Chapter 148

Freya The elevator chimed open,and I stepped into Stone Lake headquarters for the last time. One month. That was the deal—thirty days to tie up loose ends,smooth over trade negotiations,and clean up the mess Mia had made pretending to be Luna. Today,my contract expired. Today,I walked away for good. The thought should have made me feel nothing but relief. And it did—mostly. There was a restaurant reservation waiting for me tonight,a silk dress hanging in my closet,and a man who actually wanted me for who I was. Still,my chest tightened as the familiar glass doors came into view. Old habits die hard. The perfume hit me first. Sickly sweet,cloying. I didn't even need to see her to know. "You scheming bitch," she hissed,her eyes flashing amber as her wolf pushed forward. "I knew you couldn't be trusted." Artemis growled deep in my chest,but I kept my expression neutral. After eight years as Gamma,I'd perfected the art of not revealing my emotions. "Good morning to you too,Mia," I replied