The car came barreling toward us, but instead of ramming us, it swerved around the side of my car and began to force me off the road.“Look out, Daisy!” Amy yelled when the car almost slammed into the side of my Mercedes. “Did you see that? It’s not a man driving that car. It’s a girl with red hair.”It was my first time dealing with an aggressive driver. I tried to stay calm and slowed my car while pulling far enough to the right that the silver car didn’t scrape the Mercedes.As the car passed only a few inches away from us, I looked up and saw a familiar face glaring at me from the driver's seat of the silver car.“The driver looks like the younger sister, the redhead, in the Archer’s family photo!” Amy cried. “It must be Andrew and Amelia’s younger sister, Amanda.”“Maybe she’s as crazy as her grandmother,” I said.No matter who it was, I had to get us out of the situation before we got hurt.I pulled off the road and stopped. As we watched the silver car speed away, I was shaking
I walked into the Brown’s party on Victor’s arm. I wore a new green, irregular hem cocktail dress and gave Amy a smile. My poor bestie was nervous about spending time with Justin’s parents.I didn't blame her. Their change of attitude was too sudden and new. But she looked fantastic in her new pastel blue dress, and it seemed like everything would be alright.“Hello, Amy,” Justin’s mother said as we walked in her door. “It’s a pleasure to have you and Daisy and Victor in our home.”I elbowed Amy to get her to speak. “Thank you for inviting us, Mrs. Brown. You have a lovely home.”“Hey, Mom,” Justin said.Mrs. Brown clicked her tongue. “Justin, your father wants to speak to you. Show your friends around first and then find him and his study.”“Yeah, okay,” Justin agreed. “Come on, guys. I’ll show you where the food, drink, and the bathrooms are.”Justin gave us a quick tour before going in search of his father. I hoped, for Amy’s sake, that whatever his father wanted wasn’t serious.We
“Seriously. Martha escapes from her nurse all the time,” Amy repeated. “That’s crazy. Has she ever hurt anyone?”“I don’t know,” Ava answered. “I heard my parents talking about a time she shot at some guy for trying to date Aunt Amelia.”“That must be the Beta guy she mentioned,” Amy reminded me.“Aunt Amelia had a thing for a Beta!” Ava giggled. “Bet Grandma and Granny got all salty over that.”“Don’t say anything,” I requested. “She might be upset about us mentioning it.” But I wondered why Amelia didn’t tell us Martha shot at her Beta boyfriend.“I won’t say anything if you don’t tell anybody I was talking to you.” Ava stood. “I gotta go before my mom returns and catches me with you guys.”“Where is she?” Amy asked. “I’d like to meet Amanda.”“She doesn’t want to meet you,” Ava said. “She left by a side door when she heard you two were here. She can’t be caught talking to a hybrid.”Amanda sounded as horrible as Martha and Pat. But at least Amy had Amelia.“I’d like to stay in touc
Victor picked me up and carried me to his bedroom.“So, what did you want me to teach you?” he asked as he stood me on my feet next to his king-sized bed.“I want to …um, sort of, do what you did to me last time,” I said.I was nervous, but the thought of giving him the same pleasure he gave me made me tingle in my most sensitive places.“Do you know anything about doing it?” Victor asked.“I read about it in romance novels,” I said. “But I want to make sure that I do it right.”Victor folded me in his arms. “There is no right or wrong. You can do whatever you want to me, and I’ll enjoy it.”He peeled off his shirt and stood before me in his slacks. I couldn’t stop myself from reaching out and running my hands over his broad chest.The muscles were like granite beneath his soft skin that was lightly covered with black hair. My fingers played over his nipples until I got the urge to taste them.I licked the hard little points, enjoying his groan of pleasure. The groan gave me the coura
While waiting on the whiteboard, I dug my phone out of my pocket and called Amy.“What’s up, Daisy?” She sounded cheerful.“Are you busy today?” I asked. “I’m starting a whiteboard and want to start questioning suspects.”“A whiteboard?” Amy sounded confused.“You know. It’s a dry-erase board, so I can diagram evidence to keep it straight in my mind,” I explained.“Oh, yeah,” Amy chirped. “I’ve seen them used on real-crime shows.”“Yep. That’s what I mean. Amelia sent me her list of suspects with their names and addresses. I’m going to start talking to them and crossing them off the list. Do you want to go along?”“I can’t go until later,” Amy replied. “I’m going to a restaurant equipment auction with Dad. We won’t be back until about four o’clock.”“I need to find somebody else to go with me,” I said. “I promised Victor I wouldn’t do this alone.”“I’m sorry I can’t go, Daisy, but I promised Dad last month I would go to the auction with him today. I feel bad that you’ll be doing it wi
“Who is this?” I demanded. But the caller had hung up. “What a cowardly thing to do,” I mumbled.“Who was that?” Justin inquired. “You look upset.”“Somebody who’s not happy I’m asking questions about Deirdre.” I groaned. “But the cowards are resorting to anonymous notes and creepy phone calls.”Justin started his car’s engine. “What did the caller say?”“It was a shaky, whispering voice. They said to stop digging up the past, or my grave would be next to Deirdre’s.”“Daisy, you should go to the cops.”“We did go to the cops, and they wouldn’t do anything,” I explained. “I don’t have any real proof of any crime yet. When I find some, I’ll run to the police with it.”“I don’t want Amy involved in this,” Justin said. “And I’m sure Victor would feel the same about you if he knew about the phone call.”“Victor knows I’ve been threatened, and he’s been showing me some self-defense moves.”I turned in my seat. “Justin, knowing what happened to her mother is important to Amy, and it’s become
“Hey,” I yelled after the intruder. Anger made my heart pound, and my blood raced through my veins.Without pausing to take off my clothes, I called for Diana.The sound of material ripping and an explosion of fabric filled the air as I shifted into my wolf. Diana followed the reddish wolf over the balcony railing and landed on the ground running.I could smell the intruder, and we followed the scent through the darkness“It must be Amanda,” I told Diana. “Amelia must have told her about the whiteboard.”“Or Amanda was in the ladies’ room, too,” Diana suggested as we ran. “I sensed a hostile presence while you were there. There was hate in that bathroom.”We followed the scent to the road, seeing glimpses of the reddish wolf several times ahead of us in the dim moonlight.But the intruder made it to the road before we did, and we heard a car start before a red sedan peeled out and roared down the highway.Disappointment washed over me. They got away.“You know the intruder was a red-h
As I sat in my car looking at the Archer mansion, I knew Diana was right. You could feel the creepy vibes coming from the dark, hulking dwelling.It inspired me to text Victor to tell him I was at the Archer mansion with Jayden to talk to Amelia and Pat. Despite having Jayden with me, I felt better having Victor know my location.“Shall we go inside?” Jayden asked as I put my phone in my handbag.“Let’s get it over with,” I replied. “Do you have your badge ready?”Jayden patted his jacket pocket and smiled.We exited the car, walked to the heavy wooden front door, and rang the bell.Alfred answered the door almost immediately. “Hello, Miss Wilson. We were expecting you.” He looked pointedly at Jayden.“This is Detective Halverston,” I told him. “He also needs to speak to Amelia and Mrs. Archer.”Jayden flashed his badge at the suddenly nervous butler.“Miss Amelia is waiting for you in the parlor,” Alfred said and led us through the foyer. He announced us as we walked into the room.A
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