42

Forty Two
*Freya*
I stared at Rafe as if the rest of the world had ceased to exist. It was only him. The beastly scent of him overwhelmed my senses – a blend of earth, sweat, and something wholly animal. Positioned so close, I could feel the rumbling growl vibrating through his body as his eyes scanned our surroundings for any remaining threats.
Just then, a deafening roar of fury echoed across the pit. Zephyr, bloodied but still standing, leveled an enormous flamethrower directly at Rafe’s back. “If I can’t have her… no one can!”
Rafe whipped around just as the first lick of flames erupted from the barrel. He shielded me with his body as the searing blaze engulfed him. An anguished roar tore from his throat as he crumpled to the ground, his skin smoldering.
“No!” I screamed, cradling his massive, unmoving form. Tears streamed down my face as I shook him desperately, calling his name over and over. But he didn’t respond, his eyes remaining eerily shut.
Zephyr stalked forward, the flamethrower raised menacingly. “Don’t worry, my dear. You’ll be reunited with your beloved Alpha soon enough.”
As Zephyr approached, flamethrower raised, fury and fear roiled inside me like a vortex threatening to tear me apart. Rafe’s still form cradled in my arms was the only anchor against the storm.
Zephyr’s eyes glinted with sadistic glee as the flamethrower’s barrel glowed a hellish red. “Give it up, little girl. You’re powerless against me.”
His words acted like a lit match in the depths of my soul. The unexplainable power within me burst forth in a terrifying scream that ripped from my very core. I felt it as a physical force exploding outwards – an invisible shockwave of pure, unbridled rage.
The burst caught Zephyr square in the chest, the force batting him backwards like a rag doll. The flamethrower flew from his grip as he hit the ground hard, screaming in shock and pain.
I stared at my own trembling hands, realization dawning in my head. He was just about to attack me and my protective power somehow came out in a form of shield the moment I screamed.
Zephyr thrashed on the ground, stunned but still defiant. “You are an evil witch!”
A feral snarl ripped from my lips as I rose to my feet, placing myself between Zephyr and Rafe’s unconscious form. I slowly walked towards where he had dropped the flamethrower. The huge pistol felt extremely heavy as I picked it up. I turned to Zephyr who was still writhing in pain.
“You are making a mistake little girl. I’m the Alpha. I cannot be killed…” Zephyr said. His voice had a tone of both warning and fear in it.
“Maybe not, but you will definitely feel this pain for a long time.”
“Wait. wait. No!”
I ignored his screams and shot him as hard as I could, targeting his face. The shot caused an explosion that rocked me backwards from the force of it. Smoke filled everywhere making it impossible for me to see Zephyr. I took the opportunity to run back to where Rafe was.
“Rafe?”
“Freya.. my darling..” Rafe groaned. I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing out. Rafe was fine. There was a deep gash on his chest where the bullet had hit him, but he was visibly healing. I was so glad he hadn’t died trying to save me.
‘I.. I’m so sorry for running away.. I”
“There’s no time for that right now. Help me up, butterfly” He asked, his voice still weak from trying to recover. I speedily did what he asked. Suddenly, I noticed some guards running towards us. Fear rose with in me and I straightened the machine, ready to shoot them out of the way.
“No, they’re with me, warrior princess.” I smiled at the nickname he gave me, momentary relief flooded me when I recognized the gentle face of Connor. He was here too. They had all come here to save me. They approached us and assisted Rafe. Right before they got to us, Rafe leaned into me, his voice breathless. “As for leaving me, your punishment for that will be later.”
My face flushed at his words. I knew that was coming for me. I would happily welcome it.
slowly and steadily, we walked out of the sunshade palace.
****
“I’m so grateful you and Rafe risked your lives to rescue me from the Sunshade pack,” I said to Connor, my voice quivering with emotion. “I don’t know what I would have done if-”
A sharp rap on the door interrupted me. A guard poked his head in. “Freya, The Alpha king requests your presence in his lodge immediately.”
My breath caught in my throat. Rafe wanted to see me, alone, in his bedroom? A thrill ran through me, electric and exhilarating, followed by an icy stab of nervousness in my gut. He was supposed to be resting right now. We had to stop at a royal hotel just so Rafe could take sometime to fully heal.
“I, um, better go see what he needs,” I stammered to Connor, rising on shaky legs.
Connor gave me a knowing look. “Good luck,” he said with a wink.
My face flaming, I hurried out and made my way to Rafe’s room with trembling steps. I paused outside the door, taking a deep breath in a futile attempt to calm my racing heart, before raising a hand to knock.
“Enter,” came Rafe’s deep voice from within.
I pushed open the door and froze. Rafe stood with his back to me, a tiny white towel slung low around his narrow hips, leaving the defined muscles of his back and shoulders bare. Rivulets of water from his damp hair trailed down his tanned skin.
He turned to face me and I struggled to keep my eyes on his chiseled face, but my gaze kept flicking down his toned chest and abs against my will, following the tantalizing trail of dark hair that disappeared beneath the towel. I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly desert-dry.
“Freya,” he said, his full lips curving into a devastatingly handsome smile.
I curtseyed silently. Being this close to Rafe, with so much of his glorious body on display, I felt like I might combust on the spot from the heat flooding through me. I clasped my hands tightly to keep from reaching out to touch his glistening skin.
What did he want to discuss that couldn’t wait until he was dressed? The intimacy of the situation sent a shiver down my spine, even as excitement warred with shyness inside me. I waited with to hear what he would say next.
Rafe’s eyes gleamed with amusement as he caught me staring. “Like what you see?” he teased, his deep voice sending shivers through me.
Blushing furiously, I jerked my gaze away, focusing intently on a spot over his left shoulder. “You… you asked to see me?” I managed to get out, my voice slightly strangled.
He didn’t respond right away. Instead, he walked towards me with the easy grace of a predator, closing the distance between us until mere inches separated our bodies. I could feel the heat radiating off his damp skin, smell the clean, masculine scent of him. It made my head spin.
We stared at each other for a long, charged moment, the air practically crackling with tension. My heart raced as I wondered what he was thinking, what he wanted from me.
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. I stepped back, putting some much-needed space between us before I did something reckless like launch myself into his arms. “Rafe, why did you call me here?” I asked again, pleased that my voice remained steady this time.
His expression sobered, turning serious. “I want to know why you ran away from the palace, Freya.”
I froze, panic clawing at my throat. This was the moment. I’d have to confess my secret, admit that I wasn’t a real werewolf like the rest of the ladies. He’d be furious that I’d deceived him, betrayed his trust. I was so tired of hiding. Rafe deserved the truth, even if it cost me everything.
I took a deep, shuddering breath, steeling myself. “There’s something I need to tell you…”
****