Tess
My heart thumps wildly in my chest as I sneak out of the mansion and out into the night. I can’t believe I’m going against my own Alpha and Luna. It’s forbidden—crazy, even—but I can’t let Freddy die. He saved my life, and now I have to return the favor. No matter the cost, even if it means breaking all the rules and risking everything.
The light of the moon illuminates the path and the petals of the flowers on the ground. My nightgown flutters in the breeze, and I feel the oversized jeans jacket Lily lent me almost swallowing me within its embrace.
Do I even look presentable?
My black hair is a mess; not combed or cared for in any way. No makeup has graced my face tonight, probably making me look as ugly as I feel… But none of that should matter because I’m not going on a date. I’m just going to save Freddy.
...so why am I worried that he won’t find me pretty?
My cheeks flame at the idea of the attractive hybrid taking in my questionable outfit. He is probably going to think I look lame...gosh. Why do I even care? It’s not like Freddy is my mate. He is just a friend—maybe not even that since I have no idea why he saved my life earlier.
I shake my head and try to clear my thoughts, focusing on the task at hand.
I arrive at the pack dungeons, officially entering forbidden territory. I suppress a shudder and take a deep breath, looking around for any guards or anyone else who might be lurking in the shadows.
I’m alone—the coast is clear!
My eyes fall on the massive steel door that leads into the dark abyss of cells. The key I stole from Lily earlier fits perfectly into the lock, and I can hear it clicking as it turns in my hand.
The heavy door creaks open with an eerie sound, sending shivers down my spine even though I’m not afraid...well, not too afraid. Taking one last deep breath to calm my nerves, I step inside and begin walking down the seemingly endless corridor of cells.
I pass by a few empty ones but keep going until I spot Freddy’s room at the very end of the hall—he is tied up against the wall with thick ropes binding his hands together. He would easily be able to break them with his inhuman strength if he hadn’t been forced to drink vervain.
“Lily?” Freddy breathes out in a raspy voice and laughs in a weak, broken voice. “You shouldn’t have come...”
A wave of relief washes over me as soon as our eyes meet; Freddy looks exhausted yet relieved to see me here despite all the possible consequences I would face if someone discovered me here tonight.
“I had to come,” I reply casually as if this situation happens every day, while moving closer to him so that he can clearly see me better in the moonlight streaming in through the small window located near the cell’s ceiling.
His gaze rakes me up and down in a slow, lazy manner before his eyes rest on my face again... and suddenly, all those worries about looking ugly come rushing back because even if Freddy is drenched in a cold sweat from the vervain coursing through his veins, he still looks gorgeous.
He has sandy blonde hair like a Viking and a beautifully carved face. Red eyes and full lips. He is shirtless and muscular but more cut than swollen, and there are veins on his arms that make me want to see them in action.
Ugh, is it normal to be attracted to someone who used to be your enemy and isn’t your fated mate?
Freddy’s chest rises quickly with each breath he takes, making it clear that he’s been struggling against the ropes for some time now. He continues to study me, then smiles faintly in the pale moonlight. “Are you here to save me?”
I can tell by his tone of voice that he is jesting: he doesn’t believe I’m here to set him free. And while that was my plan, I’m suddenly hesitating. What if freeing him is a big mistake? What if he will hurt me as soon as I break the ropes? I’m sure he could still force himself upon me and drink my blood to recover his strength...
With a racing heart, I fix my eyes on him, standing directly above him. “Why did you save my life?”
Freddy hesitates for just a moment, uncertainty flickering over his face, and then he slumps his shoulders. “Because I’ve taken a liking to you...”
Unsure if I heard him correctly, I continue to stare down at him. His face looks pained, and I swallow thickly. “Any specific reason why that is?”
His lips curl into a smile gentler than I’m used to seeing on his usually cruel face. But even in his weaker state, there is still an air of danger surrounding him. It makes me wary, and I take a step back when he sits up straighter against the wall, chin lifted so that he can study my face.
“You offered everything to save that mate of yours,” he begins in a careful, thoughtful voice, eyes resting on mine before he continues. “Your emotions are what push you forward. Your heart...” His lips twitch. “Your heart is beautiful, Tess. It’s made out of gold, and you’re loyal...”
I gasp. “So you’re saying...” I don’t know how to continue that sentence, but Freddy does it for me.
His lips form a smile that actually looks genuine. “I took a liking to you because you gave everything to save your mate. In that sense, we are similar: I would give everything to have my family back. They mean everything to me; fuck the pack. Blood flows thicker than water.”
My chest constricts. I hear what he is saying, but I don’t think trying to bring people back from the dead is very wise. “But they are dead, Freddy...” I whisper and crouch down in front of him. “You have to let them go.”
His chest rises but doesn’t fall with his next breath. He is holding it in, and I’m completely thrown off guard when I see the pain in his eyes. Unshed tears are glimmering in the dark, and his voice comes out in a broken whisper. “But if I give up on trying to bring them back from the dead, then I have to admit that I’m alone.”
My heart breaks for him. An enormous part of me wants to reach out and touch him, comfort him, but there is also a tiny little warning bell ringing in my head. Freddy could be trying to trick me. This could all be an act. He could just be sputtering nonsense in an attempt to make me come closer so that he can drink my blood and escape.
Freddy’s vulnerability could all be an act. It would make sense since he is the enemy and also very intelligent. Oh, and since I’m not even his mate, it doesn’t make sense for him to open up like this to me...right?
I stand there, indecisive, until I decide to roll the dice.
I reach out and tentatively touch his hand, watching as his eyes flicker to where our skin meets. His hand is cold and still, but he doesn’t move away.
Emboldened, I carefully lace my fingers through his larger ones and squeeze gently. “You’re not alone, Freddy,” I whisper, meaning every word. “You have me.”
He snorts, but there’s no malice in it. “You’re not my mate, Tess.”
“I know that,” I say softly. “But I still care about you. I don’t want you to be alone.”
He looks at me for a long moment. “Friends?”
I smile at him. “Friends.”
His lips twitch before he suddenly pulls me forward. I shriek in surprise, convinced he is going to kill me until I’m flush against his chest. My face is pressed into his collarbone, and my body is spread over his body, flattened like a pancake, until he pulls me all the way up to his lap.
As soon as I’m settled, he wraps his arms around me possessively, burying his face in my hair. “Thank you for coming here to save me, but you should go before someone finds out you stole those keys, Tess.”
I can feel the heat of his breath on my head, and for a moment, I’m frozen, unable to do anything but sit there in shock while he smells my hair. Then, slowly, I lean back and lift my face to look up at him.
The side of Freddy’s lips quirk up, and butterflies swarm my belly. There’s a softness to him, a vulnerability that I’ve never seen before. For once, he’s not the fierce predator I’ve come to fear and respect. Instead, he’s just a lonely, broken man who needs someone to hold him.
“But I came here to save you,” I whisper and hesitantly place my palm on his cold cheek. He doesn’t pull away, and I blush at the contact. “Don’t you want to be rescued?”
Freddy doesn’t immediately reply. Instead, he gazes into my eyes. Time seems to stand still while we look at each other, and all I can hear is the sound of our breathing and the pounding of my heart. I’m not even sure if I want to move. There’s something comforting about being held by Freddy, something that makes me feel safe.
Eventually, though, he pulls away from me. His eyes are still wet with unshed tears, but the vulnerability has vanished. In its place is a hard, cold look that I recognize all too well. He’s back to being the predator, the killer that my pack fears.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he growls, his voice low and dangerous. “It’s not safe for you to be around me.”
“I’m not scared of you,” I say, even though my heart is pounding in my chest.
“You should be,” he says. “I’m a monster.”
I breathe a laugh. I’m afraid of the look on his face, but not enough to move away from his lap. I mean, he isn’t pushing me away, at least not physically, so it’s pretty obvious that he is just trying to scare me away even though he probably doesn’t want me to leave.
I wet my lips. “You’re a hybrid, but you’re not a monster, Freddy. At least not entirely; there is still some light in you...even if Wesley can’t see that.”
He arches an eyebrow. “Or maybe you’re the one who is delusional, and Wesley sees me for what I really am?”
I take a deep breath and snicker. “There is a big possibility of that...”
He smiles dangerously and squints slightly as if trying to decide whether he wants to tell me something. It’s an odd look; eventually, he reaches out with his hand to grip my face. His large hand cradles one side of my face; I let him and hold my breath as he runs his thumb over my bottom lip.
“So, let me get this straight: you know you might be wrong about me, yet you’re still here?”
I hand him a shy smile. It’s the most I can do since his touch is sending flutters through my entire body. Freddy seems to notice and breathes a laugh.
“Why?” he asks.
I gaze into his beautiful red eyes and frown. What am I doing here? Why did I risk everything to come and save him?
My eyes roam over his face. Freddy tilts his head, and when I’m hit with another case of butterflies, the answer becomes painfully obvious, and I let out a small gasp.
“Tess?”
Freddy gives me a curious look, but instead of telling him the answer, I decide to show him. Actions speak louder than words, right? This might be a mistake, but fuck it—I throw caution to the wind, and then I kiss him.