Chapter 36

I found Alex in the main living room, relaxing in front of the television. I could tell he slept well last night.

I entered the room and sat on the couch near him with a big smile.

“How was your day, darling?“ Alex asked.

“It was okay, but I need to talk to you about something.”

“I always have time for you, my darling girl.” He turned off the television set, sat up straight, and put his feet on the floor. “I’m listening, sweetheart.”

I decided to go straight to the point. “I’d like you to invite a friend of mine and his family to dinner soon.”

“Are you talking about your friend Amy?”

“No, there is someone else I’ve made friends with,” I replied. “He’s a wonderful person.”

“A young man friend. Hmm,” Alex said to himself. “Who is his family?” Alex asked. “Do I know them?”

“William comes from an old Alpha family,” I replied. “They’re good people. They’re loyal to the United Association of Alphas and you.”

Alex looked surprised. “Are you referring to young William James?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“Do you have feelings for him?” He studied my face for an answer.

“No. It’s nothing like that,” I said. “We’re just friends. But I like him a lot. So does Victor.”

“Victor approves of your friendship with William?” Alex repeated. “Well, I see no reason not to invite him and his parents to dinner.”

Alex and I put our arms around each other and sat quietly for a few minutes. I was grateful to have my father in my life again.

“You and my mother were in love, right?” I said.

“Deeply,” Alex agreed. “I was lucky to have found her, and I was fortunate that she was suitable to be my wife.”

“Would you have married her if she wasn’t suitable?“ I asked.

He looked at the ceiling and then nodded. “Yes, I would have. We were fated mates. We shared a love that most are never lucky enough to find.”

“What was it like, and how did you know she was the one?" I asked. "It was rare for people to find their 'fated mates' these days, but I heard there were people travelling around the world to find their fated one.”

“Your wolf will tell you when you meet your fated mate, and marking your fated mate will be a totally different experience from marking your chosen mate,” Alex’s eyes took on a faraway look. “After you mark each other, you can share all your feelings and sensations with your fated mate. You can feel it when they are happy or sad. You know when they’re excited or in danger.”

"That sounds...beautiful," I was amazed by what Alex just described. I wanted the one that I meant to be with more than ever.

“It was beautiful,” Alex said. “Enough talk of the past, I’ll have Benson send the invitation to the James’ home immediately.”

I hugged him tightly. “Thank you.”

William and his family would arrive tomorrow evening for dinner. For some reason, I was out of my mind with nervousness.

What if I said something foolish? I had a gift for putting my foot in my mouth, and I wanted his parents to like me.

And I wanted to make a better impression on his parents than I had at the pool party with the wet suit.

That’s why Jennifer was helping me go through my closet to find the perfect outfit for the occasion. I wanted to look good, but I wanted to be comfortable and look like me.

Jennifer pulled out a knee-length skirt and a matching top from my closet. It was expensive, but it wasn’t flashy, and it was comfortable.

I glanced in the mirror at my hair. “I should wash my hair and have you re-braid it. It’s starting to come loose, and pieces are sticking out all over.”

“Of course, Miss Wilson.” Jennifer began unbraiding my hair.

When she was finished, I looked at the bushy mess on top of my head and groaned.

“I love how the braids look, but I wish there were another way to control this mess on top of my head.”

Jennifer continued to use a wide-toothed comb to untangle my hair.

“There are ways, Miss Wilson. Your hair could be trimmed, and there are products and ways to style it so it wouldn’t be as frizzy.”

“Can you do it?“ I asked. I didn’t really have time to find a salon, and I knew Jennifer was good with hair.

“Yes, I would be glad to trim it and cut in some layers,“ Jennifer replied.

“Then I’ll rub a special formula I bought for you into your hair before I style it using a blow dryer with a diffuser and a round brush. It will calm the frizz.”

It sounded complicated to me, but I agreed to let Jennifer try it.

While I washed my hair, Jennifer gathered everything she would need, including a stool for me to sit on, and brought them into my bathroom.

I was a little shaky as I sat down on the stool. I’ve never had anyone do my hair for me.

But Jennifer seemed to know what she was doing as she dropped a towel around my shoulders and began sectioning my hair.

I closed my eyes and hoped for the best when she began cutting.

When she put down the scissors, there was a lot less hair on my head and a lot of hair on the floor.

My wet hair clung to my scalp, so I couldn’t tell if I liked it. But my head felt lighter and cooler.

I giggled. “Now I know what a sheep felt like after its first shearing,” I told Jennifer.

“I cut off a lot of hair,” Jennifer agreed. “But you’re going to like the results.”

Next, she rubbed something from a bottle on my hair and worked it through with her fingers.

Then she got out a special blow dryer and a round brush and dried my hair section by section.

I was amazed at the loose waves she produced. I couldn’t wait to see it with my glasses on.

Finally, she was finished, and I grabbed my glasses.

I looked into the mirror and could barely breathe at the image reflected there. I did look like my mother.

I couldn’t believe I looked this good. It made doubts flood my mind. Maybe the other kids at school would make fun of me for trying to be somebody I wasn’t.

“You never want to brush your hair when it’s dry, Miss Wilson. It makes the frizz worse.” She gave me a wide-toothed comb. “Use this instead.”

Jennifer noticed my expression. “Is something wrong, Miss?”

“Nuh …no, Jennifer,” I said. “You did a fantastic job.“ How could I explain to her that I couldn’t go to school like this? It looked too good.

“But I wonder,” I said as I studied my new hairstyle in the mirror. “Maybe I should save this glamorous look for the night of my ball. Can you still braid my hair?” I asked.

I would keep my hair in the braid until the night of the ball. I would feel like an imposter in my ball gown, so my hair will be the least of my worries.

“Yes, Miss,” she replied. “I think it would be clever of you to save your new hairstyle for your ball.”

“By the way,” Jennifer continued. “How would you feel about getting contact lenses for your ball? Along with your new hairstyle, you will look just like a princess in your ball gown.”

Jennifer promised to braid my hair in the morning before I went to school.

“I think I would like to try contact lenses,” I told her. “Would you ask Benson to arrange an appointment with an optometrist?”

“Of course,” Jennifer said. “I’ll see to it myself. It’s so exciting. You are going to turn heads at the ball.”

Author note：

Dear Readers,

Guess who will be Daisy's fated mate?

Or fated mates?

Riley Above Story