Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Night had fallen. Freja and Jin sat outside on the porch swing listening to the sounds of the night.
The girls had talked to each other about their lives and what happened after the night their parents were killed, crying and laughing together.
They bared their souls to one another, and Jin told her how happy she was here.
She told Freja how wonderful both Hunter and Chasen were, especially Chasen.
“Thank you for the gift,” Freja said quietly.
“You’re welcome. See? You’re still you. It’s hard to remember that. But I think you’re starting to realize it.” Jin smiled cheerfully, watching the fireflies light up in the distance.
Freja nodded her head. “It’s hard, though. I’m not used to being around others or relying on them. It will take some getting used to, but … it feels nice to have someone to talk to.”
“Yes, it does.” Jin quietly stared out into the darkness.
“There are a lot of them on the move … demons, I mean. On my way here, I came across bands upon bands of them.” Freja sighed and frowned.
That many demons would be tough to handle.
“They told me about a half-demon named Abaas that was moving the demon army.” Freja shook her head.
“But Jin, you know this. No half-demon could ever lead the army that’s gathering. Someone else is pulling the strings.”
“There’s Leoric too.” Hunter spoke up as he walked out onto the porch.
One thing about werewolf hearing was that it was pretty exceptional.
They would have to talk quieter than they were if they wanted anything to be secret.
He and Chasen heard everything the girls were saying, eavesdropping purposely.
Jin and Freja shot up to head over toward Hunter and Chasen, who had followed him out. “Leoric!?” Freja and Jin both gasped in unison. There was worry laced in their voices, and Jin fidgeted slightly.
“You know of him?” Hunter walked in front of Freja and leaned back on the railing.
Freja frowned and looked down. “Leoric is dangerous. He’s the son of an original demon, Mephisto.
He has the power to gather demons. And there are a lot who will band with him.
He’s one of the demons who doesn’t care about balance.
If he’s the one leading this war, it will be a real problem.
This will be a war for domination and annihilation. ”
“He is deplorable. He is everything wicked and vile.” Jin frowned and felt a shiver creep over her skin. She was instantly lifted up and held in Chasen’s embrace.
“Don’t worry, Jin. We’re going to defeat him and the army he’s gathering,” Chasen said comfortingly.
“Reiya is working on creating an alliance with the dragons. And we have the werewolves and fairies as well.” Hunter’s eyes fell on Freja as she sat down quietly.
“We need the dragons. We can’t win without them.
I don’t think that’ll be a problem, though.
From what I saw, she already has a couple of strong dragon allies.
” Freja nodded her head as she thought about it.
The demons would struggle taking the dragons out alone.
They were their own force to be reckoned with.
Combining their forces should easily tip the scale in their favor.
“Plus, Reiya has the dragon deity on her side, too.” Hunter winked at Freja, whose eyes widened.
“You know?” Freja wasn’t sure if his wink was alluding to what she knew.
“You know?!” Hunter said in shock. “My dad mentioned it to me. Reiya didn’t know about him being her mate yet. Has her wolf come out yet?”
“She knows about him now, but she still hasn’t gotten her wolf yet.
Actually, her wolf is sealed in a moon bubble.
The Moon Goddess is up to something.” Freja looked down at her hands.
“Reiya risked her life removing a curse from me. She would have died had her wolf not broken free momentarily. I’m forever in her debt.
She was the first person who hugged me since I lost my parents.
I feel connected to her.” Freja’s eyes watered as she looked up at the silver ones in front of her.
She then smiled and nodded her head. “She and Leviathan are a forbidden match. They’re trying to keep their relationship secret.
I’m rooting for them. Hopefully they’re able to get it all worked out. ”
Chasen scowled a bit. “I don’t like the idea of that experienced deity putting his hands on my pure sister.”
Hunter growled in agreement.
“I don’t think you need to feel that way. He really treasures her.” Freja looked over at Chasen, who only shrugged. Reiya was his little sister. He was protective of her. Simple as that.
“So how are sleeping arrangements tonight? Should me and Freja have a slumber party?” Jin asked excitedly. Chasen let out a low moan and held Jin deeper in his chest.
“I don’t want to sleep without you.” Chasen pouted as he looked at Jin with puppy dog eyes.
“I … I was actually hoping you would stay with me tonight, Freja.” Hunter looked at her, his eyes searching for a response from her.
“We’re mates. We’ll sleep better if we’re close.
I promise I’ll behave. Honestly, you’ll have to make the first move.
” He gave her a crooked grin and then cleared his throat.
“If you aren’t comfortable with that, then I can set you up in the room next to mine. ”
She didn’t want to sleep away from him either.
It was weird. She didn’t even like having him out of her sight, because she felt like she needed to protect him.
As if he needed protection. What she couldn’t get over was the vulnerability in his eyes as he looked at her.
As if saying no would crush him. She didn’t want to hurt him.
She wasn’t worried about him restraining himself.
She trusted that he would. The truth was, she didn’t trust herself.
Chasen figured his brother and his mate could use some time alone. Sam and Renee had already gone to bed. He squeezed Jin’s arm and smiled. “Well, have a good night guys. I’m taking my Jin with me for the night.”
“Good night,” Hunter and Freja said in unison.
Hunter watched his brother leave with Jin.
He was thankful to him for being considerate.
He reached his hand out to Freja and smiled.
“Come on. We might as well go in, too. You can think about what you want to do.” When she took his hand, he gently clasped his fingers around hers and tugged her upward and into his side.
He walked her upstairs and to his room. “Would you like a shower? I’m sure you probably want to get cleaned up. I should have gotten you more clothes to wear from one of the girls … I have more shirts and joggers, if that’s alright?”
Freja giggled. “Hunter, it’s fine. And yes, a shower sounds great.”
Freja came out from the shower wearing Hunter’s clothes, which were big but comfortable.
She looked over at the couch where he was sitting, his head back and his eyes closed.
She walked over and sat next to him, waiting for him to open his eyes.
She knew he was awake. She watched as he raised an eyelid and peeked at her.
“Did you enjoy your shower?
“Yes, thank you.”
“Do you want to watch some television, or are you ready for bed?” Hunter was curious about what she’d decided she wanted to do. He hoped she would stay with him. He couldn’t stand being away from her all night. “Do you know what you want to do as far as bed? I promise I really will behave myself.”
Freja looked away from him and brought her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. She lowered her head to her knees and fixed her gaze on the floor. “I trust you, Hunter.” She gnawed on her bottom lip and closed her eyes. “It isn’t that I don’t trust you. It’s me I don’t trust.”
Hunter sat beside her, shocked. She’d just admitted how much she wanted him, that she wasn’t sure if she could control her urges.
Please don’t control your urges, Hunter thought wryly to himself.
And why was she holding herself back? If she planned on staying with him anyway, he felt like it didn’t matter.
Okay, that might have been the male hormones in him, screaming that she should give in.
If it mattered to her, then it did matter.
Regardless of the reasons. Inwardly, though, he was smiling. She wanted him, too.
“Tell me what you want, Freja. I’m here for you in every way. I’m your partner and your support. Tell me what you need from me.” Hunter’s voice was gentle as he coaxed her like he would a wild animal, trying to stay calm in order to keep her relaxed, too.
Freja tilted her head up to Hunter and smiled. “I’m frustrating, aren’t I?”
Hunter reached over and slid her body into his, wrapping his arms around her and lowering his head onto hers.
“Baby, I’m just glad you’re here. Everything else is fine.
I’m just happy that I’ve found you.” He rubbed his hand over her arm, enjoying the tiny sparks that ignited where he touched her skin.
He felt her curl up into his chest as her hand came to rest on his stomach, her fingers slowly playing with his shirt.
Something as simple as this made him hunger for more from her.
“Oh, I almost forgot. Scruffy!” Freja said and tried to get up. She was held securely in place, and she looked upward in curiosity to meet with his gray eyes.
“Can’t you hold me tonight instead?” Hunter asked seriously. All joking aside. He wanted her to be close to him. He needed her close.
Freja sat up and he loosened his grip on her, allowing her full control of the situation.
He still kept his hands on her hips as she sat facing him, though.
“Maybe …” Freja bit her bottom lip, licking them slightly and staring at Hunter’s mouth.
Maybe, if she could at least kiss him, she would feel a bit better.
If she could at least put her body to the test and check her restraint.
Yeah, that’s what this was about. It was about testing her restraint.
It had nothing to do with the fact that she wanted to feel Hunter’s lips against hers.
It was nothing like that at all. Or at least she tried to convince herself of that.
Hunter’s eyes darkened slightly. He trailed his fingertips upward, resting his hand on the back of her neck.
He slowly leaned in, watching her eyes, making sure he was reading her correctly.
When his nose touched hers, he looked at her lips once more before closing his eyes and finally kissing her.
Jolts of electricity celebrated over his body.
Her soft lips melted against his as he gently moved his lips against hers.
A soft moan sounded from her throat, which was music to his ears.
Hearing his mate’s want for him was reassuring.
He could hear the sound of her heart rate picking up as she continued to respond to his kisses.
Freja felt like her mind was clearer. Everything she was worried about …
was it really anything she should be dwelling on?
She was already marked and connected to Hunter.
She was already attached and protective over him.
Even if something were to happen now, it would be too late.
She would already be devastated. Jin was right.
She was the same person for the most part, except for one thing.
She was stronger now, and her mate was strong.
She didn’t have to mark him now, but as for being with him …
that was something she wasn’t going to deny herself.
There was no good reason for it. She needed him and he needed her.
They were mates, and that was all there was to it.
She didn’t need to overcomplicate things.
It was just him and her. The rest would sort itself out.
She sat in his lap, straddling him. Wrapping her fingers into his luscious ebony hair, she sank deeper into their kiss, biting his bottom lip and demanding entry.
She thrusted her tongue inside his mouth and was pleased with the low moan she made escape from his throat.
Their tongues clashed against the other in urgency.
They broke apart for a moment, panting into each other’s lips, trying to catch their breaths.
“Freja.” Hunter's voice was low and husky.
“I want this, Hunter. I want us.”
Hunter pulled back so he could study her. He reached up and gently rubbed his thumbs over her cheeks. “I want this, too. I want us. But you can take your time, Freja. I’m not going anywhere. I can wait for this to be right for you.”
Freja smiled. She knew right then, in her heart, that she was making the right decision. Even in this heated moment, he was putting her first. Yes, she wanted him to be her life partner.
“I can’t promise I’ll be everything you want me to be.
But I’ll be yours, if you’ll be mine. I don’t need to wait.
I don’t need to overanalyze this.” Freja leaned in and rested her forehead on Hunter’s.
“I’ve been waiting for you, too. I’ve been looking for you my whole life.
I just didn’t realize it. I’ve been searching for the person who was meant to fill my void and make me whole again.
The person I could have a life with. I’m tired of being empty, Hunter.
I don’t want to be lonely. I don’t want to run away from us. ” A small tear trickled down her face.
Hunter brushed her tear away, kissed her forehead, and stood up, lifting her up with him, her legs wrapped around him for support. He walked her over to his bed and sat down, keeping her on his lap and holding her against his chest.
“You’re the one who’s filled my void, Freja.
I can’t promise that I’ll be everything you want me to be, but I will be what you need me to be.
” He leaned down and planted gentle kisses on her face.
“Baby, are you sure? I don’t want to do anything you aren’t ready for.
And I need to know now before there’s no turning back.
” His eyes were dark with lust as he looked her over.
Freja lifted her head and looked into his shining silver eyes. “I want to be yours, Hunter.”