Chapter 31

A second before he reached the door, Victor stopped and turned. He looked down and then started to turn away again.

“I have to go,” he said. “Dr. Creed will be here soon anyway. I’ll see you tomorrow.” And he was gone.

I didn’t understand. Had I made him angry? And what were the strange sensations he made me feel?

There was one thing I did know. I didn’t like him.

Victor is a rich, arrogant Alpha. How could I when he was everything I hated in today’s werewolf society?

But I guess I didn't hate him either.

I sat up and pushed Victor out of my mind. William wanted me to attend his next football game. It was William who was my best hope for a happy future.

I had clean braids and wore a gorgeous new top as I walked into Werewolf history the next day. I was several minutes early, but to my surprise, William was already there.

He waved me into the seat next to him. “Hey, Daisy. Still coming to the football game?”

“Sure,” I replied and tried to think of something more to say. Fortunately, William already had something he wanted to discuss.

“Did you hear about the new banking rules?” William asked. He showed me a headline from today’s newspaper.

“I know,” I replied, happy to find talking to William was much easier than it had been in the past. “Wealthy Alphas get all the breaks. The rules are always in their favor.”

“That’s what happens when the wealthy make the rules,” William added.

“Betas and Omegas should be on the association’s committees,” I said. “They are the ones who pay the majority of the taxes, but they have no representation among the ruling class.”

“It's wrong,” William agreed. I loved it when he spoke like this. “But don’t tell my father that I said that.”

“I promise,“ I said and traced a cross pattern over my heart.

After werewolf history, the rest of the day went by quickly as I replayed the hour I spent next to William. Soon it was time to go home, and I walked with Amy to the school gate.

I felt a jolt in the pit of my stomach when I saw the Lamborghini wasn’t there waiting for me. Was Victor still angry with me for whatever he felt I did wrong?

But before I could worry much longer, the sleek silver car glided to a stop in front of us. Victor gave us a nod, and I said goodbye to my best friend.

I opened the car door for myself when Victor didn’t get out of the car, and I slid into the passenger seat.

“Hi,” I chirped, trying to ignore his mood. “How was your day?”

“Okay,” he mumbled. “I hope you’re ready to do some serious work today. We only have a few weeks more until the ball.”

“I’m ready,” I assured him. “But I need to talk to you first.”

“About what?” he asked, although I could tell he knew what was on my mind.

The questions exploded from my mouth. “Why do you get a funny look on your face sometimes while we’re dancing? Why did you leave so suddenly yesterday?”

He blew out a deep breath. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. But guess what? You aren’t my only responsibility, Daisy. I have a business to run too.”

I was too shocked to respond.

“My mind is on a problem I must solve for the company,” he added. “Not everything is about you.”

I felt my blood boil at his words—what an arrogant jerk. But I didn’t dare tell him off, so we rode the rest of the way to the mansion in silence.

When we got to the ballroom, Victor told me we would try a new dance today.

He showed me the steps. “This is a variation of the waltz that you already know. It’s slower than the traditional waltz and should be easy for you to learn.”

He held out his arms to me, but when I stepped close to him, Victor started acting like he didn't want to touch me. His arms were stiff, and he kept space between us as we moved to the music.

“Victor, please t …tell me what’s wrong,” I said. I was losing my confidence and getting nervous again.

“I bet you don’t know that there’s a difference between passion and this ‘love’ you talk about,” he said as he led me around the floor. “A person can feel passion for anyone they are attracted to, even if they don’t like or know them.”

Why was he talking about love and passion? What was he trying to say? Maybe this was my chance to ask some questions of my own.

“Does a person always feel passion for someone they love?” I asked.

“I don’t know. I’ve never loved anyone,” he replied.

Confusion made my mind spin, and I stepped on his foot, tripped, and almost fell. His arms tightened around me and kept me on my feet.

“You need to pay attention,” Victor said and pulled his body away from mine. “But you were doing well until that last turn.” His voice softened during his last sentence.

I wanted to steer him back to the subject of love and passion. I wanted to know why he brought it up. But I lost my nerve and blurted out something else instead.

“Did you hear about the new banking laws?” I asked. “It’s so unfair.”

“What’s unfair about it?” He asked.

I leaned back and looked into his eyes. “It’s unfair because the people it affects the most had no say in the making of the law.”

“Are you saying that Betas and Omegas should be members of the governing bodies?” He raised one of his brows.

“Why not?” I wanted to laugh at the look on his face. “The United Association of Alphas makes rules that help wealthy Alphas get even richer on the backs of poor Betas and Omegas. How is that fair?”

“Daisy, Alphas are the recognized ruling class. It’s been the same way for hundreds of years.”

“Maybe things should change,” I said.

“Why? The Betas and Omegas know nothing about governing.”

“They’ve never been given a chance,” I countered. “Even William agrees with me that …”

Victor stopped the music and stared at me. “Did William put this nonsense in your mind?”

“No, I … I have always been interested in the plight of the lower classes. That is why I want to be a lawyer especially for the lower classes.”

“That’s when you were among the lower classes,” he said. “Have you forgotten you are an Alpha? You descend from a long line of Alpha leaders.”

“I know that, but I still think it isn’t fair. Wealthy Alphas take advantage of Betas and Omegas. Their labor makes you richer.”

“Daisy, your father is the wealthiest Alpha of us all. When he is gone, all this,” he motioned around the ballroom, “will be yours. Don’t you understand? You are one of us.”

I shook my head. “I’ll never think like you or use people like you. Neither will William.”

“I can’t do this,” Victor said. He ran a hand over his face and shook his head. Then he opened his mouth to say something else. But instead, he turned around and walked out on me again.

What was his problem!

I hurried to my room and slammed the door before throwing myself on my bed.

I always knew that Victor needed to have more compassion for werewolves who weren’t lucky enough to be born into wealthy Alpha families. However, I thought if he seemed to be quite supportive to my dream to be lawyer for the lower classes, he would at least finish our conversation about the news.

I punched my pillow and rolled over to stare at my ceiling.