chapter 95
Tori's POV:
The screen showed an unfamiliar number, but at this point, I was too exhausted to care who might be calling past midnight.
"Hello?" My voice came out rough from fatigue.
"Is this Tori Sullivan?" A crisp, professional female voice responded.
I sat up straighter, suddenly alert. "Yes, this is she."
"Wonderful! This is Amelia Crawford from The Lunar Herald." Her voice brightened considerably. "I'm delighted to inform you that you've won first place in the Lunar Phase Competition! Congratulations!"
For a moment, I couldn't process her words. "I... what?"
"You're the champion! "
Despite the thrill of victory fluttering in my chest, I couldn't shake the nagging suspicion about this unexpected call.
"How did you get my number?" I asked, glancing at Anna's sleeping form beside me.
"Oh, the competition organizers provided it. We'd love to feature you on our front page—the brilliant Omega who outshined everyone! Your photograph alongside an exclusive interview would make a wonderful story."
My stomach knotted. Public attention was the last thing I needed—especially now, with my past constantly threatening to resurface.
"I appreciate the offer," I said carefully, "but I prefer to keep a low profile for personal reasons. I'd rather not have my photo published."
"Oh." Her enthusiasm dimmed slightly.
"Well, perhaps just the interview then? Our readers would be fascinated by your achievements."
I hesitated, then conceded, "I can answer a few questions about the competition, but nothing personal."
She seemed to accept this compromise, asking about my mathematical approach and future aspirations. I kept my answers focused on the competition, maintaining a polite but distant tone.
After a few minutes, I thanked her and ended the call, a genuine smile spreading across my face for the first time in days.
First place! Tracy howled with pride inside me, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction.
The reporter had mentioned a substantial cash prize that would be transferred to my account within days—enough to significantly ease the burden of Grandmother's medical bills.
I sank back into the pillow beside Anna, the weight on my shoulders lightening just enough to let exhaustion finally take over.
The twin worries of Grandmother's surgery and Lucas's condition still lingered at the edges of my mind, but for now, the immediate financial pressure had eased.
With one last glance at Anna's peaceful face, I let my heavy eyelids close, sleep finally claiming me.
---
Morning arrived with harsh fluorescent lights and the antiseptic smell of the Silver Moon medical facility.
I sat in the chair beside my grandmother's bed, watching her chest rise and fall in sleep.
The surgery had gone well, according to the doctor who explained she would need several months of rehabilitation.
"The bone has been set properly," he'd said, "but at her age, healing takes time. She can recover at home, but she'll need regular therapy and proper care."
I nodded, giving the doctor a grateful smile. "Thank you for everything you've done for her," I said sincerely, rising from my chair to walk him to the door.
"Just doing my job," he replied kindly, pausing at the threshold.
"We'll have instructions for her home care ready before discharge. Don't hesitate to call if you have any questions."
I thanked him again as he left, watching his white coat disappear down the hallway.
My phone vibrated with a notification.
I opened it to find a message from Morgan with a link.
My breath caught when I saw the HowlSpace post trending across moonhaven.
"Lunar Phase Competition Champion: Skill or Beauty? Omega Academic Stuns the Pack!"
The post featured several photos of me—one answering questions in class, another walking across the Moonridge campus, and a third that looked like it had been taken through the window of the café where I'd been tutoring Morgan.
All clearly taken without my knowledge or consent.
My jaw clenched as I stared at the images.
Just last night, I had explicitly told the reporter I didn't want my photo published—yet here I was, plastered across social media for everyone to see.
I scrolled through the comments with growing unease:
"How does an Omega even understand advanced calculations? Someone must have helped her."
"Silver eyes AND brains? Is this girl for real?"
"My brother got second place. He's furious he lost to an Omega."
"She's beautiful. Definitely got special treatment from the judges."
But there were others, too:
"I was at the competition. She finished the problems in half the allotted time. Pure genius."
"Moonlight Goddess! Beauty and brains!"
"About time an Omega showed those arrogant what real intelligence looks like."
My fingers tightened around the phone as I kept scrolling, searching for any mention of Silver Fang or my past.
A knot of dread formed in my stomach with each swipe, but to my relief, there was nothing about the incident four years ago. Just speculation, admiration, and the inevitable prejudice.
"What 's wrong?"
I looked up to find my grandmother awake, her silver eyes watching me with concern.
"Just some nonsense about the competition," I said, putting my phone away and taking her hand. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I've been kicked by a moose," she replied with a weak smile.
I returned her smile, squeezing her hand gently. "You gave us quite a scare."
"I'm sorry, sweetheart." Her voice softened. "You have enough burdens without me adding to them."
"Don't say that," I chided gently. "You're never a burden."
Her eyes filled with tears. "You should never have had to go through what you did."
I looked away, uncomfortable with her sympathy. After a moment, I changed the subject. "The doctor says you can recover at home. I'll arrange everything."
"But your school—"
"I'll manage," I assured her. "Right now, you need to focus on getting better."
She nodded reluctantly, and we sat in companionable silence until she drifted back to sleep.
My phone vibrated again—Morgan calling this time. I stepped into the hallway to answer.
"Hey, have you seen what they're saying about you online?" Her voice bubbled with excitement. "You're like, totally famous now!"
"I saw," I said, less enthusiastically. "It's... a lot."
"A lot? It's amazing! Everyone's talking about you. The mysterious silver-eyed Omega who's a math genius!" She paused. "Are you okay? You sound off."
"Just tired. My grandmother had surgery last night."
"Oh no! Is she alright?"
"She will be. The surgery went well, but recovery will take time."
"I'm so sorry, Tori. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help."
I appreciated her concern but knew there wasn't much she could do. "Thanks, Morgan."
There was a brief pause before she spoke again, her voice suddenly dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"But...I can't believe you didn't tell me about you and Alpha Lucas! Some friend you are, keeping secrets that big. But despite your betrayal, I'm still nice enough to let you know he was in a car accident the other night."
My heart stuttered. Before I could even respond, Morgan barreled on.
"But he's already awake and supposedly fine. That's not the issue."
Her tone turned urgent.
"The problem is Vivienne has been circling him. She's at the hospital practically every day, bringing flowers and food and whatever. Mom says she barely leaves his side."
She paused dramatically. "If you don't show up soon, your man's going to get snatched right out from under you. Just saying."