When we arrived at the restaurant that evening, Gray’s wasn’t as full as usual, but there was still a crowd eager to enjoy Chef Gray’s delicious recipes.Our reserved table near the artificial waterfall was ready, and the hostess seated us immediately.Like the carpeting and silk wallpaper, the waterfall was new. Before the attack, Mr. Gray had made many new improvements to the decor and added skilled staff.“This seems like a nice place,” Penny said. It was obvious that she was nervous, but I could understand her discomfort.“Wait until you taste the food,” William told her. “It’s fantastic. And I want you to meet Amy and her boyfriend, Justin, as soon as they return to Denhurst.”“They want to return before the new term starts at the city college,” I said. “Amy and Justin are enrolled there.”“I thought she was applying at the same colleges as you,” William said. “Did she change her mind to be with Justin? With his family connections, he could get into any school he wants.”I kept m
I knew letting my fear take over could get me killed. But during my self-defense classes, I never imagined how terrifying it would be to face the red wolves alone.“Victor,” I cried out in my mind as the snarling pair circled me, the streetlights glinting off their angry eyes and sharp teeth.My own anger began to build when I realized one or both of these werewolves killed Deirdre, and they almost killed my best friend’s father.“Who are you!” I screamed. “You are nothing but murdering cowards, and I promise you will pay for your crimes.”My words struck them like darts. The enraged snarls grew more intense, and they crouched low, ready to spring at me.”“Daisy, remember your training,” Diana begged. “Shift, right now!”“Diana, come forth,” I commanded.I shifted in a flurry of fabric pieces, and my wolf’s snarls joined those of the rogue wolves.They were communicating telepathically, and I could tell when they signaled each other that it was time to attack. Ready for the worst, I m
I recognized Penny’s light tone and then William’s voice as it joined in with another male.“They’re back,” I said. I liked the other couple, but my voice was tinged with disappointment.“They aren’t here yet,” Victor whispered. “They’re talking to the cook. We need to make it fast.”He drove himself into my body, plunging deeper with each thrust. The urgency to satisfy ourselves before we were discovered was maddening.The sensual suspense and Victor’s gyrations sent me over the edge. My womanhood pulsed around his rod, making him meet me in our personal paradise.Our souls touched as we climaxed. I could feel how much he loved me as we held each other in the afterglow.“You’re the only woman who can match my thirst for passion,” Victor said with a tender kiss.But our friends would soon be back. He wrapped a small blanket around his waist and went to the door.“You’re back,” Victor said to William. “You must have hurried.”“We didn’t want you to be caught without something to wear,”
“I need to find Andrew Archer,” I told Moose and Bert as I climbed into an association SUV. “I must speak with him. Let’s check his office at Archer Enterprises. If he’s not there, we’ll ask his secretary and tell her it's an important association matter.”Moose drove us into the city and found a parking spot near the Archer’s building. We were welcomed at the first-floor reception desk and allowed to travel upstairs to Andrew’s office.“He might say more if you two stay in the hallway,” I told my bodyguards. “Don’t worry, I’ll be safe. He wouldn’t dare do anything to me in his office, and I’ll scream if I need you.”Moose eyed the vending machines near the elevator. “We’ll be right here, Miss Wilson.” He began digging in his pockets for change.I looked in my handbag and found several quarters.“You and Bert can call me Daisy,” I handed him the quarters. The extra large pair of Alphas were growing on me. They were genuinely nice guys, and I didn’t mind having them around.“Yes, ma’am
Trying to remain calm, I called Victor and told him what happened. He told me to stay where I was and stay close to Bert.“I’ll be right there with more men,” he promised. “Do not go looking for Moose.”After we disconnected, I stood beside Bert with my back against the wall. But the minutes seemed like hours as we waited for help.Andrew came out of his office moments before Victor arrived.“Daisy, what’s wrong?” Andrew asked.“One of my bodyguards disappeared while I was speaking to you,” I explained.Victor walked out of the elevator and took control. “Andrew, my team needs to see your security video for this floor from the last hour.”He turned to two armed guards he brought with him. “Search every inch of this floor. The first-floor receptionist and guards told me Moose didn’t leave the building. He’s here somewhere.”Victor’s men began to search behind each door that lined the hallways while Andrew gave the order to release the security video to Victor.I waited with Victor to
“Daisy, I want you inside the house right now,” Victor insisted. He heard my conversation with Andrew and knew Martha owned a gun.He put an arm around my shoulders. “Hurry, sweetheart, I want to talk to Alex anyway. Then we can go to my apartment and practice your self-defense skills.”“You sure know how to romance a girl,” I teased, but I hurried inside with himI knew what Martha was like. She was one scary Luna. But she was still an elder, and it would be difficult to defend myself in a way that would hurt her.What I wanted to know was who was helping her. We knew there were two red wolves, and Martha wasn’t tech-savvy.Only a pro could do what this perpetrator had done with different security systems and Amy’s car.We found Alex in the living room with Cassidy, and I told him we needed to talk to him.Cassidy got up from the couch to leave.Victor stopped her. “Stay. If Alex trusts you, so do I.”She smiled and sat next to Alex again.“You seem to have important things on your m
Martha lay still on the driveway in front of the mansion. Her breathing was slow, and her skin pale.Victor ran inside and returned with a linen cloth from one of the foyer tables. He covered Martha with the cloth while I called for help.Benson, Alex, and Cassidy came outside to see what was happening. They were speechless when they saw the old Luna lying on the ground.“We should move her inside,” I said. “The driveway asphalt is hot, and she’s probably dehydrated from running all the way from the city on such a warm day.”“I’ll get her some water,” Cassidy said and ran into the house.“Daisy is right,” Victor said. “We should carry her inside where it’s cooler.”The men gently carried Martha inside and laid her on a foyer sofa, ensuring she was covered.Cassidy hurried to Martha’s side. I helped raise her head while Cassidy got Martha to swallow some water.After a few sips, Martha’s eyes fluttered open. I cringed when her stern gaze settled on me.“You don’t realize what you’ve st
Martha was right. The police told us members of her family claimed she had drugged her nurse and ran away from her home after saying she had done ‘something’ to Deirdre Brady and attacked Elliot Gray.They were also convinced she attacked an association bodyguard.“I don’t believe any of that is true,” I told the police. “At least, I’m sure she didn’t commit these crimes by herself. Two wolves attacked Elliot Gray and his daughter. And one of them is a talented hacker.”The police seemed skeptical, so Victor gave them a timeline of events from my investigation.“Why didn’t you report all this instead of getting involved yourself?” one officer said.“We did call the police,” I snapped. “That officer, Sergeant Cozzi, told us there was no evidence of a crime, and he could do nothing. Well, I found that evidence for him.”I forced myself to calm down. Antagonizing the police wouldn’t help. “Before she was taken to the hospital, Martha told us she would be blamed for everything, and she wa
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