로그인Anabella had barely released Reed's ear when the bastard straightened his jacket and announced that he deserved compensation.She was already heading toward the conference room door, but his words made her glance over her shoulder. Reed followed her with a thoroughly pleased expression, rubbing his ear as though she'd genuinely injured him, although they both knew he had enjoyed every second of it.“Compensation for what? I should be charging you for embarrassing me in front of those people.”“For behaving myself when your ex called me a brute criminal. Do you have any idea how much self-control that required?” Reed caught up with her as she stepped into the corridor, then lowered his voice. “And after that beautiful speech you gave defending my honor, I think a kiss would be reasonable.”Anabella stopped near the elevator and turned to look at him. “What honor? Reed, you have a criminal record long enough to qualify as a family history. I wasn't defending your reputation because ther
Alex didn't leave.The lawyers had begun closing their folders, and one of the Ashland representatives was already speaking quietly with Mr. Carter about arranging another meeting to begin the actual separation process, but Alex remained seated across from Anabella. The anger that had flashed across his face after her suggestion that he marry Vivienne had disappeared beneath the calm expression he normally wore when negotiating pack matters.Anabella knew that expression.She had watched him use it on hostile Alphas, stubborn investors and council members who needed to be convinced they had arrived at his preferred decision by themselves. Apparently she had finally graduated into the same category.“Anabella, think about what you're actually walking away from.” Alex rested his hands on the table rather than reaching for her. At least he had learned something from the dagger at his throat. “Forget the wedding for a moment. As my Luna, you wouldn't simply be my wife. You'd have author
By the time Anabella returned to her office, Ella was waiting outside the conference room with her arms folded and the particular expression she wore when someone had been testing her patience for too long. “They've been here twenty-three minutes,” she said, falling into step beside Anabella. “Alex brought two lawyers and three Ashland representatives. Your family sent Mr. Carter from legal, and before you ask, no, nobody has killed anybody yet.” “Shame.” Reed reached past Anabella for the conference-room door. “I can fix that.” She caught his wrist before he touched the handle. “You promised to behave.” “I promised not to bring a gun.” Anabella stared at him. Reed stared back with the relaxed innocence of a man who had probably committed several crimes before breakfast. There was no point arguing so she released him, opened the door herself and walked inside. The room quieted immediately. Alex sat on one side of the long table, his lawyers and representatives arrange
The intelligence room was nothing like the rest of Shadowfang. The quiet elegance outside ended the moment Reed opened the door. Screens covered most of one wall, while a long table held tablets, files and enough surveillance photographs to make Anabella wonder how many people Reed had professionally stalked before breakfast.Then she saw her own face on the largest screen.Anabella stopped beside the table and sighed. “If I came all the way here so someone could explain that picture to me again, I'm leaving.”Reed pulled out a chair for her, apparently choosing to ignore the threat. “You wound me, Bella. Shadowfang has an excellent reputation.”“For murder?”He grinned before he reolied, “For customer satisfaction.”Mara walked in behind them with her tablet tucked beneath one arm. The woman who had spent the last several minutes discussing Reed's miserable sex life disappeared almost instantly, her expression becoming serious as she crossed to the screen. “You can stay. The photogra
By the time Anabella finished breakfast, showered and changed, Reed had somehow transformed from the lunatic who climbed through her bedroom window into the man people lowered their voices to discuss.His change wasn't completely though. He still stole her coffee during the drive and took a shameless sip before she snatched it back. When he informed her that sharing drinks was an important stage of marriage, Anabella wiped the rim with her thumb and reminded him that poisoning one's husband was also part of some marriages. Reed laughed, but once the calls started coming in, the nonsense faded naturally. His voice became shorter and colder as he moved between updates about surveillance, shipments and people Anabella didn't know.Nyx stirred after his third call. “He's annoyingly attractive when he's doing crime.”Anabella turned toward the window before her expression betrayed her. Of all the wolves she could have been born with, she had somehow received one without shame. “Please dev
Anabella refused to spend the rest of the night sitting in bed waiting for ancient magic to suddenly become reasonable. Between the covenant, the shared dream, her glowing mark and the newest question of why Reed had somehow been allowed inside something that should have belonged to Valcair and Valerio blood, she already had enough problems to occupy several lifetimes.“We're going to Shadowfang in a few hours.”Reed had been staring at her wrist, but his attention immediately shifted to her face. “We?”Anabella regretted the word almost immediately but before she could take it back, his mouth slowly curved.“Don't.” She warned Reed grin deepened, “I haven't done anything.”“You're about to become emotional because I said we. Don't.”Reed put a hand over his chest like she'd deeply moved him. “Bella, I knew thirty days would change us, but I didn't expect progress this quickly.”Anabella stared at him. Somehow, the fact that he looked completely serious made it worse. She pointed tow







