Chapter 42: Debts and Memories
Chapter 42 Debts and Memories.
(Freya’s POV)
Caroline’s smile stretched across her face like a mask. Her eyes stayed cold, calculating. “It’s for the best, Freya. Deep down, you know it is,”
Her voice grated against my ears. Fought the urge to snap back, keeping my composure intact. I gathered my things, determined to leave before saying something I might regret.
“Goodbye, Caroline,” I said, cool and distant. My fingers closed around the strap of my bag as I pulled it over my shoulder. “I’ll hold up my end, as I said.”
Caroline opened her mouth, but whatever words she planned to speak, I didn’t wait to hear them. I turned on my heel, the scrape of the cafe’s wooden chair legs screeching against the floor in my wake.
The air outside was brisk, biting my skin as soon as I stepped out onto the street. I inhaled deeply, letting the cold air attempt to chill my tension. Bella paced inside me, unsettled, her anger simmering beneath my calm
exterior.
“That woman,” I muttered under my breath. Bella growled in agreement.
Leaning against my car, I pulled my phone from my coat pocket. The familiar number popped up on the screen, bringing the face of my father to the forefront of my mind. Former Alpha Jonathan Snow–he always had been so strong, so steady. His voice always gave me answers, even when I didn’t want to hear them.
I hit the call icon and held the phone to my ear. Each ring felt like an eternity.
Volcemail. Of course. He was likely deep in the mountains, far from cell service. That was always where he found his peace.
“Hi, Dad.” My voice softened as though I were speaking to him in person. Tjust… I handled part of it today. We’ll talk when you get back. I, uh, I miss you.”
I ended the call and stared at the screen, feeling the phone grow impossibly heavy in my hand. I slipped it back into my coat. My heart still beat a little too fast from the conversation with Caroline, the weight of her words and actions trailing me like shadows.
No matter. I needed to move forward.
Glancing at my watch, I realized I was late for my visit with Elder Katherine. The idea of her waiting for me, wondering where I was, pushed me into action.
The drive to the medical facility was quiet but tense. I focused on the stretch of road ahead, white–knuckling the steering wheel. My mind replayed every second of my meeting with Caroline, and the bitterness in Bella’s low growl at the back of my mind didn’t help.
When I arrived at Elder Katherine’s room, the sight of her sitting quietly by the window deflated the frustration hanging over me. Her frail hands cradled an old photograph, her face serene yet tinged with something
wistful.
I stepped closer, speaking gently. “I’m sorry I’m late.”
I
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Chapter 42 Debts and Me
Elder Katherine turned her head slowly toward me. Her watchful eyes met mine, studying me closely, as though reading into the things I wasn’t saying
“You look troubled, dear one,” she said, her voice soft but firm.
A lump rose in my throat. Of course, she could see it. Trust the matriarch of the pack to see through any
facade.
I forced a smile, brushing her concern aside. “Just busy with pack matters,” I replied casually, smoothing out the wrinkles on her pillows and tidying up the small items on her table.
Elder Katherine didn’t push, but her attention remained on me longer than I expected. Then her gaze dropped back to the photograph in her hands. She stared at it with a tenderness I hadn’t seen before, her fingers lightly brushing its edges.
My curiosity got the better of me. “What’s that?” I asked, sitting beside her.
A soft smile crossed her lips, though it carried a heavy air of nostalgia. “Would you like to hear the story behind it?”
Before I could respond, I felt an unexpected brush against my mind through the mate bond. Aaron. His voice echoed clearly, catching me off guard
“Where are you?” His words were short, but his tone held an edge of something like concern.
“With Elder Katherine,” I replied cautiously, my mental voice steady as I waited for his response.
‘I’ll be there for lunch,” he stated, his decision clear.
His
is words caught me off guard. “Don’t you have pack business?” I questioned, bewildered that he would put aside the endless responsibilities that usually consumed him.
“It can wait,” he replied, and the bond went silent again.
I blinked, momentarily startled by his abruptness. Elder Katherine’s knowing eyes met mine knowingly Aaron’s coming, is he not?”
“Yes,” I said, softening my tone. She had a way of making me feel like sharing even the simplest things mattered. “He says he’ll join us for lunch.”
Elder Katherine’s smile widened as she patted the empty space beside her. “Then we have time for a story before he arrives,” she said.
(Aaron’s POV)
The pack council’s chamber felt suffocating, filled with Betas and Deltas who couldn’t present a single strategy worth hearing.
I stood at the head of the table, Logan’s displeasure rolling off me in waves. Every wolf in the room felt it. “Is this the best you can come up with?” My words cut through the tension like a blade.
Christopher Brooks shifted uncomfortably in his chair before speaking hesitantly. “Perhaps we could approach the southern territories first and-”
“Enough.” The word left no room for argument. “We’ll revisit this discussion tomorrow morning. Come back prepared.”
One by one that
parable as the sopomers aanged glasses to one dared protest
pls and bond other way out
The unease in the room we
more
As they had my wifrays and 1der Katherina would be waiting
Logan growled entity, coming a forward torch at the medical facility suddenly became emportant than any counting
ading toward the wt did’t want to sell familiar scent lingering just outside Caroline stood there a unchbox in hand, her expression cautiously spatul
lunch”
1 brought you rich she said softly siting the container slightly as if so entice me further
The moment she spoke, a dull or filled the space around us The whispers of remaining council members reached my ears, grating against my nerves
agur
He’s lucky someone muttered First, Lung Freys, and now this”
Logan growled louder, leaping to attention with me. The energy in the hall shidsed abruptly
Don’t you all have something useful to do?” My voice thunderd, cracking through the air like a whip
The remaining council wolves stumbled over themselves in a rush to leave, muttering hasty apologies under
their breath
When they were gone, the silence felt sharp I turned my attention to Caroline, who stared at me with wide, startled eyes. Her face fished with an uncharacteristic mix of indignation and embarrassment
7 didn’t mean to disrupt anything,” she muttered, breaking eye contact briefly
The edge in my tone softened slightly “The outburst wasn’t meant for you,” I admitted “Pack matters have
”
She nodded, though her earlier disconfort hadn’t entirely faded. With careful movements, she held out the lunchbox again. “You’ve been eating poorly. And you’ve been drinking more than you should. I thought “Caroline” interrupted, though not unkindly “I already have plans”
Her lips parted slightly in surprise, but she quickly masked it with a strained smile. “The sandwiches they’re your favorite I thought
“James will take you back to Sequoia Territory,” I said, gesturing to my waiting assistant.
James Morrison appeared promptly at my side, a reliable Beta who had perfected the art of understanding commands before they were given.
Caroline blinked, her earlier confidence faltering “Aaron, I-”
“This isn’t the time, Caroline My tone was firm now
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