48

Forty eight
*Freya*
As we made our way through the castle corridors, the weight of countless eyes bore into me. Servants and guards shamelessly gawked and whispered, their muted murmurs carrying the buzz of gossip. I just knew the other ladies would hear about it in no time. I fought the urge to shrink from their stares, my cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Rafe, however, didn’t even care-his chin raised defiantly as we strode past the whispering throngs. I couldn’t help but envy his nonchalance when people gossiped about him. My gut twisted as I imagined Kelly’s furious face if she saw us in this position. She would probably have my head on a stake if she saw me.
I had told myself I didn’t want to draw any attention to myself by being romantic with Rafe, but now that he was carrying me to his room like I was a prize he just won, I knew it was not possible.
At last, we reached the entrance of Rafe’s bedchamber. The moment the door shut behind us, I tried to release myself from his arms, to put some much needed distance between us. “Put me down,” I demanded, my tone laced with a mixture of anger and embarrassment.
Slowly, almost reluctantly, he obliged-though his penetrating gaze never left me, igniting a simmer of barely-restrained tension. I shifted uncomfortably under the weight of his stare, remembering too vividly the passionate moments we had shared hours before. Yet I remembered the way he had practically rejected me. the words he’d uttered to his Gamma made me upset all over.
“Why did you carry me from my chambers?” I asked, trying to suppress the tremor in my voice. “In front of my maids, no less?”
Rafe regarded me with a perplexed look, one eyebrow arched ever so slightly. “Your maids were in terrified when I arrived,” he replied, his tone laced with studied nonchalance. “Crying, desperately trying to wake you from the trance.” A muscle twitched in his chiseled jaw. “What else was I to do?”
I averted my gaze, wrestling with the urge to tell him about the strange vision I had seen when I was in the trance. Steeling myself, I mustered my most convincing lie. “I was merely meditating. There’s no cause for alarm.”
His eyes narrowed to icy slits of disbelief. In one fluid motion, he closed the distance between us, his firm hand gripping my chin and forcing me to meet his piercing stare. “Do not insult my intelligence with your lies Freya,” he growled. “I will not let you leave this chamber until you tell me the truth.”
We stood there, our ragged breaths mingling in the scant space between us. The tension between us was so strong I could taste it. At last, I sighed warily. “well… I was in a trance, but not by meditation.” My throat constricted as the memory washed over me anew. “I… saw my mother.”
Rafe’s brow furrowed quizzically. “Your mother?” His grip on me softened, his thumb lightly caressing my cheek. “You said your mother has been dead for years…”
I gave a slow nod, my voice a tremulous rasp. “Yes… and yet, she appeared to me, as vivid and real as you are now.” I swallowed hard against the lump forming in my throat. “She was bathed in a blinding light, swimming towards me when I was under the water…”
Rafe’s expression darkened with grave concern. “This was not the first time you’ve experienced such a… vision, was it?”
I tensed, dropping my gaze. He knew me too well to conceal the truth any longer. “No… the first time was several nights ago,” I admitted reluctantly.
A muscle tightened in his chiseled jaw as he released me, raking his fingers through his tousled chestnut locks. “You did not think to inform me of this?” Though his tone was even, the hurt simmered in his stormy eyes.
Shame washed over me in a heated flush. I crossed my arms defensively over my chest. “It was a private matter. I saw no reason to bother you with it.”
“No reason?” Rafe’s voice rose in incredulity. He began to pace the room angrily. “Freya, you know what this means? You are having visitations from the spirit world! This is extremely dangerous and I am only aware of it now?? Seeing your mother’s spirit is not a normal thing! Especially if it is more than once. It might mean you’ve been in grace danger all this while.”
I watched him helplessly, my heart tight with regret at hiding something like this from him. I should have trusted him and told him what I had been seeing. I also needed to tell him about this weird power I had. When at last he stopped before me once more, I couldn’t remain silent any longer.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, reaching out to take his hands in mine. “You’re right, I should have told you. I didn’t realize the gravity of it myself until now.”
His features softened somewhat as our eyes met in unspoken understanding and apology. Tenderly, he brushed an errant curl back from my face. “We will unravel this together,” he vowed in a low murmur. “No more secrets between us.” He saw the expression on my face and frowned. I knew I had to tell him now.
“One more thing..”
“Tell me” He urged, his lips thinned in annoyance.
“When I was at the sunshades pack… when Zephyr wanted to.. hurt me, something happened,”
“What happened? Did he really..?” Rafe asked in a low, thunderous voice. I could see him trying to rein his anger in.
“No no… something happened with me before he could get the chance. A burst of power came out from me and attacked him. It was so scary and shocking at the same time.”
Rafe stared at me silently. It looked like he was trying to take in my words. To understand what it meant. I stood there, my heart beating so hard with fear as I waited for him to say something.
“You.. have powers?”
“I know it’s unbelievable because I’m supposed to be a werewolf but.. it just happened and..”
“That. Is. Amazing!”
I regarded, surprised. He was not upset? “Amazing?”
Rafe placed his arms around me, a smile softening his handsome features. He grinned excitedly, making me smile despite myself.
“I always knew you were special, Freya Hadid. But this..? You protected yourself from one of the most powerful alpha’s to ever exist. I am so proud of you. While we don’t know what your power is, I will talk to my warlock. I’m sure he’ll know it.”
“Okay. But Rafe.. could you keep this between us please?” I looked up to him hopefully. I didn’t want the girls to know there was something up with me apart from being a wolf less girl.”
Rafe brushed my hair softly and nodded. I relaxed against him with a contented sigh.
As his arms enfolded me in a protective embrace, I found myself clinging to him fiercely.
“I missed you, you know? Even though you made me face the most embarrassment I’d ever faced in all my years alive” He began. I stiffened against him as I recalled what had let to that.
“I’m sorry, how was I to act when I literally heard you telling someone else that you didn’t want me?” I demanded furiously. The fire danced in my eyes and I knew he could sense it too. The side of his lips lifted up in an amused smile.
“How could I not want you when you drive me crazy? You’re all I can think of and i don’t want to ever let you out of my sight for even a second. What have you done to me Freya Hadid?”
My breath caught in my throat. We stared at each other, entranced by each other. His lips was inches from mine. Electricity crackled inside me, my stomach tumbled viciously as he slowly brought his face down to mine.
****