Chapter 167

I wanted to run forever.

Running through the high grasses or tracking small creatures in the woods kept me from thinking about Amy and my near humiliation at the hands of the parasite.

For hours, Victor and I and our wolves enjoyed each other’s company and the joy of being a part of nature without any conversation to distract us.

It was well after dark when we raced one last time around the field before leaping into the pagoda pond to cool off.

Victor's wolf followed me into the water, and we paddled around until Victor suddenly shifted human.

“What time is it?” he asked. “I’m starving.”

When I didn’t answer, he swam closer, and I shifted too.

“Daisy, don’t feel bad about what happened with the parasite,” Victor said. “But you need to trust your instincts more. Stop doubting yourself and start doubting strangers instead.”

“I won’t be trusting anybody again,” I assured him. “Ronald cured me of that.”

“There are plenty of people you can trust in this world,” Victor assured me. “Don’t let your experience with Ronald sour you on making any new contacts.”

“How do I know if they are another parasite or not?” I moved to the center of the pond and began to tread water.

“Ask me, Alex, William, or someone else you trust what they know about the person and use that information along with your feelings about them.”

“It’s almost fully dark out,” I said. “I think we missed dinner.”

“Do you want to go somewhere to eat?” Victor asked. “I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

“I don’t feel like getting dressed up and doing my hair and makeup,” I replied. “Let’s raid the kitchen. If the cook has retired, I can make us something to eat.”

“Why not,” he agreed. “You did well cooking for us at the cabin.”

I called for Diana and shifted again before leaving the water.

We dressed in the rose garden and walked inside the mansion to the kitchen.

The cook had retired for the night, and the enormous, well-equipped kitchen was spotless.

“I hate to make a mess in here. It’s so clean and organized,” I said as I looked around in the cupboards and refrigerator. I pulled out a few items and placed them on the countertop.

“We can still go out to eat,” Victor said.

I found some ground beef in the refrigerator. “I’m hungry too, and it will be a lot faster to whip up something than to get dressed and go out.”

Victor eyed the ground beef in my hands. “What are you making?”

“There is pasta and jarred marinara sauce to go with this hamburger.” I waved an onion and several large mushrooms from the vegetable bin at him. “I haven’t had spaghetti in a long time.”

“I’ve heard of spaghetti,” Victor said. “Is it good?”

With lots of Parmesan cheese on top, it’s delicious,” I assured him. “You’re going to love it.”

He poked the cold ground meat with one finger. “I’ll take your word for it.”

“You can help.” I handed him a knife and placed the mushrooms on a cutting board. “Slice these while I start browning the hamburger.”

Victor did as I asked, and I put the mushrooms into the frying pan with the meat.

“Do you want to dice the onion or start the sauce and pasta?” I asked.

“I’ve already got the knife,” he said. “I’ll tackle the onion.”

Make the pieces small,” I instructed as I struggled with the marinara jar lid.

The seal popped, and the lid came off. I poured the sauce into a small pan and put water on to boil for the pasta in another.

It felt natural doing domestic chores with Victor even though he was going to be the next leader of the Alpha world.

“Victor, why do you want to be the leader of the Alpha Association?” I asked. “It seems like a lot of responsibility to go along with running your family’s company.”

“What?” Victor turned around, and I gasped at his red eyes and the tears rolling down his face.

I flew to his side. “What’s wrong?” I never thought I would see Victor cry.

“I think it’s this blasted onion. Something is irritating my eyes like crazy.” He backed away from the cutting board as his eyes streamed tears. “Is the onion spoiled or something? I've eaten food with onion in it, and this didn’t happen.”

“Nope.” I suppressed a giggle. “I’d say that’s a good one.”

I lost my fight with the giggles as he wiped his eyes on a dish towel. “You’ve never chopped an onion before?” I asked.

“Nope,” he replied and tossed the towel at me. “But I think you booby-trapped this one.”

Victor washed his eyes in the sink and dried his face with another towel.

“What were we talking about before the onion attacked me?” he asked.

I repeated my question about why he wanted to be the Alpha leader.

“There are many reasons,” he replied. “Mostly because I know I could do a lot of good for everyone. For instance, I’d eliminate the parasites ripping people off.”

“And since getting to know you and seeing firsthand how Betas and Omegas are treated, I want to review and possibly amend their rights. It may be time for our world to be more fair and inclusive.”

“Do you mean that?” I was stunned.

“Yes,” he replied. “What happened to Amy should not be acceptable to anyone. There should be laws against such harassment. I don’t understand why any race would treat their workforce, the people they depend on for everything, so badly.”

I turned and put the pasta in the water. “That’s good to hear. But it will take more than laws to change many Alpha’s attitudes.”

“There are always those who resist change,” Victor said. “But it doesn’t make them right. They will need to adjust their thinking with the times.”

Victor’s words gave me hope for the future. I was glad I had a part in making him see the problem.

“I wish those changes happened before Amy was harassed at the party,” I sighed.

“Things happen as you grow older. I lost my best friend after we graduated from college,” Victor said. “I’ve never replaced him.”

“Did you have a fight?” I asked. I never thought about the fact that Victor didn’t have a best friend. “Tell me about it.”

I listened to Victor’s story as I finished preparing our meal.

“Michael and I grew up next door to each other,” he began. “We made plans like kids do for when we grew up. One of our plans was to travel and see the world after graduating high school.”

“But I had to intern at my family’s company that summer, so I promised Michael we would go after college. But I had too many duties here to go then, too.”

“Is that why you stopped being friends,” I asked and drained the pasta.

“Yep,” Victor began. “Michael began traveling the world on his own and never contacted me again.”

“Where is he now?” I put plates and silverware on the countertop near two stools.

“I heard he lives halfway around the world with his wife and baby boy,” Victor said. I saw regret in his eyes. “He met her on a train somewhere. I’m glad he’s happy.”

“You should ask his parents for his address and write to him,” I suggested. “He might not be mad at you anymore.”

We sat down on the stools and began to eat.

“This is good,” Victor said after putting a bite of spaghetti into his mouth. “A little messy, but it’s good.

“Twirl the pasta around your fork. And here, sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on it.” I handed him a bowl of grated cheese. “It makes it even better.”

I wondered if he realized he had never answered me about writing to his friend. He would never know if Michael had forgiven him if he didn’t talk to him.

Maybe I shouldn’t give up on Amy.

Tomorrow I would ask her if the charity could still use her idea for the progressive dinner.

The worst that could happen is that she will say no.