Chapter 24: A Pointed Proposal
Chapter 24: A Pointed Proposal
(Freya’s POV)
Caroline’s sharp eyes swept across the sitting room, her perfectly arched brow lifting in faint disappointment. She reached up, delicately brushing an invisible speck from her white blouse.
“Can we speak somewhere more private?” Caroline’s tone was soft, almost musical, but there was a forced charm behind it. Her lips curved into a poised smile, but her golden eyes held a silent challenge. “The main
house feels… a little crowded today.”
The room wasn’t crowded at all. A few pack members passed through with polite greetings, their footsteps light and distant. But I knew exactly what she meant. The presence of others unsettled her.
I hesitated, my wolf Bella stirring uneasily within me. Bella rumbled her disapproval. She didn’t trust Caroline,
and neither did I.
Yet, I couldn’t outright refuse her. Memories of the past flickered through my mind–images of Aaron as a young wolf, wounded from battle, and Caroline’s hand pulling him from danger. She had saved his life.
“Alright,” I said calmly, hiding the reluctance tightening in my chest. “Follow me.”
I led her through the winding halls of the pack house. The wooden floor creaked faintly beneath us as we stepped outside into the garden.
The scent of blooming roses filled the air, and the sun cast warm golden light across the neatly trimmed hedges. I walked ahead until I found a secluded corner near a tall vine–covered trellis.
“Here,” I said, stopping between rows of fragrant flowers. “This should do.”
Caroline’s heels clicked softly against the stone path as she followed. She glanced around, her eyes briefly scanning the area for onlookers. Satisfied with the privacy, her pouty lips pulled into another polished smile.
“This is perfect,” she said, her voice silky and smooth.
But I heard the faint bite underneath her words, like a wolf’s growl hidden behind the rustling leaves.
I crossed my arms, keeping my gaze squarely on her. “What did you want to discuss?”
Caroline didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she reached into her sleek designer handbag, the faint rustle of leather breaking the silence.
She pulled out an envelope, its cream–colored surface pristine, the edges sharp. The emblem of the Redwood Pack gleamed in gold at the top. It was an official document.
“This,” she said, extending the envelope toward me. “It’s for you.”
I eyed it warily but took it. The smooth paper was cool against my fingers as I broke the seal and removed the folded contents inside.
My stomach twisted the moment I scanned the first few lines. Territory rights. Not just small plots or overlooked tracts–these were significant. Prime hunting grounds and valuable resources.
Caroline’s voice broke the silence, light and measured. “Take your time,” she said sweetly. “I wanted to ensure
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<Chapter 24. A Pointed Pro everything was… clear.”
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I folded the paper back neatly, holding it between pinched fingers. “What exactly is this intended for?”
Her smile deepened, and she took a step closer. The faintest whiff of perfume wafted toward me–jasmine and honey. The scent felt as carefully curated as her words.
“Consider it a token of respect,” she said, her tone rich with false warmth. “Your service to the Northern Ridge
Pack has been noted. And, of course…”
Her hand reached out, lightly brushing against my arm. The gesture was casual on the surface, but there was something deliberate in the touch.
“It’s meant to support you in, well…” Caroline’s golden gaze flicked to my stomach, just briefly, before meeting my eyes again. “Your condition.”
The air shifted between us, heavy and charged. My pulse quickened, my fingers tightening around the folded
document.
My wolf Bella snarled softly inside me, her instincts snapping to life. The word “condition” echoed in my ears, loud and grating.
Caroline’s hand lingered a moment too long, the faint pressure on my arm both condescending and invasive. I forced a calm expression, though anger bubbled just beneath the surface of my skin. “That’s very thoughtful of you,” I said evenly, though my voice felt like it was slicing through glass.
“It is,” Caroline agreed quickly, oblivious or perhaps indifferent to the tension in my tone. “I thought…
considering everything, it might be helpful. You could use this to rest. Recuperate. Maybe make plans for the
future.”
The phrase might have sounded kind coming from anyone else, but from Caroline, it was sickly sweet poison. Every word felt carefully chosen to remind me of my precarious position.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The sounds of the garden filled the silence: birds chirping on distant branches, the faint rustle of leaves swaying in the breeze.
I met her gaze squarely, holding firm. “I appreciate the offer. But I’m afraid I’ll have to decline.”
Caroline blinked, her composure flickering for just a heartbeat. “Decline?”
“Yes,” I said. My voice was steady, even as anger burned in my chest.
Her perfect smile faltered. “Perhaps…” She hesitated, smoothing an invisible wrinkle in her blouse. “Perhaps it’s not enough. Is that it?”
“No,” I replied firmly.
She leaned forward slightly, her golden eyes narrowing as she tried to gauge my reaction. “If that’s the issue, we can negotiate. We could add hunting grounds. Or resources. Whatever you need.”
Her words quickened, her previous poise slipping away. She thought I would falter, that I would accept the offer in exchange for peace.
But she was wrong.
“Caroline,” I said quietly, cutting her off. “The answer is no.”
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Her lips parted, her incredulous expression wavering between confusion andthysmo
“I don’t understand, she said after a moment. “Freys, this is a generous SA UM P
“An opportunity for what?” I asked, pinning her with an onwarning sure to deartedn
easier for everyone else?”
She flinched, ever so slightly, the mask of control cracking just enough to re
“That’s not what I meant,” she said quickly, trying to recover “just thought
Her voice trailed off, but the unspoken words lingered in the wants air. She didn’t need to men the seeme
understood her perfectly
Both she and Aaron had decided what was best for me. For the call for everyone me
My hand hovered over my stomach, the faintest motion as Bells growled protectively within me
“You thought wrong” I said, my tone sharper than before.
Caroline straightened, her spine stiff. For the first time, her carefully controlled expression hardened to golden eyes flashing briefly with something colder
She was used to being the one holding the cards, the one in control. This refusal my outright didn’t fit into her plans.
Before she could respond, I folded the document once more and placed it back into the envelore
“Thank you,” I said, my voice clipped. “But I won’t be accepting”
Her lips pressed into a thin line, any trace of the earlier sweetness long gone.
“Freya,” she started again, her voice sharper now “You’re making a mistake”
“No,” I said simply. “I’m making my own choices.”
My hand unconsciously moved to my stomach, and Bella rumbled contentedly within me in that moment everything became crystal clear.
I would keep this cub. Raise it myself, without interference from either Aaron or Caroline. No territory rights, no pack ties -nothing that could give them leverage over my child’s future.
“But surely.” Caroline started again, her composure cracking slightly.
“No,” I said firmly, meeting her gaze directly. “Thank you for the offer, but I must decline.”
Accepting those rights would only create more complications, more ways for them to control us. My cub and
I would make our own way, free from their manipulation and games.
Caroline’s lips pressed into a thin line, her earlier sweetness evaporating. She clearly hadn’t expected this level of resistance to her carefully crafted proposal.
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