Chapter 62

**Tiberius pov.**

I hadn’t stopped moving since I left Dorian.

The terrain blurred past in streaks of gray and green, every heartbeat pulsing with urgency. My muscles burned from the relentless pace, my lungs ragged, but I didn’t care. I had to get back to her. To Freya. Every second away from her felt like an invitation for disaster.

Ravenhold’s gates rose before me in the dusky light. Familiar stone, tall and proud, but something felt... off. Wrong. The air was too still, and I felt the tension crawl up the back of my neck like cold steel.

Two guards lingered near the entrance, their stances lazy.

“Where’s Victor?” I asked without slowing.

The taller one shrugged. “Ain’t seen him for two days, sir.”

Fuck. My gut twisted. That wasn’t like him.

I pushed forward, instincts screaming now, shoving open doors and ignoring startled glances. I knew where I needed to go.

Freya.

The streets twisted around me, narrow and shadowed, but I moved like a man possessed. Every alley bled into the next, the cold stone and torchlight blurring together. Ravenhold’s familiar paths felt longer than ever. I turned one final corner, heart pounding—and there he was.

Victor appeared.

He looked like hell—unshaved, bruised, blood on his shirt. The moment he saw me, he spat a curse. “

*Finally*. Took you long enough. I swear to the gods, I was *this* close to snapping her neck myself.”

I froze. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

Victor threw up his hands. “She shifted. Two nights ago. Into the wolf.”

My chest tightened. “Reyna.”

He nodded grimly. “I tried to manage it. But she wasn’t... Freya. That thing was raw instinct. Uncontrolled. She attacked Eira. Tore into her arm like she was prey. I had to chain her. It was that or kill her.”

I closed my eyes, rage knotting in my chest. I hadn’t been there. “I should’ve—”

“No,” Victor interrupted. “Don’t give me your noble guilt trip. You have your shit to handle. I get it. But leaving me alone with *that*?” He jabbed a finger at Freya’s door. “It’s been hell. Do you know what it’s like? That’s not Freya. That’s a

*predator*.”

I took a breath, jaw tight. “Let’s go.”

He unlocked the door and we stepped inside.

Chains rattled. Freya sat on the cold stone floor, her eyes wild—red-rimmed and teary. When she saw me, her body lurched forward, a sob breaking from her chest.

“Tiberius!” she cried, reaching for me.

The chains snapped taut.

I took a step—but Victor’s arm blocked me.

“Wait,” he said coldly. “Don’t fall for it.”

I looked at him, and he explained, “She pulled the same act with Eira. Tears. Pleading. The moment Eira got close, she struck.”

As if on cue, Freya’s weeping face twisted. Her lips curled. Then came the laughter.

Low. Twisted. Mocking.

“Well,” she said in a deeper, rougher voice. “You *are* learning.”

I straightened. “Reyna.”

She smirked. “Finally. Thought I’d have to keep pretending all week. Honestly, that performance deserved applause.”

“Where’s Freya?” I asked.

“She’s here,” Reyna purred, circling in her chains like a caged animal. “Sleeping. Weak. But don’t worry. I’ll fix her.”

“By destroying Hera?” I snapped.

“She was broken anyway. I’m just... tidying up the mess. Once Hera’s gone, it’ll be just us. Me and Freya. No more pain. No more confusion. And then,” she tilted her head with a grin, “we’ll go find Dorian. He’ll like me better. I’m not so... complicated.”

“Like hell you will.”

Reyna’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t pretend to understand what’s best for her. You weren’t here. *I* was. I kept her alive.”

“You call this alive?” I snapped.

“She’ll be whole. Once I dominate. Once Hera’s out of the picture.”

I stared at her, jaw flexing. “Freya... if you can hear me, I’m sorry. I know this will hurt, but I don’t have a choice. I have to do what’s necessary. You’ll thank me later.”

Reyna’s smile flickered. “Oh? And what’s that?”

I turned to Victor and whispered, “Get the wolfsbane.”

His lips curled into a grin. He looked at Freya with pure malice. “This... I’ll enjoy.” Then he walked out.

Reyna’s amusement died instantly. “Wolfsbane?” she hissed. “You’d poison her?”

I exhaled, tired. “You don’t get it. You’re hurting her. Erasing Hera won’t make her stronger. It’ll destroy her. Freya isn’t just one of you. She’s all three. You. Hera. Herself. Take one away, and she breaks.”

“You lie,” she growled, pupils dilating, her chains straining.

“No. You just don’t want to face the truth. You want control, not healing.”

“She *needs* me!” Reyna snarled. “Not that fractured, self-righteous hunter. *I* can protect her. I can give her strength.”

“By silencing her?” I stepped closer. “That’s not strength. That’s fear. And if you’re so sure she needs you, then why are you so afraid to let her speak?”

Reyna's red eyes burned into mine, trembling with fury, but behind it—I saw it. A flicker of something else.

Doubt.

"Reyna," I said, voice low but firm, "Alaric did real damage. You all lost the ability to communicate, to coexist. And gods, I hate it. I don't want to hurt you. I don’t want to hurt Freya. Or Hera." I took a step closer, hand to my chest. "Freya is my mate. I love her. And if she can’t survive without you all—then that means I care about all of you. Whether I like it or not. That means *you*, too. So please. Try to understand. I’m not your enemy."

She laughed bitterly. "Says the hunter who wants to shove wolfsbane down my throat."

"Reyna, we can avoid that—if you give Freya back."

Her eyes narrowed. "You lull me with your pretty words because you know Freya will fold under your manipulations. You’re playing the long game."

"Fuck’s sake, Reyna!" I exploded. "I’m giving you a choice. That’s more than what you’re offering Freya."

She yanked against her chains, snarling. "She doesn’t *want* to come back! She’s weak. Conflicted. I can make her whole. I’m doing her a favor."

I shook my head, exhausted. "You’re not healing her. You’re breaking her more. And if you do this—if you erase Hera—Freya may never come back the way she should. You'll lose *all* of her."

Her red eyes gleamed, and for a breath, she looked almost afraid. Then it was gone, replaced with fury. "Liar! You just want to erase *me* ! "

"No," I said. "I want to *save* her. And that means saving you *all*. Whether you believe me or not."

Just then, the door creaked open and Victor returned, a small vial in his hand. "Wolfsbane," he said, holding it out to me.

I took it silently, weighing its weight in my palm. Then looked Reyna in the eyes.

"Reyna, choose wisely," I said. "If I use this, you won’t be able to return for a long time. Or—give Freya back. Let us, all of us—you, Freya, Hera, me, and Dorian—fix this together."

She stilled. "Dorian... is coming?"

I nodded. "I just met with him. Tomorrow, we leave for the safe house. There, we’ll try to reconnect all three of you."

Reyna’s gaze flickered. She was thinking. Hard. Then slowly, she exhaled.

"Fine," she said. "I’ll give her back."

Victor swore. "Fuck. I really wanted to watch this bitch suffer."

But I wasn’t listening to him anymore. I was focused on Reyna.

She had closed her eyes, breathing hard, as if bracing herself. Something shifted in her posture. Tension ebbed. Her fingers twitched.

And then—

Her lips parted.

But whose voice would speak first?

I held my breath, heart hammering in my chest, praying to whatever gods still gave a damn.

Would it be Freya... or something else?"