After school, the next day, James, Lucas, and I gathered at Lucas's training facility behind his mansion of a house.At first, I was reluctant for James to join us, but Lucas told me it would be useful to train with another Alpha and understand how differently they can operate.It amused me to think that I was friends with two Alphas while I remained wolfless. The irony of our unique bond was not lost on me, and I couldn't help but chuckle to myself."What are you laughing at?" James asked while we took a break."Oh, nothing," I said innocently.James pointed at my face. "Lucas, do you see that face?""Yeah." Lucas stared at me. "Is there something you want to tell us, Shana? Something funny?""I just like your pants is all," I waved dismissively to the tight shorts James was wearing. "Very... form-fitting.""Are you objectifying me?" James asked, mocking offense by putting a hand to his chest."That's so not cool, Shana," Lucas went along with him."I'm not objectifying." I shrugged.
A few weeks had passed since my fight with Jessica and our memorable cookie-filled adventure at Grandma Jo's.Thankfully, Jessica didn’t pick on me at school after she returned from being absent. However, the way she would look at me sometimes sent shivers down my spine.I was wary of her true intentions.Now the school was buzzing with anticipation for the upcoming Winter Formal.As I walked through the hallways, whispers filled the air, carrying the excitement of students discussing dresses, dance partners, and romantic possibilities. Winter Formal was just around the corner, and it seemed to be the topic of the day.The whispers of my classmates reminded me of the invisible barrier that separated me from them.Being wolfless, I carried the weight of their judgment and whispers, feeling like an outsider in my own school. It seemed as though my lack of a wolf had branded me as a curse, leaving me isolated and struggling to forge connections.Therefore, events like Winter Formal felt
Rude. I thought about Lucas’s comment, and as much as I hated to admit it, he wasn't completely wrong.Lately, I had been consumed by my obsession with a new vampire series, binge-watching it non-stop and relentlessly trying to convince Lucas to watch it with me.But every time I asked, he steadfastly refused.“There’s nothing wrong with a little TV binge,” I defended myself, pouting playfully.Lucas laughed. “I’m not saying there is but weigh the options.” Lucas raised up both of his hands, mirroring a scale. “Movies? Or a night of dancing with the best-looking guy in school?”“Oh my God.” I slapped his hands away with a laugh. “You’re so full of yourself, it’s actually concerning.”Lucas grinned at the fake-disgusted look on my face. “What? You don’t think so?”“I’m not going to give you an even bigger head,” I retorted.“Fine.” Lucas shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “But seriously, don’t worry about a thing. I’ll be with you all night. And since I’m the student body representative,
Lucas noticed the look of concern on the girls' faces as we stood there. With a kind smile, he gently asked the girl who spoke, "What is it?""We wanted to know if you could go to Winter Formal with us."I hesitated, trying to process the unexpected turn of events. Three girls, whom I assumed were part of Jessica's clique, had just asked Lucas to be their date for the Winter Formal.It was a surprising development, considering these quiet girls had previously shown no interest in Lucas due to his friendship with me.Jessica stepped forward, a triumphant smirk playing on her lips as she explained the situation. "These three girls are the only options Lucas has for the Winter Formal this year. All the pretty and popular girls have agreed not to go with him because of his association with Shana."The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I couldn't understand why attending a formal event had become such a big deal, and it pained me to see these girls being humiliated because of me.One o
“Did you hear that Shana’s going to Winter Formal with Lucas?”“Yeah, I heard that last period! What’s that all about?”“I have no idea,” one girl said in the restroom. “Why would he ask her? I thought they weren’t together.”“They said they aren’t together, but nobody believes that.”I sighed as I sat in the bathroom stall, trying to drown out the sound of the girls gossiping about Lucas and me. It was as if the walls had ears, amplifying their words and intensifying my frustration.Could they hurry up and finish their conversation already? I had a class to get to.The fact that they were talking about Lucas and me was mind-boggling. After all, he had only asked me to Winter Formal yesterday.Yet somehow, the entire school seemed to be aware of our plans.It must be Jessica.Walking through the hallways felt like navigating a sea of cold glances and silent judgment.Girls now regarded me with disdain, their eyes filled with resentment. It was disheartening to be the target of their h
As the rumors and gossip continued to swirl around us, Lucas and I chose to ignore the noise. We poured all our energy into our training, finding solace and strength within its confines.I never thought I would say this, but I was starting to love training.It had become an outlet for my pain and suffering, a place where I could release my emotions and channel my aggression. The physical exertion allowed me to numb some of the pain, and I found release in hitting, punching, and kicking with fierce determination.Lucas couldn't help but notice the intensity behind my sudden bursts of aggression.His wide eyes and raised brows mirrored his astonishment. "You're scary when you look at me like that," he once remarked, his voice tinged with both amusement and awe. "Your eyes are all glossy and... feisty."I couldn't resist teasing him, pointing to the dummy bag next to me. "You should see how I look at the dummy," I joked, a mischievous glint in my eyes.Our training sessions became a deli
I relied on my speed and agility, my body moving with practiced grace as I avoided Jessica's powerful strikes with calculated precision.Each successful evasion fueled a surge of confidence, a reminder that I had the skills to hold my own against her. The intensity of our training session escalated as neither of us showed any signs of backing down.This wasn't even a partnership—it was a full-on war.Sweat dripped down my forehead, my heart pounding with a mixture of adrenaline and determination. I knew that Jessica's hatred and desire to defeat me only fueled her aggression, making her more relentless with each strike. But I refused to be intimidated."Is that the best you can do, Shana?" Jessica sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. "I expected more from someone who thinks they're so special.""If anyone here thinks they're special." I gritted my teeth, straightening my stance. "It's you."Jessica's laugh was empty and dry. "You say the silliest things, Shana."I narrowed my ey
The tension between Jessica and me had reached its breaking point. Despite my efforts to prove myself and gain respect through my training, Jessica's relentless animosity seemed to grow as our training period went on.She never took her eyes off me the entire afternoon, and I knew that she was planning something.It was as if she couldn't stand the thought of me rising above her.Once the bell rang, signaling the end of class, I rushed out of the doors, trying to get as far away from her as possible.The air was suffocating me with the lingering hostility. The whispers and sidelong glances from Jessica's followers made it clear that they were eagerly awaiting something-- most likely the next chapter in our ongoing feud.I tried to storm down the hallway as fast as I could, determined to leave the school before Jessica caught me again.Lucas wasn’t here today, and I wasn’t stupid enough to train alone after school today. I just wanted to get home as soon as possible.For the first time