Chapter 10
Mikhail
I had been slamming against the air in front of me. There was nothing there, but I couldn’t move, couldn’t stop Freya from stalking out of my room. I growled as I plowed forward, only to fall flat on my face.
Whatever was holding me back before had left with her. Everything she had said was whirling through my head. I was angry at her for denying my mate claim, but if what she said about Bianca was true, I had failed her.
Shame swirled through me at the realization of the damage done.
I hadn’t protected her. I knew that Bianca was vicious and would lash out when she realized I had feelings for Freya.
I thought I had hidden my emotions better, but I was so blinded by the idea of finding my mate that I didn’t pay attention to everything around me.
The fact that Freya would even think I was involved in posting that picture hurt me.
She was my mate; my only mission was to keep her happy and safe.
It showed how little I had done to prove my worth to her, to make sure she knew that I would choose her above anyone.
Then there was Bianca. I had underestimated her—a mistake that wouldn’t happen again.
Not just Bianca, but the whole group would pay for what they did to my mate. Grabbing my phone, not caring about the late hour, I dialed my father’s number.
“Mikhail. It’s late. What’s wrong?” he answered, his accent thick with sleep. I could hear my mother murmuring next to him.
“I want you to cut ties with The Harrington Company. I don’t care what you have to do, what money we will lose. I will not come home if we have any continued relationship with Bianca and her family.” I heard some rustling before my mother’s voice was clear on the phone.
“Did you and Bianca get in a fight? What happened, Mik? I’m sure we can work this out.”
“No, we can’t. Do you want me to return home and take over as alpha?” A heavy silence met my threat before my father calmly replied.
“Son, maybe you should tell us what this is about,” he said, his voice clearer now.
“I found her. My true mate.” My mother gasped, and my father shushed her.
“I broke up with Bianca as soon as I sensed her. She did not take it well. For the sake of the families, I let her keep on as if nothing had happened while I tried to learn about my mate. I thought I was being subtle, but apparently, Bianca caught on right away, and has been regularly harassing and threatening my Freya. Tonight, they went too far. Now, do you want me to return home as alpha with my true mate, or do you want to keep an alliance with the Harrington family?”
“I’ll have the lawyers draw up the papers tomorrow so we can sever the business ties,” Father stated before Mother rushed in with her questions.
“Is your mate okay? What type of animal is she?”
“She’s not a shifter. She’s human. I think. Is that going to be a problem?” I asked. Both my parents were quick to assure me it wasn’t.
“Oh, Misha, dear, I can’t believe this! You found your mate! I want to know everything. What is she like?” my mother gushed excitedly.
“Pissed and unimpressed. At Bianca, too, but mostly at me, for not protecting her. She’s right to feel that way, though.
I will do everything I can to prove my worth to her, but I will not sit by and let what Bianca did go.
If anyone from my family is okay with it, then I don’t want my mate around them either.
Once I prove to Freya that I am worth her attention, no one will come before her.
Including you two.” I growled, angry that I hadn’t taken action sooner.
“You don’t have to convince us, son. Sounds like you should save that energy for your mate. She sounds feisty. I look forward to meeting her. I’ll give you a call tomorrow to let you know how our meeting with William goes.”
After a restless night’s sleep, where I spent the night analyzing every moment, every thing I had done wrong by my mate, a plan was finally developing. As soon as the sun rose, I was out of my room and heading to the dean’s office.
Putting distance between myself and the group was my main priority, so I arranged to have my room switched to a different wing.
I wanted nothing to do with them anymore, especially knowing they had hurt Freya.
The hardest part of my plan was respecting her request for space.
I would give that to her for the moment, to a degree.
Regardless of the forced distance, she was always on my mind.
That week, instead of eating at my usual table or hanging out in the courtyard, I went to the library instead.
My mate liked to be outdoors; her connection to nature was palpable.
I didn’t know a weed from a flower, so I decided to brush up on my herbology.
Balor had a black eye from my punch, but still didn’t seem to take what I had said that night seriously.
When I passed him or Kris in the hallway, they shouted or waved, but I just ignored them.
They didn’t exist for me anymore. If they did, I would have to take more physical action.
The thought that they had seen her naked, posted pictures of her, had a growl lodging in my throat.
The only thing holding me back from letting them have it was the blowback it might have had on Freya. I had acted on my own urges enough, and I needed to take my mate into consideration. My father called me later in the week to let me know all ties between our family and Bianca’s had been severed.
William Harrington was demanding an explanation, but my father directed him to Bianca. I knew she had been trying to find me, corner me, but I couldn’t stand to be near her, breathing the same air.
As for Freya, I kept an eye on her, but at a distance.
I made sure she always made it to and from her classes without any confrontations.
I didn’t go to bed until I knew she was safely in her room.
I even found myself sneaking out in the middle of the night to stand outside her door, making sure I heard the steady breaths that indicated sleep.
My mate liked to wander the grounds alone at night, and it terrified me.
A week passed in that fashion, and my bear was howling for her, desperate for a brief interaction.
From the little reading I had done so far, I decided getting her a small succulent she could keep in her room without worrying about sunlight would be a good place to start.
I found the groundskeeper, who helped me pick one out and showed me the proper way to pot it.
My bear, not one to be outdone, caught a giant salmon he wanted to present to his mate.
He was a bit miffed when I got permission to use the kitchen to cook the salmon properly and put together a full dinner for Freya.
She had avoided the cafeteria most of the week, and both my bear and I were concerned about her.
With a sense of anxiety I had never felt before, I left my presents outside her door.
I leaned against the wall, inhaling her scent.
Knowing she was there, so close, but still so far from me, was infuriating, but it was my fault we were in that position.
I knocked loudly, then swiftly walked away so she didn’t see me.
From my spot around the corner, I watched as she opened the door, warily popping her head out before spotting the items at her feet.
A sweet blush bloomed on her cheeks as she took in the plant and meal before she scowled at herself.
I was afraid Freya was going to leave it outside, but I howled in success when she took it back into her room with her.
That was enough for the moment. I would watch over my mate, feed her, and do whatever I could to make her happy. I would cut down anyone who came between us, anyone who came for her. Most importantly, I would protect her from myself until she was ready for me. For the reality of us.