“We can’t panic,” I whispered to Anna. “But we’ve got to find a way out before they think of looking for us in the ceiling.”Anna nodded. “Let's keep going. There must be a place where we can get out of the building.”Carefully and quietly, we began to crawl toward another dot of light in the distance. I prayed John and his men wouldn’t hear or sense us as we crawled over their heads.The men continued to talk as we slowly crawled along the planks above them, looking for a way out of the building.“What if your missing guests aren’t found?” Kirk Sanders asked. “What if Daisy is already on her way back to Victor?”“Then I’ll deal with him permanently much quicker than I intended,” John declared. “I've had enough of their interference in my plans. It won’t be tolerated any longer.”Deal with him permanently! That had to mean he was planning to kill Victor! I had to get out of this place and warn him.After we crawled about another twenty-five feet, we stopped and lifted a ceiling tile s
Anna and I ran as fast as we could. We made it to the side of the building before I dared to look back. Three of the men had made it out of the window and were running after us.After we rounded the corner, I saw how far we were from the gate. I could see Victor’s car parked on the other side of the heavy metal slat barrier along with a half dozen police cars. But the gate was still closed and locked.The men were about to come around the corner, and there was no chance I could get to Victor before they caught us.“Hide, my love,” Victor said in my mind. “Hide until I can break down this gate and get to you.”“Hurry, but be careful, Victor,” I replied. “John Cameron ordered his men to kill me and you.”“Hide, sweetheart,” Victor repeated. “I’ll be there to help you soon. John’s time to terrorize us is over.”“We must hide until Victor breaks down the gate,” I told Anna.“Where?” Anna asked as we frantically looked around.There were barrels next to the building, two pickup trucks and
John’s eyes glared at me with raw hatred. “Rodney, get Kirk from the packaging room. Tell him I need him to help me escort Miss Wilson to the tunnel. We are taking her with us. If Victor wants her back alive, he’d better make sure the cops let us go.”“Yes, sir,” Rodney said and let go of me.I turned around and faced him. “Using me as a hostage won’t help any of you. You’re all going to prison. Give up now, and things may go easier for you.”Rodney raised a hand to hit me, but then he changed his mind. “Shut up. I’m not going to jail.” He ran from the room as if he wasn’t coming back.John assumed Rodney left to do his bidding and turned to me with an unsettling grin.“You’ll behave yourself and do exactly what you are told,” he warned. “I won’t tolerate any nonsense from you.”He went to the door to the hallway with a puzzled expression on his face and called out. “Rodney, where are you? Kirk, it’s time to go!”Nobody answered.“Where are they?” John grumbled.“I’ll find out,” I sai
“John has lost his mind,” Alex said. “It’s unbelievable he would dare break onto my estate. How he has fallen.”Why was John here? Why didn’t he run away somewhere with his fortune hidden in offshore bank accounts?“His hatred of me and Daisy is poisoning his mind,” Victor said.“I agree.” Alex moved closer to the screen and studied John as he pounded on the front doors.The pounding echoed through the foyer. John continued to beat on the doors and began screaming something that we couldn’t make out inside the house.“What is he saying?” I asked.A louder thump made me jump when John kicked the door as he tried to break into the house.Alex turned on the intercom to try to calm the crazed Alpha. “John, the police are on their way. Please tell me what you want. I’ll help you.”“Your daughter has ruined my life!” John bellowed. “She’s always in my way, and Victor has the leadership position that should be mine. I’m here to demand he fight me according to the old laws.”Alex turned off t
I couldn't stay inside and watch Victor being attacked on the screen. John’s back legs were injured, but there was nothing wrong with his powerful jaws and sharp teeth.And, of course, someone like John Cameron would attack Victor from behind even though Victor showed him mercy. He was evil.After struggling with the lock on the front doors, I ran outside in time to see Alex shift. His magnificent deep brown wolf pulled John’s wolf away from Victor and held him by his throat on the ground.John’s wolf struggled to free itself, but Alex’s wolf tightened its grip on his throat and growled until the smaller wolf howled in frustration and lay still.I ran to Victor. He stood next to Benson, holding a hand over the right side of his head. Blood ran from between his fingers.“How badly are you hurt?” I asked as I began looking him over for injuries. Besides his head, there were scratches on his back that weren’t deep and should heal quickly.“I’m okay, sweetheart.” Victor gave me a reassuri
“I’ll have to think about it,” I told the news executive.Turning my articles into hour-long news shows sounded intriguing, but I wasn’t sure what was next for me.I was working hard to graduate early and marry Victor before I did anything else.“Take your time and think it over. We would give you a lot of creative control over each episode.” He handed me his business card. “I understand you’re studying for your degree. We can wait until you graduate if that's important to you.”I glanced at the card and saw his name was Mike Abbott before I gave him a warm smile. “Thank you, Mr. Abbott. I’ll let you know as soon as I'm sure what’s next for me after graduation.”He shook my hand. “I look forward to hearing from you and hopefully working with you.” He nodded at Victor. “Mr. Klein, it's nice to see you again.”Victor nodded back, and we watched Mike Abbott walk toward a waiting limo.Victor put an arm around my shoulders and walked me inside the mansion.“Doesn’t Mike Abbott’s offer tem
After dressing quickly and rushing to the hospital, we found Justin pacing outside a hospital room on the maternity floor.He looked frazzled. It made me feel guilty for not answering my phone when he called to tell me about Amy.“How is she?” I asked, clinging nervously to Victor.“They gave her something to stop the contractions,” he answered in a shaky voice. “I don’t know if it worked. The doctor is with her now.”I hugged him. “Amy and the baby will be okay. This is the best hospital in Denhurst. They handle cases of early labor all the time.”His eyes filled with hope. “Really?”“Absolutely,” Victor insisted and patted his shoulder. “They know what they’re doing here.”“She’s been working too hard at the shelter,” Justin grumbled. “It’s too much for her now, especially while she’s keeping up with her classes. I begged her to hire someone to help her.”“I didn’t know she was still working that much at the shelter,” I said. “She complains about being tired at school all the time.”
The jury deliberated for three days. Finally, the phone call came that they had come to a decision, and we hurried to the courthouse.Taking seats behind the DA, we waited for the judge to enter the courtroom. I watched the jury file into the room first and take their seats. There was no sign of the verdict on their faces.“Why am I nervous?” I whispered to Victor.John had an odd look of confidence on his face. The word smug came to my mind.“Don’t worry,” Victor whispered back. “There’s no way John will be found innocent.”I tried to let Victor’s words calm me, yet I knew it was still possible for John to walk away from these charges. He had the devil's own luck.The bailiff entered the room and had everyone stand. When we took our seats again, my stomach fluttered, and my heart raced.I wanted John to be somewhere he would never bother us or hurt anybody else again. He couldn’t get away with his evil schemes ever again.The jury foreman passed the verdict to the judge via the baili
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