We ran out of the house and jumped into my truck. Victor was behind the wheel because I was too upset to drive.“Who would do something this terrible?” I said. “The hospital needs electricity for the equipment that keeps people alive.”“We don’t know for sure what happened,” Victor said, trying to keep me calm. “I’ll order a full investigation.”“We’ve got to get the lines fixed and the power back on immediately.” It was frustrating to know people could be dying at that minute, and I couldn’t do anything about it.“Aren't there backup generators to supply power to critical parts of the hospital?” Victor asked.“I’m sure there is,” I replied. “But the hospital still looked dark on the news. I’m so worried.”“We’re almost there, sweetheart,” Victor said as he turned the truck off the highway and down Fourth Avenue.We were silent the rest of the way to the hospital. I squirmed in my seat each time Victor stopped at a red light. The sense of urgency to get to the hospital was maddening.
My hands shook as I slipped the engagement ring Victor gave me off my finger and placed it on the coffee table. My heart was breaking, but I had to stay strong for him.“No!” Victor shouted and took me into his arms. “I don’t care what they say. I am marrying you, my fated mate, and no other.”“But marrying me could destroy your career,” I argued. “I can’t destroy your life.” I forced back tears. “Alphas will quiet down again if we aren’t together.”“No, Daisy,” Victor held me close. “I don’t care what Councilor Getty or any Alpha wants. If I can’t have you, I don’t want the leadership of The Association. I love you, Daisy.”“And I love you,” I said. “But I can’t destroy your life.”“Without you, I won’t have a life,” Victor insisted. “Who in werewolf society has ever been forbidden to marry their fated mate? It's illegal and immoral. I won’t stand for it!”He picked up the ring from the coffee table and took my left hand.“Sweetheart, do you love me enough to marry me?” Victor asked.
I escaped the man’s grasp and tried to turn to face him, but his arm came around my neck, and he pressed a knife against my throat.“You’re coming with us,” his voice growled into my ear. “Don’t try anything, or I’ll kill you right here.”As he pressed the sharp edge of the blade hard against my skin, fear made my heart pound.Amy was right. It wasn’t safe to be near me, and my wedding to Victor would have been a target for these thugs.Now, because my feelings had been hurt and I felt sorry for myself, I may never see Victor again.I could have let the baker make the cake and donated it to Amy’s shelter. But my drama-queen fit of self-pity put my life in danger.Anna! Did they hurt her because she was with me? I hoped not. She’s a wonderful and caring person, and her parents need her.“Where’s my maid?” I asked, refusing to move until they answered my question.“We don’t know anything about your maid,” my captor growled. “Now, walk, or you’re dead.”I stubbornly held my ground and tr
I imagined myself standing next to Victor on the beach at sunset, saying my vows in front of a priestess, and a smile bloomed on my face.“That’s such a romantic idea,” I said. “Let’s do it.”Getting married on the beach wasn’t my dream wedding, but I would be marrying my fated mate at one of our favorite places.“We’ll start making plans tomorrow,” Victor said. “I’ll call the local courthouse to find out how we get a marriage license.”“I can wear one of my sundresses,” I mumbled. “There’s no time to have something made.”“You don’t want a nice gown getting full of sand anyhow,” Victor said. “That white dress with the tiny flowers you had on is pretty.”“Yeah, it is,” I agreed. But something didn’t feel right. “Let’s get some sleep and plan everything tomorrow after we take a walk on the jetty.”Snuggling in Victor’s arms, I imagined myself as Mrs. Victor Klein until sleep carried me away.I woke up first and headed to the kitchen to get the coffee started. I checked the refrigerator
For a long moment, I didn’t know what to say. Alex’s firm, almost angry tone was new to me. What had he heard about Victor and me to make him respond to me like this?“We’ll be there in a few hours,” I assured Alex. “But I don’t think it’s fair to blame us for everything that happened.”“We will talk about it when I see you,” Alex insisted, but his tone was milder. “Would you like me to send guards to bring you home?”“I think we can get there without help,” I replied.“Then I’ll see you and Victor in a few hours,” Alex said. “Sweetheart, I understand you needed to get away, but the problems here aren’t going away on their own.”“I was afraid after being attacked outside the bakery.” My voice shook with emotion. “We weren’t thinking clearly.”“I understand, honey,” Alex said. His voice had completely thawed. “Why don’t I come to you so we can talk?”“That would be nice,” I said, barely holding back tears.“Let me talk to Victor for a moment, and I’ll be there soon,” Alex assured me. “
Alex looked at Victor. “Do you agree to my being co-leader?”Victor nodded. I sensed his pride was severely bruised, but he was trying not to show it. I sent him a loving smile and comforting thoughts.“Very well, Councilors,” Alex told Councilors Getty and Chen. “I accept the role of co-leader of The United Association of Alphas effective immediately.”“Good,” Councilor Chen said. “Please get to work on stabilizing the present situation.”“If you can,” a smirking Councilor Getty said. I wished I could wipe that smirk from his face. He was another greedy, power-hungry Alpha that Amy and I always despised.“Keep us informed of your progress or setbacks, and let us know if we can be helpful,” Councilor Chen added. “Good luck.”“You’ll need it,” Councilor Getty laughed boisterously before ending the video call.Victor stood and ran a hand through his hair. He was suppressing his frustration and anger well. “I’m sorry to have ruined your retirement, Alex. I know you were looking forward t
The first floor looked normal, but an eerie stillness made goosebumps rise on my arms. The only sound was the staccato beeping of smoke alarms coming from all directions.A wide sweeping staircase rose in front of me. It felt ominous, but the kids were up there, and they were in danger. I hurried up to the second floor, taking two steps at a time.At the top of the stairs, the smoke was thick enough to see it floating lazily in the air. I coughed several times and pulled the neckline of my shirt up over my mouth and nose. It helped me breathe a little better.I forced myself to stay calm and reasoned that the kids must be in a room to my left and toward the front of the house.Hurrying down the hallway, I stopped at each door that faced the street and threw the doors open.“Hello, Piper,” I called. “I’m here to help you and Lane get out of the house. Where are you, honey?”“In here,” the girl's voice said from further down the hall. “Hurry, please. I’m scared, and it’s hard to breathe
My legs shook as I forced myself to stand my ground. Had Gisele turned on me too?But she was smiling when she walked to my side. “How brave you are, Miss Wilson. Those children were lucky you were nearby.”“Good job, Daisy,” another woman said. Similar words were echoed throughout the crowd.They were being nice to me!It had been a long time since I’d felt acceptance from other Alphas. I must admit it felt much better than being slandered and shunned.“The blue jeans you like are on sale today,” Gisele said. She clapped her hands together and smiled. “It’s a pleasure to see you today, Miss Wilson. If you need help finding anything, please let me know.”I was stunned yet grateful to have Alphas begin to thaw toward me.“And you were worried they’d be mean to you,” Amy whispered.I grinned at her. “All I had to do was run into a burning building. I wonder if this means I can return to school.”“Hi, Daisy,” Victoria Beecham said as we looked through the jeans. Amy and I went to school
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