Chapter 38

Victor’s POV

I was invited to the dinner with William and his parents, but I thought things would go better for Daisy without me.

Instead, I had an extremely rare steak at my favorite restaurant and planned on a quiet evening at home. But as I was getting back into my car, I had the urge to find out if the dinner was successful.

After all, it was my idea.

But when I got to Alex’s mansion and peeked into the drawing room, I discovered Morton and Lily James were still there, having brandy with Alex.

Where were William and Daisy?

Feeling like a spy, I backed away from the doorway. Why was I sneaking around Alex’s home, peeking into the rooms?

However, I knew I didn’t want to announce myself and be trapped into making small talk with William's parents.

They were nice people but incredibly dull.

So I went back to the foyer, intending to leave. But the sound of voices at the top of the staircase made me pause in an alcove.

I listened to Daisy and William talking as they came downstairs and passed by without seeing me. They were discussing Alex’s library and the books it held.

“I’m sure you can borrow any book you’d like,” I heard Daisy say to William.

“That would be great,” William replied.

Although I felt like a spy again, I didn’t want to reveal myself and interrupt their conversation.

I waited until I couldn’t hear their voices any longer before coming out of the alcove and into the foyer.

Daisy and William sounded happy and comfortable with each other.

William is an attractive, popular athlete, and Daisy turned out to be more beautiful than I first thought. With a little more effort, her beauty could easily eclipse her mother’s.

Her beauty caught me by surprise once, and I almost kissed her.

That one impulsive act could have ruined all my plans, and I wouldn’t let it happen again.

Why did I feel a twinge of regret?

I knew I should leave the mansion immediately, but I was truly curious about the outcome of the dinner.

Perhaps I could wait somewhere alone until I could congratulate Daisy on doing so well with William. And we could talk for a few minutes.

I reminded myself that her success with William would prevent any chance of a real marriage between us. Yet, my position as leader of the United Association of Alphas would be safe.

Young William would never have the desire or capability to run Alex‘s empire or to lead the werewolf government.

Feeling my confidence restored, I decided to take a stroll outside. It was such a pleasant evening that I would rather wait outside for the James family to leave.

I exited the house via a side door and approached the back of the estate. I always loved being outside at night. The quarter moon didn’t provide much light, but my eyes quickly adjusted.

Spotting small night creatures scurrying amongst the bushes, I whispered, “You’re safe tonight, my friends. I’m not shifting or hunting.”

I bypassed the pond and took a stroll in the topiary Garden. I always admired the garden with its enormous bushes shaped to resemble wolves. I spent hours here when I was a boy.

Farther past the topiary garden was a hedgerow and the entry to the woods. A female deer and her fawn standing nearby caught my scent and hurried deeper into the trees.

My instincts jabbed at me to give chase, but I resisted the urge to shift and follow them. My mind was on Daisy and William, and I wondered how good of an impression he made on Alex.

Voices nearby interrupted my thoughts and I hurried to see who it was. There were no thieves who would dare come near this property.

Yet I knew someone was there in the darkness.

Daisy’s image entered my mind.

Perhaps she knew I had come outside and was looking for me.

“Daisy,“ I called. There was no reply, so I waited a minute and called her name again

Suddenly, I heard a squeal of fear, and I felt Daisy’s terror. I hurried toward the sound, and it led me to the pond with the pavilion at its center.

I stopped abruptly, stunned by the sight that met my eyes. Daisy was being held tightly in William’s arms. Her face was resting on his chest.

Anger slammed into me like a blow to my stomach. With my hands balled into fists, I forced myself to walk away.

What was wrong with me? This was what I wanted, and, more importantly, it was what Daisy wanted.

Even though she didn’t acknowledge my presence, I knew she saw me standing beside the roses. As I turned to walk away, I heard her speak to William.

“We should go into the house now,” Daisy said. “We’ve been gone for a while, and somebody is probably looking for us by now.”

I didn’t want Daisy or anyone else to think I was jealous. It would be humiliating. I had never been jealous in my life.

As a matter of fact, I wasn’t sure what jealousy felt like. And I didn’t care what Daisy and William did together.

The only reason I came to Alex’s mansion tonight was to see if my plan worked to get Alex’s approval of William.

I made my way around to the side door without being seen by anyone else and re-entered the house. Maybe I should wait in the living room until I heard the Jameses leave.

I needed to speak with Daisy tonight.

But before I entered the living room, I heard the young couple approaching me from down the hall.

I felt that stab of anger again when I saw William had his arm draped around Daisy's shoulders, and they were laughing.

“Victor, what are you doing here?” Daisy asked me.

“I wanted to talk to you for a moment,” I replied, keeping my voice casual.

“Sure,” she said and told William she would meet him in the drawing room. Then she followed me into the living room.

“I see things are going well between you and William.” Why did my own words stir up negative emotions within me?

“Things are going great,” she said in an excited whisper. “I saw you by the roses. Why were you watching us?”

“I didn’t know you and William were outside. I saw the Jameses were still here and decided to take a walk until they went home.”

“When I was near the topiary garden. I heard voices,” I continued to explain myself. “I needed to be sure it wasn’t someone trespassing on your father’s property.”

“It was just us,” Daisy said. “We were talking, and I showed William around the estate.”

“It looked like you were doing more than talking.” Why did I sound angry?

Daisy blushed. “William got his own chance to save my life. I almost fell into the pond around the pavilion. He caught me and kept me from falling into the water.”

I relaxed as relief filled me. That explained why she was in his arms.

But I still didn’t understand my reaction. I wanted Daisy to be with William. Now that it was happening, why did I have these strange feelings?

It must be my natural possessiveness and love of competition.

I will never be in love with any woman, and I'm never jealous.