Chapter 29
Tori's POV:
I froze at Lucas's question, caught in the act of planning my escape.
His piercing blue eyes held a hint of amusement, as if he could read my every thought.
"No," I said, straightening my shoulders and willing my heartbeat to slow down. "I was just... thinking."
He knows you wanted to leave, Tracy, my wolf, snickered inside my mind. Why bother denying it?
I silently told her to be quiet.
Tracy seemed to get excited every time we were near Lucas, probably sensing the powerful Alpha aura. My inexperienced little wolf apparently had no self-control when it came to strong dominance signals.
"Of course." His tone made it clear he didn't believe me for a second. "Are you ready to leave?"
I blinked in surprise. "Your meeting's over already?"
The Alpha meetings were notorious for dragging on for hours as the four pack leaders debated territory and resources. He couldn't have been gone more than twenty minutes.
"I addressed what needed to be addressed," he said simply, his expression revealing nothing.
"Well, thank you for the tea," I said, gathering my bag. "I should get back to my dorm."
"I'll drive you."
It wasn't a question, just a statement delivered with quiet authority.
"That's not necessary—" I began.
"It is." His tone left no room for argument.
Just accept his help, Tracy urged. What are you afraid of?
What was I afraid of? Perhaps the inexplicable pull I felt toward him. Or maybe four years in Silver Fang had taught me to question everyone's motives—especially when someone powerful showed unexpected interest.
"Fine," I conceded, knowing refusing again would just make things awkward between us.
I followed him outside to where a sleek black Maybach waited at the curb.
"You're driving yourself?" I blurted out before I could stop myself.
Lucas glanced at me, one eyebrow raised. "Did you expect me to be chauffeured everywhere?"
I didn't answer because, well, I had expected exactly that. In my mind, someone like Lucas Grayson—the Alpha of the most powerful pack in Moonhaven—would never drive himself anywhere.
The mental image I'd constructed of him always included a driver, security detail, and probably a personal assistant holding an umbrella if there was even a hint of rain.
My silence apparently spoke volumes, because a flicker of amusement crossed his face before he walked to the passenger door and opened it, gesturing for me to get in.
"I'll just sit in the back," I said quickly, moving toward the rear door.
I reached for the handle, but it wouldn't budge. Locked. I looked up, embarrassment flooding my cheeks as I met Lucas's knowing gaze.
He'd clearly anticipated my attempt.
"Sitting in the back would be treating me like a driver," he said, a hint of something that might have been humor in his voice. "I'm not your chauffeur, Tori."
"I didn't mean—" I stammered, feeling foolish.
He simply nodded toward the open passenger door, waiting.
With no graceful way out, I slid into the front passenger seat.
The proximity to Lucas was immediately more intense, his scent stronger, his presence almost overwhelming.
He smells so good, Tracy practically purred. Like strength and safety.
I firmly pushed her comments aside as Lucas pulled away from the curb.
"You said you had something to discuss with me," I ventured after a moment of silence.
Lucas glanced at me and nodded, as if just remembering his earlier words at the restaurant.
"What was it?" I asked when he didn't elaborate.
"Is there something troubling you? Something you can't handle on your own?"
The question caught me off guard.
"No," I said quickly—too quickly. "Everything's fine."
"Really?" His tone made it clear he didn't believe me.
"Yes," I insisted, uncomfortable with his scrutiny. "But why do you suddenly ask this?
"Morgan mentioned you haven't been sleeping well lately," he said, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
I remembered —oversleeping and being late for class when Morgan had to come wake me up; the morning I'd shown up to meet her for shopping with dark circles under my eyes and red-rimmed eyes that no amount of cold water could fix.
But I hadn't expected Morgan to share those details with Lucas of all people.
I frowned, suddenly wondering if Morgan and Lucas's relationship was more complex than she'd let on. Did they talk about me often? What else had she told him?
Mental note: tomorrow at school, I was definitely going to have a little chat with Morgan about what constituted private information.
The silence stretched between us until the car pulled to a stop near my dormitory building. I reached for my bag, eager to escape the confining space and his unsettling presence.
Before I could open the door, Lucas reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a small paper bag. He handed it to me without explanation.
I accepted it cautiously. "What's this?"
"Open it."
Inside, I found a sleep mask designed to produce soothing steam and a small bottle of lavender sleep aid diffuser oil.
I stared at them in confusion, genuinely taken aback. Not only had he remembered what Morgan said about my sleep issues, but he'd actually gone out of his way to get me something to help?
This didn't make sense. Why would Lucas Grayson, an Alpha of his status, pay such close attention to an Omega?
I could almost understand the previous times he'd helped me—maybe he was just one of those secretly kind-hearted people beneath a cold exterior.
But this? This felt like too much, too personal.
Still, I'd observed enough during our interactions to recognize one thing about Lucas Grayson: he didn't appreciate being refused or contradicted.
"I... thank you," I said.
With a quick nod, I gathered my things and exited the car, clutching the paper bag to my chest as I watched the sleek Maybach pull away from the curb and disappear around the corner.