chapter 96
Tori's POV:
I hung up the phone, Morgan's words echoing in my mind like an incessant drumbeat.
"He's already awake and supposedly fine... Vivienne has been circling him... If you don't show up soon, your man's going to get snatched right out from under you."
The knot in my stomach tightened as I stared at the ceiling.
Had Lucas awakened and simply not bothered to find me? Was I just deluding myself, thinking he'd care whether I was by his side or not? Or worse—perhaps after hearing Ethan's words, he'd finally realized what everyone else already knew: that an Alpha of his standing had no business with an Omega who'd killed someone and spent four years in Silver Fang.
The thought pierced my heart, but I forced myself to accept it.
He might just be angry you weren't there when he woke up, Tracy whispered in my mind. Alphas can be temperamental when their wolves feel abandoned.
Stop that, I scolded my wolf. You're being ridiculous. He's probably relieved I wasn't there making things awkward.
Maybe Ethan had been right all along. Maybe Lucas could never accept someone with my past becoming his mate.
Accept the reality, Tori, I told myself firmly. You have other priorities right now.
---
Three days later, the doctors finally declared Grandmother stable enough to be discharged.
Janet needed to work and manage Anna's school schedule, so I'd requested leave from my classes to focus entirely on Grandmother's care.
Between arranging her medication schedule, preparing the house, and coordinating with physical therapists, I barely had time to think about anything else.
"I can manage the stairs if you help me," Grandmother insisted as I wheeled her into Janet's small house.
"Not a chance," I replied, navigating the wheelchair through the narrow hallway. "You're staying in the downstairs guest room until you can walk properly."
After settling her in, I grabbed the trash bag and headed outside.
The spring afternoon was cool, moonlight casting long shadows across the yard. I inhaled deeply, savoring the momentary solitude.
Only when I'd completed a full circle did I reluctantly turn back toward the house.
Then I froze.
A sleek black SUV was parked across the street, its polished surface gleaming under the streetlight. I'd recognize that vehicle anywhere—Lucas Grayson's car.
My heart slammed against my ribs, my palms instantly clammy.
What was he doing here? Was he looking for me? Had something happened? Maybe he came to tell me he never wanted to see me again.
My thoughts collided and scattered like leaves in a windstorm, each possibility more confusing than the last.
I dropped the trash into the bin and hurried back inside.
"Tori?" Grandmother called as I closed the door. "Come meet Alpha Lucas."
My stomach plummeted. I followed her voice to the living room and stopped dead in the doorway.
Lucas Grayson, Alpha of the Grayson Pack, sat perched on our threadbare couch like a wolf among sheep.
His imposing frame made our small living room seem even tinier, his designer clothes a stark contrast to the worn furniture. Beside him on the couch, little Anna was chattering excitedly about her stuffed wolf collection.
His gray eyes met mine, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe.
His expression revealed nothing, but his eyes couldn't conceal the emotions swirling beneath the surface.
"There you are," Grandmother said, her wheelchair positioned across from Lucas. "Alpha Lucas was just telling us how he was in the area for work and thought he'd stop by to see us. Such a thoughtful young man."
Just in the area for work. Something deflated inside me. I pushed down the unexpected disappointment and forced a neutral expression.
Lucas stood, his movement fluid and powerful. At his full height, he nearly brushed the ceiling.
"Ms. Sullivan," he greeted with a formal nod, his tone carefully neutral and professional.
I swallowed hard, forcing my face to remain composed despite the sting of his formality.
"Alpha Grayson," I replied with equal distance, though my wolf whined at the coldness between us.
"You must stay for dinner," Grandmother insisted, patting Lucas's hand with familiar ease that surprised me. "After all, I haven't had the chance to properly thank you for what you did when Ethan saved Tori, and how you looked after her at the hospital. The least we can do is feed you a home-cooked meal."
A ghost of a smile softened Lucas's features.
"I'd be honored, thank you," he replied, some of the earlier formality melting away.
"Wonderful! Janet, dear, would you mind running to the store? We'll need a few more things," Grandmother called. Janet appeared from the kitchen, nodding when she saw our guest.
"Come on, Anna," Janet said, grabbing her purse. "Let's go get groceries for dinner." They slipped out the front door, leaving just the three of us in the suddenly quiet living room.
Before any of us could break the silence, a sharp knock sounded at the door.
I excused myself to answer it, finding Mrs. White standing on the porch with a small basket of homemade cookies.
"Oh, Tori dear, I just wanted to bring these over for your grandmother," she said, stepping inside before I could properly invite her. "I heard she was back home and—"
Mrs. White froze mid-sentence as her eyes landed on Lucas.
"Oh, I didn't realize your uncle was visiting," she whispered to me, her voice trembling as she glanced nervously at Lucas.
Lucas's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly at being mistaken for a relative, though his expression remained controlled. The subtle shift in his posture radiated authority, making the already uncomfortable situation even more tense.
"Mrs. White," Lucas acknowledged with a slight nod, his face impassive.
The older woman quickly placed her basket on the side table and turned toward my grandmother with renewed purpose.
"Eileen, I've been meaning to ask you—have you given any more thought to what we discussed last month? About Tori and my nephew Andrew?"
I stiffened, heat rushing to my face. I couldn't believe she was still pushing this match after I'd politely declined twice already.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees as Lucas stood perfectly still, his attention now fixed on me with unnerving intensity.