“I mean it, Daisy,” Amy said. “Why don’t you like Justin? You’ve never even met him!”“Yes. I don’t know him, Amy, but ….” I began.I had to explain how I discovered he was an Alpha and how Victor and I went to his apartment and demanded he tell Amy the truth.She also needed to know that the result of that meeting was him leaving for the other coast.She would be furious with us both, but I think more so with me. I should have told her the truth from the beginning.“If you don’t know him, how can you not like him?” Amy fumed.“Amy, I'm sorry,” I began again. “It’s not that I don’t like Justin. I don’t know him well enough to say that. But I’m afraid he’s going to hurt you …he has been hurting you, and ….”A loud knock at my door made us both jump.“Come in,” I called, glad for a reprieve. I needed time to think of gentle words to break the news to her and not just blurt out whatever came to my mind.William popped his head into the room, followed by the rest of his fine self.“Hello,
Victor didn’t see me approach the table until I stood right beside him.I seethed when I saw the woman sitting next to him was even more beautiful up close. She had long, gorgeous, copper-colored hair, deep blue eyes, and huge breasts that she showed off in a severely low-cut and clingy royal blue dress.She was older than Victor, in her early thirties, and diamonds glittered in her ears and at her throat. She was the type of Alpha I disliked the most.Anger flashed through me again when she laid a well-manicured hand on Victor’s bicep once more while laughing at something he said.“That must have been some meeting,” I said, doing my best to control my temper.I took several deep breaths and forced myself to think about something pleasant. I didn’t want to make a scene, but I had to tell Victor I caught him being his old playboy self again.But then Victor looked up at me and smiled! My hands balled into fists at my sides, and my heart raced. Did he have no shame!“Everyone, I would l
I was ready and waiting at six forty-five on Sunday morning. After canceling my plans with Victor the previous evening, I went to bed after a long run and slept until five a.m.I grabbed a piece of toast and a banana from the kitchen before telling Alex goodbye. He was still in bed, but he gave me a wave and a sleepy smile as I backed out of his bedroom.Dressed in Capris, a t-shirt, and a hoodie, I waited outside for William and his family to pick me up.I was determined not to think about Victor all day as I enjoyed the lake and William’s company. I’m sure he didn’t spend his time thinking about me.All he said when I told him I wasn’t going to the party was, “Okay. Get some rest.”“Don’t let him ruin your day,” Diana said. “You need a break from everything, including him. All will be well again in time, Daisy.”“You’re right.” I shook my head and forced him from my mind. The incident at Gray’s told me I needed to distance myself from Victor for a while. We had become much too close
The chauffeur had to drive slowly after he turned onto the dirt drive that led to the cabin. The van couldn’t handle the ruts and rocks of the driveway like Victor’s pickup truck did.Despite his caution, we bounced along for several minutes until the van stopped.When we saw water from a small side window, I unhooked my seatbelt. William and I hurried out of the van and down to the dock as soon as the van stopped in front of the cabin.I put my hands in the air and cheered. I was back, and the lake was as beautiful as the last time I was here.We sat on the dock together, took off our shoes, and soaked our feet while we watched the water. A large trout jumped nearby, and I giggled with delight.We didn’t realize how much time had passed until Lily sent the chauffeur to tell us lunch was ready.“Did the chauffeur make our picnic lunch, or did your mother?” I asked on our way to the table that was set up on the cabin’s front porch.“Neither. Our cook was sitting up front next to the ch
Victor’s POV“Have you heard from Daisy?” I asked Benson when he answered his phone. “Is she home?”I hated to wake him in the middle of the night. But after hearing nothing from her all evening, I texted Daisy at midnight and still got no reply.I thought perhaps she wasn’t answering my phone calls or texts on purpose. My meek and mild fiancée had a temper.Still, it had been a surprise when Daisy canceled going to the party with me last night. I knew she was angry with me over Trina, but ever since this afternoon, I couldn’t shake the feeling she was frightened and in danger.“No, Mr. Klein,” Benson replied. “I’ve been waiting for her to return. She was expected hours ago. Mr. Wilson is concerned there was an accident.”Have you tried calling her?” I asked. Surely, Daisy would answer her phone for Alex or Benson. She wouldn’t worry them like this.“We can’t reach her or Mr. James by phone,” Benson said. I heard the concern in his voice. “We’re thinking about calling the state police
“I have to go to William’s football game this week,” I told Amy as we sat on our bench outside the school. “I promised him I would be there.”“I would go with you if Dad didn’t need me to work after school until six,” Amy insisted. “Cari can’t come in to work her shift until then. It’s a Friday night, and there will be a lot of prep work.”“I miss you. We don’t spend any time together anymore,” I sighed.I did miss my friend. One of us was always busy, and it felt like we were drifting further apart every day. There had to be a way for us to connect again.“We could go to the diner for burgers and then the bookstore sometime,” Amy suggested. “Turn the Page got a shipment of used books this week.”Yay! Amy must miss spending time with me too. And Turn the Page is the best used bookstore in the city. Amy and I went there several times a month in my old life.“That’s a fantastic idea,” I said. “They probably have some terrific old books I could buy to add to Alex's library.”“Does Monday
Jennifer woke me at quarter to six with a tray of sandwiches and sweet tea. It wouldn’t be polite to gobble all the party food like I was starving, and I hadn’t eaten since lunch.But my head was fuzzy from sleep, and I wasn’t the least bit hungry. I took a shower to wake up. The warm water felt good as it washed away the cobwebs from my mind.Afterward, I munched on the sandwiches while Jennifer dried my hair and arranged it in a messy bun that looked great.My teeth were brushed, and my makeup was perfect when it was time to slip on my new sage green cocktail dress. I loved the way the pearl sequins across the skirt caught the light.With the matching kitten heel sandals on my feet, I was ready to go.Victor arrived on time, and we left for the party about a mile away.I spotted Mr. Gray’s pickup truck before I got out of the Lamborghini. The old truck stuck out at a party full of Aston Martins, Mercedes, and Ferraris.But I didn’t see Amy anywhere. “Amy,” I called. “We’re going ins
By the time I got out the Foster’s front door, Amy was almost to her dad’s truck.“Amy, wait,” I yelled as I ran toward her. “Please, I need to talk to you.”Amy struggled to unlock the truck door, but her hands shook so badly that she dropped the keys. “I don’t want to talk to you, Daisy.” She bent over and picked up the truck keys from the asphalt. “Leave me alone.”Making it to her side, I realized I was shaking just as much as Amy. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think they would do that to you.”“Is it your first day dealing with Alphas?” Amy asked, her eyes wide and glistening with tears. “You knew some of them would bully me if they had the chance, and you gave them that chance.”Amy’s lips quivered as she spoke. “I didn’t want to come to this stupid party. But I came for you,” she sobbed. “They called me horrible names that I … I can’t repeat.”Her sobs tore at my soul. I moved to put my arms around her, but she backed away.“I saw you watching.” She wiped away her tears with the back of