Annabel

I don’t walk out of FBI custody until noon the next day. It took some red tape to cut through, but with the recording on my phone of Senator Flack ordering his lackeys to kill me, and my boss, Agent Tentrite presenting the report I filed yesterday, they released me without charge.

Tentrite escorts me out, a comforting hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry about wiping that file on your dad and telling you to back off. I should’ve questioned my orders a little closer.”

“No, I understand. You were just doing your job.” I look around the busy lobby. “Where’s Agent Dune?” I ask. “Has he been released?”

“Yes, he walked an hour ago. He turned in his resignation.”

My heart plummets. He’ll be leaving again. He has to. Just because he came back to save me doesn’t mean he can stay.

And yet the idea of letting him go again is like my face scraping concrete.

I walk outside and blink in the sunlight, fumbling with my phone to call a Lyft. My ride is accepted immediately, and it tells me the driver, Tom is one minute away. I watch for the white Honda Accord, a heavy pit in my stomach.

Charlie didn’t even wait for me. Did he leave a message? I fumble with my phone, trying to get onto our private server. The white car pulls up. I step toward it without looking up from my screen.

A deep, familiar voice says, “Where to, ma’am?”

My head flies up. “Charlie!” I throw myself at him with a strangling hold.

His teasing grin dissolves into something more serious. “Annabel.” He cups the back of my head, and I wince when he touches the bruise left by Senator Flack.

“You’re hurt.” Fury blazes in his eyes.

“Flack knocked me out.” I rub the place. “I don’t know what he hit me with.”

“You should’ve been taken to the hospital for a once-over, not kept here overnight.”

I smile at his vehemence. “Thanks, but I’ll be okay.” I look at the running car. “So, what? You already have a new job?”

His lips twitch. “I may have borrowed a Lyft driver’s car for a few hours. I wanted to be the one to pick you up.”

“How’d you know I ordered a Lyft?”

He shrugs. “I have my ways.”

“I was afraid you left,” I admit, dropping my eyes when my voice wobbles.

He lifts my chin. “Did you... want me to stick around?”

It’s the first time I’ve seen Charlie Dune look vulnerable, and it attacks my heart in a way I didn’t know was possible. It lends me strength—courage. I grab his shirt in both my fists and twist.

“I’m not letting you go figure your wolf thing out on your own. I’m going with you. Wherever you go. I know you like to work alone, but that’s tough. You might need me. Even if it’s to… put you down.” It’s a lie. I could never shoot Charlie, but I’m feeding him what I think he might accept from me.

To my surprise, he grins. “Is that so?”

I haven’t seen him this jaunty since he showed up and ate my ice cream cone. It’s a look I happen to adore on him.

I stand on my tiptoes and lean my face up to his. “Yes.”

“What about your job?”

“I’ll turn in my resignation, too.”

He claims my lips in that passionate way of his—a firm, demanding kiss. “That’s good, baby. Because I found out something about that bite I gave you.”

I stiffen. Oh God, I’m going to be a wolf, too. Well, as long as I’m with Charlie, I’m up for anything.

“What did you find out?”

His gaze is tender. He strokes my cheek with his thumb.

“It means you’re mine. Forever. I marked you with my scent so no other wolves will touch you.”

Laughter bubbles up from my lips. “What? That’s ridiculous.”

He shrugs, smiling. “Ridiculous but true. And the reason I was going crazy, scratching to get in the cabin that night is my wolf had already chosen you as my life mate. He needed to seal the deal or else he’d go moon mad.”

I roll my eyes, laughing. “And I’m not given a choice in the matter.”

Charlie sobers. “Of course, you are. If you tell me to go away, I’ll…” He rubs his forehead. “Well, actually, I’m not sure I can leave you now, angel. But I would do my best if you insisted.”

I’ve never felt so light in my life. The man I thought would never settle down, could never be pinned to one place or person is telling me he’ll never leave. It’s more than I ever hoped for. I choke up.

“Charlie…”

He studies my face, his body language changing slightly, drawing back. “It’s okay. I won’t hold you to anything. I promise.”

“No.” I shake my head. “I have to bear these scars.” I touch my shoulder where he bit me. “You damn well better stick around.”

“Yeah?” I’ve never seen such a wide grin on his face. It’s spectacular.

“Yeah. I’ve always wanted my very own secret agent man. Now I have one.”

“At your service,” he murmurs, looping one arm around my waist and drawing my body right up against his.

“Did you really quit?”

He nods. “Yeah. It would be hard to keep watch over you if they were constantly sending me all over the globe on missions.

“What will you do for work?”

He shrugs. “I have plenty of money. We don’t have to work unless you want to.”

I blink up at him in surprise. “H-how?”

“Secret agent salaries can be pretty flexible, considering the job and risk involved. And my living expenses have been paid for since the day I enlisted. All my money has been in offshore accounts, growing interest. We’re rich.”

He said we.

There’s a we.

I can hardly believe it. “We are?”

“Rich enough. Where do you want to live, angel?”

“I don’t care,” I answer without thought. “As long as I’m with you.”