Chapter 19

Lucas must have caught the scent of alcohol as well because he swiftly pushed past me, entering the house first.

"Lucas, don't—" I reached out to stop him, but as I grabbed his hand, I saw my father emerging from the kitchen.

He looked wild, unlike himself. His eyes were bloodshot and glazed over, but there was also an unfamiliar anger burning within them.

"Dad?" I called out, taking a protective step closer to Lucas.

Even Lucas appeared on edge as he locked eyes with my father. It dawned on me then that my father must have sensed Lucas's Alpha presence. Wolves are territorial creatures, and my father, though only a Beta, still possessed some strength.

However, Lucas surpassed my father in every way. And at that moment, he stood confidently in the middle of my living room, poised against my father.

"Dad," I spoke gently, attempting to diffuse the tension. "This is Lucas, my friend. He isn't going to hurt you. He’s just here to make sure I’m okay.”

“He stinks,” my father took a deep inhale, his eyes shifting as he stared at Lucas. “Like power.”

“No!" I screamed as my father lunged at Lucas with a ferocious rage.

But his movements were clumsy, probably due to the alcohol coursing through his blood. It caused him to knock over the lamp on the side table. He stumbled onto the couch, and Lucas slipped out of my grasp, rushing to confront my father.

"No!" I shouted once more. My heart beating wildly out of my chest.

My father reached his arms out from the couch, trying to wrap his hands around Lucas’s neck.

But Lucas easily moved away from my father’s hands.

In a familiar Alpha voice, Lucas ordered, “Sleep.”

My father’s eyes instantly closed, and his legs went limp on the couch.

My mouth hung open in horror, shocked by the unfolding events. “What did you just do!?”

"Don't worry," Lucas reassured me. "He's not dead. I just put him to sleep with my Alpha voice. It’s illegal to place a clear order while using an Alpha voice unless it’s a legitimate defense…."

"Oh God," I whispered under my breath, shaken by the sight before me. "Is he going to be okay?"

"He'll be fine. You can explain everything to him tomorrow," Lucas replied, gazing down at my father. His mouth hung open, and drool trickled out. "I think…"

“He must’ve been able to sense that you were an Alpha,” I said to Lucas. “Is that normal? I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

“It happens, but not too often. I think your father is also extremely…” he paused as if he was smelling the alcohol in the air, “intoxicated.”

"I'm so sorry," I told Lucas, my body still trembling from the encounter. "I didn't want you to come into the house and witness this."

Lucas shook his head. "No, I'm glad I was here. What if he had hurt you?"

"He wouldn't hurt me," I said, though deep down, I knew it was a lie. My father had never physically harmed me, but he had inflicted countless emotional wounds.

Lucas frowned, his gaze fixed on my father lying on the couch. “Does this happen a lot?”

“My father attacking strangers?” I teased, but my expression remained tight. “No. But he’s… jobless and drunk all the time. He’s drunk more than he is sober.”

"Can I ask what happened to him?"

I bit my lip, hesitant to burden Lucas with my troubles. But I opened up anyway, sharing how my father was an unemployed alcoholic and addict. How he resorted to pawning and gambling our belongings to sustain his addiction. I revealed that this had been going on for a long time.

"Shana," Lucas looked at me earnestly. "This isn't a safe environment for you. Your father is clearly unstable. One day, he might snap and do something terrible."

"I'll be out of here soon enough," I reassured him. "I'll turn eighteen soon, and I plan on leaving."

"That's too long to wait," Lucas insisted. "Your father can come work as a security guard at my father's company to earn some money. But he has to promise to change. He has to promise to quit drinking and gambling."

"Really?" I asked, surprised by Lucas's offer after witnessing everything. "You would do all of that for him?"

"If it helps get you out of this dangerous situation, then yes," Lucas affirmed, his gaze unwavering.

"Thank you, Lucas... That means the world to me. I'll find a way to repay you."

"You don't need to repay me," Lucas responded firmly. "Just promise me that you'll show up for training tomorrow."

I raised an eyebrow, not expecting to start training so soon. "Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow," Lucas confirmed with a nod. "I'll pick you up at 10 in the morning. Don't be late."

---

The next morning, a sense of unease lingered within me.

I couldn't pinpoint whether it was due to nervousness about the impending training or the lingering aftermath of yesterday's events that my mind couldn't shake off.

The image of Lucas witnessing my father's state was embarrassing. I never wanted anyone to witness the extent of the dysfunction at home, yet it was also comforting to know that Lucas stood by me unconditionally. He had even offered to provide my father with a job if he committed to turning his life around.

I couldn't have asked for a better friend, someone who showed such generosity without expecting anything in return.

Quietly, I slipped out of bed and headed downstairs, cautiously checking if my father had awoken or not.

To my surprise, he still lay on the couch, deep in slumber, exactly where I had left him last night. A sigh of relief escaped my lips, and I proceeded to make my way into the kitchen, aiming to have a quick breakfast before Lucas arrived for our training session.

Just as I had poured myself a bowl of cereal, a noise emanated from the living room, catching my attention. I peered over the kitchen counter and witnessed my father stirring from the couch, making his way toward the restroom.

Relief washed over me. At least he seemed physically fine after Lucas's blow with the lamp. I had been concerned that he might have sustained a concussion or worse.

A knock at the front door interrupted my thoughts, signaling Lucas's arrival.

Just as I prepared to answer the door, my father burst out of the bathroom, that same dangerous glint in his eyes from the night before.

"Dad," I addressed him cautiously, attempting to grab his attention. "Whatever you're thinking, please don't do it."

"Last night..." my father muttered; his gaze fixated on the front door. "That Alpha is back, isn't he? I can smell him. "

Before my father could delve further into his thoughts, I sprinted toward the front door. Yet, my father was quicker, forcefully pushing me aside as I stumbled and fell to the ground.

He swung the front door open, his fist raised menacingly, poised to strike Lucas in the face. But Lucas, evidently prepared for a confrontation, intercepted my father's fist with a firm grip.

His eyes darkened, and with a stern tone, Lucas warned, "I wouldn't attempt that if I were you."