LOGINFREYAI gazed at her with narrowed, hateful eyes. A small laugh slipped from my lips, causing pain to flare inside me. “You’re dumber than a rock, you know that?” I asked calmly. She sat beside me, shifting so her face curved in front of mine. “I know women like you. My sister was a woman like you. One so filthy and desperate that she had no limits, even going as far as hurting herself to get what she wanted. I won’t let you take Leo from me. I learned from the best.”“Are you blind, Caroline? Do you see Leo in this room?” I gazed about me.She smiled. “Are you disappointed?”“No, I’m grateful to you. He was an abusive, dishonest man who prioritized his needs above mine. You can have him.” I closed my eyes, blotting her out. A thought niggled at me. Whoever Caroline’s sister was, it was obvious their relationship had been contentious. Still, it had nothing to do with me. Why was she here to fight me when I was already fighting for my life. When she didn’t speak, I blinked my eyes
FREYAI woke with a startle. White light burned my eyes. I squeezed them closed, my ears buzzing.With my eyes closed, memories assailed me. I saw the fruit tray falling from my grasp. The blood. Falling off the bed. My heart slamming hard and harsh in my chest as I tried and failed to catch my breath. A finger stroked across my knuckle and my eyes jerked open, clashing with Derek’s. His eyes were bloodshot. They widened, and he stood, hovering over me. “Freya?”His whisper was so choked with hope that for a second, I had to close my eyes. “I’ll get you the doctor.” He murmured, sweeping my hair away from my forehead. My fingers clasped around his fingers urgently. “My baby… please tell me my baby’s fine.” I cried. “Open your eyes.” He whispered. He must have scooted closer because when my eyes opened, his gaze was right there in front of mine. “Your baby is fine.”I exhaled a rush of air. I let him go, my fingers crawling over my stomach, to tighten protectively around my belly
DEREKThere have been a thousand times when I have craved to kill. To maim. To burn my enemies until there was no ash to bury. When my father was killed. When my mother was kidnapped months later. Wheb Freya disappeared, marrying Leo barely a year after my father’s death. None of them compared to this moment. Watching her slumped in that chair, her eyes glittering with tears she would never allow to stain her cheeks. Her face was pale, her fingers cupped over her stomach as if to protect her unborn baby from the pain that was ripping her apart. “But… Derek… I have no enemies. I don’t see any reason why anyone would…” her trailed off, and she bit down hard on her lower lip. Heat flared along my arms, raising questions in my mind of how honorable a man I was. There she was shredded by the news I had told given her, and all I could think was how beautiful she looked, even glassy eyed with tears. “Your father’s pack was slowly but steadily destroyed. Someone got him into debt. Your
FREYAA dark light slithered and settled in Derek’s eyes. His eyes swept down my body. “You?” I flushed, face burning like he’d set me on fire with his gaze. “Derek!”Of course I didn’t mean I wanted to sleep with him in exchange for the money. He smirked, turning his face away to hide the twitch of his lips. I slapped my palm against his thigh. “What is wrong with you?”“Can’t blame a man for trying.”I gritted my teeth, hiding the way my heart skipped when he caught my hand and pressed a tiny kiss to the pulse point under my wrist. “I meant i would work for you. I have skills, a few of them no one else can replicate. And I’ll pay you when Silverstone begins making its own money.” I muttered, ripping my hand from his. He chuckled. “Silverstone cannot afford to repay me ten million dollars, and if we’re being honest, neither can you.” I sat back, feeling stumped for a moment. He was right, we couldn’t. In the best case scenario, the soonest Silverstone could make any money was tw
FREYAI had no plan to obey that order. Still, I inclined my head at Beta Tarta. “Of course, Beta. Forgive my impertinence.”A smile lightened his eyes, curling his lips. “If you are having problems with the alpha King, I am certain they can be resolved without resorting to such extreme measures. I will speak to Leo myself too.” I nodded again and walked away with Ashford. My jaw ticked as I entered the car. Once we were shut in the privacy of my car, I exploded at Ashford. “You knew he was behind me, didn’t you?” Ashford’s eyes turned cool. “You must stay with Leo. I have been beside Leo for years now. We have worked hard to build Blackclaw up. I will not allow that foolish woman to ruin it all in a year.”“So I am to be the sacrificial lamb?” “You have authority, Freya. You can are the Alpha Queen. Take charge or you must blame yourself alone.” He answered. I stared away from him. Take charge? Oh I would, but not in the way he thought. I took my phone out and texted Derek that
FREYA Ashford shook his head, sliding his fingers into his pockets casually. “None at all, Alpha. The Luna and I are only stepping out for lunch.”Was he crazy? I bit my lip to keep from staring at him askance. Of course now Leo would question why Ashford should be going to lunch with me. Leo turned his gaze on me. “lunch with my wife?” “Is there a problem, Leo?” I asked sharply, refusing to be backed into a corner. “None at all. But, I find that I’m hungry. I shall join the two of you to lunch. And didn’t you say last night there was something you wanted to discuss with me?” He asked flatly. “I’m afraid you’re not invited. As for the meeting with your lawyers, we can handle that right now. I am ready to buy back my parents debts. Please have them calculate the total amount.” I marched past him. His arm shot out, clasping my arm and jerking me to a stop. I stared down at his fingers coldly, then up into his face. His eyes had darkened and chilled. His lips were pressed flat, a
FREYA Leo leveled me with a cold look after his absurd request. I glared at him, but he didn't budge as the car began to move. Pieces of the divorce agreement fluttered to the ground around us, mocking the effort I’d exerted. I lifted my eyes to meet his, angry beyond words. “I have no wish to b
LEOI fisted my hands in frustration as I marched up to Freya and the older man, Joel. “Step away from her.” I seethed. My fury burned so close to the surface that I was almost losing my cool. Freya wiped her eyes and pulled away from Joel. I saw her attitude change, her shoulders straightened an
LEOCaroline’s angry voice filled the room, but I could barely hear her. My attention was entirely on Freya. I knew I had been completely outmaneuvered. No, Freya hadn't shown up for the press conference. She'd known damned well that Caroline would lie. That was the reason she came; to expose Car
FREYAI didn't allow myself to spiral. Why bother trying to deduce what thoughts Leo had in that cold head of his? I would be wasting my time. Instead, I focused my attention on work. There was a lot to be done before I left in three days. First, I finished all my reports on the research into the







