Chapter 8
Lucas
"Still digging?" James asked, leaning against the doorframe, his expression carefully neutral.
He knew I was looking into Alison. For five years, I had barely succeeded in keeping her out of my mind, and now that she was back, I have been completely enamored by her.
She was a different person now. Bolder, stronger, the fire in her eyes burned brighter now, and still, that connection I felt towards her as my fated mate hadn't dampened in any way.
I minimized the window. "Just keeping tabs on the competition."
"Right." James entered, closing the door behind him. "The competition you've been obsessing over since she reappeared two weeks ago."
My jaw tightened. "I don't obsess."
"No? Then why did you have me pull every piece of information on her movements for the past five years? Her rise at Nexus, her training in Germany—" He paused meaningfully. "Her child."
My hands clenched involuntarily. The child. A four-year-old son named Leopold, according to our intelligence. Rumors in certain circles suggested the boy was Victor's, conceived during their time in Frankfurt. The thought made my wolf snarl with possessive rage.
"Victor's playing a long game," I said instead. "Alison is just his latest piece on the board."
James studied me, unconvinced. "She doesn't act like one of Victor's pawns. From what I observed at the Preston event, she's her own woman now."
I'd seen it too. The transformation was remarkable—from the uncertain young analyst to the confident VP who'd publicly sparred with Victoria. Five years had changed Alison Miller into someone formidable, someone who commanded respect, and that had only heightened my attraction to her.
"Perhaps," I conceded. "But my instincts say there's more to her return than coincidence."
"Your instincts?" James's brow arched. "Or your wolf's?"
I glared at him, a low growl escaping my throat. Few would dare question me so directly, but as my Beta, James had earned the right to speak freely.
"I've known you since we were pups, Lucas," he continued, undeterred. "I've never seen you like this over a woman, especially a human."
"She's not just any human," I admitted quietly. "She's special."
My phone buzzed with an incoming message: "Interesting development. A. Miller at Mercy General Hospital following a car accident. William Black was the victim. Alison was the location of the accident when it happened. William Black stabilized now."
"What is it?" James asked, noting my expression.
"William Black was in an accident. Alison was there."
"Victoria's father? That's quite a coincidence."
"I don't believe in coincidences," I said grimly. "Not when it comes to the Blacks."
I poured myself a scotch as James excused himself. From my sudden, terse silence, he could tell that I wanted to be alone.
My phone rang, Victoria's name flashing on the screen. I considered ignoring it but knew that would only delay the inevitable.
"Victoria," I answered coolly.
"Lucas." Her voice was tight with barely controlled fury. "We need to talk. Now."
"I'm listening."
"Not over the phone. It's about my father—and that woman."
Interesting. "Who?" I asked feigning ignorance.
A sharp intake of breath. "Alison. Alison Miller. She's wormed her way into my father's hospital room? Playing the hero after his accident?"
"Is William all right?" I asked, ignoring Victoria's rant about Alison.
"He'll recover," Victoria dismissed. "But he's not thinking clearly. The medications have him spouting absolute nonsense about blood tests."
My grip tightened on the phone. "What kind of nonsense, exactly?"
Victoria hesitated, unusual for someone who typically charged ahead regardless of consequences. "He's requesting genetic comparisons between his blood and hers. He's convinced there's some connection. It's absurd, of course. Clearly, she's manipulating him while he's vulnerable."
"William Black is many things, but easily manipulated isn't one of them," I pointed out.
"You don't understand," Victoria hissed. "She had her child with her—a boy with amber eyes like—" She cut herself off abruptly.
Like mine. The unspoken comparison hung in the air.
"I'll come by the hospital tomorrow," I said, keeping my voice neutral despite the storm brewing inside me. "We can discuss this further then."
"That's not soon enough. I need you to shut this down now, before my father makes a fool of himself over this gold-digging nobody."
My temper flared at her description of Alison. "William is a grown man, Victoria. If he wants to run blood tests, that's his business."
"It's a family business, Lucas. And since you're practically family—"
"But I'm not, am I?" I interrupted coldly. "Not yet. Perhaps not ever, if your father is pursuing a different course."
Silence fell between us, heavy with implications. When Victoria spoke again, her voice had lost its sharp edge, becoming something more calculated.
"You can't possibly believe there's any truth to this. She's manipulating the situation, just like she manipulated her way into your company five years ago."
"Did she?" I challenged. "She got in on merit. The situation surrounding her leaving, on the other hand, was all you."
Another pause, longer this time. "I did what was necessary to protect what's mine."
"I was never yours, Victoria. Our arrangement was political, never personal. You've always known that."
"We had an understanding," she insisted. "Your company needs this alliance."
"I used to. But do you know what I've been doing in the last five years?
Making sure I don't need anyone. My position depends on my strength and leadership, not your family's backing," I growled, my patience wearing thin.
"I'll see you at the hospital tomorrow. Until then, I suggest you consider your options carefully. "
I ended the call before she could respond, tossing the phone onto the sofa and draining my scotch in one burning swallow. Victoria wouldn't give up her claim easily—she'd been raised to believe she was entitled to the best, and in her mind, that included me.
But I didn't belong to her. Someone else had stolen my heart, and I must find my way to get her back.