Chapter 139

Lucas's eyes blazed with a fiery mix of concern and anger as I revealed all of the distressing details of the phone call.

A pang of guilt coursed through me at the unfortunate timing of all of this. Lucas had just won his championship game, and here I was, burdening him with all of my problems.

It wasn't fair of me to do that to him.

"I'm so sorry, Lucas," my voice trembled, and tears welled up in my eyes. "This is the last thing you should be dealing with after winning your game. You probably want to go and celebrate with the rest of the team."

Lucas shook his head vigorously, "Shana, I couldn't care less about that right now when you're upset. This is what's more important to me right now."

"I don't want you to worry about my problems," I said in a quiet voice, feeling embarrassed.

Lucas gently took the phone from my shaking hand. "I do want to worry about your problems. Your problems are my problems. I can't believe your father would stoop this low and put all of this on you."

Lucas put the phone up to his ear and began speaking with the woman on the other end, asking her to explain everything in as much detail as she could.

With every word Lucas spoke to the woman on the line, his anger seemed to grow. I could tell by the clipped, dry tone of his voice. Yet, he maintained a composed exterior.

As Lucas and the woman discussed the debt and its possible resolution, I felt a surge of anxiety building inside me. All of this was too much. I felt like I had just been betrayed by my own father. My own flesh and blood.

I hadn't even heard from him on my birthday, and he goes ahead and does this.

What was I supposed to do? I couldn't hate him. He was my father.

But at the same time, I did hate him. I hated him for always trying to make my life a little bit harder than it already was.

It felt as though an invisible force pressed down on my chest, making it much harder for me to breathe.

My thoughts drifted back to the recent moments when I'd lost control, like during the shift on my 18th birthday when I transformed into the White Wolf.

Was this feeling because of that? Was it related somehow?

I never had moments like this before where everything around me suddenly seemed to be too much.

It felt like I was escaping within myself... like something wanted to come out.

The idea of losing control in any capacity right now was a terrifying prospect.

Lucas must have noticed my sudden rapid breathing and panic because he turned his attention toward me.

"Thank you for all your help," Lucas said quickly to the woman on the other end of the call before hanging up on her.

The overwhelming sensation of anxiety was making it difficult for me to stay composed.

"Shana, are you okay? What is it?" Lucas asked, his voice full of concern. "Just breathe, okay?"

"I feel... too much," I mumbled, my voice unsteady and my hands trembling. "It's like everything is overwhelming me."

Lucas didn't hesitate. He threw his arms around me in a comforting embrace. His warmth and the steady beat of his heart provided a much-needed comfort in the midst of turmoil going on inside of my head and body.

I buried my face in his shoulder, trying to regain control over my emotions, breathing deeply.

"You're fine. You're safe," he whispered, stroking my hair. "I won't let anything happen to you."

His presence was helping me greatly, and gradually, I managed to gain some composure.

However, I couldn't help but wonder if my shifting abilities were affecting my emotional stability. There had to be some kind of link.

"Lucas," I said into his neck as he continued to hold me. "Recently, I feel like I'm moments away from losing control of myself."

"Is that what that was?" Lucas asked.

I nodded. "It was as if my body was trying to escape reality. I felt something similar when I shifted during my birthday, but luckily, I've been able to push that feeling down."

Lucas's voice sounded firm as he said, "I hope Professor Black gets us some answers soon. You may be able to control yourself now and fight those feelings away, but I'm worried you might shift again, and we won't know what to do because we don't know your capabilities yet."

Lucas was right, and his words sank like a weight into the pit of my stomach. What would we do if I shifted again unexpectedly?

What if I couldn't control myself, and Professor Black's warnings about the potential danger of wolfless individuals were true?

I knew if that ever happened, Lucas would be there for me. But the fear of harming Lucas or anyone else around me was something I couldn't bear to contemplate.

If I couldn't control myself... I didn't even want to think what could happen.

"Lucas, if I ever shift again and turn into something awful—"

"Shana, stop right now because that's not going to happen," Lucas said, his voice filled with resolve.

"But you don't know that. I could turn into—"

"I said no, Shana." Lucas slightly pulled away from our embrace to stare down at me. "Nothing bad is going to happen to you. I promise you that."

"You can't promise me that," I said in a quiet whisper, my voice hiccuping.

"I can, and I am." Lucas brushed my cheek with his thumb.

Not wanting to argue with him further, I bit my tongue and closed my eyes as he continued to stroke my face.

"But back to this mess with your father," Lucas said. "Don't worry about it. I know it sounds like a lot, but my father knows some influential people who could help reverse the damage and get your father behind bars if necessary."

I opened my eyes, looking up at him with uncertainty. Kendrick wasn't exactly the type to be generous based on his own free will. He was only helpful if it benefited him in some way.

"He could probably help," I told Lucas. "But you and your father aren't exactly on speaking terms right now. How can he help, and would he even offer to do that? You know how he is."

Lucas seemed to think about this for a moment, no doubt remembering just how strained their relationship was, and ran a frustrated hand through his dark hair.

"It's fine. We don't need him. I'm a Busch, that has to mean something to someone. I'll think of another way. I can pull some strings and figure something out."

Hope flickered within me, but the complexity of the situation left me feeling trapped. "Like you said, Lucas. This is a mess, and I just don't want you to get caught up in all of this. It's just not worth it."

He locked his gaze onto mine, his blue eyes unwavering.

"I'm already caught up in it, Shana. You're not alone in this, and it's worth it if we get justice. Your father is going to pay for this."