chapter 111
Lucas's POV:
The mahogany door of the study slammed shut behind Richard, the sound reverberating through the room like a gunshot.
My brother's face was a mask of barely controlled fury as he turned to face me.
"What the hell are you thinking, Lucas?" he demanded, his voice low but sharp. "Taking that Omega as your Luna? Have you completely lost your mind?"
I leaned against my desk, arms crossed, watching him with deliberate calm.
This confrontation had been inevitable since the moment I'd announced my intention to make Tori my Luna.
"I wasn't aware I needed your permission for my personal decisions, Richard."
His nostrils flared. "This isn't just personal, and you know it. You're the Alpha of this pack. Your choices affect us all."
He paced across the Persian rug, agitation evident in every movement. "And Ethan—have you forgotten he was involved with her? Your own nephew?"
"I'm quite aware of that fact."
"And you don't see a problem with it?" Richard stopped pacing to glare at me.
"The Alpha taking his nephew's former girlfriend as his Luna? Do you have any idea what people will say? What kind of scandal this will create?"
I met his gaze unflinchingly. "External gossip and rumors aren't worth our consideration."
"Not worth—" Richard let out a bitter laugh.
"That's rich coming from you. Weren't you the one who said we couldn't let her tarnish Ethan's reputation? That she was too damaged, too controversial for him to be associated with? And now suddenly you don't care about reputation?"
His words struck me like a physical blow. I couldn't deny the truth in them.
I had said those exact things before I knew Tori was my fated mate. The hypocrisy was undeniable, and for a moment I stood silent, unable to formulate a response that wouldn't sound hollow.
Finally, I felt my wolf, Duke, stir inside me, pushing past my momentary doubt with absolute certainty. I pushed off the desk and stood to my full height, allowing just enough of my Alpha presence to seep into the room.
"Tori is my female," I said, my voice dropping an octave. "Whatever opinions you may have about her, Richard, when in her presence, I expect you to show her the respect due to your future Luna."
Richard's jaw tightened, but he didn't back down. "This isn't about respect, Lucas. This is about my son. Ethan is devastated. He still loves her."
"Ethan made his choice when he agreed to marry Fiona Price," I replied coldly. "He cannot have it both ways."
Richard stared at me for a long moment, fury and frustration battling in his eyes, before he turned and stormed out of the study, slamming the door again with enough force to rattle the bookshelves.
I exhaled slowly, releasing the tension that had built in my shoulders.
I left the study and walked along the second-floor gallery, the moon's pale light filtering through the tall windows.
Below, on the moonlight terrace, I spotted Tori standing with my mother.
She wore a simple silver-white dress that caught the moonlight, making her seem almost ethereal. My breath caught as she turned, somehow sensing my presence, and our eyes met across the distance.
The smile she gave me was tentative, a mixture of nervousness and trust that made something in my chest tighten.
I noticed my mother watching our exchange with sharp eyes.
Despite her initial reservations, she seemed to be accepting the reality of my choice. The slight softening of her expression as she glanced between us told me more than words could have.
I made my way downstairs, drawn to Tori like a moth to flame.
I placed my hand at the small of Tori's back, a subtle gesture of possession that I knew wouldn't go unnoticed by anyone present.
"Dinner should be ready soon. Shall we?"
The ancient Grayson dining hall could be intimidating to outsiders.
Centuries of pack history hung on the walls in portraits and trophies, and the long table carved with lunar phases was designed to showcase the family's hierarchy.
I guided Tori to the seat at my right—the traditional place for the Luna—aware of every pair of eyes following our movements.
Ethan sat across from us, his face grim, barely acknowledging our presence.
He mechanically went through the motions of eating, his eyes focused on his plate. Fiona sat beside him, one hand occasionally resting on her slightly rounded belly, her eyes constantly flicking between Tori and me.
Throughout dinner, I found myself instinctively attending to Tori's needs.
I selected the choicest pieces of roasted venison for her plate, removed fish bones before passing the dish to her, ensured her wine glass remained filled with the non-alcoholic elderflower cordial she preferred.
These small gestures came naturally, driven by an instinct deeper than conscious thought.
I didn't miss how Fiona's expression tightened at each interaction.
I knew she was wondering if I would reopen the investigation into Noah Morris's death—the event that had sent Tori to Silver Fang for four years. If she was behind the framing of Tori, she had reason to worry.
After dinner, my mother rose with a formal grace that silenced the table.
She nodded to Martha, who disappeared briefly before returning with an ornate wooden box.
"Tori," my mother said, her voice carrying the weight of generations of ritual, "This is the first time you've come to our home as Lucas's future mate."
She opened the box and removed a card carved from moonstone, etched with ancient wolf pack symbols.
"This contains five million moonstone credits," she announced, holding it out to Tori. "A welcome gift from me to you, child."
Tori hesitated, her eyes widening slightly. I leaned closer to her, speaking softly. "The elder's gift cannot be refused. It's tradition."
Tori accepted the card with both hands, bowing her head slightly in a gesture of respect. "Thank you, Elizabeth. I'm honored."
My hand found the small of her back, a subtle gesture of reassurance.
"I'll be called upstairs with my father shortly. If anything happens while I'm gone, message me immediately."
She turned slightly toward me, giving a small nod of understanding.