Declan’s POV:
“You really hit the general so hard. What will people say if words get out? The Alpha prince kicked the pack’s general for a bad blood.” Rhys said as we walked down the lane leading to the autoshop.
“I don’t care.” I mumbled. I suddenly stopped and turned to face him.
“Wait. Whose side are you on?” I asked, and his eyes popped at my question.
“What? Your side obviously.” He replied immediately. His head moved rhythmically on his neck.
“It doesn’t look like it.” I paused, shaking my head at him.
“And don’t you ever, I mean ever call her bad blood again!” I roared at him. I could see shock written all over his face because of the way I yelled at him, but I wasn’t sorry.
I turned and continued my walk down to the autoshop. I heard Rhys sigh, and he began to quicken his pace to catch up with me.
“I am sorry, man. I just don’t want you to forget who you are and put the whole pack at risk.” He said, and a heavy sigh escaped me.
“Don’t you get it, Rhys? Freya is also one of us. She is a member of the pack, so why should she be left out when the whole pack is being taken care of?”
Rhys nodded his head, and took a deep breath. “Yeah…you are totally right. I am sorry, okay?” He apologized once again, and I just threw my hand in the air.
The remaining walk to the autoshop was awfully quiet. My mind reeled with lots of questions, begging for answers and Rhys knew better than to talk or crack a joke at the moment.
“Hey! I am here to see Freya. Could you please let her know that I am around.” I said to an attendant whom I met at the entrance of the autoshop.
“Prince Declan.” She giggled, greeting me with a bow.
“Oh Freya! She is not available right now.” The attendant replied with a wide grin spreading across her lips.
“You mean she is not in the autoshop?” I inquired. My brows furrowed as I waited for the lady’s response.
“She is, actually, but she said she is not receiving any visitors.” The lady replied with a shrug.
I took a deep breath. I could tell she was really mad at me.
“I understand. But could you please help me tell her that I am here. I have something very important to discuss with her. Please.” I pleaded with the lady who smiled and turned back into the autoshop.
The lady emerged after a few seconds. I could see the negativity boldly written on her face, and I didn’t need to be told that she still refused to see me.
“I understand.” I said to the lady and I thanked her for the favor. I stood by the doorside, stared across the autoshop, and I saw some damaged car parts piled against the fence line.
I smirked as an idea suddenly crossed my mind. I turned to Rhys, and a mocking smile took over my lips.
“What…why are you looking at me and smiling that way?” He stuttered, rolling his eyes all over his body.
I flung my eyes around. No one was in sight.
“Perfect!” I mumbled.
I grabbed Rhys by his hand, and pulled him to the fence line where the damaged car parts were dumped. I took a damaged car trunk which looked like that of my father’s car which I had damaged days ago.
“I am sorry, brother.” I whispered, my smile widened.
“What are you doing? What…”
Yelp!
Rhys cried and I instantly wrapped my hand around his mouth.
“Shush!”
Rhys stared at his arm in bewilderment. I had cut him with the damaged trunk, and blood was gushing out.
“I am sorry. I would have hurt myself, but you know it's forbidden in the pack for an Alpha to shed his blood.” I mumbled hurriedly.
“Where’s Freya! I need to see her now!” My voice echoed through the whole autoshop. I dropped the trunk, and I pulled Rhys to the doorside.
A man rushed out of the autoshop soon enough. He was Freya’s boss.
“Prince Declan!” The man greeted me immediately.
“Where’s Freya? She made a serious mistake on the car she repaired, and now my brother’s arm is cut. I need her here now!” I yelled, and I could feel a cold shiver run down the man’s spine.
Rhys gasped. He couldn’t believe his ears.
“I will get her here now!” The man replied nervously before running into the autoshop.
“Oh wow! I can’t believe you sacrificed me just to get her out to talk to you.” Rhys mumbled, shaking his head in disappointment.
I smiled, then patted him on his head. “That’s why you are my best friend.”
Rhys scoffed.
A minute later. Freya walked in, her eyes fixed on the clipboard on her hand. I instantly rushed to her side, and cleared my throat.
“Hey Freya.” I greeted, extending my palm for a handshake.
“I just checked the details of the car I repaired. I didn’t make any mistakes on it, so please leave.” She said casually. She didn’t respond to my greeting, nor did she accept my handshake. She just kept staring at the clipboard, then she turned to walk away.
“Freya.” I called, grabbing her hand immediately.
She took a deep breath, and slid her hand out of my palm.
“Here’s not a hospital, ALPHA Declan. Take your friend to the pack’s hospital before it’s too late.” She said, placing a huge stress on the ‘Alpha’, and began to walk away again.
I took a quick glance at Rhys. He was a top warrior and such minor injury was nothing to him.
“Then I will order this place to be locked up!” I heard myself blurt out.
“What?”
“You should take responsibility for your actions. You stay here and attend to us, or I will send the guards to destroy this place.” I continued, and I could hear her scoff. Her shoulders slumped. I got her there.
I ordered everyone to leave, and Freya had Rhys treated by the autoshop’s nurse who was always on stand-by in case of an accident.
As soon as we were alone. I took Freya’s hand and rubbed it gently.
“I am sorry, Freya. I take the blame for Vanessa’s action. Can we get over it, please?” I apologized to her, my eyes finding hers.
She smirked. “Get over it? It’s easy for you to say.”
“I had no idea Vanessa would be there that day, and I even went against my father many times because of you. I am sorry, Freya.” I explained to her, and for the first time that day, she raised her eyes to look at me.
Freya’s POV:
Did he just say he went against the Alpha because of me? I stared into his eyes. Something inside of me clicked that he was saying the truth. It was as if I could see through his mind and know whether he was saying the truth or not.
But he was a Ramsey. He belonged to the family of my archenemy. I pulled my hand away.
“I don’t care, Declan.”
“Don’t you feel it, Freya?” He asked, and my face sank in confusion.
“Feel what?”
“The mate bond. You are my mate!”
For some minutes, it felt as if the world stopped moving as everywhere fell into an awful quietness.
“What?” That was the only word that found its way out of my throat.
“Freya, it’s true.” He said. His voice was low and calm.
I shook my head frantically. He must be playing some jokes on me.
“Freya,” he called again.
“I don’t know what you are talking about, Declan.” I mumbled.
“No, you do. It’s real, and you know that!”
“I don’t know anything, Declan!” I yelled. My voice was very much above how I intended.
I took a deep breath. “Please leave, Declan.”
“What? Are you sending me away?” He asked, his face layered with bewilderment.
“You are a Ramsey. I am Nolan! So, please stay away from me.” I uttered sharply.
“Staying near me will only destroy you. So, please leave!” I finalized. His face shrunk in disappointment, and I instantly wished I could take back all that I said. I ran my finger through my hair, and turned my back against him.
“Yeah…I am sorry for disturbing you. I will leave. Goodbye, Freya.” He muttered. His voice was laced with hurt and pain that made my muscles quiver.
I instantly turned around, but he was gone. My sweaty palms trembled and the clipboard I held fell and shattered to pieces.
My feet were still glued to the floor when someone hurriedly entered, and screamed almost immediately.
“Again?!”