Chapter 30. A Misunderstanding
Chapter 30 A Misunderstanding
(Aaron’s POV)
Chris stood by the counter, a steaming mug of coffee in his hands He leaned casually, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips as he looked over at me
Rough night?” he asked, amusement laced in his tone
I didn’t reply immediately. My head felt like it had been split into two, and Logan was restless within me. The
wolf wasn’t aggressive, but he wasn’t calm either. That unsettled me
“I don’t need commentary,” Imuttered, massaging my temple.
Chris raised an eyebrow, clearly unfazed by my mood Fair. But you might want to know something
I straightened up slightly, sensing he wasn’t just here to make small talk.
“1 called Freya last night,” he said, his voice taking on a more serious edge.
His words hit me harder than expected. I tried not to react, but Logan surged, needing to know more. I kept
my expression neutral, unwilling to give Chris the satisfaction of seeing how those words affected me
“And?” I asked, feigning indifference.
Chris tilted his head, studying me intently before answering. “She didn’t come.”
Something sharp twisted in my chest. I clenched my jaw, not trusting myself to speak right away.
“She didn’t even care enough to check on her so–called mate?” Chris pressed, his tone challenging now.
Before I could respond, Lucas barged into the room. His usual loud energy filled the space, contrasting sharply with the tension. He had a goofy grin on his face as he sauntered in.
“You’ll never guess who came last night after my call,” Lucas started, his excitement bubbling over. “Caroline!
Logan bristled instantly at her name, a guttural growl echoing in my chest. Both Chris and Lucas froze, their
attention snapping to me…
“What?” I growled, though my voice was colder than my wolf’s.
Lucas looked uncomfortable but continued. “She was worried. She dropped everything to come to the bar as
soon as she heard.”
He said it like it was supposed to earn my gratitude, yet it only deepened my irritation.
“She took bare of you while Freya” Lucas hesitated before finishing. “…while Freya didn’t bother showing up”
Again, Logan stirred uneasily. My wolf had very clear ideas about who I belonged to, even if my human side
tried to deny them..
I stared at Lucas coldly, dismissing his words without addressing them. I didn’t trust myself to say anything just yet.
Seeing my blank reaction, he looked nervously between me and Chris before awkwardly excusing himself and
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leaving the room. The sound of the door closing felt like a relief.
Chris waited a few moments before speaking “You’re awfully quiet
Lignored his probing tone, deliberately scrolling through my phone instead. My fingers paused as i call log. There it was–Chris’s call to Freya, as he had said.
Still, something didn’t sit right. Freya’s silence last night why hadn’t she come?
“She didn’t respond,” I said to Chris, my voice low and tense
Chris leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. “No, she didn’t,” he replied calmly
ow the
But there was something in his voice, something unsettling After a moment, he spoke again “But I tried
again later.”
My gaze snapped to his, sharp and questioning.
“And?” I demanded.
He hesitated for the first time, which only fueled my impatience.
“She answered,” Chris finally said carefully. “But her response… felt off to me.”
I frowned, feeling Logan’s irritation surge in tandem with mine. “Off how?”
Chris sighed, setting the mug down and meeting my gaze head–on. “I think she might’ve come by the bar.”
“What?” I said, my voice harsher than intended.
“She might’ve seen you–us–outside with Caroline and Lucas,” Chris continued, his tone steady but deliberate. “And she might’ve left because of that.”
I scoffed, rejecting the idea instantly. “She wouldn’t.”
“You’re sure?” Chris asked, his eyebrow quirked as if daring me to think harder.
“She doesn’t care enough to do something like that,” I bit out.
Chris didn’t argue, but the weight of his silence pressed down on me. It was a question he didn’t have to say aloud: Are you sure, Aaron?
The tension was cut by the sudden buzzing of my phone. I glanced at the screen. It was Caroline.
Chris straightened slightly, watching me closely.
I got up to take the call, but before I left the room, he stopped me with a final question.
“Have you figured out what you really want yet?” he asked quietly.
I didn’t reply, but his words echoed in my mind as I answered the call.
(Freya’s POV)
The Birch Tree Café was warm and bustling, but I barely noticed the chatter around us. My focus was entirely on Emily as we sat across from each other.
“You’re really going to do it?” she asked for the third time, her tone softer now.
I nodded, though my wolf Bella was restless inside me. She had been calmer since I’d made up my mind, but
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Chapter 30 A Misunderst
the reality of severing the mate bond with Aaron still stung deeply.
“It’s the best option,” I said quietly. “For me, for the cub, for everyone.”
Emily frowned, her hands cupping her warm mug of tea. “I still don’t understand why you have to leave entirely. Can’t you stay and raise the cub here?”
The thought sent a pang through me, but I shook my head. “No. I can’t.”
“Why not?” Emily pressed.
“Because. “I hesitated, glancing around the café. “Because staying here will only make things harder.”
Bella growled softly in agreement within me.
Emily sighed, leaning back in her chair. “So what’s your plan? Go back to Snowfang Pack lands? What’s left of them, anyway?”
I shook my
head again. “No. I don’t know yet, but I’ll find somewhere. Maybe with my remaining pack
members, if they’ll take me.”
For a moment, doubt flickered in Emily’s eyes. “And you think you can raise a cub on your own out there?”
Her question wasn’t meant to hurt, but it did. I straightened my shoulders, refusing to let the pain show.
“I
“I’ll manage,” I replied firmly. “I have to. For the cub.”
Emily sighed heavily. “You’re stronger than I’d be in your situation. I’ll give you that.”
The tension eased slightly as we shifted the conversation, discussing practical matters. I began to feel a flicker of excitement talking about the cub.
“I’m going to need to prepare,” I murmured, half to myself.
Emily perked up. “Prepare for what?”
“For everything,” I replied, my voice laced with quiet determination. “A new start. A new life.”
Her eyes softened. “Do you know if it’ll be a boy or a girl?”
I shook my head, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Not yet.”
We lapsed into a lighter conversation, imagining the differences between raising a male or female wolf pup. Bella stirred happily within me at the thought, her protective instincts surging.
Hope began to mix with my anxiety. For the first time in weeks, I felt like I had something to look forward to
No matter what happened with Aaron or the Northern Ridge Pack, I had the cub. My cub. And that was
enough.
As Emily continued to talk, I found myself envisioning a peaceful life somewhere far away. A life where I could raise my child without fear or judgment.
It wasn’t a dream I’d ever planned for myself, but it was a dream I could learn to love.
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