Chapter 39
Lucas’s POV:
I stared at the surveillance footage on my laptop, my jaw clenching as the grainy video showed a black sedan deliberately swerving toward two female pedestrians—Tori and Morgan—before speeding away.
Jack had called me earlier with the news I'd been waiting for.
"We found the driver, Alpha," he'd said, his voice tense. "But someone got to him first."
"Dead?" I'd asked, my voice dangerously calm.
"Yes, Alpha. Professional job—quick and clean. We checked his phone records. His last call was to a number registered to Mrs. Morris, approximately two hours before his death."
My hands clenched into fists, rage coursing through me like ice fire. Someone had eliminated the driver before I could question him—deliberately cutting off my investigation at its source.
"Get Mrs. Morris in here," I ordered, my voice dropping to a dangerous pitch. "I don't care what excuse you have to make. I want her sitting in our reception area today."
"Understood. I'll make the arrangements immediately."
A knock at my office door interrupted my thoughts.
"Alpha," Jack said as he entered, "Mrs. Morris has been waiting in the reception area for nearly eight hours now."
I didn't look up from my screen. "I'm aware."
"She's becoming... restless," Jack added carefully. "Her scent indicates increasing anxiety."
"Good," I replied, my voice cool and detached. "Let her wait a while longer."
It was almost dusk when I finally rose from my desk and made my way toward the reception area.
When I finally pushed open the door, Lisa's head snapped up, her eyes instantly lowering as her wolf recognized my dominance.
I didn't speak as I walked to my desk, the silence stretching between us like a physical thing.
"Alpha," she finally said, her voice steady despite her obvious nervousness. "Thank you for seeing me."
I remained silent, studying her.
She was well-preserved for her age, her clothes expensive, her jewelry tasteful. The picture of a respectable woman from a good family.
Nothing in her appearance suggested she was capable of attempted murder.
"I understand there have been some... issues with our family's business ventures," she continued, filling the silence. "I was hoping we could discuss what seems to be a misunderstanding."
I leaned back in my chair, deliberately casual.
"Is that what you think this is, Ms Morris? A misunderstanding?"
She swallowed, her confidence wavering.
"I... I'm not sure what you mean, Alpha. If I've done something to offend you, I would appreciate knowing what it is so I can make amends."
I let her words hang in the air, watching the uncertainty grow in her eyes.
"Why don't you think about it? Consider who you might have had conflicts with recently."
Lisa's brow furrowed in concentration. I could almost see her mind working, sorting through possibilities.
"I truly cannot recall any significant conflicts, Alpha," she finally said, her voice taking on a placating tone. "If I've done something wrong, I'm more than willing to make amends. Financial compensation can be arranged if—"
"Compensation?" I cut her off with a cold laugh. "What exactly do you think is an appropriate compensation for deliberately hitting someone with a car, Mrs. Morris?"
The effect was immediate.
Lisa's eyes widened in shock, pupils dilating with unmistakable recognition. For a split second, her carefully constructed facade crumbled completely.
Lisa's POV:
My heart nearly stopped when Alpha Lucas mentioned a car accident.
Had he discovered my involvement in the hit-and-run targeting that Omega girl? Impossible. I'd been so careful, using multiple proxies and eliminating the driver...
Wait. I needed to think clearly through the panic clouding my mind.
That couldn't possibly be Tori Sullivan—there was no way a disgraced Omega like her would have connections to someone as powerful as Alpha Lucas.
Besides, I'd been assured no evidence could lead back to me.
Even if someone suspected foul play in the hit-and-run, they could never prove my involvement.
Then it hit me.
Last week, I'd been backing out of the Golden Moon Restaurant's parking lot—a place known for hosting Alpha gatherings—and I'd accidentally bumped into a young woman.
I'd barely registered her at the time, assuming she was just another normal server.
"Watch where you're going!" I'd snapped at her. "Are you blind?"
When she was lying on the ground, hissing in pain, I'd let out an exaggerated sigh.
I'd pulled out my wallet, extracted a few small bills, and tossed them at her feet where they scattered on the wet pavement.
"There's your precious compensation," I'd said loudly enough for everyone watching to hear.
"Pick it up quickly before it blows away. And next time, pay attention to your surroundings instead of looking for someone to blame."
With that final barb, I'd driven off without a backward glance.
Could that server have been important to Alpha Lucas?
I studied his face carefully as I spoke, searching for any confirmation.
"Alpha, could this possibly be about an incident at the Golden Moon Restaurant's parking lot? With a server girl?" I ventured tentatively.
His expression remained impassive, revealing nothing.
The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken tension. I took his lack of denial as confirmation and was relieved to have identified the issue.
I lowered my head in deference, playing the part of the remorseful one perfectly.
"I sincerely apologize for it," I continued. "I had no idea she was someone under your protection. Please accept my deepest apologies and let me know how I can make amends."
Alpha Lucas's brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't press further.
"Since you are willing to make amends, I am noted," he said evenly, his voice betraying nothing. "You may go now. "
I nodded quickly, hardly believing my luck at being dismissed so easily.
As I stood, I struggled to keep my relief from showing on my face.
This would be simple to handle—our family had more than enough money to throw at problems.
Ten times, even a hundred times, whatever that server girl was worth would be nothing to us.
However, fate had other plans.
Halfway home, my car suddenly swerved as the steering locked up.
The last thing I remembered was the sound of metal crunching against the guardrail and the sharp pain as the airbag deployed.
I woke up in Moontouch Medical Center with a concussion, fractured ribs, and the doctor's assurance I'd need to remain hospitalized for at least three to five days.
That's when realization dawned.
This was Alpha Lucas's idea of compensation—not money, which he certainly didn't need, but a matching injury.
He'd deliberately arranged this accident.
Worse still, by the very next day, rumors were spreading wildly.
"Did you hear about Lisa Morris? Apparently, she insulted some girl at the Golden Moon who turned out to be under Alpha Lucas's protection."
"I heard he's severed all business connections with the entire Morris family! Terminated contracts worth millions overnight!"
"Who's this woman who managed to capture the ice-cold Alpha's heart? Whoever she is, I'm green with envy—imagine having Alpha Lucas defend your honor like that!"
My carefully cultivated reputation in Moonhaven's elite circles was shattered overnight. I was now just another punchline at cocktail parties.
It was beyond cruel—it was calculated to destroy not just my body but my spirit.
I clenched my fist tightly, breathing heavily through clenched teeth.
My wolf paced beneath my skin, snarling and snapping, wanting nothing more than to tear something to pieces.
But we both knew better than to challenge an Alpha of Grayson's stature.