Chapter 52

**Tiberius‘ pov.**

*Thud.*

"What the—?!"

I jolted awake, groaning as pain shot through my hip. I’d landed hard—on the damn floor. I blinked against the sudden sunlight filtering through the curtains and found myself lying half-naked on the cold wood.

"What the hell?" I muttered, scrambling upright.

Then I saw her.

Freya.

Standing at the foot of the bed, a sheet wrapped around her naked body like armor, her eyes burning with fury.

"No," she hissed, voice sharp as steel. "I’m worse than hell."

My brows pulled together. "Freya—"

"So that’s it?" she snapped. "You see a vulnerable girl and think, why not just fuck Freya while she’s broken?"

I stared at her, stunned, heart pounding. I was still in my boxers, and now very awake.

"What are you talking about?!"

Her expression twisted in a grimace. "You call yourself a hunter, but you couldn’t even tell the difference. Freya changed, and you didn’t even notice. Dorian would’ve been a better choice for her."

My blood went cold, then boiled. A snarl tugged at the corner of my mouth.

"Better choice? You really want to test me right now, wolf-girl? I’m not just the best of the hunters—I’m the best *mate* she’s ever had. And you damn well know it."

That’s when her wolf emerged.

A growl echoed from deep within her throat as her eyes flashed gold, and in a heartbeat, she lunged.

But I was ready.

I caught her wrists mid-strike, flipped her effortlessly onto the bed, and pinned her beneath me, her arms locked in place above her head. She bucked beneath me, furious, but I held her still.

"What’s your name?" I demanded.

The golden-eyed wolf sneered. "Reyna. And if Freya weren’t so drained, you wouldn’t have taken me down so easily, hunter."

I released her, standing tall.

"I don’t want to hurt Freya," I said firmly. "She’s my mate. I love her. I want nothing but the best for her. And you, Reyna, should want the same."

Reyna scoffed. "I *do* want what’s best for her. And trust me, it isn’t you."

I let out a cold chuckle. "You’re more immature than I expected. I hoped the wolf side of her would be wiser, more in touch with her well-being. Maybe the

*other* side of Freya will be more reasonable. Now hand her back nicely—or trust me, Reyna, I can be very, very unpleasant to those who disrespect me."

She narrowed her eyes. "Hmph. Typical hunter with a massive ego."

And just like that, her body slackened. The glow faded from her eyes, her limbs relaxed, and her breathing slowed.

Freya was back.

I ran a hand through my hair and sat down heavily on the bed, burying my face in my palms. How the hell do you love someone when part of them fucking hates you?

I lifted her gently, laying her back beneath the blankets. Then I walked to the bathroom, needing to wash away the tension, the confusion—the guilt.

The hot water poured over my shoulders, and I braced my hands against the tiled wall, eyes closed.

*Reyna is part of her.*

I couldn’t separate them. If I loved Freya, I had to accept all of her. Even the wild, combative wolf within. Somehow, I needed to coexist with Reyna. Earn her trust, prove myself. I only hoped the next side of Freya I met would be more willing to listen.

When I stepped back into the room, towel around my waist, I caught the flash of a smile.

Freya.

Back. Herself.

She grinned from the bed, eyes warm and shining. She raised a finger, curling it in a come-here motion.

I returned her smile, slow and genuine. "Hello, gorgeous."

She pulled me in for a gentle kiss, lips brushing mine with a softness that made my chest ache.

"Good morning," she whispered.

I brushed a strand of hair from her face. "Hope you slept well."

A faint blush colored her cheeks, and she nodded.

I leaned back, grabbing a clean shirt. "This afternoon, I want you in the training grounds. We’ll work on weapon skills—especially those suited for hunters."

She tilted her head. "You mean those fancy daggers of mine?"

I laughed. "Not just daggers. Your instinctual weapon will reveal itself soon enough, and when it does, you’ll be the best with it. But hunters train with everything. We have to be ready to wield any tool that can give us the edge."

I pulled on my pants, then turned to her. "After training, you’ll meet with Eira. She’ll walk you through our history—*the real one*. Not the bullshit story you’ve probably heard."

Freya looked down sheepishly. "I guess hearing the other side wouldn’t hurt."

I buckled my belt, then met her gaze. "Any signs of either of them?"

She shook her head slowly. "Not right now."

I leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

"Good. I’ve got a meeting I can’t miss. But I’ll see you after lunch."

With that, I turned and left—my heart still pounding with everything unsaid.