CHAPTER 188: CHAPTER 188 NO APOLOGIES

Freya

As we settled at a small table, he ordered an assortment of food for us both, insisting I try everything.

His kindness was refreshing. Selene purred contentedly inside me, appreciating the genuine respect that had nothing to do with my status as Silvano’s mate.

I couldn’t help but notice how York looked at me – like he was puzzled by something. Perhaps he was comparing what he saw with the rumors that circulated among the younger pack members. Whatever version of me they’d been told about clearly didn’t match the woman sharing street food with him tonight.

"You’re really nothing like they say," he finally blurted out, then immediately looked mortified at his slip.

I smiled, taking a bite of the delicious grilled lamb skewer. "And what exactly do they say?"

York fidgeted uncomfortably. "Nothing important. Just... pack gossip."

I let him off the hook, but Selene was fully alert now. So there were stories about me circulating among the pack youth – stories different enough from reality that York was surprised by the real me.

As we ate, I wondered what Silvano was doing. Had he even noticed I wasn’t home yet?

It was nearly 1 AM when I returned to my new apartment. The small space felt wonderfully mine – no household staff hovering, no judgment, no need to maintain the perfect Luna façade. I kicked off my shoes and stretched out on the sofa, feeling Selene’s approval rumble through me.

*This is what freedom feels like.*

I checked my phone – no messages from Silvano. Not that I expected any.

The next morning, my phone rang just as I finished my solo run – a luxury I’d never been allowed as Luna. Running alone had always been deemed "inappropriate" and "unsafe" for me, despite the fact that I was a fully capable she-wolf with fighting skills that had once impressed even Timothy.

Isabella’s name flashed on my screen. I answered without thinking.

"Mom! Where are you?" Her excited voice burst through the speaker before I could even say hello.

I paused, suddenly protective of my newfound independence. "What’s up, Bella? Do you need something?"

No one except Elena knew where I was staying. This solitude, this space to breathe and rediscover myself – I wasn’t ready to give it up yet. Not even for Isabella.

"I miss you, Mom," she whined, her voice taking on that playful, demanding tone she used when she wanted something. I could picture her perfectly – sprawled across what used to be my side of the bed in the master bedroom. "Can you take me to school in a bit?"

"Mom’s place is a bit far from your school," I replied carefully. "I won’t make it in time to pick you up today. Maybe next time."

"Oh... Okay." Her disappointment was evident, but in typical Isabella fashion, she bounced back immediately. "Mom, you must take me to school tomorrow morning, okay?"

I hesitated, my wolf bristling at the thought of returning to the pack house. Even for a quick visit. Even for my daughter.

The silence stretched between us. I knew Silvano was likely listening – Isabella always put her calls on speaker when she was with him. The thought of him monitoring our conversation made Selene bare her teeth in irritation.

"How about letting Dad take you instead?" I suggested.

"No, I want you to take me," Isabella insisted, her voice taking on that teary quality she’d perfected over the years. "You haven’t taken me to school in a while - except for yesterday."

I sighed. This was motherhood – the responsibility didn’t disappear just because I needed space. My wolf and I might be reclaiming our independence, but we still had obligations to the cub we’d brought into this world.

"Okay, Mom will take you tomorrow," I conceded.

Her tone immediately brightened. I heard Silvano’s voice in the background, reminding her about breakfast and being late for school.

"Ah, I haven’t brushed my teeth or washed my face yet!" Isabella exclaimed. "Mom, I’m going to brush my teeth and wash my face first, I’ll talk to you later!"

She hung up before I could respond. Typical Isabella – always in a rush, never quite finishing conversations properly.

I stared at the phone, a mixture of emotions washing over me. Tomorrow I would have to face Silvano again.

Tomorrow.

After arriving at the conference room, I settled into my seat alongside the other staff. We waited more than ten minutes before Silvano finally made his entrance.

The moment he walked in, Sherry gasped audibly beside me, her eyes lighting up with undisguised admiration. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from him, her wolf’s reaction to an attractive alpha male painfully obvious.

It wasn’t until the meeting officially began that she snapped back to reality. She tugged at my sleeve, whispering excitedly, "Alpha is really handsome!"

I had barely glanced up when Silvano entered. My wolf, Selene, remained completely unmoved - a stark contrast to how she once responded to Silvano’s presence. At Sherry’s comment, I didn’t even lift my head, offering only a perfunctory, "Mm."

Sherry seemed surprised by my lack of interest. But then understanding dawned on her face - I was married with a child who wasn’t exactly young anymore. Of course I wouldn’t be swooning over my boss.

Throughout the meeting, Sherry’s attention remained fixed on Silvano, her wolf practically preening. She paid no attention whatsoever to the actual content being discussed.

After the meeting concluded, Silvano left first, with others filing out behind him. Sherry continued to daydream until Jake approached to collect the materials I’d just recorded, snapping her out of her reverie.

Jake reviewed my notes, nodding with approval. "Not bad, good work."

"It’s nothing," I replied, my wolf quietly proud of the professional recognition that had nothing to do with my status as a Luna.

Once Jake departed, Sherry suddenly realized she hadn’t been paying attention during the meeting and quickly asked me to share my notes.

After scanning through them, she developed what looked like a headache. "Freya, did you study architecture before?" she asked, clearly bewildered by my detailed terminology.

"No," I answered simply.

"Then how do you know so many industry-specific terms?"

"I learned them by finding books on my own," I explained. "But it’s just the basics."

Over the years, I’d spent considerable time learning about different industries to perform my job effectively. My wolf had always enjoyed the challenge of mastering new skills - something I’d had precious little opportunity to pursue as Luna.

"You’ve also read books related to the medical industry?" Sherry asked, clearly impressed.

"Mm," I confirmed.

"What books did you read?" she asked eagerly. "Could you send me a reading list? I’d like to take a look myself when I have time."

"Sure, I’ll send it to you later," I promised.