Mated to My Intended's Enemy novel Chapter 230

Chapter 230: Chapter 230 Confrontation

Freya’s POV

The small town square that bordered our territory buzzed with afternoon shoppers, their casual chatter a stark contrast to the ice-cold dread crawling up my spine. I abandoned my car at a crooked angle and sprinted toward the ice cream shop, my wolf senses straining to catch any trace of Isabella’s familiar scent or Aurora’s distinctive perfume.

Empty. The cheerful pastel interior mocked my rising panic.

"They left about fifteen minutes ago," the elderly shopkeeper said, his weathered face creasing with concern as he took in my frantic expression. "The little one seemed... off. Not crying, mind you, but that spark she usually has? Gone. Made my old heart ache to see it."

My pulse thundered in my ears. "Which direction?"

"The blonde woman mentioned something about puppies at the pet store." His brow furrowed. "Strange thing though—when I offered to wrap up some of those lavender cookies Isabella loves, the woman got real sharp with me. Said they were in a hurry."

I was already moving, my wolf instincts screaming danger. The pet store sat three blocks away, dangerously close to where civilization gave way to the wild forest that concealed our pack lands. Perfect for a quiet disappearance.

Halfway there, Isabella’s scent hit me like a physical blow.

Terror. Pure, undiluted fear.

I rounded the corner and the scene that greeted me made my vision blur red with rage. Aurora’s manicured fingers were wrapped around Isabella’s thin wrist like a shackle, dragging my daughter toward a black SUV with windows so dark they looked like empty eye sockets. Isabella’s little sneakers scraped against the asphalt as she fought with every ounce of her four-year-old strength, her face set in the same stubborn defiance that marked every Blackwood alpha.

"Isabella!" The name tore from my throat.

My daughter’s head snapped up, hope blazing in her dark eyes. "Mommy!"

Aurora froze mid-step, then turned with the fluid grace of a predator, her expression morphing into a smile so sickeningly sweet it made my stomach churn.

"Freya, darling, what perfect timing," she purred, not loosening her grip on Isabella’s wrist. "The poor little one was beside herself missing you. I thought I’d surprise you both with a visit to your office."

"In an unmarked vehicle? No car seat?" I took a measured step forward, every fiber of my being focused on the space between Aurora and my child. "With my daughter clearly terrified? Let. Her. Go."

Aurora’s smile only widened. "Terrified? Don’t be ridiculous. We were having a wonderful adventure, weren’t we, Isabella?"

Isabella used Aurora’s momentary distraction to wrench free, her small legs pumping as she ran to me. I swept her into my arms, burying my face in her dark curls and breathing in her scent to convince my wolf she was safe.

"It’s okay, my brave girl," I whispered, my lips pressed to her temple. "Mommy’s here now."

"She said you were waiting somewhere special," Isabella’s voice trembled against my neck. "But my head got all buzzy and prickly like when the bad storms come. Something was wrong, Mommy. Really wrong."

The very air seemed to thicken around us as he approached, and I felt Isabella’s small body relax against mine for the first time since I’d found them.

"This is all a misunderstanding," Aurora’s voice took on a honeyed quality as she turned her attention to Silvano, her posture shifting into something almost seductive. "I was simply trying to reunite Isabella with her mother. The poor child has been so lonely with Freya working such long hours lately."

I felt Isabella’s fingers tighten in my shirt. When she spoke, her young voice rang clear and true in the charged air.

"That’s not what you said." Despite her fear, my daughter lifted her chin with unmistakable Blackwood pride. "You said my blood was special. That it could make Daddy better if we went to the scary place with the other lady."

The temperature seemed to drop ten degrees as Silvano’s expression turned murderous. "You spoke of using my daughter’s blood?" His words emerged as barely human growls, his alpha presence expanding until the very ground seemed to vibrate beneath our feet. "You threatened my heir?"

Aurora stumbled backward, genuine fear finally cracking her composure. "It’s not a threat, Silvano! The fairy bloodline she carries—it’s the key to breaking your curse. I’ve been researching ways to save you—"

"You’ve been conspiring," I cut in, my voice steady despite the fury boiling in my veins. "The magical signature I traced from my compromised files leads directly back to the same witch who cursed Silvano. The same witch whose dark energy has been clinging to you for months."

Aurora’s gaze darted between us like a trapped animal seeking escape. "You can’t prove any of that."

"Actually," came a new voice from behind us, crisp with authority, "she can."