Goddess Gifted Mate

Coming Up With A Plan

Thane lifts Freya off of his lap and stands. "Thank you, Lyra, you have given us a starting point for our investigation. If you think of anything else, be sure to let one of us know. Speak to no one about this. Let's keep this between us for now, until we can come up with a plan." Freya says, "I know this may sound weird, but maybe Lyra should keep up the ruse of being obsessed with Thane. Whoever is behind this could be watching, and we don't want to let on that we know about the earrings being spelled." Thane, Ryder and Asher exchange a look, seeming to consider Freya's suggestion, before Ryder speaks up, "It might just give us the edge, letting whoever is behind this think that they still have the upper hand." Freya nodded and Asher said, "Exactly. If they think that the spell is still in effect, they won't make any rash moves, giving us time to figure out who it is." Thane thought it was perfect. This strategy could work to their advantage, buying them valuable time to conduct a queer investigation without alerting the perpetrator. Thane nodded and looked at Lyra, "This plan could work, but only if you are willing, Lyra. We won't force you to do anything that you're not comfortable with." Lyra immediately agreed, "I will help anyway I can. I want whoever did this to me to pay. I've lost over a year of my life and possibly a mate because of it. I hope I didn't miss my chance with my mate because I was too fixated on you because of the spell." Rage filled Lyar at the thought of missing a chance with her mate. What if she had met him already and didn't recognize him? Lyra's determination and anger towards those responsible was palpable, driven by the loss of time and missed connections, including possibly finding her true mate. The emotions running through her only added an extra layer of motivation to uncover the truth behind the spell that was cast on her. Freya gave Lyra a hug, letting her know that she wasn't alone in this. After she let her go, Lyra left the office, putting on the act of being wronged by Freya being Thane's mate, just like they had planned, just in case the perpetrator was watching. With Lyra gone, the group focused on discussing their next move, trying to come up with a strategy to uncover the identity of the person behind the spell. Ryder spoke up, "Maybe we should start interviewing pack members and gathering information about anyone that might have had access to Lyra's home?" "Be discreet about it though you two. We don't want anyone to get suspicious," he said to both Ryder and Asher. They stood straight and said, "Yes Alpha!" Their prompt response and formal address showed they understood the gravity of the situation and were committed to handling it with care. Thane nodded, and the two turned on their heels and left the office, leaving Thane and Freya alone in the office. As soon as the door closed behind Ryder and Asher, Thane turned to Freya, his expression a mix of relief and concern, seeking reassurance from his mate in the midst of this uncertain situation. Freya caressed his face and he leaned into her touch, "Everything will be OK Thane. We can figure this out. With Ryder, Asher and Lyra all helping, we will catch whoever is behind this and put an end to them." Thane sighs and says, "It's not just that love. We also have to figure out a game plan to defeat Malaki, remember. We have a meeting with my dad tomorrow morning to talk to all the other Alphas about forming an alliance." Freya's eyes widened slightly as Thane mentioned Malaki, her expression turning thoughtful as she remembered the added threat of Malaki along with navigating the current crisis. "I totally forgot about that. We should probably head to bed and get a good night's sleep so we have a clear head tomorrow." Thane nodded. Getting a good rest would indeed be beneficial, considering the weighty discussions and planning ahead, especially with the meeting with the other Pack Alphas looming tomorrow. Thane takes Freya by the hand and they both head to the room that they now share together. Getting into bed. Thane pulls Freya into him, spooning her, surrounding each other in one another's scents. The comfort it brings them both lulled them quickly to sleep. As they drifted off to sleep, surrounded by each other's familiar scents, they found solace in the comfort of their mate bond, letting go of the worries and stress of the day. Their shared bed became a sanctuary, a place where they could recharge and face whatever challenges lay ahead. While Freya slept, she had a nightmare of her father telling her about the arranged marriage to Malaki. It was more of a flashback, but it still haunted her dreams. Freya's father stood before her, his words dripping with an air of authority as he revealed the arrangement made for her future. "Freya, you will marry Malaki," he said, his tone unyielding. Freya felt a surge of panic wash over her, her protest dying on her lips as her father continued, "It's been decided, Freya. This union will stop the war between Malaki's father's people and ours and nothing will stand in the way of that." Freya's heart clenched with fear, as her father walked away. She didn't want to marry Malaki, she wanted to find a love that would consume her in a good way, not one that would destroy her. She sobbed, falling to her knees, screaming with frustration and hurt, unable to stop the sobs from coming out and tears flowing uncontrollably down her face. Thane woke with a start. He shot upright, fists ready to protect and hurt whatever was attacking, only to notice nothing was attacking them. He looked over and down at Freya on the other side of the bed, screaming and crying in her sleep. "Wake up Freya love! Wake up, it's just a nightmare!" He shook her awake and wrapped her up in him tightly. Freya, still sobbing, clung to Thane, still not able to shake the nightmare off. Freya's grip on Thane tightened as she slowly came back to reality, her tears slowing to gentle sniffles as she buried her face in Thane's chest, seeking comfort and safety in his presence. Thane's soothing presence seemed to calm her, but it was clear the nightmare had left a lasting impact on her. Thane soothed her, softly rubbing a hand up and down her back. When she finally was calm enough, he said, "You scared the s**t out of me Freya. What kind of nightmare was that?" Freya took a moment to collect her thoughts, her breathing still uneven, before answering Thane in a shaky voice, "It was about...my father, telling me I had to marry Malaki." Thane's arms tightened a little more around her and starts to rock back and forth. "Don't worry Freya. I will never let him touch you again. I will kill him before he gets anywhere near you." His fierce promise brought a small measure of comfort to Freya, who was still shaken by the remnants of her nightmare, and she snuggled deeper into his chest, feeling a sense of security with thane by her side. Thane's calming presence seemed to have done its job, and Freya slept soundly beside him, washing away the lingering fears and doubts of her earlier nightmare.