"And that ring was hers too?" Anna asked, remembering the box she had picked up from the floor.
"No. That ring, the dress and everything else I chose for you."
Anna stared at him intently.
"You made me the leader of everyone around you. Why did you do that?"
"Because you're my wife and you should be treated that way until you're not."
"Are we going to get divorced?"
He stared at her thoughtfully for a while.
"Is that what you want?"
"Are you going to give me a million dollars and give me back my freedom after the divorce?"
His eyes turned dark.
"Either that, or I'll send you to the green house."
Anna leaned back in her chair and took the ring out of the box and slipped it on her finger.
"I'd rather be your wife."
Adam smiled.
"I can't think of anyone better for the job."
Anna turned her eyes to Adam.
"Really? No one better than a fragile human and..."
"Let's not fight, Anna. Let's enjoy dinner." He said and the waiters approached with Anna's favorite dessert.
They talked about the made dishes, and Anna didn't understand why her mother liked them so much, even though she agreed that they were unbeatable.
Adam was amused as he listened to her talk about her childhood and spoke a little about his own, but he was more discreet, as if there were forbidden things back then. Anna didn't even realize that she had eaten everything that was served on her plate and when Adam called her to come home, a part of her wanted to stay there, where Adam talked to her and treated her like a lady, friend, companion and confidant. But she also wanted to leave, because that meant they would go to bed together.
Adam went with her in the car and Anna didn't like the tense silence that was interposed in the presence of other werewolves.
Anna knew it was a honeymoon with Adam. They didn't travel, but they enjoyed a romance that charmed everyone except Sarah and Kate. Anna occupied her time between preparing meals, planning the construction of a large covered hall at the side of the house where everyone would sit together for meals, and spending time with Adam. He stayed at home more and more, relaxed over meals with the werewolves and men who worked for him, and gradually moved into Anna's room for good.
Kate and Sarah looked for reasons and opportunities to provoke Anna, but she ignored them. She didn't like either of them. Kate had betrayed Allister and Sarah... Well, Sarah brought out in her what no other human being ever had. She wanted to torture her and stab her with the knife. She wanted to hear her screams of pain and her pleas for mercy and every time she got close, these thoughts became more violent and she decided that one day she would hear her screams.
The hall, built by werewolves, who were stronger and more agile than humans, was ready in thirty days. Adam was cautious at first, but then began to relax with the conversations and even take part in them. The men and werewolves who worked for him became closer, as if they were one big family. Even Caricature liked what she did, although she didn't approach him, Anna caught him staring at her in admiration a few times.
At the end of the second month, Genevieve returned with bad news. She met with Adam in the office, but even Anna, who didn't have privileged hearing, could hear Adam's screams.
"I literally don't need to justify my actions to Ryan!"
"I know..." Genevieve's quiet, sensual voice sounded. "But what did you expect? Dester always wanted to be the Alpha's guardian and when Allister won the fight, hatred was born..."
"Even if Dester had won the fight, my father would have begotten the Alpha and he would have lost his position..."
"He still believes that you could be his son, or at least that he could have some authority over you. Ryan won't hand over Italy and..."
"I'll take it..."
"...and he's gathering an army of Omegas to fight you."
"How dare he?"
"He's convincing them to become Sigmas, Adam. They'll reject his authority at the next full moon."
"The full moon will toast them to death. I haven't broken any laws. Werewolves can't turn into Sigmas without a reason."
"I think Ryan kept that part from them..."
"Ryan... I'm going to have to kill him."
"He has a reason for being a Sigma and he knows that he couldn't beat you on his own."
"Anna."
"And it wasn't just that. He contested the will."
"He did what?"
"You know that any member of the family could contest..."
The silence that followed was more threatening than Adam's altered voice.
Anna exchanged a look of fear with Jenna, who was helping her prepare dinner, along with the cook. Jenna raised her finger and put it to her lips to indicate that they should be quiet.
Anna realized that dinner was almost ready and looked determinedly at Jenna.
"I'm going to shower and change for dinner. You two should do the same." She said and when she opened the kitchen door, Genevieve had her hand raised, as if she was going to reach for the handle, but when she saw Anna, a different kind of sparkle came into her eyes and she smiled.
"Anna! But... What a surprise!"
"Hello, Genevieve. You didn't expect to find me here?"
"Oh, of course I did, miss. What I didn't expect..." She said and looked at Anna's belly, before turning to face her. "...was that you'd be accompanied. Does the boss know?"
Anna felt her world come crashing down. Her menstrual cycle! She had never had her period since losing her virginity and she hadn't thought about why. How could she have been so careless? She put her hand to her belly, still staring at Genevieve, without really seeing her, until she felt a soft touch on her arm. She looked up, coming out of her daze.
"Don't be like that, darling. It's not the end of the world. I'll keep your secret until you think you're ready." Genevieve said and walked into the kitchen, immediately starting a lively conversation with Jenna and the cook.