chapter 170
Lucas's POV:
The sterile scent of antiseptic hit me the moment we crossed through the sliding doors of Moontouch Medical Center.
My hand remained firmly on Tori's lower back as we followed William Sullivan's group through the emergency entrance, Susan's wheelchair being pushed at a brisk pace by William.
Guilt radiated from Tori in waves so strong I could taste it on my tongue—bitter and acidic.
Our mate carries too much guilt, Duke observed. Like stones in her pockets, weighing her down.
He wasn't wrong.
Ever since learning about William being her biological father, Tori had been carrying the weight of Hannah's betrayal as if it were her own sin to bear. Now this—Susan's injury while protecting her—would only add another stone to that crushing load.
Through the glass partition separating the waiting area from the emergency treatment rooms, I watched Matthew Howard appear in his white coat, his usual casual demeanor replaced by focused professionalism.
He knelt beside Susan's wheelchair, his hands already glowing with that faint golden light that marked his rare healing abilities as he examined her legs.
William stood rigidly beside the examination table, his entire body taut with barely suppressed anxiety. I could see his lips moving—questions, probably, though the soundproofing prevented me from hearing the words.
Matthew's examination seemed to take an eternity, though in reality it was probably only a few minutes.
Finally, he straightened, his hands losing their golden glow as he turned to address William. Even through the glass, I could see the tension drain from William's shoulders.
The emergency room doors swung open, and William emerged, Matthew following close behind. Both men's expressions had shifted from concern to something approaching relief.
"How is she?" I asked before William could speak, feeling Tori tense beside me.
"Nothing serious," Matthew said, his professional mask slipping back into his usual easy smile.
"The impact aggravated some scar tissue from her previous injuries, causing muscle spasms and inflammation. Painful, but not dangerous. I've administered some healing energy to reduce the swelling, and she should be fine with rest."
Tori's relief flooded through our bond so powerfully it nearly staggered me.
"Thank God," she breathed.
We followed them back through the emergency room doors into a private recovery room.
Susan sat propped up in the hospital bed, her legs elevated on pillows.
Despite the pallor of her face, she smiled reassuringly at Tori. "I'm fine, dear. It doesn't hurt at all."
But Tori had moved closer to the bed, her eyes fixed on Susan's legs where the impact had left visible bruising and swelling beneath the medical wrappings.
"Susan," Tori said softly, sitting beside the bed. "You shouldn't be so kind to me. I don't deserve—"
Her voice caught, and through our bond I felt the overwhelming urge rising in her.
She wanted to tell the truth. Wanted to confess everything—who she was, what her existence meant, the betrayal her very birth represented.
But before Tori could speak, William stepped forward. "It's getting late," he said, his voice carefully neutral but with an edge of steel underneath. "Susan should rest, and I'm sure Alpha Lucas wants to get Tori home."
Susan's expression immediately shifted to displeasure, her hand tightening on Tori's. "If anyone should leave, William, it's you. I'm perfectly capable of deciding when I need rest."
"Susan—"
"I mean it." Her tone was firm despite her weakened state.
William's jaw worked, frustration and something darker flickering across his face.
He strode from the room, his movements tight with barely controlled emotion. After a moment's hesitation, I followed.
I found William on the hospital's outdoor terrace, a cigarette already lit between his fingers. The moon hung low in the sky, casting silver light across his features as he took a long drag.
He glanced at me as I approached, then wordlessly offered the pack.
"No, thank you," I said, keeping my distance but close enough to talk. "Tori doesn't like the smell, and with her pregnant..."
William's hand froze halfway through returning the pack to his pocket. Something flickered in his eyes—regret, perhaps.
He tucked the cigarettes away and took another drag from his own, exhaling smoke into the night air.
"I didn't expect this," he said finally, his voice rough. "Susan taking to her so strongly, so quickly."
William's laugh was bitter. "Ironic, isn't it? The woman whose life Hannah destroyed, protecting Hannah's daughter without even realizing it."
He took another drag. "This can't last, Lucas. Susan's too perceptive. Sooner or later, she'll figure it out."
"Perhaps." I leaned against the terrace railing, watching the city lights below. "Or perhaps we should let fate take its course."
William turned to face me fully.
"You're right," he admitted quietly.
He was quiet for a moment, then: "Have you never thought about it? Using Tori's connection to the Sullivan Pack? " He let the implication hang.
"I'm already the strongest Alpha," I said simply. "I don't need more power. I'm content with what I have—my pack, my territory, my mate."
I paused. "But if Tori wanted it, if she decided she wanted to claim her birthright and take her place in the Sullivan Pack, then yes, I would help her. "
William studied me for a long moment, then a small smile tugged at his lips.
"A romantic," he said, almost wonderingly. "Lucas Grayson, the Ice King of the North, is actually a romantic. Who would have thought?"
"Not a romantic," I corrected, my voice quiet but certain. "Just someone who finally met the right person."
The smile on William's face softened into something more genuine, tinged with melancholy. "She's lucky to have found you. Someone who sees her worth, who doesn't try to use her or hide her away."
"No." I corrected. "I'm the lucky one."