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
“There is no time to waste,” I told Victor as we drove to his apartment for the evening. He had arranged for twenty-four-hour security for us there.“I want to be sure of the plan,” Victor argued.“The killer or killers will strike again soon. They are escalating,” I insisted. “Their next intended victim could be me. I’ll be much safer after the red wolves are caught.”Victor drove into his garage. “You don’t believe one of the wolves was Martha? Without her, her accomplice may stop.”“No,” Martha didn’t have enough of a grasp on reality to be the leader. “Her family kept her locked in that house with a nurse because they couldn’t keep her under control any other way.”“And they wouldn’t let her out to wander the streets and risk her telling anyone the family secrets,” I added.We climbed out of the Lamborghini and followed Moose upstairs. Bert and Jayden guarded our flank.The apartment was free of intruders, and we relaxed in the living room while we planned our capture of the kille
After we left Lycan Square, Jayden drove me to Alex’s instead of the apartment. I didn’t want to interrupt Moose and Bert while they were having a few hours off, and the mansion was safer for me to be by myself.I planned to spend the afternoon relaxing and preparing for a fun evening out before the challenging day ahead of me tomorrow.Victor was meeting me at Gilded for dinner at seven, and I was looking forward to enjoying a plate of their delicious steak tartare and spending time with my handsome fiancé.But I couldn’t get the image of that hacker magazine out of my mind. Andrew had Amy convinced he was a good guy who wanted to be a devoted father.He swore to us both that he loved Deirdre and that they were fated mates. Now I had evidence that it was all a lie.Had he used Deirdre and made her disappear after she had his child?Leaving the baby at his own backdoor and pretending he was trying to care for his child until he had to give her up for her ‘own good’ made him a sympathe
I leaped backward and dodged the wolf’s teeth. Fear and anger flared through my brain. I badly wanted to kick these wolves butts and make them wish they would have stayed away from me.The new moves I’d learned that morning came to mind. I learned two kicks in my new self-defense class, and the instructor said I did them well. Would they help me?It was worth a try. When the wolf lunged again, I turned and kicked it in the head.It yipped and backed away. But it didn’t deter it for long. The pair began circling me again, trying to attack me from behind.When one wolf was behind me and the other in front, maybe I could dash to the side and get into my car. The fob had been in my hand since I got out of my car.But the wolves must have seen me eyeing my Mercedes. Any hope for that plan working was dashed when the wolves began pushing me into the alley again.Keeping my eye on my attackers, I felt the buttons on the key fob. One button would produce an ear-splitting alarm and flashing li
“We’re not making a deal with a murderer,” the older policeman said.“If you want to know about Deirdre Brady, you will,” Amelia snapped. “I’m sure her family and my pathetic brother want to know where she is. Maybe she’s still alive.”“We would need to speak to a DA before making any deals,” the officer told Amelia.“Then call your DA, or I’ll say nothing more.” Amelia glared at them and refused to speak.“Call him,” one cop said to the other. “Let’s get this nasty business over with.”“No,” Andrew mumbled. He stood next to Victor and shook his head. “No,” he repeated before running from the observation room.He burst into the interrogation room. “Don’t make any deals with this murderer. I know she killed my Deirdre along with our grandmother, and she tried to kill my daughter and her adoptive father, too.”The older policeman looked at Andrew with pity. “Mr. Archer, are you saying you don’t want to know what happened to Deirdre Brady?”“I know what happened to her,” Andrew said. “E
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