106

Chapter 106
*Freya*
Tears blurred my vision as I stumbled down the corridor, my mind a whirlwind of confusion and pain. I barely noticed Kelly until her mocking laughter pierced the haze.
“Well, well, look who’s finally seen the light,” she sneered, leaning against the wall with an air of malicious satisfaction. “Did you really think you were special to Rafe? You’re just a plaything, Freya.”
“Shut up, Kelly,” I growled, my fists clenching at my sides. But she only laughed harder, her voice grating on my already frayed nerves.
“Poor little Freya, always thinking she’s more important than she is,” Kelly jeered, taking a step closer. “Face it, Rafe will never choose someone like you. You’re nothing but a-”
Before she could finish, my fist connected with her face, the impact reverberating through my bones. She tumbled to the ground with a cry, clutching her cheek in shock.
“Stay out of my business,” I warned, my voice low and dangerous. “Or next time, it’ll be worse.”
Kelly’s eyes widened in fear as she scrambled to her feet, her bravado crumbling in the face of my fury. I didn’t wait to see her reaction; I turned and continued my march back to my room, my heart still aching but now fueled by a new resolve.
Grace and Flo stood by my door, their faces filled with concern as they saw my tear-streaked cheeks. But I couldn’t bear to speak, not yet. I needed the sanctuary of my room, the space to fall apart where no one could see.
“I want to be left alone,” I managed to say before collapsing on the floor, the sobs finally breaking free, echoing through the walls of my chamber like a mournful tune.
In that moment, I realized how deeply I loved Rafe, despite knowing he could never truly be mine. And the weight of that love, now tainted by betrayal, threatened to crush me entirely.
“Lock the door,” I choked out, my voice barely audible through the tears clogging my throat. Grace and Flo exchanged a worried glance but did as I asked, the heavy thud of the bolt sliding into place a small comfort in the maelstrom of my emotions.
As soon as the door was secure, I stumbled into my room, collapsing onto my bed as if my legs could no longer bear the weight of my grief. The sobs wracked my body, each one a shuddering reminder of how much I loved Rafe. Loved him despite knowing he would never be mine-could never be mine. He was the alpha king, bound by duty to choose the highest-ranking female as his mate. My heartache twisted deeper with every thought of his betrayal, the image of Jessica’s pink underwear seared into my mind.
Why did it hurt so much? Why did the knowledge that Rafe had chosen duty over love feel like a dagger to my soul?
The questions spiraled endlessly, tormenting me until I felt like I might drown in them. I clutched at the bedsheets, trying to anchor myself, but nothing could stem the tide of pain washing over me.
A loud bang on the outer door broke through my misery, jolting me upright. Grace appeared in the doorway, her face pale.
“Alpha Rafe is outside,” she said, her voice trembling. “He’s demanding to be let in.”
“Don’t let him in,” I replied, my voice firmer than I felt. “No matter what he says, do not open that door.”
“But, Freya, he’s commanding it as the alpha king,” Flo interjected, torn between loyalty to me and obedience to our ruler.
“Open this door now!” Rafe’s voice thundered from the corridor, making the walls tremble. “Or I’ll break it down myself!”
“Stay back!” I managed to scream just as Grace and Flo moved towards the door again. I swallowed hard, forcing down the bile of betrayal rising in my throat.
“Freya,” Rafe’s voice came again, lower but no less authoritative. “You have ten seconds before I come in there myself.”
My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing the ticking seconds of his ultimatum.
I held my breath as the last second ticked away, then slowly exhaled. My fingers trembled as I wiped the tears from my face and moved towards the door. The wooden barrier felt like a thin shield against the storm that was Rafe.
With a deep breath, I opened the door.
Rafe stood there, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my heart clench. The tension between us was palpable, an electric charge that neither of us could ignore. His jaw tightened, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. The maids, Grace and Flo, looked between us nervously.
“Leave us,” Rafe commanded, his voice firm but not unkind.
Grace and Flo hesitated, glancing at me for confirmation. I nodded reluctantly, and they scurried out, closing the door behind them.
As soon as we were alone, the air seemed to thicken with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. Rafe took a step towards me, and instinctively, I stepped back. The space between us felt both vast and too small.
“Freya,” he began, his voice softer now but still carrying that authoritative edge. “You know I had no choice but to come in here.”
“Wrong,” I interrupted, my voice trembling with anger and heartbreak. “You had every choice-starting with not barging into my chambers and sending my maids away.”
“How else was I supposed to explain?” he countered, frustration creeping into his tone. “You wouldn’t let me speak to you.”
“There’s nothing to explain!” I shouted, the pain finally breaking through. “I don’t want to hear about it, Rafe. Not after what I saw.”
“Freya, please,” he implored, stepping closer again. “I’m not leaving until you hear what I have to say.”
“Then you’ll be waiting a long time,” I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. “Because I won’t listen.”
We stood there, locked in a silent battle of wills, each of us refusing to give an inch. The weight of our shared history pressed down on us, making the room feel even smaller. How could love turn into this tangled web of misunderstandings and hurt?
But as much as I wanted to hold on to my resolve, part of me ached to hear him out.
“I’m not leaving Freya,” He said firmly, watching me.
“Fine, then I’ll be the one to leave,” I said sharply, turning on my heel. My heart raced, each beat echoing in my chest like a drum of defiance. I refused to let him see how much his presence affected me, how much it hurt to stand so close yet feel so distant.
I stepped forward, intending to brush past him, but my foot caught on the edge of the floor rug. The world tilted as I stumbled, and before I could brace myself for impact, strong arms encircled me. Rafe’s grip was firm, steadying me against his chest.
“Freya,” he breathed, his voice a mix of concern and something deeper, something that sent shivers down my spine.
For a moment, we stood frozen, locked in each other’s gaze. His eyes, those piercing blue depths, bore into mine with an intensity that made it impossible to look away. The air between us crackled, charged with unspoken words and unresolved emotions.
“Let go of me,” I whispered, though my body betrayed me, leaning slightly into his warmth.
“Not until you hear me out,” he replied, his tone softer now, almost pleading. His hands remained on my arms, their heat seeping through the fabric of my dress, grounding me in ways I didn’t want to acknowledge.
“Rafe,” I said, my voice barely more than a breath. My resolve wavered under the weight of our closeness, the familiar scent of him-wood smoke and pine-invading my senses, stirring memories I’d tried to bury.
“Please, Freya,” he murmured, his forehead nearly resting against mine. “Just listen.”
The tension was unbearable, a taut string ready to snap. My mind screamed at me to pull away, to hold onto the anger that had kept me standing. But my heart, traitorous and tender, longed for something else entirely.
“Why should I?” I managed to say, even as my fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, anchoring myself in the storm of conflicting feelings.
“Because I can’t lose you,” he answered, the raw vulnerability in his voice cracking the last of my defenses.
And there we stood, neither willing nor able to let go, teetering on the edge of something that could either heal or shatter us completely.
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