The Legacy : His Mate

#4 Who are you?

"What is all that noise?" Noah grumbled, walking in his boxers. He hardly got sleep these days. He had just fallen asleep when loud noises of things moving disturbed his sleep. Was someone coming over? Was it their brother and sister-in-law? Otherwise, why would anyone stay in this part of the mansion?

His jaws dropped when he saw the beautiful girl from the balcony dragging her bag while Naomi juggled in the kitchen. What was her name again? Reya? Seya? Feya? Freya? Yes, Freya! She was looking smoking hot in her pajamas and tank top. She had tied her magma-red hair into a man bun, but some of her strands fell here and there, giving her a fiery look. Her ocherous hue skin glistened. Noah swallowed hard, trying to shake the attraction. It always starts with that, and then everything is a downward spiral from there.

"Noah? Were we noisy?" Naomi exclaimed, holding her ladle upside down. The pancake carter started flowing down to the handle and then her hand. She scowled, hurrying to the sink to wash her ladle and hands, completely forgetting about Noah or Freya.

Freya turned to see Noah, the man from the previous night. Was he the brother? How foolish was she not to realize this minute detail? Is it because she has never met a man? Or is it because her head stops working and her heart starts pounding around him? Her eyes widened as she swallowed hard when she saw Noah's bare body that looked like rocks sculpted to look that perfect.

It immediately sank in that he was shirtless, only in his boxers and displaying muscles to a stranger girl who looked too cute to be true. He ran his hand over his head, trying to say something when he let it go, to return to his room to get dressed. Any other time, he would have offered someone help. But this was not one of those.

By the time Noah got dressed and returned, Julius had already helped Freya settle inside Kyra's old room. He wasn't sure what to feel. First, this girl stayed in Elsa's old room, and now she was taking over Kyra's. Who was she, even? Why was Naomi giving her so much importance? Even Julius laughed and cracked jokes around her. They were close to her. He was here for over a month and had not seen Freya even once. And now they were eating breakfast together like a family? What was he even missing? Indeed, he was not around the house most of the time. But how did he miss this?

Noah completely dreaded that he dozed off. Today it was impossible to act on his master plan of sneaking away before everyone wakes up. It was an odd morning when everyone was up and busy. So guess, one more day would not bring any harm. But why were they up so early? Noah kept drifting away to the mini world he created in his head that he did not even listen to the things they discussed on the table.

Freya, at times, drooled at Noah, wondering if he was even interested in her. When he did not spare her even one glance, zoning out most of the times, she felt like her heart was getting torn. She could not fathom why she would need a stranger's approval. But at that point, Noah's attention seemed far too important.

"Noah, can you drop Freya at Old Nancy's ice cream parlor?" Julius asked. But Noah was too lost in his train of thoughts that he did not answer him the first time. It was until Noami smacking him hard he kept ignoring Julius's calls.

"Will you drop her at Old Nancy's or not? I have to go to the city." Julius asked again.

"Naomi can drive and eat her ice cream. Plus, I am busy." Noah replied. He thought Julius was asking for Naomi. Freya giggled like a small child at this. It wasn't supposed to be funny or anything, but she had never seen such playful banters. It was refreshing.

Noah drooled at her with intense eyes, making her frown. Freya immediately looked down.

"Stop intimidating her. And I won't be good like Julius. Had you paid attention all this while, you would know, Julius and I have to go to the city. Today is Freya's first day at work. You have to drop her at her workplace since we don't want her to risk public transport in our absence. Also, you must be around and give her your number so that she can call you if anything goes wrong." Noami ordered. Her voice was commanding. Noah knew his sister was not requesting, and she was pretty serious about taking care of Freya in their absence. Why were they so attached to this girl? He had never seen her around before. Who was she?

Noah was unsure if it was right to escort the girl who made him feel differently. He had settled well with his new lifestyle, where he didn't have to care about anyone. Noah didn't want to get involved with another soul about whom he has to care about and end up losing. So he looked up into the mirror and reminded himself that he must keep to himself and not get too involved. He doesn't have to talk a lot or try to find out more about this mystery girl. She was somehow important to his sister, and he was the babysitter today.

Freya wore her new clothes. It was a white blouse paired with dark blue jeans that suited her long, slender legs. It was, after all, an ice cream parlor. So this was the best. It served well for a casual place, like an ice cream parlor. She tied her hair to a neatly high ponytail. She applied a bit of mascara and lipstick as Noami had taught her. She looked into the mirror and smiled. The girl in the mirror looked confident and ready for the outside world. Once satisfied, she wore her heart on the sleeves, ready to conquer the world outside.

As Freya walked through the front door, Noah looked at her from the rearview mirror. His heart skipped a beat. She had an innocent smile plastered on her face. The way she admired the fresh air and the surrounding flowers made him wonder if she saw them for the first time. She looked at everything so differently that it made Noah think if he was looking at them in the wrong way all this while.

Freya opened the back door when Noah gave a weird look at her. Was he a driver? It was such an insult. Freya could not understand the odd expression he carried on his face.

"What?" Freya asked.

"Why are you sitting in the back?" Noah rolled his eyes, starting the car engine. It was better, anyway. The more the distance between them, the better.

Freya frowned, her face sullen. She had no idea what she did wrong. She always sat behind when she went out with Julius and Noami. They even warned her always to take the back seat of a cab. So what was the problem this time? Also, Noah was giving her a cold vibe since morning. Last night he was soft and had this appeal. But today, he had extreme mood swings. She got this feeling like she was some kind of burden to him. No matter how much she was attracted to this handsome stud, no one should trample over her. She made a mental note not to bother him and keep to herself. As soon as this day is over, she won't have to deal with him ever again.

The ride to Old Nancy's ice cream parlor was full of silence, an uncanny silence that got under Freya's skin. It was like a facepalm. How could she even dream about such a cold and dark-hearted man? She needs people like Noami and Julius, not him. She did not even feel like answering him when he asked when her shift would end. She banged the door loud enough to get rid of some of her frustration.

What a day to start work? Great!

Noah scoffed at her arrogance. And here, he thought she was sweet and innocent. Under that delicate face and warm smile, she was a blatant girl!

It was hard for Noah to wait around. It wasn't a busy day, and there were fewer customers. Most of them were children or couples. The place felt like a punishment to him. He wanted to hit a pub and loosen up. But Noami's words repeated in his head like a recorder. He struggled to sit outside till lunch when he couldn't anymore. Noah walked inside the parlor to inform Freya that he would leave and, if need be, she should call him. So far, it looked like a harmless day only. And nothing really happens here.

As soon as Noah entered, the only group of ladies and the other server who were present inside drooled at him as if he was some delicious new flavor. Noah smirked at their response but ignored their flirtatious attempts. He wasn't going to make it harder for the new favorite girl of his sister. When Noah walked straight to Freya, she froze in her spot, her eye propping out as if she some ghost. She prayed that he wouldn't talk to him. But as if it would work. She saw how other women looked at him. She did not want to be a hot topic of discussion after he left.

"I am leaving. If you need anything, call me." Noah said to her in a husky voice. Did he have to be this gentle now? He was grumbling all morning, and now he has to be that dishy when in front of everyone?

Frey found herself nodding involuntarily. She could not speak anything no matter how hard she tried. Her voice has given up on her, and her body has decided against moving. It was like she got hypnotized, glued to this very spot the second Noah walked through that door.

Noah smirked at her stupefied expression. He liked how her big sapphire-like blue eyes darted at him with confusion and bewilderment. Noah could tell she was a little angry, too. He glanced at the other girls, who quickly tried to adjust their hair or smile at him to gain his attention. But he again looked back at Freya, chuckling at her expression before leaving the place.

When Noah was out, he was already feeling good. It was nice to torture her. How daring was she to bang the door like that? He wore the sunglass that was tucking in his fitting t-shirt, giving a good idea about what was underneath that thin fabric. He smiled again, looking back towards the ice cream parlor. With a lighter mood, he drove off to the club nearby to kill some time.

Soon Noah forgot all about Freya or the time. He drowned himself under jugs of alcohol and rounds and rounds of pool matches and girls. It was past seven when Noah somehow discovered the time as someone else nearby him queried for it. When he checked his phone, he had very few calls from Freya and over thirty missed calls from an unknown number. There were as many calls from Julius and Noami. He knew he was doomed. How could he forget such an important thing? He picked up his belongings and rushed to his car.

He tried to reach Freya, but when he could not connect, he called the unknown number. It, too, went to voice mail. By the time he reached the parlor, Freya was already gone. The second shift server had little to no idea about Freya.

Noah cursed under his breath. He scanned through the perimeter, trying to pick up Freya's scent. Her essence covered the entire area. He tried to calm his nerves and pick up the direction from which it was strongest. It was coming from behind the parlor. He walked towards it to find the ladies' room behind it. He hoped that she was inside. But when he checked, there was no one. He tried to pick up her essence again, but it was as if she had vanished from there. His head spiraled as he dreaded for Freya's safety.

He cussed, running his hand over his head several times. He prayed that nothing should happen to Freya because of his carelessness. He was no longer worried about Naomi or Julius's rants, but only Freya. He had given up all hope and was about to call Noami to check if Freya had returned herself when Freya came out of the men's washroom.

Noah gasped. He did not care she was coming from the men's washroom. The only thing that irked him that she was unreachable. She looked at him with an equally annoying expression, but before he could say anything, Noah started ranting at her. It was only when the other girl came out from the washroom he stopped. This other girl glared at Noah as if he was some jerk or maniac.

"Freya, get rid of this douchebag. Despite that pretty face, I tell you, he is not worth it. First, he is the one who is late and won't pick our phone, and now he is grumbling at you?" The other girl gave a piece of advice to Freya and left, rolling her eyes at Noah. She even did not stay back so that one of them could clear her confusion.

"Is that what you said to people here? We are a couple?" Noah grunted.

It was enough humiliation for her for one day. She could no longer tolerate it. The man was not only cold and boisterous but also judgemental and a hypocrite. She could no longer control her rage and pushed Noah, who was standing inches apart from her. She meant it to be a light jerk to nudge him aside to walk away, but it came as a full-fledged punch, throwing Noah meters away.

Freya gasped. She looked at her hands with surprise. Freya tried to punch the decrepit wooden chair sitting nearby, but there was not even enough force to move it an inch. She ended up hurting herself. And here, Noah was flying meters before landing on his face. Had her powers returned for a brief second because she was angry? Had she not lost them for good? Was she still a witch? Freya pondered as Noah grunted, looking up.

Noah looked at Freya with disbelieving eyes. The girl he thought was a randomly naive human girl was something else. If she was powerful enough to hurt an alpha wolf like him in a single punch, no way she was as delicate and fragile as she appeared.

"Who are you?" Noah groaned, rising to his feet.

"Freya," was all she could answer in that situation as fear sipped in, choking her insides.