Chapter 265

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 in the lab coat, my phone buzzed with a message from Professor Black.

"Professor Black just messaged me," I said, glancing at Lucas. "He's got some information about the man in the lab coat."

Lucas leaned in closer, his expression serious. "What did he say?"

"He mentioned that much of what he's discovered isn't too useful to us," I replied, scrolling through the message. "But he did find out that the man's name is Dr. Richard Mills. Apparently, he's a scientist with expertise in biochemistry and genetics."

Lucas's brows furrowed in thought. "Biochemistry and genetics? What could he possibly want with us?"

"That's what worries me," I admitted, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in my stomach. "But at least now we have a name to go on."

"We'll figure this out, Shana," Lucas said, his voice firm with determination. "We just have to stay vigilant and trust our instincts."

I nodded, grateful for Lucas's unwavering support.

Despite the uncertainty, I threw myself into each training session with unwavering focus, determined to master the skills necessary to navigate the ever-evolving challenges that lay ahead.

I tried my best to avoid Dr. Mills, but it was hard to ignore him.

However, once Prince Alexander started introducing new equipment to our training regimen, it was easier for me to forget he existed.

"Today, we'll be learning how to drive that," Alex said, pointing to a large vehicle that looked a lot like...

"Is that a military tank?" I questioned, feeling my heart drop in my chest.

"No way," Lucas said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Shana is not getting into that thing."

"Why not?" Alex asked incredulously, confused by Lucas's reluctance as if driving a tank was as simple as riding a bike.

"There's no threat of war, why would Shana need to know how to drive a tank?" Lucas pressed. "It's dangerous."

Prince Alexander raised an eyebrow, clearly not used to anyone questioning his training methods. "The purpose of this training is to prepare Shana for any situation she might encounter. In some scenarios, being able to operate military equipment could mean the difference between life and death."

"But a tank, Alex? Really?" Lucas persisted, his concern evident in his tone.

"It's just a precaution," Alex insisted, his tone firm. "And I'll be there every step of the way to ensure Shana's safety."

I could see the determination in Alex's eyes, but I also sensed Lucas's unease. The tension between them was palpable, and I found myself caught in the middle, torn between wanting to trust Alex and understanding Lucas's concerns.

"Have you operated one of these before?" I asked Alex, hoping that his expertise would be able to put Lucas's mind at ease.

Prince Alexander nodded, a confident grin spreading across his face. "Of course. I've had extensive training in military tactics and equipment. You'll be in good hands, Shana."

Lucas's eyes widened comically, his jaw dropping. "You've operated one of those things before?"

"Well, not exactly," Alex admitted, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "But how hard could it be? It's like driving a really big car, right?"

Lucas shot me a look of pure disbelief, and I had to bite my lip to stifle a giggle.

Trust Prince Alexander to turn training into an adventure straight out of an action movie.

"But what if she accidentally blows something up?" Lucas persisted, his voice tinged with concern. "I'm not confident that you'd be the best teacher for her."

"Oh, calm down, Lover Boy. I'm only teasing you."

"How many times have I asked you not to call me Lover Boy. My name is Lucas."

"You're Lover Boy in my eyes," Alex said, shooting a quick wink at Lucas. "But never fear, I've driven a military tank before. It's not as difficult as you think."

Lucas narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "And how many things did you accidentally blow up during that time?"

Prince Alexander chuckled. "Well, let's just say there were a few minor mishaps, but nothing too catastrophic."

Lucas's expression didn't reassure me in the slightest. "That's not exactly comforting."

"Relax, Lucas," I interjected, trying to diffuse the tension. "I'm sure Alex knows what he's doing. Besides, how often do you get the chance to drive a tank?"

"Hopefully, never," Lucas muttered under his breath, but he reluctantly climbed into the tank beside me.

As Prince Alexander began explaining the controls, I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement mingled with apprehension. Driving a tank was definitely not on my list of expected skills for the White Wolf, but then again, nothing about my life was ordinary.

With a deep breath, I gripped the steering wheel.

Surprisingly, driving a tank wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. And what was else was surprising was that Alex was a good teacher.

As I maneuvered the tank across the training ground, I couldn't help but feel a rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins.

"See? Piece of cake," Prince Alexander exclaimed, a proud grin spreading across his face as he watched me navigate the tank effortlessly.

Lucas, who had been anxiously gripping onto the seat beside me, let out a relieved sigh. "I stand corrected. You actually managed not to blow anything up."

"Hey, I'm offended by that lack of faith in my teaching skills," Prince Alexander retorted, feigning offense.

Lucas rolled his eyes. "Let's just say I'm pleasantly surprised."

As we continued our lesson, I found myself growing more comfortable behind the wheel, even daring to pick up speed and execute some sharp turns. Despite the initial apprehension, I was actually starting to enjoy myself.

Who would've thought driving a tank could be so exciting?

But just as I was beginning to feel confident in my newfound tank driving abilities, a loud explosion echoed across the training ground, followed by a cloud of smoke billowing from the tank's exhaust pipe.

"Oops," I muttered sheepishly, exchanging a guilty glance with Lucas.

It seemed my luck with military equipment wasn't quite as perfect as I had hoped.

"What was that?" Lucas questioned, staring Alex down with a glare.

"Oh nothing. Just a little technical difficulty," Alex said.

"A little technical difficulty?" Lucas echoed incredulously, gesturing toward the smoke billowing from the tank's exhaust. "That's a bit of an understatement, don't you think?"

Prince Alexander's grin widened. "Well, what can I say? Every training session needs a bit of excitement, right?"