Freya's Pov
Daylight streaked through the thin curtains of the clinic, and with it, my panic rose.
It had been hours.
Neither Ryder nor the alpha had returned.
I didn't know their pack rules, but that couldn't be good for me.
"Fuck it," I muttered as I paced the small room, my bare feet slapping softly against the tile floor.
I wasn't going to sit around and wait for my execution. If they wanted me dead, they were sure as hell going to have to work for it.
With my mind made up, I walked to the clinic door and pressed my ear against it. Silence.
Slowly, carefully, I cracked it open and peered into the hallway. It was empty.
I stepped out and eased the door shut behind me, moving as quietly as I could. Every second felt like I was tempting fate. The pack house was bigger than I'd realized, the wooden floors stretching in both directions. No voices. No footsteps.
It all seemed too easy.
I made it outside without anyone stopping me. The cool air hit my face, and for the first time since being dragged here, I felt a small spark of hope.
When I neared the treeline, a nagging voice in my head whispered that this shouldn't be this simple.
But I wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, my luck was turning around after yesterday.
As I reached the edge of the forest, my shoulders relaxed.
" I made it." I whispered to myself
I let my guard down. That was my mistake.
Out of nowhere, I was shoved hard against a tree. The impact knocked the breath from my lungs, but a hand cushioned the back of my head before it could slam into the bark.
I looked up.
It was the alpha.
Fear crawled through my veins.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, his voice low and venomous.
"You're hurting me. Let me go," I shot back, struggling against his grip.
His eyes flickered. The anger dimmed slightly. His hold loosened but remained firm, he didn't step away.
"Where are you going?" he asked again, more controlled this time.
"What does it look like. I'm leaving."
"Who gave you permission to do that?"
"I don't need your permission," I gritted out.
His jaw tightened. "This is my pack. You don't get to come and go as you please."
"I didn't even want to come here I was dragged here by your men."
"That's only because you crossed out borders."
I let out a bitter scoff. "So I'm supposed to just wait and let you kill me like a good girl?"
At that, he released me completely.
"Who said anything about killing you?" he asked, and for a split second, he looked almost… offended. Like a child that had just been accused of stealing a cookie.
"Your beta. Ryker. Hell, maybe your entire pack at this point."
"What they say doesn't matter," he replied firmly. "Only what I say does."
I studied him. Something in my gut told me he was telling the truth but my fear screamed louder.
"What do you plan to do with me?" I asked.
"I won't kill you."
I nodded slowly, though that didn't calm me.
"But," he continued, "I can't have you as my mate."
My brows furrowed. "What does that mean?"
He blinked. "What?"
"To be someone's mate. What does that mean?"
He stared at me like I'd just confessed I couldn't breathe on my own.
"A mate is a sacred bond between two wolves," he explained carefully.
"But I'm not a wolf."
"I know." His voice dropped. "A human mate has never been heard of. If word got out… you wouldn't be safe."
I straightened my spine.
"If you break the bond will you let me go."
He thought for a second and nodded.
" I will."
"Do what you have to," I said quietly.
His right hand shifted. I watched in shock as his nails elongated into claws. Without hesitation, he sliced into his own forearm. Blood welled instantly.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Freya. Freya Rune."
"Freya," he repeated under his breath, like he was testing it.
Then he looked at me, something heavy in his eyes.
"I, Alpha Rhodes, reject you Freya Rune as my mate."
The moment the words left his mouth, something changed.
His blood turned black.
His face twisted in pain, his body jerking as if something inside him was tearing apart. He collapsed to the ground with a strangled shout, clutching his chest.
I stared, frozen not knowing what to do.
Then instinct took over.
I dropped to my knees beside him. His skin was burning hot, slick with sweat and dark blood.
"What's wrong? What happened?" I asked, my voice shaking.
His breathing turned ragged.
"Call… for help," he forced out.
I looked toward the trees. Freedom was right there.
My mind screamed at me to run, begged me to escape now that he was weak.
But my chest ached at the thought of leaving him like this.
I swallowed hard and nodded.
"I'll be back," I whispered before taking off toward the pack house.
"Help! Help me!" I shouted as I ran.
I nearly collided with Ryker.
"What are you doing out of the infirmary, human?" he sneered.
"There's no time to explain," I gasped. "The alpha's in trouble."
His expression darkened. "What are you talking about?"
"Just come see for yourself."
He hesitated, suspicion clear on his face, but he followed.
We reached the clearing where Rhodes lay on the forest floor, barely moving.
Ryker stopped dead in his tracks.
Shock flashed across his features.
Then he slowly turned to me.
"What did you do." He asked
"What are you talking about, I didn't do anything." I said taken aback by his accusation.
"You tried to kill the alpha."