Chapter 228

Freya's POV The minutes crawled by after Silvano left the bedroom. Every fiber of my being ached to follow him, to curl against his body regardless of the consequences. My wolf, Selene, whined mournfully inside me, unable to comprehend why we were voluntarily separating from our mate. *It's to save him,* I reminded her silently. *To save us both.* I packed methodically, selecting clothes and essentials with the precision I typically reserved for my research. By dawn's first light, my suitcases stood ready by the door. I'd barely slept, my mind racing with questions, theories, and the terrifying implications of what lay ahead. The curse's progression rate from my analysis gave Silvano weeks at most if we continued on our current path. Complete separation might buy us time, but at what emotional cost? I slipped quietly to Isabella's room, needing to see her one more time before leaving. She lay curled on her side, dark hair fanned across her pillow, looking so much like a miniature versi