How did I get into doing so much public speaking?Yes, the program to use Alpha students to help Beta and Omega families was my idea, but if I couldn’t speak clearly to my audience, I wouldn’t do any good.I was terrified I would freeze up on the stage in front of the entire school and be laughed at and mocked like I was that day in werewolf history class.“Read it to Jennifer and me,” Victor requested as we sat together in the mansion's drawing room. Jennifer was honored when we asked her to help me practice.I stood before them and began reading the speech I had written to deliver at an assembly in front of the entire school.“Hello, most of you know me, but in case you don’t, my name is Daisy Wilson.”So far so good.“I’m on this stage today to talk to you about the urgent needs of families in our community. There are city blocks full of families who don’t have the things we take for granted every day.”They don’t have the money to buy food, clothing, or to pay their rent. Many can
The response to my speech was incredible. Two days later, at least a quarter of my school’s students had volunteered their time to help in some way.Homes were being cleaned and repaired, food drives were organized, and donations to the Wilson Foundation were setting records.But my success was bringing the reporters back into my life.Yet, I didn’t mind answering their questions about the charity work being done. The publicity was making more donations pour in.“You’re doing incredibly well, Daisy,” Victor said as we sat in my office at Wilson, Inc. “You learn incredibly fast. And what you’ve done with the charity is fantastic. You should be proud of yourself.”Victor’s words made me blush, but I must admit I felt good about myself lately. Everything seemed to be falling into place.Even Alex was doing better. He couldn’t work, but he spent more time out of bed each day.My happy bubble was about to burst when one of the secretaries buzzed my desk phone.I answered. “Yes.”“Miss Wils
“We better get started,” Victor told me as we sat in my office at Wilson, Inc. “Daisy, did you hear me?”“Sorry, I guess I’m distracted or something,” I said. “I was up late last night, studying those books you loaned me, and nothing seems to stick in my mind today.”Victor looked at me with concern on his handsome face. His gorgeous turquoise eyes narrowed as they studied me.“You need a break from all this studying, but you must be ready for the test,” Victor said.“I want to keep going.” I picked up a file that was sitting in front of me. “This inventory analytics report still has me puzzled.”“I think you should take a break.” Victor’s face looked concerned. “You don’t seem to be able to concentrate lately.”There was a knock at the door, and William rushed into my office.“Sorry,” he said. “Coach wanted to talk to me, and when I finally got to the office, they said that Daisy had already signed out. I thought maybe you took a cab. Thanks for picking Daisy up from school, Victor.”
Jennifer and I were enjoying the drive. It was a beautiful afternoon with lots of sunshine and a few fluffy clouds dotting the deep blue sky.With William giving Victor directions, I saw signs for Lake Pocono after we were on the road for almost two hours.Victor turned off the highway onto a road that led to a small town. We passed a grocery store, a post office, a hardware store, a police station, and several homes.The road became narrower and tree-lined as we continued out of the town. A moment later, I was thrilled when we saw blue water between the trees. It was the lake!“Watch for a blue mailbox on this side of the road,” William said. “The driveway to our lake house is directly across from it.”We were almost there!All four of us watched the side of the road, looking for the blue mailbox.Jennifer saw it first. “There it is!”We all chuckled at her enthusiasm, but I felt the same way. I couldn’t wait to get there.Victor turned back the narrow dirt lane that wound closer and
After I announced my decision, nobody argued with me. Yet the tension in the cabin continued to build as nighttime came closer.We ate our delicious supper of cheeseburgers and potato salad washed down with iced tea while William told us the history of the lake.“The town was built in the early 1800s by a group of Alphas who rented the land near here to Betas for farming,” he said.“The lakefront property was sold to other Alphas for vacation homes about a hundred years ago, and now there are about two dozen cabins around the lake.”“Betas in this area still farm the land or live within the town, working in the shops and stores.”“Has your family owned the property for a long time?” Victor asked.“No,” William replied. “My parents bought it last year as an investment. When I left the city after Daisy’s ball, it was the first time I had been here.”After the meal, I taught the guys dishwashing skills before we all went onto the porch to watch the sunset over the lake.It was stunning.
Victor’s POVAfter we watched Daisy and Jennifer walk around to the rear of the cabin, William and I shifted into our human forms and retrieved our clothes from my truck bed.“What did you want to talk about?” William asked as he pulled on his shirt.“I think you know what I want to talk about,” I replied. “We need to discuss what’s going on between us with Daisy.”William silently sat on the porch steps to put on his shoes and socks. I waited until he was finished before speaking because I wanted him to hear every word I said.“William, we are friends,” I began. “And I would like to remain friends with you. You are a good person, and we have always gotten along well.”“I’ve always admired you, Victor,” William admitted. “You’ve always known what you wanted, and you worked hard to get these things, but ….”“But?” I knew what was on his mind, but I needed him to say it first.“I respect the fact that you and Daisy are engaged,” William began. “But that engagement was arranged before Da
I couldn’t stand not knowing what William and Victor were talking about. I didn’t want to be nosy, but I couldn’t help being curious.I listened to the latter part of their conversation through the open window of the darkened living room and discovered they were talking about me.It was no surprise that Victor sensed William’s desire to explore a relationship with me. However, I thought William’s idea that Victor was in love with me was absurd.Besides Amy, these two men were my best friends. I was glad they would stay friends with each other.It was also a relief that they understood I would choose my mate. But there were so many changes in my life that I wasn’t ready to take a mate yet.It was just as well. No matter my feelings, my deal with Victor must be fulfilled. I was his fiancée until he became the leader of the Alpha Alliance.The scent of the other werewolves drifted to my nostrils a second after Victor mentioned it. It had to be the wolves from the field across the lake.W
I woke up early, feeling rested and ready for the day. The cabin was silent as I crept to the bathroom.After getting dressed, I went downstairs. Victor was sound asleep in the chair with his feet on the coffee table.I went to the kitchen and got a glass of juice and a banana before slipping out the back door.At the edge of the dock, I sat down to drink my juice, eat my banana, and watch the morning sun glimmer off the tiny ripples that spread across the lake.I just finished my banana when a strange pair of sneakers appeared at my side. I looked up and saw a girl who appeared to be about my age.She had a pretty face surrounded by gorgeous auburn hair. She was petite with a curvy figure and was dressed in shorts and a sweatshirt that advertised a baseball team.“Mind if I sit with you?” The girl asked. She had a brilliant smile that made me smile too.“Sure,” I replied and moved my glass of juice closer to me.“I’m Lexi,” she said and put out her hand for me to shake.I shook her h