Chapter 57: chapter fifty seven

Third person's POV

"Arabella!" Freya's voice cut through the stillness of the woods.

'Where has she gone now?' her mother thought, pushing into the forest, searching for her daughter. Her eyes darted between the towering trees, searching for her daughter. The girl always wandered off, and Freya always had to go looking for her.

A sharp squeal rang out behind her, followed by the sound of laughter. Freya spun around, heart lurching.

"Arabella, come back! It's just a bug; it won't hurt you!"

"No, go away! You're gross!" The voice was closer now, high-pitched and teasing.

A second later, Arabella came barreling through the trees, her black curls bouncing with each step. She crashed into Freya's legs, giggling, until she glanced up and saw the stern set of her mother's jaw.

Freya folded her arms. "What have I said about you running off into the woods?"

Arabella's laughter died. She clasped her hands in front of her, eyes cast downward. "Not to go too far."

A rustling came from the trees.

"Arabella! I'm coming to get you!"

The little girl let out a squeal and darted behind her mother just as a boy emerged from the brush, a beetle cupped in his hand. He grinned, holding it out triumphantly.

Freya's expression hardened, and she placed her hands on her waist disapprovingly. "Why are you playing with bugs, Adam?"

Adam's eyes widened, as if only now realizing she was there. His fingers uncurled, letting the beetle drop to the forest floor, then he quickly hid his hands behind his back.

"Don't play with bugs, they're filthy. Go home and wash your hands."

The boy's shoulders slumped. "Okay, Aunty." He turns around and walks away.

Arabella stuck out her tongue at his retreating figure.

"Arabella," Freya warned, her sharp gaze making the girl snap her mouth shut.

It was then that Freya noticed the book clutched in Arabella's hands. A chill ran down her spine.

"You know you can't play with that, Arabella," her mother said, reaching out and snatching the worn leather-bound book from the child's grasp. "What have I told you about this?"

Arabella fidgeted. "You said it's dangerous, mummy."

"And?"

"I should never take it out of the house."

Freya softened, sighing as she lifted her daughter's chin. "Good girl." She brushed stray curls from Arabella's face. "Now, let's get you cleaned up. You're a mess."

"I'm sorry, mummy."

"It's fine, baby," Arabella's mother lifted her into her arms. "I didn't expect you to be clean, after playing with Adam so much. I know how rough little pups can be. It's a good thing you didn't take after your father," she added, chuckling lightly.

Arabella's face scrunched up in confusion. "Why didn't I?"

Throwing her head back, Freya laughed. "Don't worry, dear. It's not something you'd understand."

Her mother placed her on the floor of her bedroom and took off her clothes, preparing her for a bath.

As she bathed her daughter, her fingers grazed Arabella's arm and froze. Dark patterned lines ran down the pale skin of the girl's arm and chest.

Freya's breath caught. Her grip on Arabella's wrist tightened before she realized it, making the girl yelp.

"Who did this to you, Arabella?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Arabella blinked up at her, confusion flickering across her face. "No one, mummy. It wasn't there before."

At her daughter's admission, the color drained out of Freya's face. "No. No. It can't be. It's too early." Her voice shook with fear.

Her knees buckled under her, and she fell to the ground. She pressed a trembling hand to her mouth, trying to silence the sob that threatened to escape. "How am I supposed to protect you now?"

The girl only stared at her mother, not understanding.

The door creaked open.

"Love?" Alexander's deep voice filled the room, steady yet cautious. He stepped inside, his sharp gaze landing on Freya's trembling form. "What's wrong?"

She didn't answer, so he turned to Arabella.

"Arabella, what happened?"

"Mummy's crying and I don't know why," she attempted to explain.

"Freya, are you okay?"

Freya lifted her tear-streaked face to meet his. Without a word, she pointed at their daughter.

"She is starting to show, and I'm scared."

Alexander crouched down, lifting the hem of Arabella's dress. The moment he saw the marks, his expression darkened, lips pressing into a thin line.

"So early? Why so early?"

Freya clutched his arm. "I'm scared for her," Freya sobbed. "What if they find out? What if we can't protect her?"

His hand covered hers, providing comfort. "We will." His tone was quiet, but certain.

"Xander..."

"I promise you. I am the alpha of this pack, and I protect my people fiercely. Do you think it would be any less for my own daughter?"

She shakes her head. "But this... this is bigger than you. It's bigger than me, even. How are we supposed to keep her safe?"

"We bind her powers."

Alarmed, Freya pushed away from him, flinching. "Do you hear yourself? How could we-why would we do that?"

He sighed, the weight of his impending decision bearing down on him. "It's the only way. Her powers are what will put her in danger, so we bind it."

"I can't do that. I can't do that to my own daughter, Alex."

"It won't be forever," he assured her, pulling her close. "Just until she's old enough to understand and control them."

Freya's body shook as she buried her face in her husband's chest. "I wish it didn't have to be like this."

"I know."

A hiccup escaped her. "I was never supposed to get married. Never supposed to get pregnant. It was written in my destiny. But I just had to go and defy the goddess, and now this is happening to our child."

"It's not your fault, Freya. The prophecy was just wrong."

She peered up at him, her red-rimmed eyes searching his. "Don't say that, Alex. The moon goddess is never wrong."

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I say she is." Alexander cupped her face, his thumb brushing away a tear. "She was wrong about your life now, and she is also wrong about our daughter's. No one gets to decide her fate but her. And I know she will grow up and be the greatest witch and female alpha the skyline pack has ever seen."

Freya swallowed. "You don't know that."

A ghost of a smile crossed his lips. "No. But when she has the strongest witch in the seven packs as her mother, and an alpha as a father, I'm sure no prophecy would stop her." He kissed her forehead.

At that moment, a loud bang echoed from the front of the pack house, making Freya stiffen.

Alexander turned sharply, his grip on her tightening. "Stay here with Arabella. I'll be back soon."

"No - wait!" Sensing the impending doom, she reached for him, but he was already at the door.

The banging stopped eventually, and silence followed. And much to Freya's terror, Alexander never came back.