Chapter 21

The next few days consisted of me readying myself for another day of training. After school, I would wait for Lucas during his hockey practice.

If Lucas’s practice ended early that day, he would bring me to his grand estate. If not, we will use school facilities for my training.

At first, anticipation coursed through my veins, mixed with a tinge of nervousness. After breaking down in front of him, I was worried that I’d never be able to train like everyone else.

I felt weaker, more fragile. Lucas had been kind about it, but deep down, I just hoped he wouldn’t give up on me if I couldn’t deliver excellent results fast.

However, every time after I started training, all my worries seemed to fade away.

Lucas always greeted me with a warm smile, his blue eyes shimmering with excitement. His genuineness only made me more determined to prove myself. I wanted to push myself further and explore what I was truly capable of.

It had been a week of hard work, and I had already noticed a physical change in my body and strength. The sessions were intense, but I could feel myself getting into the hang of it after training for an hour.

It was as if my body was activating.

I couldn’t remember feeling like this before.

I thought it could’ve been the adrenaline.

Or possibly it was my age. I was almost 18 now, but when I was 13, I had no strength.

But now, I felt better than ever before, and it seems as if I’m only getting stronger with each day that passes… as if the training is fueling my body something it’s been lacking.

Today, we were starting our training with a series of warm-up exercises, focusing on enhancing mobility and flexibility. Lucas guided me through each stretch, making sure I performed them correctly. Before, I found it difficult to keep up with him, but now, it was easier to keep a closer pace.

"Remember when you were complaining that I was going too fast?" Lucas teased, looking over at me.

"You're still going too fast," I argued, a hint of amusement in my voice. "It's because of your unnaturally long legs."

"My legs are perfectly normal," he retorted.

"Abnormal," I countered playfully.

Lucas snorted and shook his head. "Whatever you say, Shana."

After we finished our warm-up, Lucas guided me through a series of strength and conditioning exercises. We moved to the weightlifting area, where he introduced me to new exercises targeting different muscle groups. With his guidance, I gradually increased the weight, feeling the strain and burn in my muscles.

But it wasn't just about physical strength. Lucas emphasized the importance of proper technique and form, ensuring that every repetition counted. He pushed me to the edge of my comfort zone, urging me to go beyond what I believed I could achieve.

"How does that weight feel?" Lucas asked me once he put an extra twenty pounds on the bar.

"It's heavy," I confessed, slightly out of breath, "but I think I can manage."

He nodded, pleased. "Give me ten squats."

As the hours passed, we delved into various training techniques. We practiced martial arts, focusing on honing my striking and defensive skills. Lucas's expertise shone through as he demonstrated the intricacies of each move, guiding me to execute them with precision.

"Kick!" he shouted.

My foot swung, colliding with the punching bag in front of me. The impact reverberated through my leg, but I felt a sense of satisfaction.

"Again!" Lucas ordered.

“Always defend and evade first if you meet an opponent stronger than you.”

“And observe!”

“People tend to show their weak spots when they are tired and desperate to win.”

We continued the repetitions until Lucas deemed it satisfactory, and then we moved on to agility training. Incorporating obstacle courses and parkour, we worked on improving my coordination, balance, and speed. I leaped over hurdles, balanced on narrow beams, and scaled walls with newfound confidence.

Lucas watched with pride as I navigated the course, my movements growing more fluid and instinctual with each challenge. Despite the sweat pouring down my face and the strain on my muscles, I felt a sense of exhilaration. I was pushing myself beyond my limits and discovering the strength I didn't know I possessed.

After thirty minutes of intense training, Lucas called for a water break. We sat down against the wall, catching our breaths.

"How do you think you've been doing this past week?" Lucas asked after taking a long drink.

I wiped a hand over my mouth, grateful for the water's refreshment. "I already feel so much better."

Lucas nodded, his eyes filled with a mixture of awe and admiration. "If I'm honest, I wasn't expecting you to be this strong. You're exceeding my expectations."

"So, you had low hopes for me?" I teased, raising an eyebrow.

He rolled his eyes playfully. "You know what I mean. I didn't think your potential would be this impressive, considering you don't have your wolf yet."

A surge of pride swelled within me.

"Yeah," I nodded in agreement. "I didn't think I was this strong either. I felt so much weaker than everyone else when I was thirteen or fourteen…”

Lucas looked into my eyes as I continued, “Maybe I’ve matured over the years. Now, I have a deeper understanding of my body and its capabilities.”

Our training sessions became a testament to my progress. I discovered hidden reservoirs of strength within me, pushing through barriers I never thought possible.

With Lucas's guidance, I learned to channel my focus, using my opponent's momentum to my advantage. Every strike became more precise, every defensive maneuver more instinctive.

My mindset evolved alongside my physical abilities. I developed a heightened sense of observation, learning to anticipate my opponent's moves before they even happened. I realized that my strength lay not only in my physical prowess but also in my mental agility.

"I can see that," Lucas agreed, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. "And I have to tell you, none of the guys on my team are as motivated as you."

"Really?" Surprise painted my face. "I find that hard to believe."

"It's true," Lucas said, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "Sure, they train all the time, but none of them have shown this much progress in such a short amount of time."

"Well, maybe it's because I started from a low point,” I replied.

Lucas furrowed his eyebrows, clearly not happy with what I just said.

“Or because I have a good teacher." I gave him a grateful smile.

He said playfully, "I can't take all the praise for your hard work."

"I wouldn't be doing this well if it wasn't for you," I said sincerely. "You're making me better. Stronger."

"You've always been strong, Shana," Lucas said softly, his voice carrying a warmth that reached deep into my core. "It's just been hiding within you."

We shared a moment of understanding and gratitude, our connection deepening with each passing day.

As the weeks went by, our training sessions continued to challenge and push me. In the moments of respite, when sweat trickled down my forehead and my muscles trembled with exhaustion, Lucas and I would share stories and dreams.

Our conversations grew deeper, filled with vulnerability, and shared experiences. I discovered that we were more alike than I had initially thought—both driven by an unrelenting pursuit of excellence, both determined to make a difference in our own unique ways.

Lucas's unwavering support and guidance became the cornerstone of my growth. He knew when to push me beyond my limits and when to provide encouragement and reassurance. Together, we celebrated every milestone, every breakthrough, united in our shared passion for self-improvement.

As the days turned into weeks, my connection with Lucas grew stronger. We began to understand each other on a level that went beyond words. We shared victories, setbacks, and everything in between. His presence became a constant source of inspiration, and I couldn't imagine going through this journey without him.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting hues of orange and pink across the sky, I stood at the heart of the training facility, a renewed sense of purpose radiating from within me. My body glistened with sweat, and my muscles pulsed with exhaustion, but I felt stronger than ever before.

"Bring it in," Lucas said, his voice filled with pride and warmth.

I walked toward him, and he enveloped me in a sweaty hug. "I stink," I cringed, feeling self-conscious.

"You don't stink to me," he chuckled, his grip tightening.

"Thank you," I said, wrapping an arm around him. "Ugh. I can't wait to get home and take a shower."

"How do your muscles feel?" Lucas asked, his hands resting on my shoulders.

"Sore," I confessed, a mixture of satisfaction and fatigue in my voice.

"Good," he replied, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "That's how we know it's working. I bet in a month from now, you won't even feel it anymore."

"Do you ever get sore?" I asked, genuinely curious.

He nodded, his gaze meeting mine. "All the time. It only happens when I really push myself, though. But the last few weeks, you've been putting in intense work—workouts you probably haven't endured before."

We pulled away from our hug, but his hands lingered on my shoulders. "I know I said this earlier, Shana, but I'm so proud of you. I'm impressed. I'm surprised. And I'm just excited to see how much more you can achieve."

A blush crept onto my cheeks, and it was hard to meet his intense gaze when he was saying such sweet things to me.

“I think it is time for you to participate in group training sessions in school,” Lucas continued.

I couldn’t help but widened my eyes.

“You’re kidding right?” I asked, hoping that he was joking.

Lucas gave me a cocky smile, pointing to his face. “Does this look like the face of a liar?”

I groaned, realizing he was dead serious. Great.