chapter 136
Tori's POV:
I left William Sullivan still standing alone in the corridor.
There was something about the pain in his eyes that didn't align with Susan's accusations.
William didn't strike me as a man who would carelessly destroy his family or betray those he loved. The dignity in his bearing, even when confronted with such raw hatred, suggested there might be more to the story.
No one mourns that deeply for something they didn't truly value.
I shook my head slightly, pushing these thoughts aside.
Whatever had happened between the Sullivans and Shepherds was their private tragedy, not my business to unravel. I had enough complications in my own life without adding someone else's decades-old heartbreak to the mix.
Lucas was scanning the crowd when I slipped back into my seat beside him, his eyes immediately finding mine. "Everything alright?" he asked, his voice low.
"Yes," I replied. "Just needed some air."
The remaining auction items passed in a blur of polite applause and mounting bids. I tried to focus, but my thoughts kept returning to Susan Shepherd's tear-filled accusation: "You made our daughter die." The raw pain in her voice had been unmistakable.
By the time we left the auction house, night had fallen completely over Moonhaven.
The drive home, the city lights streaming past as we wound our way through the elegant streets.
Once inside his home, Lucas's phone rang. He glanced at the screen, his expression shifting minutely. "I need to take this," he said, stepping away into his study.
I nodded and headed upstairs. The evening had been more taxing than I'd anticipated. Between the attention from other guests, the extravagant gift from Lucas, and overhearing the Sullivan-Shepherd conflict, I felt emotionally drained.
In the master bedroom, I carefully removed the crystal necklace, setting it on the nightstand. I took a long shower, letting the hot water wash away the tension from my shoulders.
By the time I emerged, wrapped in a soft robe, Lucas still hadn't returned upstairs.
I could hear the low murmur of his voice from his study, the tone serious and measured. His mood seemed to have darkened considerably.
I slipped into bed, the sheets cool against my skin.
The digital clock on the nightstand read 11:43 PM. I tried to read, but the words blurred together as exhaustion crept in. Eventually, I turned off the lamp and lay in darkness, listening to the distant sound of Lucas's voice.
I must have dozed off, because the next thing I knew, the bedroom door was opening, casting a thin wedge of light across the floor. I kept my eyes closed and my breathing even, feigning sleep as Lucas moved quietly around the room.
I felt the mattress dip as he sat on the edge of the bed. His fingers brushed a strand of hair from my face, the touch so gentle it made my heart ache.
"I know you're awake, little wolf," he whispered, his voice tinged with amusement.
I opened my eyes to find him watching me. My pulse quickened, memories of our intimacy from the previous night flooding back.
The intensity in his gaze made me suddenly nervous.
"Why did you take the necklace off?" he asked, glancing at the crystal piece resting on the nightstand.
"Oh," I touched my bare throat, "I always take jewelry off when I shower. Force of habit."
Lucas reached for the necklace, the silver links catching the moonlight. "It needs to be worn continuously to provide its full benefits," he said, his voice low.
I nodded and sat up, turning slightly so he could fasten it around my neck. His fingers brushed against my skin, lingering perhaps longer than necessary.
"You paid at least ten times what it's worth," I murmured as the familiar weight settled against my collarbone. "I should definitely get my moonstone's worth by wearing it."
His lips curved into a smile. "You like it then?"
"I do," I admitted.
"So what's my reward?" Lucas asked, his eyes smiling.
I felt heat rise to my cheeks. "I'm not ready yet." I realized aloud, suddenly self-conscious.
Lucas leaned closer, his scent enveloping me. "The only gift I want," he whispered against my ear, "is right in front of me."
My breath caught as I understood his meaning.
When his lips found mine, I didn't resist, despite the exhaustion still lingering in my muscles from the previous night's activities.
Hours later, as dawn began to creep through the curtains, I lay beside him, my body pleasantly sore and utterly spent.
Lucas traced lazy patterns on my bare shoulder, seemingly energized rather than tired.
Dear Moon Goddess, I thought hazily, an Alpha who's gotten a taste is certainly different. If every night was going to be like this, I wasn't sure I'd survive the experience.
He leaned forward, and I instinctively pulled back, tucking myself against his chest instead.
"I can't," I whispered, my voice muffled against his shirt. "Lucas, I'm exhausted. I need to rest."
He chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest as he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer. "Sleep then, little wolf," he murmured, his breath warm against my hair. "I'll just hold you."
I melted into his embrace, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my ear more soothing than any lullaby. Safe in the circle of his arms, I surrendered to exhaustion, drifting into a deep, dreamless sleep.
---
I woke to sunlight streaming through the partially open curtains and an empty space beside me. The clock read 11:07 AM. I sat up quickly, surprised I'd slept so late.
A note rested on Lucas's pillow, written in his precise handwriting:
Pack business needs handling. Have a good rest.
—L
Beneath his initial was a small, hastily drawn wolf head that made me smile despite my disappointment at his absence.
It was so unexpectedly playful, so at odds with his usual formality.
I showered and dressed in comfortable clothes, then headed downstairs.
The house was quiet except for the occasional sounds of someone moving in the kitchen. I expected to find Martha, but instead, a younger woman with caramel-colored hair was arranging a tray.
She turned when I entered, offering a quick, professional smile. "Good morning, Ms Sullivan. I'm Rose, filling in for Martha today. She needed a personal day."
"Oh. Good morning," I replied, surprised. "Please, call me Tori."
Rose nodded, though her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
After breakfast, Rose approached with a small box, her smile gentle and motherly. "Alpha Lucas asked me to give you these."
Morning-after pills.
I stared at the box briefly, a wave of conflicted emotions washing over me. Maybe Lucas wasn't ready for pup.
Without a word, I accepted them and swallowed the pills.
By the time I finished, a strange heaviness had settled in my limbs.
I gripped the edge of the counter, trying to steady myself. My lungs felt constricted, each breath shallower than the last.
Something's wrong, Tracy growled, her presence surging forward protectively. The pill. It was the pill.
The doorbell rang, cutting through the buzzing that had begun in my ears.
Rose hesitated, then moved to answer it, leaving me struggling to breathe on the kitchen floor.
"Tori? Where are you? I brought those notes you wanted!" Morgan's cheerful voice echoed from the foyer.
I tried to call out, but my throat had closed to a pinhole.
"Tori?" Morgan's voice came closer. I heard her enter the kitchen, then a sharp intake of breath. "Oh my God! Tori!"