A few hours after lunch, school was finally over and I was making my way toward the parking lot where Lucas was already waiting for me. I hadn't been able to stop thinking about the conversation Lucas and I had with James over lunch.I felt so guilty having to lie to him. It felt wrong to keep this from him.I hadn't spoken to Lucas about it yet, but I was frustrated that he had put me in that scenario.As I approached our car, I saw that Lucas was seated in the driver's side. I opened the car and hopped into the passenger seat, slamming the door closed behind me."Hey," Lucas said with a smile, leaning over to try and kiss me.I leaned away from him, dodging the kiss and trying to avoid eye contact.I could see Lucas tense up beside me out of the corner of my eye."What's wrong?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. "Why did you just reject my kiss?"There was no doubt an underlying tension between us as I tried ignoring him. I tried to form the words to explain myself, but I coul
As panic threatened to overwhelm me, Lucas stepped forward, his expression determined. "What are you thinking?""I didn't think they'd want me back at the palace so soon... I mean I just got back. How am I going to be able to keep up with everything?""Shana, you'll be just fine. Traveling through the portal will save you a lot of time, and if you need anything I'm here," he assured me. His support grounded me, reminding me that I wasn't alone in this"But what about school?" I fretted, the weight of my responsibilities pressing down on me.Lucas squeezed my hand reassuringly. "You'll be fine, your training will probably only last an hour or two. And I doubt it'll be during school hours." Seeing the uncertainty on my face, Lucas continued, "School's almost over anyway, and then you won't have to worry about it anymore."I nodded, grateful for Lucas's level-headedness in the midst of my turmoil.With a deep breath, I tried to focus on the task at hand. "You're right. I'm freaking out o
Lucas glanced around the room before answering, his expression thoughtful. "It's in my bag. I didn't want to leave it unattended, especially after hearing what Professor Black had to say."I nodded, understanding his cautious approach. "We'll have to be extra careful with it until we can return it to the palace."Lucas reached for his bag, unzipping it carefully and retrieving the book from within. Its weight felt heavy in my hands as he passed it to me, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding as I held it."We should keep it somewhere safe until tomorrow," Lucas suggested, his eyes scanning the room for a suitable hiding spot.I followed his gaze, my mind racing with possibilities. "What about the attic? It's not a place anyone would think to look."Lucas nodded in agreement, his expression determined. "Good idea. Let's go."Together, we made our way up the creaky stairs to the attic, the air heavy with dust and memories. We found a secluded corner and carefully placed the
Instantly, as I moved through the portal, a searing pain tore through my body as if every nerve was set ablaze.I cried out, my vision blurring as waves of dizziness washed over me.It felt like an eternity before the agony began to subside, leaving me weak and disoriented.My head throbbed and I held a hand to my temples, willing the pain to go away.As the world slowly came back into focus, I found myself standing in a familiar looking room. It was the Ethereal Palace's training room.How had I ended up here?Liam appeared behind me, going through the portal with ease. His face showed zero signs of discomfort from the travel."How..." I began to question."You get used to it after a while," Liam noted, giving me a tight nod."No," I said, glancing around the room. Shock went through my body as I saw someone else in the room with us.Prince Alexander stood before me, his expression grave yet compassionate."Hello, Shana." The Prince smiled at me, quirking his head to the side. "Are y
Alex and I continued my training and I was covered in sweat once we had decided to take a break.I drank nearly an entire gallon of water, my body feeling weak and unprepared."Tired already?" The Prince teased, his hands resting gracefully on his hips.I chuckled weakly, wiping the sweat from my brow with the back of my hand. "You have no idea," I replied, my voice breathless.Prince Alexander's smile softened, a glint of admiration shining in his eyes. "All jokes aside... you're doing well, Shana. Training can be physically demanding, but you're handling it with remarkable resilience."I flashed him a grateful smile, the encouragement fueling my determination to push through the exhaustion. "Thanks, Alex. I'm just glad to have you here guiding me through this."He nodded in understanding, his gaze thoughtful. "It's my pleasure, Shana. I promised to help you harness your abilities, and I intend to keep that promise."As we resumed our training, I felt a renewed sense of determination
Every second felt like an eternity as I navigated the halls, my senses on high alert for any sign of approaching footsteps.As I reached the entrance to the training room, I paused, pressing my ear against the door to listen for any sounds from within. Silence greeted me, a reassuring sign that Prince Alexander had yet to return with Liam.Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I quietly pushed open the door and slipped back into the training room, my heart racing with anticipation. The room was deserted, the echoes of our earlier training session the only sound filling the space.Relief flooded through me as I made my way to the center of the room, my eyes scanning the empty space for any sign of movement. With each passing moment, the tension in my muscles began to ease, replaced by a sense of quiet calm.I had managed to return the book without incident, and for now, it seemed that my actions had gone unnoticed. But as I waited for Prince Alexander's return, a nagging sense of u
As I pondered the reasoning for the energy in Grandma Jo's backyard, Lucas dashed out of the house, his face lit up with excitement. "Shana, you're back!"I smiled at him, feeling a surge of relief at seeing him. "Hey, Lucas. Yeah, just got back from training."He threw his arms around me, crushing me into him. I was a bit surprised by his actions. I had only been gone for a few hours.As Lucas released me from his enthusiastic embrace, I noticed a glint of worry in his eyes, hidden behind his usual happy demeanor."I missed you," he said softly, his voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability. He said it quietly so Liam wouldn't hear."I missed you too," I replied, touched by his sincerity.Despite the short time apart, it was comforting to know that my absence had been felt.Turning his attention to Liam, Lucas's expression shifted to one of curiosity. "So, how did it go?"Liam, ever the stoic figure, nodded in approval. "Shana's making great progress. And she handled the portal trave
I burst into laughter at Lucas's suggestion, the image of him and Prince Alexander locked in a push-up battle too ridiculous to ignore. "I'll keep that in mind. But for now, let's focus on our own workouts, okay?""Deal," Lucas agreed, his grin widening. "But I have a feeling you're going to get stronger than me.""I'm already stronger than you," I teased, rolling my eyes. "I'm the White Wolf, duh.""Okay then, White Wolf, show me what you got."Before I could respond, Lucas was tackling me on my bed. Our laughter filled the room as we wrestled playfully on the bed"Get off me," I huffed and puffed, trying to push him off me in between fits of giggles.Despite my efforts, Lucas remained firmly planted on top of me, his laughter mingling with mine. The weight of his body pressed against mine was comforting, grounding me in the present moment."Never!" Lucas declared, his grin widening as he pinned my arms above my head with his hands. "You're not getting rid of me that easily, White Wo
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