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
Jennifer sprayed some stuff that smelled good on my hair and then began braiding it.“I’ll start at your crown and work my way down,” Jennifer said as her fingers worked magic on my hair. “I’ll leave a few tendrils around your face to soften the look.”Watching Jennifer smooth and braid my hair, adding sections as she went, was fascinating.“You make it look easy to do,” I said.“I have a lot of practice,” Jennifer replied. “The braids will stay in place for a few days. Ring for me, and I’ll take them out for you when your ready.”I watched Jennifer finish braiding my hair and checked my image in the mirror again. It was a definite improvement. But …“Less hair around my face shows my eyebrows more,” I sighed.“I could shape them a little for you,” Jennifer offered. She went into my bathroom and returned with a pair of silver tweezers.I looked sideways at the tweezers. “Will it hurt?” I asked.“It’s a little uncomfortable at first,” Jennifer admitted. “But you will love the effect.”
A second before he reached the door, Victor stopped and turned. He looked down and then started to turn away again.“I have to go,” he said. “Dr. Creed will be here soon anyway. I’ll see you tomorrow.” And he was gone.I didn’t understand. Had I made him angry? And what were the strange sensations he made me feel?There was one thing I did know. I didn’t like him.Victor is a rich, arrogant Alpha. How could I when he was everything I hated in today’s werewolf society?But I guess I didn't hate him either.I sat up and pushed Victor out of my mind. William wanted me to attend his next football game. It was William who was my best hope for a happy future.I had clean braids and wore a gorgeous new top as I walked into Werewolf history the next day. I was several minutes early, but to my surprise, William was already there.He waved me into the seat next to him. “Hey, Daisy. Still coming to the football game?”“Sure,” I replied and tried to think of something more to say. Fortunately, Wi
I got up from my bed and went to my bathroom to freshen up. I had my speech therapy in a few minutes and didn’t want to miss it. Victor was probably done helping me, but I could still keep improving myself.I believed in every word I said to Victor, but maybe I should have said the things I did more gently.Maybe.“I’m sorry, Miss Wilson. I didn’t know you were in here,” Jennifer said from behind me. “I’ve brought clean towels.” She studied my face for a moment. “Is everything okay?”I grimaced. “I said some things that made Victor very angry with me.”“I’m sure he won’t stay mad.” She said as she put the towels away in a cupboard. “Perhaps you should talk to your father. He could smooth things over with Mr. Klein.”“That’s a good idea, “ I agreed. “Thanks, Jennifer.”The things Victor said about my being disloyal to my family and pack struck a nerve. Would he tell Alex about our fight?I didn't know how my father would feel about what I said, but it would be better if he heard it fro
After school, I stood with Amy at our spot on the roof, watching our fellow students, parents, and teachers enter the football field to watch the game. We were working up our courage to join them.“William invited us to watch him play,” I told Amy. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”I handed her one of the sweatshirts I bought with our school’s name and our wolf mascot embroidered on the front. I needed her company to give me enough confidence to walk among all those people.“He invited you,” Amy argued. She took the sweatshirt and stuffed it under her arm.“He knows you’re coming with me,” I insisted. “Please, Amy, will you come with me.” I didn’t like pressuring my best friend to do something she didn’t want to do, but I was eager to watch William play.I squeezed her hand. “Pretty please, come watch the game with me.” Whether she went with me or not, I had to force myself to go down there to watch William play.But I understood Amy’s reluctance. Although we both enjoyed watching th
I took a deep breath and answered my phone. “Hello.”“Daisy,” William said. “Where are you? I thought I saw you in the stands, but I wasn’t sure.”“That was me,” I said. “ I saw you wave after your first touchdown. I wanted to come down on the field after the game and congratulate you, but I’m still stuck at the top of the bleachers waiting for people to leave.”“Yeah, it was crazy after we won,” William agreed. He was silent for a moment. “Well, hey, I was wondering if you want to celebrate our win with us at Carmine’s Pizzeria? You can sit with me and some of the other guys.”“That sounds great.” I remembered Amy. I couldn’t go without her. I was shaking just thinking about hanging out with the football team. “My friend is with me. Do you think anyone would mind?”“Nah, it's fine,” William assured me. “Stan is bringing his girlfriend.”I tried to squelch some of the excitement in my voice. “Sure, William. Pizza sounds great.”“Terrific,“ William said. “Meet me at the field house doo
“So, what did you want to talk about, Daisy?“ William asked as he pulled out of the school parking lot.“I noticed you don’t talk much to your friends," I said. “ You are a popular football player. Yet you seemed uncomfortable at the pizzeria.”William shrugged. “Those guys I play football with are okay, but I don’t know them very well, and they don’t really know me.”“I know what that’s like,“ I told him. “I spent most of my life with people who were supposed to be my family, yet they barely knew me. And they didn’t really want to know me.““Amy seems like a great friend,“ William said.“I’m lucky to have her,“ I said. “She’s been my only friend and made my life bearable when I lived with my foster family. They didn’t want me after they had their own child. But they were stuck with me.”“I sorta know what you mean. The guys on the football team and my other so-called friends are all Alphas, and they don’t get me. And I think they’re boring, snobbish, and selfish,” William explained.”
I found Alex in the main living room, relaxing in front of the television. I could tell he slept well last night.I entered the room and sat on the couch near him with a big smile.“How was your day, darling?“ Alex asked.“It was okay, but I need to talk to you about something.”“I always have time for you, my darling girl.” He turned off the television set, sat up straight, and put his feet on the floor. “I’m listening, sweetheart.”I decided to go straight to the point. “I’d like you to invite a friend of mine and his family to dinner soon.”“Are you talking about your friend Amy?”“No, there is someone else I’ve made friends with,” I replied. “He’s a wonderful person.”“A young man friend. Hmm,” Alex said to himself. “Who is his family?” Alex asked. “Do I know them?”“William comes from an old Alpha family,” I replied. “They’re good people. They’re loyal to the United Association of Alphas and you.”Alex looked surprised. “Are you referring to young William James?”I nodded. “Yes.”