The limousine drove into a wealthy neighborhood that I’d never seen before. The homes were large with well-manicured lawns. I was watching the expensive houses go by when I saw a high wall with a gated driveway.The gate opened, and the limousine I was riding in pulled in and traveled up the flower-lined driveway to a gigantic stone house.The house reminded me of a castle. It rose four stories into the air and was wide and deep enough to hold a hundred homes like the one where I had grown up. The front entrance was double wooden doors wide enough to drive a car through.Was this castle-like mansion to be my new home?The limousine stopped near the front entrance, and the Benson opened the door and gave me his hand to help me out of the car.Two older women waited by the open front entrance. They curtsied and said, “Welcome home,” as Benson led me inside the mansion.Other servants dressed in black with white collars and cuffs waited in the elegant entrance hall. The men stood on one
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything important,” Victor said. He smiled confidently as he adjusted his tie and walked further into the room.“We were talking about Alberta’s future,” Alex replied.“Please, continue,” Victor said and sat in a leather club chair.“What were you about to tell me, dearest?” Alex asked.How could I tell Alex about the playboy side of Victor and his selfishness while Victor stood just feet away and smiled at me? Yet, I had to try.“I … I’ve suh … seen him before. I nah … nah … know things you … you duh … don’t nuh .. know.” I couldn’t continue. It was too embarrassing to sit there stammering while Victor grinned at me. I told Alex we would talk another time.Alex nodded. He looked tired and excused himself to go to his room and lie down.“But remember what I told you, Alberta,” Alex said as he made his way out of the living room. “You have a duty to this family and our kind to marry well and marry the man best suited to be our leader.”He made it to the do
I couldn't believe how casually Victor recited the sacred wedding vows. The way he seemed to mock and insult love and marriage was despicable. I got to my feet and put my hands on my hips.“Victor, how could you so carelessly make promises to me like that?” I asked. “Is being the leader of the United Association of Alphas so important to you that you feel it’s okay to make fun of something that means a great to me?”Victor stood and moved closer until his face was inches from mine. “Daisy, try to understand. Your rejection of me will hurt my public image. And I must be the next leader of the United Association of Alphas. Without the power of the office of the alliance's leader, I won’t be able to help others of our kind.”He placed a hand on my shoulder. “Power and wealth are the most important things a man can achieve. They are tools that will help me positively change our world.”I pulled away. “You can’t expect me to believe that you want to marry me just to help the world be a bet
I stood in my new bedroom the following day dressed in a fluffy bathrobe. I didn't know what to do after discovering the maids had left my old shirts and jeans at my adoptive parents' house. I had the debit card, but I had nothing to wear except the robe. And school started in an hour.I pushed the button near my headboard. Maybe I could borrow jeans and a shirt from one of the maids. The youngest maid looked about my size.But when an older maid arrived, she asked me to choose something from the closet.She opened the closet door, and pulled out a dress. It was made from a soft blue, shimmering fabric with a famous designer label.“Everything in this closet was chosen for you,” the maid told me. “It should all fit. Wear whatever you like. And let me know if you don't like any of them, I will remove those for you later.”"Oh...Okay. I like them all," I answered as quickly as I could. I was afraid that she would throw all these clothes away if I expressed any dislike. What a waste!I l
“Where did you get that dress, freak,” Bella hissed. “Did you steal it?”I glanced at the mocking faces surrounding me and shook my head. Why wouldn’t they leave me alone? I didn’t do anything to deserve this.“I said, where did you get that dress?” Bella repeated. She signaled the other girls, and the circle around me tightened.“My … my fah … fah … father gave it to me,” I stammered. Why did my stutter always get worse when it was vital for me to speak clearly?“Your fah … fah … father couldn’t afford that dress,” Bella said, mocking me. “Stop lying.”I didn’t understand. Why were they making a big deal over a dress? It was a pretty dress, but it was nothing to get mad over.“I’m not … not.. ly....” I was tempted to tell them my father was Alex Wilson, but they did not let me finish my words.“What brand is that dress? Who designed it? Do you know?” Bella demanded.I shook my head again. “I told you, my fah … father bah … bought it for me.” And I didn’t care who designed it. I was u
With more and more people staring at us, Victor, and the expensive sports car, Amy became uncomfortable too. After I introduced her to Victor, she quickly found an excuse and went home.After she was out of sight, I pulled Victor aside. “What are you doing here?” I asked and realized I wasn’t stuttering again.I was still jumpy and nervous from everything that happened lately, but something about Victor made it easier for me to speak around him.“I’m here to pick up my gorgeous fiancée from school,” Victor said with a boyish grin that made me smile.“Aren’t you glad to see me?” he asked, his grin widening. “Look how jealous your classmates are of you. No other girl at this school has an incredibly hot guy in a Ferrari picking them up.”“I'm so lucky,” I said, fighting the urge to roll my eyes.Victor took my hand and kissed it. “Come with me, dear Daisy, and I’ll show you how lucky you are.” He looked at me, waggled his eyebrows, and smiled into my eyes.I pulled my hand out of his gr
The following morning I woke before my alarm. I stretched and rolled over in the soft, comfortable bed. Staring at my bedroom ceiling, I thought about my conversation with Victor the previous afternoon.“You can’t be serious about a fake engagement,” I told Victor.“I’m very serious,” he replied. “What do you have to lose, Daisy? We both know you want William. Stop accepting what life hands you, and go after what you want.”“It sounds risky,” I said. “What if you’re just tricking me into marrying you?”Victor laughed. “To be honest with you, I would prefer being a single billionaire leader instead of being a married one. You clearly don’t want an open marriage, and I can't picture myself staying with one person for my entire life.”Victor’s proposal was shocking and exciting. He seemed sure I could have William as my lover. I wanted to say yes, but I told Victor I needed to think about it first.That’s when Victor suggested I try what he had in mind before we told my father I would ma
Victor gently lowered me to my feet. Everything was blurry, but I could make out the shapes of the crowd. Except for a few students who had to be Alphas, everyone present was kneeling; their heads lowered while showing their necks.It was the submissive posture among werewolves.This was the first time I heard the aggressive, dominant voice Victor used to save me. It was rarely heard in modern werewolf society.Modern Alpha leaders promoted an equal society and didn’t want the lower classes to think Alphas still considered themselves their superiors.I realized I was clinging to Victor’s arm and released it. Taking a step back, I saw he was looking at me instead of the Betas kneeling on the ground. He seemed to be staring at my face. Feeling self-conscious, I tried not to squint.Victor released the Betas from his power and found my glasses. Both the frames and the lenses were crushed.“Oh, no!” I exclaimed. “I’m practically blind without them.”Victor tossed them in a trash can and g