We entered the woods but didn’t go directly toward the source of the scent.We charged at each other playfully, trying to act as if we didn't know another werewolf was nearby.But as we got closer to their position, we could hear them in the underbrush, moving away from us.“Don’t run,” Victor ordered. “If we run after him now, he’s far enough away to escape.”“The intruder is a male and a Beta,” Diana said.“And he is young,” Adam added.“Yes, he smells like a new wolf,” Victor agreed.“Let’s just find out who it is.” Who would dare trespass on my father’s territory? It was disrespectful.Alex sometimes allowed others to hunt and run on his land if they asked his permission first. He hadn’t mentioned anything about granting his permission to anyone lately.I didn’t want the intruder harmed, but they must be warned not to trespass again.We picked up the pace as we strolled through the trees, trying to act as if we had no particular destination in mind.But our quarry was on the move
Victor picked me up the next day after school.Neither of us mentioned swimming the night before, and I try not to think about the feel of his body against mine.“Alex told me it’s time for you to get more familiar with his business and the Wilson Foundation charities.” Victor smiled as he closed the car door.“Is that we’re going now?”“Yes,” Victor replied and walked around the car to get behind the steering wheel. “You’ve never been to his offices before, right?”I shook my head. “But I’ve been looking forward to it.”Victor handled the car just as well driving in the city as he did on the country roads, and before long, we were driving down a concrete ramp into a parking garage.“Is this Alex’s building?” I asked as we walked toward a bank of elevators.“Yes, it’s one of several buildings your father owns. Alex uses the top four floors of this one for his offices, and the penthouse is used when he occasionally wants to stay in the city.”“What about the rest of the building?” I di
As I entered the massive building on Victor’s arm, I discovered the library was as delightful to visit as the museum.Like the museum, it was near the city’s college campus, and I hardly ever came this far into the city's center.The library was one of the oldest buildings in the city and was built by true craftsmen. Everywhere there was detailed woodwork that delighted the eye, and the entire building smelled like books.Behind the librarian’s station, I spotted a painting secured in a glass case that drew my eye. I’d never seen the painting before, but the colors and style seemed familiar.Then I noticed the signature in the bottom corner. “Look, Victor,” I pointed at the painting. “It’s signed by Delacroix. The same artist must have painted it as the one at the Phillips mansion.”“You’re right,” he said. “My mother will be proud when I tell her you recognized his work.”“I have been constantly learning since I started my new life, which makes me feel lucky. So many new doors have o
To my surprise, Victor was right. Family dinners at the Klein’s home were not always formal affairs.Lana and Harry wore nice, but casual clothes, and Victor told me Lana had helped prepare the meal.“Cooking is a hobby of mine,” she explained as she removed an apron covering her skirt and blouse.“Do you like to cook, Daisy?” she asked as she took her seat at the table.“Sometimes,” I said. “I like to cook better than doing the dishes.”I wasn’t as uncomfortable as I thought I would be despite Victor and his father being lost in talk about business.Lana occasionally joined in. She seemed as knowledgeable as the men. She was an excellent role model.Best of all, my fears of ruining the dinner by doing something clumsy were laid to rest in the first ten minutes of the meal when Harry accidentally spilled his wine.Lana raised her eyebrows when he continued to discuss a new client of Victor’s as the wine spread across the linen tablecloth.Saunders appeared at his elbow with a dry clot
Amy wasn’t at our usual spot outside the school the next morning. I panicked, wondering if she made it home last night. I shouldn't have left her by herself at the library.But then I saw her standing with a small group of Beta girls a few yards away. I hurried over to talk to her.“How was the rest of your evening?” I asked. “Did you find Justin?”“He was on the second floor, doing some research in the microfiche room,” she replied.“Why didn’t he tell you he was going upstairs?”“He did, but I was so involved in looking for a book for his paper that I didn’t hear him tell me he was going up there.”“Well, I’m glad everything worked out for you. And I still want to meet Justin.”Amy looked me over. “Wow, why are you all dressed up today?”I didn’t think I was very dressed up. My skirt, top, and sandals came from Gisele’s, but the outfit wasn’t over the top for school.But I looked different because I had my contacts in and was wearing my hair in loose waves around my shoulders.“Vict
I was ready to go five minutes before Victor picked me up.Jennifer and I chose a floor-length skirt and a silk top with an illusion neckline. The top showed too much of my skin, so I paired it with a short, light jacket.My hair was in a braided updo, and I was wearing red lipstick for the first time. Jennifer said my overall look was classy and chic.My reflection in the mirror gave me a thrill and a confidence boost, but the young woman I saw looked too good to be me.Victor let out a little whistle when he saw me walk down the stairs. “Wow! You look amazing.”I blushed. “Thank you. Let me say good night to Alex, and I’ll be ready to go.”Alex told me to have a good time, and we were soon out the door.We climbed into the Lamborghini, and we were off for the latest art show at Mirage, the most successful and trendiest gallery in the city.“What do you know about the artist?” Victor asked.“Emily Miller is in her early thirties. She became an orphan when she was ten and was put in t
I was downstairs wearing a pastel green cocktail dress while I waited with Alex for Victor to arrive. I told Alex we needed to speak to him before we left for the ambassador’s party.When Benson showed Victor into the living room, Alex greeted him warmly.“How are you, Victor?” Alex asked. “Daisy tells me you have something you want to speak to me about.”Victor sat next to me on the couch. “I’d like you to announce our engagement as soon as possible. There are some individuals among the Alpha males who are pursuing your daughter for her inheritance.”Alex was quiet for a long moment. “I see,” he said. “Does this attention bother my daughter?”“Yes, I hate it,” I told him. “One of them trapped me in a bathroom at the Phillips’ ball and tried to kiss me.”Alex’s face grew pale. “And you think a formal announcement would help the situation?”“Yes,” Victor replied. “Daisy would be safer from these encounters, and I would have more authority to protect her as her official fiancé.”Alex ra
The dinner party to announce my engagement to Victor was an hour away.I was lying across my bed in my plush bathrobe after showering while Jennifer rummaged through my closet, searching for the perfect pair of shoes to go with the dress I chose to wear tonight.“What about this pair, Miss?” Jennifer asked.Before I could answer her, my phone rang. The caller ID told me it was Debbie, my personal assistant at my mother’s charity foundation.Debbie and I had become well acquainted over the last week. She filled me in on the details of the day-to-day operations that even Victor did not know.I liked her very much. She respected me and my opinions and didn’t look down on me if I didn’t know something.I answered the call. “Hello, Debbie.”“I’m sorry to bother you before your dinner party,” she apologized. “But I needed to ask a quick question.”“Did you want the invitations for next month’s charity auction sent out first thing Monday morning, or do you want to wait until after the articl
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