Chapter 9 Job Offer

Freya answered with a deep breath.

"What do you want?"

"Get in the car, Freya," Niklaus commanded, his voice glacial. "This childish game ends now."

"Game?" She laughed bitterly. "Is that what you think this is?"

"You've made your point. Now it's time to come home."

"That's not my home anymore." Freya's jaw clenched.

"You have two options," Niklaus continued as if she hadn't spoken. "Either Daniel brings you back to the pack house where you belong, or you can try surviving without any of our resources. Your choice."

"Our resources?" Freya repeated incredulously. "You mean the resources you're cutting me off from? The credit cards you've frozen? The hotel room you just had me evicted from?"

"You didn't think I'd let you use my money to fund your little rebellion, did you?"

His voice dripped with smugness. "Be realistic, Freya. Where will you go? What will you do? You've been playing Luna for three years--you have no job, no income."

Anger flared hot in Freya's chest. "You think I'm completely dependent on you? That I can't survive without your money or protection?"

"I think you're being stubborn and irrational," Niklaus said, his voice hardening. "Either you come home willingly, or I'll come get you myself."

"Try it," she challenged, ending the call before he could respond.

Daniel fidgeted awkwardly beside the car. "Luna Freya, please. The Alpha is only concerned for your safety."

"No, Daniel." Freya forced a tight smile. "And I'm not Luna Freya anymore. Tell your Alpha that from now on, I'm just Freya Gilbert."

She turned and walked away.

Her phone buzzed with text messages from Niklaus, each more threatening than the last.

Ignoring them, she checked her missed calls. Three were from Fiona, her best friend and owner of Azure Gallery.

"Where the hell have you been?" Fiona asked straight out. "I've been trying to reach you all night!"

"It's a long story," Freya sighed, flagging down a taxi.

"Can I crash at your place?" Freya asked. "For a while. Niklaus got me kicked out of my hotel and I doubt any other hotel in the city will take me."

"What a petty asshole," Fiona growled. "Of course you can stay. But that's not why I called."

"What's up?" Freya asked curiously.

"Good news. Huge news," Fiona said mysteriously. "We're definitely celebrating when you get here."

Freya hung up and got in the cab. Daniel's car followed her the entire way, but she ignored it.

Getting out, she grabbed her suitcase from the trunk and accidentally cut her hand on a sharp edge.

It bled but wasn't serious.

Fiona lived on the 17th floor. Knowing she was coming, she'd left the door open.

When Freya walked in with her suitcase, Fiona jumped--she hadn't mentioned luggage on the phone.

She looked like a runaway.

Fiona took the suitcase from her.

"If you'd told me about the luggage, I could've helped you carry it up... Oh my god, what happened to your hand?"

Seeing Fiona frantically searching for a first aid kit, Freya stopped her. "It's fine. It'll heal fast."

"Your hands are made of gold! Can't you be more careful? Pianists practically keep their hands in safety deposit boxes."

Freya laughed despite everything. The darkness of the past few days lifted a little. "This won't affect anything."

After settling in, Freya sat on Fiona's couch. "So what's this big news you couldn't tell me over the phone?"

Fiona pulled a bottle of red wine from the fridge and poured two glasses. "First, let's celebrate you getting out of that mess!"

They clinked glasses and Freya took a sip. Those three years as contract Luna had been exhausting.

Fiona sat beside Freya. "Edward Bravy was in the gallery today."

Freya sat up straighter. "Edward Bravy? The Edward Bravy? Head of Bravy Studios?"

"The very same," Fiona confirmed, excitement evident in her voice. "He was looking at your paintings, the ones under the name 'F', and he was absolutely blown away. Kept asking who the artist was, said he'd been trying to track you down for years."

"What did you tell him?" Freya asked, her heart racing.

"Nothing yet. I said I'd try to reach the artist, but wanted to talk to you first. Freya, he wants to offer you a position at his studio. This is huge!"

A position at Bravy Studios. Every serious artist dreamed of working there--for the resources, mentorship, exposure to the right collectors and critics. It was everything Freya had wanted before her life had been derailed by debt and desperation.

"Did he leave his contact information?" Freya asked, hardly daring to hope.

"Better. He's coming back Thursday afternoon. Said he'd wait all day if necessary." Fiona paused. "This could be your ticket to a whole new life, Frey. A life where you don't need Alpha Niklaus."

Independence, freedom--the chance to be valued for her talent rather than her status as an Alpha's mate.

Vicki stirred inside her. "Maybe this is your chance."

"Yes," Freya murmured. "I think it is."

"I'll be there," Freya promised. "What time?"

"Two o'clock. And Frey? Wear something fabulous. This is your moment."

***

Outside the hospital room, Niklaus read Daniel's text message with growing disbelief.

[Luna Freya didn't return home. She's staying at a friend's place.]

He had frozen her cards.

He had made sure no hotel in the city would take her.

She was supposed to have nowhere else to go.

A friend?

Niklaus stared at his phone. Freya had friends? In three years of marriage, she'd never mentioned anyone. Male or female?

His wolf Flex whined miserably in his mind. Their mate was rejecting them, and lately Flex had been growing more despondent by the day.

Niklaus immediately texted his beta, Dale, find out whose place she's staying at. Now.

"Niklaus?"

A soft voice called from the hospital room. He turned to see Rebekah looking at him with worried eyes.

"Is everything okay? You look upset." She bit her lip nervously. "Is Freya angry that you've been here with me? The doctor says I'll be discharged soon."

"No," Niklaus said quickly. "Just work stuff."

He cleared his throat. "When is your manager coming to look after you?"

"Hannah should be here any minute."

Rebekah shifted closer to him, her voice trembling. "What if I can never dance again?"

Guilt crashed over him. She'd gotten hurt trying to save Freya. Maybe she'd never dance again because of that.

"Don't worry about it," he said softly. "Whatever you want to do, my company can help you."

"Thank you so much." Rebekah moved to hug him.

Niklaus went rigid but didn't push her away.

Just then, Hannah walked in.

"Am I interrupting something?" Hannah asked playfully.

Rebekah blushed and let go of his arm.

"I should go," Niklaus said immediately, stepping back.

As he reached the door, his phone buzzed. A text from Beta Dale.

[Luna Freya's staying with Fiona Martinez, owner of Azure Gallery. ]

Niklaus stopped in his tracks. Azure Gallery? Why did that name sound familiar?