C91 Loretta with the news

Freya’s pov

Tobias quickly shifted and wore his boxers, he came behind me protectively and drew me back.

“What do you want!” I asked, my voice raised and alert. The hair on my body stood erect as my eyes dashed from she to the forest around us, searching for any predator, not any predator though, a specific one, Artemis.

“It's not what you think Frey——”

“Don’t call me that!” I warned with a cracked voice. I hated how my voice broke every time. Even in the smallest incident.

Loretta sniffed, staring into my eyes, beckoning for me to see her but I couldn't, not when she betrayed me, sold me out.

“Speak!” I said and in the midst of my anger, I stepped forward to which Tobias was swift to withdraw me, to keep our distance. He was vigilant, eyes veering round like a security camera.

“I'm.. I’m here to——”

“To do what, betray me and give my whereabouts to that devil!” I demanded.

Expecting her to come up with an excuse or at least do the next honorable thing, she was however silent, confirming my suspicion.

“Loretta!” I called, not believing my eyes. She stood perplexed, trembling from fear. Her eyes never left mine and I couldn't fathom how she could betray me so. We were friends, at least I thought so. How wrong could I possibly be?

As if she made up her mind, she did a little kickback of her head and squared her shoulder, “Yes Artemis sent me.”

Like I didn't already know. My breathing hitched and got stuck in my throat. I flung my head back and continued, “And so what? You know what, I don't care. You can go back to him and tell him I'd rather die than let him have me.”

“I'm not here to relay your message or act as his puppet,” she told me and I scoffed.

“So why are you here?” I asked, searching her gaze like I'd get some hint.

“I'm here to warn you,” immediately the words left her mouth, “as if,” I muttered with a snort.

“Are you alone?” Tobias inquired, veering out to face her completely.

“Yes, I was sent here to look into you and the pack you were currently in,” she revealed, staring pointedly at me.

“I see,” I said with a low tone that I'd never intended to, the fear that he was still after me, looking into me and using my previous friend against me gave me the chills.

“And you intend to go against him? Why?” I asked unsure.

Loretta inhaled, “because I promised to make you proud,” she said, reminding me of the time when everything was good but a lie when there was calm and all I worried about was defeating Merona. Now I was in a foreign land fighting for my life and that of my pack members. It's bizarre however I’d choose it over and over again.

“Sorry, but I can't believe you over mare words,” as I said that her face broke.

“I understand, I didn't expect you to believe me right away,” she said, but her expression told me that she very well thought that it would convince me right away.

“You don't have to believe me, but I would tell you what I had come to deliver,” she stated with an expressionless face.

“I'm sorry but, whatever you have to tell, we are not interested,” Tobias said, stepping up.

“You don't have a say and what I have to say would help you greatly,” Loretta eyed him up and down.

“She's not interested,” he insisted.

“Why don't you let her speak,” she suggested and looked at me with pleading eyes. And in that moment I saw the girl I saw crying by the field, the girl that lost her father, the girl that promised to make me proud.

This could be wrong but I never listened to the reason she betrayed me, I hadn't heard from her, why? And that's what friends should do, listen to one another.

“Tobias, please let's give her a chance,” I said to him, caressing his arm softly.

“Are you certain?” he asked me and I nodded my answer, “I'm sure.”

“I hope it's worth it,” I glared at her.

“It is,” she said.

“Let’s return back to the pack,” I said and Tobias took my arm, keeping a safe distance from Loretta.

“I get I'm a plague, but that distance is just so much,” she called from behind us and snickered, she was just as I had remembered, mouth sharp like a sword, always saying things that could make one want to end her.

“It's this or nothing,” I said from behind Tobias' shoulder that was shielding me in any way that if we were attacked he would take all the impact.

“I get what I get huh,” she murmured.

It wasn't long before we returned to the pack house, the door was opened by Merona, the happy face was immediately replaced with confusion then morphed into a scowl and then anger.

“Why's she here?” she asked pointedly at Loretta who had one of those condescending looks. It was hard already that we were bringing her here but she still had to be a bitch.

Merona’s face immediately went pale and horror-struck, “Oh no, has he caught on, is Artemis on my tail?”

“No he's not, but your face darling almost made it worth it,” Loretta took to answering for me.

“I see you are still a bitch,” Merona quipped.

Loretta laughed dryly, “And you must think you are the better friend yeah?”

Merona mocked, “Oh sorry we left you already behind.” by Merona’s words I saw Loretta’s face temporarily fall before she quickly masked it.

“Who said——”

“Mummy!” sets of gleeful voices came from behind Merona, shoving her aside as they made their way to me.

I stooped and caught them just at the right time and picked him up. Tobias caught Arielle, my daughter and they cheered on both our bodies.

“Have you missed me?” I tickled Damien and he giggled, “Yes,” they echoed.

“They have grown,” Loretta gasped, she was even more shocked when she recalled whose father they were.

“Artemis,” she whispered, staring at them with sheer curiosity and something surreal.

Our attention diverted to her, “follow me,” I said in such a stern voice that Arielle and Damien cast a glance at me.

“Arielle!” Rachael’s voice called from inside, “You can't outrun me—-” she halted on her feet and settled a surprised gaze on Loretta.

“Merona!” she yelled and came to stand beside Merona, she yanked her back in a possessive manner, “What are you doing here?” her eyes never for once left Loretta’s.

She reflected Merona’s previous expression as a shudder ran down her spine and she went pale, “Has he found us?”

Loretta slipped out a facade of smile, “he has not, at least not yet. I seem to be his clone though,” Rachael raised her brow, not quite grasping on what she meant, “everyone had the same expression when they saw me,” she let known.

“Well, you can't blame either of us, having a traitor in the midst is not really a thrilling feeling,” Rachael said with a bitchy look.

“Take the kids away, Rach,” I instructed.

“No, I want to hear what this bitch has to say,” she glared at Loretta.

“Language! There are kids here,” Loretta said pointing at the kids in I’s and Tobias’s arms.

A smile threatened to slip out however I was mindful of my surroundings.

“C’mon kids, let’s go to granny,” Rachael said, helping them down from our embrace. I kissed them goodbye as they followed Rachael.

“Wait for me, don't you dare start without me,” Rachael warned as she guided the kids away. A snicker left Merona, “cute,” she whispered and we both by reflex sent a sharp look.

“What?” she feigned ignorance.

Rachael was quick to return, she was hyped and eager, “let’s hear it, the reason you betrayed Freya,” she said and I nudged her.

“What?”

“It's okay,” Loretta said, “first you must know something, your sister is dead, Evelyn,” she looked at Tobias.

“Artemis killed her.”