MasukSeeing Agnes leaning over Marcus at the other end of the cafeteria made Bella roll her eyes.Others inhaled attention rather than just receiving it.With a thud, Bella sat down beside her friends and slid her tray forward as if the world could not possibly interrupt her."That was disturbing and impressive at the same time," Eve muttered as she picked at her food. "Mostly unsettling."“Just pretend they don't exist,” Joy leaned in and whispered. “They thrive on reactions.”Across the table, Morgan caught Bella’s gaze and gave her a rueful smile—an unspoken you survived. She returned it, grateful for the quiet support.School passed without incident, which felt like a small miracle. No public confrontations. No territorial growls from Marcus. No whispered rumors drifting too close.Bella arrived at the conclusion that she enjoyed quiet days.By the time nighttime approached, she was huddled up in her bed, staring fixedly at the ceiling with her phone relaxed in her grasp.Maybe tonight
Bella noticed Dave Stark’s name before she even registered the vibration of her phone.Her heart leapt, light and reckless, the way it always did when his name appeared. She’d saved his contact with a simple white heart—nothing dramatic, nothing loud. Just quiet certainty.She fixed her gaze on the screen for a moment too long and then looked up at Morgan, who stood next to the large, charcoal-gray Aurex VX that was parked under the bright floodlights outside the estate hall.“Are you sure you want to leave already?” Bella asked, trying to sound casual. “You could stay longer. Everyone’s still… enjoying themselves.”Morgan smiled faintly, a smile that never quite reached his eyes. “Parties aren’t really my scene. I’ll be much happier once I’m out of this place," he said."Yes," she nodded, understanding more than she was saying. It had been a rough night, with too many people watching and too many things left unsaid. Bella quickly sent a message to Sandra and Nova, letting them know M
All eyes in the room turned to Bella at the same time.The music pulsed harder, the bass thundering through the crowded room, but it was as if the world itself had shrunk down to a solitary, choking focus. Warmth slithered up her back. The aroma of alcohol, perspiration, and wolf musk filled the air.But then came the sound of footsteps from a few feet away, the approaching figure being none other thanAlpha Marcus.Her former mate.He lifted his glass in a mocking salute, eyes glinting silver beneath the hanging lights. "Why don't we make this interesting?" he drawled, his voice carrying effortlessly over the noise. "Why don't we make it just you and me?"Bella's heart slammed against her ribs.He leaned in closer.Instinct yelled at her to back off, but as she turned to do so, her back collided with solid bodies behind. Too many. Too close. It was as if the room itself had conspired to cage her in.Her pulse skyrocketed.Did he mind-link them?The space suddenly felt too tight. Too
Dave Stark gently set Bella down on the bed as if she were some precious but dangerous merchandise.With one hand pressed against the side of her head and the other reaching out for her, he came close to her as if the only thing that kept him sane was to close as much space as he could between them. His eyes wandered over her face as if committing her features to memory.Bella’s breathing was shallow.Then, in one smooth motion, Dave stood up to remove his white T-shirt by taking it off over his head.Her eyes betrayed her.Broad shoulders. Muscular arms honed from violence and training. A powerful chest expanding and contracting with controlled inhalations. A hint of body hair disappearing into the waistband, tempered abs disappearing into low-slung black jeans."Perfection" was a very weak word.A dark glint flickered in Dave's eyes as he noticed the way her eyes lingered.He whispered, "You’re perfect."Then he kissed her.Not gently.Not carefully.He pressed his lips to hers as i
As soon as the words escaped her lips, Bella regretted saying them.The silence that followed was oppressive rather than awkward.Dave Stark was a few feet away from her, his jaw locked so tight that it made a tickly spot beneath his skin. Suddenly, the loft, which was this private space of his, seemed to be shrinking, with walls closing in on the conversation to hear."So," chewing nervously on the gum she had foolishly put into her mouth only minutes before, Bella spoke. "Are you interested in seeing me nude? Is that all you want? Want me to strip for you?*The question was half-trembling, halfWhy did she make such statements at all?She fidgeted with the hem of his shirt, which was too large for her. It smelled of his scent. Clean. Dark. Dangerous.Dave looked just as tense.“No,” he said after a beat. Then he corrected himself. “I mean—yes. But not like that.”She blinked.He dragged a hand through his hair, pacing once before stopping. “You asked about the pictures. It’s not… a
Bella had not been sleeping well.Desire was a restless thing that curled around her ribs like smoke that lingered, not because she was afraid or doubted.She was startled from her reverie by the thrum of a very powerful engine.Just as the early morning mist began to clear from the street, a matte-black Aston Martin Vantage appeared at Linda's townhouse. The car's predatory, expensive, sleek design made it seem out of place among the modest buildings surrounding the area.Dave Stark stepped out.He was noticeable even from a distance.Tall, wide-shouldered. Wearing a charcoal coat and dark slacks, he exuded quiet authority. The air changed just by his presence, as if the world moved to make room for him.Before Bella could even get to him, her breath caught.Dave's firm, possessive hand was on her jaw as soon as she slid into the passenger seat, turning her face in his direction.His mouth claimed hers without warning.The kiss was deep. Hungry. The kind that replaced thought with he







