Chapter 203

William’s POV

I had to leave Alex’s mansion before I broke my promise to Daisy and revealed what I swore to keep secret.

When Daisy confided in me that her engagement to Victor was fake and it was only to get him Alex’s job with the Alpha Association, I believed her.

But now I wasn’t sure what was the truth of her relationship with Victor.

Victor must have grown true feelings for Daisy. I understood how easy it would be to fall for her, but it put everything I had been hoping for in jeopardy.

I had planned on asking them if we could speak privately after the dinner. Daisy and Victor needed to know what I had discovered in my investigation of Olivia.

They needed to know there was much more to the story of the ‘lab error’ than they knew. But now I wanted to get away from the dinner party before I said things I would regret.

I need to think. I wanted Daisy to be happy, even if that meant her being with Victor. It was a good thing I hadn’t had a chance to ask her to our prom. She was probably going with him.

I hurried faster down the hallway toward the foyer. All I wanted was to get into my Mustang and drive.

But in the next second, I knew that wasn’t going to happen.

“William,” Daisy called from behind me. “Please, wait. I need to talk to you.”

Unable to say no to her, I stopped walking and waited for her to catch up to me. Mark stirred in my mind as she drew closer. He always sensed Diana’s presence.

“I know what you’re thinking,” she said. “Let’s talk about it.”

I doubt she knew everything I was thinking, but this was as good a time as any to tell her what I discovered during my investigation. She could then pass it along to Victor.

Daisy stood in front of me. “Let’s go into a room to talk in private.”

“Sure,” I agreed. “There are things I need to tell you.”

“Come into the living room,” Daisy said. She went through the doorway and sat on the couch. “You go first. What did you want to tell me?”

I sat on the other end of the couch, organized my thoughts, and began to tell her what I discovered.

“Do you remember when I told you the one doorman at the apartment building works here as a gardener, and I saw Alex’s chauffeur circling your block in Alex’s personal car?”

“Yes,” she said. “You said Alex was watching over me, and I was glad he still cared.”

“There was more to it than that,” I insisted. “The letters and e-mails my father and I sent out were answered. Olivia Owens is a famous stage actress in her country.”

“It could be a coincidence,” she suggested.

“I don’t think so,” I said. “Olivia’s father was born and raised in Denhurst, and his best friend was Benson.”

Daisy’s eyes widened. “Our Benson? Our butler?”

“Yes,” I replied. “Benjamin Benson, Alex’s butler, has been Chester Owens’s best friend since they were kids.”

She looked at the floor for a moment. “I don’t understand what you’re saying. Benson is my friend.”

I moved closer and put my hand in hers. “Daisy, friends of Olivia’s family wrote to me and said Olivia came to Denhurst to take a high-paying actor’s job.”

Daisy shook her head. “No, Olivia came here because the lab made a mistake. They thought she was Alex’s daughter.”

“No. Friends of her family told me Olivia is not adopted,” I revealed. “And I spoke to the DNA lab. They never contacted Alex about any ‘lab error.’ Alex made up the story for some reason, and Benson got his friend's daughter to come here and play the part of Alex’s daughter.”

Daisy shook her head again. “No, that’s not possible. Why would they do that?”

“You need to ask Alex that question,” I said. “Maybe you and Victor should ask him together.” Alex owed them an explanation for what he did. “I wouldn’t make up something like this, Daisy.”

I saw the pain in Daisy’s eyes every day at school, especially that day she found Olivia in her seat in werewolf history class. It wasn't easy to keep myself from telling her what I was doing. Olivia had to think I was interested in her because I needed her to talk to me.

Daisy bowed her head again. “I believe you, but I don’t know why Alex would hurt me like that.”

“You need to ask him,” I said. “I’ll be there if you want. I think there have been enough secrets and lies around you since you came here.”

I had to ask her about her engagement to Victor. Alex said at the news conference that Victor proved his feelings for Daisy while Olivia was here. He said Victor came to him and told him he wanted Daisy even if he lost the opportunity for the leadership position.

If that was true, Victor probably had genuine feelings for Daisy. I knew how badly Victor wanted that job. We discussed it many times before Daisy was found.

Victor told me he would do anything to become the next leader of the association. He felt it was his true calling.

He also said he intended to never marry or take a mate. Victor thought a mate would distract him from his work at the association and from making his family’s company the biggest and the best.

But if what Alex said was true, Victor completely changed his mind.

Questions swirled through my mind. Do I have any chance with her if Victor loves her? How did she feel about Victor? Has their engagement become real? I had to know.

“Daisy, have things changed between you and Victor?”

“Um … no,” she stammered. “I don’t think so.”

“What do you mean?” Her denial didn’t sound confident. I needed to come clean to her about my feelings and maybe make a deal with Victor.

“Are you engaged to him for real?” I asked.

“Victor hasn’t mentioned the fake engagement, and he hasn’t asked me to marry him for real either,” she replied. “I couldn’t agree to marry anyone if they don’t propose properly.”

Was that a hint? Daisy cared about me. We became good friends this school year. But did she care enough to choose me over Victor?

I gathered my courage and looked into her mesmerizing green eyes. “Daisy, you must know I care about you a great deal.”

She nodded. “I know, William. I care about you, too.”

“Then listen to what I have to say.” I couldn’t wait and wonder how she feels any longer. I slipped off the couch and onto my knees in front of her. “Daisy Wilson, I love you, and I want you for my mate.”

Daisy was listening closely to my words. It gave me the courage to continue.

“Victor should have Alex’s job at the Association. He’s been trained for it most of his life, and it’s not what I want for mine.”

I took both of Daisy’s hands in mine. “Let’s go to Alex and tell him your engagement to Victor was fake. You can tell him he should still give the leadership job to Victor because he’s earned it.”

“And I will assure him that I don’t want it.” Sitting at a desk wasn’t what I wanted. Football was my dream, and nothing else would do.

Daisy was clinging to my hands with her eyes tightly closed. I wanted to kiss her again and show her how much she meant to me. Yet, I didn’t dare.

“Daisy, if Alex knows we love each other, he won’t mind. He wants you to be happy. Let’s talk to him, and then you and I can truly be together.”

“Wow, William! I don’t know what to say. This is so sudden, and it’s a lot to take in,” Daisy said after opening her beautiful eyes.

I had taken her by surprise, but she didn’t seem angry or upset. She was smiling a little, and I could tell by the way she was biting her lip that she was thinking about everything I said.

I crossed my fingers and prayed to the Goddess to let me have the mate I loved. Please let her say yes.