Chapter 60

Harper’s POV

“Are you going to the celebration tonight?” Jenna asks while finishing her paperwork.

“What… Oh, yeah. I am,” I mutter, looking up from my own paperwork. I glance out of my office window at the nearly empty lobby.

Things have been quiet for the last two days, which I know is good because it has given me time to think about Lucas and the underground market. At first, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go or not, but now, I kind of want Lucas to take me. I’m not confident that he saw my wolf, and I’ve been trying to keep myself from being hopeful. However, the only way for me to know it isn’t her is to go.

On top of that, I have to avoid Sierra and her cronies. Staying in the medical wing all day has helped because she doesn’t come here much. If they’re not hurt or in need of healing, pack members aren’t supposed to hang around the medical wing.

“Technically, everyone is supposed to go to the celebration,” Jenna replies, smiling at me. “It’s the pack’s 75(th) anniversary. This is a big deal.”

“I know, but I’m just not looking forward to seeing certain people,” I sigh. I like the pack and working as a doctor here, but honestly, my family is really who I want to avoid. I just know that when I see them, they’ll make trouble like they always do.

“Your family?” She asks, and I nod. Jenna stands and walks over, throwing an arm around my shoulders, “Don’t let them ruin your night. If you want, you can hang out with me and Andrew.”

Smiling, I gently hug her and then thank her.

“Logan will be there, so I’ll probably be with him most of the time,” I tell her, “But I still need to find something to wear. Any ideas?”

Jenna grins, grabs my arm, and pulls me up, saying, “Come with me. I have the perfect dress for you.”

Instead of fighting her or arguing, I follow my new friend. She lives in the family quarters nearest to the medical wing, meaning it doesn’t take us long to reach her apartment. Her mate is helping set up for the party tonight, so when we enter, she leads me straight to the bedroom.

“I just bought this dress, but something about it doesn’t feel right,” Jeanna says, reaching into the closet and pulling out a box. “I was going to return it, but I think it would look gorgeous on you. Though, if you don’t like it, you don’t have to wear it.”

When she sets the box down, I open it and gasp. The sage green material is the prettiest color, and when I lift it from the box, the dress unfolds. It’s a tea-length dress that has a fitted and boned bodice while the bottom flares just a bit at the waist. The dress is simple, but gorgeous.

“You’ll knock Logan’s socks off in that dress.”

Smoothing out the skirt of my new dress, I step into the banquet hall to be greeted with people talking and drinking in celebration. I scan the room, noting that some people have started sitting down while others stand around and talk.

Jenna waves me over from a nearby table.

“I was right,” she grins, “That dress looks amazing on you.”

“They just announced that dinner starts in thirty minutes,” Jenna informs me. “Are you going to see Logan? He’s over by the bar with his friends.”

It’s not hard to spot him amongst the large group at the bar, but I decide to let him spend time with his friends. I don’t want to bother him, especially since Sierra is just a few feet away from him at the other side of the bar.

Suddenly, someone screams out in pain as loud clatters and bangs fill the room. I jump to my feet, looking for whoever got hurt when I see my stepmother sprawled out on the flood. My father leans over her, asking if she’s alright, but when he looks up and sees me, he thrusts a finger at me.

“Don’t just look at her, get over here and heal her!” My father demands. The whole room goes quiet as they stare at us. Every eye is on me, waiting for my response.

My instinct to heal people battles with the anger in my body. Disgust and anger fill me at his angry command. He has no right to demand anything from me after everything he’s done and said to me.

“No.”

My father is on his feet and in front of me in seconds. “NO?” He hisses, grabbing me by the shoulder. He tries to drag me forward, but I duck under his arm and pull away. Without his wolf strength, he’s just an old man now.

“I don’t owe you, or her, anything, Henry,” I say, pushing away from him. “I don’t want to be caught up in all your drama, and I won’t be bullied by you anymore.”

“This is your duty, you little bitch—”

“Oh, yes. Call me names. That’ll make me want to help you,” I say, rolling my eyes.

My father tries to grab me again, but I sidestep him, which makes him more angry. Sierra glares at me from the floor beside her mother, but I ignore them.

“How did you turn out to be so selfish?” My father snaps. He manages to grab me by the chin and force me to look at him. “You should want to help your family. Without us, you would have been on the streets. You owe me respect for taking you in when your wretched mother died and left you alo—”

My hand flies, cracking against his face. Gasps fill the room, and I remember that we have an audience.

“I owe you nothing, and I wouldn’t help you even if you got on your knees to beg,” I tell him, shoving him back. He stumbles, eyes wide and shocked. “We’ve been over this, Henry. You hate me and kicked me out, so I don’t see you as family. If you or anyone else in your family need to be healed, you will be finding another doctor.”

“Take your wife to the medical wing. Another doctor will take care of you,” Lucas says, stepping in between us. “You will not be bothering Harper again…”

Not staying to listen to Lucas’s entire reprimand, I turn around and push my way through the crowd. The fresh air hits me and almost instantly calms me down as I walk toward the garden behind the building. Before I can make it very far, someone grabs my hand and carefully pulls me back.

I fall into his chest, and his arms wrap around me.

A soft tingle sprouts from the places where he touches me, yet when I look up, I don’t see Logan. Lucas looks down at me, his eyes moving over my face as his thumb brushes across my palm—the hand that I hit my father with.

“Are you alright, Harper?”

“I-I’m not sure.” I stare up at Lucas, confused as to why my body is responding to his touch this way. Usually, I feel something, but this is different. Warmer and stronger.

And honestly, I don’t want Lucas to let me go.