CHAPTER 2
1435 Words
Freya’s POV
"Just a little more rest, sweetheart," Nero whispered to her ears, his voice was so soft and affectionate, making my heart burn slowly.
Then I heard the sound of a kiss, a deep intimate kiss that swallowed my entire world.
I closed my eyes out of the pain, refusing to watch it happen. I was too weak, too weak to speak up or try to stop Nero from betraying me.
My eyes snapped open again, and I watched every bit of it. My chest tightened, and I felt like I was suffocating, but it wasn’t the surgery. It was a betrayal of my mate, Nero.
Lilith’s voice came softly as she pulled out of the kiss, “I am worried. I... What about her, what about your mate, Freya?” she asked, pretending to care.
"Don’t worry about that, I’ll handle her," Nero said confidently. "Hopefully, when Freya wakes up, she’ll understand why I had to do this, my choices."
Understand?
That was it... I couldn’t stay silent anymore, he had broken me with his words.
“What choices are you talking about, Nero?” I asked, my voice trembling. It came out weaker than I intended, but it stopped both of them cold. They both knew werewolves heal faster from surgery than the normal human time, and I wonder why they weren’t expecting me to gain consciousness this soon.
Nero froze where he sat holding Lilith’s hand. Lilith’s eyes shot open in shock as she turned her head toward me. They both stared at me without saying a word, too stunned to understand that I was awake too soon.
“How are you awake?" I asked the doctor to give you the black powder to help you sleep through the pain and wake up when you are completely healed,” Nero said smoothly.
Really? That was his only concern?
“I saw you, Nero…” I said, tears threatening to break through my eyes, my voice trembling. I saw what you did. "What are you doing with her, Nero?”
Slowly, Nero stood and turned to face me completely with an almost innocent look on his face, looking almost like he didn’t just deceive me, like I hadn’t just overheard the most soul-crushing conversation of my life.
“Freya,” he said, his tone sounding casual. There was no concern on his face, no guilt. There was just this lifeless glare from him, as if we were two strangers running into each other by accident.
I stared at him, my heart kept pounding so loudly in my chest as he approached. I waited for something, anything to show in his eyes. But there was nothing.
He crossed his arms and took a breath. “It’s uhh... It’s good you are awake. I was going to wait until you were fully recovered, but since you’re up now… I might as well make the announcement.”
My brow furrowed, a very terrible thought already crossing my mind, but I pushed it out because I couldn’t imagine it, it would kill me if I imagined it happening.
“What announcement?” My voice cracked in disbelief, and I struggled to sit up, but my limbs felt too heavy, too weak. “What are you talking about, Nero? What did you do? Why is Lilith here? What is going on?!”
He sighed and covered his right ear as I raised my voice, as if I were being overly dramatic.
“Freya, please. Don’t stress yourself. You just had surgery. I don’t want you to get upset or cause complications.”
His words were soft, even gentle… pretending like he cared, but deep down I knew he didn’t. Not anymore…
"You made me believe you were dying," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. You let me think I was saving you. But it wasn’t even for you, was it?"
He hesitated for a moment, rubbing his forehead. Then, calmly, he said, “You’re right. I lied... But I didn’t see any other way. Lilith’s kidneys were failing. The doctors said she needed a transplant urgently, or she wouldn’t make it.”
I stared at him, numb. “And what does that have to do with me?”
“You were her only match, Freya… top taking this personal,” he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Your body was the only one compatible. I knew if I told you the truth, you’d never agree.”
Tears burned behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “So you tricked me, you used me?”
He gave a slight nod. “I won’t deny it. I’m sorry, Freya, I really am. But I had to save her.”
“Why does it have to be her?” I choked out. “What does she mean to you, Nero?”
He stepped closer, his expression softening. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I didn’t expect this to happen, Freya. But… things are changing. I’m changing...”
My eyes narrowed as I shook my head slowly. “Say it clearly. Don’t dance around it.”
He looked down at the floor for a moment, then met my gaze again. “I think my feelings for Lilith are coming back, Freya...”
My world stopped.
I felt like the breath had been knocked out of me. Tears, the one I had been trying to hold back… one single drop rushed down my cheek.
“What?” I asked, stunned.
“I didn’t mean for it to happen. I really tried. But Jax…” He paused, referring to his wolf. “Jax had been acting restless. The bond we have feels different now. And the more time I spend around Lilith, the more I feel that… pull.”
“It’s… It’s beyond me,” he added. More tears were about to spill out, but I held them in place, despite feeling my entire body crumble.
My hands clenched into fists beneath the sheets. “So what? "You’re just going to throw me away because your wolf suddenly feels something for her?”
“It’s not that simple,” he said, his voice low. "Jax wants her. And I… I can’t keep ignoring it.”
“You coward,” I whispered, my voice coming out raw and broken. “You’re abandoning everything we built, our bond, our marriage… all for Lilith, using Jax as an excuse?”
He didn’t flinch. He didn’t even look ashamed.
“Nero,” I said, more firmly now. “What are you saying? Are you ending this?”
He reached into his pocket slowly, and my stomach turned as I wondered what he was reaching for.
He pulled out his wedding ring.
My heart cracked and raw pain tore through my heart.
“There’s an end to everything, Freya,” he said softly.
I couldn’t stop the gasp that escaped my lips. “What are you doing?”
He stepped forward and placed the ring on the bedside table. “I don’t want to keep lying to you. I'm sorry, this isn’t easy for me either, but I have to follow what my wolf is telling me.”
I couldn’t breathe. I physically couldn’t. It took several moments for me to process what he was trying to do, but even after realizing it, it was too unbelievable to settle for.
“After everything?” I asked, my voice shaking. “After our bond? Have you even thought of the fact that I just gave out my kidney, thinking it was for you?”
He nodded, completely calm. “And I’ll always be grateful for that. You saved a life today.”
Lilith was silent. She hadn’t said a word. But she didn’t have to. Her presence alone was enough. Every breath she took now carried a part of me inside her.
"You lied. You betrayed me," I whispered, my voice cracking under the weight of my heartbreak.
“I know. And I don’t expect you to forgive me.”
He turned and began to walk back toward Lilith, as if nothing had happened. He didn’t even glance back.
“Rest, Freya,” he said, reaching out to gently brush Lilith’s hair from her face. “I’ll have Zarek get you anything you need. I don’t want this to be harder than it already is.”
And just like that, he walked away from me and toward her.
My heart shattered into pieces. I wasn’t sure I could ever be put back together again.
- Writer
