The weight of the water became lighter as the surface came closer. Hands grabbed my arms as my head broke the surface.It was William. He was kneeling on deck helping pull me from the water.Then who was my rescuer?As William helped lift me to the pool deck and placed me on my side, Victor climbed from the water.Pool water rushed from my mouth as I coughed and sputtered.“Daisy, are you okay?” Victor asked. “How did you fall in the water?”I couldn’t speak as I continued to cough up water. Victor had saved me. He now sat on the pool deck in front of me while William was behind me.“She didn’t fall,” Mrs. James said. “I was inside ensuring the kitchen staff had prepared enough food when I heard a commotion near the pool house. I looked out a window and saw the Burrows girl bullying Daisy. I saw her push her into the pool.”“Are you sure Bella pushed her?” William asked his mother. He looked around the pool house for Bella, but she was gone.“Yes,” Mrs. James insisted. “But I saw Dais
“Thanks for your help, Victor, but I can walk into the house on my own,” I said as I made my way to the front entrance of Alex’s mansion.Moving slowly in my bare feet, I held closed the ugly hospital robe I was wearing with one hand. I couldn’t believe the difference a few hours made in my life.Even though I was nervous, I had been looking forward to the pool party. Now I just wanted this day to end and forget it ever happened.After almost drowning, I agreed to go to the hospital and let a doctor check me out, but I refused to stay. I wanted to go home, and I never wanted to see the wetsuit that a nurse had helped me remove ever again.I saw my reflection in the front door glass and cringed. I looked even worse than I felt. Besides the ugly hospital robe I wore, my hair was frizzed out to maximum volume, my complexion was still pasty, and there were dark circles under my eyes.I’ve never looked worse.“At least lean on me, Daisy. Please,” Victor said. “You’re tired, and you’ve been
I had a good night's sleep and was feeling better this morning, but I was horrified about the prospect of getting up and attempting to dance in front of three hundred guests.I found Alex in his private workspace in the morning.“I...I can’t dance,” I told him. “You d …don’t want anyone to see me d …dance.”Couldn’t he tell I’m an awkward, uncoordinated mess who should never attempt to sully a dance floor?“I’ve s …seen ballroom dan …dancing on television,” I said, recalling the elegant, graceful couples and how they moved in unison across a dance floor. “But I …I can't do it.”“Nonsense,” Alex replied. “I’ll hire a dance instructor. You’ll learn how to dance. Your mother and I loved to dance together. It’s fun. You’ll see. Just try it, sweetheart.”I sighed. I couldn't say no to Alex. I could tell he wanted the best for me.Maybe it would turn out better than the pool party. But even before Bella pushed me into the pool, the party had been a disaster for me.That was my fault. I am a
I groaned when I saw Victor’s Lamborghini outside the gate after school the next day.“Is learning how to dance that terrible?” Amy asked with a chuckle.“Yes,” I replied. “You didn’t see my last dance instructor lying on the floor with a broken arm. The poor man was in pain.”“Well, you say you don’t like Victor,” Amy teased. “So you shouldn’t care as much if he gets hurt.”“I would care if he got hurt because of me,” I said. “But it’s more than that. I’m tired of Victor watching me make a fool of myself.”“Then don’t do it,” Amy advised. “Nobody can make you take dance lessons.”“The ball means too much to Alex,” I said with a sigh. “I need to try my best.”“That’s all anybody can ask of you.” Amy gave me a side hug. “See you tomorrow, Daisy.”“See you,” I said and walked to the Lamborghini.“How was your day?” Victor asked as he helped me into the car and closed the door.“Fine,” I replied and crossed my arms over my chest. Part of me resented being forced to do something I didn’t
Victor’s POV.Why did I want to kiss her so badly?My body throbbed with need as my mouth moved closer to her upturned lips. Daisy’s perfect body was pressed against mine, and the urge to ravish her was stronger than I’d felt with any other woman.Yet, I didn’t dare touch her in that way. It would be a mistake that could cost me my bachelorhood or the leadership role I craved.How could this shy, innocent, and unsophisticated girl have such a powerful effect on me simply by holding her in my arms?Daisy wasn’t anywhere close to my type. My ideal woman is beautiful, high-maintenance, and ambitious.Daisy wasn’t high maintenance, and her ambitions were the opposite of mine.However, I knew Daisy could easily be considered beautiful on the surface if she tried to improve her looks.But I didn’t believe laziness kept Daisy from trying to look her best. Other people’s cruelty has eroded her self-confidence to the point that she thought she was ugly.Words can cause more damage than people
After what happened with Victor the previous day, I was in a sour mood the next day at school. But Werewolf History class made my day a nightmare.I had been looking forward to the class all morning. The chance to be in the same room as William raised my spirits a little. But my mood took a turn off a cliff soon after the class started.William smiled when he entered the room and saw me at my usual desk. I smiled back when he sat at the desk to my left.“How are you doing?” William asked me.“I …I’m good,” I said and smiled.Miss Grant, the teacher, stopped any more conversation between us when she demanded everyone’s attention.“Yesterday, I told you to read and study chapter twenty-three in your textbooks,” Miss Grant announced. “Today, I want you to write a short report on the chapter's highlights.”She handed out blank sheets of paper and said, “You have a one-half hour, and then we’ll go over some of them in class. Any questions?” When no one raised their hand, she said, “Begin.”
Daisy’s POV“Don’t give up on your dream. There is always a way for you to accomplish something if you want it badly enough.”I kept thinking about Victor’s words and his expression when he said it on our way home.“Actually…I’ve been thinking about your stutter for a while,” Victor suddenly said.Tears sprang to my eyes.“Stop making fun of me.” I put a hand on the door handle, ready to leave the car.“Look at me, Daisy,” Victor tightened his grip on my arm. I’m not being cruel or making fun of you,” he insisted. “I found out there are methods to help people control their stutter… I just didn’t have a chance to look through it and tell you about it.”I turned around and stared at him.“You told me you want to be a lawyer and advocate for poor Betas and Omegas,” he said. “That won’t happen if you can’t speak for them.”“I …I’m listening,” I said. Being able to speak clearly would make it easier to become a lawyer, and it would make me feel like less uncomfortable around other people.
Two weeks went by with daily dance lessons and speech therapy. Victor told me I was improving in both areas.But the best thing was I saw the improvement myself. So did many others at school.“You seem different lately,” Amy said as we ate lunch.“Different. How?“ I asked“You seem more … confident, I guess,“ Amy replied. “And you’re not stuttering nearly as much.“I couldn’t help grinning. “William hinted at the same thing yesterday in werewolf history class.”“That’s so great,” Amy said with a squeal. “Do you think he’s gonna ask you out sometime?”“I don’t know,“ I replied. “But he talks to me more and more every day.”“How is Victor?“ Amy asked. “ You two must be getting along better. He picks you up at the gate every afternoon.““He’s a great teacher, and the speech specialist he found for me is fantastic.“ I shrugged. “We still fight sometimes. He can be such an arrogant jerk. But I’m grateful for his help.”“Do you think Victor is hot?” Amy ask me“Why do you?” I countered.“No
I woke to the enticing scent of dark roast coffee. I stretched and realized I had slept more than I thought I would that previous night. The smell of coffee grew stronger, and I felt steam on my nose.Opening my eyes, I saw Amy standing over me, waving a mug under my nose. “Wakey wakey,” she crooned. “It’s your wedding day. Victor expects to see you at the chapel in two hours.”I reached for the mug and took a sip. The coffee was laced with dark chocolate almond milk and a touch of steamed heavy cream.“Mmm, thanks, Amy. It’s just the way I like it,” I said. “This is such a treat.” I stretched again and took another sip.“Enjoy it, but don’t dawdle in bed,” Amy put her makeup bag on the nightstand. “You need to get in the shower and wash your hair. Anna will be here to help us soon.”After waiting for this day to come for so long, I was both ecstatic and a little nervous that something would go wrong.“Is it really going to happen?” I asked my best friend. “Am I really going to be his
Kayla kept her word. The estate that we named Juniper Acres because of the dozens of Juniper trees on the grounds became ours a few days after my talk with her.I liked the small trees. They had a pleasant, fresh, and woodsy scent, and the blue/ green berries were pretty and had many uses.Besides making arrangements for our wedding, Victor and I spent the last three weeks getting our mansion ready for us to move in. It was a labor of love, knowing it was all ours.We painted some of the rooms in different colors that we preferred. I especially liked the shade of yellow that we painted our breakfast room.Like Alex’s mansion, our breakfast room had many windows facing east for plenty of natural sunlight. We would enjoy our mornings together, enjoying our first cup of coffee in the room.The living room now had comfy, overstuffed furniture in light blue and walnut. The carpets and drapes were neutral colors that set off the polished wooden floors.It was an inviting room. I looked forw
Victor called the realtor while I stood beside him with my fingers crossed. There had to be a way to fix the snag, whatever it was. The estate was perfect for us. We couldn’t lose it.I heard the realtor’s voice when she answered his call. “Victor, I’m sorry for giving you bad news.”“What’s the problem?” Victor asked. His voice was calm, but I saw the tension on his face.“The current owners of the Juniper Lane estate are two granddaughters of previous deceased owners. One of the young women refuses to sell to Miss Wilson.”Puzzled, Victor and I looked at each other.“Why?” Victor asked.“She claims Miss Wilson did something to cause her problems in the past,” the realtor responded. “I can’t change her mind. She refuses to sign the papers to finalize the sale.“Does she know the size of the offer we made?” Victor asked as I searched my memory for the identity of the granddaughter.But I couldn’t think of who I had angered that much. I shrugged at Victor and did a palms up.“Who is sh
“I’m sorry,” I said and knelt down to pick up the pieces of broken glass.“That’s alright, Miss Wilson,” Benson said. “Thomas will take care of the mess.” He motioned to a footman. “Let me get you another glass of tea.”“Are you okay, Daisy?” Cassidy asked. “We shouldn’t have shocked you with the news in front of guests.”I shook my head and tried to smile. “No, I’m fine. I was just surprised. Congratulations. I’m happy for both of you.” But was I? I had been an only child since Alex found me.Even though I knew Alex would continue to love me, my only experience with having a sibling wasn’t a positive one. Andrea enjoyed making my life miserable.So, I wasn’t sure how I felt about having a half-sister or brother. However, I was sure Alex and Cassidy wouldn’t treat me like the Smiths, and I’m optimistic the baby wouldn’t be like Andrea.But what would change in my life?“Are you sure, sweetheart?” Alex asked. He looked concerned, and even though I had been shocked, I didn’t want to spo
Victor’s POVDaisy was terrified. I could tell she was afraid her stutter would return. If she was scared enough, it could happen. She needed my love and support.I stepped forward to kiss her cheek and whispered in her ear, “No matter what, I love you. But you can do this. I’m right here with you. Pick one person in the crowd and talk to them.”Daisy gave me a weak smile, and I saw her take a deep, trembling breath. She looked out at the crowd of strange faces, and I knew the instant she saw someone she recognized.It was Amy, standing with Justin, William, and Penny among the sea of reporters. They must have heard about the press conference and come to support us. They were true friends.I sensed Daisy was relaxing, and she began to speak.“When I was seventeen, I worked in a restaurant owned by my best friend’s father. While waiting on customers and bussing tables, I dreamed of going to college and getting my law degree.“I wanted to use that degree to help the werewolf classes who
Victor and I freshened up while trying to think about what we wanted to say. Then we went back downstairs and watched the reporters and news anchors arrive outside the mansion.“There are so many,” I said. “I’ve never seen this many reporters at once before.”“They are coming from other cities to be here,” Shane said. “Your and Victor’s vision for the future is big news. There are rumors that Victor is going to quit the leadership, and you’re moving away from Denhurst.”Findlay snorted. “I heard that rumor, along with several crazier ones. I think the people need to be reassured of your good intentions for everyone.”“I can understand that,” Victor said. “How about you, Daisy?”All I could do was nod. I understood, but I was growing nervous about going out there in front of such a large crowd of reporters and photographers. There were so many. It was like a sea of people forming over the vast front lawn.My hands began to tremble when the estate staff began moving the temporary stage
I cried all the way back to the mansion. Amy remained silent, patting my arm occasionally and handing me tissues when I needed them.She pulled into the driveway and to the front entrance before she spoke.“It looks like Alex has company,” she said. “Who’s limos are they?”I punched the seat. “That one is Lana’s, and the one pulling in next to us is Lily James’s. The nerve of that pushy woman. She followed us!”“But look, Daisy,” Amy pointed toward the front doors. “Victor is here.”I wiped my eyes and saw Victor coming toward me. He opened the car door and took me into his arms.“Don’t cry, sweetheart,” he crooned. “Gisele called and told me what happened. So I had Findlay call everyone here for a quick meeting to set them all straight.”I stopped crying and nodded even though I wasn’t sure it would help.“This nonsense will stop now,” Victor took my hand and helped me from the car.We waited for Amy to put the baby in the stroller before going inside.I looked around the foyer, unab
Victor’s mouth opened, but no words came out at first. Then he shook off his surprise.“Are you serious?” he asked.“Yes, I’ve been thinking about it for weeks,” I replied.Why did Victor look so shocked? During the few times we had spoken about kids, he said he wanted a family.Tears stung my eyes, and I turned away from him. “Maybe I shouldn’t have brought it up.”Victor gently turned me around. “I know you’ve been upset since Amy had the baby, but I didn’t know it was because you want one too.”“When I first held Brendre, I felt such a rush of love that it was all I could think about for days,” I explained. “I never thought much of babies before. I think it's because my adoptive parents rejected me when they had their own baby.”“That makes sense.” Victor took my hand and started walking down the beach again. “Anyone would feel that way.”“Holding Amy’s baby made me realize I very much want to be a mother,” I said. “And I don’t want to wait a long time to start our family.”“What a
Daisy’s POVI couldn't believe Victor was leaving. Couldn’t he stay with me at the beach house for just one day?An emptiness in the pit of my stomach started when he turned to leave. It grew after he went out the door. Through our bond, I felt his painful, churning emotions and wondered if he was finished with me.I couldn’t lose him! I’d return to Denhurst this minute and marry him in any ceremony his mother wanted. The only thing that really mattered about my wedding was Victor must be the groom.I had to stop him from leaving. I needed to know what was on his mind and in his heart.Running out the door after him, I saw him climb into his car and start the engine.“No!” I cried as I jumped in front of the Lamborghini. “Don’t leave me, Victor. I love you!”The Lamborghini’s engine stopped, and Victor leaped out of the driver’s seat. He hurried to my side.“Why won’t you stay with me?” I asked.“I thought you wanted to be here alone,” Victor replied. His body was trembling with emoti