Chapter 56: A Severance Interrupted
Chapter 56: A Severance Interrupted
(Freya’s POV)
The fluorescent lights of the Pack Council Headquarters glared down at us, casting stark reflections on the polished tiles. It was as if the building itself mocked the cold silence between Aaron and me
The protein bars he’d picked up from the pack kitchen sat untouched on the bench between us. Their shiny wrappers caught the light, but I couldn’t bring myself to even glance at them.
The air was filled with the smell of excitement and joy from other wolves. The waiting area buzzed quietly with energy, mostly from young couples here for their mate marking ceremonies.
A newly bonded pair left the council chambers ahead of us, their hands intertwined, their eyes filled with love Their wolves‘ energy radiated a joy so strong it made me feel hollow inside.
I glanced at Aaron. He hadn’t moved an inch since we’d sat down. His gaze was fixed straight ahead, his profile carved in stone. It was difficult to tell if he was lost in thought or just unwilling to acknowledge me. His Alpha presence was heavy and unapproachable, keeping even the nosiest wolves at bay.
Another couple laughed as they walked past. The male’s arm was draped protectively across his mate’s shoulders while she shyly held up their freshly marked mate certificates, their wolves practically humming with happiness. The sight brought back memories I wasn’t prepared for.
I remembered the day Aaron and I had stood in this very hallway. I had felt nervous, like I wasn’t ready. My hands had trembled so badly that I couldn’t even hold the ceremonial document properly until he grabbed my hand. “Relax, Snow Princess,” he had whispered with an easy smile, his warm palm still steadying mine. His teasing tone had melted some of my nerves back then.
But now those memories felt like punches to the gut. We sat just inches apart, but the emotional distance between us was unbearable.
“Luna Snow. Alpha Steel.” A Pack Council staff member’s sharp voice broke me out of my thoughts. She held a clipboard and scanned the room impatiently. “It’s your turn.”
I got to my feet automatically, smoothing my coat, my legs stiff like lead. Aaron didn’t budge. He stayed seated, his fingers tapping idly against his knee. My eyes darted to him. He didn’t so much as glance up.
“Aaron,” I said softly. His name felt heavy on my tongue. Saying it out loud brought an unexpected ache to my chest. “They’re calling us.”
He blinked, but still didn’t move. His shoulders stayed rigid, his jaw tight. I didn’t want to push him furt What was the point? I walked toward the council chamber alone, trying to ignore the whispers erupting around us. I didn’t need to hear their judgment. I already knew what they thought.
Just as my hand hovered near the door handle, his phone buzzed on the bench. Loud and sharp, it sliced through the quiet murmur of the waiting area. Aaron reached into his pocket, frowning slightly.
“You should answer that,” I murmured. “I’ll wait inside.”
I didn’t wait to see his reaction. I needed to get this over with. But before I could step inside, his hand shot out, wrapping around my wrist. His grip wasn’t tight, but it was firm enough to stop me in my tracks. My
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pulse quickened.
“It’s the medical facility,” he said simply, his voice low. “Where grandmother is.”
+ Points >
My stomach dropped. My wolf Bella bristled immediately, claws scraping against the edges of my mind. Her
unease mirrored mine.
“Answer it,” I urged. My voice shook, betraying my rising panic. “Please, Aaron.”
He didn’t argue. Aaron pressed the phone to his ear, his brows furrowing as he listened. Every passing second made my chest tighten further. Bella paced frantically, whining softly. Something was wrong. I could
feel it.
Aaron’s eyes began to flicker gold, his wolf Logan surfacing in response to what he was hearing. It was never a good sign when his wolf displayed emotion so openly. My hand curled into fists, nails digging into my palms as I watched his expression darken even further.
When he finally lowered the phone, his shoulders stiffened. His jaw worked, grinding out the words through clenched teeth. “Grandmother took a turn during pre–surgery prep.”
The world swayed for a moment. Bella stilled completely, her whines turning into a pained growl deep in the back of my mind.
“We need to go. Now,” he added, already rising to his feet.
I nodded hurriedly, following him out the door. The staff exchanged confused glances, whispering among themselves about our abrupt departure. I barely heard them over the racing of my heart.
The drive back to the medical facility was tense. Silence filled the car, thick and suffocating. My thoughts raced uncontrollably. Guilt clawed at me with every mile that passed.
“I shouldn’t have left her,” I whispered suddenly, breaking the silence. My voice cracked under the weight of unspoken shame. “I should’ve stayed. What was I thinking?”
Aaron didn’t respond immediately, but I felt his gaze flick toward me briefly.
“Freya,” he started, but I cut him off.
“What kind of Luna just leaves someone like Elder Katherine-” My voice shook again, and this time, I couldn’t stop the flood of words spilling out. “She depends on me. I promised-”
I stopped mid–sentence, my throat tightening painfully. Every ounce of my energy went into holding myself together.
The car stopped at a red light. I barely noticed my trembling hands clutched tightly in my lap until the metallic taste of blood registered in my mouth. Confused, I licked my lips, only to taste more blood. I’d bitten into my lower lip so hard it had split.
“Freya.” Aaron’s tone was harsher this time. “You’re bleeding.”
He reached over–more out of instinct than anything–and tried to gently pry my chin up, to assess the damage. I jerked back, my jaw clenching tighter,
“Freya!” His voice dropped lower, his Alpha tone seeping into it. “Stop.”
But I couldn’t. The panic inside me spiraled uncontrollably. Bella howled in the back of my mind, and my thoughts raced, each one darker than the last. What if I never got to speak to Elder Katherine again? What if-
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< Chapter 56 A Severance L… (Aaron’s POV)
+8 Points >
Her silence was louder than any words she could’ve spoken. Freya’s lips were stained red from the blood she
refused to acknowledge, and her body was as rigid as a statue. Her breathing was shallow, uneven. I could feel her distress leaking through the mate bond she clearly tried to block.
Logan, my wolf, growled impatiently. He hated seeing her like this. We both did. It wasn’t like Freya to spiral like this–not the Freya who had lectured Elders on diplomacy, who faced rival packs calmly even as they
mocked her. This wasn’t her.
I reached up, gently stroking her cheek, keeping my movements slow. Her skin was cold under my touch, which only made the knot in my chest tighten.
“Freya,” I murmured, my voice low. “Wake up, Snow Princess.”
Logan howled at the nickname. It was ours. A small bridge that only we shared from our youth. Even so, the words felt foreign leaving my lips now.
Her lashes fluttered, a glimmer of recognition sparking in her tear–filled gaze. A lone tear escaped, trailing down her cheek.
“She’s going to be fine,” I said, forcing conviction int
than anyone.”
Her lips parted slightly, trembling, but no words came.
my tone. “Grandmother’s strong. You know that better
“Look at me,” I urged softly. When Bella’s golden presence finally began to shift in her energy, I knew she was listening. “Grandmother’s going to be alright. But she needs us to be there. She needs you, Freya.”
More tears spilled, but this time, the tension in her shoulders ebbed slightly. Logan whined softly, letting her wolf sense reassurance through every layer of our bond.
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