Chapter 262

I burst into laughter at Lucas's suggestion, the image of him and Prince Alexander locked in a push-up battle too ridiculous to ignore. "I'll keep that in mind. But for now, let's focus on our own workouts, okay?"

"Deal," Lucas agreed, his grin widening. "But I have a feeling you're going to get stronger than me."

"I'm already stronger than you," I teased, rolling my eyes. "I'm the White Wolf, duh."

"Okay then, White Wolf, show me what you got."

Before I could respond, Lucas was tackling me on my bed. Our laughter filled the room as we wrestled playfully on the bed

"Get off me," I huffed and puffed, trying to push him off me in between fits of giggles.

Despite my efforts, Lucas remained firmly planted on top of me, his laughter mingling with mine. The weight of his body pressed against mine was comforting, grounding me in the present moment.

"Never!" Lucas declared, his grin widening as he pinned my arms above my head with his hands. "You're not getting rid of me that easily, White Wolf."

I wriggled beneath him, my laughter bubbling over as I attempted to free myself from his grasp. "You're such a dork, Lucas!"

"And you love it," he teased, leaning down to plant a playful kiss on my forehead before releasing me from his hold.

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't hide the smile that tugged at my lips. "Yeah, I guess I do."

Lucas leaned his head down to brush his nose against mine as he gave me a soft kiss.

The gentle kiss soon turned into one with more passion. Lucas deepened the kiss, letting his hands roam over my body. I tried to reciprocate, but suddenly, a memory crossed through my mind

I couldn't help but let my thoughts drift back to the strange man I had noticed earlier at the training room.

I had forgotten to mention it to Lucas, and now it was all I could think about.

"What's wrong?" Lucas's voice cut through the fog of my thoughts, his concern evident as he pulled away to study my expression. "Did I do something wrong?"

I blinked, my mind racing to catch up with the present moment as I shook my head, a faint blush coloring my cheeks. "No, no, it's not you, Lucas. It's just... something I remembered."

His brow furrowed in confusion. "Remembered? What do you mean?"

I paused, the memory of the man in the white lab coat resurfacing. "There was something... odd about the training room today."

Lucas's previous playful expression faltered, replaced by one of concern. "Odd how?

"Well, there was this man," I began, struggling to find the right words to describe the unease I had felt. "He was observing us, but he seemed... out of place. He was wearing a white lab coat, as if he didn't belong there."

Lucas's brows furrowed in thought. "A white lab coat? Like one a doctor wears?

I nodded. "Yes, exactly like that, and he had a clipboard in his hands as if he was taking notes."

"And he was watching you train?"

"Yeah. There was nobody else in the room but Alex and I, so it was easy to notice him. He was lurking in the shadows for part of my training, and then he left."

"That does sound strange," Lucas voice was uneven as he contemplated who the man could possibly be. "Did you ask Prince Alexander about him?"

I shook my head yes. "I asked him who he was, but he said that the King had required a doctor to be there in case one of us got injured. He told me to try and ignore him, but it just felt... off."

Lucas's expression grew serious as he processed my words, his brows knitting together in concern. "That does seem odd. I mean, why would they need someone in a lab coat to oversee your training? And why lurk in the shadows like some sort of spy?"

"I wish I knew," I admitted, frustration lacing my voice. "It's been bothering me ever since I saw him.

"Maybe we should do some investigating," Lucas suggested, his eyes gleaming with determination. "We can't just ignore something like this, especially if it's making you uncomfortable."

I hesitated, uncertainty gnawing at the edges of my resolve. "But what if it's nothing? What if I'm just overreacting?"

"Better safe than sorry," Lucas countered, his tone firm. "Besides, it's always better to be prepared for anything. Last time we trusted them, they tried poisoning you."

Lucas had a good point... I couldn't fully trust the King.

Lucas furrowed his brow, clearly not satisfied with leaving the matter unresolved. "We should ask Professor Black about this. He might have some insight or be able to investigate further.”

I nodded in agreement, recognizing the wisdom in his suggestion. "You're right. Let me text him."

I quickly typed out a message to Professor Black, explaining the situation and requesting his guidance. To my surprise, he responded almost immediately, asking to call us.

"Professor Black wants to talk to us," I informed Lucas, my heart pounding with anticipation as I accepted the call.

"Shana, Lucas," Professor Black's voice greeted us warmly through the phone. "I've been briefed about your concerns. Tell me everything.

I recounted the events of my training session with Prince Alexander and described the mysterious man in the lab coat. Professor Black listened attentively, his silence stretching as he processed the information.

"Hmm," he murmured thoughtfully. "This is troubling indeed. I'll look into the matter further and see what I can find out about this individual."

"What should we do in the meantime?" Lucas interjected, his tone urgent.

Professor Black paused for a moment before responding. "I suggest that Lucas join you at the palace for training."

"But... how can we ensure that the King will allow that?" I questioned.

"The King is adamant about having you train at the palace. Tell him the deal is off if Lucas can't join you," Professor Black said firmly. "If Lucas is able to go to training with you, it will ensure your safety, Shana. That way, we can observe this doctor or scientist more closely to gather additional information about him and his intentions."

Lucas and I exchanged a glance, silently acknowledging the gravity of Professor Black's advice.

"Understood," I replied, my voice steady. "We'll follow your instructions, Professor."

"Good," Professor Black said firmly. "Stay vigilant, both of you. And remember, if you encounter any further suspicious activity, do not hesitate to contact me immediately. You've returned the book... yes?"

"Yes, the book is back where it belongs," I confirmed, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders knowing that it was safely tucked away in the palace.

"Excellent," Professor Black said, his tone relaxing slightly. "Keep me updated on any developments. I'll be monitoring the situation closely from my end."

With a final assurance from Professor Black, Lucas and I ended the call, our minds buzzing with plans and strategies for the days ahead.

"Now we wait," Lucas said, his voice tinged with anticipation.

"Yeah," I agreed, a sense of determination settling over me. "But now, we'll be ready for whatever comes our way."