43

Forty three
*Freya*
My heart pounded as Rafe’s intense gaze locked onto mine. The air between us felt electric, charged with a longing so powerful it stole my breath away. I ached to confess the truth I’d been holding back-that I wasn’t truly one of his kind.
His brow furrowed slightly in concern. “Tell me, Freya.” He urged.
I took a deep breath. It was now or never. “The reason I ran away… it wasn’t because of you. It was because of Kelly, my stepsister. She found out my secret and threatened to tell you if I didn’t leave the palace”
“What secret is that?” He asked. I took a deep breath, my whole body beaded with thick sweat.
After a heavy pause, the words finally tumbled out. “Kelly… she threatened to tell you I’m wolfless if I didn’t leave you.” My stepsister’s cruelty still stung. “I couldn’t let her manipulate me anymore, so I fled your palace.”
Rafe’s brow furrowed, those piercing eyes searching my face. “Why didn’t you just tell me?”
I fought back tears at the hurt lacing his deep voice. “I wanted to, I swear. But it wasn’t easy to admit I’ve been living a lie all this time.”
His expression softened as I blinked away the dampness blurring my vision. Those strong fingers gently cupped my cheek, making me shiver at his tender touch. “You’re more than just your bloodline to me, Freya. Do you have any idea how special you are? Do you know how you make me feel without trying?”
I wondered if I should tell him about the sudden protection powers I had but I decided I would tell him after we settled all these. I didn’t want him think I was a witch or something. I needed to find out what I was on my own first. I didn’t want to lose Rafe by confessing another thing about me.
All my fears over his reaction melted away. Rafe understood in a way my own family never could. I leaned into the warmth of his palm, needing to draw closer, to finally shed the burden of this secret between us.
Rafe drew me into his embrace, those powerful arms enveloping me in pure solace. “Don’t cry, my butterfly,” he murmured against my hair. “I’m not angry, not anymore.”
I buried my face into the crook of his neck, breathing in his woodsy scent as the tears spilled over. He held me close, rubbing soothing circles across my back while whispering sweet reassurances. In his arms, I finally felt safe, accepted… loved for who I truly was.
As my sobs quieted, Rafe stiffened, his fingers grazing over a spot on my shoulder. “What’s this?” Concern laced his gruff tone.
I pulled back, his eyes fixed on the torn fabric and bloodied gash underneath. Panic fluttered in my chest as I realized he’d discovered my wound. Rafe’s expression darkened, that undercurrent of rage I knew all too well flickering across his chiseled features.
“Who did this to you??” he demanded through gritted teeth.
“Well.. it’s..” I tried to brush it off, to hide the truth that would surely ignite his fury. But Rafe’s piercing stare bore into me, leaving no room for lies between us, not anymore.
Taking a steadying breath, I finally answered, my voice barely above a whisper. “Alpha Zephyr… he attacked me.” His eyes darkened even more. I could feel the force of his rage even as I stood before him.
“He tried to force himself on me, but I fought him off.” The bitter words tumbled out before I could stop them.
Rafe went rigid, his entire body tensing with unbridled rage. A feral growl rumbled deep in his chest as realization of what I’d endured sank in. His eyes blazed with murderous intent, those rugged features I adored now changed into a mask of pure, primal fury.
“That bastard dared to lay his hands on you?!” Rafe snarled. His face was changing. “I’ll rip him apart, limb from limb.”
Panic coursed through me watching this transformation. As much as the wolf inside craved vengeance, I couldn’t bear the thought of Rafe risking his life, not after nearly losing him once before.
“Rafe, please…” I reached for him, but he was already turning away, trembling with barely contained violence. “You’re still recovering, you can’t go after him now!”
He didn’t seem to hear my desperate pleas. With jerky, rage-fueled movements, Rafe began dressing, settling into the battle-worn leathers and strapping on his weapons. Tears stung my eyes anew as I realized reasoning with him was futile when consumed by this berserk need to protect me.
I had to stop him, had to find a way to douse this inferno before it consumed him. Think, Freya, think! My mind raced as I watched him storm towards the door, steps heavy with murderous intent.
Then it struck me – the one thing that could break through his haze of fury. Moving quickly, I positioned myself in his path, ordering in a firm voice, “Kiss me.”
Rafe pulled up short, those smoldering eyes snapping to mine in surprise at my daring command. But I held his penetrating stare, willing him to see the desperation, the need blazing within me.
“Don’t go anywhere, Rafe. I… I need you. please. Just.. kiss me.” I asked again, this time my voice sounded more desperate. I knew deep down that it wasn’t just because I wanted to stop him from going back.
As Rafe stood before me, his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths, a flicker of confusion showed in his eyes. But then, as if guided by some unseen force, his features softened. The tension that had coiled tightly within him began to unravel, replaced by a glimmer of something else entirely.
Without a word, he slowly closed the distance between us, his hand reaching out to cup my cheek tenderly. His touch was electric, sending shivers down my spine. And then, with a tenderness I had never witnessed in him before, Rafe leaned in and pressed his lips to mine.
It was a kiss filled with a raw intensity, a tumultuous mix of anger and desire. In that moment, as our lips moved in a dance of passion and longing, I felt the walls he had erected around himself crumble away. The heat of his kiss seared through me, melting away the layers of doubt and fear that had kept us apart.
As we broke apart, breathless and unspoken words hanging between us, I saw it in his eyes – the anger that had once consumed him now replaced by a flicker of something new. A spark of unbridled desire. I sucked in a deep breath as I felt his arousal budge against me. Rafe wanted me as badly as I wanted him.
“Freya.. I..” He tried to explain himself but I put my finger on his soft lips that had just ravaged mine, hushing him.
“I’m yours tonight, my king.” I whispered breathlessly.
****