Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Lucas’s POV:
59%
I leaned back in my leather chair, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows of my office at Grayson Enterprise.
The cityscape of Moonhaven sprawled below, but I barely registered the view. My mind was stuck on what I’d witnessed at Moonridge High earlier today.
The image of Tori sitting at her desk, her silver-gray eyes lighting up as she spoke with Daniel Cole, kept replaying in my mind.
There had been an ease to her posture, a relaxed curve to her lips that I had yet to witness when she was around me.
The memory made Duke pace restlessly inside me, a low growl rumbling through our shared consciousness.
She should look that way with us, not him, Duke growled.
I pinched the bridge of my nose.
How was it possible that after weeks of carefully orchestrated “accidental” meetings, providing her with sleep aids, and offering her rides, Tori still regarded me with cautious suspicion while she seemed perfectly comfortable with that Cole boy after what-a few class periods together?
A thought suddenly struck me.
In all my planning and maneuvering, I had overlooked something fundamental-I had no idea if Tori was already interested in someone.
I pulled out my phone and typed a message to Morgan:
Does Tori have someone she likes?
I expected Morgan’s usual lightning-fast response.
The girl typically replied within seconds-especially to my messages. But this time, the minutes ticked by with no response.
I found myself checking my phone repeatedly, my impatience growing with each passing moment.
A knock at my door interrupted my thoughts.
“Come in, I called, setting my phone down.
Jack entered with a stack of files, his expression professionally neutral as ways.
Alpha, we have the final bids for the Northside Development project, heid, placing the folders on my desk.
“Two companies have submitted competitive proposals. I need your input which direction you’d prefer p>
I opened the first folder. Morris Construction.
They were a well-established company in Moonhaven with solid credential I’d heard that the Morris family had lost their son in some tragic incident four years ago.
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Chapter 36
I flipped open the second folder. Cole Industries.
I stared at the name, my mind immediately conjuring the image of Tori an Daniel Cole in that classroom.
“Cole… any relation to Daniel Cole from Moonridge High p>
Jack nodded. “His father’s company p>
I felt an irrational surge of irritation and abruptly closed the Cole Industries folder, setting it aside.
Turning my attention to the other proposal, I asked, ‘What’s your assessment of Morris Construction?
ས ཀྐེ 59 p>
Jack, ever the professional, gave a measured response. “Their bid is competive, and they have an excellent track record with similar projects.
They would be a solid choice p>
I rubbed my temple, feeling a headache forming. “Let’s go with them then
Jack gathered the folders. “I’ll prepare the paperwork p>
As he turned to leave, suddenly, I realized how childish I was being.
Was I really making business decisions based on jealousy toward a high school student? I was 31 years old, the Alpha of the most powerful
pack in Moonhaven, not some territorial adolescent.
‘Wait,’ I called out before Jack could reach the door. ‘Leave the files here. I should review both proposals more carefully before making a
decision p>
Jack paused, then silently placed the folders back on my desk and left the room.
My phone vibrated, and I snatched it up. Finally, a response from Morgan:
No, she doesn’t have anyone special right now.
The relief I felt was embarrassingly intense. But before I could relax completely, I sent a follow-up:
What type of men does she like?
This time, the wait was even longer.
I tried to focus on the project files, but my attention kept drifting to my sent phone.
When my phone finally buzzed again, I opened the message with more angety than I’d felt negotiating multimillion dollar deals:
She likes thoughtful, quiet guys. Studious types who don’t try to dominate coersations. She mentioned liking guys who are humble and ask for help when they need it. Oh, and she seems to prefer guys around her age.
I read the message twice, and my expression instantly darkened.
Quiet? Studious? Humble? And worst of all-someone her own age? The description couldn’t be further from what I was.
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As an Alpha, I was dominant by nature, over a decade older than her, and sking for help wasn’t exactly my strong suit.
The description was practically a blueprint for Daniel Cole and couldn’t be further from me if it tried.
Shit.
ས ཊཱི 59%
A wave of regret washed over me.
Perhaps I had miscalculated from the beginning. Maybe my careful, measured approach had been a mistake.
The first time I scented her, recognized her as my fated mate, I should have claimed her immediately-made it clear to everyone, including Tori
herself, that she belonged with me.
If I had announced our mate bond immediately, she wouldn’t be looking at other males, and no other wolf would dare approach what belonged
to an Alpha.
The thought of Tori forming a bond with someone else, perhaps even accepting another wolf’s mark, made my blood run cold.
Duke growled fiercely, the primitive possessiveness surging through our shared consciousness.
She is OUR fated mate, he snarled with absolute conviction. OURS alone. Any male who tries will face our fangs p>
With a decisive movement, I stood up and grabbed my car keys from the desk. The project could wait. The contracts could wait. Everything could wait. I needed to see Tori now, to make some kind of progress before it was too late.
As I headed for the door, my phone rang. Jack’s name flashed on the screen.
“Jack, I’m heading out. Whatever it is can wait until p>
“Alpha, there’s been an accident,” Jack’s voice was tight with urgency. “At the intersection near Moonridge High. A student was hit by a car p>
My blood ran cold. “Who?” I demanded, already knowing the answer before Jack spoke.
“Tori Sullivan,” he confirmed. “She’s being transported to Moontouch Medial Center now p>
I don’t remember ending the call or running to my car. The next thing I knew, I was speeding through Moonhaven’s streets, my knuckles white on the steering wheel, Duke howling in my mind.
If anything happens to her…
I couldn’t finish the thought. The very idea sent a pain so sharp through my chest that it was hard to breathe.
I’d only just found her-my mate, the one person meant for me and I hadn’t even had the chance to tell her what she was to me.
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