جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 220

Freya’s POVIn the days that followed, I continued to work from home, my ankle healing gradually. Just as I had predicted, Isabella called me daily to ask about my injury, her concern carried through the digital connection but never crossing the threshold of my new apartment.Every conversation followed the same pattern—initial concern, brief small talk, then a hasty goodbye when Aurora or Silvano entered the room. My wolf, Selene, would pace restlessly in my mind during these calls, sensing the bond with our pup stretched thin across the distance between us.*She still loves us,* Selene would whine.*But not enough to come see us,* I'd remind her.Two days after the tech exhibition, Dr. Ramirez responded to the analysis Johnny and I had submitted. What we had considered confidential-level technological insights, Dr. Ramirez had torn apart as "barely scratching the surface." The scathing critique came with extensive notes and demands for a complete overhaul."This is intellectual kinde

Freya's POVThe elevator doors had barely closed when my phone started ringing. Isabella's name flashed across the screen."Excuse me," I murmured to the others before answering, "Hello?""Mom, are you done with work? When are you coming home?" Isabella's voice sounded eager.Since my ankle injury, Isabella had been calling daily. Yesterday, after learning I'd healed, she'd asked when I'd be home. I'd been too swamped with work to commit to anything then."Just finished, sweetheart. I'll be home soon," I promised, my heart warming despite the emotional mess I'd been navigating all day.By the time I hung up, we'd reached the ground floor. Finn looked at me with undisguised curiosity."Miss Freya, you have a child?" he asked, surprise evident in his tone."Yes," I answered simply, not offering more."I... wouldn't have guessed," he said, clearly recalibrating his assumptions about me.I could practically see the wheels turning in his head. He'd probably assumed Johnny and I were a coupl

Freya's POVMy face flushed crimson as I quickly grabbed the bathrobe collar that little Cici had been tugging on. The sudden exposure left me mortified.Alpha Xander's eyes darkened momentarily before he swiftly turned away, averting his gaze. The nanny beside us looked equally uncomfortable, her eyes darting anywhere but at me.Thank the moon goddess there's no one else here. This is humiliating enough already.The nanny hurried to help me adjust my robe. I've always been conservative with my body, never exposing myself to any man other than Silvano since we became mates. And now, of all people to see me like this, it had to be one of Silvano's closest friends and allies.After I'd properly secured my robe, I tried to sound casual despite my obvious discomfort. "I should go. I have things to attend to."Alpha Xander finally turned back around, his expression carefully neutral. "I apologize," he said, his deep voice sincere.Cici, realizing she'd done something wrong and thinking I wa

Xander's POVThe brisk autumn breeze carried the scent of pine and lake water across Emerald Wetlands Park as I watched my niece Cici run ahead of me, her bright yellow rainboots splashing through shallow puddles. Her delighted giggles were a balm to my wolf's restless spirit. As Alpha of the Granite Ridge Pack, my days were typically consumed by territory disputes and pack politics—moments like these were precious respites."Uncle Xander! Hurry up!" Cici called back, bouncing on her toes with childish impatience, the colorful kite clutched in her small hands fluttering in the wind.I quickened my pace, scanning the open field for the perfect spot to fly our kite. That's when my wolf Orion suddenly perked up, catching a familiar scent on the breeze—sweet vanilla with undertones of wildflowers. My eyes followed my senses to a solitary figure seated on a bench near the water's edge.Freya.Before I could decide whether to acknowledge her or simply move to another area of the park, Cici s

Freya's POVThe call came just after noon, as I was wrapping up my Saturday work session. The screen lit up with a name I hadn't seen in months: Michael Harrison—my father's pack's Beta."Michael?" I answered, unable to hide the surprise in my voice."Freya." His deep voice carried the familiar cadence of my childhood territory. "I hope I'm not disturbing you.""Not at all," I replied, minimizing the code I'd been working on. "Is everything okay? You don't usually call."There was a pause—the kind that made my wolf, Selene, pace anxiously inside me."We've had visitors," he said carefully. "Wolves from the Howlthorne Pack have been spotted in our territory three times this week. They're not being subtle about it."My fingers tightened around the phone. The Howlthornes were Aurora's pack."What did they want?" I asked, though I already suspected the answer."They claim to be passing through, but they've been asking questions. About you, specifically. About your parents, your childhood.