Mated to My Intended's Enemy-Chapter 202 Revenge

Freya’s POV

The morning sunlight streamed through the windows of my temporary apartment, casting a warm glow that contrasted with the storm of emotions brewing inside me. I carefully applied my lipstick, examining my reflection in the mirror.

After finishing a quick breakfast, I headed to SF AI Solutions, the company where Johnny had given me the opportunity to utilize my data engineering skills again. Walking through those doors felt like stepping into a world where I was valued for my mind rather than my status as Luna.

Johnny was waiting for me by my office, coffee in hand. "Morning, genius. Ready to revolutionize pack management systems today?"

I accepted the coffee with a genuine smile. "Always. The Artemis system’s integration tests are showing promising results."

We were discussing the new product development when Johnny’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen before answering, then switched to speakerphone when he heard the urgency in the caller’s voice.

"Your company pissed off the Shadow Pack recently?" the voice asked without preamble.

"What?" Johnny’s eyes widened as he looked at me.

"Someone from the Shadow pack is trying to cause trouble for your company. We intercepted the attempt."

My fingers curled into tight fists, nails digging painfully into my palms as the implications hit me. A calculated business move to punish me for daring to stand up to Aurora.

The mating bond on my chest throbbed painfully, but I ignored it. Of course, he wouldn’t bother speaking to me directly. Of course, he’d resort to flexing his power to put me back in my place. The realization sent a wave of bitter disappointment through me.

Johnny placed a comforting hand over mine. "Don’t worry. We have strong government contracts. They can’t touch us."

"Right," I managed, forcing a calm I didn’t feel.

As the call ended, I couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if Johnny’s company didn’t have such powerful connections. Would Silvano have destroyed an entire business just to punish me for opposing his precious Aurora? The thought made my wolf growl with indignation.

*"He chooses her over us, always,"* Selene snarled.

The day passed in a blur of meetings and coding, the work providing a welcome distraction from my personal turmoil. As evening approached and I was preparing to leave, my phone vibrated with Isabella’s face lighting up the screen.

"Mom, when are you coming home? I’m starving," my daughter’s voice whined through the speaker, pulling at my heartstrings despite my resolution to maintain distance. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Didn’t Sara make you anything?" I asked, already feeling the familiar tug of maternal guilt.

"But I want your cream of mushroom soup," she pleaded, reminding me of the meal she’d requested before everything fell apart. Before I’d witnessed yet another example of Silvano and Isabella’s preference for Aurora.

I rubbed my temples, hesitating. The last thing I wanted was to return to that house, to sleep in that bed while my mate’s scent surrounded me, reminding me of everything I was walking away from.

"Dad’s gone on a business trip," Isabella added. "I’m so bored, Mom. Please come home."

My heart skipped a beat. Silvano was away? The house would be free of his overwhelming presence, his judgmental gaze.

I sighed, conflicted. While Silvano and I were headed for separation, Isabella was still my responsibility. Until she turned eighteen, I had a duty to care for her, regardless of how she sometimes treated me.

"Alright," I conceded. "I’ll be there soon."

That night, I cooked Isabella’s favorites—sweet and sour ribs and the soup she’d been craving. I found a strange comfort in the familiar routine, the kitchen that had become my domain over the years. Even as I prepared to walk away from this life, these small moments of nurturing my daughter felt precious.

The next morning, Isabella was already awake and brushing her teeth when I went to tidy her room. As I picked up her discarded pajamas, I noticed her tablet light up with a message.

*"Is Bella awake yet? Auntie will be back this afternoon! We’ll have dinner together, and tomorrow I’ll take you out for fun. How does that sound?"*

Aurora’s message was overly familiar, presumptuous. Acting as if she had every right to make plans with *my* daughter. I averted my gaze quickly, carrying Isabella’s pajamas to the laundry without comment.

When I returned, Isabella was clutching her tablet protectively, angling it away from me as if I might confiscate it. The gesture hurt more than I wanted to admit—this secretive bond she shared with Aurora, this complicity in excluding me.

Instead of confronting her, I simply announced, "The dumplings are ready. Come down for breakfast."

Her face lit up as she bounced off the bed. "It’s been so long since I’ve had Mom’s dumplings! Yay!"

The weekend passed without a word from Isabella. She was undoubtedly having too much fun with Aurora to remember her mother existed. I tried not to let it bother me, focusing instead on preparing for the week ahead at SF AI Solutions.

By Monday, I was back in my element at work, throwing myself into coding sessions and strategy meetings. As the day wound down, Elena called, inviting me to dinner.

"I’ve missed you," she said, her voice warm with genuine affection. "Let me spoil my best friend for once."

The restaurant Elena chose was upscale but comfortable, reminding me of our college days when we’d save up for months to enjoy a single fancy meal together. We talked about everything and nothing, carefully avoiding the subjects of Silvano and the pack.

Halfway through dinner, I excused myself to use the restroom. As I was washing my hands, the door opened, and a familiar figure entered. My breath caught in my throat as I found myself face to face with Alpha Xander of the Eastern Ridge pack.

His eyes widened slightly in recognition. "Luna Moretti," he said, his deep voice carrying a note of surprise. "I wasn’t expecting to see you here... especially not alone."

The emphasis on "alone" didn’t escape my notice. In wolf society, a mated Luna was rarely seen without her Alpha, particularly in public settings. I straightened my shoulders, meeting his gaze directly.

"It’s just Freya, Alpha Xander," I replied, my voice steadier than I expected. "I’m having dinner with an old friend."

His eyes flickered to my neck, where my mating mark would be visible if not concealed by my blouse’s collar. The question in his gaze was clear, but he was too politically savvy to ask it directly.

"I see," he said, studying me with newfound interest. "Well, then... just Freya. It’s been a while since we’ve had a proper conversation, hasn’t it? Last time was at the Northern Alliance Summit, I believe."

I nodded, remembering how I’d been relegated to entertaining the other Lunas while Silvano and the Alphas discussed important matters. How I’d bitten my tongue when I heard them making strategic errors in their approach to the territory disputes—errors I could have helped avoid with my analytical skills.

"It has been a while," I agreed. "And much has changed since then."

Alpha Xander’s lips curved into a slight smile. "So I’ve heard. Perhaps we should catch up properly sometime. The Eastern Ridge pack has been looking to upgrade our resource management systems. I hear you’re quite the expert in that field now."

My wolf perked up at this professional acknowledgment of my skills—something I’d rarely received within my own pack in recent years.

"I would be happy to discuss it," I replied, trying not to sound too eager. "SF AI Solutions has developed several systems that might benefit your pack’s operations."

"Excellent." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card, offering it to me. "My direct number. I look forward to hearing from you... Freya."

As he left, I stared at the card in my hand, feeling a strange mixture of pride and trepidation.

I tucked the card into my purse and returned to Elena, who raised an eyebrow at my extended absence.

"Everything okay?" she asked, her tone casual but her eyes sharp.

I took a sip of my wine, considering my answer. "I just ran into Alpha Xander," I admitted. "He’s interested in SF AI Solutions’ pack management systems."

Elena’s eyebrows shot up. "Wow, that’s... a significant client. And a direct challenge to Shadow Pack’s authority in the region."

"It’s just business," I said, though we both knew that in wolf society, nothing was ever just business. Every alliance, every contract carried political weight.

"Freya," Elena said softly, leaning forward. "Are you sure you know what you’re doing? If Silvano finds out—"

"If Silvano finds out, he’ll have to deal with it," I interrupted, surprising myself with my boldness. "I’m not his property, Elena. I’m not just an extension of the Shadow Pack anymore."