The Alpha King's Second Chance

JASPER

For the past few days, Freya has been more open to getting to know each other. To accepting me. The only thing holding us back is my wolf; Rafe doesn’t like that she wants to take things slow.

After our first night together, Freya locked me out of her room for two days. I begged—yup, you heard that right—I begged her to let me sleep in her bed with her, and she finally caved. Now I’m enjoying her body next to mine in the night and on top of mine in the morning.

She still thinks I pull her on top of me while she is sleeping, but the truth is, she ends up there herself. I don’t think she notices she does it.

Rafe is grumpy, though. He’s used to women throwing themselves at us, but Freya is not like that, so he’s decided that he will not talk to her wolf until she decides she wants us to mate and mark her. I haven’t told her yet because I know his refusal will set our relationship back.

But Freya won’t be asking about my wolf. She says Lupa is ready to meet Rafe, yet he won’t budge.

“When are we leaving, Jasper?” my wolf complains now.~ “I miss our field at home. You only let me out at night when everyone is asleep.”~

“Rafe, you know we can’t be seen in this kingdom. The only wolves around here are our mate and her brothers. Others would freak out if they saw us in wolf form. We only have one more day to go before we leave with our mate.”

He huffs but goes to the back of my mind without any other comments.

Right now, Freya and I are heading to her father’s office so she can tell him her decision. When we arrive, she knocks on the door, and he tells her to come in.

In the corner of the office, I watch as Freya gives the king a hug and a kiss, a bright smile on her face. I’m still working on getting that look from her. She smiles when she sees me now, but it’s nothing compared to what she gives her family.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” King Oscar asks.

Freya takes a deep breath. “I’m leaving tomorrow with Jasper,” she says, her voice cracking. “I’ve already started packing my things. I wanted to tell you before you saw them being moved from my room.”

The king stands up from his seat and goes to hold his daughter. She cries in his arms.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” he asks her.

Freya nods. “Yes, it is. I have to try, Dad,” she whispers. “You of all people know the Moon Goddess doesn’t make mistakes. Lupa keeps reminding me of our bond with Jasper. We feel the bond more each day, and I don’t want to ignore it anymore. The only way I can make sure I’m making the right decision is to follow my heart. And right now, my heart says to go with Jasper to his kingdom.”

King Oscar hugs her closer as she continues crying into his chest. The sound must carry to her brothers because they quickly burst into the office and immediately growl at me.

It’s not like they can take me or anything. They are no match for me. But their dad stops them from trying, and I’m glad. “She’s crying because she is leaving tomorrow,” he says.

My mate’s brothers both freeze and look at her. Then they grab her and hold her tight. They talk about how much they will miss each other, and she makes them promise to visit and says that she will do the same.

It’s an emotional night for my mate. She cries most of the night in my arms and goes to sleep on top of me.

Freya doesn’t realize how much I fight to hold myself back with her—especially when she falls asleep on top of me with nothing but a short nightgown on. She’s my mate, so I want to give in to the bond and have my way with her, but I don’t. We haven’t even kissed yet, but I’m hoping we will soon.

***

The next morning, Freya takes her time saying goodbye to all her staff. Only Greta, the woman who’s like a mother to her, is coming with us. Freya originally wanted Penelope to come as well, but they haven’t spoken since the day she caught us in bed.

Freya tried to explain to her that we are soulmates, that we’re meant to be together, but that didn’t matter to Penelope. She said some awful things that would’ve hurt my mate if she wasn’t a strong woman. She even called Freya an easy lay, but my mate didn’t shed one tear.

After, Freya only said that she hated that she wasted years thinking they were best friends.

Even though they had a teary farewell in the king’s office yesterday, Freya and her family are emotional as they say goodbye again. Her father holds her close and kisses her head. Nicholas and Lance hug her and Greta, the older woman telling them she’ll miss them in a motherly tone.

Still, what my mate is leaving behind doesn’t fully sink in until I see the sad faces of her family and staff as we drive away. It occurs to me that Freya already lost her mother when she was a young girl and now she’s moving away from the only place she’s ever called home.

I’m glad she decided to accept me and move to my kingdom, and I’ll make sure that she doesn’t regret it.