The Alpha King, with a curt nod, excused himself from our conversation, claiming pressing matters that require his attention.As he departed, I couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and lingering apprehension.Prince Alexander, ever the annoying and unserious host, stepped forward, "Well, I guess now is the perfect time for me to take you on a tour of the royal gardens."As much as I didn't want to go anywhere privately with the Prince, I wanted to experience the royal gardens for myself and see what the fuss was about. Glancing at the flowers out of the window just didn't seem like enough time to enjoy them."Shall we, Shana?" he says, extending his arm with an easy smile.I eyed his gesture cautiously, torn between skepticism and a reluctant acknowledgment of his charm. His green eyes were a mixture of mischief and playfulness.He eyed me skeptically, nudging for me to take his arm.After a moment's hesitation, I tentatively accepted, and we began to stroll toward the vibrant expan
I tried to drown out my thoughts and burning questions, instead deciding to focus on the scenery around me.The royal garden embraced us with its symphony of colors and fragrances as Prince Alexander plucked a rose effortlessly from a nearby bush. I couldn't help but scold him for killing the delicate flower, my voice tinged with reproach."Must you destroy the beauty around you?" I asked, eyeing the plucked rose with a touch of sadness.Prince Alexander merely shrugged, twirling the rose stem between his fingers. "In the grand scheme of things, a single rose won't be missed. They bloom again, Shana. It isn't truly dead."I sighed, trying to ignore his poetic way of looking at things. It only reminded me that I was almost truly dead a mere two hours ago."What other tricks do you have planned for my visit?" I inquired with a hint of wariness in my voice. "I feel as if I need to walk around with eyes in the back of my head now.""Don't worry. Our tricks are done," he assured me. "Now,
Prince Alexander suggested that the two of us head back into the castle after we completed a few rounds around the royal gardens.I wasn't fully ready to leave the gardens, but I also wanted to see if I could find Lucas. There was so much that I had to share with him from the past couple of hours. Besides the breakfast I had with the Alpha King and Prince Alexander, the secrets were lingering secrets of the locked White Wolf book.As Prince Alexander and I walked back into the castle, the air seemed charged with unspoken tension from our previous conversation.He had been awfully silent, which was somewhat unlike him. I wondered if he was finally giving me some peace and quiet to sort out my own thoughts.We turned a corner down a dimly lit hall and unexpectedly ran into Liam, Kendrick, and Lucas. My heart fluttered at the sight of Lucas."Lover boy," Prince Alexander whispered in my ear, a joking glint in his eyes.I shot him a scowl before turning my attention to Lucas.Something in
As we entered my room, the atmosphere shifted. The afternoon sun was shining through the window, making the room bright. It was a complete contrast to the way I was feeling on the inside.I closed the door behind us, muffling any potential eavesdropping from the guards standing just outside."Now, tell us what happened during breakfast," Lucas urged, his eyes fixed on mine.I took a deep breath, about to recount the events that had unfolded earlier when there was a loud knock at my door.I jumped, turning to see who had interrupted us.The door to my room creaked open, revealing Miriam standing in the hallway. She raised an eyebrow at me as she looked at Kendrick and Lucas standing in my room."Miss Shana, is everything alright?" she asked curiously.I nodded, "Yes, Miriam. Everything is fine. Could you please give us some privacy?" I requested, hoping that she would oblige.She nodded, her expression guarded. "Of course, miss. If you need anything, just call."As the door closed behi
Kendrick's phone starts to ring and he takes it out of his pocket to check the caller ID."I have to take this," he said, looking between the two of us. The weight of business seemed to follow him even in moments of supposed time away."I'll step out into the hall," he continued as he excused himself.Left alone in the room, Lucas and I exchanged glances, the unspoken tension lingering between us."Lucas," I began, my voice soft, "we need to be careful. Kendrick said the world of royalty is treacherous, and we can't afford to let our guard down."He nodded, his eyes expressing a mixture of concern and longing. "I know, Shana. But I can't help worrying about you."Before I could respond, Lucas threw himself at me, his lips meeting mine in a kiss that carried a wave of emotions. I sighed against his touch, realizing how much I had missed him in the whirlwind of palace intrigue.It had felt so long since the two of us were alone. A wave of shame hit me as I realized how much I truly miss
There was another knock at my door and Miriam's head peaked in, interrupting our quiet moment."I apologize Miss Shana, but the King has requested to see you again," Miriam said, her eyes looking between Lucas and I.I couldn't help but frown, confused as to why the King would want another meeting with me so soon, but I agreed.I turned to Lucas with a small smile and he leaned in, giving me a lingering kiss goodbye."Be careful," he whispered against my lips, quiet enough so that Miriam wouldn't hear.I nodded and got up to follow Miriam downstairs.This time, Miriam led me in a different direction, guiding me toward the North Wing where the royal family resided. My footsteps echoed through the empty halls, and I couldn't shake the feeling of entering a realm shrouded in mystery.I knew that many people weren't allowed to travel in this wing, and I felt like an intruder.Miriam was silent as she walked ahead of me down a long hallway adorned with intricate tapestries. Something about
I couldn't help but chuckle at the Queen's words. "Whispers about the White Wolf, huh? I hope they're at least entertaining."The Queen grinned mischievously, looking just like her son. "Oh, very. Rumors have a way of taking on a life of their own around here. But I trust you're handling it well. Besides, a bit of mystery keeps things interesting.""True," I agreed, glancing around the sunlit room. "I might regret asking this question, but what are the most entertaining rumors you've heard about me so far?"The Queen leaned in conspiratorially. "Well, there's one about you having a secret rendezvous with a particular Prince in the royal garden."I laughed, surprised by the creativity of palace gossip. "That's imaginative, to say the least. The royal garden seems to be the epicenter of all things scandalous."Her laughter echoed through the room. "Indeed, it has that reputation.""And no offense to your son, but I'm taken already.""Oh Shana," the Queen waved me off as if I was being r
The Queen offered to walk me to the King's study so that I could inform him of my decision to accept his terms.I still had a few questions for him, but the Queen had convinced me that this was the right decision.Miriam and the Queen's large entourage of soldiers led us through the palace corridors.