Chapter 39: Growing Tensions
Chapter 39 Growing Tensions.
(Aaron’s POV)
Another morning. Another suffocating breakfast
I sat at the head of the table, forcing my expression to remain calm, cold. My wolf, Logan, was anything but calm. He paced inside me, restless and unpredictable, his claws scraping at the edges of my control.
–
Freya sat beside me, graceful as always. Her every movement spoke of poise and perfection. She poured my coffee like it wasn’t a reminder of what we had lost no, what we never had. The small, measured sound of
liquid filling the cup felt louder than it was.
Thank you, Luna,” I said, keeping my voice even.
She smiled softly, that fake, polite smile I had grown to hate. “Of course, Alpha.”
Her tone was light, but it cut deep. She was going through the motions like we were actors on a stage. Yet I
felt it. The distance. The wall.
The pack staff moved around us, their eyes sneaking glances when they thought I wouldn’t notice. Their whispers were barely audible, but I knew what they saw.
They saw a mate pair sitting close, exchanging polite words. To them, we looked united. Reconciled.
If only they knew the truth.
Logan growled softly in my mind. He was unhappy, his energy simmering like a volcano ready to erupt. His thoughts were jumbled, but the focus was always the same – her.
My hand tightened around the coffee cup. The ceramic was warm, almost soothing against my fingers, but it couldn’t calm me. Nothing seemed to calm me these days.
Freya didn’t glance my way. She didn’t even pretend to look at me unless absolutely necessary. She sat there, pouring herself a cup of tea, her movements slow and steady.
“Another full day at the medical facility, Luna?” Martha Wilson, our pack house manager, suddenly asked, breaking the silence.
Freya smiled at Martha, a genuine smile this time. It was small but real. “Yes. Elder Katherine likes having company. I think it helps her mood.”
Martha glanced at me, then back at Freya. “You’ve taken such great care of her. The pack appreciates it.”
I said nothing. Logan growled louder, his thoughts clear to me even without words. Why does she give them her smiles–but never us?
The staff moved in and out of the room, clearing plates and refilling drinks, casting curious glances our way. I knew what they were thinking.
“Do you need anything else, Alpha?” one Beta softly asked from the doorway.
I shook my head sharply.
Freya didn’t react, didn’t even look up. She simply continued sipping her tea, lost in her own thoughts. It was
Cute 39 Growing Tersi
infuriating. Her calm, her distance, her silence. All of it grated on me.
Logan pushed against my thoughts, his growls taking shape into words. She’s ignoring us.
I clenched my teeth
The whispers from the staff began again, quiet murmurs that only sensitive wolf hearing could pick up
“They’re sitting together. That’s a good sign”
“Maybe they’re fixing things?”
“No. Did you see the Alpha’s jaw? He looks ready to snap.”
They weren’t wrong
Logan’s claws scraped harder now, his frustration feeding into mine. But I kept still, my face betraying nothing as the breakfast dragged on.
(Freya’s POV)
The medical facility had become my escape. The rooms smelled of herbal treatments and fresh linens, and the staff greeted me warmly every time. It lacked the tension of the pack house, the suffocating presence of
Aaron.
Elder Katherine always wore a smile when I arrived. Her gentle eyes sparkled, and the lines of worry on her
face softened.
“You’re spoiling this old wolf again,” she teased one morning as I adjusted the shawl over her shoulders. I laughed lightly. “You deserve it. Besides, it gives me something to do during my leave.”
She raised a brow knowingly. “It’s more than that, isn’t it, my dear? You have a good heart. Always have.”
I didn’t respond, quickly turning to arrange the vases on her bedside table. My hand, almost unconsciously. drifted to my stomach.
The cub.
A small, fragile life growing within me. My heart softened at the thought. Over the past few days, everything I felt about this pregnancy had shifted
I no longer saw it as a burden.
Through the faint bond forming between us, I could sense the cub’s presence, its energy. Bella, my wolf, purred contentedly, urging me to strengthen that bond.
“Hello, little one,” I whispered inwardly, reaching through our developing connection. It was almost instinctive now–this need to communicate with the tiny life inside me.
1 let my fingers linger on my stomach for a moment. A warmth spread through me, soothing, reassuring.
I
Elder Katherine’s voice pulled me back to reality.
“What are you thinking about, Freya?”
I forced a smile, turning back toward her. “Just enjoying this moment.”
The peace was fleeting, of course
My phone vibrated against the table, breaking the stillness. Glancing at the screen, I saw her name.
Chapter 39 Growing Tensi
Caroline Redwood.
Bella immediately bristled, growling low in my mind. Everything about Caroline put her on edge.
Taking a steady breath, I brought the phone to my ear. “Caroline,” I greeted, keeping my tone neutral
There was no warmth in her voice. “We need to talk, Freya.”
I pressed my lips together, already anticipating her angle. “I know why you’re looking for me,” I said firmly But I’ve made my decision, and I’m not changing it. There’s no need for us to meet.”
She chuckled lightly, but the sound was devoid of amusement. “Are you sure about that? You owe me, Freya Don’t forget who stepped in during the Snowfang Pack’s fall.”
My fingers gripped the phone tightly, the underlying threat in her words clear
“What do you want?”
“Meet me. The Moon’s Shadow. Tomorrow,” she commanded, her voice sharp.
I didn’t agree immediately. My heart raced, Bella snarling in the back of my mind. But I could already feel myself caving under the weight of her manipulation.
“Fine,” I said through clenched teeth.
The line went dead.
The Moon’s Shadow was quiet when I arrived. Dim lighting and rustic decor created a space that felt oddly neutral, despite the tension.
Jack Thompson, the owner and a Beta wolf from River Creek Pack, approached me.
“Luna Freya,” he greeted respectfully, his deep, scarred voice surprisingly soft. “Can I get you something? Perhaps our special herbal blend? It’s safe for your condition.” His gaze briefly flickered over my stomach before meeting my eyes again.
I hesitated but nodded. “That would be fine.”
He returned moments later with a steaming cup of tea. There was an unexpected gentleness in the way he placed it before me, careful, almost considerate.
“Thank you,” I said softly, unsure what to make of him.
Caroline arrived shortly after, stepping into the cafe like she owned it. Her perfectly styled hair and designer clothes screamed confidence, but her eyes betrayed something colder.
She glanced between Jack and me, an amused smile tugging at her lips. 1 see Jack’s already taking good care of you.”
”
I stayed silent, nursing the tea he had prepared for me.
Caroline crossed her arms, tilting her head. “You know, he’d make an excellent mate once your bond with Aaron is severed.”
Her words hit like a slap, and Bella snarled furiously in my mind. My wolf pushed against my control, her instincts roaring
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Chapter 3 Grommg Tem
“Caroline,” I said, my tone icy, “does my debt to you give you the right to dictate my future mated”
She raised her hands, feigning innocence “Relax, Freya. It was just a suggestion”
I stared at her, my anger simmering beneath the surface. She was playing her usual games, but this suggestion felt more pointed, more deliberate.
“You’re only being nice,” I said coldly, “because you think I don’t deserve your kindness”
Her expression hardened, the mask of sweetness slipping. “I thought you were a good wolf,” she shot back,” even if not particularly bright. But you’re just ungrateful.”
The insult landed, but I refused to react. I simply met her gaze, unflinching. “At least this is less fake“: retorted, each word deliberate.
The air between us grew heavier, the thin veneer of civility cracking. Her next words came sharp and direct
“You need to terminate that cub.”
The words hit harder than her earlier insult. My grip on the teacup trembled slightly, Bella roaring inside me her fury unmatched.
“You called me all the way here for this?” I asked, my voice low but shaking with anger,
“That cub,” she spat, “is a threat to pack stability.”
“It’s a life.” My response was immediate, defensive.
She leaned closer, fire burning in her dark eyes. “Unless… this is exactly what you’re planning.”
“What are you talking about?” My own anger surged, barely contained.
She narrowed her eyes, her lips curving into something between a sneer and a smirk. “You think I don’t know what you’re planning?”
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