Maxwell exchanged a look with his father-in-law. It was all too obvious that Adam wasn't lying. He had done something, perhaps put poison in the children's food, or even hired someone from inside the house to inject his children with something that perhaps only he had the antidote for, since all of Maxwell's biological children were born like his kind, and Adam did know how to kill his children. They needed to get more information out of Adam, but Maxwell and Henry had no more doubts. Those children's lives were in danger. And all they could do, at that moment, was give in to their brother's wishes, because they knew that Adam would endure the cruelest of tortures, say nothing, and leave his revenge in place. They couldn't comfort that Alpha openly. Maxwell couldn't help thinking that not everything was really his brother's fault. Alphas were legendary and bloodthirsty creatures. They couldn't very well tell the difference between affection and a punch. Maxwell knew that Adam oft
Bonnie looked at her suspiciously. “Well then, I'll tell you what I want first. And then I'll give you some advice, followed by information about what you want, Adam.” “Please.” “All right. I want you to promise that you won't stand in the way of my relationship with Adam under any circumstances, and that you'll never demand that he stay only with you, as a condition of having a life and a family together.” “Bonnie, I have no interest...” “I know you don't yet, Anna.” Bonnie interrupted her. “But can you promise me that?” “Of course. I promise.” “Well then, here's my advice; do what Adam is demanding, now. Set your conditions. Negotiate with him, while he's willing to give in, and find a way to go with him to the United States.” “What kind of advice is that? Maw Maw didn't give me any information, Bonnie! I can't do that. I can't abandon my children and my husband to go back with Adam. My life is different now, and there's no room for him.” “Then your children a
Anna approached and stood next to Maxwell, who hugged her tightly, noticing that she was trembling. “Have you seen what I've brought for your family, Daddy? Are you satisfied?” Anna asked angrily. “I'm sorry, child.” Anna turned to Adam. “Adam, I'm coming with you. I have some conditions, but I want you to free my family first. Maxwell let go of Anna and stared at her as if he didn't know her. “That won't guarantee that they stay alive. Only after we reach the United States will I free them from any threat.” Adam said calmly. “Do it.” Anna said between breaths. Adam took out his cell phone and called someone. He put it on speaker. “You can release them and leave the room. But they must remain inside the house until I say they can be released. Leave them locked up in the living room. No one goes in and no one comes out.” Maxwell looked at Adam, as if he only just understood his wife's attitude. He closed his hand and was about to punch his brother again when An
Maxwell pondered those words. There was even a chance that what Adam had said about Ian could happen if he let him take his son. He could resist. It would start a war, the secret of his kind would be revealed, but he wouldn't care about any of that if it served to protect his family. He needed to risk everything, so as not to be left with nothing. Anna really needed to know the meaning of her origin, the alliance and everything it could do and he always knew that day would come, even if he denied it to himself. Anna needed to turn into the mist. But there was something Adam wasn't remembering. And he smiled internally. The day the mist inside Anna revealed itself, Luna, destined for the Alpha, would also manifest, and they would be drawn together like magnets. Everything Adam felt for Anna would pale into insignificance next to what he felt for his Luna. Maxwell decided that he would let them sort it out, but he would never give up his right to hear Ian call him father. Even if An
Maxwell opened his mouth to reply, but Bonnie entered the room and he stopped himself. Whoever she was, she didn't deserve to hear the insults she would say to her brother. His mother had always insisted that he should treat every woman like a lady. And he made an effort to do so, when it was possible. “Well?” She asked, dropping the two wheelie suitcases on the floor. “Are we ready?” “We'll wait for Anna and her father.” Adam said, and she sat down next to him. Anna packed her suitcases with only the bare necessities. Adam would have to buy her new clothes. Once her suitcase was packed, she went into Ian's room to talk to Beth. “Beth, leave me alone with my son, please.” “Okay.” She said and left, but first she messed up Ian's hair. Anna went over to him, who was playing on his wooden horse, and sat down in the armchair. “Ian... We're going on a trip...” “With Uncle Adam?” “Yes. With him.” “Are we all going?” “You, me and Grandpa are going.” Ian frowned, a
“Ian will only be in the United States for a month. After that, he wants to be close to his family here.” Anna said firmly, interrupting their obvious connection. Anna had no doubt that they could communicate through their minds and had fun with it. What she didn't know was that Adam produced images of the fantasies in Ian's mind, such as him punching his brothers, and that Ian liked it. She turned to Maxwell, who was staring at her happily. “Is that really what you want, Ian?” Adam asked calmly, when everyone expected him to be disappointed, and with a new idea springing to mind. “Yes, Uncle. Actually, I didn't even want to go...” “I agree to let you stay with me for a month. If you change your mind, you can stay with me. If you don't, I'll let you go back to Scotland, on the condition that you talk to me every day on the computer or on your cell phone. I'll give you both.” “Dad won't let me have those things yet.” Adam looked at Maxwell, who was smiling proudly at I
Anna came out with the suitcases and they left, after Ian and Anna had said a long goodbye to Maxwell. Maxwell stayed in the empty room for a while. His tears fell without changing his expression. After a long time, which seemed like hours to him, when the impression of energy left by his wife and son faded, he went to his room and then remembered Anna's note. He entered the room, sat down on the bed and only then did he open the note. “I can't live away from you. Take our family and go to America, rent a house in Las Vegas under someone else's name. I'll make Dad our personal courier. I know we can't trust him completely, but we have to. He'll arrange our meetings, and he'll help us throw Adam off the scent, so that it can happen without risk. I love you, Max. I'll keep my promise.” Maxwell smiled tenderly and felt life become colorful again. His wife was a genius. The next day, his family would probably be released from captivity and then he would do as Anna said. He felt
Anna arrived back at Adam's mansion with a heavy heart. Although she remembered that when she had first seen the house, she had wanted to live in it, because it was exactly the way she had always wanted, she could no longer remember the good times she had had there. There was nothing left for her, and she felt agony at the thought of having to live in that house again for an indefinite period of time. She looked at Ian, and he seemed excited. She didn't know if, like her, the house was exercising in him the same childhood dream of the perfect life. She still didn't understand what had happened to Adam, who got out of his car in Las Vegas and got into another car that she knew Bonnie was in. He had changed into the Adam she had known. He didn't talk, he didn't laugh, he didn't look at her, there was only indifference in his eyes. But he said goodbye to her and Ian, promising that he would visit the next day, when they were rested from their trip, and that he had things he neede