Chapter 45

Lucas POV

Seeing Shana in that dress was like stepping into a whirlwind of emotions and reflections, pulling me into a realm I had never experienced before.

I'd never seen Shana like that before.

Well, at least not in the way that it made me feel...

Her confidence in that dress was overpowering, making her even more attractive.

I've been around a lot of beautiful women, even some of the most beautiful Alpha females, and never have I felt such stirred feelings deep within me. It was as if a spark had ignited, setting my heart ablaze.

I knew it was wrong of me to be thinking about Shana in a way that was more than just a friend. But I couldn't control the way I had reacted to seeing her in that dress.

It was as if she was a different person.

It felt like my eyes had opened, or maybe it was just the realization finally hitting me that—

I liked Shana...

more than a friend should.

I had come to the boutiques with Shana with no intention of buying anything for myself. But when I saw her radiating confidence and beauty, I couldn't help but feel the need to match her elegance and style.

After all, I wanted to be the best partner she could have at the Winter Formal. The two of us would look better together if we wore something similar.

We walked to a store that specialized in suits for men and it was just as expensive as the dress boutique.

"The prices here are insane," Shana whispered as we walked around the store. "Some of these suits cost as much as a small car."

"Well, that's because a bunch of filthy rich Alphas shop here." I watched her as she picked up a tag to see the price. She dropped it quickly with wide eyes. "To them, a price tag means nothing."

"So, it must mean nothing to you either if we're in here."

I laughed, bumping her side with my shoulder. "What, you can have a nice dress, but I can't have a fancy suit?"

She rolled her eyes. "No, of course not. That's not what I meant."

"Uh-huh," I said playfully. "Sure."

We continued to walk around the store before a saleswoman approached me, offering suggestions for a few suits.

"Do you have anything that would match a red dress?" I asked the woman.

"Most definitely." She nodded. "Please make your way to the changing room while I go pull a few pieces for you."

Shana and I walked towards the changing rooms when she said, "You want to match my dress?"

"Of course, we're going to Winter Formal as dates."

"You don't have to match with me," Shana whispered. "I don't want people to talk and make up rumors that we're dating or something..."

"People are going to think whatever they want. I can't control them. And I want to match with you. I want us to look good together."

"Oh, but the two of you already look so good together!" the saleswoman said, coming into the dressing room with a handful of suits in her hands.

I caught a glimpse of sparkle in Shana's eyes as she looked up at me. At that moment, I couldn't help but wonder if she felt the same whirlwind of emotions that I did.

In a low voice, she said, "That's the second person who's said we make a good couple today."

"I mean, can you blame them?" I asked her, pointing to my face.

She pushed me away from her rather roughly. "Alpha-hoe!"

I laughed, making my way into the changing room to try on the first tuxedo.

Once I tried on the first suit, I opened the door and showed Shana what it looked like on me.

"What do you think? And please, feel free to compliment me as much as you possibly can."

She snorted, crossing her legs. "You're just going to parade around and have me throw compliments at you?"

"That sounds like fun to me." I smiled, shooting her a wink.

"That suit looks lovely on you," the saleswoman said from the side. A smile rested on her face as she listened to Shana, and I bicker amongst each other.

"What do you think, Shana?" I asked, giving her a little twirl.

"I like black. It looks good on you," Shana said, not giving me too much. Was it just me, or did she look nervous?

"That's it?" I asked.

"Maybe you should try a red tie to match my dress," Shana commented.

"I'll go fetch you one!" the saleswoman said before rushing off.

As I continued trying on different outfits, memories from our shared childhood and our present connection flooded my mind.

It was as if the past and the present merged, creating a bubble of nostalgia.

"Remember the first time we went to the mall, and I accidentally stole a pair of shoes because I forgot to take them off in the changing room?" I asked Shana, smiling at the memory.

"Oh my God." Shana gasped, throwing a hand over her mouth. "I had totally forgotten about that! I was so worried that the mall police were going to arrest us."

"I had to beg the store manager not to call Grandma Jo, and then you started crying to create a diversion."

"Yeah." Shana laughed deeply. "Man, we got into a lot of trouble back then."

"Not as much as James." I smiled.

Shana's expression lifted at the mention of James. "Oh, yeah. He was the worst out of the three of us. Honestly, I don't think he's learned much either because he's still the same James he was back then."

I laughed, agreeing with her statement. I loved James, but he still reminded me of a ten-year-old at times.

There was a moment of silence between the two of us, and I couldn't help but express the way I was feeling with Shana.

"Shana," I began, my voice gentle, "I'm so grateful to have you in my life. Things have been so horrible the past few years with my father... It feels so good to just feel like myself again. We seemed to have picked up right where we left off. And we've been through so much together. I just want you to know how much I appreciate you."

She looked at me, her eyes sparkling with affection and warmth. "I feel the same way, Lucas. You've always been there for me, even when others turned their backs. I'm lucky to have you in my life."

Her heartfelt words touched my soul, and I found myself becoming increasingly aware of my feelings for her. It was as if I had been blind to them all this time, and now they were unveiled, leaving me vulnerable and uncertain...

Oh, great. What was I going to do?

As the realization settled in, a wave of hesitation washed over me.

I knew that pursuing a romantic relationship could jeopardize the bond we already shared.

Then, a thought came into my head. There was something that Shana hadn’t learned about me yet…

I didn’t know if I’d be able to tell her though because I couldn’t bear the thought of losing our friendship.

But at the same time, I couldn't ignore the pull in my heart, the yearning to be more than just friends.

It was a confusing web of emotions, and I found myself torn in between.