ia's

o look away, too relieved by the sudden qui

ared

es narrowed slightly, studying me with an intensity that shou

tween us, loaded with so

heard the guide's thought from nea

wasn

g in my head, a man who gave me silence felt

astian Simons-the violence, the dead wives, the cruelty

he'd been waiting his entire lif

ce a low rumble that sent an in

sa

ntensified, tracking every movement I made

hought drifted from behind me. *He barely looked at the others for

ed the s

, his fingers steepled beneath

observation, tinged with somethi

be?" I ask

smallest hint of a smile.

ad something to lose,"

lted his head slightly, those gree

us felt different no

d six wives. The notorious Alpha whose temper was legendar

alm. As long as I sat here, in his presence, my min

aid finally. "The same one I've asked every

rig

mes have I b

asn't exactly a secret. The whole s

more dangerous, "that a man who can't maintain a successful

uestion that had made

him incompetent. Answer no, and you're dismissing the s

e navigating traps set by p

relationships have nothing to do with professional capability. Some of the most

le

lting into something darker, more pleased.

g answer,"

between us. I could smell him now-mint and ceda

name on his lips sending another involuntary

tered to a ha

usement. "Give me one good reason why I shoul

re

eason why he sh

ghts sc

ther I walked out of here as Sebastian Simons'

rciful silence his presence gave me, mad

mo

ose intense green eyes, "I have abso

ose fractional

ered story, every sensational headline-they're all dead or missing. So if you're looking for wife number seven to f

t, the room wa

ons threw his head

ite chuckle or

his entire face. The harsh lines softened. The coldn

are either the bravest woman I'v

I be

ened into som

re you so confident you'll b

nly person in this entire building whose mind is blessedly, perfectly sil

dn't say a

e because my family's pack is drowning in debt and you're the life raft they've thrown me toward. I

his expression-surprise

eated, tasting the

seventh wife.

intain eye contact. God, he was tall. Towering. The kin

n't lower

my seventh bride? Then I'll give you a chance, if only for your courage. But remember-it doesn't matter

ng back at me over his shoulder. "Are you comi

haking hands that I hoped he didn't notice. "I

see abo

e room, every single pair of ey

ion? " the guide asked in a low voice, con

bastian tilted his chin