Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Hunter didn’t want to release his hold on Freja.
He didn’t want her to leave his side again.
He kissed her fingers and wished he could kiss her lips.
He could technically, right? At the same time, he didn’t want to risk hurting her.
He didn’t want to ever put his hands on her like that again.
Instead, he resigned himself to kissing her hand again as he held onto it.
“Don’t be rash. I’ll be back soon,” Freja whispered into his back. She squeezed his hand once more. “I want to come back to a well-oiled pack, so you better not neglect your duties, Alpha.” Freja felt his back vibrate from his chuckle.
“Are you telling me to do my job as an alpha and not worry about you while you’re gone?” Hunter grinned.
“You are clever after all. I was beginning to wonder,” Freja teased playfully. She slowly lowered her hand from his eyes. He kept his eyes shut while she squeezed both her arms around his body, hugging him from behind. Be a good wolf and maybe I’ll bring you back a treat.
Hunter growled lowly and hugged her hands to his stomach. I want the whole meal, not a treat. Your body will be my entrée and I’m going to be starving. Prepare yourself.
Freja kissed his back and gave him one more squeeze.
Leaving him was hard to do, especially because she could feel how much he needed her.
He was in turmoil and needed his mate. But she was the reason he was in turmoil.
She had to at least try to fix this. She had to give it her best shot.
“Take care of yourself,” she whispered, pulling herself away.
She had to leave him quickly, like pulling off a bandage.
She quickly leaped up to the trees and dashed through the sky, leaving him once again.
Hunter stood there with his eyes closed, remembering her scent and her touch. He could still feel her warmth on his back. This was utter torture. He had to restrain himself from following her. His instincts told him to go after his mate, to keep her as close as possible so he could protect her.
“Hunter,” Lita said calmly as she placed her hand on his arm. She watched as his gray eyes fell upon her. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but you should prepare yourself mentally.”
“There is nothing to prepare for, mom. Even if this can’t be fixed, I’m not going to live without her.” Hunter didn’t care. No matter how difficult it would be … they would make it work.
“Son,” Asher said as he stood in front of him. “Do you realize what you’re saying? What you’re talking about is more than difficult. What about the future? What about your lineage?”
“Dad … I don’t exactly need to see for that to work, right?” Hunter gave his father a crooked smile. His father was talking about children.
“And how will that work? Being blindfolded around your mate and children? And then what if there’s an accident and you end up seeing her? What if you accidentally injure her or worse?” Lita added calmly.
“Just stop. I know you both mean well. But you’re not thinking about what’s best for me.
What would you guys have done? Would you really have separated?
What if you’d just believed everyone when they said dad was dead?
He could still be stuck in a cave if you hadn’t continued looking for him.
” Hunter shook his head. “I know you mean well. But we will figure it out. If I have to blind myself to keep from accidentally hurting her, then I will.”
Lita and Asher looked at each other. It was no use.
Their son wasn’t going to change his mind.
At moments like this, it was nice to have their thoughts flow between them.
They both already knew how the other felt.
They both agreed that they would protect Hunter.
He was first. No matter what kind of person Freja was, Hunter was their son.
Together, they formed a plan. They both knew it wasn’t ideal or optimal, but for their son …
if they had to, they would become the bad guys.
Freja hopped from the trees and walked up to the girl with caramel skin, who was excitedly chatting with Jin. Wow. The two of them had way too much peppy energy for her taste.
Jin turned and looked at Chasen and Freja. “I’m coming, too.”
“Jin, no.” Freja shook her head. This wasn’t going to be a walk in the park.
“Ciana told me you’re going to Jester’s for the black pearl. Are you crazy? I can’t let you go alone.” Jin knew a lot of the dangerous people in the world. She had lived with most of them for years. Some she had seen in passing. Jester was one of the most unpredictable crazies in the world.
Freja shot Ciana an irritated look. “Jin. I’ll be fine. You’re staying here and watching over Hunter for me. Besides, you can’t leave Chasen alone.” She could see the anxiety building up in Chasen at the thought of his mate leaving. “Also … Jester might be dangerous, but he won’t hurt me.”
“Who is this Jester?” Chasen asked, trying to follow along.
“Jester is a vampire. He’s dangerous, but only to those who he’s after.
To me, though, he’s more annoying than dangerous.
He’s more interested in keeping me than killing me.
” Freja sighed in annoyance. She didn’t want to go see Jester, but she was pretty sure he had the black pearl.
Well, he did, as long as he hadn’t traded it.
“There’s no need for you to come, Jin. Honestly, you being there would make it more difficult.
” Freja lied in order to keep Jin there, where she would be safe.
Chasen was perceptive and picked up on what Freja was doing.
She might be saying Jester isn’t dangerous to her, but there was something she wasn’t saying.
He appreciated that she wasn’t going to take Jin into a dangerous situation, but he knew he was being selfish.
Freja was Hunter’s mate and should be protected.
But Jin was his mate, and he couldn’t lose her.
Jin’s shoulders sagged a bit in defeat. She then looked at Ciana. “Are you going to come back here?”
“After I finish taking Freja around, there are a few more things I still need to do. But then I’ll be coming to stay with you for a little bit, at least until this whole war with the demons is settled.
” Ciana smiled at her friend. She was glad to see how well Jin looked and was surprised she had found a mate.
She looked up at Chasen. “Take good care of her.”
Chasen chuckled. Cheeky dragon. “You don’t need to say that. She’s my world.” Chasen pulled Jin into his arms. He then looked at Freja. “Make sure you make it back safely. Hunter needs you.” He knew how much Hunter needed her, too. Because he needed Jin just as much.
“I’m coming back to him. Tell him if I find out he’s been slacking, we won’t be sharing rooms for a while.” Freja grinned and Chasen chuckled.
“Well, that’ll motivate him for sure.” Chasen gazed at Ciana as she shifted into a snow-white dragon and marveled at the beauty of the beast in front of him.
He watched as Freja climbed on her. She nodded to him and Jin, giving them a small smile.
Then the wings of the dragon began to move, creating gusts of wind underneath it.
Soon, the dragon was in the air and flying off in a certain direction, one that would hopefully be one more step in getting rid of this blood curse.
Chasen held onto Jin’s shoulders. “I didn’t want you to go. I couldn’t bear for you to leave me.”
“I know. I wanted to protect Freja for Hunter, though. Yet, she’s still protecting me.” A couple of tears trickled down Jin’s face. “She’s going to be facing something dangerous. That’s why she won’t let me come.”
Chasen squeezed her shoulders. Jin had realized what Freja was doing, too. “I’m sure she’ll be fine. She’s one of the best, right?” Chasen said, trying to make Jin feel better. “Come on. Let’s get back to Hunter. I’m sure he needs us now.”
Hunter sat at the table by himself, listening as his family and pack members laughed and reminisced over old times.
Caspian was joking about how much Asher didn’t like Grayson in the beginning, and Kristen was talking about how Asher had turned into a lovesick puppy when Lita was first brought to the pack.
They were all having a good time, and Hunter couldn’t be part of it.
How could he possibly have a good time when he was missing half of his heart?
He had just realized that he was in love with her, and now she couldn’t be by his side.
He hadn’t even had the chance to tell her how he felt yet.
A dark jealousy crept into his heart. Everyone in there was happy with their mates.
They couldn’t possibly understand how he felt.
And why the hell was this stuff always happening to him?
How could he be surrounded by all these people and be this lonely?
He felt like no one understood him. Even his parents were telling him to move on from Freja.
They kept telling him his relationship with her couldn’t work, that it would be too dangerous.
He squeezed his fists in anger. His parents never would have separated from each other.
They would have found a way to be together.
And that was what he was going to do with Freja.
If they couldn’t cure him, they would find another way.
There was no one else for him but her. There couldn’t be anyone else for him but her.
“Hunter.” Chasen pulled out a chair next to his brother and sat beside him. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. And I’m always behind you. I’ll support your decision.” He then sighed as Hunter turned his head to look at him. “So don’t lock me out. Don’t shut down on me. Promise?”
Hunter smiled and nodded his head.
“Besides ... Freja said if she finds out you’ve been slacking, she won’t be sharing rooms with you for a while.” Chasen grinned and nudged his brother’s shoulder.
Hunter chuckled. “It’s cute that she thinks she actually has a choice.” He gave his brother a crooked smile. He couldn’t wait to hold her again and share their nights together.
“Eh, we let them think they have a choice, right?” Chasen laughed, knowing that their women had them both whipped.
“Do you think she’s safe?” Hunter asked, staring out the window into the darkness.
“Your mate is a wrecking ball, man. Not only is she safe, but she’s out there taking names. She’s amazing. You’ve got a great partner in her.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?” Chasen tilted his head and looked at his brother.
“For talking about her like she’s still my mate. Mom and Dad … well, they don’t think I should stay with her if we can’t fix this.” Hunter frowned. He cared what his parents thought, and it hurt him that they disagreed with his choice.
“She’s your mate. I would do the same thing, Hunter.
I’d rip my eyes out for Jin, too. I told you.
I will support you, no matter what you choose.
And Mom and Dad are just worried. They’ll accept your choice.
” Chasen glanced over and looked at their laughing parents.
They were wonderful, loving, and supportive.
They would accept Hunter’s decision … right?
“I hope so. My decision is that I won’t live without her. So whatever that ends up meaning …” Hunter trailed off quietly.
“I told you, Hunter. I will protect her for you. Even if it means protecting her from you. You might be a big bad Alpha King, but I’m a guardian, pup.” Chasen smirked as he emphasized the p.
“I’m glad I have you, Chasen. You’re probably one of the few people who can actually stop me in a rage.” Was there an alpha out there who could stop him with his new power? Not likely. He figured it would take a guardian to hold him off.
“Try not to worry. Let’s just take it one day at a time, okay?
” Chasen looked out the window into the darkness.
If anything, this would give his parents a couple of days to come to terms with Hunter’s decision.
He felt guilty. This was the second time Hunter had something bad happen when it came to his mate.
He was betrayed by his first mate, and this time, he was cursed with trying to kill the second.
And then here he was, the guardian, who wasn’t supposed to have a mate.
He looked over to the couch where Jin was giggling with Lita. His heart hurt for his brother. Freja should be in there, too. No wonder Hunter was sitting in here all alone.
“Don’t worry, Chase. I know my role and position.
I’ll lead the pack through training tomorrow.
Besides, I have to do a good job, right?
I can’t have Freja coming back disappointed.
” Hunter stood up from the chair. “I’m going to turn in early tonight.
” He patted Chasen’s back and slowly walked up the stairs toward his room.
Chasen watched him leave with a frown. He glanced over and saw his father was also watching Hunter leave, an unreadable expression on his face.
He watched as he noticed Asher’s hands ball up at his sides, his face rigid for a moment.
Then, that quickly, it disappeared, and he was interacting normally with everyone else.
His dad must have been worrying about Hunter, too.
Chasen sighed and got up to join Jin. Once again, there was nothing he could do to help his brother.