Chapter 142: Chapter 142 Take Me Home, Alpha
Freya
"Twenty thousand, then," Reed amended, mistaking my shock for negotiation. "You’re between jobs, right? Could be a nice payday." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a sleek money clip. "I’ve got five thousand in cash right now. We could go somewhere private, discuss terms."
Mia suddenly found her backbone. "This is exactly what I’d expect from you, Freya! You couldn’t stand that Jasper chose me, so now you’re trying to ruin my life. You probably followed me here!"
"You delusional little girl," I snarled, my patience snapping. "You think I care enough about you to track your pathetic affairs? "
Reed stood, moving too close to me. "Feisty. I like that." His hand reached out to touch my face. "I’ll make it fifteen thousand. For that money, I expect you to be very accommodating."
I slapped his hand away. "Touch me again and you’ll pull back a stump."
Something ugly flashed in his eyes. "No wonder Kane kept you as his side piece instead of his mate. Beautiful, but no class."
Before I could respond, Reed’s hand shot out, aiming for my throat. I braced myself to counter the attack—but the blow never landed.
A large hand caught Reed’s wrist in mid-air, stopping it cold. I didn’t need to look to recognize Silvano’s scent, though the fury rolling off him was new.
"I believe the lady declined your offer," Silvano said, his voice so calm it was terrifying. His grip on Reed’s wrist tightened until the other man winced.
Reed tried to maintain his bravado. "This is a private conversation—"
"Between you and my future Luna?" Silvano’s smile was all teeth as he twisted Reed’s arm behind his back in one fluid motion. "I don’t think so."
The color drained from Reed’s face. "LUNA? I didn’t know—"
"Clearly," Silvano growled. With minimal effort, he shoved Reed back into the booth. "Apologize to my future Luna. Now."
Reed looked between Silvano’s imposing figure and my cold stare, finally recognizing the danger he was in. "I apologize for my disrespect," he muttered.
Silvano turned his attention to Mia, who was trying to make herself as small as possible in the corner of the booth. "As for you...Does Alpha Kane know his precious mate is spreading her legs for other men?"
Mia burst into tears. "Please don’t tell him! He’ll never forgive me!"
Silvano wrapped a protective arm around my waist. "What Alpha Kane does with his unfaithful mate is his business. But if I ever hear that you’ve spoken a single disrespectful word about Freya again, I’ll personally ensure every wolf in the region knows about your little side activities." He glanced at Reed with contempt. "And your questionable taste."
Reed seemed to finally understand who he was dealing with. "Alpha Moretti, I had no idea she was connected to you—"
"Get out," Silvano cut him off. "Before I decide ten fingers is too many for a man of your character."
Reed scrambled from the booth and fled without looking back, leaving Mia alone and trembling.
Silvano’s arm remained firmly around my waist as we walked away, leaving Mia and Reed to deal with the wreckage of their evening.
"I’ll call you tomorrow," Elena whispered, hugging me briefly before casting a knowing look at Silvano. "Looks like your Alpha wants some alone time."
As she disappeared into the crowd, Silvano guided me toward the exit, his body tense with barely contained fury. We didn’t speak until we reached his car in the parking lot. As soon as the doors closed behind us, he turned to me, his eyes still gleaming with primal intensity.
"Are you hurt?" he demanded, gently examining my wrist where Reed had grabbed me.
"I’m fine," I assured him, touched by his concern. "How did you know where to find me?"
"I tracked your scent," he admitted unapologetically. "I wanted to make sure you were safe." His expression darkened. "Good thing I did."
Before I could respond, Silvano leaned across the console and captured my mouth in a kiss that stole my breath. There was nothing gentle about it—this was a claiming, a statement of possession that Artemis responded to with eager submission. His hands tangled in my hair, angling my head to deepen the kiss, and I melted against him, my body remembering vividly what his touch had done to me the night before.
When he finally pulled back, we were both breathing hard. His eyes searched mine, a vulnerability showing through his Alpha confidence.
"Tell me why you’re staying at Stone Lake for another month." he said.
I arched a brow, forcing a casual tone. "And where exactly did you hear that?"
A slow, knowing smile curved his lips. "Wolves have their ways of sharing whispers. And you, brilliant Gamma, should know that better than anyone." His gaze sharpened, heat simmering beneath. "If you let me, I could make that month disappear overnight."
I shook my head quickly. "No, Silvano. I can handle this."
His expression softened, but the intensity didn’t fade. "Of course you can—that’s part of what draws me to you. But it doesn’t mean I’ll stop worrying." His thumb traced across my lower lip, lingering. "You’re precious to me, Freya. More than you realize."
The sincerity in his voice made my heart stutter. This powerful Alpha was looking at me like I was his entire world—something Jasper had never done, even in our most intimate moments.
"Come home with me tonight," Silvano murmured, his lips finding the sensitive spot below my ear. "Let me show you exactly what you mean to me."
"Yes," I whispered, already reaching for him again. "Take me home, Alpha."