Chapter 27

Lucas’s POV

"I appreciate your concern, Lucas," Shana said, her voice carrying a mix of gratitude and determination.

She shifted her body, crossing her arms, as if bracing herself for the conversation ahead. "I never intended for things to escalate this way. But I won't let fear dictate my actions. I won't allow myself to be silenced anymore."

Her words struck a chord within me, a mixture of admiration and concern.

I watched her closely, her eyes fixed on some distant point, as if searching for answers in the depths of her thoughts.

She had changed, transformed into a force to be reckoned with. Her newfound strength both fascinated and unsettled me.

"I’m not going to lie, you’ve surprised me," I admitted, my voice laced with a hint of worry. "The way you handled Jessica… it was impressive.”

"You saw the videos?" Shana turned her gaze towards me, her eyes searching for my reaction.

"Of course, Shana. The whole school has seen it," I replied with a gentle smile. "I received the video right after the fight ended, and I've been eager to talk to you about it ever since."

A faint blush spread across her cheeks as she admitted, "Well, I was waiting for you to text me."

"I felt it was important to have this conversation in person," I confessed, my voice earnest. "What you showed out there was a level of strength I hadn't anticipated. It surprised me, in the best possible way."

A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "I surprised myself too, Lucas. I never knew I had it in me. I mean—can you believe I was actually able to punch her?”

"You punched her square in the eye," I remarked, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of my lips. "She didn't look very happy about that."

Shana's eyes flickered with a mix of defiance and satisfaction. "I don't care," she replied, her gaze shifting away from me and back to the vast expanse of the stadium. "She deserved it."

The facts of what happened left me awestruck. It made me question all my assumptions and beliefs about our world.

I had always thought that her wolfless nature shielded her from the influence of Alpha voices, but her display of power shattered that notion. There was something more to Shana, something extraordinary that I was only beginning to comprehend.

"You've always proven that there's more to you than meets the eye," I said, my voice filled with a mix of wonder and curiosity. "I always believed that being wolfless made you immune to Alpha voices, but now... I can't help but wonder if there's something else, something unique within you."

Shana’s head snapped over in my direction. “Do you think so?”

I nodded sincerely. “I do. Just look at what’s happened. Look at how your body has transformed in such a short time. There’s something about you we don’t know yet.”

Shana shrugged, her expression thoughtful. "I don’t know, Lucas. I feel like I would know if there was something special about me. I’m just… wolfless. There’s nothing more to it.”

“How did it feel?” I asked. “When you were fighting Jessica?”

“It felt real. Like there was a strength within me.” Shana bit her lip while she appeared to be in deep thought. “It was like something had pushed me beyond my limits, but it felt natural."

Her words left me pondering the mysteries that surrounded her.

There was something undeniably captivating about her, an enchanting charm that drew me closer. But amidst the allure, there was also a sense of unease, a mix of excitement and apprehension about the direction our friendship was taking.

I never could have anticipated the evolution of our bond. Lately, I find myself caught between the growing connection we share and the fear of what it could mean for us.

Since our training sessions, my desire to be in her presence has intensified. When we're apart, a longing for her consumes me…

This is probably not the best for both of us.

When I received that text from the school's group chat, announcing the fight between Shana and Jessica, a wave of worry washed over me.

I couldn't bear the thought of Shana being hurt once again, and I almost ran out of my class to go and find her—save her.

Watching the video was almost unbearable. But surprisingly, I witnessed that Shana was holding her ground and fiercely fighting back against Jessica.

I couldn't believe my eyes.

I don't think anyone could believe it.

She had been branded the weak wolfless girl for weeks, and here she was, the total opposite.

And now she sat beside me, radiant. She embodied strength and resilience—the very essence of the Shana I had always known.

That unwavering spirit had always been within her, never faltering or fading away.

Whether she had her wolf or not, Shana possessed an undeniable force that commanded respect.

In that moment, as I looked at her, a mixture of admiration and wonder filled my heart, forever altering the depth of our connection.

"I know you might not see it, but to me, you're truly special," I confessed, my voice filled with sincerity.

She turned towards me, her gaze locking with mine, searching for the truth in my words. "You're only saying that to cheer me up, aren't you?" she questioned skeptically.

I shook my head, a playful smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "No," I insisted, pointing to my own face. "Look at me, Shana. Does this look like the face of a liar?"

She placed a finger on her chin, playfully pretending to ponder the question. "Hmm," she teased, "maybe."

Laughter bubbled between us, a shared moment of lightheartedness that brought us closer together.

"In all seriousness," I began, my tone sincere. "You don't have any plans to fight Jessica again anytime soon, do you? Because you had me genuinely worried."

"Me? I worried you?" Shana responded, her voice filled with disbelief. "The infamous Lucas Busch was concerned about me? The wolfless girl? Shadow High's Alpha heartbreaker?"

I rolled my eyes, a playful smile on my face. "First of all, don't call me that."

"Or what?" Shana challenged, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Or else," I replied, my tone teasing, accompanied by a playful wink. "And secondly, I'm always worried about you."

"Well, I don't think you need to worry about me anymore after today," Shana declared, a hint of pride in her voice.

"That's where you're wrong," I countered. "After today, I'm only going to worry about you even more."

"Why's that?" Shana pouted, her voice tinged with curiosity. "You saw that I'm capable of—"

"That's great and all, Shana," I interjected, my tone calm. "But now the entire school knows that you're not as weak as they once believed."

"And why is that a bad thing?" she inquired, genuine curiosity in her voice.

"It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's also not entirely a good thing," I explained. "It could mean that there's a bigger target on your back now. People might be more inclined to test your limits. And, well, it doesn't help that everyone is naturally curious about you."

Shana's expression shifted, a mix of contemplation and concern. It was clear that she was beginning to grasp the potential consequences of revealing her true strength.