chapter 185
Tori's POV:
A month later.
Since the truth about my parentage had been revealed, much had changed.
William and Susan had reconciled their decades-long estrangement, finding their way back to each other through the shared joy of discovering me.
Susan had even approached me about eventually taking over leadership of the Shepherd Pack, a gesture that had left me speechless. But I'd politely declined, suggested that Charlotte was far better suited for the role—her years of training and dedication to the pack couldn't be dismissed.
Susan hadn't insisted, respecting my choice to forge my own path.
Charlotte had visited several times during my recovery, though each encounter had been tinged with awkwardness until I finally addressed the elephant in the room.
I'd assured her directly that I had no intention of competing for her place in the pack hierarchy. The relief that washed over her face had been immediate and profound.
"I'm sorry," she'd confessed, eyes downcast. "The pack leadership... is the only thing that gives me security. "
I'd understood her anxiety all too well. "I know what it's like to need something to cling to when you don't have blood ties to anchor you," I'd told her. "The pack is yours, Charlotte. I have my own path to follow."
After that, her visits had become genuinely supportive rather than obligatory, another unexpected gift from this new chapter of my life.
My hand drifted to my abdomen, tracing the tender incision site hidden beneath my hospital gown. The physical pain had dulled to a manageable ache, but the emotional aftermath still rippled through me in unpredictable waves.
Today marked a milestone, though—Dr. Rodriguez had finally cleared me for discharge.
We're going home, Tracy, my inner wolf, whispered with quiet satisfaction.
A gentle knock interrupted my thoughts. Martha, Lucas's housekeeper, entered carrying a small bag.
"Good morning, Luna," she said, her gray-brown eyes crinkling with warmth. "I've brought your clothes for discharge."
The title still felt foreign—Luna, mate of the Alpha.
"Thank you, Martha," I replied, carefully swinging my legs over the bed's edge.
While Martha helped me into a loose-fitting dress, I glanced at my phone on the nightstand. The screen was filled with notifications—social media alerts, news bulletins, message requests from strangers.
I unlocked the screen and scrolled through the headlines.
"CROWDFUNDING EFFORT SAVES OMEGA: MASSIVE REWARDS OFFERED FOR BLOOD DONORS"
"WASTED RESOURCES: CITY MOBILIZES FOR MERE OMEGA"
"PACK PRIORITIES QUESTIONED: ARE OMEGAS WORTH SUCH EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES?"
My breath caught. "What is all this?"
Martha sighed, adjusting my dress with careful hands. "The crowdfunding effort to find blood donors for you has been misrepresented by some uninformed media outlets. They've twisted the story, questioning why so many resources were mobilized to save an Omega. It's stirred up quite a controversy."
I scrolled further, reading comments that made my stomach clench.
"Those are just uninformed people making wild speculations," Martha said gently, shaking her head at the screen. "You shouldn't pay them any mind."
I nodded, setting the phone aside with surprising ease.
"You're right," I said. "After walking so close to death's door, I find I care much less about what others think of me. I'm just grateful for what I have now."
As we approached the elevator, I noticed whispers and stares from hospital staff and visitors alike. The weight of their attention was something I couldn't ignore.
A nurse approached us, her smile unnaturally wide and friendly.
"Luna Tori, is there anything I can do for you? " she asked eagerly.
I shook my head, uncomfortable with her overeager attitude. "No, thank you. But may I ask why everyone keeps staring? "
The nurse looked surprised.
"Oh! You still don't know?" She glanced at me with excitement. "All four major packs have made public statements about you. It's... well, it's everywhere."
Frowning, I pulled out my phone and saw notifications flooding in.
The top trending topic across all Moonhaven social platforms was "#ToriSullivan" followed by "From Omega to Moonhaven's Most Precious Princess."
My breath caught as I scrolled through the feed, seeing headlines and statements from each of the four major packs.
I read with increasing amazement.
The Grayson Pack had issued a formal statement: "Tori Sullivan is our pack's Luna, mate to Alpha Lucas Grayson. Any suggestion that she is 'just an Omega not worth the effort' demonstrates profound ignorance of her value to our pack and will be regarded as an attack on pack Luna."
But more surprisingly, the Sullivan Pack had released their own statement, with William claiming me as "the biological daughter of Alpha William Sullivan, separated at birth through criminal actions. Tori Sullivan carries the pure Sullivan bloodline. The Sullivan Pack welcomes her return to her rightful place among us."
The Shepherd Pack's statement came from Alpha Susan herself: "Tori Sullivan is the daughter of Alpha Susan Shepherd, stolen as an infant. The Shepherd Pack acknowledges her as our Alpha's daughter and will protect her interests with all our resources."
Even the Freeman Pack had made a declaration, claiming connection through a familial bond: "Tori Sullivan's contributions to lunar phase research are invaluable to all packs, and we stand with the other three major packs in asserting her importance to Moonhaven's future."
The last one was from Lucas himself.
"As Alpha of the Grayson Pack and mate to Luna Tori Sullivan, I have instructed our legal team to pursue action against every individual spreading malicious falsehoods regarding my Luna. Those responsible will find their comments cannot be deleted nor their accounts deactivated until formal apologies are issued. "
Accompanying his statement were screenshots of people frantically trying to delete their comments, with error messages indicating "Action blocked by Grayson Pack security protocol."
The comments section was filled with panicked apologies.
Despite everything, I found myself smiling. For the first time in my life, I wasn't fighting my battles alone. The warmth of that realization spread through my chest like sunlight through ice.
"What are you smiling about?" Lucas appeared and asked, his arm secure around my waist as he guided me toward the hospital exit.
I shook my head slightly. "Just saw something interesting," I replied, not quite ready to share the depth of emotion swelling inside me.
As we approached the hospital doors, I spotted two familiar figures waiting by the entrance—Susan and William, my biological parents, standing together with matching expressions of concern and affection.
"They insisted on being here for your discharge," Lucas murmured. "I couldn't say no."
The sight of them—waiting for me, caring about me—added another layer to the surreal quality of my new reality.
Five years ago, I'd been an outcast Omega with no one. Now I had parents, a mate, a child, and four powerful packs publicly declaring my worth.
"Sometimes I can't believe this is my life now," I whispered to Lucas. "It feels too good to be real."
Lucas's arm tightened around me, his lips brushing my temple.
"This is just the beginning, little wolf," he promised, his voice a low rumble against my skin. "You'll be this happy and much more for the rest of our lives. I'll make sure of it."
For once, I didn't question or doubt his words.
The cynical, defensive part of me that had always been waiting for the other shoe to drop was finally at peace. I leaned into his embrace, my heart full of certainty.
"I believe," I whispered back.
-End-