Chapter 7 Trouble

Freya’s POV

Laying in bed, I felt restless and unable to drift off to sleep. There was only one thing on my mind that kept me from falling asleep, Rufus Crimson.

‘This is utterly ridiculous,’ I spoke to my wolf, wondering if she was still awake too ‘Why can’t I stop thinking about Rufus?’

Elara chuckled in response ‘Because Rufus is your mate, of course, he will be on your mind every hour of the day,’

‘Ugh,’ I said ‘I can’t get myself into this mess, not with my best friend’s Dad!’

‘You have to look past the small details and see the bigger picture, Freya,’ Elara said softly ‘The Moon goddess has chosen you for each other, as fated mates for a reason. It’s a gift you shouldn’t be so ungrateful for,’

‘Alright, you can shut up now, I’m trying to sleep,’ I replied coldly, Elara’s advice wasn’t what I needed to hear right now.

‘Good luck trying to sleep,’ Elara said as her voice tapered off.

I felt as though I needed all the luck I could get at this moment. Why couldn’t things just go to plan? What kind of sick joke was the Moon Goddess pranking me with, giving me my fated mate on the day I left my fiance at the altar?

Trying to relax my mind, I pushed Rufus away from my thoughts but he would reappear again. I felt like I craved him, as though my appetite wouldn’t be satisfied unless I at least was by his side.

Eventually, I gave up trying to sleep. Perhaps a run through the forest would tire me out, both me and Elara. Getting out of bed, I pulled on some clothes and quietly made my way downstairs and out of the house.

As I stepped through the back door, I felt the cool air brush against my skin and a shiver ran over my b*dy. I began to run focusing on the trees ahead, and it was then I felt Elara come into the forefront of my mind. My b*dy transformed from its human shape, into that of a wolf.

I gained speed as I raced through the forest, swerving through the trees, and I felt a rush as the adrenaline pulsed through me. This was the release of energy I needed to allow myself to rest for the night.

By now I should have turned around, but I caught the sound of trickling water ahead, and I was curious to see where it came from, so I kept on going.

It was then I arrived at the stream, and hanging back as I took shelter behind a tree, I saw Rufus kneeling down by the trickling water. He cupped his hands into the water before pulling it to his face, allowing the water to cool down his skin as he washed himself.

‘This is your chance,’ I said to Freya ‘It’s your turn to take over,’

‘No!’ Freya responded in panic ‘Not now, not like this let’s just go home,’

It was then, ignoring Freya’s words I shifted back from my wolf form to the human shape of Freya.

The weight of Freya caused a snap beneath her feet as she stepped onto a fallen branch, which caught the attention of Rufus. Standing to his feet, he turned to face me and my eyes studied his muscular chest.

‘Wow,’ Elara said ‘Who knew he was hiding that under his clothes,’

‘You need to stop,’ I responded internally ‘Are you on heat or something?’

Elara chuckled ‘Talk to him, you might enjoy it,’

With a low groan, I stepped forward as I made my way toward Rufus “Hey, sorry if I startled you,” I paused as my eyes sunk down to his chest once more “I couldn’t sleep so needed to clear my head and came for a run,”

“You and me both,” Rufus replied with a smile “You’ve discovered my favourite spot, a bit of a safe space for me,”

“It’s beautiful here,” I responded, returning his smile “Do you mind if I share it with you, just for a moment?”

“Of course, I don’t mind,” Rufus replied, and I felt my chest flutter from the feelings this man gave to me.

We seemed to share a sort of intense connection, as he looked into my eyes, I felt as though he looked at me, instead of through me. I wasn’t used to a man looking at me the way Rufus did, and he seemed to struggle to take his eyes off me.

A spark between the two of us was obvious, and a feral part of me wanted Rufus to tear my clothing off my b*dy and make love to me on the sodden forest ground. Taking me deep, his hands wandering my b*dy as he grasped onto me, needing me. I was desperate for Rufus in return.

“I think we need to talk about what happened back there,” Rufus said as he took his eyes back to me. I felt myself melt where I stood, his eyes were everything, they held so much pain and wisdom within them. So much hurt I wanted to help heal him, love him as much as he deserved.

I found myself laughing nervously “Yeah,” I said “There’s a bit of an elephant in the room,”

“We can’t be together,” Rufus said sharply “It would cause more trouble than it’s worth,”

“Trouble? Am I not worth the trouble?” I asked as I blinked “You must have realised by now we are fated to replace each other, soulmates,” I paused “Rufus, that’s kind of hurtful,”

“I’m sorry,” Rufus responded “I didn’t mean it like that,” a grunt left his chest “It’s just not feasible, us being together. I’m older than you, and you’re the same age as my daughter. I don’t want this to come between my family. My kids are my life,”

“I understand,” I said weakly, feeling disappointed and worthless that I was being rejected by my mate, after only replaceing him a few hours earlier “If that’s what you want, then who am I to stop you,”

Rufus frowned as he looked at me once more “Is that not what you want, Freya?” concern on his expression “Don’t tell me you thought this would actually work between us,”