Chapter 3 — First Impressions

Lucas

The forest hummed with its usual quiet symphony—the rustling of leaves, the distant caw of a raven, the whisper of the wind weaving through the pines. Lucas Grey stood on the wraparound porch of Everpine Lodge, one hand gripping the rough wooden railing. The carved wolf pendant around his neck felt unusually warm against his chest, as if stirred by the tension in the air. His amber eyes narrowed as he tracked the sleek black SUV rolling into town, its polished surface a jarring intrusion against the earthy tones of Blackthorn Ridge.

Even before the vehicle came to a halt, Lucas could sense a ripple of disturbance, as though the wilderness itself was holding its breath. Victoria Lane. The name alone carried an edge, sharp and deliberate, much like the woman herself. He’d read enough about her to know she was the kind of predator who used ink and contracts instead of teeth and claws.

And yet, there was something else about her arrival—something his instincts couldn’t quite pin down. A faint, unsettling pull that gnawed at the edges of his focus.

The SUV glided to a stop in front of the town’s inn, a modest wooden building that leaned into its age with charm. The driver stepped out first, moving with the efficiency of someone accustomed to wealth and power. Then, the passenger door opened, and she emerged.

Lucas tightened his grip on the railing, the rough wood grounding him as his instincts stirred. She was everything he’d expected—sharp angles and polished edges, a seamless blend of control and sophistication. Her tailored blazer and pencil skirt fit her as precisely as her reputation, and her dark hair was pulled back into an immaculate bun. Even from this distance, he caught the faint gleam of sunlight on her glasses as she surveyed her surroundings with the precision of someone accustomed to command.

Trailing behind her was her assistant, Sophie Hart—a petite woman whose bright scarf fluttered in the breeze like a slash of color against the muted tones of the forest. Lucas’s gaze lingered on the scarf for a moment. It shimmered subtly, almost blending with the hues of the wilderness, and his instincts prickled with a faint unease. The land seemed to respond to her in some intangible way, though he quickly dismissed the thought. There were more immediate concerns.

He turned back toward the lodge, letting the screen door slap shut behind him. “She’s here,” he muttered, low and rough, his voice carrying the weight of irritation. But beneath the irritation was something else—a flicker of unease, deep and unshakable.

Inside, the lodge was its usual sanctuary of calm. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, filling the room with the faint scent of pinewood smoke. Handmade furniture, polished to a warm sheen, gave the space a sense of lived-in comfort. To outsiders, it was a rustic retreat; to Lucas, it was more than that. It was a legacy, a bridge between the traditions of his pack and the human world’s ceaseless hunger for connection. Protecting it wasn’t just a matter of pride—it was a duty, one he couldn’t afford to fail.

And now she was here, threatening to dismantle it all in the name of progress.

By the time Lucas stepped back onto the porch, Victoria and Sophie were making their way up the gravel path toward the lodge. The crunch of her heels against the stones was sharp, each step cutting against the softer hum of nature around them. She moved with purpose, her assistant trailing behind like a shadow struggling to keep pace.

“Mr. Grey,” Victoria called out, her voice slicing through the stillness with practiced authority.

Lucas didn’t move from his spot, leaning casually against the railing with his arms crossed. “Ms. Lane,” he replied evenly, his tone as unyielding as the mountains surrounding them.

She stopped at the base of the steps, her piercing hazel eyes locking onto his. For a moment, he caught a flicker of something in her expression—tension, maybe, or a guarded curiosity—but it vanished almost as quickly as it appeared. She held herself with the precision of someone who’d mastered the art of appearing unshakable.

“I appreciate you taking the time to meet me,” she began, her tone polished and professional, though there was an edge of determination beneath it.

Lucas let out a low, humorless chuckle. “Let’s get one thing straight. I didn’t agree to anything. You showed up. I’m just not in the habit of running off my porch.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she recovered quickly. “Fair enough. I’ll keep this brief, then.” She gestured to Sophie, who handed her a sleek leather folder. Victoria flicked it open, revealing neatly organized documents. “I’m here to make you an offer. A fair one. We both know your property is the last piece of the puzzle for this merger.”

Lucas tilted his head, his gaze flicking briefly to the folder before returning to her face. “Funny thing about puzzles,” he said, his voice low and deliberate. “Sometimes the last piece doesn’t want to fit.”

Victoria’s jaw tightened, but she didn’t back down. Instead, she stepped onto the first step of the porch, her heels clicking against the wood. “I’m not here to argue semantics, Mr. Grey. I’m here to find a solution that works for both of us.”

Lucas straightened, his full height forcing her to crane her neck slightly to meet his gaze. “You think throwing money at me is going to solve anything?” His voice dropped to a near growl, the weight of his frustration sharpening his tone. “This isn’t just land. It’s heritage. It’s balance. You can’t put a price on that, no matter how many zeros you add to your offer.”

For a brief moment, something flickered in her eyes—annoyance, perhaps, or maybe intrigue. She stepped back, creating a measured distance between them but holding her ground. “I’m not underestimating the value of what you have here. But you’re underestimating what I can bring to the table.”

Lucas smirked, a sharp, wolfish expression. “Oh, I know exactly what you bring to the table, Ms. Lane. Deals, contracts, promises that vanish the moment they’re inconvenient. I’ve seen your kind before.”

The words landed with deliberate force, but Victoria didn’t flinch. If anything, she squared her shoulders, her polished demeanor hardening into something almost defiant. “Then perhaps you’ll see I’m not like the others.”

For a moment, silence stretched between them, heavy and charged. The forest seemed to hold its breath, the distant chirp of birds the only sound breaking the stillness. Finally, Lucas stepped aside, gesturing toward the lodge’s door.

“You’ve come all this way. Might as well take a look,” he said, his tone clipped.

Victoria hesitated, clearly sensing the unspoken challenge, before nodding. With a glance at Sophie, who gave her an encouraging smile, she ascended the steps and crossed the threshold into Lucas’s world.

As she disappeared inside, Lucas remained on the porch, his gaze drifting toward the towering pines that framed the lodge. The carved wolf pendant against his chest felt warm again, a subtle reminder of the land’s watchful presence. His instincts told him this woman was trouble, and they’d never steered him wrong before. But there was something else, something he didn’t want to admit.

Perhaps it was the way she carried herself, like someone who’d fought tooth and nail to stand where she was. Or maybe it was the flicker of vulnerability he’d caught in her eyes, a shadow that didn’t belong on someone so meticulously composed.

Whatever it was, Lucas knew one thing for certain: Victoria Lane was a force to be reckoned with. And whether she realized it or not, she’d just stepped into a world far beyond her understanding.