Chapter 13
Tori's POV:
I stared at Lucas Grayson, knocked off balance by his question.
Those piercing blue eyes held mine, waiting for an answer.
The intensity of his gaze made my heart beat faster, and I felt Tracy, my wolf, stir restlessly within me.
I shook my head quickly.
"No," I answered, surprised by the steadiness in my voice.
The corner of his mouth lifted in a slight smile. "Then why are you pressing yourself against the door as if I might bite?"
Heat rushed to my cheeks.
"I'm just... giving you space," I said lamely, straightening my posture slightly. "It's courtesy and respect."
Lucas raised an eyebrow, noncommittal.
I wasn't actually afraid of Lucas Grayson.
The problem wasn't fear—it was Tracy. My wolf seemed unusually restless whenever I was near him, as if his presence triggered something unsettling within her.
After a moment of silence, Lucas's deep voice filled the car again. "Has anyone else caused you trouble since that night at the café?"
The question caught me off guard. Why would an Alpha of his status concern himself with the problems of an Omega like me?
I shook my head. "No, everything's been fine," I replied softly. "Thank you again for stepping in that night."
His eyes remained on me, continuing. "If anyone bothers you again, you can contact me directly."
I felt Morgan stiffen slightly in the front seat, though she kept her gaze fixed forward. Jason's eyes flickered to the rearview mirror briefly before returning to the road.
Despite my confusion at his unusual attentiveness, I simply nodded.
Thankfully, the ride was mercifully short. Within minutes, Jason pulled up to the entrance of the school dormitories, the familiar brick building a welcome sight.
"We're here," Jason announced, sounding almost as relieved as I felt.
"Thank you for the ride," I said quickly, already reaching for the door handle. "I appreciate it."
Morgan twisted in her seat. "See you tomorrow in class?"
I nodded, offering her a small smile.
"Goodnight," I said finally, closing the door and stepping back as the sleek sedan pulled away from the curb.
Back in my dormitory room, I finally let out a long breath. The tension that had built up during that short car ride gradually dissipated as I sank onto my narrow bed, staring up at the ceiling.
Alpha Lucas's concern surprised me. And I couldn't help but think that Morgan's admiration of him might be justified after all. He seemed genuinely concerned about the wellbeing of everyone in his territory—even an Omega like me.
The sudden blaring of my phone startled me from my thoughts.
I reached for it on the nightstand, then froze when I saw the number displayed on the screen—a sequence of digits I'd once known better than my own name.
Ethan.
I didn't want to answer, so I set the phone back down and let it vibrate against the wooden surface.
The ringing eventually stopped, only to start again almost immediately.
By the third call, I snatched up the phone with an irritated growl.
"What?" I snapped, pressing it to my ear.
Silence greeted me. I could hear his breathing on the other end, slightly uneven, but he said nothing.
The seconds stretched between us like years. My heart hammered against my ribs, and I gripped the phone tighter.
"If you have nothing to say, I'm hanging up," I said finally, my voice steady.
"Wait." His voice was rough, almost desperate. "Tori, please. Don't hang up."
He continued, his words coming out strained and halting.
"Is there... is there still any chance for us?" The question was barely audible.
I tightly closed my eyes, struggling to suppress the bitterness welling up inside.
"We should just be strangers from now on, Ethan," I said, keeping my voice carefully neutral despite the ache spreading through my chest. "We can't go back to how things were. That's not possible anymore."
Before he could respond, I ended the call. My finger hovered over the power button for only a second before I turned the phone off completely.
The room suddenly felt too quiet, too empty.
I set the phone down on my nightstand and drew my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms around them.
Just for a little while, I allowed myself to mourn what we had once been, and everything that could have been.
Tomorrow, he would officially become Fiona's mate. The ceremony would bind them together in the eyes of the pack and the Moon Goddess herself.
But why Fiona of all people? How could he choose her, knowing what she'd done to me?
I don't remember falling asleep. One moment I was staring at the ceiling, the next I was plunged into darkness.
Blood. So much blood.
In my dream, I stood in a dimly lit room. Someone lay on the floor, crimson pooling beneath him.
A man approached me, his features distorted in the shadows. Fear surged through me—primal, instinctive. My hand closed around something cold and hard. A bottle. I swung it with all my strength.
The sickening crack as it connected with his skull. His body crumpled to the ground.
Then sterile white walls. Doctors in masks. The monotone voice announcing, "Time of death..." for both figures from the bloody room.
"Tori! Tori, wake up!"
Hands shook my shoulders, pulling me from the nightmare's grip.
I gasped, jerking upright, my heart thundering in my chest.
Morgan stood beside my bed, her face creased with concern, her hands still on my shoulders.
"Hey, are you okay?" Her voice was gentle, filled with worry. "You were thrashing around and making these awful sounds."
I blinked, trying to orient myself. Sunlight streamed through the window.
"What time is it?" I managed, my voice hoarse.
"Almost 10," Morgan said. "You missed morning classes. Mrs. Blake was worried when you didn't show up, so she asked me to check on you."
She studied my face. "What happened? Are you sick?"