Chapter 20

“Shana!” My father growled, clearly frustrated that Lucas had effortlessly stopped him with just one hand. "Who is this... boy?"

"I’m her friend," Lucas answered before I did.

“Friend?” My father sneered. “I could sue you for trespassing and using your Alpha voice abusively.”

"I’ve been her friend since we were kids. Do you remember Bear?" Lucas chimed in, a mischievous smile playing on his lips as he held my father's fist in a vice-like grip. The strain on his knuckles was evident.

My father froze, a look of realization washing over his face. "You're Bear?"

"I know, hard to believe, right?" I chuckled, hoping to lighten the tense atmosphere. "I almost couldn't believe it myself."

Lucas glanced at me with raised eyebrows from the doorway, seemingly curious about my reaction.

My father slowly released his clenched fist near Lucas's face, his expression shifting to one of remorse.

"Dad, I'm sorry I didn't explain this earlier," I said. "I should have told you before Lucas arrived."

"It's okay," my father shook his head, still trying to process everything. "I just can't wrap my head around how all of this happened."

I quickly provided my father with a summary of how Lucas had reentered my life.

"You both go to Shadow High?" my father asked.

Lucas nodded. "Yes, we do."

"Well, would you look at that!"

"It surprised both of us," I admitted. "Lucas is also the captain of the Dragons hockey team, and as you know, he's an Alpha."

"That's quite impressive, Lucas," my father acknowledged, and despite his flaws, it was heartening to see Lucas genuinely pleased by my father's praise. "You've grown into a strong young man."

Lucas explained to my father that his father was Kendrick Busch. "Shana told me you're currently unemployed. I'd like to offer you a job to help you get back on your feet, but you must promise to improve for the sake of your daughter. The drinking and gambling need to stop."

My father appeared thrilled that Lucas belonged to such a wealthy Alpha family. "Of course, I'll do anything for my Shana. Thank you, Lucas. Thank you."

As I observed the gleam in my father's eyes, reminiscent of the look he wore when he was about to gamble, doubts lingered. I didn't fully trust him, and I worried that Lucas's generosity might backfire in the future.

It was challenging to believe my father's promises, but I wanted to have hope that he was finally willing to change. Perhaps this opportunity was the catalyst he needed.

And truthfully, I was relieved to see them finally set their differences aside and stop fighting each other.

"Well, if you'll excuse us," Lucas said, exchanging phone numbers with my father, "Shana and I have some training to attend."

"Training?" my father raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," I affirmed. "Lucas is helping me train to become stronger."

"That sounds like a wonderful idea," my father smiled at Lucas. "Take good care of her, will you?"

"Always." Lucas's blue eyes met mine as he gave me a playful wink.

I climbed onto the back of Lucas's motorcycle once we left my house, instinctively wrapping my arms around him as he steered us down the road.

"Are we heading to Shadow High's training grounds?" I inquired.

"No," Lucas replied, glancing over his shoulder. "I have my own training grounds."

I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows in surprise. "You do?"

"I'm a Busch," Lucas said, as if that explanation was self-explanatory. And in a way, it was. His family's wealth surpassed anything I could have imagined.

Lucas drove us into a luxurious neighborhood, where the houses were grand and ten times the size of my own.

"Do you live here?" I asked, completely taken aback.

"I do," Lucas replied.

He pulled into a long driveway that led to an impressive white mansion. The house stood three stories tall, adorned with numerous windows spanning its entire structure.

"How many people live in that place?" I quipped as Lucas parked his motorcycle.

Lucas grinned at my teasing. "Impressed?"

"Your house is a mansion! How could I not be impressed?"

"Fair point," Lucas said, before gesturing towards the back of the house. "The training ground is behind the house. There's a trail on the side that leads there."

We followed the gravel trail on the side of the house, which led to a large building just behind it, as Lucas had mentioned. Stepping inside, it was immediately apparent that this training facility far surpassed the one at our school.

The ceiling was twice as high, and the building boasted various stations for different types of training.

"Does the military train here?" I joked.

"Sometimes," Lucas chuckled. "No, but the look on your face was priceless."

"Ha ha," I responded sarcastically. "So, where do we start?"

"First things first," Lucas pointed to a corner of the facility where there was a small track for running. "We warm up."

Lucas and I ran side by side, gradually increasing our heart rates. As someone who wasn't much of a runner, my face grew flushed with heat after just two minutes of jogging. I struggled to keep up with Lucas's long strides, straining my legs to match his pace.

"Slow down," I panted. "My legs are half your size."

"Keep up!" Lucas ordered. "You need to follow my pace."

"It's not that easy."

"Less complaining, more warming up."

I rolled my eyes, pushing through the discomfort as we continued to jog around the track. After a few more laps, Lucas directed me to a different station where we began lifting weights.

"Come on, a few more," Lucas urged as I struggled to lift one of the heavier weights.

"I can't," I shook my head, feeling my muscles trembling. "It's too heavy."

"Don't give up!" Lucas commanded, causing me to flinch. "Keep going."

This pattern repeated several times. I would struggle with a particular weight, and Lucas would relentlessly push me beyond my limits.

My entire body ached, and it seemed as though Lucas didn't understand that I was physically exhausted. His demeanor became more demanding with each passing moment. It was as if his dominance and aggression, which I suspected were common in his hockey games, had taken over completely.

Even the expression in his blue eyes made me nervous. It was all Alpha male, devoid of the familiar warmth of Lucas the Bear that I had known. It was a raw display of strength and unwavering determination.

I felt the mounting pressure as Lucas continued to shout at me, urging me to go further. It brought back memories of being bullied by my peers because I wasn't as physically strong or skilled as them. It triggered a sense of inadequacy, of not being good enough.

"Come on, Shana! You can do better than that," Lucas persisted. "Are you weak or not? You'll have to push yourself more!"

Suddenly, it became too much to bear, and I crumbled under the weight of it all. A cry escaped my lips as I broke down.

Lucas immediately noticed the impact his words had on me. "Shana, what's wrong? Are you alright?"

"No, I'm not okay!" I shouted, feeling frustrated with him and myself. It all stemmed from the fact that I was wolfless and lacked the inherent strength. "You keep telling me I'm weak, that I'm not doing enough, but I'm giving it everything I have! I'm just not as strong as everyone else, okay?"

"But Shana, I have to push you further. It's how you'll improve."

"No! This is exactly why I avoid training," I choked out, my voice trembling. "I'm too fragile."

Lucas seemed to snap out of his intense demeanor as he noticed my tears falling. The hardness in his eyes softened, replaced with concern. He was no longer aggressive.

"Shana, come here," he gently urged, pulling me into his chest. I let my head rest against his chest as he wrapped his arms around me. "I'm sorry for being so aggressive with you. I think I'm just used to it when I train with the Dragons."

"It's okay," I managed to say through my fading tears as he stroked the back of my head. "I think I just got overwhelmed."

"We'll take things slower. I won't push you as hard, alright?"

I nodded, clinging tightly to Lucas, grateful for his understanding and support. At that moment, I realized just how fortunate I was to have such a fantastic friend by my side.