Chapter 213

I snapped awake due to the sound of shouting beside me.

The echo of Shana's distressed voice continued to ring in my ears, slicing through the hum of the plane's engines.

I jumped from my seat, watching as she writhed in her sleep.

"Shana? Shana? Wake up!" I urged, gently shaking her shoulders, my eyes scanning her for any signs of distress.

She appeared to be having some kind of nightmare and whatever fear she was experiencing in her dream was translating into reality.

"Shana!" I called again.

She blinked into wakefulness, confusion clouding her gaze. She sat up, holding a hand to her chest as she tried to slow her breathing.

As she slowly came to, I watched as she adjusted to the abrupt shift from her chaotic dream to the confined reality of the jet. She looked disoriented and anxious.

"Are you alright?" I asked, my concern evident as her fingers sought reassurance, clutching onto my arm as if confirming that I was real and unharmed. "What happened?"

She kept pawing at me as if trying to connect herself with the present moment.

"You were dreaming," I explained in a hushed murmur, trying to keep our conversation private amid everyone else who was on board.

Glancing around, she realized her outburst had garnered an audience. "I... I didn't mean to disturb everyone," she mumbled, embarrassment flushing her cheeks.

My father who had emerged from his private suite due to all the commotion stared at Shana, his eyes probing. "What did you dream about, Shana?"

Protective instincts flared, and I snapped, "That's none of your business. She doesn't have to tell you anything."

Caught between the protective shield of my presence and my father's inquiry, Shana hesitated before finally speaking, "I dreamt that when we land, something bad will happen."

Kendrick's expression tightened, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes. "Something bad? What exactly happened."

Shana froze up, her face turning pale and falling. I could tell that she was suddenly reliving whatever she had been dreaming about.

"Again, she doesn't need to answer your questions," I retorted, my tone firm, protective of Shana's privacy. The tension in the confined space of the plane seemed to escalate with every exchange.

"We don't know her capabilities, son," my father's voice cut through the air, a familiar chill accompanying his words. I met his gaze, unfazed by the cold, demanding tone I had grown accustomed to. It was the voice he wielded to bend situations to his will. "What if her dreams are an omen or a sign?"

"It's just a dream. I doubt that it has any correlation to reality. Shana doesn't have the ability to see into the future," I reasoned, dismissing his suspicions as baseless.

Shana had been thrust into a whirlwind of stress and trauma over the past two weeks. It was no surprise that her subconscious was plagued by unrest even in moments of reprieve. Her dreams were likely a reflection of the turmoil she had endured, rather than a signal of things to come.

My father's eyes narrowed, and I could see the gears turning in his mind.

The small space of the jet seemed to tighten, and I could feel the weight of his unspoken thoughts pressing against us. I could tell that he was trying hard not to lose his composure in front of everyone.

"Lucas is right," Shana interjected, her voice soft but determined. "It was just a dream. I've been through a lot lately, and I think my mind is still trying to process everything."

I shot her a grateful glance, appreciating her attempt to diffuse the tension. My father, however, remained unconvinced.

"We can't afford to take anything lightly, especially when it comes to matters involving the supernatural," he insisted, his gaze shifting between Shana and me.

"We also can't afford to let stress and paranoia control us," I countered, my frustration with his overbearing approach simmering beneath the surface. "Shana needs rest, not an interrogation about her dreams."

Shana's hand found mine, seeking comfort in the midst of this tense exchange. "Really, the dream was... nothing," she said hesitantly.

My father studied us for a moment before finally letting it go.

"Fine, but keep a close eye on her. We can't afford any surprises, especially when we're so close to reaching the Alpha King." He delivered the words with a stern warning, emphasizing the importance of our upcoming encounter.

As I observed Shana's features, the weight of uncertainty pressed upon me. The idea that she could have shifted in her sleep at such a high altitude sent a shiver down my spine. It was a scenario I didn't want to entertain.

My father's cryptic words lingered in the air, stirring a mixture of skepticism and curiosity within me.

What if there was some truth to his concerns? Could Shana, as the White Wolf, possess abilities we hadn't yet uncovered?

The supernatural world was vast and mysterious, and I couldn't shake the feeling that there was much more to her story than we knew.

Clearly, I knew this was the truth. Professor Black had only been able to help us so much...

It seemed as if the journey to the Ethereal Palace might be unraveling secrets we hadn't anticipated. Shana's presence in the palace could potentially influence her powers, for better or worse.

The unpredictability of it all left me feeling powerless and overwhelmed.

Suddenly, regret gnawed at me.

What had I gotten us into?

Had I allowed my father to lead us into a situation with consequences we couldn't fathom? I questioned my own passivity, realizing I should have challenged him more vigorously before allowing him to force us on this journey.

Feeling the weight of collective stares, I took charge. "Alright, everyone, back off. Give her some space."

Around us, a few of my father's security personnel and flight attendants scattered.

I ushered away the concerned faces, creating a cocoon around Shana. Pulling her close, I whispered, "It was just a dream. Nothing bad is going to happen. You need to get some real rest before we land."

She shook her head. "I don't want any more rest. I'm fine."

"You're sure?" I asked, trying to look into her eyes but she was avoiding me. "Do you want to talk about it?"

The quiet hum of the plane's engines surrounded us, and for a moment, it felt like we existed in our own private bubble. I waited, giving Shana the space to share or withhold as she saw fit.

Shana sighed. "It was just... a weird dream. We landed, and there were people, but something went wrong. There were guns, and someone said only I could go into the palace, and the others would be..." She trailed off, reluctance evident in her voice.

I tightened my embrace, giving her a gentle squeeze. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

She nodded, appreciating the understanding. "I know, it's just... it felt so real, and I woke up right when something bad was about to happen... I'm probably just overthinking things."

I leaned back slightly, keeping my hands on her shoulders as I looked into her eyes. "It's normal to be anxious about the unknown, especially with everything that's been happening. But I promise, we're going to be okay. We'll stick together, and nothing will happen to you or anyone else."

She nodded, but I could see that she wasn't fully convinced still.

I didn't want Shana to know it, but I was nervous too.