chapter 144
Tori's POV:
Lucas's expression remained carefully neutral as he glanced between me and the road ahead.
The moonlight filtering through the windshield cast half his face in shadow, making him even more difficult to read.
"I assume you had a life before you met me, Tori," he finally said, his fingers flexing slightly against the leather steering wheel. "What matters is who you choose now."
His words seemed perfectly reasonable and understanding.
If I put myself in his position, I couldn't imagine being so calm about him holding hands, embracing, or kissing someone else.
Yet here he was, acting like it didn't affect him at all. I couldn't tell if he was truly unbothered or just skilled at masking his emotions, not letting me see what he really felt.
Before I could respond, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen before answering.
"Grayson speaking." His voice shifted instantly into that authoritative Alpha tone. "When did this happen?... No, tell him I'll be there in an hour."
When he finally set the phone down, I asked quietly, "Is everything okay?"
"Nothing, I can't handle," he replied, his tone deliberately casual.
I turned to look out the window as the hospital came into view, deciding not to push the issue further. The night air was heavy with the scent of rain and antiseptic as we approached Moontouch Medical Center.
Lucas pulled up to the entrance, the car's headlights illuminating the glass doors.
As I stepped out and walked toward the entrance, I felt his eyes on me, watching protectively until I was safely inside. Then he left.
Inside the hospital, I made my way to the wing carrying a basket of moon berries and silver leaf herbs - traditional gifts for healing.
The antiseptic smell burned my sensitive nose, making Tracy sneeze internally.
Anna's room was bright, the specialized wolf-friendly bed surrounded by machines monitoring her vital signs. The soft beeping created a rhythmic background to the room's soft conversations.
Grandmother Eileen sat in a chair by the bed, gently adjusting Anna's pillows, while Janet was reading a story from a colorful picture book.
"Tori!" Anna's face lit up immediately when she spotted me, her small hands reaching out eagerly despite her grandmother's gentle attempts to keep her still. "You came! Look what I got!"
"Of course I did," I smiled, approaching the bed and setting my basket on the side table.
Both Eileen and Janet looked up with tired but relieved expressions, clearly grateful for the distraction my arrival provided. "How are you feeling, little one?"
"Better now," she smiled. Dark circles ringed her eyes, making them appear too large in her small face.
I nodded, trying to keep my expression light though my heart ached at her frailty.
I reached into my bag and pulled out a soft gray rabbit plush with long floppy ears.
"Look who came to visit you," I said, placing the stuffed animal in her waiting hands.
Anna's face brightened immediately, her small fingers wrapping around the toy with surprising strength. "He's so soft!" she exclaimed, pressing it against her cheek. "What's his name?"
"I thought you might want to name him yourself," I suggested, watching as she examined the rabbit's stitched nose and button eyes with serious concentration.
"I'll call him Moon," she decided after a moment, hugging the toy close to her chest.
"Would you like to hear a story about Moon and her adventures in the forest?" I asked, settling into the chair beside her bed.
Anna nodded eagerly, her eyes already wide with anticipation.
I glanced at Eileen and Janet. "Why don't you two take a break? I'll stay with her for a while."
"Are you sure?" Janet asked, though the relief was evident in her voice.
"Absolutely. "
Once they rested aside, I began weaving a tale about Moon the rabbit and his journey through an enchanted forest where the trees whispered secrets and friendly wolves protected the woodland creatures.
Anna listened intently, her eyelids gradually growing heavier until she finally drifted off, the rabbit plush still clutched in her arms.
I stayed for dinner with them. Janet had gone to get food from the cafeteria.
I glanced at the fruit basket I'd brought. "I'll wash some of these," I told Eileen, who nodded absently, her attention focused on adjusting Anna's blankets.
The hospital bathroom was pristinely clean, the scent of disinfectant making my nose twitch as I rinsed the moon berries and apples under cool water.
By the time I returned with the washed fruit, Janet had already come back with trays of food.
As I approached the door, I caught fragments of an urgent, whispered conversation.
"...could have recognized her... silver eyes just like..."
"...Alpha William was right there in the elevator..."
"...after all these years..."
Their voices fell silent the moment I pushed the door open.
Both women looked up sharply, their expressions freezing into forced neutrality that didn't match their accelerated heartbeats I could detect.
"Is everything okay?" I asked, setting the fruit bowl on the side table.
Eileen cleared her throat, her hands fidgeting with the edge of Anna's blanket. "Tori, dear, perhaps you shouldn't come to the hospital so often. Janet and I can handle things here."
Her tone was casual but her scent betrayed anxiety.
Tracy stirred within me, sensing the deception.
"What were you two discussing just now?" I pressed gently, looking between them.
"Nothing important," Janet answered too quickly. "Just some old pack business."
Eileen nodded, her eyes not quite meeting mine. "It's getting late, and you have work tomorrow. Lucas will be waiting."
I sensed they were hiding something from me, but their protective postures and the subtle hint of fear in their scents made me hesitate to push further. Whatever they were concealing, it clearly troubled them deeply.
Around eight, I gathered my things to leave, promising Anna I'd return soon.
As I stepped into the hallway, I nearly collided with a group entering the elevator.
"I'm sorry," I apologized, stepping back.
"Tori?" An elegant older woman with silver-streaked hair exclaimed. "What are you doing here, dear?"
I recognized her as Diana Shepherd, mother to Susan and grandmother to Charlotte.
"I'm visiting my cousin Anna," I explained, glancing between them. "She's been admitted for treatment. I assume you're here for Charlotte？"
"Yes, just a follow-up check on Charlotte's burns from Olivia's birthday celebration," Diana confirmed. "Would you like to join us in the elevator?"
The three of us stepped into the elevator together, the small space suddenly feeling even smaller with the mixture of our scents.
"William has been talking about making Charlotte his heir," Diana remarked casually to Susan as the elevator began its descent. "It's quite obvious he's finally making this decision because she saved you at the party. He's always had a soft spot for loyalty."
Susan's shoulders stiffened. "Mother, please. Not now."
"Twenty years is long enough to hold a grudge, dear," Diana continued, undeterred. "Perhaps it's time you two reconciled."
"I've been perfectly fine on my own all these years," Susan replied coldly. "I don't need William or anyone else."
Diana sighed, lightly tapping her daughter's arm in frustration. "Stubborn as always. I just hate seeing you both miserable when you could at least be civil."
The elevator doors opened to the ground floor, and I left after saying goodbye to them.
Outside, I spotted Jack leaning against a black SUV, his attentive eyes scanning the hospital entrance. He straightened when he saw me.
The drive back to Lucas's territory was quiet.
Lucas hadn't returned yet. I checked my phone—no messages.
I showered and changed into sleep clothes, then settled on the couch with a book, determined to wait up for him.
The hours ticked by slowly. Ten o'clock. Then ten-thirty. Eleven.
Just as I was considering giving up and going to bed, I heard the soft purr of Lucas's car pulling into the driveway. I marked my place in the book and set it aside, relief washing through me.
I waited, listening to the familiar sounds of the front door opening and closing, followed by his steady footsteps through the house.
But when I expected him to enter the bedroom, there was only silence. I looked up to see Lucas's silhouette in the doorway, standing perfectly still, watching me.
"Lucas?" I called softly, setting my book aside. "Is everything okay?"
He didn't answer, remaining motionless in the threshold as if some invisible barrier prevented him from entering. His face was partially shadowed, making his expression difficult to read.
Confused by his hesitation, I slipped out of bed and walked toward him. "What's wrong?"
As I drew closer, the scent hit me—sharp and unmistakable. Alcohol.
"You've been drinking," I said quietly, my voice reflecting my surprise more than judgment.