Chapter 144: Chapter 144 No Way Back
Freya
The moment I stepped out of Silvano’s sleek black Aston Martin, I could feel the weight of dozens of eyes following me.
Artemis stirred restlessly within me, sensing what I already knew: Jasper was watching us from the building’s entrance. His tall figure was unmistakable, arms crossed.
"I can come inside with you," Silvano offered, his hand resting possessively at the small of my back.
I shook my head slightly. "That would only complicate things."
Silvano’s eyes narrowed, the gold flecks in his irises becoming more pronounced—a sign of his wolf rising closer to the surface. "I don’t like leaving you here with him."
"I survived eight years under his leadership," I reminded him, my tone deliberately light. "I think I can manage a few hours."
His thumb traced a small circle against my spine, a gesture both intimate and claiming. "Call me when you’re finished. I don’t care what time."
I nodded, acutely aware of Jasper’s gaze burning into us from across the courtyard. When Silvano leaned down to press his lips against mine.
As Silvano drove away, I squared my shoulders and walked toward the entrance where Jasper waited. Each step felt like crossing an invisible boundary, moving from my new future back into my complicated past.
"You’re late," Jasper said by way of greeting, his tone clipped.
"By seven minutes," I countered evenly. "Considering I had no obligation to come at all, I’d say that’s fairly punctual."
His jaw tightened as his eyes flickered to where Silvano’s car had been. "I see Moretti is taking his role as your keeper seriously."
"Partner," I corrected, meeting his gaze directly. "Not keeper. Something you never quite understood."
For a moment, something flashed across Jasper’s features—a hint of the emotion he worked so hard to conceal—before his mask of indifference slipped back into place. "We have issues to discuss. The transition reports you sent over have gaps."
As we walked through the main doors, I noted how the employees reacted to our presence. Their eyes followed us with a mixture of curiosity and respect, many nodding deferentially as I passed. Despite Jasper’s attempts to diminish my position these past weeks, eight years of leadership had earned me their loyalty in ways no Alpha command could erase.
"Good morning, Gamma Stone," called Amanda from reception, her smile warm. "It’s good to see you back."
"Just for a month," I replied with a polite smile. "After that, the work will—"
Before I could finish, Jasper appeared and all but yanked me into the elevator. His grip was firm, his behavior so juvenile it almost made me laugh. News of my limited stay had already spread through the pack; did he really think I’d come crawling back to him once the month was over?
"The quarterly projections are down fifteen percent," he said as the elevator doors closed, immediately switching to business. "Timothy can’t make sense of the Blackwood merger documentation, and the council is asking questions about the succession plan for your position."
I leaned against the elevator wall, studying him. Jasper looked tired—the kind of bone-deep exhaustion that came from trying to maintain control when things were falling apart.
"I warned you this would happen," I said, keeping my voice neutral. "Eight years of systems and relationships don’t transfer overnight."
"It’s been almost three weeks."
"And I’ll be here for exactly one more month," I reminded him firmly. "After that, Stone Lake and its problems are no longer my concern."
The elevator doors opened to the executive floor, and Jasper caught my arm before I could step out. "This tantrum has gone on long enough, Freya. The pack needs you."
Artemis growled low in my mind, indignant at his dismissal of my decision as mere emotional acting out. I carefully removed his hand from my arm.
"This isn’t a tantrum, Jasper. This is me finally recognizing my worth." I held his gaze steadily. "You had eight years to appreciate what you had. Now you’ll have to learn to function without it."
Before he could respond, a familiar honeyed voice called from down the hallway. "Jasper, darling! There you are!"
Mia glided toward us, her perfectly styled blonde hair bouncing with each step. She wore a cream-colored dress that emphasized her delicate frame. Her smile faltered slightly when she saw me, though she quickly recovered, sliding her arm through Jasper’s with practiced possessiveness.
"Freya," she acknowledged with a tight smile. "How... unexpected to see you here."
"I’m assisting with the transition," I replied evenly. "One month, and then the Stone Lake Pack will be entirely in your... capable hands."
Her eyes narrowed at my pause, catching the subtle insinuation. Jasper cleared his throat, uncomfortable with the tension crackling between us.
"We were just heading to my office to discuss the Blackwood situation," he said.
Mia’s perfectly manicured hand tightened on his arm. "But darling, you promised to introduce me to the department heads this morning. Everyone’s gathered in the conference room."
I raised an eyebrow. "Department heads? For what purpose?"
"As the future Luna of the Stone Lake Pack, I need to establish my presence in the company," Mia explained with sugary condescension. "Jasper thinks it’s important that I take a more... active role, now that you’re abandoning your responsibilities."
Several nearby employees had slowed their pace, clearly eavesdropping on our conversation. I noticed how they exchanged glances—not everyone was buying Mia’s act.
"Well, don’t let me keep you from your... active role," I said, stepping back. "I’ll review the Blackwood documentation while you handle the introductions."
Jasper frowned. "You should join us, Freya. The department heads respect you. Your endorsement would—"
"Make my replacement more palatable?" I finished for him. "I don’t think so."
Mia’s smile turned triumphant. "It’s probably for the best anyway. These transitions can be so awkward." She raised her voice slightly, ensuring nearby staff could hear. "After all, everyone knows what happens to wolves abandoned by their Alphas. They either find a new pack or become..." she paused dramatically, "rogues."
The word hung in the air like a slap. In wolf society, there was no greater insult than implying someone wasn’t worthy of pack belonging. Several employees froze, shocked by her blatant disrespect.
"What a fascinating perspective," I replied, my voice dangerously soft. "Especially coming from someone who’s been part of this pack for what... three weeks?"
Mia stepped closer, emboldened by Jasper’s presence beside her. "I may be new, but I’m the Alpha’s mate. His chosen Luna." Her eyes gleamed with malice.
I took a step closer to Mia, who visibly flinched."Before you attempt to diminish my standing here, remember this: an Alpha’s mate who has contributed nothing yet to this pack has no ground to stand on when challenging its Gamma."
The silence that followed was absolute. Even Jasper seemed momentarily stunned by my display of authority. I rarely used my rank to dominate others—it had always seemed a cheap tactic compared to earning genuine respect—but I refused to let Mia’s petty attacks go unchallenged.
"Freya," Jasper finally spoke, his voice tight with controlled anger. "That’s enough."
Of course he would defend her. I had expected nothing less, yet the familiar sting of his betrayal still cut deeper than I wanted to admit.
"She was simply expressing concern about your future," he continued, his hand moving protectively to the small of Mia’s back. "There was no need to respond with such... aggression."
I stared at him in disbelief. Even now, after all that had happened between us, he couldn’t see—or wouldn’t acknowledge—the deliberate cruelty in Mia’s words.
"If you want Stone Lake to recover from this transition," I said quietly, "you need to recognize the rot that’s already setting in." My eyes moved deliberately to Mia. "Some influences will destroy what you’ve built faster than any external threat ever could."
Jasper’s expression hardened. "Watch yourself, Freya. Remember who you’re speaking to."
"Oh, I remember perfectly," I replied, feeling Artemis’s disdain mirroring my own. "I’ve spent eight years remembering exactly who you are, Jasper. The question is whether you’ll remember what Stone Lake needs before it’s too late."
I turned away, addressing one of the senior managers who had witnessed the entire exchange. "Mark, please gather the Blackwood files in the small conference room. I’ll review them there."
Without waiting for Jasper’s response, I walked away, my back straight and head held high. Behind me, I could hear Mia’s hushed, indignant whispers and Jasper’s low, placating responses.