Chapter 4

Freya sat on the swing on the patio, gently swaying as the cool evening breeze brushed against her skin. She barely noticed when Jeffery came and settled beside her.

"There's a lovely breeze this evening," he said.

"Yeah," she murmured.

Jeffery studied her for a moment. "What's going on with you, Fae?"

Freya exhaled, rubbing her hands together. "I don't understand why everything is happening all at once, Gramps. My roommate's death... the crazy man from yesterday..."

Jeffery nodded slowly. "Listen, the man from yesterday was crazy like you said. And you had nothing to do with your roommate's death."

Freya turned to him, her blue eyes troubled. "But I was there. I remember... she came at me and put a knife to my neck, accusing me of breaking her and her boyfriend up. He was my boyfriend in high school, but I swear, Gramps, I never said anything to him."

She swallowed hard before continuing. "Then suddenly... she collapsed onto the bed. There were these claw marks on her neck... blood everywhere. I didn't even see what happened."

Jeffery reached over, resting a reassuring hand on hers. "Calm down, Fae."

He inhaled softly, muttering under his breath, "Pax mentis, spiritus quietus."

Freya let out a slow breath, her body relaxing as if an invisible weight had lifted off her shoulders. She blinked up at him. "I feel... calmer. I just don't understand."

Jeffery offered a small smile. "One day, everything will make sense. You'll understand."

As he continued whispering the calming spell.

He recognized the man who had attacked Freya. The warlock Gabriel: a man whom his wife, Freya, turned into a baby ages ago when he tried to force himself on her.

She hadn't killed him. Instead, she had left him at an orphanage, sparing his life.

Werewitches were always stronger, and now his granddaughter Freya was changing. The power inside her was stirring, and soon, she would have to face the truth about who and what she really was. And when that time came, she would need him more than ever.

***

Elena stepped into her mother's enormous bedroom. Across the room, Athena sat at her dresser, methodically placing wriggling, live earthworms onto her face. Beside her, a jar teemed with more of the squirming creatures, mixed with an unidentifiable, murky substance.

"Come try this, Elena," Athena called, her voice smooth as silk. "Alex, the witch, you remember her, gave it to me. It enhances beauty and keeps the skin youthful."

Elena wrinkled her nose in disgust. "All I ask is that you respect my boyfriend and his choices, not smear your face with... that," she retorted.

Athena sighed dramatically, peeling the worms from her skin before turning to face her daughter. "Your boyfriend... despite being the Alpha of an ancient pack is weakening his lineage... the pack. He brings shame and dishonour to his ancestors. His father, Cedrick, was a real hunter, one of the best during the hunting tournaments... That's one of the reasons I fell for him."

"Are you seriously reminding me that you used to fuck his father?" Her voice dropped to a growl. "If Dominic wanted to kill you because he is getting tired of you, he would have done it already..."

Two floors below, Dominic sat in the grand hall, his arms crossed as he listened. His enhanced hearing caught every word, just as it had last night when Freya had called out for him, terrified and desperate.

And Elena was right. If Athena weren't her mother, he would have ended her long ago. She pushed his patience, taunted him, and toyed with his beliefs. He probably would kill her someday. The same way he had snapped that warlock's neck like a twig and burned his body into nothing but ash.

His mind drifted back to Freya. How was she doing? Why had the warlock forced her to chant a spell? Did he mistake her for someone else, or was there more to it?

A familiar name snapped him back to the conversation upstairs.

Joseph, Alpha of the rival pack. He hated that name.

Upstairs...

Elena stared at her mother, fury burning in her golden eyes. "Did you just ask me to marry Joseph?" she spat. "Have you lost your mind? Nico is probably listening to you right now."

"Marrying Joseph is the right thing to do," Athena said, her voice full of persuasion. "He's a real Alpha. A billionaire. My dear Elena, you're in your final year of university. Get engaged after graduation. Marry him. You'll have everything you've ever wanted. You can hunt all you please. Buy whatever you desire. Live like a real queen."

Elena let out a brutal, bitter laugh. "Mum, I won't marry the man you slept with." She glared. "I love Dominic. We've been together since we were kids. Nothing will separate us."

She stormed out of the room, her footsteps echoing like thunder down the grand staircase.

Dominic was already on his feet, waiting for her. As soon as she reached him, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his arms.

"Shhh, it's okay," he murmured, pressing his lips to her temple.

Elena shuddered against him, her breath hitching as her form flickered, human one second, and then the sorrowful face of her wolf emerged. Tears streaked down her face, dampening his shirt.

Dominic tightened his hold.

Whatever storm Athena was trying to create between them, he wasn't going to let it break them.