45

Forty Five
*Rafe*
I gazed at Freya’s soft curves and delicate features as she slept peacefully beside me, the light caressing her bare skin. Memories of our passionate lovemaking were still fresh in my mind – the feel of her silky body pressed against mine, her nails digging into my back as she gasped my name over and over in ecstasy. In this blissful moment, nothing else mattered except the amazing connection we shared.
Careful not to wake her, I placed a tender kiss on Freya’s forehead before slipping out of bed. Pulling on some clothes, I silently exited the room, closing the door with a quiet click. The private jet had landed while we were… occupied, and I could hear my crew and security detail preparing to disembark.
I made my way to the front of the plane where Connor was overseeing the unloading. He glanced up as I approached, a sly grin spreading across his face.
“Well, well, look who finally decided to grace us with his presence,” Connor quipped. “I was beginning to think you two lovebirds would never come up for air.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
I shot him an icy glare, in no mood for his teasing. “Very amusing,” I growled. “I don’t recall asking for your input on my personal life.”
Connor held up his hands in mock surrender, but the impish twinkle never left his eyes. “Hey, no judgment here, buddy. Glad you’re enjoying yourself for once. Lord knows you deserve a bit of fun.”
I sighed heavily, running a hand through my disheveled hair. If only it were that simple. As much as I craved Freya, allowing myself to fall for her would might lead to heartache in the end. The competition would soon start getting tougher.
Just then, a member of my security team approached with an urgent message about an impending meeting with the council.
“I see you got her back safely.” I turned to my Gamma. Rafael stared at me with a disapproving look in his dark eyes.
“Yes I did.” I responded and turned away, not ready for his lectures.
Rafael’s brow furrowed with concern as he fell into step beside me. “Rafe, hold up a sec. I need to ask you something.”
I glanced at him impatiently, my mind already three steps ahead. “What?”
“Now that you have both been intimate, what about the rest of the candidates?”
“I..” I paused. Unsure of what to say.
“You and I both know she’s not the one for you. Jessica Gabriel is a more suitable option. do you want keep playing around with her?” Rafael asked.
I raked a hand through my hair, Rafael wouldn’t let me breathe if I didn’t tell him what he wanted to hear. “Look, Whatever I have with Freya is no one’s business. She’s only as special to me as the rest of the other ladies are. Including her sister. I had my time with her, I’ll also have my time with them, so–”
I trailed off as Rafael’s eyes focused behind me. I frowned, turning to see what had captured his attention.
Freya stood mere feet away, her face white with shock. Violet eyes swam with unshed tears as they met mine.
In that moment, I knew she had heard every word.
My heart seized. “Freya…” I began, taking a step towards her.
But she was already turning away, fleeing down the corridor. Without a backward glance, she vanished into the bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
Cursing, I ran after her, my fist pounding on the solid wood. “Freya, open the door. Let me explain.”
Silence didn’t answer. I pressed my forehead to the cold surface, squeezing my eyes shut. What had I done?
“Freya, please. open the door. Don’t shut me out. Not now.”
But the door remained firmly closed, I groaned in frustration. I had only one option left to make her open up.
“Freya, as your king, I command you to open this door.” My voice rang out, sharp and authoritative, masking the desperation clawing at my insides.
For several agonizing heartbeats, nothing happened. Then, with a soft click, the door swung open.
Freya stood before me, her expression carefully blank. But her eyes… those hazel eyes were filled with so much emotions – hurt, anger, betrayal.
We stared at each other, the tension crackling like electricity in the air between us. I swallowed hard, struggling to find the right words. “Freya, what you heard… it’s not what you think.”
Her lips twisted into a bitter smile. “There’s no need to explain, Your Majesty. I understand perfectly. You are the king, after all. You don’t owe me anything.”
She made to push past me, but I caught her by the waist, pulling her back. Her body was stiff, unyielding against mine. “Freya, please. Just listen to me.”
I cupped her face in my hands, forcing her to meet my gaze. “None of them mean shit to me. But the competition has rules that must be followed. I was only saying what I needed my Gamma to hear.”
Freya’s eyes searched mine, a war raging behind those depths. I could see the doubt, the fear, the desperate longing to believe my words.
“I know I’ve given you reason to doubt me,” I murmured, my thumb caressing the soft skin of her cheek. “But I swear to you, on my life, that you are the one I want by my side. The only one.”
For a moment, she wavered, leaning into my touch. Hope flared in my chest, bright and warm. But then she stiffened, pulling away from me.
“I can’t do this right now, Rafe.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but the pain in it cut me to the core. “I won’t be just another conquest, another pawn in your political games. Just keep me in the shadows as I originally wanted to be”
She stepped back, her hand on the doorknob. “I think it’s best if we end this now, before either of us gets hurt any further.”
Panic seized me, cold and sharp. I couldn’t lose her. “Freya, wait–”
But she was already gone, the door closing with a soft click. I stood there for a long moment, my mind reeling, my heart aching with a pain I’d never known. Was this what it felt like to be crazy about someone else?
Slowly, I turned away from the door, my feet carrying me to the window. Outside, the world went on, oblivious to the turmoil raging inside me.
I braced my hands on the sill, my head hanging low. I had to fix this. I had to find a way to show Freya that she wasn’t just one of the candidates, that she was special to me. Last night had been the best night of my life and I didn’t want it to end so soon.
A knock at the door startled me from my thoughts. For a moment, I thought it might be Freya, that she’d changed her mind. But when I opened it, I found Connor standing there, his brow furrowed with concern.
“Rafe? What’s going on? I just saw Freya leaving, and she looked… upset.”
I scrubbed a hand over my face, suddenly feeling very tired. “I messed up, Connor. I messed up badly.”
He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. “What happened?”
The words poured out of me, a confession of my own foolishness. Connor listened quietly, his expression growing more somber with each passing moment.
When I finished, he sighed heavily. “You shouldn’t have said anything to Rafael. Because he is your Gamma doesn’t give him the chance to decide your actions.”
I laughed, the sound harsh and bitter. “He’s my Gamma. My spiritual brother. What would you have me do?”
Connor walked away but not before he quietly said, “A Gamma may not always want the best for their spiritual brothers, just so you know. Be careful with him.”
Deep down, I knew Connor was partially right. I had to keep Rafael in his place as my Gamma. Not my father.
****