The anticipation in the room was palpable, and the mention of the King joining us for dinner soon heightened my apprehension. I fidgeted with the fabric of my dress, trying to shake off the nerves."Liam, why aren't you joining us for dinner?" Kendrick inquired as Liam lingered by the door."I have matters to attend to, sir," Liam replied with a slight bow. "The King has requested my presence. I am certain that Prince Alexander will be here shortly to accompany you."What? I wondered to myself. Prince Alexander?With that, Liam exited, leaving us in the vast dining hall.The doors were guarded by stern-faced knights, their presence a reminder that this was not an ordinary dinner engagement. We were completely out of our element.Just outside, Kendrick's security team stood ready to protect us if need be.With Liam's absence, the three of us were locked in a room full of exquisite decor that exuded an air of magnificence. I couldn't help but feel like an outsider sitting in a world of
Prince Alexander's entrance was nothing short of commanding. His gaze immediately fixated on me, prompting everyone to rise from their seats.Unsure of the proper royal protocol, I bowed my head respectfully and uttered, "Your Highness."As I lifted my eyes, a flicker of amusement danced in the Prince's gaze.He was young, around my age, and undeniably handsome. I didn't want to lie and say he was hideous because he wasn't.His features were a stark contrast to Lucas– brown curly hair, pale skin, and the most striking green eyes I had ever seen. It resembled the trees that lay in the forest surrounding the Ethereal Palace.It was easy to see why he had a reputation with women. His features held a captivating allure that would be impossible for most people to resist."You're the White Wolf?" Prince Alexander inquired, his posh accent reminiscent of Liam's. "You're not quite what I expected."I felt my palms sweat and across the table, I noticed Lucas's jaw tense at the Prince's words.
I knew that I should've felt intimidated by Prince Alexander, but something about him made me feel at ease. His casual charm and youthfulness surprised me.He was the complete opposite of what I thought the heir to the Alpha King throne would be like. His laughter and easygoing demeanor strangely reminded me of James. Sure, the two of them had many differences, but the way they carried themselves was the same.Lucas hadn't been able to stop sending daggers at Prince Alexander all throughout dinner, although, it didn't seem like the prince even noticed. He was too busy keeping all of his attention on me."So, Shana, tell me who you've brought here with you," Prince Alexander asks while only looking at me. I find it a bit rude that he won't even acknowledge the other guests."I'm Lucas, Shana's boyfriend and closest friend," Lucas cuts in, his tone sharp and cold. I almost flinch.Prince Alexander turns his head toward Lucas and gives him a lazy smile. "Is that why I can feel you burnin
As the grand doors swung open, the deep, commanding voice of the Alpha King echoed through the room. "You've all started dinner without me?"His entrance sent a shiver down my spine, and I suddenly regretted following Prince Alexander's lead. I knew that we shouldn't listen to him.The fear of disrespecting the Alpha King flooded over me, and I felt a pang of unease.Before I could stammer out an apology, the King's laughter resonated, breaking the tension. "Ah, the look on your faces! I'm only teasing. You can't take my son too seriously, you know."His warm, hearty laughter filled the room, and I couldn't find it within myself to join in. I still wasn't sure if he was joking or not."Please, don't stop on my account," the King continued, his accent shining through.The Alpha King and Prince seemed oddly similar. Their accents were strangely comforting, and their personalities were relaxed. It was hard not to feel relieved by their easygoing demeanor.He moved to his seat at the head
The Alpha King's deep voice resonated through the grand dining hall, and I couldn't help but feel a shiver run down my spine. "I must admit, you aren't what I expected, Shana, but you know what they say about unexpected things."His words hung in the air, leaving me uncertain about their meaning.The King, casually lounged at the head of the table. He seemed to notice my hesitation and addressed it directly. "Come now, my dear. We can't have you being all timid and quiet in front of me. I want you to feel comfortable here."I nodded, finding my voice, "Thank you, Your Majesty. Prince Alexander has been incredibly welcoming."I chanced a glance at the Prince, and our eyes met briefly.He was watching me carefully, a small, mysterious smile playing on his lips, his glass poised just below his mouth."Incredibly welcoming," he repeated the words back to me. "I'll remember such a lovely compliment."I wanted to snap at him and tell him not to get his hopes up, but I didn't want to make a
The final course was served, and as the dinner plates were cleared away, Liam discreetly reappeared through the entrance doors.He stood with a confident demeanor in the presence of the King. "Hello, Your Highness.""Liam," the King regarded him. "I'm sorry that you couldn't join us for dinner.""That's kind of you, sir. However, I've come to inform you that your presence is needed elsewhere." Liam kept his hands clasped in front of him professionally."Oh, but we were all just starting to warm up to one another," the King said with a slight pout to his lips. "Come join us, Liam.""I don't think that's such an excellent idea," Liam cautioned."Let loose, Liam. We have company.""Liam hasn't let loose since he escaped his mother's womb," Prince Alexander teased, leaning back in his chair as if he was lounging on a comfortable couch."I'll have you know that I let loose more often than not," Liam retorted, his ears turning a light shade of pink."Oh, really?" Prince Alexander asks, clea
The tour with Prince Alexander had felt like a long, intricate dance through the palace's many wings. I had to hand it to him, he was a pretty good tour guide, although I'd never admit it to him myself.He effortlessly blended humor with informative anecdotes, occasionally flashing one of his cheeky smiles that left me both intrigued and slightly uneasy. I wasn't sure if it was intentional or not, but he could turn his charm on so easily. I didn't want to fall into the trap like I'm sure many others have before me.The weight of his arm against mine felt peculiar. I couldn't tell what kind of body he had under his fine suit, but I'm sure it was impressive.As he guided me past the intricately designed training rooms, Prince Alexander casually mentioned that he often engaged in two or three training sessions a day."That sounds a bit excessive," I remarked, surveying the extensive array of top-notch training equipment that far surpassed Kendrick's modest facility. "Why would you ever n
"Thank you for showing me this, Alex. It's... it's truly special," I admitted, my voice reflecting the sincerity of my words.He nodded, appreciating the sentiment. "I wanted you to see a different side of the palace, away from the things you expected and what others see."Prince Alexander flicked a switch, and the room burst into warm illumination.What I initially thought to be an ordinary space revealed itself to be anything but. Dark wooden bookshelves lined the walls, and in the center, a polished desk stood as the room's focal point.There were no windows, no fireplaces—just a chamber bathed in a gentle glow.It suddenly made perfect sense that Prince Alexander would have a room like this to get away from his every day tasks or responsibilities. Sometimes, it helped to decompress in solitude."So, what is this room?" I asked, turning to Prince Alexander, my eyes expressing the confusion that washed over me. "Besides your secret office."His gaze lingered on the room with a mix