Chapter 274

“Daisy, I want you inside the house right now,” Victor insisted. He heard my conversation with Andrew and knew Martha owned a gun.

He put an arm around my shoulders. “Hurry, sweetheart, I want to talk to Alex anyway. Then we can go to my apartment and practice your self-defense skills.”

“You sure know how to romance a girl,” I teased, but I hurried inside with him

I knew what Martha was like. She was one scary Luna. But she was still an elder, and it would be difficult to defend myself in a way that would hurt her.

What I wanted to know was who was helping her. We knew there were two red wolves, and Martha wasn’t tech-savvy.

Only a pro could do what this perpetrator had done with different security systems and Amy’s car.

We found Alex in the living room with Cassidy, and I told him we needed to talk to him.

Cassidy got up from the couch to leave.

Victor stopped her. “Stay. If Alex trusts you, so do I.”

She smiled and sat next to Alex again.

“You seem to have important things on your mind, Victor,” Alex said. “How can I help?”

“There are signs of a faction at the association who are trying to sabotage me to keep me from ascending to the office of leader,” Victor replied.

Alex sat up straighter. “Tell me more.”

Victor took a moment to organize his thoughts. “In the last week, I’ve had reports altered or replaced with fakes before they were distributed to council members. My meeting notes have also been tampered with.”

“This is a devious way to undermine you,” Alex said. “You must close your inner circle and surround yourself with people whose sole interest is to watch your back.”

Victor hung his head. “I’ve been thinking about putting off my ascension ceremony. There have been so many distractions lately that perhaps I haven’t been paying enough attention to the huge responsibilities of the position.”

Victor looked Alex in the eye. “You have been good to me, Alex. I would hate for the Wilson family to lose the rights to the Alpha leadership because of me.”

“Victor, I’m pleased to hear of your loyalty to my family, but I chose you to be my successor because I know you are the only man for the job,” Alex assured him.

“The distractions you speak of include protecting my beloved daughter,” Alex continued. With every word he said, I saw Victor’s confidence returning.

“After I lost Daisy’s mother, there were people at the association who thought my grief would keep me from being a good leader. But after some adjustments in my life, things went more smoothly, and I’m proud of my work.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Alex told Victor. Every new leader needs time to make the proper adjustments and make the job their own. This faction is merely a few power-hungry individuals who must fail in their attempt to keep you from ascending to the position.”

Victor nodded and swallowed hard. “Daisy and her safety are still the most important things in my life. I’ll never apologize for that.”

“It makes me glad you are her mate,” Alex said. “Your love for each other should be the most important thing in your lives,” Alex’s eyes twinkled merrily. “Although money and power make things even more fun.”

“Daisy and I want to do good things for people and not just the Alphas,” Victor said.

“This is the likely reason for the faction against you,” Alex told him. “I advise you to downplay your intentions to help the lower classes until you have the power to help them firmly in your grasp.”

“Should I delay the ceremony until I can uncover the leaders of the faction?” Victor asked.

“No,” Alex replied. “Don’t delay.”

I couldn’t remain silent any longer. “If you delay your ascension, the faction could win. Your mother, Benson, and I will ensure you have a grand ascension ceremony and celebration that people will tell their grandchildren about.”

Benson, who stood in the doorway, tilted his head in my direction. “You want me to help plan such an important event, Miss Wilson?”

“I can’t do it without you,” I replied.

Benson’s face bloomed into a huge smile. “It will be the grandest event this house has ever seen.” I was sure he was right.

“Then we won’t delay,” Victor decided. “But I need to capture the red wolves before the ceremony. They are a blight on the association’s reputation for law and order.”

“Whoever murdered that young Omega girl needs to be imprisoned for life,” I said.

“If the murderers are the red wolves, they must be stopped at once,” Alex agreed. “These rogue wolves terrorizing the city make the association look weak.”

“Do you have any advice on how to quickly unmask and capture them?” I asked. “One of them is a talented hacker who can evade security systems.”

“My best suggestion would be to go old school,” Alex said. “Lure them into a trap.”

“What do I use as bait?” Victor asked.

Alex sighed and looked at me.

Victor exploded. “No! I’m not using Daisy as bait! How can you suggest such a thing?”

“Victor, my daughter is in danger every second these wolves are running free,” Alex explained. “They have come after her more than once. This trap is something you will be able to plan and control.”

“We will use their anger and instincts against them,” I said. “And this time, we’ll make sure they can’t get away.”

“I need to think about this plan,” Victor scowled at me and Alex. “Daisy must be safe.”

“There are ways to keep her safe while capturing the killers,” Alex assured him. “Only use people you can trust to help you set and spring the trap.”

“Daisy, how do you feel about being used as bait to capture the red wolves?” Alex asked.

“I want the red wolves captured badly,” I replied. “There are ways to set the trap to keep me safe. I want to try.”

The thought of capturing the red wolves made my own predator's blood sing in my veins. I would do anything needed to prepare and execute the takedown of these wolves.

My self-defense classes had taught me a great deal, but there was more to learn. I needed to immediately start taking my lessons to the next level.

“Victor, I can’t keep running scared, nor can Amy and Mr. Gray. Their home is in Denhurst. The terror of the red wolves must end, or sooner or later, they will get me alone and possibly kill me.”

“I understand,” Victor said. “But deliberately putting you in harm's way will be difficult for me.”

I needed to convince him Alex’s plan was a good one.

“I understand your feelings,” I told him. “But a controlled situation like our trap would be better for me than finding them in my bedroom some morning after you leave for work.”

Victor knew I was right. “We will do it. I need a day or two to choose a team to help us set and spring the trap. But our plan must be flawless, or I will call it off.”

“Agreed,” I said. “Take me home so I can practice my battle skills.”

“She is quite the warrior,” Victor told Alex.

“Her maternal great-grandmother fought in the Cantor War,” Alex said. “Joanna used to say Daisy had many of her traits.”

Wow, what a compliment. I was honored to be considered a warrior. But I was tired of fighting. I wanted the red wolves to be captured so I could concentrate on Victor’s ascension, college, and my wedding.

After this last push to be a warrior, I wanted a normal life.

“Let’s go to the apartment and practice,” I told Victor. “Later, we can start planning our trap.”

Victor and I said our goodbyes and went out the front door.

But before we made it to Victor’s car, a red/gray wolf circled the Lamborghini and fell onto its side at my feet.

As the wolf lost consciousness, it shifted human and transformed into Martha Archer.