chapter 106
Tori's POV:
Morning light filtered through my curtains, pulling me from a dreamless sleep.
My body felt unusually rested. In my dreams, a hazy figure had chased away all the persistent shadows that haunted me, leaving me feeling strangely protected."
I reached for my phone on the nightstand, preparing to check the time.
Instead, the screen lit up with notifications: twenty-seven missed calls and a flood of text messages.
Morgan had called twelve times. Ms. Blake's name appeared five times. Even Amelia Crawford from the Lunar Phase Competition had tried reaching me.
Before I could decide whether I needed to call back, my phone vibrated in my hand. Morgan's face flashed on the screen.
"Tori! Finally!" Her voice burst through the speaker before I could even say hello. "How are you? I've been calling all night!"
The events of last night suddenly flooded back—my past being exposed on that giant screen, the horrified gasps from the audience, the reporters swarming around me with their ruthless questions, and then... Lucas walked toward me, his commanding presence silencing the room as he positioned himself between me and the media frenzy.
"I'm... okay," I answered, my voice still rough with morning.
I can't believe I actually slept well after everything that happened.
I thought about the shadowy figure in my dreams who had stood guard, keeping nightmares at bay. The realization struck me—it had been Lucas.
"Oh my god, Tori!" Morgan continued, excitement bubbling over. "The way Lucas Grayson just appeared and put himself between you and everyone else—it was the most badass thing I've ever seen! He practically radiated 'touch her and die' energy. I swear half the female in the room were ready to swoon."
I winced, sinking back against my pillows.
"That's what I'm worried about, Morgan. My reputation is basically in tatters now. I'm the one who spent four years in Silver Fang. I'm nothing but trouble." My voice dropped lower. "What if I drag him down with me?"
"Don't think like that," Morgan insisted. "All the negative stuff online is already being controlled. Posts are disappearing, comments are being moderated—someone's handling it."
She hesitated, her voice dropping lower. "But... I should probably warn you. The entire Grayson family knows about what happened now. Jason overheard some conversations. Lucas's father... well, he's not thrilled. I'm sorry, Tori, but I thought you should prepare yourself."
I swallowed hard, a familiar tightness gripping my chest.
Of course, they would think that—the damaged Omega somehow manipulating their Alpha son.
"Thank you for telling me, Morgan," I said quietly.
"I hated to be the one to say it," she admitted, "but you deserve to know what you're facing."
Her voice brightened slightly. "The most important thing is that you're okay, though. Everything else is just... noise. "
The sincerity in her voice warmed something inside me.
Four years ago, I'd lost everything—including the belief that I could have real friends again. Yet here was Morgan, genuinely concerned about my wellbeing above all else.
I stared at the ceiling, knowing exactly who was responsible for the damage control. Lucas was protecting me, again. But how long before I became a liability he couldn't afford?
After hanging up with Morgan, I slipped out of bed and pulled on a sweater over my sleep clothes.
My body felt drawn downstairs, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lucas, to thank him properly for everything he'd done last night.
The main floor was quiet except for the soft sounds of movement in the kitchen.
I followed the noise, finding Margaret arranging breakfast items on a tray.
"Good morning, dear," she said warmly when she spotted me."I was just about to wake you up."
"Thank you," I said, glancing around. "Is Lucas around?"
Margaret's expression softened.
"He had to step out early this morning—some urgent Pack business. He specifically asked me to make sure you eat properly."
She gestured to the tray laden with fruit, protein, and a steaming mug of herbal tea. "And he wanted me to tell you he'll be back soon."
Of course, he would think of my nutrition even in the midst of damage control.
My chest tightened with a feeling I wasn't ready to name.
---
Night had fallen by the time a soft knock came at my door.
I knew who it was before I opened it.
I rushed to the door, my heart quickening with each step.
When I pulled it open, Lucas stood in the hallway, his tall frame filling the doorway.
He was still in his business clothes—a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, though his tie hung loosely around his neck and the top button of his shirt was undone.
The dark circles beneath his silver eyes told me everything I needed to know. He hadn't rested. He'd been working all day, undoubtedly dealing with the aftermath of last night's events—of my past being exposed.
"May I come in?" he asked, his voice low.
I stepped aside, suddenly conscious of my simple sleep shorts and oversized t-shirt. His eyes tracked the movement, something flickering in their depths before he controlled it.
"You've been busy," I said as I closed the door.
He moved to the window, looking out at the moonlit campus grounds. "You could say that."
I sat on the edge of my bed, studying his profile. The strong line of his jaw was tense, shoulders carrying invisible weight.
"How much did it cost you?" I asked quietly. "To protect me. To keep the stories from spreading."
Lucas turned, his expression softening as he looked at me.
He crossed the room in three strides, stopping before me. Slowly, he reached down, his fingers gently brushing a strand of hair from my face.
"Nothing that matters," he said, he corner of his mouth lifted slightly. "You don't need to worry about it, little wolf."
Then he bent down, pressing his lips to my forehead in the gentlest of kisses. The gesture was so tender, so protective, it made my chest ache.
"Get some rest," he murmured against my skin before straightening. "I'll see you tomorrow."
He moved toward the door, and something in me couldn't bear to see him leave.
"And when was the last time you actually rested?" I asked quietly.
Lucas stopped mid-step, his hand already reaching for the doorknob. The question seemed to catch him off-guard, his shoulders tensing slightly before he turned back to face me.
Before he could answer, I crossed the room to him.
My heart hammered against my ribs as I did something I'd never dared before—I wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing my cheek against his chest. I could hear his heart beating, strong and steady, then quickening at my touch.
"Stay," I whispered. "You need rest."
For a moment, Lucas stood perfectly still. Then his arms enveloped me, drawing me closer against him as he released a deep breath that seemed to carry the weight of days.
"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice a low rumble I could feel through his chest.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak again.