Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“Idon’t understand the whole heat thing. Does it happen often?” Freja asked as the two got out of bed in the morning. They didn’t have any time to really talk last night, having spent another passionate night together.
“It used to happen all the time, actually. You see, when a female wolf doesn’t find her mate after several years, she goes into heat to attract a chosen mate.
It forces both partners into a relationship.
So the packs started holding banquets with other packs so that wolves could find their fated mates among them.
It’s rare for it to happen now. In Susan’s case, it’s very weird.
She just got her wolf and was in heat right after.
That never happens. I’m guessing it has something to do with her fairy magic, but I’m not sure.
At least it all worked out for the best.” Hunter smiled and put a fresh shirt on.
“I know Adam is thrilled. He’s been interested in Susan for the longest time. ”
“Did he know she was his mate? Could he sense it before she got her wolf?” Freja was trying to learn more about werewolves. She hadn’t been one for very long and wanted to know more about herself and her pack, especially since she was going to lead them.
“I don’t know. Maybe it was why he was drawn to her.
I don’t think he knew she was his mate, though.
I’ve heard of wolves finding their mate and having to wait for their mate’s wolf to emerge to recognize the bond, but I don’t think this was the case with Adam.
He would have mentioned it to me.” Hunter wrapped his arm around Freja, pulling her into his chest. He dipped his head down and pressed his lips into hers, holding her body against him as he enjoyed the tingling sensation from the mate bond.
He licked her bottom lip as he pulled back.
“Let’s get you better acquainted as the luna and familiar with the way things work around here.
We’re going to go over the daily schedules. ”
This was how the days went for Freja. She spent the day out among the pack, watching, exercising, and joining in on training.
Adam and Susan were inseparable ever since the day she went into heat.
The whole pack didn’t see much of the two of them.
Inwardly, she was a bit jealous that they had so much alone time together.
Hunter was fairly busy during the day, and she was too now.
Jin was always at her side when Hunter couldn’t be, so she was never alone.
Still, it would have been nice to stay locked away with Hunter. To block out everything but each other.
Then, at night, she and Hunter treasured each other and passionately reconnected.
Every night was heated. It was never a full night of rest. And while Hunter might have been a bit tired from the lack of sleep, he always hid it well.
And he always had more than enough energy for their relationship under the covers.
Freja smiled as she sipped her tea. She was happy. This place was now a part of her, and she loved her new pack and family. That was the other thing she had come to realize. She loved Hunter.
With a small smile, she looked out the window.
Tonight, she was going to mark Hunter as hers.
She was more than ready, and he’d had enough time as Werewolf King to adjust to his new powers.
She didn’t want to wait any longer. She wanted to place her mark upon her mate.
She wasn’t sure what it would mean for him, though.
Would it just be a werewolf mark? Or both a werewolf and a vampire mark?
She wasn’t sure if her vampire side would turn him or not.
Regardless, her marking him would make him stronger.
How much stronger? They would find out soon.
“Freja,” Jin said as she walked up to her. “Want to go on a run with me? Chasen is already out there waiting. Where’s Hunter?”
“He and Sam are doing a perimeter check. A run sounds great.” She looked outside at the beautiful sunny day. Could life get any better?
Hunter and Sam split up as they jogged around their pack territory, making sure there were no foreign scents near their borders. Since they were staying within pack territory, it was okay to split.
Hunter jogged through the thick brush, finishing his half of the check, when he heard the soft sounds of a child crying just beyond the pack border. He stopped and turned in that direction. There was a little girl with brown hair leaning up against a tree. He immediately went to the child.
“Hey, little one. Are you lost? Do you need help?” Hunter asked as he squatted beside her. He watched as she tensed up. She tilted her head up to look at him, her eyes dark and unreadable.
“Alpha Hunter?” Her voice carried a chilling undertone.
Hunter looked at her confused. “Do you know me?”
The girl stared at him for a moment. Then, in a flash, she stabbed a needle into Hunter’s leg. He jumped back and pressed his hand over the puncture mark. When he looked back up, the girl was gone. He furrowed his brows. What the hell was that?
Trouble. Blaze growled and lifted his nose in the air. He was going to remember that girl’s scent.
Do you feel okay? What did she inject us with? Hunter didn’t feel any different.
I don’t feel anything. But that couldn’t have been good. Blaze growled lowly as he tried to detect the foreign substance injected into them.
Hunter sighed and looked around once more before heading back into his pack’s territory. He planned to fill the others in just in case something weird happened to him later.
The girl watched Hunter disappear into his pack’s territory with a smirk on her face. An older woman walked up to the girl and placed her hand on her shoulder. A crimson smile spread over the woman’s lips.
“Well done.”
The girl turned and smiled widely. “Thank you, Grandma Meryl.”
“Jin, riding on the wind currents is not going on a run.” Chasen huffed as he eyed the energized girl, who hadn’t even broken a sweat.
“I never said I was going on an actual run.” Jin grinned, looking between Chasen and Freja.
“You asked me if I wanted to go on a run with you. Last time I checked, you need to use your legs to run.” Freja gave Jin a crooked smile.
Jin shrugged. “Not the way I run.” She gave the two of them a triumphant, cheesy smile.
Freja giggled. “Guess we’re the suckers then.”
Chasen nodded in agreement. “It’s alright. I have other ways to tire you out.” He looked at Jin, giving her a not-so-hidden promise.
They heard the sound of footsteps in the distance. The three turned their heads to see Hunter walking through the woods. Freja smiled brightly and trotted off toward him.
“Hunter!” She beamed as he turned to face her.
All of a sudden, he darted toward her. He grabbed her by the neck and slammed her into a tree, ruthlessly choking her.
His eyes were black, and a low growl escaped his throat, his grip so strong she was unable to breathe.
She was in complete shock as she felt herself struggle for precious air.
Her vision was blurring as a gurgling sound escaped her lips.
Freja felt a violent crash, and her body slumped to the ground, gasping for much-needed oxygen. Jin had her hand on her shoulder, and she looked up to see Chasen had Hunter pinned on the ground.
“Hunter!” Chasen roared in his face.
Hunter stared blankly at Chasen. “What are you doing?” He was confused. One minute he was walking in the woods, and the next he was lying on the ground with Chasen on top of him, strongly gripping his shoulders.
“Hunter, are you alright? What the hell is your problem?” Chasen kept a firm hold on him. He wasn’t sure what that was about, but for a moment, Hunter wasn’t all there. He was looking into pitch-black orbs.
“Chase … what are you talking about?”
“You almost killed Freja!” Chasen spat at him.
“What?!” Hunter chuckled and shook his head. “I could never hurt her.”
Chasen glanced over toward Freja. She had marks around her neck, and she was struggling to her feet. He then looked back at Hunter.
“Is he okay?” Freja asked in a hoarse tone.
Hunter turned to look at Freja. She sounded weird and distressed. The moment his eyes landed on her, they went black again.
Chasen held him down with his guardian strength. “What the hell is going on?!” Chasen growled as his arms began to tremble.
Freja leaped into the trees, high into the canopy where she couldn’t be seen. She found a branch that she could look through and perched herself there, her heart racing. What was going on with her sweet Hunter?
“What happened? Where’s Freja?” Hunter asked, turning his head around, his eyes returning to their gray color.
“What do you remember?” Chasen loosened his grip and helped Hunter to his feet. “Jin, stay back, please.” He looked at his mate with a flash of worry. He wasn’t sure what was going on with Hunter, but he didn’t want to risk Jin getting hurt. He could handle his brother on his own.
Hunter looked at Jin and back to Chasen. “Are you afraid I’m going to hurt her? Where is Freja?!” he growled, feeling a bit panicked. His eyes darted around nervously.
“What do you remember?” Freja’s voice quivered a bit from above the trees.
Hunter looked upward but couldn’t see her. “Freja?” She sounded upset and he needed to hold her, to comfort her. He looked back at Chasen. “I remember walking, then you were on top of me. You said I almost killed Freja, and she asked if I was okay. That’s all I remember. What is going on?”
Chasen frowned as he looked at his brother. It seemed like he lost control only when he saw Freja, but not when he heard her voice. “Every time you see Freja, you lose control. You look like you’re trying to kill her. Not just look like it. You actually were trying to …”