After school the next day, Lucas and I headed to Grandma Jo's house and settled in to wait for Liam's arrival.I couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension gnawing at me, knowing that today marked my second training session with Prince AlexanderThe unsettling memory of the mysterious man in the lab coat lingered in the back of my mind, casting a shadow over my excitement.Lucas and I sat in the living room, trying to keep the atmosphere light despite the tension humming between us. Grandma Jo bustled around the kitchen, humming a tune as she prepared dinner, seemingly oblivious to the weight of the situation.As the minutes ticked by, the anticipation grew heavier, and I found myself fidgeting with the hem of my shirt, my nerves getting the better of me.Finally, a sound came from the backyard, and Lucas and I both rushed outsideLiam stood beside the portal he had created, waiting patiently for me. His expression was unreadable as he glanced up at our approach."Hello, Shana," L
Lucas followed my gaze, his expression darkening as he caught sight of the mysterious man. "What's he doing?""I'm not sure," I admitted, feeling a shiver run down my spine. "Keep an eye on him without him or the Prince noticing you.""I'll try," Lucas whispered one last time before Alex started barking orders at us.As Prince Alexander led us through a series of drills, I tried to maintain my focus on the training, but my attention kept drifting back to the mysterious man. Lucas mirrored my unease, his eyes darting between the man and our training.With each passing moment, the tension in the room seemed to grow thicker, suffocating us as we moved through the exercises. The air crackled with an unspoken sense of apprehension, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen.Suddenly, the man made a subtle movement, his hand reaching into the pocket of his lab coat. My heart pounded in my chest as I watched, my muscles tensing in anticipation."Lucas," I whispered
Weeks slipped by in a blur of intense training sessions at the palace. Each day brought new challenges, and with them, a growing sense of determination to unravel the mysteries surrounding the strange occurrences in my life.The man in the lab coat continued to make sporadic appearances during our training sessions, his presence casting a shadow of unease over the otherwise familiar surroundings.Lucas and I tried our best to keep our distance from him, while also keeping an eye on him.Sometimes he would be there, lurking in the shadows with his clipboard in hand, observing our every move with a disconcerting intensity. Other times, he would be conspicuously absent, leaving us to wonder when he would reappear next.Professor Black has come back to us with some information about the man in the lab coat. However, much of what he's discovered isn't too useful to us.One evening, as Lucas and I sat in Grandma Jo's living room, discussing the day's training session and the mysterious man
LUCAS POVAs the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over me since this morning. Shana's safety was constantly on my mind, especially with Dr. Mills lurking around.Shana and I haven't seen Dr. Mills too much at our last training sessions. It made me wonder where he had disappeared off to and when he would be back.I had hoped to accompany her to the palace for today's training session, but my father had other plans for me.He ordered me to come to the company for a meeting, and Shana had encouraged me to follow through."I'll be fine, Lucas," Shana said, once we were driving to Grandma Jo's after school. "Dr. Mills hasn't been at our last few training sessions.""I know," I had replied. "But he could always show up again.""I don't like the idea of you going there alone," I admitted, glancing at her worriedly. "It just doesn't sit right with me."Shana reached over and squeezed my hand reassuringly. "I apprecia
LUCAS POVAs I stormed out of my father's company, frustration boiled inside me like a pot that was ready to overflow. But before I could put too much distance between us, I heard his voice calling after me."Lucas, wait!"I stopped in my tracks, turning reluctantly to face my father, who was striding towards me with a determined look in his eyes."What now?" I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my tone. "Didn't I make my point clear.""I won't tolerate you leaving our conversation like that. I'm your father and I demand some respect."I scoffed, finding him ridiculous.I folded my arms across my chest, my patience wearing thin. "What is it now, Dad? More lectures about how I'm ruining the family legacy?"His features hardened, his voice taking on an edge of frustration. "You know why I'm doing this, Lucas. Ever since you started spending time at that palace, you've become more... defiant.""I've always been defiant," I reasoned. "I'm just finally sick of all of your scheme
EDWIN POVAs I stood in the shadows of the parking lot, hidden from view, I listened intently to the heated exchange between Lucas and my uncle Kendrick.For weeks, I had been lurking around the Busch offices, waiting for the perfect opportunity to exploit any cracks in Lucas's facade.I knew that his rebellious nature would eventually lead to conflict with Kendrick, and I had positioned myself strategically to witness it firsthand.Lucas's lack of ambition and his refusal to conform to Kendrick's expectations only reinforced my belief that I was the rightful heir to the family empire.I couldn't comprehend why Kendrick continued to favor his son over me, especially when I possessed the drive and determination necessary to lead the company to greater heights.But now, as I listened to their argument, I realized that this was my chance to seize control of my destiny.With Lucas's rebellion destabilizing the family dynamics, I saw an opportunity to step into the spotlight and assert my
EDWIN POVAs my father outlined his plan, a knot formed in my stomach.He wanted to poison Kendrick.Poisoning Kendrick seemed extreme... even for us, but as he continued to lay out the details, I couldn't deny the appeal of finally taking control of the family business."But isn't that illegal?" I interjected, voicing my concerns. "What if we get caught?""Don't be silly, Edwin. We won't get caught.""But how can you be sure? Kendrick always has security personnel around him at all times."My father chuckled, a sinister gleam in his eyes. "Leave that to me, Edwin. I have everything under control. We'll make sure Kendrick doesn't suspect a thing."His assurance did little to ease my growing sense of unease. "But what if someone finds out? What if we're caught? The consequences could be catastrophic.""We won't be caught," he repeated firmly, his tone brooking no argument. "Besides, I'll take full responsibility if anything goes wrong. You won't be implicated."His confidence was both
Two to three months had swiftly passed since I first stepped foot into the palace for my training sessions.The routine had become almost second nature to me now, each day blending seamlessly into the next as I honed my skills under Prince Alexander's watchful eye.Training had been going well.Despite occasional appearances by Dr. Mills, his presence no longer filled me with the same unease it once did. Lucas and I had grown accustomed to his sporadic attendance, even if it left us puzzled at timesProfessor Black was never able to find much more information on him... which made me feel nervous at first, but once I saw that Dr. Mills wasn't a threat, I began to ignore his existence.I truly believed he was just there to make sure nothing went amiss. He was a doctor after all."Isn't it strange?" I mused to Lucas one day as we exited the training grounds together. "Dr. Mills seems to come and go as he pleases. One day he's there, and the next he's nowhere to be found."Lucas shrugged,
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