"Who is it?" I asked Lucas who was staring down at his buzzing phone.His head snapped over toward me as if he had remembered that I was sitting there with him. He hid his phone from me on his lap."It's nobody."But the phone continued its persistent buzz as someone called Lucas's phone. Each vibration was a reminder of the person's growing impatience.I thought of the only person on this planet who would bother Lucas this much without a care in the world.Kendrick."Is it your dad?" I asked Lucas again carefully.When he didn't answer, I flicked my eyes over in his direction.He looked at me with a straight expression, trying to conceal his true feelings."Aren't you going to answer that?" I questioned.I couldn't help but wonder what had prompted this sudden interest. Why was Kendrick calling Lucas?"No, I'm too busy to talk to him right now," Lucas said plainly. "He can wait."I wanted to ask him more questions, but I could tell that he was growing annoyed. I didn't press him any
The professor's intense gaze remained fixed on me as if trying to fathom the depths of my experience.I wondered if he had a wolf himself. Was there any part of my history he could relate to?He leaned forward slightly, his voice soft but probing, "Shana, how do you feel after the shift?"I hesitated, unsure of how to put into words all the profound changes I had felt and endured.My gaze shifted to Lucas, seeking his encouragement. His hand immediately found mine, his fingers intertwining with mine in a comforting gesture that reminded me he didn't view me as a monster.He squeezed my hand as if urging me to speak."I... I feel different," I finally admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's hard to explain. There's a strength, a power that surges through me. But it's also a frightening feeling... like I've tapped into something I can't fully control."Lucas nodded in support. "When Shana shifted, I tried to help her gain some kind of control, but she wasn't able to hear my alp
Lucas POVThe drive back home from Professor Black's office was a quiet one, the weight of our newfound knowledge and the implications of Shana's abilities heavy on both our minds.I couldn't help but glance over at her, worry etched into her features.I could only imagine the turmoil that was currently taking place in her head. There was so much resting on her shoulders now. So many expectations and uncertainty.I thought Professor Black would be able to give us more information than he did, but at least he was able to acknowledge that Shana was the white wolf that we learned about as children.It sounded insane, telling myself that in my head. I still couldn't quite believe it.However, I had always sensed that there was something peculiar about Shana and the symptoms she had faced. The most interesting symptom had been the red glow of her eyes.I should've known from that alone. Instead, I kept pushing it to the side, blaming it on possible stress or anxiety.Shana had been awfully
Lucas tightened his hold on me as I snuggled further into him on the couch.I was about to close my eyes and drift off for a quick nap when I realized how silent the house was.Suddenly, my thoughts took a turn as I embraced the possibility.“Is Grandma Jo here?” I asked Lucas softly, as I turned to face him.Lucas was silent for a moment, listening for any kind of sound. When nothing came, he shook his head.“She’s probably at her yoga class.”I smiled, imagining Grandma Jo with all her old lady friends in the 80s workout attire. Even though she was retired, she still managed to get herself up and moving.She went to yoga almost every single day and always came back in an excellent mood.“How much time until she’s back?” I asked Lucas innocently.He opened his mouth to answer, but when he saw the mischievous look in my eyes, he squinted. “Why are you asking me that? And why are you looking at me like that?”“Looking at you like what?” I batted my lashes.“Oh no. You’re trouble,” Luca
Lucas POVThe early morning chill sliced through the fabric of my hockey jersey as I rode my motorcycle to practice.I thought about Shana as my engine roared in my ears.After we had gotten back from our meeting with Professor Black, the two of us sat on the couch. I was talking with Shana about hockey when I noticed that she wasn't responding to me.When I looked down, I saw that she had fallen asleep on my shoulder.A pang of guilt hit me, realizing that she must've still been exhausted from the past two days. I thought about shifting to take her to her room, but I didn't want to risk waking her up.Instead, I decided to close my eyes as well. It was only mid-day, but a quick nap couldn't hurt.However, by the time I woke up, it was already dark outside, and the house was full of the scent of Grandma Jo's cooking.When I went to see if Shana was awake, I wasn't surprised to see that her eyes were still closed.Even this morning as I left for practice, I hadn't seen her. She was sti
I had to drive to school separately from Lucas since he had left earlier this morning for hockey practice.Waking up, I felt refreshed and much stronger mentally than I had in the last two days. However, I felt a little odd driving myself to school without having Lucas by my side.The car ride was filled with the echoing silence that seemed to amplify my apprehension.A sense of nervousness gnawed at me as I parked my car in Shadow High's parking lot.For weeks, we had arrived together, and now, going in alone felt strangely unfamiliar. I wasn't used to this.I exited my car and entered the school grounds, weaving my way through the bustling crowd of students. I wasn't oblivious to the hushed whispers that followed me as I walked through the hallways. It was impossible to ignore them.I tried to train my ears to hear some of their conversations, and I surprised myself when I could actually catch onto a few of the things people were whispering about."Where's Lucas?""Why isn't he with
My thoughts of Lucas faded into the background as I walked into my first class of the day, a familiar sense of determination taking its place.It was time for me to get back into the training routine, something I hadn't done for a while now.As I entered the training room, the distinct scent of sweat and the sound of shoes squeaking on the polished floor surrounded me. It was a scent I had missed, a sound that had once been something I looked forward to daily.It had been a while since I'd been in this environment, especially after the recent dizzy spells I had experienced.The doctors had advised me to steer clear of intense physical activity, which only added to my apprehension about returning to training.My mind wandered back to the last time I had attempted any serious training before the earthquake had turned my world upside down.The memory of that horrible and fated day lingered in my mind, a stark reminder of how fragile life could be.I've had that realization a lot lately.
Instead of waiting for Lucas outside of the hockey locker rooms after school as usual, I decided to wait beside my car.I needed some fresh air after the exhausting day I’ve had today. It had been a little too much with everyone’s stares and whispers. It was like they followed me around all day.I texted Lucas earlier to let him know that I’d be in the parking lot, and he messaged me back saying he would rush to get there as fast as he could.I scrolled up to our earlier text messages and reread his message.Lucas: Maybe we should give them a show later to remind them we're still together.A cool breeze of wind hit my warming cheeks. I hated that he could affect me so easily. It was just a message."Boo!" A deep voice, filled with amusement, suddenly sounded from behind me, causing me to jump in surprise.I spun around to find Lucas standing there, a mischievous grin on his face."You scared the life out of me!" I exclaimed, my heart still racing from the unexpected fright.Lucas chuc
TWO MONTHS LATERThe sun cast a warm glow over the royal gardens of the Ethereal Palace as Lucas and I stood across from each other, ready to exchange our vows in front of our closest friends and family.Grandma Jo, Victoria, and James stood by our sides, along with King Alex, Professor Black, and Liam. Alex actually insisted on officiating our wedding which took some convincing. Lucas wasn't too keen on the idea."Imagine being able to tell people that the Alpha King was the one who married you two," Alex had said, wiggling his eyebrows at Lucas. "Doesn't that make for a good story?"Lucas rolled his eyes playfully. "Yeah, a story we'd have to explain for the rest of our lives. No thanks."I chuckled, patting Alex on the shoulder. "I think it's a fantastic idea, Your Majesty."Alex grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "I know, isn't it? I do love a good story. Perhaps I'll write a book about it."Lucas shot me a sideways glance, a playful glint in his eye. "I don't know about y
I had the brilliant idea of surprising Lucas will all the new skills I had learned.I'd been so busy study, that I was always too tired when I got home.Showing him the magic I had learned was the best way for me to show him just how much I had grown. With a quick spell and a flick of my wrist, I conjured a portal right in our living room, ready to transport myself back home.As I stepped through the portal, the familiar rush of energy enveloped me, and with a flourish, I emerged in our cozy living room."Lucas?" I called out, unable to contain my excitement.Lucas, who had been engrossed in studying for his upcoming exams, jumped in surprise at the sound of my voice. "Shana? What... How did you... What's going on?"I couldn't help but laugh at his bewildered expression. "Surprise!" I exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.His eyes widened in disbelief as he took in the sight of me standing there, a portal shimmering behind me. "Shana, that's incredible! How did you do that?""I've been
Studying the ancient text of the White Wolf book became my daily ritual.With each passing day, I delved deeper into its pages, absorbing the knowledge and wisdom it held within.When I had told Lucas that the book was finally unlocked, he was ecstatic, and recommended that Professor Black teach me more.Thanks to Lucas, Professor Black had become somewhat of a teacher, helping me decipher the intricate spells and teachings hidden within its ancient script.Even though he couldn't see the pages himself, I practiced rewriting and retracing everything for him to the best of my ability so that he could help me."Professor Black, I need your help with this passage," I'd say, flipping through the pages of the book as he leaned in to listen attentively. Together, we would dissect the ancient text, discussing its implications and applications in our world.His involvement in my studies caused him to visit the palace much more frequently.Alex quickly recognized the value of having Professor
I stood before the locked White Wolf book, a sense of determination washed over me.This was the moment I had been waiting for—a chance to unlock the secrets hidden within its pages and delve into the mysteries of my life.This book had the ability to tell me more about who I was and what I was meant to do.Suddenly, all the trials and tribulations that I had been through in the past year felt worth it for this moment. I deserved this. I deserved to know who I was.With Alex by my side, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. This was no ordinary book—it held the key to unlocking my true potential as the chosen White Wolf."Are you ready?" Alex asked, his voice filled with anticipation.I nodded, my heart pounding with excitement."You've got this, Shana," he said, his voice filled with confidence. "You were born for this moment.""Let's do this."With a steady hand, Alex pricked his finger, drawing a small drop of blood. I did the same, allowing a single tear to f
As I stepped into the grand halls of the palace, I couldn't shake the feeling of anticipation swirling within me.King Alexander had called me here, promising a surprise, and I couldn't help but wonder what it could be.It wasn't unusual for him to call me to the palace, but what he had said over the phone had me nervous."Liam's going to come pick you up to take you to the palace. I have a huge surprise for you," he had said."I hate surprises," I replied, already starting to chew on my bottom lip."Too bad," Alex said and I could practically see the smile that was on his lips. "See you soon!"As I awaited Liam's arrival, my mind raced with nervousness.Surprises were not my forte, especially when they involved King Alexander.He was a wild card and always seemed to be up to no good.Yet, despite my apprehension and hesitation, there was a flicker of excitement building within me.What could Alex have planned for me that needed to be such a secret?When Liam finally arrived, I couldn
A FEW MONTHS LATERThe warm breeze brushed against my skin as I made my way through the palace gardens, the vibrant colors of the flowers blooming all around me.Even though Alex had called the royal gardens overrated, it was my favorite place here.I always found myself walking through the rows and bushes of flowers.It had been a few months since the tumultuous events that had changed the course of our lives, and yet, the memories still felt fresh in my mind.Despite not moving into the palace, I found myself spending more and more time there, drawn by the sense of duty and responsibility that now rested on my shoulders.As King Alexander's right hand, along with Liam, I had taken on a new role within the kingdom, providing support and guidance to the young monarch as he navigated the challenges of ruling a kingdom.The transition hadn't been easy, but together, we had managed to weather the storm, leaning on each other for support as we forged ahead.As White Wolf, I commanded a le
I rushed through the hospital corridors, my heart pounding in my chest as I navigated my way to the room where Lucas and Kendrick were.The sound of my footsteps echoed off the sterile walls, each step bringing me closer to the moment I had been anxiously awaiting.Finally, I reached the door and pushed it open, stepping inside to find Lucas sitting beside his father's bed.Relief flooded through me as I saw Kendrick. His eyes were closed, but I could tell that he was just asleep and not completely unconscious as the machines beeped steadily."Lucas, I'm here," I said softly, crossing the room to stand beside him. "I got your text. How's he doing?"Lucas looked up at me, a grateful smile spreading across his face as he stood up. "Shana? What are you doing here?""What do you mean?" I asked with a frown. "I had to come as soon as I could once I found out he was awake. Are you okay?""I'm so glad you're here," he replied, his voice filled with emotion. He pulled me into a hug and I sque
LUCAS POV "Graduation is almost here and I want to go to Hawking University to play hockey. It's what I've always wanted," I continued, hoping my father could finally understand things from my point of view.But my father's expression darkened, a shadow of disappointment crossing his features as he shook his head slowly."Lucas, I've spent my life building this company," he said, his voice tinged with frustration. "I thought I could count on you to carry on the legacy."I couldn't help feeling a surge of guilt wash over me as I struggled to find the right words to express my feelings."I appreciate your confidence in me, father," I replied, my voice trembling slightly. "It's been difficult navigating everything since you've been gone, but I feel as though I was able to handle it because of everything you've taught me. But having this experience, I'm not sure if I'm fully ready to commit to such a big responsibility."My father listened as I poured out my heart, his expression unreada
LUCAS POV My phone rang with an unfamiliar number, and my heart skipped a beat as I answered it, the anticipation clawing at the edges of my mind.I had gotten used to answering unknown callers over the past few weeks ever since I took over the business for my father. He got far more calls than I imagined, and many of them were scammers trying to steal information from him.I was already exhausted, ready to go home for the day. I didn't want to deal with any more problems today, and that included talking to a stranger on the phone that just wanted to play games with me."Hello?" I said, my voice tight with apprehension."L-Lucas?" came the hesitant voice on the other end of the line. The voice cleared. "Hello, is this Lucas Busch?""This is he," I replied, ready to give this person a piece of my mind. "Is there something I can help you with?""Yes, I'm your father's doctor and I have some news to share with you."I stilled, hearing the words, hoping that it wasn't a prank.My father