Chapter 190

LUCAS POV

Shana sat beside me, trembling in the passenger seat, her tear-streaked face a heartbreaking sight.

There was one thought that had been constantly playing on my mind:

I wished there was more I could do for her, but all I could offer was the support of my presence.

The weight of grief hung heavy in the air, and the drive to the police department was cloaked in silence, interrupted only by Shana's occasional sobs.

I hadn't experienced loss like Shana had. My mother died while giving birth to me, so I didn't even fully know what it felt like to lose a parent.

Grandma Jo had been like my mother, and she was still in my life.

Now, Shana had not only lost her mother, but also her father in such a short span of time.

It didn't seem fair that she had to deal with all of this tragedy and stress. She wasn't deserving of so much suffering, and it killed me to witness it all.

The car's engine provided a rhythmic hum as we drove to the police station, a stark contrast to the turbulent emotions swirling between the two of us.

The city passed by in a blur as I tried to get to the station as fast as possible to get this horrible day over with.

I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that Shana's father was gone. It didn't seem real, and I felt like a part of me was still refusing to believe it.

I felt numb to the news, and the only reason I currently felt any sadness was because Shana was crying uncontrollably.

Despite our differences, I never hated Shana's father.

Was he a horrible example of what a father should be? Yes, absolutely. Although, my own father wasn't much of a saint either.

I never wished for anything bad to happen to him, just like I wouldn't wish that on my own father.

Truthfully, it just made me feel awful for him. He had so much more life to live and it feels as if that chance was cut short. He didn't get to repair his relationship with his daughter, and it was left unfinished.

Now Shana had to live with this sudden and unexpected grief for the rest of her life, wondering about the what ifs and what could have been.

Death was a profound event, and I even wrap my head around the emotions Shana was currently dealing with. I knew this wasn't something that would just go away overnight. This was something that took months, even years, to fully accept.

I just wished it didn't have to be this way.

Shana's father hadn't always been like this from what I could remember from our childhood. Although, at the time, Shana's parents were still married.

I remember seeing how happy and full of life he used to be. Shana would tell me stories about how he'd give her gifts or take her to different cities across the state to check out the scenery.

However, once her parents divorced, something must have shifted in his mind. I'm not sure when his addictions started, but that was the beginning to the end for Shana's father.

I'd imagine losing both your wife and child could create a lot of damage for one person because you're entire life is flipped upside down.

The memories of the times I had interacted with Shana's father surfaced, moments tainted by tension and disagreement.

We had never really had a moment to bond or enjoy each other's company. Although, I could tell he appreciated my help in getting him a job and protecting Shana at school.

I just wished there was more I could have done for him. I wished I could've realized the signs of struggle earlier on and helped him to prevent this pain from effecting Shana now.

But there was probably so much more about Shana's father that we didn't know.

It made me wonder about the facets of his life that we had never seen, the struggles he faced behind closed doors or the mask he had put up.

Did he know he was struggling? Was he really trying to get better? Or was it all just hopeful thinking?

As I navigated through the streets, my mind raced with questions about the circumstances of his passing.

Officer Torrez still hadn't let us know how Shana's father had died, and I wondered what the cause was.

Did he succumb to the struggles he faced, or was there something more sinister at play? Maybe the demons he battled proved insurmountable, or perhaps there were hidden debts that had finally come due.

Shana's father's life these past few weeks has been a total mystery. He was living by himself while Shana was staying with me at Grandma Jo's. It's very possible he could have gotten up to no good in that time.

But the one thing that kept piercing my heart was her father's last confession. He mentioned wanting to get better, wanting to change.

He made a promise to Shana that he would commit to going to a rehabilitation center to get help. He knew he was being a terrible father, and he didn't want to live his life that way anymore.

The truth only added another layer of sorrow to the situation.

I was sure that Shana was thinking the same things as me. Now, not only did she have to deal with the presence of her White Wolf, but now, she had to learn to cope and face the death of her last living relative.

It was a cruel twist of fate that seemed so unfair.

Glancing at Shana, who seemed lost in her own thoughts, I longed to give her some kind of peace.

But I couldn't think of anything to say that could make the situation better.

As I looked at her face, I noticed faint scratches on her cheek from when she hit the tree.

Her unpredictable shift in Grandma Jo's backyard gnawed at me. That was a terrifying moment for both of us. I wasn't sure if Shana would be able to gain any control again.

As horrible as it was to say, I was thankful she ran into that tree. It seemed to snap some sense back into her.

I needed to reach out to Professor Black as soon as possible. Things were starting to get way out of hand and Shana needed help, fast.

He would need to step up his research and give us some guidance on what to do.

I made a mental note to contact him later.

As I turned down another street, the police department loomed ahead, a stark reminder of the painful task awaiting me.

This was it. We were about to find out what had really happened to Shana's father.

I drove into the parking lot and secured a spot near the front. I turned to Shana, stealing a moment to reassure her before venturing inside.

She shifted to look at me, her lashes still wet with tears and her face swollen and red.

Her lip trembled as she thought about what was to come, and I reached a hand out to grab her, hopefully giving her some reassurance that I was here for her.