C79 We fight

Freya's Pov

“I must leave,” I said and stood up pacing the cool tiled floor.

“If I don't then I put everything at risk, your pack? You? Your people, everyone would be in danger,” I explained to him, “Artemis would stop at nothing to find me, to get his hands on me, his prized possession. I must go Tobias, I must,” my hands were on his shoulder as I spoke, voice hoarse from stalling tears.

He was silent, as silent as the sea and it disturbed me so greatly. I didn't know his thoughts, I didn't know how he felt, everything was just on a stand still except my heart that was on the brink of collapsing.

“Say something Tobi, say something, anything,” I urged him.

Hesitantly his eyes rose to mine, they carried my gaze for the longest while and I wished right then and there I wasn't who I was, I wasn't alpha Demitri's daughter, that I was someone else with a much simpler life.

“You're my mate, my only mate,” he said like he was trying to get me to understand who I was to him. I did that because I didn't want to endanger his life because of greed. Something I promised to work on.

“I know that— but I, I found you, who knows you could find someone else just like me, just like I did you,” I said, caressing his twinging jaw.

“I don’t want anyone or another, I want you,” he confessed and my stomach did a flip, “I want you Freya so much,” he pushed away from me and stood up.

I frowned, “this isn’t about me Tobi.”

“It is! Everything is!” He shouted but it wasn’t directed at me, more of him than me.

“It is not, I can’t stand and watch everything you have built crumble to the ground because of me,” I went over to him where he stood and took his hand in mine, “it isn’t worth it,” I muttered.

“Freya I don’t care!” He protested and moved out from my grasp which shot an unusual pain in my heart.

“But I do and I don’t want to hurt you,” I insisted, “I want to go, I must leave here Tobi. I would not forgive myself if something bad were to happen to you.”

“Nor would I, so I can’t let you go, if you staying here would make us Artemis target then so fu-cking be it!”

That was the first time I heard him curse and it sounded so hot from his mouth.

“Tobi,” I tried again, taking hold of his hand.

“Freya, don’t just be scared and run away, this isn’t only for you, your people are here too, you seem to forget but you are an alpha and Artemis killed your father,” he took up my free hand that dangled by my side.

“What do you mean?” I arched my eyebrow, squinting my brain for where this was heading.

“I'm saying you should not run, join hands and lets fight Artemis he killed your—-”

“Oh that would be a foolish act!” I drew away, “anyone knows that, you know that, I can't fight him, we can't fight him,” I swirled my finger around as if to say all of us together couldn't defeat him and he rightfully knew this.

“Your father knew that and he tried, he would have won,” he__

“That was a big gamble and he still lost, there's no need going against him when we can just run, I can run,” I pointed at myself in indication.

“How long will you hold out for, I mean when you flee before he captures you and hunt us down?” he asked

I opened my mouth to speak but shut it again as words did not form.

“You are an alpha Freya, it's time to take up your responsibility, these people, they are your people and they have hope because you have returned, you can take that hope away from yourself, but not from them,” he pointed at the window as he spoke, his nose flaring.

“And I know you are scared, but we are all scared, it doesn't mean that we would not make an effort to save our home and freedom, that's how every Alpha thinks, every leader, it's time to understand that,” he took my fingers and pulled me back to him, “I understand that you are scared and frightened but Freya we stay and we fight, we fight for our freedom for good and if we fall, if we die, we die with honor and as heroes, not as cowards,” his words resonated through me and I nodded.

Artemis has taken everything from me, I would not allow him take my life, take my bravery and will, I would not, I would fight for my life and if I die fighting for it then so be it.

I was tired of running.

“Yes?” Tobias inquired to which I nodded fervently to.

“We fight together,” our heads met and we stayed still for ever, enjoying the fanning and scent of one another. There was no kissing, no sexual tension, just us, being each other’s comfort as our heads remained on one another.

We fight!

Tobi snaked his hand around the crook of my neck and I imitated his action, our gaze met under our head lock and we shouted, “we fight!”

I giggled then hugged him, “don't ever leave, do you get me? Don't,” he ordered, however, they sounded pleading.

“I'm not, I can't,” I assured him.

“But we are going to have to train, the people needs to be ready for what is to come, give them a fighting chance at their freedom,” I said.

“Yes, and you will meet your pack members today,” Tobi announced and I gasped.

“What? No?” I pleaded, “I'm not ready, I don't know what to say, how to say it. Do I wave, how do I begin, please postpone it or shift, let me at least memorize a speech first,” I rushed.

Tobi let out a throaty laugh that had my inside twist, damn!

“You are so cute,” he said amidst the laughter.

“So cute to make you reconsider?” I asked with an eye shut.

“Nice try, but no,” he announced, “you are doing the speech today, they love you already, in fact your appearance is a miracle to them,” he said, topping on my pressure unknowingly.

Great, now I would disappoint them.

“Send for Williams,” Tobias instructed and rambled to the guard, “gather everyone in the arena.”

“Yes Alpha,” the guards bowed and walked out.

“You know they don't even need to meet me officially,” I attempted once more with Tobias just as I had been doing for the last thirty minutes.

“I know, but you would,” he veered around, “you complain about speech, I believe you have the time to come up with that speech now,” he nudged me with a half grin.

“Asshole!” I muttered.

“My pleasure,” he winked and my cheeks warmed up to it.

“Does your face always color ruby every damn time because if it does I'm dying to hear the sounds that would leave them,” he smirked.

The heat on my face intensified as I spun on my spot, hiding my face from him. Good thing my hair has grown to some length, to conceal the deep blush I felt.

******************************************

“Rachael!” I heard a familiar voice called.

“What?” cried Rachael, “what do you want from me?” she stirred around and faced a sad Merona.

“Just hear me out,” Merona implored,

“Why?” Rachel asked, “I pray, do tell me why?”

“Because I lo—“

“You shouldn’t complete that word, let alone say it to someone’s mate,” Leilani said from the side, trampling in.

“Stay out of this,” Merona warned.

“Oh why should I?, she's my mate,” Leilani reminded her, going to fix herself by Rachael’s side.

“You are —-”

“Alpha you sent for me,” Williams announced his presence, gratefully interrupting the girls.

I felt a pang of jealousy, two people were fighting for one person who they so greatly loved while mine? The other was out to get me and kill me.

I peered over at Rachael to see a sigh of relief wash over her by the interruption, she tossed a brief glance at Merona and took her mate’s hand.

As much as it was thrilling to have two people fight for you, it was equally just as exhausting.

“Let's go to my office, we have a brief meeting,” Tobias said and tipped his head at us to join in on the meeting.

In sync we moved up the stairs and up to his room, each helping themselves to their seats.

“I called this meeting because we have the enemy on our tail,” he proclaimed and I shrieked how some months back I would have fought for Artemis' innocence. I always did, always in denial, yet here I stood, pledging the same; he was an enemy.

“Did she lead him to us?” Leilani tossed an accusing gaze at Merona.

“What? I did not!” she immediately defended.

“Believe me she did not, but she knows. From what I heard and believed, Artemis would come for Freya. He would set this place ablaze if it meant finding her,” he knew, he understood the severity of letting me stay here, he knew down well.

“The whole court is looking for her, Artemis along, anyone that's found with her will go down as well,” Merona chipped in.

“So you want to skedaddle?” Rachael asked, irritated.

“What? No I won't, I would not.”

“What do we need to do?”Williams asked the plausible question.

“We need to train, be ready when he comes,” Tobias stood up and took me up with him, “we would introduce her to the pack members, retrain her skills and keep her safe,” Tobias said.

He lunged me forward with care, “she's the price and he doesn't win unless he gets his hands on her which we would not let happen,” he wrapped his arm around my neck as he drew me nigh, he leaned and spoke from my ear’s region, “I would have her,” I shivered.

That definitely had a double meaning to it, I stood erect as his lips nuzzled on my earlobe.

“Gather the people, we have a speech to deliver, do we not,” he said from my side, bringing forth tingles and butterflies.

“Bye,” he dismissed them and they hurried out like they knew something I didn't.

Tobi turned me around, “Now do you want that speech so bad or do you want to know how much I want to have you so badly?” he asked and my throat went arid, his soft lips connecting with my neckline.

“You,” I breathed.

“That's my girl,” he cooed.