Chapter 238

“Daisy, did you know about this,” Amy asked.

“Only for a few days,” I admitted.

“And you didn’t tell me right away?” Amy started to cry. “The first thing I would’ve done was call you if I found out something like this about you.”

“Amy, it wasn’t my place to tell you,” I insisted. “After your dad told me, he said he would tell you himself.”

“Why did he tell you?” she asked.

I knew Amy wasn’t really mad at me. The news had been a big surprise for her. She was slowly processing and dealing with a new identity.

But I would have to tell her about the party. She wasn’t going to be happy until she knew every detail.

“I’m planning a surprise birthday party for you,” I said. “I called your dad from the beach to make sure he didn’t have other plans for your birthday, and he told me he wanted to be alone with you that night and why.”

Amy wiped away a few tears with the back of her hand. “But still, you should’ve told me right away.”

“Amy, I made her promise not to tell you,” Mr. Gray said sternly. “Don’t be mad at Daisy. If you are going to be angry at anyone, be angry at me.”

Amy wiped away more tears and shook her head. “I’m not mad at anybody. I don’t have any reason to be mad at either of you. It was just a shock.”

She walked around the table and put her arms around Mr. Gray. “I’m grateful for all the love I was given all my life. This doesn’t change anything between us. You are and will always be my father.”

Mr. Gray started crying. “I love you, Amy. I have since I first saw you and your mother’s arms when she brought you home that first day.”

“I love you too,” Amy assured him.

I felt like an intruder, watching Amy and her dad hug and cry. I thought about leaving them alone, but it felt awkward to just leave.

But then Amy’s bubbly personality surfaced again. “Do I still get my surprise party?” she asked. “I promise to act surprised.”

“Sure, why not,” I laughed. “Let’s make it a ball.”

“Can we have cake and ice cream and presents at a ball?” Amy asked.

“We can have anything you want,” I promised her. “It will be a lot of fun.”

Amy and her father sat down at the table. The worst was over. I should have known Amy would handle it well.

“I can’t believe I could be an Alpha,” she said.

“You’re definitely half Alpha,” Mr. Gray said. “Brenna and I never knew who your biological mother was. The people she worked for refused to discuss it with her even though Brenna insisted you should know who she was someday.”

“Then I have two reasons to be excited about my first shift,” Amy gushed. “Maybe being half Alpha will make Justin’s family like me better.”

“Justin’s family should adore you anyhow,” Mr. Gray insisted.

“Am I going to shift at my birthday party?” Amy asked. She was growing nervous. “You’ll both be there with me, right?”

“Of course we will be,” I replied. “Alex said we can have your first shift ceremony in the garden, so it’ll be private. And he’s calling our priestess to perform the ceremony.”

Amy clapped her hands with glee. “This is so exciting. I can’t wait to tell Justin. Will you invite his family?”

“Sure,” I replied. “Now that you know about the party, you can help with the guest list. You can invite anyone you want.”

“Are you inviting any wealthy Alphas?” I couldn’t tell if she was teasing or not.

“Of course,” I said. “Lots of them. They bring expensive presents.”

Amy giggled some more. Her emotions were teetering between nervous and excited. “I’ll wear my gown from your party or my prom gown.

“Nah, we’ll go to Gisele’s and get you a new one,” I offered.

“I hope you two are hungry. I’ve been keeping this warm.” Mr. Gray went to the oven and pulled out a large tray. “I have to eat now so I can get back to work.”

“Something smells amazing,” I said.

Mr. Gray put the covered dishes on the table and got three plates from the cupboard. “I made braised beef tips, twice-baked potatoes, bacon-wrapped scallops, and almond green beans in a champagne vinaigrette.”

Amy chattered about her birthday party throughout the meal. After the initial shock wore off about being adopted, she moved on with her usual positive energy.

Because I felt Amy and Mr. Gray needed some time alone, I helped clear our dishes and left.

But it was early yet, so I had Joe take me to see Lana. After Saunders led me to the living room, I was pleased to see she wasn’t using a wheelchair any longer.

“Daisy, it’s wonderful to see you,” she said. “Let me see the ring. Victor told me he would give it to you while you were at the beach house.”

I held out my left hand for her to inspect my ring. It sparkled in the light from the chandelier.

“It’s absolutely gorgeous,” she said and gave me a side hug. “I’m ecstatic that you two have worked things out. I was worried things wouldn’t go well for a while.”

“Me too,” I giggled. “I’ve never been happier.” I accepted a glass of juice from Saunders. “I’m having a birthday ball for my friend Amy on the third. I’d love for you and Harry to be there.”

“We’d love to come,” Lana replied. “Amy is such a darling. Are you hosting her first shift ceremony, too?”

“Yes,” I replied. “Alex said we can have a private ceremony in the garden because….”

I hesitated. I didn’t want to gossip about my best friend, but I could use Lana’s advice.

“What is it?” Lana asked. “You look like you’re bursting with a secret.”

“I am,” I said. “And I could use your advice, but I’d have to tell you a big secret about my best friend.”

“I am capable of keeping a secret,” Lana said with a smile that reminded me of Victor’s.

“I know. It isn’t that I don’t trust you.” I had to tell her. “Amy needs privacy for her first shift because she’s either an Alpha or a hybrid.”

“How is that possible?” Lana asked. She ate at Mr. Gray’s restaurant many times and knew he was a Beta, along with his deceased wife.

“The Gray’s aren’t her biological parents,” I replied. “Amy was adopted as an infant after being discovered on a back door stoop.”

I told her the whole story while she listened with a look of amazement on her face.

“Good lord,” Lana cried out. She was speechless for a moment. “You’re … you’re talking about the Archers.”

“Who?” I asked. I didn’t remember hearing the name before.

“The Archers. They are an old Alpha family with a hidden scandal,” Lana replied. “I never knew the details before. But you’ll have to invite them to Amy’s party. The family matriarch, Martha Archer, is known as the Luna of Lycan Square.”

“Gee, she sounds like fun,” I joked.

Lycan Square is a wealthy neighborhood just outside the city. The people who live there are ‘old money’ families.

Lana rolled her eyes. “She’s old now, but she was always an imperious, exasperating, nasty woman. Her granddaughters have been at social functions that I attended recently, although I haven’t laid eyes on Martha in years.”

“Have they been to anything I attended or hosted?” I asked. I was curious about these people who would deny their own flesh and blood.

“They were at the charity ball and auction you organized for your mother’s charity,” Lana said. “And several other events over the last year. There is no reason not to invite them to Amy’s ball. However, I wouldn’t tell them Amy was the baby in the tote bag left at their door.”

“No, that wouldn’t be wise, nor is it my place,” I agreed. “If Amy wants to meet her biological family, she’ll say so. What about Amy’s biological father, Andrew? Does he attend social functions?”

I didn’t want these people at the ball if there was any chance they would ruin the evening for Amy.

“Rarely,” Lana replied. “His social calendar seems to revolve around business. I would send an invitation to the whole family. Martha is the only one you need to worry about, and I'm sure they’ll leave her at home.”

Since she was a major villain in the story, I hope she wouldn’t show up. But the Goddess has a strange way of righting wrongs.

I would invite the Archers and hope the Goddess was on Amy’s side.