chapter 59
Tori's POV:
I stared at the ceiling that night, unable to sleep.
Perhaps scrolling through some articles would distract me.
I reached for my phone, which I'd turned off after sending that message to Lucas hours ago.
The moment the screen lit up with the startup logo, it began to ring.
Lucas Grayson's name flashed across it, as if he'd been waiting for me to power on my device.
I froze, staring at his name, my finger hovering over the screen. Should I answer? What would I even say?
Before I could decide, the ringing stopped, only to be immediately replaced by a text message: "Pick up. Now."
My heart leaped into my throat. With trembling fingers, I answered when he called again.
"Explain your text," his voice came through immediately, cold and clearly displeased.
My heart leaped into my throat.
I sat up, pulling my knees to my chest. "I—I just think it's better if we keep some distance between us."
"Why?" The single word carried the weight of his authority, making Tracy curl up anxiously inside me.
"Alpha Lucas，" I said quietly, gripping my phone tighter, "whether your interest in me is genuine or not, I don't want to continue this... entanglement. We belong to different worlds. You're the Alpha of the most powerful pack in Moonhaven, and I'm just—" I swallowed hard, "—ａｎ Omega. This relationship, whatever it is, won't benefit either of us in the long run."
I took a deep breath before continuing, "I appreciate everything you've done for me, truly. And I promise I'll find a way to repay your kindness eventually. "
The silence that followed was so long I wondered if he'd hung up.
"Is that all you have to say?" His voice was unnervingly calm. "Nothing else you want to add?"
I closed my eyes, feeling Tracy's protest beneath my skin.
"Yes, that's all," I whispered, even as something in my chest ached.
Another long pause. "It's late," he finally said. "Sleep, Tori."
Then the line went dead.
I stared at my phone, an unexpected emptiness spreading through me.
I had asked for this distance, insisted on it even, so why did the sudden void feel so... wrong?
You're lying to yourself, Tracy whimpered inside me. You know you want more.
"Some things aren't meant for us to have," I whispered to the darkness. "This is better for everyone."
I closed my eyes and forced myself to breathe evenly, willing sleep to come and take away the hollow feeling in my chest.
This was the right choice. It had to be.
---
The next morning, I decided to take Anna to the park.
My five-year-old cousin bounced ahead of me on the path, her boundless energy a stark contrast to my own weariness.
"Look, Tori! Ducks!" She pointed excitedly at a small pond where several birds floated peacefully.
I smiled despite myself. Anna's innocence was refreshing—untainted by the complexities of pack politics and social hierarchies.
To her, the world was still full of wonder rather than danger.
"Well, what a delightful coincidence!"
The voice made me stiffen.
I turned to see Mrs. White approaching with a young man in tow. He was tall and lean, with neatly combed hair and a pressed button-up shirt that screamed 'trying too hard.'
"Sullivan!" Mrs. White continued, her smile too wide to be natural.
"How wonderful to see you here. This is my grandson, Andrew. He's just moved back from the city!"
Andrew shifted uncomfortably, extending his hand. "Nice to meet you."
I shook it briefly, feeling Tracy bristle beneath my skin. She didn't appreciate this obvious setup any more than I did.
"Andrew works at the regional bank," Mrs. White continued proudly. "He just bought a lovely townhouse near the center of Moonhaven."
"That's... nice," I replied, my eyes drifting to Anna, who was now crouching by the pond's edge. "Anna, don't get too close to the water!"
"Sullivan is so good with children," Mrs. White interjected, nodding toward Anna. "I keep telling my Andrew he should settle down soon. Start a family. You two could make such beautiful cubs together!"
I nearly choked. Tracy growled indignantly inside me, deeply offended by Mrs. White's blatant matchmaking and the suggestion. Her anger mixing with my own embarrassment.
Just then, my phone vibrated in my pocket.
A single text message: Look up.
I raised my head, scanning the area. Near a tall pine tree about fifty yards away stood a black Maybach, and leaning against it—Lucas Grayson.
His blue eyes were fixed on me with predatory intensity, his posture deceptively casual.
Anna followed my gaze. "Who's that?" she asked loudly. "He looks cool!"
Lucas was walking toward us, each step measured and graceful yet somehow threatening. Even in casual clothes—dark jeans and a charcoal sweater that hugged his broad shoulders—he exuded power.
"I need to take Anna home," I said quickly, standing up from the park bench.
"Mrs. White, Andrew, it was nice seeing you, but we really must go."
Mrs. White's lips curled into a knowing smile, completely misinterpreting my rush to leave.
"Oh, don't be so shy, dear! Andrew, why don't you drop by her grandmother's house tomorrow evening? A proper visit would be lovely."
"That sounds... nice," Andrew replied uncertainly, clearly noticing my discomfort.
"Perfect! It's settled then," Mrs. White beamed, patting my arm. "We'll see you tomorrow, Sullivan. Come along, Andrew."
She pulled her grandson away, throwing one last satisfied smile over her shoulder.
I turned to follow Anna, only to find my path blocked by Lucas.
He stood directly before me, his tall frame impossible to ignore or sidestep. His blue eyes held mine with an intensity that made my breath catch.
"How did you find me?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rapid beating of my heart.
I immediately regretted asking such an obvious thing. Of course he could find me—he was Alpha Lucas. What information couldn't he access if he wanted to?
I shifted uncomfortably, remembering Mrs. White's words to her neighbor that I'd overheard: "damaged goods" and how "generous" Andrew was to consider someone with my history.
Would Lucas eventually see me the same way if he learned everything about my past? But I quickly reminded myself that it didn't matter anymore.
I'd made my decision to keep my distance from him, and his opinion of me was irrelevant now.
Lucas didn't answer my question about finding me. Instead, his gaze followed Mrs. White and Andrew as they retreated down the path.
"So this is why you're so eager to distance yourself from me?" he asked, his voice deceptively calm.