Lucas POVShana pulled away from my arms, letting her head hang low. She didn't even make eye contact with me as she said, "I think I'm going to go to bed."I nodded, "That's a good idea. You deserve some rest."As I watched Shana walk away, a mix of emotions swirled within me. The events from the night hung heavily in my mind and I knew there was a lot for her to think about. There were probably still things she wanted me to address.She made her way up the stairs and just as she had closed the door to her bedroom, Grandma Jo emerged from her own room. She peeked down at me from the top level, her face a mixture of curiosity and concern.She walked down the stairs and motioned for me to join her in the living room. I felt like a little kid again, getting in trouble with my grandma.She pointed to the couch, and I reluctantly took a seat, watching as she took the spot beside me."Lucas, we need to talk," she said, her tone serious.I nodded, bracing myself for the inevitable conversat
The next morning, the sunlight filtered through my curtains, casting a warm glow in the room.As I stirred awake, the events of the previous night flooded my thoughts. I laid there for a moment, recalling the confrontation last night.All in all, it had ended on a positive note. Lucas was back in my life, but the scars of betrayal still lingered. I didn't know how long it would take for me to forgive him. Trust meant a lot to me, and it seemed like it was hard for Lucas to trust me.He's lied to me so often that I've gotten used to it. I shouldn't have to be used to feeling this way. I wanted Lucas to treat me with respect. I didn't want him to go behind my back and do things that I would eventually find out.I didn't want to make things easy for him. He'd have to work hard to gain my forgiveness. Hopefully, that will teach him never to lie to me again.When I finally got out of bed, I changed and walked downstairs. Lucas was already seated at the dining room table, a plate of breakfa
Once Lucas and I got to school we went our separate ways. I didn't want to hold his hand through the hallways like we used to. I just needed some space away from him to think.A few students seemed to pick up on our awkward goodbye, but for the most part, they left me alone. It was a rarity, and a blessing that I wasn't taking for granted.I walked through the busy hallways as I walked toward the senior lockers. I was not looking forward to spending the next seven hours inside of this building. I just wanted to go home and lay down in my bed and drown in whatever sadness was inside of me."Hey there Shanana Banana," a familiar cheery voice greeted me.I turned slowly, meeting eyes with James who was walking beside me. He offered me a small smile and bumped my side."Shanana Banana?" I asked with a cringe. "Really?""Cute, right?" he asked. "I think it suits you.""I don't.""Oh, don't be like that!" James smiled wider as we continued walking, but concern soon replaced the playful look
Over the next few days, things between Lucas and I remained the same.I still was surprised to see him in the mornings at Grandma Jo's sitting at the table, and our drives to school were still silent.Even though Lucas respected my space and gave me time to heal on my own, he was still making a quiet effort.I opened my locker the other day and found a note from him, complimenting how beautiful I looked that day.When I got home from Grandma Jo's yesterday. There was a bouquet of roses sitting beside my bed in a glass vase.He had been doing little things to show me he was sorry, using his actions instead of his words, just like I had told him to.I couldn't deny the fact that I found his gestures incredibly romantic. He hadn't made such an effort like that before.I knew he was sorry and as the days went by, I felt more and more willing to accept his apology and move on from this.After school on Friday, Lucas and I were driving back to Grandma Jo's in my car when his phone began to
The two of us settled on the couch with a pizza box between us. It was pepperoni, Lucas and I's favorite."Want to watch a movie?" Lucas asked, flipping through the TV channels."Sure." I settled back into the couch cushions. "What should we watch?""Something funny?" Lucas asked, clicking on a movie that had just started. "What about this?""Yeah, I'm down," I said, looking down at the pizza box. "Can we eat now?"Lucas laughed, giving me a nod. "Yes, we can eat now. Geez, someone must be hungry.""Well, it took someone like two hours to cook something that ended up being inedible anyway. Then it took another hour for the pizza to get here.""Sorry," Lucas's expression was sheepish and apologetic as he opened the box. "I ruined the night, didn't I?""Not at all." I looked at him. "You ordered the pizza, after all."He snorted. "Great, at least I did one thing right."As the movie's opening credits flickered on the screen, casting a soft light across the room, I couldn't help but feel
This time, it was really morning as I woke up.Sunlight streamed through my window, covering my entire room in a glow. I turned in my bed and frowned when I noticed that the opposite side of the bed appeared slept in.My confusion was soon replaced with realization as the events from the previous night flooded through my mind.Lucas and I kissed on the couch. Things didn't progress any further than that, but I remember Lucas carrying me up to my bedroom when I started to fall asleep again.He was about to leave my room to go to his own bedroom when I'd said, "No. Stay here.""You want me to sleep here with you tonight?" Lucas asked from the doorway cautiously."Yes," I said, patting the empty space next to me. "Come."It didn't take any further convincing for Lucas to slide under the covers next to me. He pressed his front against my back and cuddled me until I fell asleep.Looking at the space he once occupied, I figured he must've woken up already. A content smile played on my lips.
My phone continued to ring, and I looked down at the caller ID, unsure of who was calling."Who is it?" Lucas asked curiously, peeking over to look at my phone screen.I shrugged. "I don't know..."It was as if my intuition was trying to tell me something bad was about to happen.Everything inside of me was urging me not to pick up the phone. However, there was a part of me that was curious about who was calling.Ignoring the sudden nervous flutter in my chest, I picked up the call."Hello?" I answered cautiously, looking to Lucas for some kind of support.He kept his eyes on me, letting me know that I had his full attention. He would be there for me no matter what happened.A voice, stern and official, echoed through the phone, "Hello. Is this Shana?"My grip tightened around the device as an unexpected chill coursed through me.Lucas noticed my shift and whispered, "What did they say?""They said my name," I told Lucas. He pursed his lips, clearly not happy with that."I'm sorry," I
Lucas POVThe room crackled with tension as Shana's anxiety escalated.I had already begun to put the puzzle pieces together with what the police officer was saying. I wanted to appear strong for Shana, even though the news was crushing. I could only imagine how she was feeling right now.As Officer Torrez explained what he needed Shana to do next, I noticed just how silent Shana had gotten. When I observed her, I watched as her breathing quickened. It rose and felt much faster than normal, echoing the unease in the air.I reached out, intending to comfort her, but before I could utter a word, her hands clamped onto her head.I hung up the phone with Officer Torrez, not even bothering to offer him a goodbye. I needed to make sure Shana was okay right now."Shana, breathe," I urged, placing a hand on her back and rubbing in soothing circles.I looked up at Grandma Jo who had a stricken look on her face. I gave her a pained expression.I didn't know how to comfort Shana. This was very s
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