The afternoon sun spilled its golden rays into the high-end boutique as Lucas and I stepped inside, the bell above the door chimed softly.Rows of stunning dresses adorned the store, each one more breathtaking than the last, with fabrics that shimmered and designs that seemed to be plucked from the pages of a fairytale.As I glanced at the price tags, a wave of uncertainty washed over me. There was no way I could afford the perfect dress for Winter Formal in this boutique.Everything here was wildly out of my price range, and I didn't want to be vocal and burden Lucas with my financial concerns.However, it seemed that he could sense my unease without a word from me."I know what you're thinking, Shana," Lucas said, his voice soft and reassuring, his deep blue eyes filled with kindness and understanding."How did you know what I was thinking?" I asked, surprised that he could read me so well."That look on your face," he pointed to the lines of worry on my forehead. "Don't worry about
Lucas POVSeeing 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 rad
Monday morning at school, I was completely caught off guard when I got a sudden call to the dean's office. I had no idea what was going on, but I had a sinking suspicion it had something to do with what happened last week.On my way to the dean's office, I saw Jessica's followers crying in the hallways.This wasn't good.Right as I opened the dean's office door, I saw a stunned Jessica sitting in the seat across from the dean. Next to her was Lucas, looking ever so serious.His eyes met mine as I closed the door. I had no idea what was going on, but I felt relieved to have him by my side."Shana, please take a seat." The dean gestured to an empty seat. "We have some important things to discuss."I followed the dean's orders and took the seat next to Lucas which thankfully, happened to be far from Jessica."Lucas has told me everything. From the constant torment and bullying that Jessica and other students have been putting you through." The dean's face was stern as he watched Jessica
On one hand, I was grateful for Lucas's support and the chance to stand up to Jessica. On the other hand, I was worried that her fathe r's Alpha status would still somehow be able to protect her from trouble.I could see the worry in the dean's eyes, not wanting to escalate the issue further. Possibly, he was thinking about how this would affect the school's reputation.If this was how Jessica got through life, it's no wonder she has terrible behavior. Her mother is just like her, using things to her advantage in order to get her way.Suddenly, the dean's office opened again with more angry-looking parents."What is going on?" one of the parents demanded, pushing their way toward the dean's desk. "Why is my child crying in the hallway claiming they're expelled?""Why is my child being punished?" another parent chimed in, walking further into the room.I looked at Lucas with dread in my eyes. This was not looking good."They're trying to expel your child, too?" Jessica's mother asked t
As soon as James saw what was happening, he rushed forward to the reporters and began adding screenshots from the group chats as evidence to be used."The public opinion will be on our side. That's why I thought having the reporters here was the best option," Lucas said, his eyes gleaming with confidence as he explained our plan. I couldn't help but admire his determination and leadership.What Lucas was implying made perfect sense.If a lot of students had faced the brunt of Jessica's bullying, it meant there would be a groundswell of support against her.The reporters' presence would amplify the issue and put the spotlight on her actions, ensuring that the truth came to light."You're kinda smart sometimes," I teased, knowing full well that Lucas was intelligent and resourceful."Sometimes?" he replied with a mock offended tone. "All the time."As we returned to school the next day, I felt a mix of apprehension and hope. I wondered how our efforts to expose Jessica had impacted the
The anticipation for Winter Formal grew, and my nerves started to get the better of me.I hadn't attended such a formal event in a long time, and the thought of being surrounded by so many people made my heart race.But I was determined to make the most of the night, especially after everything that had happened with Jessica.When the evening finally arrived, I put on my red dress.It was just as beautiful as I remembered and made me feel elegant and confident.I carefully styled my hair, letting loose soft curls that cascaded down my shoulders.I added a touch of shimmering jewelry to my neckline, completing my look with a hint of regal glamour.Looking at myself in the mirror, I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down.Nobody went into these events wanting to stir up drama or make problems. Everyone wants to have fun, so I didn't know why I felt so apprehensive about it.My father was home from work for the evening and offered to take me to the dance. On the drive there, he
I caught glimpses of other couples elegantly dancing on the shimmering snowflake-covered floor.They seemed to effortlessly glide across the dance floor, lost in the grace of the music.I, on the other hand, couldn't help but feel anxious about the prospect of dancing in front of so many people, especially with Lucas, who was such a notable figure at our school.I didn't want to let him down or make him look bad in any way."I have a confession to make," I said to Lucas who was still holding his hand out to me."What's that?" he asked."I can't dance," I whispered quietly, turning to look away, suddenly feeling ashamed."What was that?" Lucas asked, stepping closer to me. "I couldn't hear you.""I don't know how to dance," I repeated louder this time, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "I've never danced before.""You're never danced before?" Lucas started to laugh, and I punched his shoulder, prompting him to stop."Why are you laughing at me?! This is serious.""Shana, ev
"Yeah, she's the girl from his old neighborhood, right?" another girl replied. "I heard she's not even that pretty, and she's so awkward. I can't believe he brought her to the Snowflake Ball.""Ugh, I know! It's like he could have any girl he wants, and he chooses her. What was he thinking?" a third girl chimed in, sounding disdainful.My heart sank as I listened to their conversation. It hurt to hear such cruel remarks about me, especially when I had just been experiencing such a wonderful night with Lucas."Did you see the way they were dancing?" one girl commented. "They looked pretty cozy.""They were a little too cozy for my liking," another girl said with a hint of repulsion in her voice. "I liked it better when Lucas was single.""But they're not dating, are they?"Oh no, not again with these rumors of Lucas and I."Who knows... It's obvious they like each other more than friends."I stilled at the girl's words. Did Lucas and I look like we were more than friends to other stude