Chapter 180

Silvano I stood in the shadow-draped study, smoke curling from between my fingers as Maria's words hung in the air like a poisonous fog. The scent of Freya had drifted into the room moments earlier—then disappeared. Had she overheard us? A knot formed in my gut at the thought. "I know what kind of woman I want," I growled, cutting Maria off before she could say another word about Aurora. The family matchmaker had been pushing suitable Alpha females at me for years, never accepting that I had already found my Luna, my mate. Maria frowned. "But—" Whatever she intended to say died on her lips when she caught my expression. "You're so protective of her, won't even let me say a word. Fine, I'll stop talking, okay?" I turned away, staring out the window into the darkness of our territory. The moon hung heavy above the treeline, a silver reminder of the Goddess who had blessed—or perhaps cursed—me with this bond to a woman whose wolf spirit called to mine like no other. "Oh right," Maria sudd