Rejected Mate's Redemption (Freda and James)

Mates 166

KAIDEN STIRLING

I stood with my arms crossed, leaning against the wall close to the window. My eyes had been on Freda most of the day after I had made her come back to bed. Despite the conversation we had last night, I could not help but feel like she had not grasped the severity of the situation she was in.

The slightest mistake- walking or stressing at the wrong time- could trigger the wolfsbane that was embedded in her system. That was the absolute last thing I wanted. The detoxification drips seemed to have been taking effect on her, but they were not as fast as her body needed. With the wolfsbane in her system, she was just a human. No fast healing, no connection to her wolf, no tethering to the moon.

I did not know what that felt like, but just the thought of all those abilities being taken from me made me feel a sense of hopelessness. That had to be what she was feeling. I hated it because I could not help her. Nothing I could do could help her. I could only protect her in this moment of her weakness and hope that the drips worked fast and well.

I looked out of the window, thinking of the situation with the werewolf council. I sighed. The fact that she was going to have to sit through the trial infuriated me to no end. It had started on an unjust note, but I was determined to make sure she was proven innocent like she was.

I had sent a message to the owners and managers of the

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shopping mall. I had requested a list of the names of every single person who had transacted at the shopping mall that day, along with CCTV footage. It was not so hard for them to agree because I was the Alpha, and I could not possibly do anything to harm them or their business. The only thing that had proven a little difficult was their obligation to protect the privacy of their customers and Dane had handled that.

I looked away from the window as soon as my ears registered footsteps coming in my direction. It was Lyra. She tucked her hands into the pockets of her hoodie. “You need to go home, Kaiden,” she said, giving me a straight face. I chuckled, watching her carefully.

“You’re sending me away?” I asked and there was a crack in her expression. A small smile. She managed to put her act back together as she tipped her chin up. I could not hide my grin.

“Shut up. Go home, you stink,” she said, wrinkling her nose. I shook my head. “I had a shower this morning before you and Francisco came. What are you talking about?” I asked with a teasing look and she rolled her eyes.

“Alright, alright. You got me,” she chuckled. “Go home. Get some rest. You need it,” she said and I pressed my lips together. I was not sure I could do that. I was quite fine where I was. I shook my head and started to speak when she held up a hand and cut me off.

“Kaiden, seriously.” She started and sighed. “You have to get some rest. We really appreciate this, but if you break down or start to fall sick, it’s not going to be okay,” she said. I smiled at her. “Thanks a lot for your concern, Lyra, but I’m fine. I need to keep an eye on her,” I responded

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Her eyebrows rose and I registered an offended look coming unto her face. “Shit,” I muttered under my breath. She had won.

“Are you trying to say I can’t take care of my best friend?” She questioned, backing up a bit so I could get a proper look at the sassy expression on her face. “Lyra, no…” I started to say but she stopped me from talking.

“Alright then. You need to go. You can come back first thing in the morning and keep guard over her, Prince Charming.” She said, rolling her eyes. “But for tonight, you need to go home,” she said and smiled. She knew she had won.

“Fuck you,” I muttered under my breath, walking towards a chair at the far left of the room to get my jacket. “What was that?” She questioned.

“Thank you,” I said, looking at her with a smile. She grinned. She knew what I had said. I returned the smile genuinely and lifted my jacket off the chair. I walked towards Freda. She seemed to be half asleep and Francisco was lying cuddled up beside her.

“Hey,” I whispered. Her eyes fluttered open and then focused on me. Her lips stretched into a tired smile. “Hey,” she said. Her voice was much better.

“I’ll be going home tonight, as per Lyra’s instructions. I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” I said and she chuckled at the Lyra part. She hesitated before nodding. A part of me was overjoyed at the fact that she did not want to see me go.

I had to give her and her closest family space. I was going to have to leave. “First thing in the morning,” I said and leaned forward to kiss her forehead. “Hold out for me, yeah?” I said with a

smile. “Yeah,” she held my hand and squeezed it before letting

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it go.

“See you tomorrow big guy,” I ruffled Francisco’s hair even though he was asleep.

I headed for the door, resisting the urge to go back to Freda and kiss her forehead again. I wanted to take things slow with her, even though I was not sure what exactly we were doing or what she wanted. I wanted whatever she wanted. I would go as fast and as slow as she wanted. Anything.

“Bye lover boy,” Lyra teased, pushing me out the door and sliding it shut with a grin. I let out an aggravated sigh, wishing I could give her a small punch. Just a small one.

I pulled my jacket over my shoulders and headed to Harper’s ward. It had been two days since I had last seen her up close since I had seen her smile since I had heard her call me since I had heard her laugh. She was the star in my little solar system and I was not very sure I could carry on without her.

I looked away from her, feeling agony fist my heart in its grip and squeeze tight. I could not bear to see her like that anymore. It was cowardly, but I turned around and walked away. Down the hallway, down another hallway, and out of the hospital.

“Two of you, in front of Freda Whitlock’s room till I get there. tomorrow,” I said to the six guards in front of the hospital. I watched them till they got their things and headed into the hospital. I took my phone and car key out of the pocket of my jacket and headed for my car. I got in and started it. I dialed Lyra’s number as I drove out of the parking space.

“Is there a guard in front of your door?” I asked as soon as she picked up the call. There was a short pause followed by some

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shuffling. “Yeah,” she answered and then, after a moment, added, “Thanks.”

I smiled and hung up without another word.