sight. I called on the change and shifted back to human, grabbing my clothes and hurriedly putting them on. I started making my way back towards the packhouse and thought over everything, my mind buzzing with all that I had just learned. The truths I had just discovered, and I hadn’t a fucking clue what to do.
I continued walking and putting all the puzzle pieces together. Calyx wants Cain and I dead; he’s the one that’s been doing all of this.
I didn’t know what to think of it all, I had never thought he could or would do something like this, but then again, I didn’t really know him all that well. I was so lost in my thoughts, not paying attention to where I was going and ended up walking right into a fucking tree or what felt like walking into a tree. I stumbled backwards, and just when I thought I was going to fall on my ass, a pair of muscular arms caught me, straightening me back onto my feet.
I looked up to see Cain standing there, a brow raised and a smirk on his face. “I know you’ve fallen for me, love, but you don’t need to actually fall; it’s just an expression.”
I gave him a deadpan stare. “You’re an idiot,” I said before taking a step back from him.
His face turned severe now, and his eyes held a slight hint of anger. “Now, what in the fuck are you doing out here alone?”
He was definitely pissed at me. “I wanted to go for a run in my wolf form. She was itching to get out.” I shrugged.
Cain breathed heavily. “Then why didn’t you ask me to come with you?”
“You were asleep, Cain; I didn’t want to wake you. Besides, I’m fine, and I can take care of myself.” It irked me to my core that he didn’t see or believe in my strength. Instead, he viewed me as someone who couldn’t defend themselves.
He groaned in frustration. “What if a bloodsucker saw you alone and took you again? It’s not safe yet, Freja, don’t you understand that?” He shouted at me, worry, fear and anger all lacing his tone.
I balled my hands into fists. “I am fully aware that it’s not safe yet, that they are still out there and want me dead, now more than ever. But I am not some weak little child who can’t defend themselves; why can’t you understand that?” I shouted back at him.
He took a threatening step towards me. “What if it were more than one, huh? Can you honestly say that you would be able to hold your own against 2, 3 or even more vampires? Because I’m telling you right now, you wouldn’t stand a chance.” His eyes were turning pitch black as the fury radiated off him.
I would admit he was right; if I were by myself and more than one vampire came at me, I wouldn’t stand a chance. I would be done for, but it still pained me knowing that he didn’t think I could be out on my own, that I needed always to have someone with me to protect me.
I gave my head a shake. “You know what, Cain, I don’t want to have this conversation with you, because clearly no matter what I say, it will never be good enough.”
I started to walk away from him when he grabbed my arm and whipped me around to face him. His eyes bore into mine. “Do not walk away from me when I am speaking to you. You know I am right about this, and it’s not that I don’t see your strength, Freja, but you are my mate, and it is my obligation to ensure your safety at all times and at any cost.”
I tried to yank my arm from his hold, but he only gripped onto me tighter. “I know you are my mate, but you are also supposed to trust me, have faith in me and my abilities, which is something you don’t. So now, let me go and leave me alone.” I snarled at him.
Cain narrowed his eyes at me as his lip twitched. Then, with one hard pull, I finally yanked my arm out of his grasp. I spun on my heels, walking away from him once again. I felt him reach for me, and when I stopped in my tracks. “Don’t!” I said sternly.
He let out a low growl and retracted his hand, allowing me to continue walking away from him and that conversation. As I walked through the forest, heading back to the house, I could feel him close by but keeping his distance.