As Bella approached her office, she once again noticed Beta Benzy and Gamma Macky lounging in the waiting room chairs just outside. They had been there the day before, too—didn’t they have anything more productive to do? Her gaze shifted to Jordan, who still seemed uneasy in their presence. He handed her a stack of messages before subtly gesturing toward three men seated further down the hallway.
Bella turned to observe the trio. All three pairs of eyes locked onto her. They were wolves, though none belonged to her pack. She could sense the distinct scents of various packs but couldn’t identify their origins. None of them spoke; they merely stared, their silence unnerving yet laden with intent.
Redirecting her focus to Jordan, Bella offered him a warm smile. “Do they have appointments?” she inquired.
“Yes, Bella,” Jordan replied. “They’re scheduled right after Mr. Beta and Mr. Gamma.”
She almost laughed at his formal use of their ranks as surnames. Though the wolves undoubtedly had last names, it was typical in wolfen culture to introduce oneself by rank.
“Mr. Delta from Eclipse & Co. is set for 11:45, another Mr. Delta from Harvest Moon Co. at 12, and John from Moonlight Entertainment at 12:15,” he added.
At least one of them was smart enough to introduce themselves as a human, she thought. “Thanks, Jordan,” she said with a nod, stepping into her office. She placed her briefcase on the desk and glanced at the stack of messages. Most bore human company names but carried the unmistakable undertones of pack affiliations. It was evident she was going to be busy navigating the intricate web of alliances, weeding out genuine offers from strategic posturing or outright threats. Fortunately, the human formalities surrounding these dealings gave her the advantage of time.
Sitting down, Bella began drafting a list of the packs that had reached out to her. For those she couldn’t identify, she planned to call and have them declare their affiliations. With this many inquiries, she was confident they would all answer her calls, though the initial contact would likely be with Deltas. Genuine offers of partnership, however, would eventually require formalized agreements signed by Betas or Alphas, as such matters were never entrusted to lower-ranking wolves. For now, her priority was filtering out insubstantial overtures from the serious ones.
By 11 a.m., her first appointment still hadn’t arrived. Matt’s tardiness was uncharacteristic. Bella stepped out of her office for the first time that morning and glanced down the hallway. “Jordan, has Matt called? It’s not like him to be late,” she asked.
Jordan shook his head.
She was just about to pull out her phone to call him when her sharp wolf hearing picked up the chime of the elevator. She glanced up, her face lighting up with a radiant smile. There he was, stepping out, a massive bouquet of flowers in hand.
Bella walked down the hall to meet him, acutely aware of Beta Benzy and Gamma Macky’s watchful eyes. Matt greeted her with a warm embrace, and she hugged him tightly. It had been a week since she’d last seen him and Nina, though they had spoken almost every other day.
Today, he was here on business, which surprised her. Matt had family lawyers to handle his affairs—what could he possibly need her expertise for?
Matt surveyed the waiting area with a sharp, critical gaze, his brow furrowing deeply. His eyes briefly locked with Beta Benzy’s, a silent exchange that carried no hint of fear. Still, as he stepped into Bella’s office, he couldn’t keep his disdain contained. “Those two belong to the prick who kidnapped you, right?” he said, jerking a thumb toward the pair.
Bella stifled a laugh. Matt must have seen the press conference and recognized them instantly. She nodded, and the low growls that emanated from both Benzy and Macky didn’t escape her sharp ears. The insult toward their childhood friend and Alpha was a blatant affront, one they clearly weren’t inclined to tolerate. If Matt had been anything other than human—and if this hadn’t been the human world—a fight would have undoubtedly erupted as her Alpha’s Beta and Gamma asserted their dominance.
Matt moved on quickly, his tone shifting. “So, this is a business call? You and Nina seemed fine,” he said, though his query carried a hint of curiosity. Bella couldn’t imagine it was anything related to marital issues. Matt adored Nina, worshipped her, even. Divorce was not in their cards.
He handed her a bouquet. “From Nina. And yes, we’re both fine,” he chuckled. Bella accepted the flowers, already arranged in a chic white-and-gold box—no vase required. They were her favorites: yellow tulips and white gerberas, a clear indication of Nina’s thoughtfulness and attention to detail.
“Tell Nina thank you; they’re beautiful,” Bella said, setting them on her desk with a fond smile. “So, what can I help you with today, Matt?”
His demeanor grew serious. “It’s Dani. She’s met someone and wants to get married. Nina and I both want an iron-clad prenup, and of course, I thought of you for my baby girl.”
Bella blinked in surprise. “Dani? She’s only 18! Isn’t she just starting university? Has she lost her mind?”
“Exactly,” Matt replied, exasperation dripping from his voice. “Apparently, she met him there and is already convinced he’s her soulmate. Neither Nina nor I are happy about this, but Dani’s as stubborn as they come.”
“How long has she even known this guy? And what’s his name?” Bella pressed, her disbelief growing.
Matt ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “A bloody week. Maybe less. His name is Julian, and he claims to come from some big-deal family out east. Now his parents are here, and they want to meet us to discuss the marriage.”
Bella frowned. “A week? And they’re already talking about marriage?”
“Yep,” Matt muttered, his tone laced with frustration. “Dani’s been begging for two days straight. Nina finally gave in, so we’re meeting them this Friday night.”
Bella sank into the couch in her office, her thoughts spinning. Matt joined her, shaking his head in disbelief that mirrored her own. It didn’t add up. Among wealthy humans, marriages were never rushed. Families vetted each other for months, negotiated prenups meticulously, and conducted thorough investigations to weed out scams or cons. Weddings were planned over a year, at minimum.
