Tess
As I study Lucas’s handsome face, the mate bond overwhelms all of my senses. I’m filled with sudden warmth, need, and ridiculous desperation. My whole body craves him: my skin, cunt, arms, lips—even my nose longs to inhale his scent. But there is one part of my body that isn’t singing when I’m near him, and that’s my heart.
That part of me belongs to Freddy...I think? I’m not entirely certain. I like him, but the lines get a little blurry whenever I’m around Lucas. Fighting a mate bond isn’t easy, especially since I know Lucas isn’t evil, just confused.
“Look, Tess...” Lucas inhales and drags his sweaty hands up his jeans, dark hair hanging into his face. He is unbelievably beautiful with his blue eyes and chiseled features. “What must I do in order for you to forgive me?”
I sink my teeth into my bottom lip. “I don’t have an answer to your question, Lucas. You’re not a bad person, I know that, but...I have sort of fallen in love with someone else.”
He doesn’t look shocked. If anything, it seems as if he knew, but that still doesn’t prevent him from looking jealous. There is a fire ignited in his eyes. “Freddy?”
“Yeah...” I whisper and drag my hands up my arms over the goosebumps prickling there, smiling faintly. “He isn’t as bad as he seems...”
“He could be tricking you, you know, and I’m not saying that because I’m jealous. Believe me, I am, but Freddy? He has betrayed our pack before. He can’t be trusted, and sure, if he were your fated mate, I could believe he had feelings for you. But he isn’t your mate, Tess. What if you accidentally piss him off, and he murders you out of sheer boredom?”
Lucas’s words strike a chord of fear within me. I’ve always known that Freddy had a bit of a short fuse, but I never thought he could actually hurt me. Could he?
I push the thought away and focus on Lucas’s words. “I don’t think he would ever do that, Lucas. Freddy isn’t... He is not like that,” I say, trying to convince myself as much as I’m trying to convince him.
“Maybe not now when he is newly in love, but it could change in a month, a week. Hybrids are very unpredictable from what we have seen,” Lucas says, scooting a little closer with concern written all over his face. The scent of his cologne envelops me, and I feel my knees go weak. “Please, Tess. Think about it. Think about what’s best for you.”
I can feel the pull of the mate bond as he speaks, and I have to fight the urge to throw myself into his arms. But I can’t do that. I can’t just give in just because of the mate bond.
“Okay, I won’t reject you, but I won’t accept you as my mate either. I need some time to think,” I say, moving away a little to create more distance between us. “I can’t just make a decision like this on the spot.”
Lucas gives me a weak smile that seems a little out of character. He is a grumpy guy, but he is trying to be friendly and slumps his shoulders too. It’s almost as if he is trying to appear smaller and less intimidating.
“It kills me to say it, but take all the time you need, Tess. Just know that I will always be here for you, and I will try to be better.”
With that, Lucas lifts himself up from my bed and leaves me alone with my thoughts. As I watch him disappear through the door, I can’t help but wonder if Lucas or Freddy would make a better partner for me. I’m in love with Freddy, but what if he is just deceiving me? Or maybe he isn’t even doing it on purpose but would later stop liking me and hurt me because of his aggressive hybrid nature?
My stomach churns at that thought. Liking someone without a mate bond is scary. I don’t understand how humans can be so brave. They have to rely on and trust in the other person instead of the bond...but I guess that’s also romantic. Then the love is true and more real.
I lie down against my pillows, about to take a nap, until I hear a ruckus in the courtyard. Lily is snarling in her werewolf form, and so is Lucas. It sounds like they are angry at someone, and my eyes widen when I hear Claudia laughing. “Guys, guys, take it easy! Freddy isn’t here to fight anyone.”
Did Freddy come back here with Claudia? Did he save her? He must have done that. There is no other explanation.
I quickly get up from my bed and approach the window. Wesley has given me strict instructions not to leave my room, but looking doesn’t hurt.
Besides, they are far away, so I won’t get in trouble no matter what I do. I get closer to the window and gasp when I see Freddy holding up his hands in the air. It doesn’t look like he is surrendering, though, not with the smirk on his lips.
“Relax, I’m just here to bring Claudia home,” he says, freezing slightly before lifting his chin as if sensing me. His red eyes widen when he sees me, and when his smirk turns into a smile, I shiver in my skin. Freddy notices my reaction and breathes a laugh. “Nice of you to join us, Princess. Have they locked you up in there?”
A blush works its way over my face as I continue to look down at Freddy. With his blonde hair and elegant body, he is the complete opposite of Lucas. Whereas my true mate is tall, swollen with muscle, and has darker hair and a lighter complexion, Freddy is tanned and sure, he is tall, but he is more ripped and lean. Comparing the two is like looking at Jason Momoa and a thinner Chris Hemsworth.
But for some reason, my body is more drawn to the latter. Maybe it’s because of the way Freddy carries himself, with an air of confidence that borders on arrogance. Maybe it’s the way his eyes light up whenever he sees me as if I’m the only person in the world that matters to him. Or maybe it’s just the fact that he has always been there for me, always been willing to lend an ear...or read my mind whenever I’ve needed someone to listen to my problems.
I wet my lips. “Yeah, I’m...pretty locked up.”
Freddy breathes a laugh. “Want me to save you? I could be your hybrid in shining armor.”
My lips part, yet not a single word comes out. I want to say yes, I do, but what if Lucas is right about Freddy? What if he just has ulterior motives for being here? I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts.
“I’m fine, Freddy. But thank you.” I glance over at Claudia, who is standing next to him with an amused expression on her face. “Are you okay, Claudia?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Claudia grins at me before her eyes travel back to Freddy. She looks him up and down, and her cheeks turn in a bright shade of pink. “Freddy came just in time.”
I feel a pang of jealousy at the way Claudia looks at Freddy. Is it possible that she has feelings for him too? I quickly push the thought aside. It’s not like I have any claim on Freddy, even if I wanted to. He is just a friend...who I’ve kissed and rubbed my wet cunt against.
“I still don’t trust you,” Wesley growls, breaking the sweet moment by glaring daggers at Freddy. “And while I’m grateful you saved Claudia, you’re still not welcome here, Freddy. Your hybrid army killed plenty of pack members in the stupid war, and since you’re a hybrid yourself, I bet you’re just as crazy as they are. You’re unpredictable, mischievous, and could snap at any given moment.”
I expect Freddy to get mad, but he doesn’t even pay Wesley and the other werewolves attention. Instead, he glances between me and Lucas, hardening his gaze. I wonder if he can tell that I haven’t rejected him yet. He must be able to feel it if I’m to judge by the slight insecurity flashing over his face. It hurts seeing him make that expression, but in mere seconds, his face is an impassive mask again.
“Aha, I see how it is...” Freddy drawls and drops his head in disappointment. He looks up at me with sultry eyes, longing for something he believes he can never have—me. “Shame you didn’t pick me,” he offers me a smile that breaks my heart because instead of anger, he just looks...broken. “Well, if you change your mind, Princess, I will be here for you. The Safir pack will attack the Luan pack, and if you need me, you know how to find me.”
Wait. What?! No! I have no idea where to find him! What the heck is he talking about?!
“Freddy?!” I call his name, but it’s already too late. Freddy sinks into a shadow portal in the ground right before the pack can attack him, and I feel devastated.
Did I make the right choice by not rejecting Lucas?