Chapter 24

Freya Rose It was torture for me having to stand there watching the love of my life beaming with happiness in the arms of his new mate. Tears were stream heavily down my face as the realization hit me. This was it. I'd lost him. He put her down and I peered out towards the crowd. No one even acknowledged my pain, they just cheered and clapped for the happy couple. My eyes fell upon Cassie and she was making her way up to me with such pity on her face. Tyler was following closely behind her with his head hanging down. I scanned over the crowd and saw that Clara's face was shocked. I thought she'd be elated with the situation. Aiden pissed me off, because when his eyes met mine, his sadistic grin grew wider.

I illuminated my eyes in anger, but calmed a little when Landon and Grace caught my eye. They looked devastated for me and Landon was just as shocked as Clara. He just shook his head in disbelief while starting over towards Tristan. Cassie and Tyler arrived at my side and Cassie slid her fingers between mine, then squeezed my hand. I glanced down at our hands, before lifting my head up to give her a forced smile.

My emotions we’re running wild and if you asked me what I felt right then, I doubt I would've been able to tell you. Everything hurt so damn much, but was numb at the same time. It was like it wasn’t happening to me, or it was some sort of fucked-up nightmare. I was half expecting to wake up any second with Selene laughing her head off, telling me it was a prank.

My head snapped around when I heard Tristan walking towards me, hand in hand with his new mate. She hid behind him, her tiny body shadowed by his large frame. She eventually peered around his arm and stared at me. To my surprise, her expression was one of guilt, and so she should have felt guilty. Although it didn’t make a blind bit of difference. Regardless of me wanting to rip her fucking head off, it was Tristan that was shattering my heart, not her.

“Freya...” Tristan spoke softly while nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

“Tristan,” I replied with a glare. He let go of his neck and tried to take my hand, but I snatched it out of his reach.

“Um... I don't really know what to say,” he mumbled and stumbled all over his words.

I jumped in and took over his pathetic attempt to ease the situation.

“Well I have a few suggestions that could work. For starters how about sorry, Freya! Or maybe, how about you actually do what you'd always promised me? What you said you'd do if this situation ever happened. Reject her!”

Shocked gasps could be heard coming from the crowd, before the low whispers began. I tuned them out while waiting for his response.

He glanced back at his mate's panic-stricken face and gave her a reassuring smile. My heart instantly dropped to the pit of my stomach when I realized he wasn't going to reject her. He was going to reject me. He turned back to face me, but before he could answer me, Amber strutted out in front of him with her hands on her hips.

“He's not rejecting anyone but you. You damn skank! You were just a practice run. You can't compete with a mate bond, you stupid bitch! Why don't you just piss off and crawl back under the rock you came from. You dirty little, Mutt!”

She wiggled her head side to side, all smug-like, and then scanned the room like she was looking for approval for her outburst. That was a big fucking mistake! I thought as an evil grin grew on my face. That outburst was all the incentive I needed to rip that bitch apart, once and for all.

Quicker than she could suck in a breath, I dropped to the floor and swept my legs around in a circle. I caught her feet, knocking her off balance and sending her plummeting to the floor. She was left winded when her back smashed into the ground. Before anyone had a chance to stop me, I pulled my stiletto shoe off and jumped on top of her.

When I raised my arm high into the air, she glared at me, her eyes widening with fear when she spotted the heel of my shoe pointed right at her face. I laughed when she gasped and tried to raise her hands to protect herself like last time, but again she was way too slow.

I threw my arm down with all my might, plunging my stiletto heel right into her eye socket. When I heard low pitched and satisfying squishing noise, I pushed harder onto the shoe. A loud pop came from her eye making me fall forwards slightly as her eye exploded. Black sludge and blood spurted all over her face and the heel of my shoe sank all the way into the back of her eye socket.

She must have passed out from the shock, or the pain, because she didn't make a peep. Everyone gasped in terror and her family came running straight towards me. They were screaming at me, but I didn’t care, I just glared up at Tristan. He was stood with his mouth hanging open, but soon gained his composure and screwed his face up in anger. He was furious with me. He turned to Landon, Dylan and Leah and shouted in his Alpha voice, “Stop! I will deal with her myself!”

They halted in their tracks, but I could tell that they wanted to disobey his direct orders. It looked as though their bodies wouldn't let them move. He waved his hand over the crowd and beckoned for doctor Dobson to go and help Amber, before turning back to glare at me. He was shaking with absolute fury when he snarled at me through gritted teeth, “You. Outside. Now!”

He must have used his Alpha voice again, because it made me bow my head in obedience. I didn't want to do as he ordered but my body wouldn't let me argue back or disobey. He pointed to a side door a few feet away. I looked at it, then rose to my feet and reluctantly strolled towards it. He shoved my shoulder making me walk even faster and I was surprised when a low growl escaped my lips.

We made it outside and I walked down the stairs and onto the grass. It was beautiful. Scattered all around were gorgeous rose bushes and carved wooden benches that had cast iron arms. The rose garden had a large fountain over to the side and the whole thing backed onto the woods. If things had been different, I knew that Tristan and I would have enjoyed spending most of our night out there, just staring up at the stars. I exhaled preparing myself to face him.

“Freya. Please leave. Go back to the pool house, pack a bag and go stay with your dad. I’ll only be able to stop the pack from trying to kill you for a short while,” his voice was singer, but a little broken.

Maybe this was hitting him too?

I turned around to reply, but as I did, I saw her standing right next to him. 

“What is she doing here?” I snarled.

The rage was building up inside me and all I could think of was peeling the skin off of her face. 

“She is my mate, Freya. I'm sorry, but she will not be leaving my side. I know this is terribly hard for you, but after what you just did to Amber, I am absolutely sure that I have made the right decision for myself and this pack!”

His words cut me like a knife. The matter of fact tone of his voice, showed me that he had no feelings left for me at all. It was all happening just like Cassie had described it to me at the graduation. When she found out Tyler was her mate, all that she had ever felt for Landon, melted away. Landon had the same happen to him. One minute he was falling apart, grieving and torturing Leo for fun, because his mate Jessie had died, and now, he's all loved up with Grace.

I cursed Selene for letting this happen. She wouldn't reply to me, but I knew damn well that she was watching this train wreck. Fucking coward, I thought loudly. I stared at the pair of them hand in hand in front of me. Every ounce of pain and anger burned around inside me, ready to erupt like a volcano. I flared my nostrils as I began to rant at Tristan, “You said you loved me. You said you'd never leave and promised that you'd reject any mate that wasn't me. You fucking marked me, Tristan!”

I began to growl as my rant intensified. I had a new feeling bubbling up inside me that I hadn't felt before. I was used to the electrical burning sensation I got when I ascended, but this was different. It was more of a low-frequency hum, with a vibrating sort of feeling spreading throughout my body. I was startled by an infuriated female voice inside my head. It wasn't Selene's and it definitely wasn't mine.

“Kill her. He's our mate!”

Snap... Snap... Crack...

I howled out in excruciating pain.

“Tristan, she's shifting!” His mate screamed.

“Yes, I know Elsa. Quickly, run inside and lock the doors. We need to keep the packs safe,” he yelled at his mate.

He was protecting her and that just added to my rage.

“He should be protecting us, not her!” The voice in my head growled.

“I know he should. Who are you?” I asked the voice in my head.

I had an idea of who or what she was, but I needed it to be confirmed.

“I'm you. Well the wolf half of you. I will always protect you and keep you safe,” she purred in her reply.

I felt a warm sense of security having her inside my head and liked the idea of never being alone again. I calmed down as I focused on my wolf purring. Tristan's eyes trailed all over my body, like he was expecting something to happen, but it didn't. The sound of my bones breaking ceased and I stopped shifting. I stood up straight and adjusted my dress.

“What!?”

“Why didn't you shift?”

I shrugged while looking down at my hand and casually fidgeted with my middle fingernail and my thumb.

“I stopped it!” I replied looking back up at him and felt a sense of satisfaction when his mouth fell open in disbelief.

I glanced back down at my hand and flipped it over, I concentrated and effortlessly began to shift my hand into a paw. The bones broke but I was able to ignore the pain. To be honest, I kinda enjoyed the pain, because it wasn't half as bad as the pain in my heart. It made me forget about it all, for a few blissful seconds at least. Tristan gasped when I stopped shifting again and my paw returned to its usual human form. 

“Freya, how the hell can you do that? I don't know any other wolf that can stop a shift once it's started. We can extend our canines and claws, but that's it,” he asked me while he stared at me in awe.

I could tell he was impressed with me and envious all at the same time. 

“I don't know, Tristan. I just can! Now, how about you answer my question? Why did you break your promises?”

I didn't care if he was fascinated by me, I was furious at him and Elsa. He shuffled around a bit while he stared at the floor.

“I'm sorry, Freya. I really did believe that you were my mate. I wish things could be different, but I can't abandon Elsa. Not now that I know she's my mate. The mate connection has already become too strong,” he said in a muffled voice.

“But you can abandon me!? Your girlfriend of two years. The girl that you marked and risked her life to turn her into a werewolf? I could have died Tristan!” I screamed at him.

He held his hands up and looked at me with his big beautiful, deep blue eyes. Those eyes that would never again gaze into mine filled with pure love.

“Freya I can't apologize enough... I...” He began to try to explain, but I cut him off and ran up to him, throwing my arms around his neck.

“I don't want you to apologize, Tristan. I just want you!” I screamed as tears slid down my cheeks. I rested my head on his chest and sobbed as I repeated, “I just want you. Please don’t leave me.”

He didn't even attempt to hold me. Instead he just pulled my hands away from around his neck and lowered them down, then gently pushed me away. I peered up at him with tears now gushing from my eyes. I could barely see him anymore. My eyes were that damn full.

“Freya please. I can't give you what you want. It's too late for us. You've changed too much and I just don't recognize you anymore.”

He’d said it with no emotion at all. Even watching as my heart broke in front of him, he felt nothing. He couldn't have. If he did feel anything at all, he would have at least tried to console me, but he couldn't even bring himself to touch me.

“How did this happen Tristan? It was supposed to be me and you forever, remember?” I held up my locket. “I love you always, forever be mine. Did that not mean anything to you? Do the last two years really mean so little to you? Be honest with me, Tristan. Do you feel anything for me at all?”

I instantly regretted what I'd just asked him. I wished I could take the words back and swallow them down, deep into the pit of my stomach. I didn't really want to hear him say the words, because by the blank look on his face, I already knew the answer. He turned his head away and glanced over at the building, then back at me.

“I really don't know what you want me to say, Freya. I was stupid to think that it could ever work between us. As a human you would have been too weak to be a decent Luna. So many would have challenged you for your position, because you were a, Mutt. As a hunter, you'd be even worse. What you did to Amber just now proves exactly that. Not only to me but to the entire community in that building that had to witness it.”

He paused for a breath while pointing back at the building with his thumb.

“We could never trust you. How are you supposed to keep the balance within a pack? How could you love all of the pack members as a Luna and mother, if as soon as someone pisses you off you put your heel through their eye?” He snapped at me.

He folded his arms waiting for my response, but I didn't know how to reply. I mean he was right. I wouldn't trust me either. My temper was crazy these days and I thought nothing of ripping a wolf apart if they hurt me. I lowered my head to the floor in silence.

“I am sorry for how things have turned out, Freya, but you know how it works. With my new mate bond, I barely feel anything for you now. When it's completed, that tiny sliver of love I still have for you, will also be gone. You need to just leave and move on with your life. Goodbye, Freya Rose,” he said coldly while my heart broke in two.

With that said, he turned around and strolled back towards the building and his new mate. I watched in silence as the love of my life walked away and abandoned me, just like I’d always feared. My wolf howled out in distress.

“Mate!”

I didn't dare let the word slip out of my mouth. I just stood there and watched as Tristan picked up Elsa by her ass and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He then carried her back into the building, in the same way he'd held me so many times before.

***

I cried throughout the entire drive back to the pool house, how I didn't have an accident I don't know. There was so much pain in my chest, I was convinced that I was having a heart attack. To top it all off, there was an hysterical wolf howling every few minutes in my head. She kept screaming at me to turn back and fight for our mate. I knew the only way he would recognize me as his mate would be if I killed Elsa.

My wolf was happy with that idea, but I knew that it would never work. After what I had put this pack through, losing Jessie, almost losing Tristan and now I might have killed Amber, killing Elsa would be the last straw. Like Tristan said, they would have tried to challenge me because I'm a Mutt and me being a hunter they would always fear me. What was the point? My wolf settled down when she listened to my reasoning. I felt her agree with me, before slipping away into the depths of my mind.

I arrived at the house and stepped in through the door of the pack house. Luckily no one was home, they were all at the ceremony. As I walked through the house a burnt iron smell filled up my nose. I followed the scent and it led me over to the basement door.

Crap, I forgot about Leo.

“Selene. Answer me, now!” I screamed into my head knowing that the connection was open, but she didn't respond. “I know you're listening. All of that was too juicy for you not to watch!” I mocked her.

“Fine, I'm here, Freya, but I will not apologize for what's just happened. I did my part, Tristan is your mate, but not until Elsa March is dead, or if one of them rejects the other. I can't change that. As I said, I had already matched them up before I knew about you,” she explained in an infuriated tone.

“That's not why I'm calling you. I need you to contact Samael for me and tell him to meet me at Tristan's house, before the wolves get home.” I replied in a panic while opening the door to the basement.

She replied while I was running down the concrete steps. 

“Ooo, how wonderful. Have you decided to pursue him as I'd planned?” She questioned, then giggled, all chirpy like a child who'd just got a puppy for Christmas.

I rolled my eyes while I walked through the basement. I found the keys and opened the cell door. Leo was very weak and just moaned slightly when he heard my voice. I yelled again through the link, “No Selene. I need him to pick up Leo. I'm breaking him out right now before I leave.”

I bent down and heaved Leo on to my shoulder, then stood back up. I expected him to be heavier, but then I remembered I was a hunter and a werewolf too. I was a lot stronger now.

“Ah, wonderful. I had forgotten about the dear boy. He had ceased his annoying begging recently, but I am pleased you are keeping to your part of the deal. I also like that I have an excuse to bring you and Samael back together.”

I ignored her comment and just concentrated on getting up the stairs with Leo balanced only shoulder. I had managed to carry him all the way outside, before setting him down on the grass by the woods. I ascended just in case any of the wolves came back. I needed to be prepared to fight them off. They were no longer my family. I tapped my foot on the ground while I waited for Samael. I didn't even know if he'd turn up for Leo, or if he'd send some of his lackeys. I huffed and folded my arms.

“What's taking him so damn long?” I said out loud with a huff.

I heard a chuckle from the trees and as I turned around, I saw a bright yellow glow.

“You are so impatient, love,” Samael mocked me as he walked out of the trees with Nathaniel and another vampire.

I remembered that he was one of the other vampires that had a hold of Tristan outside of the airport. He was huge and his whole body was covered in muscles. He had long brown hair, hazel brown eyes and an unkempt beard. Samael noticed that I was checking out the brute of a man and hurried to distract me by clearing his throat.

“Alastor, Nathaniel. Can you both carry Leonard back to the car please?”

It was nice to hear him ask them politely and not order them around like, Balan did. They did as he asked and carried Leo off into the woods. Samael and I watched as they vanished into the trees. I broke the silence when I said, “Um, I have to go Samael. I've got to pack my things.” I looked back at the pool house and sadness filled my already broken heart.

“Are you okay, Freya?” He asked, but before I had a chance to reply, he was in front of me wiping a stray tear away from my cheek.

“No. I'm not okay,” as soon as the words left my mouth, I began balling my eyes out again.

“It will be okay, Freya. A broken heart takes time to heal. I promise you. You will be happy again one day.”

He pulled me into his chest. I could smell that Joop on him again and it sent me crazy. Glancing up at him, I smiled sweetly. As he held my face with both hands, he stroked my tears away with his cold thumbs and I couldn't resist him any longer. I knew it was probably because my heart was breaking, but I didn’t care. I stood up onto my tiptoes and leaned in for a kiss, but I didn't get the reaction I was hoping for.

“I'm sorry, Freya I can't do that. I am not free to love you, my heart belongs to another,” Samael explained softly.

He placed a kiss on my forehead, before vanishing into the night. I stood all alone and in silence until I heard yelling from the house. My wolf hearing had kicked in and I heard men shouting, “Alpha, she's let the vampire out!”

There was a pause, then I heard Tristan reply, “Call for every warrior and tracker that we have. She's a threat to your Luna and a danger to this pack. She needs to die. Tonight!”